Narthamalai : This is a place of historical importance and the head-quarters of the Mutharaiya chieftains. The earliest structural stone temple, circular in shape, built by the Mutharaiyar and the Vijayalaya Choleeswaram cave temple built by the Vijayala Chola, the first king of the later Cholas are located here.
Sri Kokaraneswarar temple : The rock cut cave temple of Sri Kokaraneswarar and Brahadambal at Thirukokarnam is of Mahendravarma Pallava's period.
Government Museum : The rare collections in the sections of Geology, Zoology, Paintings, Anthropology, Epigraphy and Historical Records etc. are very interesting and informative. The beautiful sculptures and bronzes of various periods are attractive items of this museum.
Sittannavasal : This ancient abode of Jains dating back to the 2nd century B.C. is about 16 kms. from Pudukkottai. The rock-cut cave temple with its beautiful frescoes and paintings in natural colours as in Ajantha in Maharashtra and stonebeds known as Eladipattam, a cave in which the Jain monks were said to have sought refuge in those days are the main attractions.
There are a few sculptures of Jain Thirthankaras in the Ardhamandapam and the inner shrine of the cave temple. the ceiling of the Ardhamandapam contains fresco paintings of the 7th century A.D. Inscriptions of the 9th-10th century A.D. are also found in the cave. The cave temple is said to have been excavated in the 7th century A.D. by the Pallava King Mahendravarman. In the area around Sittanna-vasal, there are many historical burial sites consisting of Kurangupatarai, cairns, burial urns and casts etc.
Kudumiyamalai : It is 20 kms. from Pudukkottai. There are beautiful sculptures and thousand- pillar hall in the temple. The presiding deity is Sikhagiriswarar. The temple is noted for numerous inscriptions. Remarkable among them is the one relating to a musical treatise of the Mahendravarma Pallavan who experimented the sapthaswara in a veena called Parivardini with 8 strings. there is also a rock-cut temple called Melakkoil which was excavated during the time of Mahendravarma Pallavan.
Kodumbalur : This place, also known as Muvarkoil is 36 kms. from Pudukkottai and 42 kms. from Trichy. It was formerly the seat of Irukkavelirs who were related to Cholas.
Out of the three shrines of Muvarkoil, only two exist now. These temples were built by Budhi Viramakesan in the 10th century A.D. The architecture of this temple is unique among the South Indian temples. The sculptures of Kalarimurthi, Gajasamharamurthi, Ardhanari and Gangadara-murthi etc. are interesting masterpieces of art. Nearby is the Muchukundeswarar temple of the early Chola period.
Viralimalai : This town lies north-west of Pudukkottai about 40 kms. Throughout the district and even outside, this place is well known for the Subramania temple on the hill here and is said to exist before 15th century A.D. The principal idol is eated on the peacock with his consorts on either side. There is a peacock with his consorts on either side. There is a peacock sanctuary here. Viralimalai has been mentioned in the Tamil book of hymns Thiruppugazh.
Tirumayam : This place, a taluk headquarters is 19 kms. from Pudukkottai, the district headquarters. The fort, the Siva and Vishnu temples are the tourist attractions here. The famous Vishnavite saint Thirumangai Alwar is supposed to have lived here before the 10th century. the ruins of an old fort exist here and it is said that the Poligar of Panjalankurichi was imprisoned in this before he was handed over to the British by the Tondaiman.
The Sengirai forest near this place is significant for it is believed that this forest was the abode of the demoness Tataka who was killed by Sri Rama. the fort played an important role in the history of Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai and the British. The erection of this fort in 1687 A.D. is attributed to Sethupathy Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman, the Sethupathi of Ramnad.
Avadaiyarkovil : This place is a village in Arantangi taluk 14 kms. away from Arantangi and 48 kms. from Pudukkottai. This place is noted for sculptures. It is famous for its Siva temple which is dedicated to God Athmanatha and associated with the Tamil Saint Manickavasagar. The temple is supposed to have been built by this saint whose image is installed in it. It is famous as an exquisite structure. The temple is noted for its granite roof work.
The sanctum sanctorum is covered with copper plate and is similar to the Chidambaram Natarajar temple. A peculiarity in this temple is that it contains no images of the principal deities-Siva and Parvathi and that the worship is done to their pedestals. It is an important pilgrimage centre in South India.
It is nice to read the Importance of Pudukottai in the History of Tamil Nadu.
Let me add few more points to this topic, 1.Present day Pudukottai Dist. had been very significant in the political History of Tamil nadu, Because It is a bufferland between the Chola and Pandya domains.This is evident from the existence of many both early Pandya ( Sreemara srivallaba,Kochadaiyan ) and earl Chola Temples around Thirumayam and Kodumbalur and Kudumiyan malai famous for musical note inscriptions of Mahendravarma Pallava, a Great personality in Tamil history.
G.S. Krishnan. ( presently an Aerospace Materials Scientist, Formerly An Archaeological Chemist with ASI, Dehradun , Utharanchal.)
in mithilaipatti within pudukottai district the entire text of the original silapathigaram was obtained by u.ve .saaminaatha aiyar. he used to say it was his holiest place.
I wish to add few informations known to me on the History of Kodumbalur/ Movarkoil/Ivarkoil.
Ilankovadigal, The Author of silappathigaram mentions of Kodumbalur in his book on Kannagi-Kovalan story. That was the main route ( raja pattai) to the Pandyan Country from Early Chola capital of Poombuhar. in my opinion, this might be the first reference about the Kodumbalur in the History of Tamil Nadu. Kodumbalur was the Capital city of Irukuvelirs, a faithful chola vassal from the Paranthaga Chola I. Before that , They used to swing their alliance between Herculean Pandyans and Early Cholas. Again Velirs migrated from Himalayan region particularly from the Kashmir with Pasupatha siva cult and some of them were Kapilika cult of shaivisam. Even there exists evidences for a royal gifts to a Chathiram . Some authors ( Thurston ) say that they were belong to the Yahthu Kula and another version is that they are a sect of present day Karalas ( a sect of vellala community). a famous shiva nayanar viz., Itanghali was from Kodubalur.
> If I am right the Ambal's name in Perur near Coimbatore is Bragadambal. The Lord's name is Goshteshwarar/Patteeewarar. > Regards > Sundar > > I have a feeing that its Maragathaambaal or Pachaiamman locally.
can some covai guys help us out.
venketesh > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta. >
The oldest structure in Kokarnam is the rockcut shrine dedicated to lord shiva. A classic middle pandiyan cave temple. The rock cut Ganesh, Gangadhara and more importantly the sapthamatrika group - each with respective vaahanas (Samundi has ghost as vahana !) - is a feast to eyes and spirits