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 Andanallur (14th year)
This village lies 7 miles 3 furlongs (12 km.) on the road from Tiruchy to Karur. According to inscriptions, the deity is called Tiru-Alandurai Mahadevar at Anda-vanallur, its ancient name.
This temple is said to have been built by Sembiyan Irukkuvel alias Pudi Parantakan and a number of gifts are made by two of his queens. This chief figures in inscriptions of a Parakesarivarman from his 10th year to his 18th year. And the transaction of his gift of land to this temple was finally completed in the 25th year of Parakesari. All these Parakesari inscriptions even without the title of Maduraikonda should be attributed only to Parantaka I. This identification is confirmed by an inscription of the 15th year of Parakesari which mentions a gift of Kannaradeva, brother of Parantaka I (another son of Aditya I).[1]
This is a dvi-tala structure. The basement has plain mouldings. The sikhara is circular.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
(a) The temple of Tiru-Alandurai Mahadevar (Vata-tirthanathar) at Andanallur was built of stone and consecrated (the ceremony of Jalasamprokshanam performed) in the 14th regnal year of Parakesarivarman to be identified with Parantaka I (a.d. 921) by Sembiyan Irukkuvel alias Pudi Parantakan. This inscription is attributed wrongly in my opinion to Uttama Chola; and the chief Pudi Parantakan also wrongly identified with Parantakan, son of Bhuti Vikrama-kesari of the Muvarkoyil inscription of Kodumbalur.
(SHI, IH, part III, no. 139; A.R. no. 358 of 1903 and Madras Epigraphical Report 1908, p 91).
(b) K.A.N. Sastri attributes an inscription of the 14th year of Parakesari (no. 358 of 1903) to Uttama Chola (The Colas, Vol. I, p. 471—1st edition). This seems to relate only to Parantaka I.