Temples in Perungalur (Perungoliyur)

Perungalur, called Perungoliyur in inscriptions, is a village in the Alangudi taluk of the Pudukkottai district. There is an ancient temple here, now called that of Vamsoddharaka-nathar. In an inscription, the earliest of those found here, on the south wall of the central shrine, of the 45th year of ‘Tribhuvana-chakra-vartin Kulottungasoladeva’ (who has to be identified with Kulottunga I in view of the high regnal year), a gift of land to the temple of ‘Kulottunga-solisvaram Udaiyar’ by the residents of Perungoliyur is recorded (ARE 193 of 1914). Thus the temple must have been built during the reign of, and named after, Kulottunga I.

Vamsoddharakanathar temple (Kulottunga-solisvaram)

Two records, found on the south wall of the mandapa in front of the shrine, mention gifts of the Unjalmandapa, and images of Sundara Perumal and Surya (ARE 195 of 1914), and of a lamp to the image of ‘Kuttadum-devar’ (Nataraja) in the temple (ARE 197 of 1914).

There are two inscriptions, of the 14th and 29th years of Jatavarman Vira Pandya (acc. a.d. 1253), co-ruler of Jatavarman Sundara Pandya IP (acc. a.d. 1257), on the east and west walls respectively of the central shrine (ARE 196 and 194 of 1914). There are two inscriptions of the Vijayanagara days on the walls of the mandapa mentioned above; Perungoliyur is described as located in Ten Panangadu nadu, a sub-division of Jayasinga-kulakala valanadu and the main deity is given the name of Alagiya Kulottungar (ARE 200 and 202 of 1914).

There is a separate Amman shrine, the deity being called Mangala Nayaki.