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 Gramam (36th year)
Gramam lies about two miles (3.2 km.) to the west of the main Madras-Tiruchy trunk road (107th milestone) on the road to Tirukkoyilur.
Gramam had an early Chola temple at least from the seventh century a.d. It was then known as Tirumundis-varam. Appar has sung a hymn on the Sivalokan of Tiru-mundisvaram. In the days of Parantaka I it was rebuilt of stone.
Gramam was the headquarters of Rajaditya, the son of Parantaka I who maintained an army here against the threat to the northern frontier by the Rashtrakutas. He seems to have been crowned heir-apparent about a.d. 947 (2 years before the battle of Takkolam). Hence this place came to be known as Mouli-Grcimam or Mudiyur (Tamil).
The temple, now known as that of Sivalokanatha-svamin, was called in the past that of Arruttali Maha-devar or Perumanadigal of Tirumudiyur (Mouli-gramam).
An inscription dated in Kali yuga era (equivalent to the 36th year of Parantaka I and a.d.943) mentions that Vellan Kumaran a native of Malainadu and a great general (Perum-padai-nayakari) and the first servant (Mulabritya) of the Cholas built this temple of stone.
The garbhagriha is a square. The ardhamandapa projects 9 ft. 1 in. (2.77 m.) in front. There are the usual five devakoshtas with sculptures of Ganesa, Dakshina-murti, Vishnu, Brahma and Durga.