Temples in Tillaiyadi

The village of Tillaiyadi is situated in the Mayuram taluk of the Tanjavur district and is not far from Tirukkadaiyur, Akkur and Melaperumpallam, all important religious centres.

Saranagata-rakshakar temple

The Siva temple in this village was evidently in existence during the Middle Chola period as there is a reference to the Gangaikondasolan chaturalai (hall) where generally the assembly met to take decisions. Possibly, the central shrine (the has undergone renovation and replacement at a later date with the result that we have no epigraphs of the period prior to the days of Vikrama Chola. However on the west wall of the first prakara of this temple is found a record of the sixth year of Vikrama Chola which mentions a gift of io kasus to the temple towards the charges for measuring a tuni and padakku of salt on a daily basis from the salt pan called Aiturai alias Rajendrasolap-peralam, granted by the king for meeting the expenses of offerings during the service called the Vikramasolan sandhi in the temple of ‘Tillaiyali Isvaram Udaiyar’. This was possibly the name of the temple during the Middle Chola period (ARE 239 of 1925). But a record of the 12th year of Kulottunga II (pu mannu padumam introduction) mentions the name of the deity as Vikramasolisvaram Udaiyar at Tillaiyali-nallur. Six individuals sold to the temple for 45 kasus two velis of land at Sattamangalam after making it tax-free. In this connection the assembly of the village met in the hall called the Gangaikondasolan chaturalai. An undated record (possibly of the days of Rajaraja II or Rajadhiraja II) mentions mat one Rajaraja Pichchan made over the right of tiruppadiyakkani and madapattiyam in the temple of Tillaiyali-nallur in Kurujnbur nadu, a subdivision of Jayangondasola valanadu, to persons of his own choice. This was done with the approval of the king, granted at the request of Pallavarayar (ARE 236 of 1925).

Much later, in the days of Perumal Parakrama Pandya ‘who was pleased to take all countries’, the weavers residing in the streets round the temple agreed to raise subscriptions among themselves at the rate of a kasu on each working loom for renovation of the entrance (gopuram) to the temple of Vikramasolisvaram Udaiyar, because it had cracked in many places. This agreement is recorded on the west wall of the inner gopuram of this temple (ARE 238 of 1925).

This temple comprising the central shrine and the first wall of enclosure and the gopuram thereon was the creation of Vikrama Chola and was named Vikramasolisvaram.