Veetrirundha Perumal Temple,
Veppathur – History
The
temple is built on top of an older brick temple some of whose remains have
survived. The older brick temple is dated to 550 AD. The remains constitute one
of the two surviving Hindu temples of the pre Pallava period, the other being
the Subrahmanya temple at Saluvankuppam,
and one of the oldest ones in Tamil Nadu. The
temple built on top of an older brick temple was constructed by Pallava
King Nandivarman III in 850 AD.
He settled Brahmins in Veppathur
and named the area as Avani Narana Chaturvedi Mangalam after one of his titles.
The temple was called as Avani Narana Vinnagar. It was during the rule of
Nandivarman III that the Pallava murals were painted (on the inner walls of the
sanctum). The presiding deity at that time was a stucco figure. The
Temple was extensively renovated by the Chola King Rajaraja
Chola I.
It was during the time of
Rajaraja Chola I, the presiding deity of Veetrirundha Perumal, and his two
consorts, Nilamangai and Thirumangai, all made of granite, were consecrated in
the sanctum. The frescoes of the Chola period were painted over the Pallava
murals during the rule of Rajaraja Chola I. The
Temple was later renovated by Krishnadevaraya in
1520 AD and fresh murals were drawn over the Chola
frescoes.
The Hindu Religious and
Charitable Endowments Department has permitted the REACH Foundation to restore
and conserve the
temple. The stone images of the deities were brought down from the
dilapidated sanctum and installed about 90 years ago in a shrine at the base of
the mound. The worship of these deities continues to this day.