Jalanathesvara temple, Takkolam, Tamil Nadu
  • Jalanathesvara temple, Takkolam, Tamil Nadu
  • Jalanathesvara temple, Takkolam, Tamil Nadu
  • Jalanathesvara temple, Takkolam, Tamil Nadu
Jalanathesvara temple, Takkolam, Tamil Nadu

Takkolam is the site of the famous battle between Rajaditya and Krishna III in about 949 CE. Jalanathesvara (the Lord of Water) temple called Tiruvural in the ancient inscriptions on account of being a natural spring is one of the major monuments of this region. Its walls are engraved with many inscriptions of Parantaka I (907-954 CE) from the seventh regnal year to thirty-fifth and some inscriptions belong to Aditya I (871-907 CE). This temple in Tondaimandalam is not as developed as contemporary monuments in Colamandalam. On the basis of iconographical characteristics of the temple, it has been suggested that the temple's original patron must have been a Pallava. For example, the sculptures follow a Pallava convention in that they are four armed which is different from early Chola convention. References: D. Barrett, 1974, pp. 64-65.