Temples in Tiruchchennampundi

Tiruchchennampundi is a village on the southern bank of the Kollidam, a mile to the north of Koviladi. This village seems to have been in the past a suburb of Koviladi alias Tirupper (-nagar). An inscription of Vikrama Chola found on the walls of the Siva temple at Koviladi refers to the temple of Tiruchchadai-mudi Udaiya Mahadevar at Tiruchchadai-mudi, a northern hamlet (pidagai) of the brahmadeya of Tirupper (A.R. no. 276 of 1901).

Tiruch-Chadai-mudi (or Tirukkadaimudi) Udaiya Mahadevar temple
(now a Pidari temple)

The existence of this temple in Pallava times is attested by the presence of inscriptions of Nandivarman III and Vijaya Nrpatunga Yikramavarman. These Pallava inscriptions are found at the entrance to, and on the pillars in front of, the temple. One of them refers to a gift by Adigal Kandan Marampavai, Queen of Nandi-pottaraiyar (Nandivarman Pallava III).

There are a large number of inscriptions of Parantaka 1 on the walls of the temple, ranging from his 14th year to his 37th year. (see Tiruchchennampundi Sadayar Temple) In the inscription of the 14th year (297 of 1901), the deity is called Tiruch-Chadai-mudi Mahadevar in Ten-karai Idaiyarru Nadu. In that of the 17th year (299 of 1901), one Gunavan Suratongi, a member of the retinue of Nampirattiyar Arumoli Nangaiyar, the daughter of Paluvettaraiyar and the queen of Parantaka I, makes a gift of 16 kalanju of gold for a lamp and for some services. There is a gift made for the celebration of the festival of Masi Makham in his 30th year. The rest of the inscriptions refer to gifts for lamps.

Originally, this temple of Siva should have been built of brick with a mandapa in front supported by stone-pillars. All the Pallava inscriptions except one are on these pillars. Perhaps it was built of stone in the days of Aditya I or Parantaka I. The probabilities of this temple having been built of stone in the days of Aditya I himself are strengthened by the discovery of a stone sculpture of Ardhanarisvara in the proximity of this temple, now preserved in the Govt. Museum, Madras (see E C A I, PI. 2-b). At a later stage, this Siva temple might have been converted into a Pidari temple (PI. 52).

Tiruchchennampundi Sadayar Temple

SII, VII No. 502-529

Entrance — left; 2 yr;  Kop-Parakesari; (502)

                                     (Chola)
Entrance — right; 18 yr; Tellarerinda Nandivarman (503)

                                     (Pallava)
Main shrine — North wall; 26 yr Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (504)

                                     (Parantaka I)
Main shrine — North wall; 30yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (505)
Main shrine — North wall; 34yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (506)
Main shrine — South wall; 34yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (507)
Main shrine — South wall; 18yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (508)
Main shrine — South wall; year lost; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (509)
Main shrine — South wall; 30yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (510)
Main shrine — South wall; 20yr; MadiraikondaKop-Parakesari (511)
Mandapa—North wall; 35yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (512)
Mandapa—North wall; year lost; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (513)
Mandapa—North wall; 26yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (514)
Mandapa—South wall; 26yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (515)
Mandapa—South wall; 2yr; Kop-Parakesari (516)
Mandapa—South wall; 30yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (517)
Mandapa—South wall; 14yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (518)
Mandapa—South wall; 37yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (519)
Mandapa—South wall; 17yr; Madiraikonda Kop-Parakesari (520)
On pillars in front
of the temple;                22yr; Ko-Vijaya Nrpatunga Vikravarman (521, 522 and 528)
521-529;                                 Marambavai, queen of Nandipottaraiyan (523 and 525)
                                      18yr; Nrpatunga (526)
Pallava and
Muttaraiyan (records)    13yr; Ko-Ilango Muttaraiyan (529)