Later Chola Temples

by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam | 1979 | 143,852 words

This volume of Chola Temples covers Kulottunga I to Rajendra III in the timeframe A.D. 1070-1280. 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....

Mayuram is the headquarters of the taluk of the same name in the Tanjavur district.

Mayuranathasvamin temple

We have discussed the Mayuranathasvamin temple here and its renovation by Sembiyan Mahadevi in the days of Uttama Chola and also the retention of the original stone devakoshtha sculptures during the later reconstruction of the temple by the Nagarattars of Chettinad (vide my Early Chola a.d. 907-985, p. 197).

There is an inscription of the 14th regnal year of Tribhuvana-chakravartin Rajaraja III (a.d. 1229) found in one of the shrines on the north side of this temple. It refers to the existence of a shrine for, and records a gift of land to, the goddess called Tirup-Palliya-rai-Nachchiyar in the temple of Tiru-mayil-aduturai Nayanar (ARE 372of 1907;also El, X, p. 134).

Avayambal (Amman) shrine

The Amman shrine would thus appear to have come into existence during the period of Rajaraja III. Till then, there must have been only a Bhogasakti bronze in the sanctum of the central shrine as was the practice till separate Amman shrines were introduced by Kulottunga I.

This shrine has a fine set of bronzes.

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