Vedapuriswarar Temple, Cheyyar
– History
The temple is said to have been in existence from 6th
century CE. The temple might have been reconstructed completely in granite by
the Cholas. There are about five inscriptions in the walls of the Chidambareswarar
shrine. Two of the inscriptions are dated to the reign of Parantaka Chola I,
one of the inscription is dated to the reign of Rashtrakuta King Krishna III
and another one is dated to reign of Rajaraja Chola I.
The final inscription is the foundation inscription
without mentioning the name and the regnal year of the reigning king. It
records that the Sankaranarana Isvaragriham was built by Aditta Kuttiyar in
memory of his elder brother Sankaranaranar. This shrine has earlier Chola
inscriptions than the main shrine. This shrine might have been built by Aditya
Chola I or Parantaka Chola I.
Inscriptions dating back to the reigns of Parantaka
Chola I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajathiraja Chola I, Virarajendra Chola, Kulothunga
Chola I, Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola II, Rajathiraja Chola II, Kulothunga
Chola III, Rajaraja Chola III & Rajendra Chola III, Pothapi Chola, Rashtrakuta
King Krishna III, Kadava King Kopperunchinga, Pandyan Kings Sundara Pandya &
Veera Pandya and Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar can be found in this temple.
Lord Shiva was called as Vothur Udaya Nayanar and the place was called as Jayankonda Chozhamandalathu Kazhiyur Nattu Thiruvothur as
per the inscriptions. These inscriptions records the gifts & grants made to
this temple, burning of perpetual lamps, gifts made for the worship & offerings
of the deity, tax exemption, creation of Nandavanam for the temple and
renovation activities carried out in this temple.
