A Brief historical study of the Naganaathaswamy Temple at Maanampaadi near Kumbakonam
A Brief historical study of the Naganathaswamy Temple at Maanampaadi near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Naganathaswamy Temple (former "Thirunagecharam" or "Thirunageswarem") at Maanampaadi is located in-between the present Kumbakonam and Thiruppananthaal main highway (very near to Cholapuram - 12 Km away from Kumbakonam) in Thajavur District. The presiding deity of this Temple was known as "Thiru Vinnagar Thirunageeswarem Udaiya Mahadevar" at ThenKarai Thiraimuurnadu. The village in the present Maanampadi where this Temple exits is known by the name 'Thirunageswaram' even today - தமிழ் சைவ நாயன்மார்களது தேவாரப் பாடல்கள் பெற்ற தலம்.
Pallava Period
The antiquity of this temple is much earlier than the Pallava period, and the Tamil Saiva Saints Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnanasampanthar Naayanars of (A.D.568-649) and (A.D.641-657)) this period both have composed Tamil Thevaarap Pathikams in praise of this temple in the Tamil Thirumuraikal - 2, 4, 5 and 6. Similerly the Tamil Saiva Saint Suntharamoorthy Naayanaar of (A.D.826-844) too have composed a Tamil Thevaarap Pathikam on this Temple in the Tamil Thirumurai - 7. Though this temple existed during period of Pallava kings it have not received the patronage of the Pallava kings.
Note:
(The above Temple 'should not be confused' with the present Nageswaraswamy Temple (Rahu Thalam) (former "Kudanthai Keel Koattam") of the period of Tamil Saiva Saint Suntharamurthy Naayanar of (A.D.826-844) at the present 7 km east of Kumbakonam city on the Kumbakonam - Nannilam Road, in Thanjavur District, Tamilnadu. The presiding deity was known as "Thirukkeelkottam Udaiyar" at Thirukudamuukkil (Kudanthai or Kumbakonam) in Pambur Nadu of Uyyakondar-valanadu during Chola Period.
Chola Period
Rajaraja Chola - 1
This temple has been of burnt-sand stone from the period of Thirunavukkarasar & Thirugnanasambandar during the Pallava rule of Chola Nadu or even earlier, and was first converted into a granite stone temple during the period of Rajaraja Chola - 1 (A.D.985-1016) around A.D.999. This is confirmed by the 'very fact', the earliest one Inscription found inscribed on the 'south wall' and the other two on the 'west wall' of the central shrine of this temple presently known as the Naganathaswamy temple of Nageswaram, are that of king Rajaraja Chola - 1 one being of his 9th year the A.D.994, and the other two being of his 14th year of rule being A.D.999 .
In the year A.D.994 Chola king Rajakesarivarman (Rajaraja Chola - 1) mentions of some offerings made by Arincikai Piraatiyaar - the queen of Vaanar (Bana) king and daughter of 'Arikulakesari' the Arinchikai (Arinchchaya) Cholan (A.D.956-957) and 'grandmother' of Rajaraja Chola - 1.
In the year A.D.999 Chola king Rajaraja Rajakesarivarman the sale of 1 1/2 velis land to the temple Thiruvinnagar Thirunageswaram a devadana of Thiraimur Nadu for 101 kalanju gold by the assembly of Madanamangalam a brahmadeya of Thirunaraiyur Nadu. The price for same was made available from the funds deposited at this temple earlier by Arinchikai Piraatiyaar the queen of the Bana king and the daughter of Arikulakesari.
The are two other Inscriptions of Rajaraja Chola - 1 both of the year A.D.999, speaks of endowments to this temple of 40 and 37 kalanju gold made by Arichikai Piraatiyaar - the queen of Vaanar (Bana) king and daughter of 'Arikulakesari' the Arinchikai (Arinchchaya) Cholan (A.D.956-957) and 'grandmother' of Rajaraja Chola - 1 from the sale of two villages by the assembly of Thirunaaraiyur Naatu brahmadeyam - Nallur Cheri. These two Inscriptions clearly indicates that Arichikai Piraatiyaar lived as far as the period of Rajaraja Chola - 1.
Rajendra Chola - 1
During the period Rajendra Chola - 1 in the year A.D.1042 there had been a systamatic recording of many Jewellery and Temple Ritual Items presented to this temple by many individuals including Chola officers, Rajaraja Chola - 1, Rajendra Chola -1 and one of his queens Udaiya Piraatiyar at various times during the periods of Rajaraja Chola - 1 and Rajendra Chola - 1.
Rajadhiraja Chola - 1
Rajendra Chola - 2
Sadaiyavarman Sunderapaandiyan
Some Images on Naganathasamy Temple and it's Sculptures prior to dismanling this Temple
http://www.thehindu.com/migration_ca...HASWAMY_TEMPLE
https://d22r54gnmuhwmk.cloudfront.ne...x313-noPad.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AunlsrR-48...iva_temple.jpg
https://esivaa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/dsc01907.jpg
https://esivaa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/dsc01742.jpg
(The Image in the smaller Panel on the leftside of Nadarajar Image appears to be that of Arinchikai Piraatiyaar and her retinue, and the Image in the smaller Panel on the rightside of Nadarajar Image appears to be that of Rajaraja Chola - 1 his very young son Rajendra Chola - 1, and his four principal Queens - to be verified)
https://esivaa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/dsc01920.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xT_MRgKiGJ...manampadi9.jpg
https://esivaa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/dsc01766.jpg
https://esivaa.files.wordpress.com/2...pg?w=529&h=708
https://esivaa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/dsc01796.jpg
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