Early Chola Temples
by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam | 1960 | 105,501 words
This volume of Chola Temples covers Parantaka I to Rajaraja I in the timeframe A.D. 907-985. 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....
Temples in Karadi
Karadi in South Arcot district is three miles west of Tirukkoyilur. It has two early Chola temples set among a few boulders enclosed by a fort on the southern bank of the river Pennai.
1. Tiru-madapparai Mahadevar temple
This Siva temple in ruins has four inscriptions: one, of the 23rd year of a Parakesarivarman, which may be assigned to Parantaka I; two of Parakesari, ‘conqueror of Madurai and Ham (Ceylon)’, i.e., Parantaka I (40th and 41st years: 220 and 221 of 1936-37); and one of Rajaraja I. They all refer to gifts for lamps and offerings to the Lord called Tiru-madapparai Mahadevar at Ravikulachudamani in Vanagoppadi on the southern bank of the Pennai river. The name ‘Ravikula Chudamani’ seems to be a title or surname of Parantaka I. The donors are Vira Narayaniyar described as the ‘wife of Pillaiyar Gandara-dittar, son of Queen Chola Madeviyar,’ and the great Sembiyan Madeviyar, whose gift is one of a series of magnificent donations to temples during a long life of devotion and dedication to spiritual and noble causes.
2. Selliyamman temple
This temple is called that of Pidari Idaimalai Nangai; a gift of a lamp to this deity in the 20th year of Kannaradeva (Krishna III) is recorded on a boulder in the southern prakara of the temple.