Arulala Perumal Temple

The cella Arulala Perumal Temple faces west. The outer surface is built with fitness works of art and architecture. The vimana in its interior surface is 2.40 square meters built under the Dravidian type comprises six divisions from bottom to top, viz., adhistana, bhitti, prastara, griva, stupi. The upapitha, Padma, Kumuda, Jagathi, Pothigai, Vedigai and Kambu consisting of upana, kantha forms the lowest part of the vimana. Adhistana stands on the upaphita. The adhistana carries jagati which is high, plain and rectangular in shape. The projecting kumuda rests on the jagati. Over the kumuda a plain pattika that is a flat band is placed. Pattika is interposed between kanta mouldings. The kanta is divided into a number of galapadas on which the vedi, the top most moulding of the adhistana is seen. The Pranala which is fixed on the side. It serves to discharge the ablution water from the garbhagraha. The excellence of this work can be seen in Kailasantha temple at Kanchi.

The bhitti or the wall portion of the sanctum sanctorum above the vedi is carrying three devakosthas on the north, east and the south. These niches are simple and plain. The bhitti portion is remarkable for the disposition of eighteen pilasters, six on each side. The brahma kantha pilasters are made in a simple manner without any embellishments. The square shafts came with mulasthana on the top decorated with floral scrolls and pearl strings. Above the mulasthana, a band of straight and inverted lotus petals known as padmabandha is arranged. The vase shaped kalasa is delicately adorned by festoons and fixed oh the padmabandha. The intervening part called tadi separates the kalasa and kumbha. The petals of a blossomed lotus (padmatala) are spread around the kumbha. The petals are supporting the thick square palagai with virakanda. The roll corbel at the top is throated with median band (tarangu potika) and the cross corbels of similar type in the cantering pilasters. The cantering pilasters carry the double corbel. The pilasters are well in line with vari or in axial line of adhistana.

This portion rising above the corbels is known asprastam. It is the roof of the vimana which connects the sanctum sanctorum and its superstructure. The prastara is consisted on the usual mouldings such as kampu, kapota and yalivari on the corbels carry uttara. This is not equal in width and height to the corbels found below. A vajana comes over this, and has intervening panels of figural miniatures corresponding with the pilasters below. It is decorated without a frieze of ganas. Above the vajana, kodungai is found with nasikas beautified by scroll work ornamentations with interior empty circles.The row of circles (circular bosses are the prototype of nail heads in wooden architecture) runs along its lower edge is the characteristic feature of the Chola architecture. The cella is constructed with granite stones right from the upapita to the prastara.

The adhistana mouldings in this garbagraha are of the simplest type, devoid of any-ornamentation. This together with other features like the massive pilasters and potika may give it an early date. The earliest inscription of this temple found on the walls of garbhagraha is dated to Jatavarma Vira Pandya and it does not refer to the construction of the central shrine.

The tapering super structural part of the central shrine is built of bricks. Above the roof, one can notice vimana, circular in plan. A hara of miniature pavilions such as the karnakutas in the extreme corners, the bhadrasalasm the middle and panjaras in between the salas and karnakutas runs round the harmya of the ekatala. The salakosthas are devoted for figures of Vishnu Varaha Vaikundanathar.

The griva of the vimana is circular in shape. Above the sikhara, a single copper stupika is placed with yalis, saints and Budaganas. The superstructure over the garbhagraha has completely been renovated and replanted in 14^th century A.D.

Antarala

There is an antarala between the garbhagraha and ardhamandapa. The flat roofed antarala has the same type of the external features like that of the vimana of the central shrine. The walls of the ardhamandapa has two east and west niches respectively. The niches had no images. The external configurations of the walls are similar in style to that of the garbhagraha.

Ardhamandapa

There is an ardhamandapa adjoining the front part of the antarala with an entrance of 1.10. m. and high on their southern end. It is intended for keeping the puja materials. The four central pillars of the arthamandapa are missing. The pillars consist of base, shaft, and capital. The inverted lotus moulding is found. The entrance of the arthamandapa is adorne with semi pilasters on the two sides. The entrance is 1.65 m height and 1.95 width.

Mahamandapa

The rectangular mahamandapa lies next to the arthamandapa with a flat topped roof supported by pillars. The crowning number of the pillars are heavy beveled corbels with prominent ten on like projections. The pillars carry a horizontal beam lending support to the superstructure. This mandapa is closed by walls on the three sides and opened on the south side. This mandapa is closed by walls on the three sides and opened on the west side.

The Mukhamandapa

The mukhamandapa found in front of mahamandapa, is of 6.50 m length, 13.00 m. width, and 4.00 m. height is open on the eastern side. In front of this mandapa the steps protected on the sides are for the purpose of entering this mandapa. Eight pillars have standing in 2 rows with four pillars in each row shouldering the flat roof of this mandapa. The features of the exterior portions are perhaps similar to those of the Arthamandapa. In front of the Mughamandapa the garudalwar facing the Arulala Perumal is seen.

Image is placed. The wall is capped by ribbed mouldings, of uttara, padma, and hanging inverted kodungai with kudu. The walls of this mandapa are filled with inscriptions. From these inscriptions it is inferred that this mandapa is datable to the.