17th November 2018
I was very curious to see this temple, since some people are referring this temple at Brahmadesam, as a Pallipadai Temple
of Rajendra Chozha-I ( False claim and details are given below - Google map also mentions the same as Rajendra Chozha Temple ). When I
searched in google map for Brahmadesam, it showed 3 places, one near Esalam
& Ennayiram, other one near Ambasamudram and another one near Arcot. Two weeks before we had been to the Brahmadesam Brahmapureeswarar Temple near Ennayiram
and Esalam. This week had the opportunity of visiting this Brahmadesam near
Arcot popularly known as Natteri Brahmadesam. This is the one which I wished to visit.
Moolavar : Sri Chandramouleeswarar /
Some of important features of this temple are…
The dilapidated temple was reconstructed by the
Archaeological Survey of India ( A S I ). The details mentioned here are the
present status of the temple. The Temple is facing east. Rishabam is
in the artha mandapam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, Artha mandapam and an open mukha mandapam. An incomplete entrance Rajagopuram is on the north side of the temple.
The Vimana over the sanctum is of 2 tiers with images on 4 sides. The 2 tier Vimana is a mixture of Pallava and Ganga architecture. Here Iraivan name is mentioned Kuzhandhai Mahadevar.The Sanctum devakoshtas are empty now. The sanctum is of simple pathabhandha adhisthana with 3
face kumudha. Boothavari with kabotham is above the koshtam. Square pilasters
with kumbam, kalasam, palakai etc., are there on the side walls.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The sanctum walls has the Pallava & Chozha period
inscriptions. Originally the temple was built by the Pallavas in 9th century and latter Chozhas ( Paranthagar-I, Paarthiventhiran and Rajaraja Kulothunga-I.) expanded the temple. The inscription proves that the temple was built during Vijaya Kampavarma Pallavan ( Son of Nandhivarman-III) in 9th Century. The adhisthana
stones are sand stones, which is a favorite feature in Pallava temples in and
around Kanchipuram.
The
Place Brahmadesam was called as Rajamalla Chaturvedi Mangalam and latter from Rajaraja-I’s period this place was
called as Parakrama Chaturvedi mangalam. This temple sanctum was built by the
Pallavas during 9th Century and latter extended by the Chozhas. There are 77 inscription in this temple
belongs to Pallavas & Chozhas. The earliest inscription is the Kambavarman’s
20th year Rule inscription. The rest belongs to Parantaka –I, Kannaradevan, Parthiventhiran,
Rajarajan-I, Rajendran, Kulothungan. Rajarajan-I’s 31st year rule
inscription proves that he ruled for 31 years instead 27 years as claimed by some
Historians, Also Parthiventhiravarman’s
title “Vira Pandyan Thalai Konda” inscription starts only from this temple.
It is a fact that Rajendra Chozha at the age of 80,
lived in Brahmadesam and died. His wife Veera Mahadevi also ends her life by jumping in the
funeral fire ( Sati). It was told that his brother-in-law had established charities in many places for distributing water ( Thanneer Pandal ) to the people in memory
of Rajendra Chozha and his wife and the is inscribed in this temple. To prove the
temple was built in 9th century by Pallavas, a sample inscription
from South India inscriptions states as...
No. 107.
(A. R. No. 227 of 1915).
Brahmadesam, Cheyyar Taluk,
North Arcot District.
It is stated in this record of
Vijaya-Kampavarman, dated in the 20th year, that a member of the alum-ganattar
of Kavadippakkam in Paduvur-kottam made a gift of 11 kalanju of gold for
supplying, from the interest on this amount, water to the village may be identified
with Brahmadesam itself where the present inscription is found. Since we find
an inscription of the Ganga king Rajamalla, the grandson of Sripurusha at
Vallimalai[3] not
very far from Brahmadesam, Rajamalla-chaturvedimangalam, may have been called
so after this Ganga king. It may be mentioned that in the region surrounding
Brahmadesam there are villages called Sripurushamangalam[4] and
Ranavikrama chaturvedimangalam[5] which
must have been named after the Ganga kings Sripurusha and Ranavikrama, the
grandfather and father respectively of Rajamalla. The name of the god at
Brahmadesam viz., Tiruppondai-Perumanadigal is uncommon in the Tamil country
and it is probably to be traced to some Ganga or Western Chalukya[6] princess.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS:
Since this temple is under the control of Archaeological Survey Of
India, kept open all the time.
HOW
TO REACH:
Brahmadesam ( Natteri ) is in middle of Arcot ( 27 KM ) and Kanchipuram
( 26 KM )
Town bus facility is available from Kanchipuram No 4 and from
Arcot route no 36.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE
The inner view of entrance gopuram
A small shrine may be for Vinayagar
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---
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