Friday, 28 August 2026

Shri Amaleeswarar Temple/ ஶ்ரீ அமலீஸ்வரர் சிவாலயம், Gopurapatti, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Amaleeswarar Temple at Gopurapatti, in Tiruchirappalli District, was a part of திருச்சி மரபு நடை - Tiruchirappalli Heritage Walk”, from 18th to 19th July 2026, organised by எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு. This temple is in the midst of fields.  


Moolavar          :  Sri Amaleeswarar
Thayar             :  Sri Avudainayagi, Avudai Ambigai

Some of the salient features of this temple are….
The temple faces west with a Rishabam. Moolavar is about 4.5 feet tall on a square avudaiyar. In the koshtam, Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Sankaranarayanan, Brahma, and Durgai. An abandoned Rishabam is in the praharam.

The toranas above koshtas have the bas-relief of Ardhanareeswarar in a sitting posture (above Dakshinamurthy), Gajasamharamurthy (above Durgai), etc.


 Durga

 Sankaranarayanan


ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, and ardha mandapam. The temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with Jagathy, threepatta kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are of vishnukantha pilasters with square base, kalasam, kudam, lotus petals mandi, palakai, veera kandam, and Taranga pothyal. The koshtas are padra koshtas. Ramayan miniature sculptures are on the kanda pada. The prastaram consists of valapi with bhuta ganas, kapotam with nasi kudus and vyyalavari. There is no superstructure above the prastarm / Bhumi desam.

The ardha mandapam is supported by vrudha pillars with Taranga pothyal.








HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
இக்கோயில் பொயு. 975ஆம் ஆண்டில் கட்டப்பட்டது. இங்கு உத்தமசோழர், முதலாம் இராசராசன், முதலாம் இராசேந்திரன் போன்றோரின் கல்வெட்டுக்கள் உள்ளன. இக்கோயிலின் அடித்தளத்தில் இராமயணக் காட்சிகள் சிற்பங்களாக செதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. கண்டராதித்த சோழனின் தேவியும் உத்தமசோழனின் தாயுமான செம்பியன்மாதேவி இக்கோயிலுக்கு விளக்குகள் தானம் அளித்துள்ளார்.

This temple was constructed during 975 CE. It has various inscriptions of kings such as Uthamachola, Rajaraja I and Rajendra I. A panel of Ramayana sculptures is engraved in the basement of this temple. Chembian Madevi, the mother of Uthamachola and wife of Gandaraditya Chola, has gifted lamps to this temple.
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY
GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU 

The inscriptions are as follows…
The Chozha king Uttama Chozha’s 12th reign year fragmentary inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records
only the 12th regnal year of Uttamachoļa.  

The Chozha king Parakesarivarman’s 12th reign year inscription records the gift of 5 lamp-stands by Sambiyan-mahādeviyäl, the queen of Gandarāditta-Perumal, to the deity of Tiru-vāmanéśvaram at Pachchili in Mala-nādu

The Chozha king Parakesarivarman’s 14th reign year inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records that the (queen of) Uttamachbla (Nakkan) Viranārāyapiyar consecrated the image of Avanisundarar with prabai and pedestal for the occasion of visākam in Vaikasi in the temple of Avaniśvaran at Pächchili in Mala-nādu.

The Chozha king Parakesarivarman’s 16th reign year inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the installation of the image (of the goddess) Umābhattāraki by Nakkan Vīranārāyanyar, the queen of Uttamachōla, for the festive occasion of Vaisakam in the month of Vaikasi at the Tiruvāmaněśvara temple at Pachchili in Mala-nādu. It is mentioned that the image of the goddess was installed for the deity Avanisundarěśvara in the same temple. In characters of about the 11th century C.E.

The Chozha King Rajara -I’s 19th reign year damaged and incomplete inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum refers to some gift of ornaments weighed by the stone (kudiñaikal) by Sembiyan Mahādēvi.  

The Chozha King Rajara – I’s 21st reign year inscription on the north wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the assignment of a specified share of produce from the devadana lands at Korgankudi and Bananailür endowed for various services like dance master (naltuvarı), dancing (maimattu), playing musical instruments like mõrviyam and vangiyam. Provision was also made for the maintenance of the lamp and also for the maintenance of the potter. Besides, provision was also made for bathing of the deity and large-scale food offerings to the deity.

Amrěśvaram-udaiyar every month on the day of sadaiyam, the natal star of Rajaraja I, and also for large-scale food offerings on the occasion of festivals on the day of Aviţţam, the birth star of Kundavai, the elder sister of Rājarāja, every month. It is also stipulated to feed 30 brahmanas and 30 ascetics. The details of paddy, i.e., 300 kalam of paddy to be measured for the purpose, are also given. Some of the allottees figure as signatories. It is stated that this arrangement was to be carried out with surplus paddy that was deducted after due enquiry by the revenue administrator of the district.

The Chozha King Rajakesari Varman’s reign inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the gift of a quarter veli of land in two pieces by Alangudaiyan Malapādi Kumaran, the accountant of Tiruvāmaniśvarattu Mahādēva temple at Pachchil in Malanādu. The produce of the land 22 kalam, one tupi and one padakku, obtained after the reclamation of land is to be utilized for supplying one ulakku of oil daily to burn the lamp to the deity of the above temple. The donor also donated one lamp-stand to burn the lamp. Do.

The Chozha king Rajendra Chozha’s reign inscription on the south wall of the sanctum sanctorum refers to the enquiry conducted by the officials Irumudichōla Müvënda vēļār, Parakčsari Vilupparaiyar and others into the misdemeanour (not specified) committed by Korrangudi Pannāinallür Udaiyan who held the kani of writing accounts of the temple of Pachchil in Pachchil-kürram. As the accountant was found guilty, a fine of 100 kāśu was imposed on him. As he was unable to remit the fine, it was decided to sell his lands, houses, and gardens at Kõrangudi and Pälainallür, which were obviously given for writing the accounts by the temple. Since nobody came forward to purchase the same, it was decided to sell the same to the temple itself along with the right to maintain temple accounts. The amount thus realised, after the sale, was deposited in the temple treasury. It was also decided to make their own provisions for maintaining temple accounts.

Ref:
Annual report on Indian Epigraphy for Year 1992 - 93



LEGENDS
As per the legend, Sri Amaleeswarar himself gave darshan to the priest in the form of a small boy and wanted him to construct a temple for him and offer naivedyam daily. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular oru kala poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham and Maha Shivaratri days. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open in the morning hours.

CONTACT DETAILS

HOW TO REACH
The place Gopurapatti is 6 km from Manachanallur, 7 km from Thiruvasi, 12 km from Srirangam, and 23 km from Trichy
The nearest Railway Station is Srirangam. 

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

The original Rishabam


Kudakoothu
Kudakoothu



Nataraja
Dancer and  Drum players
Mahishamardini


Vali & Sukreevan fight

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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