VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Sri Mahalingeswarar Temple / Mahalingeshwara Temple, Malingi or Tadi Malingi, Near Kollegal, Karnataka.

Tuesday 26 June 2018

Sri Mahalingeswarar Temple / Mahalingeshwara Temple, Malingi or Tadi Malingi, Near Kollegal, Karnataka.

17^th June 2018.

After Talakadu Visit, on the way to Kaliyuru ( where the Chozha’s victory memorial tablet or the Hero Stone is found ) Mr John told that there are two Chozha period Temples at Malingi otherwise called as Tadimalingi. This Village is on the south bank of river Kaveri. It was told that this place was once called as Maavilangai which latter turned to Malingi. ( Tadi means edge in kannada, in this case edge of river Kaveri ). When we are about to return without able to locate the Shiva temple, an auto driver guided us to this temple.

Moolavar : Sri Mahalingesvara

Some of the important details are..

The temple is facing east in the midst of houses of Malingi village without any proper approach. There is no proper entrance and entrance arch to this temple. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala and artha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is of pathabanda athistanam. The artha mandapam pillars are found cute with simple capital or pothyal. The niches are empty with out any koshta moorthams. There is no vimana found above the sanctum.

In the Antarala, the remains of saptamatrikas group of Varahi, Brahmi, Maheswari, Indrani and Veerabhadra. Jyeshta Devi image ( not a fine finished and without big belly ) is also in the antarala.

The period of the temple built is not known, but an early Chozha’s Kali icon was mentioned in a middle Chozhas book written by S R Balasubramaniam. Inscriptions are found on the sanctum wall and kumudam of the mandapam. The inscriptions belongs to 1042 AD, Rajendran –I period starts with his title 'Thirumanni valara" - திரு மன்னி வளர- speaks about the donation made to this temple. The temple had undergone renovations during the recent years.