Temples in Arumbavur

Arumbavur lies in the region which was dominated by the Magadai chiefs in the 13th century, among whom was the well-known Chief Rajarajadeva Ponparappinan alias Kulottunga-sola Vanakkovaraiyar. Arumbavur, called in local inscriptions Arumbar, has a Siva temple now known as that of Kailasanatha-svamin. In earlier days it went under the name of Vada-Kailasam-Udaiya Nayanar temple.

We have already seen that the region falling under Tiruchy, North Arcot, portions of Salem, and areas of South Arcot districts came under the rule of powerful local chieftains who wielded considerable local authority during the late 12th and the whole of the 13th century, with headquarters at Aragalur, Koval, etc.

Kailasanathasvamin (Vada-kailasam-udaiya Nayanar) temple

There are five inscriptions on the walls of this temple belonging to the days of Rajaraja III, ranging from his 14th to his 28th years. There is no foundation inscription.

On the west wall of the central shrine, there is an inscription ofhis 14th year (ARE5of 1913). Itrecords that all devadam lands of the temple and those ofTiruk-kattu-Udaiya Nayanar, Durga, Pidari and Ayyanar, situated in this village and at Rajarajanallur and Kiraippadi, were made tax-free by the Chief Vanakovaraiyanar. The next inscription, of the 16th regnal year, records a gift of land to this temple, which is called here as that of Vada-Kailayam-Udaiya Nayanar at Arumbar, by one Malaiyan Vanarayan (ARE 3 of 1913). Another of the same year records a grant of land to a private individual by a Vanakkovaraiyan (ARE 4 of 1913). An inscription of the 23rd year specifies the extent of the lands ‘below the tanks Sirreri and Pereri of Arumbar’ as fixed by Tondaiman Perumal Pillai alias Sediraya devan. A measuring rod called magadesan (named so after the Magadai chief) is mentioned in the inscription (ARE 7 of 1913). The community priests living in the districts of Vembar nadu, Perambalur nadu and Mulai nadu granted the taxes due to them from the devadana villages for repairs in the temples of Vada-Kailayam-Udaiya Nayanar and Kulottunga-Vinnagara-Emperuman at Arumbar. The charitable disposition of the priests discloses their devotion to the institutions in their charge and spirit of self-sacrifice. Some scholars have drawn an unfavourable and undeserved picture of their greed and selfishness (ARE 6 of 1913). (Pls. 354-360).

From inscriptional evidence, this temple could be safely assigned to the reign of Rajaraja III, though we do not have a foundation inscription to place this deduction beyond doubt.

The existence here once of a Vishnu temple named after a Kulottunga is brought out by the last-cited inscription. We do not know its location and identity.