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Chola Temples
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Chola Temples

Chola Temples

 
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Cadaiyar Kovil, Tiruchchenampundi, ...

Cadaiyar Kovil at Tiruchchenampundi has an inscription from the time of Pallava Nandivarma III, Vijaya Nrptungavarma, Ko-Ilango Muttaraiyar and Rajakesarivarma who could be Aditya I (871-907 CE). The temple was probably rebuilt in stone during the time of Parantaka I around 920-921 CE. This temple is special because it provides an example of a shrine from Parantaka's time that still follows the older iconographic pattern. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p.169.

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Candramoulisvara temple, Tiruvakkar...

The Candramoulisvara temple at Tiruvakkarai might have been in existence since at least the time of Aditya I (871-907 CE). This stone temple was then known only as that of Karralip-perumal-adigal. The temple consists of two shrines - a ruined Siva shrine called in the inscriptions that of Shivalokamudaiya-Paramasvamin built by Sembiyan Mahadevi and a Vishnu shrine dedicated to Varadaraja Perumal. There is hundred pillared hall (mandapa) in the second enclosure (prakara) of the temple which could be dated to 1180 CE. There is an inscription on the south wall of the mandapa that mentions the feats of Kulottunga III (1178-1218 CE). References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1979, pp. 300-301.

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Candrasekhara temple, Tiruchchendur...

The Candrasekhara temple at Tiruchchendurai has inscriptions on its walls that cover almost the whole of the Chola period. According to an inscription Pudi Adichcha Pidariyar, queen of Parantaka I is credited with the construction of this temple with stone (karrali). The stone temple was already in existence in 909 CE when a stone structure replaced a brick structure. A certain formal nearness of this building to the Muvarkovil, together with the style of pilaster decorations and bhutas of the bhutamala, seem to warrant a date in or before 894 CE. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp. 210-212, D. Barrett, 1974, p. 52, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.93-95.

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Colisvara temple, Kilaiyur, Tamil N...

The Colisvara temple is the smaller of the two shrines of the Avani-Kandrapa-Isvaram temple built at Kilaiyur under Aditya I (871-907 CE). The other one is the Agastisvara shrine. Colisvara is a double storied stone shrine. The crowning cupola (shikhara) is circular and bell-shaped with a fine finial (stupi) over it unlike the square shikhara and stupi of its twin shrine making this a unique feature of the Avani-Kandrapa-Isvaram temple at Kilaiyur. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1963, pp. 20-25, M. Boothalingam, 1971, 64-66

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