The visit to this Sri Rajendra Chozhiswarar Temple at
Ponnamaravathi was part of “Sivaganga and Pudukkottai Temples and Heritage
Sites Visit” on 2nd and 3rd September 2026.
Moolavar : Sri Rajendra Chozheeswarar
Consort : Sri Avudainayaki
Some
of the salient features of this temple are….
The
temple faces east with a balipeedam and Rishabam. Moolavar is Lord Avudaiyar. Utsavaras are in the ardha mandapam. In the koshtam, Gnana
Dakshinamurthy with two disciples, Brahma, and the rest of the koshtas are empty.
In
the praharam are Maha Ganapati, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Chandikeswarar,
Navagrahas, Saniswaran, Bairavar, Chandran, and Suryan.
Ambal
is in a separate Sannidhi and faces south. Ambal is in a three-bhanga standing
posture with two hands, holds a lotus flower in the right hand, and the left hand is
in dola hastam.
ARCHITECTURE
The
temple was constructed with stone from adhistanam to prastaram. The temple
consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, and maha mandapam. The
sanctum sanctorum is on a pada pandha adhistanam with jagathy, three patta
kumudam, and pattikai. The bhitti starts with vedikai. The pilasters are Brahma kantha pilasters with kalasam, kudam, palakai, and taranga pothyal. The
prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam with nasi kudus, and vyyala vari. The
vimanam over the bhumi desam is with eka tala nagara vimanam. Shiva, Dakshinamurthy,
and Brahma are in the greeva koshtams.
HISTORY
AND INSCRIPTIONS
Out of the four Chola inscriptions recorded, two belong to the reign of
Kulottunga III and two others (ARE 4 & 9 of 1909) belong to the time of
Tribhuvanachakravartin Rajarajadeva. The rest of the inscriptions belong to the Pandya period, of which the earliest belongs to Jatavarman Kulasekhara
(C.E. 1190-1217).
As per the inscriptions, this place was called Rajaraja Pandiya nattu,
Rajendra Chozha valanattu, Puramanalai Nattu Ponnamaravati. This
temple was called Rajendra Chozheeswaram, and Shiva was called Rajendra
Chozhiswaram Udaiya Mahadevar.
The Chola reign inscription records the construction of Srivimana and
the consecration of a Siva -linga named Rajendra Solisvaram Udaiya Mahadevar by
the local Chief Vinam Rajendra Solan Keralan alias Nishadarajan.
The inscription reads as…..
“Svasti Sri Tribhuvanachakravartigal Sri Rajarajadevarkku yandu ettavadu
Rajaraja Pandi nattu Rajendrasola valanattu Puramalai nattu Po...
Nishadarajanar Sivalinga-pratish-taikkum vimanap-pratishtaikkum...”
The Chozha king Tribhuvanachakravartin
Kulottunga Deva’s (presumably III), 12th reign year inscription
records a grant jointly made by the Nishadarajan and Udaiyar Tiruppuvanam
Udaiyar Tachchacharyan Udaiyar alias Adi Acharyan (Inscriptions
of the Pudukkottah State, 147). Evidently, the latter was the temple
architect.
The inscription without the reign year of the king (ARE 13 of 1909), on the
steps and the verandah around the shrine (tirunadai-maligai), records that they were built by one Nilaimai Alagiyan.
A 12th reign year record (C.E. 1196) of Tribhuvana-chakravartin
Kulottunga Chola Deva (III), (ARE 5 of 1909) records that a gift of land was made
by one Tirukkodungunram udaiyan Alagiya Devan alias Nishadarajan
in favour of a matha called Nilamai Alagiya tirumadam,
evidently a matha built within the temple by, or on behalf of,
Nilaimai Alagiyan. Hence, we can presume that this matha and
also the verandah and the steps were constructed in the days of Rajaraja II.
Kochadaya banmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Sri Kulasekaradevar’s
13+10 year of reign inscription (Sl. No. 245) on the North praharam wall
opposite to Chandikeswarar records the gift of land after paying taxes to
Kamakottamudaiyar’s daily nivantham, by the Thirukodungundramudaiyan Keralan
alias Nishayarajan.
Komarubarmar Thiribhuvana Chakravarthikal Chonadu Vazhangi aruliya
Sundara Pandiyadevar’s 20+1 year of reign inscription on the south side of the
sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of Naivedyam and venjanam (vegetables)
to Sri Rajendra Chozheeswararmudaiyar and Kamakotta Nachiyar during Sundara
Pandiyan sandhi. For the same, a land was gifted.
The Editor of the Pudukkottai State Gazetteer has
contended that the temple of Cholisvaram (its modern name) would appear to have
been built by Rajaraja II in memory of his great-grandfather Kulottunga I (who
was earlier known as Rajendra Chola II). This seems rather far-fetched, though
it is not impossible, because, in spite of the apparent gap of generations,
Rajaraja II ascended the throne within 26 years of the death of Kulottunga I.
It is, however, reasonable to conclude that the temple was built in the name of
the local chief Nishadarajan, who, as we saw, bore the name of Rajendra
Solakeralan.
As to when the Amman shrine inside this temple was consecrated we have
no direct evidence, but it must have come into existence certainly within two
or three decades of the main shrine, as we find that one Tirukkodungunram
Udaiyan Keralan alias Nishadarajan (perhaps the successor of
Rajendra Solakeralan) makes certain presents to the shrine of
Tirukkamakkottam-udaiya-Aludaiya-nachchiyarin the temple of Rajendrasolisvaram
Udaiyar, in the 23rd year of Jatavarman Tribhuvanachakravartin Kula-sekharadeva
(C.E. 1213; ARE 10 of 1909), which would show that this border area was wrested
from Chola control in the last days of Kulottunga III (C.E. 1178-1218).
Sonadukondaruliya Sundara Pandyan’s 5th year of reign
inscription on the south wall above the steps starts with his meikeerthi,
records the land as thevadhanam to this temple for nivantham by the …. Perumal
alias Thyaganchiriya Perumal.
The Pandya King Kobanmar Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Emmandalamum kondaruliya Sri Kulasekaradevar’s 20th
year of reign inscription records the gift of land for creating a nandavanam by
the Perun theru, one of the Merchant Karkudaiyan Thirunilaiyazhgiyan alias
Namasivayadevar.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Sundara Pandyadevar’s 8th year of reign inscription
on the Rajagopuram door jamb records the order not to take water from the
temple mutram well by the Idangkai(?).
Thiribhuvana
Chakravathi Konerimaikondan’s inscription (Sl. No. 578) on the north wall of the
sanctum sanctorum records the naivedyam for Naya….ngaran sandhi. For the same, all the taxes collected are to be given to the temple.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Kulasekaradevar’s …. Year of reign inscription (Sl. No. 586),
on the north side wall of the sanctum sanctorum, records the celebration. The
inscription is incomplete.
Thiribhuvana
Chakravarthikal Konerimaikondan’s reign inscription (Sl. No. 656) on the north
wall of the sanctum sanctorum records the endowment of running a Thanneer
Pandal by the Arcot Kilar Thiruvenkadudayar alias Vanarayar. For the same, lands
were gifted. In addition, he had to pay 18 panam for thirumeipoochu, and 12 panam
for the oil to burn the lamp at Kai Ventra Pillaiyar temple.
Konerimaikondan’s
reign inscription (Sl. No. 578) on the north wall of the sanctum sanctorum
records the endowment of naivaedyam, and the same was done through the collection of
various taxes.
The
inscription (Sl. No. 677) is on the right-side wall on the steps, in the form of a
poem.
வீரமாகதன் பொன்பாப்பினான-
மடலளவு நிறைந்தொழுகுமதுமல[ற்]த்தார்
மகதெசங் வைய் - பங்காக்கும் அடலளவு மணிநெடுந்தொளாயுத ராமனை வ-
ணங்காவ எ(னு] ரியாவர் கடலளவு நடந்ததவந்
கனைகுரகதம் சதி-
வெல் மன்னருடலளவு நடந்தது மற்றாறுலகளவு நடந்தத-
வந் ஒரு செங்கொலெ
The Vijayanagara King’s reign year
inscription (Sl. No. 778) on the west side wall of the sanctum sanctorum
records the gift of abhishekam kalasam, bell, and doopa stand by Inpavana
Perumal Nayakar Sundarapandiya Chakravarthikal.
The 18- 19th centuries
inscription (Sl. No. 817) on the north wall of the temple records that Madurai
Azhagiya chokkanar temple Kaikolars, Munnamai avudaiyar Varivara kandiyadevan,
left as a Thavadimai, Manikki, and her son Ilakkappan and Periya Mudali, and
her daughter Santhanathayazhagi, her sister Malaiyar, Her brother Nainan, her
brother,…… his brother Peththarasan and his bother Paththan, the Thirishul was
established. For the same, land and house sites were gifted to them.
References
1. Inscriptions
(Texts) of the Pudukkottai State arranged according to Dynasties.
2. Annual
Report on South Indian epigraphy, Year 1909.
3. Pudukkottai State Gazetteer
4. Maha
Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 4th June 2026.
LEGENDS
POOJAS
AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart
from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on pradosham, Maha
Shivaratri, Annabhishekam in the month of Aippasi, Skanda Sashti, Thaipoosam,
Thirukarthigai, etc.
TEMPLE
TIMINGS
The
temple will be open from 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.30
hrs.
CONTACT
DETAILS
The
landline number +914564268544 and mobile number +919865158374 may be
contacted for further details.
HOW
TO REACH
The
temple at Ponnamaravathi is 28.4 km from Tirupattur, 34 km from Pillayarpatti,
37 km from Pudukkottai, and 50 km from Karaikudi.
The
nearest Railway Station is Pudukkottai.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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