This
Sri Kodandarameswara Swamy Temple at Bokkashampalem, Thondamanadu, near
Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, is a “sepulcher temple of Adita Chozha-I”, built
by his son Parantaka Chola- I. The Visit to
this Sri Kothandarameswara Swamy Temple was a part of the Shiva & Maha Vishnu
Temple and Hero Stones Visit”, at Thondamanadu near Srikalahasti on 07th
July 2024.
Moolavar : Sri Kothandarameswara Swamy
Consort : Sri Kamakshi
Some of the
salient features of this temple are….
The temple is
facing east with a 3 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Rishabam and dwajasthamabm
are immediately after the rajagopuram. Moolavar is little big on a square
avudayar. In koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu, Brahma and
Durgai.
In praharam two
Shiva Lingas, Chandikeswarar, Navagrahas and Ambal Kamakshi. Ambal Kamakshi is in a
separate temple facing east on the north side of the main temple. A rishabam and a simha vahanam are in front
of the Ambal Temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
Dakshinamurthy ( different hair style like rishis )
Chandikeswarar
ARCHITECTURE
The temple was
built about 2 feet above the ground level. The temple consists of sanctum
sanctorum, antarala, and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada
bandha adhitanam with upanam, jagathy, three patta kumudam and pattikai. The
Koshtas are padra koshtas, in sala style. The prativari and silambu kumudam is
below the koshtas. The yazhi pranala, below the Brahma, is with simha faces on
both sides. The Prastaram consists of only the kapotam with nasi kudus. The
temple was constructed with stone from Upanam to Prastaram and the superstructure above prastaram was built with bricks. One tala, Vesara brick Vimanam
is above prastaram. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma are in the
greeva koshtams.
Pranala- Ko Mukha
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
The temple is a
Pallipadai / Sepulcher temple, built on the remains of Aditya Chozha-I, by his son
Parantaka Chozha. When Aditya Chozha-I came to Thondamanadu to take the taxes
collected, he was died in 907 CE due to illness. Hence Aditya Chozha ( 871 –
907 CE ), was called as “Thondamanur
Thunjiya Udayar – தொண்டைமானுற்றூர் துஞ்சிய உடையார்”. The Chozha king Kô-nôn-inmai-kondân’s
14th reign year inscription ( SII Volume 3, No 142 ), on the north
wall of the central shrine of Sri Manikandeswarar Temple of Thirumalperu, the record
is of much historical interest. It refers first, a grant of revenue in paddy
and in gold, made in the 21st and 22nd years of a Chôla
king entitled Tondaimânârrûr- tunjinadeva, to the temple at Tirumalpêru. Hence Shiva of this temple is called Adityeswarar.
The details of the inscription are as follows.
21 வதானவரஹதெசமாகத் தொண்டைமா-
னாற்றூர்த்துஞ்சின உடை].
22 யாற்க்கு இருபத்தொன்றாவது குடுத்து
இரு(ப]த்திரண்டா வது பிடா)-
Rai Bahadur V.
Venkayya has fully discussed the contents of this inscription and their
historical bearing in the Madras Epigraphical Report for 1907, p. 71 f. He
points out that Tondaimânârrûr-tuñjiņadêva, who preceded Parakėsarivarman the conqueror of Madirai and Îlam, could be
no other than the latter's ( Parantaka Chozha ) father Aditya-I., and that the
title which means 'who died at Tondaimânârrûr' must indicate that Aditya-I.,
who was the actual conqueror of Tondai and the hero who deprived the Ganga
Pallavas of the last vestiges of their authority, died in the Tondai country in
the village Tondaimânârrur ( ie., the modern Tondamanad near Kalahasti ).
Aditya Chozha-I and
his Contributions to Chozha Dynasty.
Aditya
Chola-I is regarded as Thirupurambiyam battle hero. Thirupurambiyam is on the Thanjavur - Kumbakonam route in Tamil Nadu. The battle was held
between the Pallava king Aparajita Varman and Pandia king Varaguna Pandian aka
Varagunavarman-II, in the year 885 CE.
The two sons of the Pallava king Nandivarman-III, his eldest son Nripatungavarman
and another son Aparajita Varman - developed enmity after the demise of their
father in 869 CE. The Pandias supported Nripatungavarman and the Pallavas supported
Aparajita Varman. Aparajita Varman also received support from Ganga king
Prithvipathi-I and Aditya Chola-I.
The
Pandyas got defeated and the Ganga king Prithvipathi was killed in this battle. Varaguna Pandian renounced his throne and turned into an ascetic. Cholas
reaped maximum benefit out of Thirupurambiyam victory and the grateful
Aparajita Varman not only agreed to retain the territories won by Aditya Chozha,
but also assigned the new regions around Thanjavur held by Mutharaiyars to
Cholas as the token of appreciation.
Later,
in the year 903 CE, the 32nd year of his reign, Aditya Chola-I, became
very powerful and don't want to continue as a regional King under Pallavas. In
a battle he defeated the Pallava king Aparajita Varman and captured Pallava
kingdom. It is believed that he himself killed Aparajita Varman who was mounted
on an elephant in the battle. The conquest of the Tondaimandalam earned Aditya Chozha-I. One of the Chozha’s inscription records Adita Chozha-I as, "Tondainadu
pavina Rajakesarivarman - தொண்டைநாடு பாவின இராசகேசரிவர்மன்” ie. Rajakesarivarman,
who overran Tondainadu. The name Tondaimandalam region was later renamed Jeyangonda Cholamandalam.
INSCRIPTIONS
As per the
inscription, this place was called as – “Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu Thiruvenkata
kottathu ARRur Nattu ThondamanaRRur - ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழ மண்டலத்து திருவேங்கடக் கோட்டத்து ஆற்றூர் நாட்டு தொண்டமானாற்றூர்”. The Shiva is
being called as Kothandarameswara Swamy Temple alias Aditeswarathu Alwar, since
Aditya Chozha-I, was also called as Kothandaraman ( As per Kanyakumari
Inscriptions ).
Parantaka Chola-I’s, 34th reign ( 94l CE ) inscription ( No 529, AR 230 of 1903 ) inscribed
all around the tripatta kumudam of the central shrine, records a gift of 105
Kazhanju gold as a deposit ( by the Thipokki Urar ) ( one Kazhanju is
approximately equivalent to 5 grams ) and 4000
kadis of paddy as deposit by ….. Vanithan alias PooNdumnal. The inscription
records further about the utilization of interest accrued from the gift ( deposits )
i.e, agreed to measure 1000 kadi of paddy every year as an interest ( palisai –
பலிசை ) as well as to provide food and other
requirements for the seven-day celebrations that concluded on Sadhayam star
constellation in the Tamil month Purattasi ( September – October ). Sadhayam
was the natal star constellation of Aditya Chola-I.
The inscription also records for the big
naivedyam – பெருந்திருவமிர்து- ( 4 kadi paddy for vegetable, curd, and Ghee, Butter
milk 15 Kadi paddy, Pulipazha vadai 7 kadi paddy ) for Thirukalathi
Alwar during the 7 days festival ( at one place it is mentioned as Indra Vizha,
whether this festival is dedicated to Indra, or not is not know and to be
verified ). The service personnel, who include servers of banana leaves ( 7 kadi Paddy
), the person who brings drinking water
( நீராட்டுவான்
)
10 Kadi paddy, to the pot maker 30 kadi paddy, Garland maker 7 Kadi Paddy, firewood supplier 7 Kadi paddy, are supplied from 1000 Kadi paddy as wages.
During
the seven days celebrations, one thousand devotees of different sects and
classes were to be fed. Of the one thousand devotees, 500 devotees must be from
different religious sects and classes "பக்தர்களான
பல சமயத்து அய்ந்நூற்றவர்." From
the remaining 500, there must be 300 brahmins and 200 devotees must be saints,
ascetics ( தபஸ்விகள் ),
including hermits of Mahavratam sect ( மகாவிரதிகள் ), from six different Saivite sects ( Saivam,
Pasupatham, Kalamukham, Mahavratam, Vamam and Bhairavam ) of the Hindu religion
"தபஸ்விகளில் மகாவிரதிகள் உட்பட ஆறுசமயத்து தபஸ்விகள்
இருநூற்றவர்"
The
charity of feeding the devotees was to be maintained by the Vageeswara Panditha
Bhattarar ( Vameeswara ) of the Pallipadai temple and by the Sabha ( assembly
prominent Brahmin landholders in Chola local administration system) and
devotees of Thondaiman PeraRRur village.
There
was a Chola-sponsored Vedic school and measures of paddy wages were provided
for its maintenance purposes. This Pallipadai temple/ Sepulcher Temple was also attached to the
theatrical hall for dramatic dance. During the celebrations, folk dance dramas
( koothus ) were organized. Drama artists ( Koothadis –கூத்தாடுபவர் ), musicians ( பாடுபவர்கள் ) and
the carpenter ( who attends the maintenance works ) are also paid in terms of
Gold as wages. Three Committees ( The
temples’ Mahavarathis, Kaveripakkathu Thirupandreesvarathu Prathividanga Kana Perumakkal, and Pa.. Nageswara Kankanis ) are made responsible for monitoring
the above activities.
Ref:
South
Indian Inscriptions Volume 8
Pallipadai - Sepulchre -பள்ளிப்படை
The temple is
under the administrative control of Srikalahasti, Sri Kalahastheeswarar Devasthanam.
LEGENDS
It is believed
that Rama worshipped Shiva in this temple and hence Shiva is called as
Kothandarameswara Swamy.
POOJAS AND
CELEBRATIONS
Apart from
regular poojas special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri
days.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will
be kept open between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
This Adita
Chozha’s Pallipadai Temple/Sepulcher Temple at Bokkasampalem is about
a KM from Thondamanadu, 400 Meters from
Renikunta – Papanaidupet- Srikalahasti road, 5 KM from Srikalahasti – Tirupati
Road, 10 KM from Srikalahasti Shiva temple, and 38 KM from Tirupati.
Nearest Railway
Station is Srikalahasti.
Share autos and
Autos are available from Srikalahasti.
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA
NAMA ---
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