Veetrirundha Perumal Temple,
Veppathur – The Temple
The temple is built on top of an older brick temple some of whose remains have survived. 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 was under renovation.
The Sanctum houses the idol of Lord Vishnu in a commanding sitting posture. He is flanked by his consorts, Neela Devi and Booma Devi on either side. It is said that the upper tiers must have housed the idols of Lord Vishnu in reclining and standing postures but the whereabouts of these idols are unknown at present.
The vimana over the sanctum was rebuilt and is about 90 feet high. It is constructed with brick bound by clay mortar. The vimana is of five tiers, in dravidian style with a pyramid shape. The mandapam in the first floor carries frescoes traceable to the Pallava period around 850 AD. The frescoes of the Chola period were painted over the Pallava murals during the rule of Rajaraja Chola 1.
The temple was renovated in 1520 CE during the rule of Krishnadevaraya and fresh murals were drawn over the Chola frescoes. It is extraordinary that this is the only temple in south India that has murals of three dynasties – the Pallava, the Chola and the Vijayanagara. The Murals and frescos are mostly dilapidated. ASI unearthed stone carvings and rare articles which are said to have been in use more than 5000 years back.
