Maha Vishnu and Korravai, Tiruvannamalai District/ Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to the  ..... ....... ........ ........ ........ ........ ........  ......... ......... ......... ....... ...... .... .... ..... ..... ... ....on 12th September 2026. I sincerely thank Mrs. Uma Jairam and Ramkumar Chandrasekaran for taking me to these places. Thanks to Dr. Ramachandran Sir and Pon Karthi for deciphering the inscription Details.

 

MAHA VISHNU

Maha Vishnu is in a standing sama bangha posture of a lotus flower. Maha Vishnu wears a greeda makuda, ornaments over the neck, and yagnopaveetham. Holds shankha and a prayoga chakra in the upper hands; the lower right hand is in Abhaya hastam, and the left hand is in kadi hastam. The dress with frills is shown below his waist. 

KORRAVAI

Korravai is standing on a Mahishan’s/ bufello’s head, in a samabhanga posture. Korravai is with karanda makuda, wears ornaments around the neck, and has elongated earlobes. Holds various articles and weapons like shankha and prayoga chakra, sword, shield, bow, arrow, etc. The lower right hand is in abhaya hastam, and the left hand is in kadi hastam. The dress with frills is shown below his waist and marbhu kachu. Her vahana, a buck deer with branched horns, is shown on her back. A navakanda bas-relief is on the right side of her leg.

Buck Deer with branched horn

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

Two inscriptions are found on either side of the images. The first inscription is 3 lines on the left side of the images. The second inscription is in the form of two words on the right side of the Korravai, near the buffalo’s head.

The inscription No: 1

ஸ்ரீ இத்திருவடிகளை திருத்து வித்தார்

பெரும்பிடுகு கொங்கரையர் மகனார்

கொங்கரையர்

The Inscription No 2.

ஸ்ரீ வலியாழி

DETAILS

The first inscription refers to the images/ bas reliefs of Maha Vishnu and the Korravai. These images were done by Perumbidugu’s son, Kongaraiyar.

The second inscription “ஸ்ரீ வலியாழி – ஆழி=சக்கரம், who hold Chakra, Kotravai.

Based on the style of inscription and these images, it might have been sculpted during the 9^th century, Pallava King Nrpatungavarman’s period. 

Nrpatungavarman’s 12^th year of reign, 881 CE inscription,  on a stone slab near the tank of Marudhadu village records that Kongaraiyar Ninraperumān² caused the construction of a weir (kalingu) and the renovation of the sluice/ weir (தூம்பு) to the tank at Marudādu. Hence, it is presumed that this Kongaraiyar may be a philanthropist who may have done the above Maha Vishnu and Kotravai images also.

Reference

1. Inscriptions of the Pallavas

2. South Indian Inscriptions Volume - XII

LOCATION OF THE MAHA VISHNU AND KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---