Pushpavaneswarar Temple,
Thirupuvanam – History
This temple might have been in existence from 6th
century CE. The current structure was built by the Chola king Aditya I (870 - 907 CE) and extensively renovated by
the Sembian Madevi, wife of Gandaraditya Chola and mother of Uthama Chola. The
structure of the Vishnu shrine is believed to have expanded during the reign of
Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044).
The temple received extensive
patronage by the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara Kingdom and Nayak rulers. Inscriptions
dating back to the reigns of Chola Kings Aditya Chola, Uthama Chola, Rajaraja
Chola & Rajendra Chola and Pandya Kings Sadayan Maran, Rajasimha,
Jatavarman Kulasekara Pandya, Parakrama Pandya I, Maravarman Sundara Pandya I, Maravarman
Sundara Pandya II, Jatavarman Sundara Pandya I & Maravarman Kulasekara I can be seen in the temple premises.
The mukha mandapam of the temple might have been built by King Thirumalai Naicker. The pillars of the
mukha mandapam has sculptures of King Thirumalai Naicker, his wife and his
brother Muthyala Naicken. Inscriptions dating back to the reigns of Aditya
Chola records the endowment of burning a perpetual lamp, conducting
Theerthavari & thirumanjanam on auspicious days in Tamil month Purattasi
(Sep-Oct) in the temple.
Inscription dating back to the
reign of Uthama Chola records maintenance and worship of Pushpavaneswarar and
Varadharaja Perumal temples afforded to four able men. This inscription can be
seen in the second precinct. Inscription dating back to the reign of Chola
Emperor Rajaraja Chola I records the gift of a village named Manali to thistemple. It also records that the temple was built by Chembiyan Maadevi.
The earliest inscription found
at the temple belongs to the early Pandya King Sadayan
Maran. The inscription records a gift of 75 sheep donated to the temple for
maintaining perpetual lamps. The inscription has a reference to the donor
Kunava Ayyan Manavaatti Udaiyan and another name Komana Sami, wife of one
Veerapandya Veenai Marayan alias Aliyan Veera Narayanan.
It also refers to a temple
named Sri Koil and consecration of a deity. The gift was entrusted with
Vettikudi Poovanar Arayan. Vettikudi refers to a group of people who are unpaid
temple workers. The temple has two Vattezhuthu inscriptions of Pandyan King
Rajasimha. One of the inscriptions records the visit of Chera King Ko Kothai
Varman visit and his donations to the temple.
Inscriptions dating back to
Pandya Kings records the endowments made to this temple for maintenance of the temple, conducting festivals, learning Vedas & feeding of brahmins, order
of the king to revenue collectors to give certain amount of gold to this temple, land donations and land donation made of Madapuram Shaiva mutt. The temple also has copper plate inscriptions belonging to Sadyavarman Kulasekara
Pandya and Maravarman Sundara Pandya I.
These plates records the formation
of Rajagambira Chathurvedhimangalam and its subsequent donation to 1200
Brahmins. Thirupuvanam village was under the geographical division named
Rajasinghakulakeezh. Chinnamanur copper plate, an important document on early
Pandya kingdom, refers to the village tank as Rajasinghakulam. Nattukottai
Chettiyar community renovated this temple in the last century.
