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NARTHAMALAI SHIVA TEMPLES PART 3 - VIJAYALACHOLEESHVARAM





NARTHAMALAI – VIJAYALA CHOLEESHVARAM TEMPLE.


Vijayalaya Choleeswaram was built by a king called Sattan Puthi Ilankovathi araiyan of the Muthraiyar Dyansty, who were vassals of the early Pallavas and Pandyas, post the revival of the Medieval Cholas by the founder Vijayala Chola (850 to 871 CE) the Temples of Narthamalai came under the influence of the Chola’s


Vijayala Choleeshvaram Temple

The temple would be one of the earliest rock cut structural temple built by the Medieval Cholas and resembles the inspiration from Kailasanatha Temple of the Pallavas in Kanchipuram. The Vijayala Choleeshvaram Temple is the main attraction of Narthamalai and is facing west. Built in a Parivara shrine Style popular with the Cholas, it had eight sub shrines surrounding the central Temple structure, out of which six survive till date. The Parivara temple structure are generally built to accommodate the family of Bhagwan Shiva or local gods.


Ashthaparihara Temple of Shiva


The main Shrine consists of a Mukhamandapa, Ardhamandapa and a circular Garbhagriha with space for circumambulation. The Vimana of the temple is built in a Tri-Tala or three storied structure with the bottom two layers being square and the top layer with the Shikhara being circular (Vesara). An image of Shiva with Parvati on east, Shiva as Veenadhara on south are placed under these maha-nasikas. Four Nandi statues are placed at four corners facing either east or west. The temple has both the Nagara and Dravida features to it.


Three storied round & square Vimana.

The entrance to the temple is scripted with two Dwarapalakas, exquisitely chiseled. The right one is intrinsically crafted with Simha (Lion) arm bands. The left one seems to be incomplete. 



Left Dwarapalaka
Right Dwarapalaka















The round Garbhagriha contains a Shiva linga with a pedestal (Avudayar, Pindika) facing to the right of the Lingam, being a western facing entrance. The mandapam consists of Paintings of which Bhairava & Vishnu painting have survived time. The paintings themselves are of a later origin.


The entrance to the mukhamandapam.
The eight sub shrines around the temple are in the Astha-Parivara pattern. The arrangement of these eight sub shrines is as follows: Chandra in east, Surya in south-east, Sapta-matrika in south, Ganesha in south-west, Subramanya in west, Jyestha in north-west, Chandesha in north and Bhairava in north-east.























































































There is an inscription at the base of the dwarapalaka statue which clearly states that the original temple was built by Ilangovathi Mutharayar (alias) Chathambuthi which was damaged by rain and the same was rebuilt with granite stones by Mallan Vithuman Mutharaya king in 886 CE. This is a clear evidence that the temple was in existence prior to Vijayalaya chola, though at present the temple is called Vijayalaya Choleeswaram. 















v  The temple would be one of the earliest rock cut structural temple built by the Medieval Cholas and resembles the inspiration from Kailasanatha Temple of the Pallavas in Kanchipuram. The Vijayala Choleeshvaram Temple is the main attraction of Narthamalai and is facing west. Built in a Parivara shrine Style popular with the Cholas, it had eight sub shrines surrounding the central Temple structure, out of which six survive till date. The Parivara temple structure are generally built to accommodate the family of Bhagwan Shiva or local gods.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bt9rLbh1gqHMs7GS9





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Location: Narthamalai, Tamil Nadu 622101, India

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