Author - Virarajendra
Copyright - Virarajendra
The great significance of the "Rajarajaeswarem" & "Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem" - Siva Temples of Tamil Nadu, South India - Part 2
Under re-construction
(18) Rajarajaeswarem Temple through ages & subsequent additions of Minor Shrines within the complex
(a) Late Chola Period
The first among the Chalukya/Chola (Chola Matri-lineal) dynasty to rule the Chola country was Kulothunga Chola - 1(A.D.1070-1120). Among the many of his titles was the Sungam Thavirththa Kulothunga Choladeva alias Thiribuvana Chakkaravarththi Konerinmaikondan.. Refer (312 of 1901 Dharmapuriswara temple at Thirisulam near Pallavaram.)
There are two Inscriptions of this king in the Karuvari of the Rajarajaeswarem temple and one Inscription in the Ulahu Muluthum Udaiya Naachchiyaar (Brahannaayaki) Shrine within the temple complex. There is also an Inscription in the Karuvarai of the main temple but under his real name as Kulothunga Chola.
Notes:
The Tamil kings who bore the title "Thiribuvana Chakkaravarththi Konerimaikondan" are Kulothunga Chola - 1, Vikkrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola - 3, Sadaiyavarman Sundara Pandiyan, Sadaiyavarman Vira Pandiyan, Maravarman Sundera Pandiyan and Maravarman Kulasekara Pandiyan. Among them except Kulothunga Chola - 1 and Kulothunga Chola - 2, all others period of rule were below 25 years. Kulothunga Chola - 1 ruled for 50 - years and Kulothunga Chola - 2 ruled for 38 - years. Since one of the two Inscriptions of Thiribhuvanachakkravarththi Konerinmaikondan on the Karuvarai of Rajarajaeswarem temple mentions 35th year of his reign and at the same time mentions of the grant by Thiribhuvana Chakkravarththi Konerinmaikondan of a village named Sungam Thavirththa Chola Nallur (named after Kulothunga Chola - 1). Hence it is clear the Thiribhuvana Chakkravarththi Konerinmaikondan was no other than Kulothunga Chola - 1, which is further confirmed by the Pallavaram Inscription.
(1) Rajarajaeswarem Temple
During the period of Kulothunga Chola - 1, in the 'fifth' year of his rule in A.D.1075 he addressed the Saiva Aachariyar named Pancha Aachariyar, the Priest, the Overseer of Sri Maheswaras (Saivite sect who have embraced the life of complete renunciation worshiping God Siva in the form of Lingham who were non-Brahmins), and the Officer who carried out the Management of the temple - all of the Rajarajaeswarem Temple, and ordered that the tax-free lands of this temple and the Nanthavanam (flower-garden) known as "Gangaikonda Cholan" sold (wrongfully) in the third and fourth year of his reign in A.D.1073 and 1074 to be taken possession and restored to this temple, and to continue to remain as tax-free temple lands from the year A.D.1076 as in the past.
In the "fifteenth year" of his reign in A.D.1085 it appears ........the queen of Virarajendra have made some donations to the temple Rajarajaeswarem details of which is not known as this Inscription remain as partially inscribed in the inner wall of the Karuvarai
Further Kulothunga Chola - 1 in the 'thirty fifth' year of his rule in A.D.1105 ordered the village Sungam Thavirththa Chola Nallur closer to Rajarajaeswarem Temple purchased as tax-free property by Thondaimaanaar from Thennagangadevan, Seenatharaiyan, and other Partners, to be divided into one hundred and eight shares of which one hundred and six shares to be given to Chathurvedi Pattar (Brahmins) who were versed in Vedas and Sastras and could interpret them who lived in the Samanthanaarayana Chathurvedimangalam in the neighbourhood of Rajarajaeswarem Temple. This was granted by Thondaimaanaar after his name, and two shares to the Shrine he has set up in this village by the name Samanthanarayana Vinnagar Emperumaan as a meritorious gift.
The Thondaimaanaar "could be" the Karunaakara Thondaiman the army general of Kulothunga Chola - 1, who was held so much in high esteem by the king, that he was given a place to engrave on the lower tier of the inner north wall of the great Vimanam of the Rajarajaeswarem temple the details of his donation.
(2) Ulahu Muluthum Udaiya Naachchiyaar Shrine
Kulothunga Chola - 1 in his "second year" in A.D.1072 of built a shrine to Goddess "Ulakumuntrum Udaiya Naachchiyaar" (Periya Naayaki or Birahanaayahi) in the Velimuttram within the Thuruchchuttru Maalikai of the Rajarajaeswaram temple, and donated a village known as Ulakandanayaki Nallur free of taxes for its maintenance.
(3) Subramaniyar Shrine
The next outstanding Shrine contructed in the Velimuttram within the Thiruchchuttru Maalikai of the Rajarajaeswaram temple, was the beautifull Subramaniyar Thirukkoyil (temple) with equisite pillars and pilasters on the north side of the big temple.
The Subramaniyar shrine has a Karuvarai on a Upapeedam of 45 ft Sq with a Vimanam going up to a total height of 55 feet high, having finely carved - figured pillars and pilasters leading through a 50 feet long Artha Mantapam. It appears there had been an earlier Muha Mantapam with the existing Stairways on its either side possibly destroyed during invasions.
The temple architecturally have similer norms of the main temple, but sculpturally is close akin to the Rajarajeswaram (Airaavatheswarem) temple at Palayaarai (Darasuram), and Thiribhuvanaeswarem (Kampaheswarem) temple at Thiribhuvanam, possibly a pre-cursor to these two temples in sculptural finess, and quite possibly built during the period of Kulothunga Chola - 1's fifty years rule.
Note:
There is a existing theory that the Subramaniyar Temple was built by the king Sevappa Naayakkar while "there is no positive evidence whatsoever" to prove same. Further most of the Naayakkar built temples in Tamil Nadu bore the statues of the respective Naayakkar kings or their Cheiftains on the pillars of the temples, but the Subramaniya temple has no such statues.
While we are fully aware the Nanthi Mantapam was built by a Naayakkar king, and having the statues of Naayakkar kings on its pillars, how is it possible that Subramaniyar temple a bigger edifice than a simple Nanthi Mantapam didnot have the statues of the Naayakkar kings or Chieftains on it's pillars, if it was considered to be of the same period as that of Nanthi Mantapam enclosure - which we are very sure belongs to the Naayakkar period ??.
In the Ulakumuntrum Udaiya Naachchiyaar Shrine (Brahanayaki shrine) within the Rajarajaeswarem temple complex, there is a Naayakkar period inscription which refers to the two structures put up by them namely the Mallappa Nayakkar Mantapam (presently seen in front of the existing Subramaniyar temple on it's east, and the Murthi Amman Mantapam (presently seen adjacent to the Ulahumuntrum Udaiya Naachchiyaar Shrine). But there is no mention of the Subramaniyar temple as being built by Naayakkar kings in this inscription.
Further from the internal evidence found in the Tamil Saint Arunagirinather's Tamil work Thiruppukal we note, Arunagirinather was in Thiruvannamalai during the rule of Prauda Deva Maharaja (the Vijayanagara king Prauda Devaraya) who ruled this territory in 1485 A.D.
The existance of the Subramaniyar temple during the rule of the above king is confirmed by two references to same by Saint Arunagirinaathar who lived during the period of this king.
".....adiyavar vaal 'Thanjai' meviya Perumaale....."
".....sanda gopura sempon maalikai 'Thanjai Maanakar' Perumaale"
While he making reference to this Subramaniyar temple, he also made reference to the Subramaniyar on the 'Rajarajan Thiruvaayil Gopuram' as, "Thanjai Nagar Rajagopuram amarntha perrumaale".
Hence it is very clear beyond any doubt that the Subramaniyar Temple was not constructed by Naayakka kings or Chieftains, but as already mentioned in "all probability" was built much earlier during the 50 years period of rule of Kulothunga Chola - 1 who had much involvement with the affairs of the Rajarajaeswarem temple as gleaned from the inscriptions found in the Karuvarai of this temple.
(4) Big Nanthi
The original Nandi built by Rajaraja Chola - 1 smaller in size and finely sculptured, has been "dismantled" (as we find no damages on same, which confirms that it has 'not been forcibly removed' from it's location by any Invaders from the north of India and) at a subsequent period during the rule of Kulothunga Chola - 1, "possibly recognising" that the size of the original Nanthi was not in commensurate with the gigantic structure of the Karuvarai and Vimanam of the Rajarajewarem temple.
The old Nanthi is still seen in the western Thiruchchuttru Maalikai of the Rajarajaeswarem temple. "It appears" Kulothunga Chola - 1 in place of same arranged a massive Nanthi sculptured and erected on the same plinth at this location.
Note:
There is an existing theory that the big Nanthi erected by a Naayakkar king. While we donot have any possitive evidence to prove same, we also note that the fine finsh sculpturing found on the Nanthi Mantapam which we positively know was a Naayakkar period construction, is not found on the big Nanthi. Hence we could safely infer that the big Nanthi too was sculptured and erected during an earlier period "in all possibilty" during the period of Kulothunga Cola - 1 who was more involved with the affairs of the Rajarajeswarem temple.
(b) Late Paandiya Period
The Cholas were overcome by the Paandiya king Maravarman Sunderapaandiyan (A.D.1216-39) in the year A.D.1219, with Thanjavur, Uraiyur and other Chola regions of this period having met heavy destruction.
However the Paandiyan's too being strong Saivites possibly would not have touched the Rajarajeswarem temple in their destruction spree, and also as we know the entire city of Cholas were not razed to the ground by Sunthara Pandiyan and there hdd been other Chola Buildings remaining, inspite of the vast destruction of the great Chola cities in this war.
However we have no evidence that the Paandiyan kings ever did any additions or renovations to the Rajarajeswarem temple complex during their period, possibly due to the 'much animosity' they had with Cholas politically for many years.
Note:
As per Meikeerththi of Sunthara Paandiyan there had been heavy destruction of the Chola cities Thanjai (Thanjavur) and Uranthai (Uraiyur) inthe war tha took place with the destruction of ".....Water Tanks, River Fronts, Koodam, Maamathil (Fortress wall), Gopuram, Maadarangu, Maadams and Maalikais and Mantapams which were broken down....", and the Sunthara Paandiyan too conducted his 'Vira Abisekam' at the Chola Valavan's (king's) Abiseka Mantapam of the golden walled "Aayiraththali" (Palace). Hence it is clear that the Paandiyan never razed the entire city to ground devoid of any Chola period buildings, but some were still remaining even after this war.
The statement in the 'Pandiyan Meikeerththi' as seen above on this war, has been wrongly interpreted by some Scholars - that there had been a complete destruction of Chola buildings in the Chola cities, and "all" the buildings now remaining in the vicinity of these cities are that of a later period and possibly of the Naayakkar or Maraattiya era, which is entirely a wrong conclusion..
(c) Vijayanagara Period
Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya (A.D.1485–1491) became the emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire in A.D.1485 from whom the Saluva dynasty originated. However in A.D.1452 - years earlier, he was given the title "Mahamandaleshwara" of Chandragiri during the reign of the Vijayanagara king Mallikarjuna Raya (A.D.1446-1465)
We find an inscription on the Karuvarai walls of Rajarajeswarem temple that "......in the the Saka year one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven (A.D.1455), the illustrious 'Mahamandalesvara' Medinisvara Ganda Kattari 'Saluva- saluva Tirumalaideva-maharaja' (addressed the following) order......" which continues further.
Hence we could infer that Saluva Narasimha Devaraya before he became the emperor of Vijayanagara, was made a subordinate king of Chandragiri during the period of the earlier Vijayanagara emperor Mallikarjuna Raya, and bore the title and name as - "Mahamandalesvara" Medinisvara Ganda Kattari Saluva-saluva Tirumalaideva-maharaja".
It was during this time Thanjavur being under the control of the Vijayanagara, the villages belonging to the Rajarajaeswarem Temple were granted with the exemption from taxes by Thirumalaideva (who later assumed the royal title as 'Saluva Narasimha Devaraya'), and this order has been inscribed on the walls of the Karuvarai of the Rajarajeswarem temple.
(d) Nayakkar Period
During the period of king Sevappa Naayakkar (A.D.1520-1560) of Thanjavur an enclosure Mantapam was constructed over the existing massive Nanthi with beautifull carved pillars having two portrait figures of Naayakka kings in their traditional garbs.
Further there was another Mantapam built adjacent to the Ulagumuntrum Udaiya Naachchiyar temple (Brahanaayaki Shrine) by Mallappa Naayakkar the elder brother of Sevappa Naayakkar and named as Murthi Ammaal Mantapam after the queen of Sevappa Naayakkar.
The front portion of the Subramaniyar Temple within the Rajarajeswarem Temple complex built by Kulothunga Chola - 1 appears to have met the destruction at the hands of the invaders. The original Muha Mantapam possibly with a Main Entrance Stairway towards the east appears to have been damaged.
This inference is further supportd by the fact unlike the exterior of the Maha Mantapam Upapeedam on the southern side of the Rajarajaeswaram Temple, the Upapeedam edges on the northern side of that temple has met the heavy damages in the hands of the invaders. Hence it is clear the Subramaniyar temple too being on the (same) north side of the Karuvarai & Vimaanam of the Rajarajaeswarem temple, would have met the destruction in which it's Muha Mantapam with the entrance Stairway was destroyed.
During the Naayakkar period, Mallappa Naayakkar re-built this damaged the Muha Mantapam of the Subramaniyar Temple with the existing side Stairways, and in addition built a seperate Mantapam on the east of this temple and named it as the Mallappa Naayakkar Mantapam, which has a portrait statue of a Nayakkar king on a tier on its southern wall. Further it appears the renovation of the damaged Muha Mantapam and the construction of the new Mallappa Nayakkar Mantapam were executed by Athira Veesi (Saiva) Aachariya and the Officer Veeraiyaa Naayakkar of this period.
The Thalai Vaayil (main entrances) also known as Koattai Mathil Vaayil to this temple before Keralanthakan Thiruvaayil and Rajarajan Thiruvaayil was known as Anukkan Vaayil, a plain vertical wall structure with ornate crest ...... ft height connecting on both sides to the existing Koattai Mathil (fortress wall) going right round the temple, is a construction by the Sevappa Naayakkar.
(e) Maraatiyar Period
The Maraattiyar king Ekoji built another enclosed Manatapam in front of the existing Muha Mantapam of the Subramaniya temple 50 Ft Sq, with walls of the pillars decorated with the statues of the Marattiya rulers on the east of the main entrance to the existing Subramaniya temple Mantapam. ??
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