Middle Chola Temples

by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam | 1975 | 141,178 words

This volume of Chola Temples covers Rajaraja I to Kulottunga I in the timeframe A.D. 985-1070. 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 Kottagere

Kottagere is a small village in Kunigal taluk of Tumkur district. The town of Kunigal, the taluk headquarters, lies at a distance of 70 kms from Bangalore on the road to Poona, and Kottegere is about three kms from Kunigal, along a district road skirting a big lake near the village. To the east of the village, there is a small modern shrine housing a Linga with a nandi in front. At the base of a pipal tree (katte) close by, there is a stone slab containing an inscription of Rajadhiraja I’s days, in Grantha and Tamil characters.

Rajendrasolisvaram temple

We gather from it that Kuningil alias Rajendrasolapuram was the headquarters of Kuningil nadu, a nagaram, and a centre of activity of the famous merchant guild called Tisai Ayirattu Ainnurruvar. We also learn that a temple named Rajendrasolisvaram was built here, and a huge lake excavated nearby (which exists even now), and that a processional deity called Rajadhiraja Vitankar was set up. The record is dated in the 31st year of Rajadhiraja I, five years after the death of Rajendra I. It is therefore likely that it was built in honour of Rajendra I during the reign (and sometime before the thirty-first year) of Rajadhiraja I (a.d. 1049).

The temple is no longer in existence.

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