SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

  THIRUPUNAVASAL. – VRIDDHAPUREESHWARAR TEMPLE – PUDUKOTTAI – TAMILNADU BIGGEST LINGAM IN TAMILNADU. #mntirupunavasal #mnpudukkottai #mntamilnadu The THEVARAM is a seven volume treatise on the hymns composed and sung in praise of MAHADEV SHIVA in Tamil, primarily by Tirunavukkarasar (Appar), TiruGnyanasambandar & Sundarar, the most prominent Nayanaars of the sixty three Nayanaars, of Shiva Siddhanta, which forms part of the larger twelve Volume compendium of hymns TIRUMURAI composed by many other poet saints from the 6th Century CE to the 11th Century CE. The Tevaram talks of 275 such Temples known as PAADAL (Hymn) PETRA (acquired) STHALAM (Place) , whose principle deity SHIVA has been praised by the hymns. Paadal Petra Sthalam. Out of the 275 temples , 14 Temples have been either rebuilt or renovated by the Later Pandya’s of Madurai and falls in Pandya Nadu . One such temple is this temple of Mahadev as VRIDDHAPUREESHWAR or PAZHYAMPATHINATHAR. PAZHYAM(Ancient), in the town of TI

  AIVAR TEMPLE Pallava dynasty edict 6th to 7th century. The name AIVAR refers to five Lingas, with a peculiar plan of four in four corners & the main Lingam in the centre under one Vimana. The style is that of King Rajasimha Narsimhavarman II (695 - 728 CE)of the Pallava dynasty. If the remains are so beautiful, how beautiful the temple would have been. Pudukkottai District - Tamilnadu. For more PHOTOS https://photos.app.goo.gl/M7c2jzuTaFWbVYoLA

MUVAR KOIL - KODUMBALUR  MUVAR KOVIL or the threesome Temple of Lingams. With surviving two vimanas. Built during the period of PARANTAKA CHOLA II (957 - 970 CE. Three shrines with a Vimana Ardhamandapam & Mukhamandapam with Nandi. Boothi Vikramakesari was a Velir Irukkuvel chieftain and a vassal of the medieval Cholas. He is endowed  with the building of these temples with three shrines known as Muvar Koil or the " Temple for three". In the district of Pudukkottai - Tamilnadu. MUVAR KOVIL. MUVAR KOVIL or the threesom Temple of Lingams built during the period of PARANTAKA CHOLA II (957 - 970 CE). 1. Mahavishnu 2. Veenadhara Shiva 3. Thandavamurthy 4. Gajasamharamurthy 5. Vrishabhantika & Gangadhara. 6. Eroded unique Shiva Icon 7. Sukhasanamurthy standing. 8. Thandavamurthy. 9. Thandavamurthy. 10. Sukhasanamurthy sitting.

NARTHAMALAI – THE EGYPTIAN CONNECTION Narthamalai – a small village now, was a major trading center under the Muttaraiyar Kings, Vassals of the early Pallava’s and Pandya’s (7 th  to 9 th  century CE) and later came under the influence of the medieval Chola’s under Vijayala Chola during the last decade of 9 th  century CE. Narthamalai perhaps is named after the trading community Nagaratthar (Nagaratthar – Malai) also known as Nattukottai Chettiyar’s even now. Did the Nattukottai Chettiyar’s have an Egyptian connection? Did they have trade links with Egypt in the 7 th  century CE or before. Did the merchants & artisans of Narthamalai visit Egypt? The artisans from the reign of Muthuraiyars, seem to have been to Egypt, in order to have come out with a small frame in the walls of the Big Shiva Vishnu cave, with a sculpture similar to the “SPHINX”. The Human face with a Lions body. The same is well en

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