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Chola Temples
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Chola Temples

Chola Temples

 
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Vadapurisvara complex, Tiruvedikudi...

The Vadapurisvara temple at Tiruvedikudi is one of the seven temples of the ‘Saptasthana Kshetras’ of the Tiruvaiyaru group. This temple is sung by Appar and Sambandar. The deity is said to have been worshipped by the Vedas. The temple has only about six inscriptions on its walls that can be ascribed to Aditya I owing to the archaic script in which they are written. The two-storied (dvitala) structure has original images of Durga, Brahma and Ardhanari in their divinity niches (devakoshtas). Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.156-157.

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Vaikunthavasa Perumal, Kiliyanur, T...

The Vaikunthavasa Perumal temple at Kiliyanur can be dated to the third year of Nandivarman III (838 CE) by an inscription on the kumuda of the superstructure’s base (vimana’s adhisthana), which calls the temple Tikaittiral-Visnugrham of Kilinelur, after the name of its founder. The original structure is mostly gone, only the granite base of the main structure being extant. The parts later have been rebuilt in much later times. The only other Pallava remnant is a four-pillared hall (mandapa) built in front of the main temple. Reference: M.W. Mesister and M.A. Dhaky 1963, p. 100, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.78-79.

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Valikandesvaram temple, Valikandapu...

Four inscriptions on the Valikandesvaram temple at Valikandapuram have been found that have been attributed to Aditya I (871 - 907 CE) and Parantaka I (907 - 954 CE) by different scholars. The earliest incontrovertible inscriptions are between the fourth and fortieth years of Parantaka I. The temple was perhaps rebuilt in stone in Parantaka I's time maybe as early as his fourth regnal year that is in 911 CE. Reference: M.W. Mesister and M.A. Dhaky 1963, p. 174.

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Vallisvara temple, Mangadu, Tamil N...

Vallisvara temple, Mangadu, Tamil Nadu

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Vardhamana temple, Tiruparuttikunra...

The Vardhamana temple dates back to sixth century. It was enlarged during Chola period. The temple houses an idol of Mahavira. At the heart of this Jain complex are two double shrines, each with part-circular plans. The exteriors have been much renovated. The temples are built in the late Chola style, with small towers capped by hemispherical roofs. They are preceded by a long columned hall (mandapa), the ceiling of which is covered with paintings dating from the seventeenth century. The paintings cover stories of the Jains saviours like Rishbhadeva and Vardhamana in their former lives. References: G. Michell, 1995, p. 232, G. Michell, 1989, p. 439.

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Vasisthesvara temple, Karuntattungu...

Like the temple of Tiruppurambiyam, this is an earlier temple probably from Parantaka I's time (907 - 954 CE) but a large number of sculptures than the usual original five have been crudely inserted into newly improvised niches made by cuttings into the old outer inscribed walls of the sanctum sanctorum (garbagriha) and the half hall (ardhmandapa) causing damage even to the inscriptions. This is likely to have taken place in the period of Uttama Chola (971 - 988 CE) when additional divinity niche divinity niches (devakoshtas) sculptures became fashionable of the temples of Sembiyan style. Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 183-185.

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