Middle Chola Temples

by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam | 1975 | 141,178 words

This volume of Chola Temples covers Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I in the timeframe A.D. 985-1070. The Cholas of Southern India left a remarkable stamp in the history of Indian architecture and sculpture. Besides that, the Chola dynasty was a successful ruling dynasty even conquering overseas regions....

Sengunram is in the Gudiyattam taluk of North Arcot district. There is an ancient Siva temple here which is now deserted and without worship. This is a dated temple which came into being in the days of Rajaraja I and was named after one of his surnames.

Jayangondasolisvaram

From four inscriptions that were recorded in this temple in the days of the Middle and the Later Cholas, we learn that the temple bore the name of Jayangondasolisvaram. In the twenty-ninth regnal year of Rajaraja I, one Damodara Bhatta of Kada-langudi in Rajendrasimha valanadu in Chola mandalam made a gift of 20 pons to the merchants of Jayangonda-solapuram, which was a city in Andi nadu, a sub-division of Perumbanappadi in Jayangondasola mandalam. The gift was meant for the purchase of 180 sheep for a perpetual lamp to the temple, which is called in the inscription Jayangonda solisvaram. Even the liquid measure adopted by the temple and possibly in the neighbourhood also was called ‘Jayangonda solaraiyan’ (ARE 149 of 1921). In the seventh regnal year of Rajendra I, a similar gift of 20 kalanjus of gold was made by a citizen for two perpetual lamps in the temple (ARE 151 of 1921). Here again the name of the temple is given as Jayangonda solisvaram. We also learn that, about the same time, the merchants of Jayangonda-solapuram, which bore the alternate name of Vikkur, met in a hall presumably built by the chief of the city, and made a gift of land free of taxes, for the services in the temple (inscription dated in the seventh regnal year of Rajendra I—ARE 152 of 1921). There is a fragmentary inscription of the time of Vikrama Chola.

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: