Pallavanisvara temple, Kaveripoopattinam, Tamil Nadu

Pancanadisvara temple, Allur, Tamil Nadu

Tiruvaiyaru means place of five rivers – the Kaveri and her four branches. Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar have glorified this place by their devotional hymns so this temple was a living institution even before the seventh century CE. In recent years, Tiruvaiyaru has gained greater prestige by the association with this place of saint Thyagaraja, one of the greatest exponents of Carnatic music. The Pancanadisvarar temple here is one of the holiest temples in Kaveri valley. It is a large complex with several subsequent additions but the main shrine is a small structure. The temple was probably rebuilt in stone in or before 888 CE. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 161, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.149-152.

The Pandava Perumal temple is referred to as Tiruppadagam or Padagam in the Vaishnava alvars’ hymns and the inscriptions. The sanctuary was built sometime during the seventh century; the existing structure however with the main cell of granite and its barrel-shaped dome built of brick mortar belongs to the Chola period. The temple has three inscriptions on its walls, two dating from the period of Kulottunga I (1070–1120 CE) and one to that of Rajadhiraja Chola (1018-54 CE). The pilasters and corbels are Chola while the ornate stucco over the dome has been redone in recent years. The mahamandapa and other parts of the shrine are also later additions. Reference: C Minakshi, 1954, p.20.

Parvati & Somesvara temples, Mulbagal, Karnataka

The deity enshrined in the Pasupatesvara temple at Allur is called in inscriptions Tiru Vadagudi Paramesvarar or Mahadevar. It is assigned to the age of Parantaka I (907 - 955 CE) on the basis of an inscription on the half hall (ardhamandapa). It is a single-storeyed stone temple. The crowning cupola (sikhara) is bulbous and is heavily stuccoed. All the divinity niche images (devakostha) are missing but the original figure of Dakshinamurti lies mutilated under a mango tree close by. Inside the entrance hall (mukhmandapa) there are sculptures of Bhikshatanar, Chandesvarar, Karttikeya and Surya. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 12-15, D. Barrett, 1974, pp. 72-73.