A contribution by K. V. Soundara Rajan ---included in Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Achitecture – South India – Lower Dravidadesa (200 b.c. – 1324 a.d.) – edited by Michael . Meister and coordinated by M. A. Dhaky ---deals with the Irukkuvel lineage of which is our popular Pudi Adichcha Pidariyar. (publication of the American Institute of Indian Studies, University of Pennsylvania Press 1983)
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Tracing the genealogical table of the Irrukuvel chiefs of Kodumbalur and their inter – relationship with the house of Vijayalaya Cola, he says it is hard to identify the Cola House to which Cattan Maravan (the eighth chief of the Kodumbalur line) was matrimonially related. It may either have been that of the Maharaja Kumarankusa or that of the house of Vijayalaya Cola, which was then gradually gaining power in the Tanjavur area. In any case the Irrukuvels, from at least the late years of the son of Sattan or Cattan namely Maravan Pudi alias Tennavan Ilangovelar (who is styled Bhuti Vikramakesari in an undated Muvarkoil inscription) were intimately connected with the house of Vijayalaya Cola both matrimonially and by a political alliance which never broke.
By a series of complicated equations based on epigraphical data, Maravan Pudi alias Tennavan Ilangovelar alias Bhuti Vikramakesari has now been established to be a senior contemporary of Cola Aditya I; Maravan Pudi had two wives, one Varaguna and the second Nangai Karrali Pirattiyar Maravan Pudi’s sister Madevadigal was married to Kannaradeva, son of Cola Aditya I by the Rashtrakuta princess… His daughter Pudi Aditta Pidari was given in marriage to prince Arikulakesari, son of Cola Parantaka I and the grandson of Aditya I… To Maravan Pudi’s first son Sembiyan Ilangovelar alias Pudi Parantakan, Aditya I gave in marriage his sister Nangai Varaguna… Maravan Pudi’s second son was named Pudi Aditta Pidaran alias Adityavarma, perhaps in honour of the Cola Potentate Aditya I, while Pudi Parantakan the alias of his eldest son, was perhaps taken after the name of Cola Parantaka I, Aditya’s son. (And that shatters my dreamy conception that the Aditham Pudi and his son Parantakan mentioned in one of the inscriptions at the temple could perhaps be Aditya Cola himself and his son Parantaka Cola !!!)
Talking about the Tiruchendurai temple he says ** A building that still has some of the Muvarkoil look, is the Chandrasekhara Temple at Tiruchendurai. Founded by Maravan Pudi’s daughter, Pudi Aditta Pidari, sometime before the 23rd year of Rajakesarivarma (Aditya I) A.D.894, it represents one more royal foundation of the Irrukuvel House. In size it is slightly smaller than the Muvarkoil buildings.
There are two inscriptions of Pudi Aditta Pidari of the second and third years of Parakesari (Parantaka I A.D.909 and 910) in which the temple has been specifically referred to as “karrali’ (stone building) – the first inscription also revealing the fact that the temple in stone was built by her. These facts are not mentioned in the earlier inscription of the 23rd year of Rajakesarivarma (Aditya I – AD.894) recorded by the same royal donor. This has led Douglas Barrett to surmise that the royal lady had replaced the original building in brick in or before A.D.909. But a certain formal nearness of this building to the Muvarkoil, together with the style of pilaster decorations and the bhutas of the bhutamala, seem to warrant a date in or before A.D.894 when the princess made her first donation. ***
Continuing, Soundara Rajan says that in addition to the famous Muvarkoil of Kodumbalur, two other temples are related in style; the Sundareswara Temple at Tirukkattalai, and the Candrasekhara Temple at Tiruchendurai near Tiruchi, which was founded by Pudi Aditta Pidari, daughter of Maravan Pudi, alias Bhuti Vikramakesari, and grand-daughter-in-law of Cola Aditya I. It shows features characteristic both of Malanadu (Kaverinadu) and Konadu schools plus local traits of the Tiruchi territory. The buildings of sons and grandson of Bhuti Vikramakesari, are few and inconsequential.
The scholars may differ in their views, about the actual year of construction of this temple, but the fact remains that the Chandrasekaraswamy temple at Tiruchendurai is more than a millennium old. And we are glad that Pudi Aditha Pidari had placed the Tiruhendurai Temple as a center-piece for these livelier arguments and discussions of scholars and intellects.
All that we the villagers knew was that our temple is an ancient one, and has many inscriptions in it, but apart from that we had not taken any interest to find out details of the history of temple. Going through all these details now, we know that the temple and the village has an illustrious past, thanks to the Archaeological Survey of India, its epigraphists, scholars, and the Dr.Ma. Rajamanickanaar Historical Research Foundation Who have taken so much interest in unearthing the inscriptions, and transcribing them.
(to be continued)
- Sethuraman
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