Temples in Allur (6th year)

Allur is six miles (9.7 km.) from Tiruchy on the road to Karur. There are, in this place, two temples of the days of Parantaka I. One of them is near the main road itself known as Panchanadisvaram. It was known in the past as that of Tiru-Vadagudi-Paramesvara. The earliest inscription in the temple is one of the 6th year of Parantaka I. This foundation of Parantaka I’s days seems to have been remodelled during the reign of Rajaraja I and in subsequent years.

The other temple of Pasupatisvaram is found in a cocoanut grove about two miles south of the main road. It is also a foundation of the period of Parantaka I. This is an eka-tala-karrali. It consists of a square garbhagriha and the ardhamandapa. The original palas are found at the entrance to the ardhamandapa. The sikhara is bulbous and though heavily stuccoed, it seems to be of stone. The devakoshta images are missing, but the original but mutilated image of Dakshi-namurti lies under the shade of a mango tree close by. Four old sculptures of Bhikshatanar, Chandesvara Karttikeya and Surya are found in the mukhamandapa; except the first, the others may be figures of the subshrines (parivaradevatas).