The Sundara Varadha Perumal Temple was one of the key structures of this new township. It has many unique features which will be dealt with separately. Near the temple was the Oor Sabha mandapa. The governing body of the chaturvedhi mangalams were called sabha. Samithi and Sabha are two institutions which trace back to vedic period. So whenever one comes across a "sabha" in an inscription it is a direct conclusion that there was a chaturvedhi mangalam in that area. Other governing bodys of villages which were non chaturvedhi mangalams were called "oorom" or "aalunganam". The merchantile communities were controlled by "Nattar" groups. This Oor sabha mandapa was built with a granite basement but the superstructure seems to have been built out of perishable material - most probably wood. It is in this basement that we find the lengthly "kudavolai" inscription of parantaka that made uttaramerur so famous. The superstructure is gone today. it was gone 300+ years after it was built that kulothunga built a granite temple itself on top of the basement. This is the vaikundha perumal temple as it stands today
> can you please list the chola kings and their religious affliations in > order
Sure. As we all know all were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. on top of this...
Sangam age Karikala - Could have built the Kaala padari temple in Niyamam. Unsure
Vijayalaya - Great devi devotee. Establishes devi centres on all the 4 directions of thanjavore. Most famous being Nisumbha sudhani. Location of this temple uncertain.Inscription found in srirangam temple.
Aditya - Ardent Shiva devotee. Builds many granite temples along banks of kaveri. First ever stand alone subrahmanya temple of cholas built by him in kannanur. Vahana - elephant ! (Many sangam works quote elephant as vahana of muruga)
Parantaka - well known for chidambaram golden roofing. Ardent devotee of shiva. Kattu mannar koil shoots to fame. Bore the name veera narayana. I'm uncertain about his contributions to vishnu temples
Sundara chola - Endowments to many temples - Kaala padari (vallam) and shiva.
Uttama - Builder of thiruppudaiyur mahalinga shrine. many endowments to shiva temples.
Rajaraja - well known. His sister balances the religious movements by building one temple each for all other minor sects. Sundara chola vinnagaram - Kundavai Jinalayam shoot to fame
Rajendra - Mannargudi temple seems to have been built in his period. Very wide variety of endowments. Gives generous donations to Uttaramerur Vishnu temple !
After this my exposure and reading diminishes :-))
from your words cholas seem to have been cosmpopolitan but predictable. no about turns like the pandyas and the pallavas, who jumped from jain to hindu or vice versa.
on the elephant vahanam for muruga remember he was the son in law indra the owner of airavatha- the white elephant.
we can also see the elephant as the vahanam for muruga in thiruporur and kandakottam of chennai.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION during chola period were the vaishnavas and the shaivas considered seperate religions? was there infighting like alwarkadiyan's escapades?
> from your words cholas seem to have been cosmpopolitan but > predictable. no about turns like the pandyas and the pallavas, who > jumped from jain to hindu or vice versa.
We can also look at it from another way. I think kings were able to choose their gods on their own will and wish during pallava days. Probably at that time there was no hardcore distinction - probably the shanmatha concept was post pallava.
So mahendra was a jain and then a shaiva (with respects to vaishnavism), narasimha was predominantly a vaishnava (with respects to shaivism) - I seriously think Aadi varaha cave of mahamallapuram is his work though not supported by inscriptions - Raajashima was a shiva choodamani and Nandhivarman II was a staunch vaishnava and was a friend of Thirumangai azhvar.
> > BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION > during chola period were the vaishnavas and the shaivas considered > seperate religions? > was there infighting like alwarkadiyan's escapades?
I am not sure about this. Atleast I have not come across any inscriptional evidence so far to support veerasaiva and veeravaishnava theologies. Learned can share their thoughts.
Nandhivarman II was a staunch vaishnava and was a friend of Thirumangai azhvar.
Dear Gokul, What would be the period of Nandivarman II ? If he is after Narasimha and Rajasimha means then what about the theory of "so-called duel between Thirugnanasambandhar and Thirumangai alwar" ? Surely, there seems to be some conflict in the period. Please correct me, if I am wrong.
"so-called duel between Thirugnanasambandhar and Thirumangai alwar" ?
This is not possible. Gnana sambandar is a contemporary of ThiruNavukkarasar - Mahendra period.
Thirumangai azhvar sings Parameswara vinnagaram - Vaikundap perumal koil - most certainly built by Nandhivarman II. Something like "Nandhip pani seidha paramechura vinnagaram adhuve" --> He even quotes Nandhi as the builder of the temple. Nandhi II is a much later pallava king
Hence the duel is imagination in my humble opinion
> > "so-called duel between Thirugnanasambandhar and Thirumangai alwar" ? > > This is not possible. Gnana sambandar is a contemporary of > ThiruNavukkarasar - Mahendra period. > > > Hence the duel is imagination in my humble opinion >
haiyaaa gokuluku oru O podunga
muruganandam. over history centuries are merged into decades and decades into years. so charecters from across eras are said to have met.
anyway nyaana paal kudiththa paalakan losing in a duel. i personally dont beleive it.