Kundrathur is situated at a distance of 13 km from Tambaram, the southern suburb of Chennai city. The locality is known for its numerous ancient temples. Nagesvarar temple is one of the main temples located here. The ancient temple, built during the Chola period, has more than 45 inscriptions. Besides providing the details on temple structure, icons, history and legends, this article briefly introduces all the inscriptions.
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Legend
The famous Tamil scholar and poet Sekkizhar was from this village named Kundrathur. He lived in the 12th century C.E. during the period of Kulotunga Chola II. He was the author of Periya Puranam, which talks about the lives and greatness of 63 Nayanmars in detail.
It is said that Sekkizhar had once visited Tirunageswaram near Kumbakonam, and he wanted to get darshan of the same deity every day. Hence, he built this temple of Nagesvarar that looks similar to the other one in his native place.
A few years ago, as the original Shiva Linga, which Sekkizar installed, got damaged, the villagers replaced it with a new icon. That night, Lord Shiva appeared in the dream of a devotee and ordered him to reinstall the original Linga. Accordingly, the same old Linga was reinstalled in the sanctum. The newly made Linga is kept in the western inner prakara.
History
The temple is a treasure house of inscriptions. There are a total of 45 inscriptions found. The oldest inscription is from Virarajendra Chola, dated 1064/65 C.E. and the latest one is from Venkatapatiraya, dated 1599 CE.
Based on the availability of the inscriptions and the architectural style, the temple was probably built in the 11th century C.E. by the Medieval Cholas. The Pandyas, Sambuvarayars and Vijayanagaras, did renovations and additions. Even after that, many additions and repair works were done in the last three hundred years. Veerabhadra Mudaliar built the tower (Raja gopuram) in 1944 C.E.
From a few inscriptions, we understand that Kundrathur was located in Kundrathur Naadu, a sub-division of Puliyur Kottam alias Kulotunga Chola Valanaadu, which in turn was part of Jayamkonda Chola Mandalam. Also, the presiding deity was referred to as Tirunagisvaramudaiya Nayanar.
Out of 45 inscriptions, 22 are from the Cholas, two from Kopperunchinga, one from Telugu Chola, six from Pandyas, four from Sambuvarayars, and ten from Vijayanagara Kings. A further break-up is seen below.
Virarajendra Chola - 3
Kulotunga Chola III - 10
Rajaraja Chola III - 9
Kopperunchinga I - 2
Vira Ganda Gopaladeva - 1
Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I - 1
Maravarma Kulasekhara Pandya I - 5
Venrumankonda Sambuvaraya - 1
Rajanarayana Sambuvarayar - 3
Kampanna Udaiyar - 2
Harihara Raya - 2
Deva Raya II - 4
Unkonwn Vijayanagara - 1
Venkatapatiraya - 1
A brief write-up about all these inscriptions is given below.
Inscription # 1
Reference - A.R. No. 200 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1064/65 CE
King - Virarajendra Chola
The inscription records the assignment of taxes on some land to the temple for the expenses of worship on the day of Revati every month.
Inscription # 2
Reference - A.R. No. 230 of 1929-30
Location - West Wall of the Amman (Goddess) Shrine
Period - 1067 CE
King - Virarajendra Chola
The inscription registers the money received from an individual to light a lamp regularly at the Goddess shrine.
Inscription # 3
Reference - A.R. No. 229 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Amman (Goddess) Shrine
Period - 1069 CE
King - Virarajendra Chola
The inscription registers the money received from an individual to light a lamp regularly at the Goddess shrine.
Inscription # 4
Reference - A.R. No. 194 of 1929-30
Location - West Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1192 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
The inscription registers the gift of land by the people of Kundrathur to the temple of Tirunagisvaram Udaiyar to provide midnight offerings to the image of Kambavaana Nachiyar. It also states that Kannappan Panchanadi Kambavaanan alias Veeramantaththoosi installed it. (She is called Kamakshi nowadays).
Inscription # 5
Reference - A.R. No. 198 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1192 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription too provides similar details as the previous one.
Inscription # 6
Reference - A.R. No. 199 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1194 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription records the gift of two goats for twilight lights.
Inscription # 7
Reference - A.R. No. 215 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1197 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
The inscription registers the gift from a Devadasi named Chitramali Nangai.
Inscription # 8
Reference - A.R. No. 219 of 1929-30
Location - North Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1197 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
The inscription registers the gift from a Devadasi named Tiruvunnaligai Nangai alias Uyyavandal.
Inscription # 9
Reference - A.R. No. 202 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the Mukha Mandapa
Period - 1201 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription records the gift of money for lighting lamps.
Inscription # 10
Reference - A.R. No. 212 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapa
Period - 1201 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription records the gift of money for lighting lamps.
Inscription # 11
Reference - A.R. No. 225 of 1929-30Location - West Wall of the Kalyana MandapamPeriod - 1206 CEKing - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription registers the gift of land by the people of Kundrathur to the temple.
Inscription # 12
Reference - A.R. No. 222 of 1929-30
Location - North Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1211 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription records an individual's gift of money for lighting a lamp.
Inscription # 13
Reference - A.R. No. 211 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapa
Period - 1211 CE
King - Kulotunga Chola III
This inscription records the gift of cows for the perpetual lamp.
Inscription # 14
Reference - A.R. No. 191 of 1929-30
Location - West Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1222/23 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
The inscription registers the gift of land to conduct the early morning service in the temple.
Inscription # 15
Reference - A.R. No. 214 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1224 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
The inscription registers the gift from a Devadasi named Vidiyar alias Narpattennayira Manickam.
Inscription # 16
Reference - A.R. No. 203 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the Mukha Mandapa
Period - 1226 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
This inscription records the gift of money for lighting lamps.
Inscription # 17
Reference - A.R. No. 220 of 1929-30
Location - North Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1226 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
The inscription registers the gift from a barber named Eluttarivan.
Inscription # 18
Reference - A.R. No. 216 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1230 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
The inscription registers the gift of a gold ornament from an individual from a place called Marudam in Urrukkattukottam.
Inscription # 19
Reference - A.R. No. 217 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1230 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
The inscription is damaged and appears to be an order from the king to perform specific actions.
Inscription # 20
Reference - A.R. No. 223 of 1929-30Location - North Wall of the Kalyana MandapamPeriod - 1230 CEKing - Rajaraja Chola III
This inscription records the gift of money for a lighting lamp by Tiruvunnaligai Nangai, a Devadasi.
Inscription # 21
Reference - A.R. No. 196 of 1929-30
Location - West Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1232/33 CE
King - Kopperunchinga I
The inscription registers the money gifted by a Devadasi to light a lamp in front of Dakshinamurti.
Inscription # 22
Reference - A.R. No. 213 of 1929-30
Location - East Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1234/35 CE
King - Kopperunchinga I
The inscription registers the money gifted by an individual to light a lamp.
Inscription # 23
Reference - A.R. No. 205 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the Mukha Mandapa
Period - 1237 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
This inscription records the gift of money received from an individual for lighting lamps.
Inscription # 24
Reference - A.R. No. 218 of 1929-30
Location - North Wall of the Kalyana Mandapam
Period - 1241 CE
King - Rajaraja Chola III
The inscription records the gift from certain Sekkizhan to light lamps in the evenings in the temple.
Inscription # 25
Reference - A.R. No. 189 of 1929-30
Location - North Wall of the sanctum
Period - 1252 CE
King - Jatavarma Sundara Pandya I
Language - Tamil
The inscription talks about the land gifted to the deity named Piraiyanivanudalisvaram Udaiya Nayanar.
Inscription # 26
Reference - A.R. No. 224 of 1929-30Location - North Wall of the Kalyana MandapamPeriod - 1254 CEKing - Vira Ganda Gopaladeva (Telugu Chola)
This inscription talks about Periyanattu Perumpalli and Bhuvaneswaramudaiyan temple. It records the gift of land by an individual.
Inscription # 27
Reference - A.R. No. 204 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the Mukha Mandapa
Period - 1299 CE
King - Maravarma Kulasekhara Pandya I
Language - Tamil
The inscription talks about the sale of land.
Inscription # 28
Reference - A.R. No. 208 of 1929-30
Location - South Wall of the Mukha Mandapa
Period - 1299 CE
King - Maravarma Kulasekhara Pandya I
Language - Tamil
The inscription talks about selling land to a person with a Sekkizhar surname.
