Temples in Tirumanikkuli

Tirumanikkuli is a village on the Gadilam river, 3 km. from Tirup-padirip-puliyur (i.e. Cuddalore New Town) called in the past the Southern Pataliputra. It was formerly a great Jaina centre with which Appar is associated. Sambandar has a hymn on the Lord here. He calls the place Udavi-Manikkuli and refers to the legend that Vishnu as Vamana (one of His avataras) paid adoration to this Lord, and alludes to it as follows: ‘Nedumal kuralangi migavum chittam torukki valipadu sivalokam’. We get it confirmed by the Periyapuranam (Taduttatkonda puranam), which mentions ‘Pandu vamananey irandu Senganavan valiketta Tirumanikkuli.’

Manikkya Varadar (Vamanapurisvara) temple

In the Manikkya-varadar temple located in this village, there are four inscriptions of the days of Kulottunga I. One, of the 34th year, found in the mandapa (ARE 154 of 1902) records the gift of a lamp. The next, of the 35th year (ARE 156 of 1902), records a gift of two lamps to Surya devar and Kshetrapalar (Bhairavar). Two others, of the 42nd and 49th years, concern the sale of some land (ARE 152 and 160 of 1902).

Vikrama Chola inscriptions, which are seven in number, range from the third to the 13th years; the third year record concerns a gift of land; the next, of the fourth year, refers to a gift of money for two lamps; one, of the sixth year, records a gift of twelve sheep for a lamp. An inscription of the 11th year, found on the west wall of the central shrine (ARE 148 of 1902), records a gift of land. In his twelfth year, Vikrama Chola, during his stay in his palace at Chidambaram, is said to have made a gift of land to an image which he had set up in the temple. We do not know what that image was. Two other inscriptions are incomplete.

There is an inscription in this temple which states that Kulottunga II alias Anapaya rfiade ‘Tillai-ma-nagar’ (Chidambaram) famous by his celebration of his coronation there. ‘Tillai-ma-nagar sirappudait tagat tirumudi sudiya Sri Kulottungasola’.

There are seven inscriptions of the days of Kulottunga III. The eighth year inscription (ARE 164 of 1902) is damaged and records a gift of land. The gift of a gold girdle, by an Adiyaman is mentioned in an inscription of the 19th year (ARE 161 of 1902). Two ofhis 21st year record gifts of land (ARE 169 and 170 of 1902).

There are two inscriptions of the days of Rajaraja III. One, of the fifth year, records the gift of a buffalo and calf by a paraiya (harijan).