Temples in Uttattur

Uttattur, whose ancient name was Urrattur, is about 3.20 km. to the south-east of Padalur, which is about 34 km. from Tiruchy on the Tiruchy-Madras trunk road. It has an Early Chola temple with a long history. We have dealt with this temple in Middle Chola Temples (pp. 256-59).

Cholisvara temple

In the outskirts of Uttattur, there is a dilapidated temple on top of a low mound. It belongs to the Later Chola period. There are two inscriptions found on the south wall of this temple, one on either side of the entrance. The earlier one, beginning with the introduction pu mannu padumam, relates to the 13th year and 124th day of Kulottunga II’s reign (a.d. 1146-47), and records that the temple (of Cholesvaram) was built by a certain Vana-vichchadira Nadalvan, the younger brother of Brahmadaraya Muttaraiyar, in the reign of Rajakesarivarmap..Tribhuvana-chakravartin Kulottunga Chola deva (II). The same inscription further avers that the income from the village of Siruvalaippur in Kannakkiliyur nadu was assigned to this temple (ARE 531 of 1912). The second inscription to the right of the entrance on the south wall of this temple records that in the fourth year and 226th day of the reign of Parakesarivarman Tribhuvana-chakra-vartin Konerinmaikondan Rajaraja deva (II) (a.d. 1150-51), the village of Uluttambadi in Kannakkiliyur nadu was gifted as a devadana to the temple of Kulottungasola-Isvaram Udaiyar of Urrattur. The grant is recorded and attested by the Royal Secretary (Tirumandira-olai) bearing the name of Rajasraya Pallavarayan (ARE 530 of 1912).

This temple is thus a foundation of the days of Kulottunga II and the deity was named after the Chola emperor. (Pis. 214-8).