Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple / Ancient Hoysala Shri Parthasarathi ( Shri Gopalakrishna ) Swami Temple, Thondanur / Thondanoor, தொண்டனூர் / Thondanoor, Mandya District, Karnataka State.

The Visit to this Thondanoor Shri Venugopala Swamy Temple, was a part of “Karnataka State, Hoysala Period Shiva and temple’s visit”- on 30^th July 2023, organised by தொண்டை மண்டல வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம் "திருக்கச்சி" FB Group. This place is now called as Thonnur. Moolavar Shri Venugopala swamy is also called as Parthasarathy and this place is now called as Thonnur.

Moolavar  : Shri Venugopala Swamy

Consorts  : Shri Satyabhama and Rukmini

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east with an entrance from east side. A mandapam is on the right side after the entrance. A balipeedam is in front of the temple. Vijayanagara period paintings are on both side of the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum. Moolavar Sri Venugopalaswamy in the sanctum sanctorum is in standing posture with Satyabhama and Rukmini. Utsavars are in front of the moolavar. There is no sannidhi for Thayar.

A Chitramezhi kalvettu is in front of the temple compound wall. ( a separate post is written on this )

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala / sukhanasi, Navaranga mandapam and Maha mandapam.  The Sanctum sanctorum is on the padabandha adhistanam with 3 patta kumudam and pattika. The bhitti starts with vedika. The niches are provided on the bhitti and are empty now.  An eka tala Dravida Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

11^th to 12^th Century Tamil and Hale kannada inscriptions are found on the Compound wall and on the adhistanam. Most of the inscriptions records the endowment and gifts given to this temple. There is no inscriptions found after Veera Ballala-II and Vijayanagara Period.

It was told that, during his stay at Thondanoor, Shri Ramanuja stayed in this temple and involved in the reconstruction of Sri Nambi Narayanaswamy Temple. Moolavar of this temple was called as "Virriruntha Perumal- வீற்றிருந்த பெருமாள்" and during Mysore King's period Yadhava Narayana- Vasantha Gopala. 

Inscription No: 75 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 241)

This Tamil record in Tamil and Grantha characters of c. 11^th  century, registers an endowment of money to god Virrirunda-perumal, by Udaiya-pillai, younger brother of Kunikkum biran, son of Narayana-baṭṭan of Mudigondasolapuram. From the interest upon this sum a gift of copper and silver vessels and other worship objects like taligai, tiruvadi, kendi, mani, cup (vettil  ), etc., were made to god. Some details are lost.

Inscription No: 76 (XIV 242)

This damaged Tamil record of the same period seems to register a gift to god Virrirunda perumal by an individual of Kuningil. Other details are lost.

Inscription No: 77 (XIV - 243)

This fragmentary inscription record of c. 12-13^th century seems to register a grant by Malle-savanta.  It mentis Balaladasa of Tondanur and refers to the village Sirakuballi, Boganahalli, Chettahalli and Bagesettihalli

Inscription No: 78 (XIV - 244)

This Tamil record in Tamil Grantha Characters of the 13^th Century refers to the Viravallalan Gopura Named after Hoysala Viravallala.

Inscription No:  79 (111: XIV 61)

This record of the reign period of Hoysala Ballala, registers a grant of pannaya on betel leaves by Marana, described as nayaka-heggade, at the instance of mahapradhana, tantradhishthayaka, heggade Surigeya Nagayyn.

It is dated the year Manmatha, Chaitra su. 1. The year corresponds to 1175 CE, in the reign period of Ballala- II. But there was an intercalary month of Chaitra in that year. be either February 23^rd or, March 25.  

Inscription No: 80 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಚ 233)

This record refers to the rule of Hoysala Viraballaladeva-II and registers a grant of the village Bhoganahalli with its hamlet and the income from taxes on loom (magga) and houses, for the service of god (Virrirunda )-perumal (Krishna) by mahapradhana, sarrādhikāri tanträdhishthayaka, mahāpasayita, Machamayya along with heggade Kekiyanna, heggade Kommanan, heggade Mahadevanna and a mahapradhana whose name is lost.

The record is dated Saka 1089, Hemalambi, Ashadha śu. 11. Friday. If the tithi was ba. 11 the details would regularly correspond to June 24, 1177 CE.

Inscription No: 81 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 234)

This record of Hoysala Narasimha registers a grant of the villages Beṭṭahalli, Sirimakkanahalli Märürumhalli, along with income from taxes like olavāru, horavāru, hole-sunka, etc., to god

Inscription No: 82 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 236)

This and Nos. 83-87 are Tamil records in Tamil and Grantha characters. This inscription of c. 12^th century records the gift of half a share as tiruvilakkuppuram ( for maintaining lamp ) to god Virrirunda-perumal in the temple of Kuttandivinnagar at Yadavanarayana-chaturvedimangalam by Kodaiyandal-ammai.

The record is dated in the month of Ani in the year Partiva. These details cannot be verified

Inscription No: 83 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 237)

This record of a 13^th century registers the gift of 20 gadyanas by the mahajanas for a critti from out of the interest on the endowment in the month of Panguni of the year Dugmati.

Inscription No: 84 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 238)

This record of the same period registers a gift of a vritti to gold Virrirunda-perumal for worship, by a lady Kunjappavil Sitaiyandal. It states that the mahajanas of Yadavanarayana-chaturvēdi mangalam endowed it as iraiyili.

It is dated the month Panguni, in the year Dunmati. The details cannot be verified.

Inscription No : 85  

The incomplete inscription records, also of the same period as 83 - 84 above refers the year Dunmati.

Inscription No:  86 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 239)

This record in characters of c. 11^th century, states that this temple of Tillaikutta-vinnagar was caused to be built by Tillaikküttan, son of Karikudi Ulagamundan'

Inscription No:  87

The incomplete inscription record of the name period refers to the temple of ……… Vinnagaram and an individual Karikudi Guna….. Details are lost.

Inscription No:  88 ( III  ಶ್ರೀಪ 62)

This inscription refers to the rule of Jagadeva malla Narasimhadevan and records the construction of the temple and consecration then of god Virrirunda-perumal as also the goddesses Lakshmi and Bhumi, by Küttandi dandanayaka of Karikudi, who also made a grant the village Bettahalli, after purchase from the (prabhu-gades )…? of thirty Villages. It further registers a grant of land by him to the same god after purchase from Kesava dakshina for 80 (…..?) The members of the subhas of Maduru and Tailuru are cited as witnesses.

The record is dated Šaka 1030, Isvara, [AS] . 8, Friday. These deails are irregular.  The king may be identified with Narasimha-I. The Saka year for the corresponding cyclic years would then be Saka 1079 when the other details regularly corresponds to 1157 CE September 27.

Inscription No:  89 (III ಶ್ರೀಪ 55)

This and No. 90 below are Tamil inscriptions in Tamil and Grantha characters of 13^th  Century. This refers to the Krishna temple as Aiñnurṛuva-vinnagar.

Inscription No:  90 (III ಶ್ರೀಪ 56)

This inscription records the gift of …   as interest for food offerings in the early morning serviceto god Virrirunda-perumal

Inscription No:  91 (III ಶ್ರೀಪ 57)

This fragmentary record of Hoysala Viraballala (II) is dated the year Virodhikrit, Asvayujaba.2, Wednesday. The tithi corresponds to 1191 CE, October 6. But the weekday was Sunday,

The extant portion seems to register a gift to god Gopinatha Details are lost.

Inscription No:  92 (III ಶ್ರೀಪ 63)

This fragmentary record refers to a Hoysala king and to an individual (name lost), son of a mahapradhana, sarvadhikari. The purport of this inscription is not clear.

Inscription No:  93 (XIV ಶ್ರೀಪ 235)

This and No. 94 below are Tamil records in Tamil and Grantha characters. This damaged record of 12^th century seems to register a gift of the village Yadavanarayana-chaturvedimanga lam by Berradiyan Tiruvarargadasan, a servant of Ilaiyälvan (Ramanuja), for the food-offerings to god Virrirunda-perumal in the temple of Kuttandi-vinnagara at Yadavanarayaṇa-chaturvedi mangalam. The donor had obtained the village from Narasimhadeva by his service to him.

It is dated Amavasya, Thursday, Anila (Anusha)-nakshatra. These details are insufficient for verification.

Inscription No:  94 ( III – ಶ್ರೀಪ 58 )

This is in characters of 12^th Century. It refers to the (consecration  …? ) of the temple of Tillaikkutta Vinnagar by Kuttandi Dandanayaka son of karikudi Ulagamudayan.

Inscription No:  95 (III ಶ್ರೀಪ 59 )

It states that Tirumuttam ( Shrine ) of karikudi Vinnagara was got constructed by Karikudi Kuttandi dandanayaka. It is in  c. 12^th Century Characters  Cf No 94 above.

Inscription No:  96 (III ಶ್ರೀಪ 60)

This record is dated Šaka 1062, Pramathi, Asvayuja śu. 13 Sunday, Uttara bhadrapada, Tula sankramana. These details are irregular. If the Saka year is taken as correct, the other details would tally with 1140 CE, September 26, Thursday, the cyclic year being Raudri.

It states that while Hoysala Narasimha was ruling the kingdom from Kodalla, a grant of land was made to god Narayana of Yadavanarayana-chaturvedi mangala, probably by the king himself.

Inscription No:  97

This label inscription of c,. 12- 13^th Century reads as Gopinatha

Inscription No:  98

This is another label inscription just below No 97 above, It states that it is the writing  of Allappa. It is in c. 16^th-17^th Century Characters.

Inscription No:  99 (II: 64)

This is a record engraved in Kannada on a set of fifteen copper-plates. Sanskrit and Kannada languages are used. It gives the genealogy of the donor, Krishnaraja (II), the king of Mysore who made a grant of two villages Yadavapura alias Tondanur and Attikuppa in Kuruvanka-nād of Hoysala-desa, which were converted into an agrahara. The gift was made in order that the daily rites and festivals might be performed in the temples of Lakshminarayana and Yadava- narayana-Vasanta-Gopala. The agrahara lands were divided into 112 erittis and are distributed among Brahmaņas whom he invited from many countries to reside there permanently. Details of the vrittis and names of the donees are mentioned. The donees also received welfurnished houses for their living. Details of rnished houses

Ref:

Epigraphia Carnatica Volume - SIX

"Virriruntha Perumal- வீற்றிருந்த பெருமாள்"

LEGENDS

As per the Legend, The Hoysala King Pitty Deva’s daughter was got by a sprit. The Jain monks tried their level best to drive away, but couldn’t succeed. The Saint Ramanujar who came to Thondanoor, to escape from Kulothunga Chozha’s order of accepting Shiva as supreme god. Saint Ramanujar drew away the sprit, which has got the king's daughter. Pitti Deva as a Jain, converted himself to Vaishnavism and built 5 Narayana Temples, as per the request of Ramanujar and  the Nambi Narayana Perumal Temple is one of them, which is on the other side of the road. The Saint Ramanujar was involved in re-construction of Nambi Narayana Perumal Temple, staying from this temple.

HOW TO REACH

This place is 14 KM from Pandavapura railway Station, 20 KM from Srirangapatna, 69 KM from Mysuru and 150 KM from Bengaluru.

Nearest Railway station is Pandavapura.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE          : CLICK HERE

Paintings - May be Vijayanagara period 

Paintings - May be Vijayanagara period 

Petroglyph

Petroglyph ( Hanuman )

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---