Sundarasvara temple complex, Nangavaram, Tamil NaduNangavaram has an ancient Shiva and a Pidari temple. It is said that the daughter of a Chola king of Uraiyur was born with the face of a jackal and by her devotion to the Lord of this place she came to have normal human features. Hence this place is called Mangai-varam or Nangai-varam whose corrupt form in Nangavaram. The date and authorship of the Sundarasvara temple need further examination. It has been proposed that a Paluvettaraiyar chief of Paluvur, Kumaran Maravan built the temple sometime in the late ninth or early tenth century. Another scholar has suggested a date about 910 to 920 CE. According to another explanation, the Irrukuvels are the founders of the temple. The temple could either be a foundation of Irrukuvel Maravan himself or his son or of a family member meant to commemorate Maravan’s name or merit so it predates Aditya Chola (871 – 907 CE) or at most have been built very early in the Chola monarch’s reign. The deity of this temple is now called Sundaresvarar was known in the past as Tiru Maravanisvarattup-Perumal. There are two inscriptions - one of the tenth regnal year and other of the fourth year of Parantaka I (917 and 911 CE). There are two early Chola lion pillars standing outside the temple. Four of the original stone sub-shrines survive: two have around the neck (griva) and crowning cupola (sikhara), one containing the original Saptamatrikas is in the form of a sala while the fourth containing the original Ganesa, has an interesting apsidal roof (panjara). The sub shrine of Kartikkeya is late and contains a late image. References: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp.139-140, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 40-43, D. Barrett, 1974, p. 72.

Sundaravaradasvami temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Sundaresvara complex, Tirukkattalai, Tamil Nadu

The Sundaresvara temple at Melappalluvur is an early Chola temple that was originally built by Kandan Maravan. It was renovated several times during the reign of Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE) and Kulottunga I (1070-1122). There are two inscriptions built into the Amman shrine. One of the year of Uttama Chola (971-988 CE) and other from Rajaraja I's time (985-1014 CE). The earliest inscription is that of Aditya II's (968 CE) time. An inscription of Kulottunga I states that temple which had been built of brick and lay in a neglected state was rebuilt of stone for the welfare of the king by Kulottungacola Isvaram. There is a stone sculpture of the tutelary deity of Jamadagni (one of the seven sages / saptarishis) in this temple. The gateway (gopuram) with the door guardians (dvarapalas) is a part of the original early Chola temple. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1963, pp. 25-28, D. Barrett, 1974, p. 85.

The Lord of the Sundaresvara temple at Paluvur is believed to be the deity worshipped by Jamadagni, the father of Parasurama of Puranic and epic fame. There are inscriptions from Uttama Chola (971 – 988 CE), Rajaraja I (985 – 1014 CE) and Kulottunga I (1070 – 1122 CE) on the temple. This temple has gone through several repairs and its ancient architectural features cannot be inferred from the present structure but it has an original early Chola gateway (gopuram) and a few sub-shrines. Reference: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1963, pp. 25-28, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp. 111-113.

Sundaresvara temple, Sendalai, Tamil NaduThe Sundaresvara temple at Sendalai is one of the older structural temples of the Muttaraiyars, possibly of the time of Cuvaran Maran or of his immediate descendant. There are about forty inscriptions on the wall of this temple covering the period of nearly 500 years from the latter part of the eighth century to the thirteenth century. The name of the deity of this temple is Tirupperundurai Mahadeva. Tirupperundurai was the place that was associated with Saiva saint Manikkavasagar but whether this place was associated with the life of the saint cannot be said with certainty. The temple was most likely a brick structure that was later rebuilt in stone in the days of Aditya I. Two inscriptions of Aditya I's time exist on the temple. There are four granite pillars used in the construction of a hall (mandapa) in front of the main shrine. That belonged to a temple at Nemam built by the Pallava king Nandivarman Pallava Malla II (731 – 796 CE). Some early sculptures of Brahma, Vishnu, Siva and Parvati and a few Saptmatrikas were found lying loose in the northern enclosure (prakara) and some of them were later moved to the Tanjavur Art Gallery. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp.135-137, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp. 137-140.