Uyyakondan Thirumalai Temple
| Uyyakondan Thirumalai Temple | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | |
| Proper name | Uyyakondan Thirumalai |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 10°48′57″N 78°39′33″E / 10.81583°N 78.65917°ECoordinates: 10°48′57″N 78°39′33″E / 10.81583°N 78.65917°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Tiruchirapalli |
| Location | Tiruchirapalli |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Ujjevanathar[1] |
| Consort | Maivizhi Ammai[1] |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
| History and governance | |
| Creator | Chola kings |
Uyyakondan Thirumali Temple or Karkudimalai or Thirumalainallur (Tamil: உய்யகொண்டான் திருமலை)[2] is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located 5 km west of Tiruchirapalli in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is located in a small hillock on the banks of Uyyakondan channel. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where all of the four most revered Nayanars (Saivite Saints) have sung glories of the deity in this temple. The temple has inscriptions from the Chola period.[3]
The Temple
The temple is located on a rock about 30 feet tall and is surrounded by a slender wall.[3] The temple is reached by a fleet of steps. The shrine of Vinayagar is located in a cut in the first 10 steps and the other shrines are located on the hillock. The whole temple is fortified and the temple tank is located inside the fortification.[3] The temple is built in Sembian age of Cholas around 950 CE.[4] The main deity of the temple faces western direction.[1] There are two shrines of Goddess in the temple.[1]
Legend
A Sri Lankan king is believed to have been blessed by the deity here.[5]
History
The temple has inscriptions dating from Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1118 CE), that speaks of separate community known as 'Rathakarar', a sect of expert capenter skilled in the art of designing and making temple cars.[6] The temple was occupied by French and English forces during the siege of Trichonopoly (old Tiruchirapalli) in 1753-54.[3] After the war battle of Sugar-loaf rock, English Major Lawrence marched against the fortified temple and carried it by assault.[3]
Literary Mention
The temple is revered in the 7th-8th century Saivite canonical literature, Tevaram, by all the three poets, namely, Appar, Campantar and Cuntarar.[1]
| “ |
வடந்திகழ் மென்முலை யாளைப் பாகம தாக மதித்துத் |
” |
[7] Cuntarar describes the feature of the deity as:
| “ | விடையா ருங்கொடியாய் வெறியார்மலர்க் கொன்றையினாய் படையார் வெண்மழுவா பரமாய பரம்பரனே |
” |
Notes
References
- A., Kuppuswami (1987), The Crest Jewel of Divine Dravidian Culture, Pudukottai: Sarma's Sanatorium Press.
- Ayyar, P. V. Jagadisa (1991), South Indian shrines: illustrated, New Delhi: Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
- Dehejia, Vidya (1990), Art of the imperial Cholas, USA: Columbia University Press, ISBN 0-231-07188-4.
- F.R., Hemingway (1907). Madras district gazetteers, Volume 1. Superintendent, Government Press.
- Swamigal, Campantar. "Tevaram Of Campantar Cuvamikal Tirumurai 1 - 1 Poems(1-721)" (PDF). http://projectmadurai.org. Retrieved 2012-02-08. External link in
|publisher=(help) - Swamigal, Cuntaramurthi. "Tevaram Of Campantar Cuvamikal Tirumurai 7 - Poems(1-517)" (PDF). http://projectmadurai.org. Retrieved 2012-02-08. External link in
|publisher=(help) - Sewell, Robert (1882). Lists of the antiquarian remains in the presidency of Madras. E.Keys, Government Press.