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 Tiruvandarkoyil (15th year)
This village lies 11 miles (17.7 km.) from Villupuram on the road to Pondicherry (Puduchcheri). Here is an early Chola temple. Sambandar (7th century a.d.) has a decad of hymns and he calls the deity Vadugur Adigal. And the place was also called Vadugur.
The garbhagriha and the ardhamandapa are the oldest parts of the temple. The big mandapa in front is a later addition.
There is a fragmentary inscription of the 5th year of a Rajakesarivarman. The script is early enough to be ascribed to Aditya I. But the structure of the central shrine seems to belong to the period of Parantaka I. There are three inscriptions of Parantaka I, the earliest of which is one of his 15th year.
There are six devakoshtas, three on each side in the outer walls of the ardhamandapa. Bhikshatanar and Durga seem to belong to the original temple. Ganesa is too small for the niche. Perhaps it was the image of the Parivara Devata subshrine. Ardhanarisvara and Rishabhavahana devar are the other figures of these niches. Were these added during the days of Uttama Chola?