Temples of Munnur (Historical Study)

by R. Muthuraman | 2016 | 67,784 words

This essay represents a historical study of the Temples in and around Munnur, situated in the Dakshina Kannada district in the state Karnataka (India). Munnur is regarded as an important religious city for the followers of both Shaivism and Vaishnavism. The ancient history of Munnur traces to the reign of the Chola, from whom the city derives it's ...

Kulottunga II (A.D.1133-1150 A.D.)

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Kulottunga II ascended the throne after Vikrama Chola in (A.D. 1136-1150 A.D.)^[1] and assumed the title Rajakesari^[2].

The inscriptional evidences state that Kulottunga II’s coronation ceremony was held in the hundred pillared hall at Chidambaram temple. The temple at Chidambaram became both the high administrative and religious capital of Kulottunga II.

It is also strengthened by the fact that the uprooting of the Vishnu idol and throwing into either a tank or river is attributed to Kulottunga II by Ottakkuthar. So the Vaishanavite works Divyasuricharitam and Guruparamparai nicknamed him Krimikanta Chola. Anyhow his titles Gnanagambiran and Nitya Gita Pramohan show his firm faith in Saivism. The additions to the temples began by his father and fore fathers were continued, several new temples were built and several old temples were improved. In this context our research area Munnjur and Adavalleswarar temple was renovated and improved by him. From the time of Chola Kulottunga II to that of the Vijayanagar rulers, Adavalleswarar temple preserves many inscriptions. This temple received its extension and reconstruction in the hands of Chola Kulottunga II and his successors. It is proved by three Chola Kulottunga II inscriptions found on the Mahamandapa of the central shrine.

The earliest inscription^[3] of Adavalleswarar temple belong to Chola Kulottunga II (A.D. 1136-1150 A.D.) issued in his eleventh regnal year (A.D. 1146) is found on the eastern side of the Mahamandapa of Adavalleswarar temple. It records that the Meikirthi “Swasthi Sri Poomevu Rajakesari Tribhuvana Chakravarthi Sri Kulottunga Chola Deva” Which is identified with Kulottunga II. The record mentions that one Palakkannan who belonged to Iraiyur of Kunra Nadu comes under Urukattu Kottam of Jayankonda Cholamandalam built Udaya Pillaiyar sub-shrine in the prakara as parivaradevata of Sri Mulasthana mudaiya Mahadevar temple, Munnjur. It also refers to a gift of 1 1/2 ma^[4] land for the offerings of Udaya Pillaiyar sub-shrine in the prakara of the Sri Mulasthana mudaiya Mahadevar temple. From this it is clear that the temple extension^[5] was carried out by Kulottunga II. In this temple extension work, Kulottunga II was responsible for erection and the establishment of Parivara–devata in Munnjur temple and the present Siddhi Vinayaga^[6] sub-shrine of the temple premise was his own contribution.

The record also mentions that the donor donated one ma and half kani land. This was purchased by the amount of 12 kasu.^[7] Moreover the same land was entrusted to temple authorities. In order to get good amount of yield from the donated lands the temple Sabhaiyar^[8] also donated two ma of land for getting irrigation. The record also states that the income from these lands was used for the daily offerings to the newly built Pillaiyar sub-shine in the prakara of this temple.

The record further tells that the income from land was also to be used for food offerings to the newly built sub-shrine Udaya Pillaiyar viz plain rice, vegetable rice and curd rice. For these food offerings on every occasions of each day on the fourth nazhi,^[9] the rice was provided by the temple Sthanathars. On special occasion namely new moon day in addition to the above mentioned rice one kuruni was given as excess. Apart from this donation, the record also supplies information regarding the successful cultivation of the donated lands, the steps taken by the temple Sthanathars and their involvement to get agricultural production of the temple lands. The temple authorities, the Sabhaiyars provided proper irrigation facilities through their local self governance in Munnur region.

Kulottunga II in his eleventh regnal (A.D.1146) left one more epigraph^[10] which is found on the north wall of the Mahamandapa of the temple refers to one Gnana Murthy Bhattan who belongs to Munnjur one of the Alunganam donated a land for burning a perpetual lamp to the Presiding deity. The inscription also speaks about the land sale deed and the responsibility to light the perpetual lamp entrusted to Saiva Brahmanas headed by Bharathvaj and his assistants as well. The same record^[11] also mentions the well organised irrigation system that existed in Munnjur. The inscription also states that the land which was donated would have been irrigated by the near water reservoir through a canal known as Abhimana Meru Canal.

The same water canal has several shutters and this shutter is known Kannu, or Madagu even now. The expression Kannarru appears in the inscriptional record is identified with Madagu or shutter. The record makes mention that each shutter is capable to irrigate more than sixteen saduram of lands. One saduram is equallent to modern one hector of lands. Therefore the Canal Abhimanameru has been existed with minimum five to six shutters. The above mentioned record clearly reveals the fact that the temple authorities in addition to the duties connected with temple rituals they also look after the irrigation facilities in a systematic manner. The temple was a centre for its well organized self–governance^[12] of the village and the same has been concentrated on agricultural production and cultivation. Agricultural production, irrigation are the basic livelihood of Munnjur.

The record also mentions the place as Munnjur alias, Rajanarayana Chathurvedhimangalam^[13] of Oima Nadu under Rajendra Valanadu of Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam. Therefore Munnur was known as Munnjur or Rajanarayana Chathurvedhimangalam even during the period of Chola Kulotthunga II. Besides the same record mentions the territorial subdivision as Oima Nadu which has been more prominent even during the days of Sangam age.

The importance given to Saivism in Munnjur alias Rajanaraya Chathurvedhimangalam by Kulottunga II is revealed by his third epigraph^[14] issued in his 12^th regional year (A.D. 1147). The same record is found on the western side wall of the Mahamandapa of the Principal shrine. It registers a gift of 23 3/4 ma of wet and 43 1/4 ma of dry lands^[15] and the income from this 67 ma of land resources viz., 1000 kalam of paddy was to be used for offerings to the Presiding deity Sri Mulasthanamudaiyar. The record mentions the place name as Kulottunga Chola Nallur instead of the old name Dina Sindhamani Nallur.^[16] The stone record further states an interesting royal order of Konnerimeikondan who is identified with Kulottunga II refers to the assessment of Kulottunga Chola Nallur in his own name and the same huge income was re-allotted for offerings of the Presiding deity by Kulottunga II.

From this it is clear that the land donation which was already made by the pervious rulers, once again re allotted and renewed its patronage from the days of Kulottunga II. More over the previous donations were continued and renewed by the subsequent monarchs by issuing through the Royal Orders.^[17] This huge grant was noted by one official known as Maheswara Kankani^[18] and Nagar on who intimated to this huge land donation to Kulottunga II. The King passed a Royal Order in one of his surname Konerimei Kondan and the huge income of the land was regularized and the same was to be used continuously for offerings^[19] to the Presiding deity from his days in his surname. It indicates that this temple also like Chidambaram temple gained and continued its patronage even from the days of Kulottunga II. Besides the importance given to Saivism by Kulottunga II is also revealed by the tax exemption^[20] which was also extended to these land during his region. Moreover the expression Varikuru^[21] which is identified with the land tax was granted by the request made by one elderly person Thillai Nayan Konda Puliandar^[22] who belongs to Avalanga Visalur. This Thillai Nayan might have served as an elderly member of Mahasabha of the Munnjur alias Rajanarayana Chathurvedhimangalam.

In addition to the above mentioned facts the record also mentions that the Royal Orders were received by one Royal official Archala Muvenda Vellalan^[23] and the same has been registered in the register Variputtaham^[24] by the land revenue officials viz., Variyiliar and Varikuru.^[25] These land revenue officials after certified the same sent to MaheswaraKankani^[26] a village land supervisor and Devakankani a temple land supervisor of Munnjur for proper registration.

From this it is clear that the record of Kulottunga II reveals the salient features of local self-government, land revenue administration, tax exemption, proper certified process for declaration, registration procedures of Royal orders and execution of Royal orders by various hierarchy officials, the maintenance of land revenue registers by the land revenue board official and from Central Government to the remote small hamlet the administrative steps in a detailed manner.

In all the inscriptions of Kulottunga II this Presiding deity is mentioned as Sri Mulasthana Mudaiyar. The previous records refer the main deity as Sri Mulasthanaththu Paramaswamy. From this we can infer that the main deity is renamed as Sri Mulasthana Mudaiyar after the renovation work completed. Besides the place Munnjur is mentioned as Rajanarayana Chathurvedhimangalam. Previously it was known in the inscriptional record as Sri Pandithachola Chathurvedhimangalam. From this it is also clear that the existing temple renovated or rebuilt during the time of Kulottunga II and this Mahamandapa perhaps might have been built during the time of Kulottunga II.