The Ghritasthanesvara temple at Tillaisthanam is perhaps the latest amongst Muttaraiyar buildings; it ushers in features that are seen in typically Chola temples. For example, the bulls over the prati-corners show a transition toward Chola types. There are some stray sculptures of Muttaraiyar workmanship including an earlier Nandi in the temple’s surroundings. Three important inscriptions are associated with this temple. The oldest, perhaps of the brother of Maranjadaiyan Varaguna II, is one of the monarch’s fourth year (866 CE), the second is in the tenth year of a Pandya king inscribed by one Pallava Nandivarma. The third, of the eighth year of Rajakesarivarma (879 CE) that records a donation by Aditya I’s son. These inscriptions give clear evidence of the transfer of power over this region from the Pallava to the Pandya and then to the Chola rulers. The temple seems either pre-Chola or rebuilt in 878-879 CE. And if the builders were indeed Chola, then they must have tried to follow the convention of an older Muttaraiyar building. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp. 143-144, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp. 160-164.