The Cholas, apart from building the temples in the countries they have won over, also built / renovated / given grants to the shrines of local religions. Rajaraja Perumpalli in Periyakulam (Triconamalli) Srilanka is one such example.The Buddha vihara was rebuild by Cholas.
The Vihara was named after Rajaraja, the great Chola king.There were 16 Chola era Tamil inscriptions found here. Most of them mentions various donations given to the Vihara like lamps, cattle, money,land etc. The architecture style of Vihara is similar to Tamil style construction
Here is one inscription from the Rajendra chola era (his Meikeerthi). The Chola chieftains names mentioned in the inscriptions shows that the Vihara was at its glory during the Chola times.
Only a dimwit will compare such all inclusive Cholas to invaders/destroyers like Mughals
The inscription courtesy ‘Ilangai Tamil Sasanangal’ by Prof C Padmanathan
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Today the Chithirai Ther (Chariot) festival is happening in Srirangam. The entire festival is called as ‘Viruppan Thirunal’. Who is this Viruppan ? Why the festival is named after him ? Read on.
We know that the invasion of Ulugh Khan devastated the Srirangam temple. After Kumara Kampanna regained Tamil Nadu in 1371, his commander Gopanna brought Namperumal back to Srirangam. However, it took 12 years to repair the ruined temple completely.
Viruppanna Udaiyar, the son of Harihara II of Vijayanagara Empire, undertook this temple renovation work. For that purpose, he performed a Tulabharam (a ritual weighing oneself against gold) and donated 17,000 gold coins and 52 villages. During his reign, the Thousand-Pillar Mandapam, which was destroyed by Ulugh Khan, was rebuilt.
Today is the birthday of “Original Thala”, the great Pandya King Jatavarman Sundara Pandiyan. He was born on Chittirai - Mula Nakshatra. He was an excellent warrior and also a Dharmic King. One day he went to have a Darshan of Sri Ranganathar. That time Bhattacharyas were performing Abhishekam to Ranaganatha.
It is a usual practice to collect the holy water in a pot and distribute it to the devotees after the Abhishekam. However, they forgot to bring that pot on that day. Without hesitating for a moment , Sundara Pandya gave his crown to collect the holy water and asked the Bhattars to distribute it.. Even now Bhattars say ‘Sundarapandiam Pidithel’ to mark that occasion. He had donated a brilliant Pandyan Kondai to Sri Ranaganatha and gold plated the Vimana of the temple.
His rule enhanced the five Yajnas performed by Vedic Brahmins and Six Vedangas. He glorified both Tamil and Sanskrit, Dharma taught by Vedas and Manusmriti.
This is one of the largest inscriptions in Sanskrit in Tamil Nadu, inscribed by himin the east wall of the second prakara of Srirangam temple. Written using Grantha alphabet and flanked by the twin Fish symbol of Pandyas, it has thirty Sanskrit verses detailing the history of the great Pandya King.
Today is the Thiru Nakshatram of Vaishnava saint Kulasekara Alwar, who was one of the first kings of the Perumal dynasty who ruled the Chera country. He belonged to 8th century and considered as the contemporary of Pandya king Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan.
There are many inscriptions about him at various temples. Notable among them is in Srirangam temple. The Kulothunga I period inscription mentions about the grants given “while Namperumal was seated at the shadow of Thiruppunai tree and listening to the Thettarum Thiral song of Sri Kulasekara Alwar”
தேட்டு அருந் திறல்-தேனினைத் தென் அரங்கனைத் திருமாது வாழ்
வாட்டம் இல் வனமாலை மார்வனை வாழ்த்தி மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்
ஆட்டம் மேவி அலந்து அழைத்து அயர்வு-எய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள்தம்
ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல் அது காணும் கண் பயன் ஆவதே
Another inscription about him at Tirupati, during the reign of Vijayanaraga king Chaluva Narasimha says a Vigraha of Kulasekara Alwar was installed at the Govindaraja temple and grants were made to perform poojas
Today is the Guru Pooja of Ko Chenganan, a Chola king and a Saiva Saint. He was instrumental in building a number of temples in Tamilagam. Thirunavukkarasar says he built more than seventy temples, a fact corroborated by Thirumangai Alwar as below
இருக்கிலங்கு திருமொழிவாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில்மாடம் எழுபதுசெய்(து)உலகம் ஆண்ட திருக்குலத்து வளச்சோழன்
In his previous birth, he was born as a spider and used to weave a canopy above a Shivalinga to provide the shade. An elephant which does Pooja to the Shivalinga, thought the web was desecrating the Lord and removed it. Both of them fought and lost their lives.
Due to the memory of the previous birth, Ko Chenganan built all his temples as ‘Mada Kovil’, with lot of steps so that elephants can’t enter the sanctum.
The above legend was mentioned in a number of Chola inscriptions and literary sources. The Velanjeri copper plate inscriptions of Parantaka Chola says.
“A spider used the threads from its mouth to weave a beautiful canopy for Lord Shiva, who had adorned the moon on his head. Pleased by the spider’s devotion, the Lord blessed it to be reborn as the great Chola king, Kochengat Cholan.”
Tirupparankundram is not just the ancient abode of Murugan, which is in the northern side of the hill. It is a sacred place which has many important cultural / religious monuments.
Behind the hill, facing south, there is a cave temple known as ‘Thenparankundram’ constructed by Pandyas around 6th Century.
The shrines inside include Arthanareeswarar on whose name it is called as ‘Umai Andavar’ temple. It also has an inscription of Maravarman Sundara Pandiyan who rules Madurai during 13th Century.
The temple has borne the brunt of invaders and most of the sculptures destroyed