We are recording various Valisvarar temple. Vada Kurangaduthurai is clearly mentioned in Thevaram as having worshipped by Vali, the other Valisvarars ( Valikondapuram, Thrivalisvaram, Koliyanur, Pattaraiperumpudur, Mylapore, Takkolam) are all have inscriptional reference from Aditya 1 to Rajadiraja ( 9th to 11th C) as Valisvaram.
An eminent historian asked me to to get a clear confirmations of the meaning of Valisvaram as having worshipped by Vali. I showed him the
1. The Boothavari of Koliyanur where a Vali worshipping Lingam was shown ( RRC period) 2. The Sanctum of Maylapore where Vali is worshipping the Moola lingam ( Rajadhiraja 1 period)
He countered that how to confirm them to RRC and Rajadhiraja period. He asked me to conclusively find proof which cannot be question as later addition. He asked me to validate the name Valisvara as lingam worshipped by Vali. He wanted a proof from Valisvaram to confirm the claim.
Finally I found the proof in Villupuram.
Before that -
Villupuram has a very interesting history.
In the epigraph of Ericha Udayar temple” Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district ( Now it is in madras Museum) Pandya King Varaguna II in his RY 16 – AD 878 records a gift to the lord for food offering. ( ARE 1905 no 105) The food offer consists of a. Sennittal rice – 4 Nali b. Pachapppayaru for Kummayam c. Ghee 1 Ulakku d. Curd 1 Uri e. Plantain -4 f. Sugar 1 Palam g. Vegetables for Kari amudhu h. Again kaykari, ghee and curd for kootu ( Must be Avial looking at the ingradients) i. Betel 2 bundles j. Areca nuts 40 k. Lime 1 sevidu( sevidu is a measure)
Varaguna II claims that this gift was made to the temple while the King Varaguna Maharaja was camping in Arasur on the Banks of Pennai in Thondainadu.
Arasur is close to Villupuram.
Subsequently there is another interesting epigraph in Thiruvadigai (ARE 1921 no 360 ) where in Nirupatungavarman in his RY 18, AD 887 refers to a gift of 850 Kalanju of gold entrusted with the Nagaram of Adiraya Mangalam by the Pandya King Varaguna Maharaja to provide for the offering including “ Pachappayatruk Kummayam” to the temple of Thiruvirattana Mahadeva”
Initially there was an allianace between Varaguna II and Nirupatunga and they jointly fought a war with Lanka. Nirupatunga was supporting Varaguna II. Subsequently Varaguna waged a war with Nirupatunga and that is why he came upto Pennai, close to Villupuram. In 887 Nirupatunga was confirming the grant given by Varaguna since people of those ages believed that dharmam should be continued even if it is started by an enemy. They were not just writing that - This should continue till sun and moon exist or whoever spoils this will get the sin of killing a cow on the banks of Ganga - They protected the dharma and public trusts.( as it was the practice then) . Nirupatunga addresses the enemy respectfully as Varaguna Maharaja.
Varaguna 1 & II epigraphs are found in many Chola Temples – Anbil, Lalgudi, Vada Kurangaduthurai, Thirukkodikka, Kumabakonam Nageswaran, Thiruchchotruthurai.
Nirupatunga to celebrate a victory - May be this one or the ceylon one or some other one - created a Chathurvedi Managalam on the Northern Banks of Pennai River by the name “ Vijaya Nirupatunga Jayamthangi Chathurvedi managlam” and constructed a Vaikundap perumal temple. In all probability he might have constructed the Kailasanatha temple also. This place is now called Villupuram.
Vaiguntaperumal temple has epigraphs of Parantaga 1. Looks that was very clear when Mahaswami read that but was read and published by ASI only in 1993-94 mentioning partly not clear.
There is a Valisvara temple in Poonthottam, ie the old bus stand – which must be older and renovated by Aditya as Katrali, just behind the Villupuram Old bus stand – The temple tank is the current waste dump yard of the Villupuram town. This dilapated temple was cleared and the main shirine is well protected by locals, who administer the temple. In fact when the original Dakshinamoorthi was severly damaged, they took the photographs and made an exact replica. Epigraphs and the lone miniature are well protected. There are 4 epigraphs in the Villupuram Valisvarar temple.
Aditya 1 – RY 21 – AD 892 ARE 1947 -8 No 36. Enur Thiruvonkata ( Thiruvenkata?) kramavithan and Enur Rishikesa Kramavithan , members of alunganattar of Nirpatunga Jayanthangi Chathurvedi mangalam sold several plots of land to the temple of god Paramaswamin of Thiruvalisvaram. In this some were inherited by them from their father who purchased them from the sabha and the rest were freshly purchased.
In 892, Aditya was ruling Villupuram and it was his RY 21. Ie he began his rule from 871. Hence he must had a role in the war fought at the banks of Pennai. In fact Aditya epigraphs are found even in Takkolam.
If we combine all the three epigraphs -Varguna II was close to Villupuram in 878, Nirupatunga had control in 887, Aditya had control in 892.
But there is a news of Nirupatunga Epigraphs near Tanjore belonging to 893.
If Nirupatunga had control Upto Tanjore in 893, How can Aditya rule Villupuram in 892, unless Aditya was under Nirupatunga with some independence or had a strong family alliance.
All the above years are taken as given by Sri TV Mahalingam.
Please refer the Velanjeri Cooper Plate article of Dr R N. According to DR R N Sir,
"Aditya's conquest of Tondaimandalam is attested by his inscriptions found in Tirukkalukunram,(18) and Takkolam.(19) His 21st year inscription seems to be the earliest in Tondainadu. If this is taken as the basis, it would then mean that Aparajita had lost his life by 890. (the 20th year of Aditya). Aparajita's inscriptions are found upto his 18th year(20). So he should have ascended the throne about 870. Kampavarman came to the throne a few years earlier, circa 868 and Nrpatunga, two are three years earlier. Nrpatunga's accession can be placed about 865. On the basis of the above calculations the following would be our revised chronology.
Nrpatunga 865 to 906 A.D. Kampavarman 868 - 900 A.D. Aparajita 870 - 890 A.D.
Prof. Sastri, and S. R. Balasubramaniam agree to 890 as the last year of Aparajita. This tallies with our findings. T.V. Mahalingam's date of 913 for both Aparajita and Aditya seems to us to be unconvincing(21)"
Hence the date of Nirupatunga's epigraphs in Thiruvadigai must be 882 ( if we take his starting year as 865)
Now the revised dates at Villupuarm are:
If we combine all the three epigraphs -Varguna II was close to Villupuram in 878, Nirupatunga had control in 882, Aditya had control in 892.
In all probability, Villupuram must have been established around 878 after the victory over this war.
Request members to give their views. whether I am right in understanding the chronology of events.
In the Villupuram Valisvarar temple there is a RRC inscription of gifting a metal lamp by a Brahmin and another label “ valisvaramudaya paramaswamin. There is one more inscription not found in the books but Kanchi Mahaswamy ( who is a native of this place) mentions having read that in RRC period the Nirupatunga Jayamthangi Chathurvedi Managalam was renamed as Jananatha Chathurvedi mangalam in honour of Rajaraja.
This temple has a lone miniature Vali worshipping lingam which is part of the basement below Aditya 1’s epigraph. This undoubtedly proves that the Valisvara concept is also as old as Aditya1’s period. Exactly above this panel in Boothavari a Vali Sugreeva fight is shown.
The Old stone Dwajasthambam also has a Vali worshipping Siva image.
Brahma image is Aditya period. ( the other 2 goshta images of Dakshinamoorthy and Lingodbhava are new but exact replica of the old)
Three interesting things to be answered.
1. Chronological events of this Pandya/Pallava/Chola conflicts. Request members to guide me on this.
3. " Ericha Udayar of Kallidaikkurichi" - The ericha story, which is related to Kannadiyan Channel. Kanchi Mahaswami had explained the story. refer Deivathin kural 7th volume, Kannadiyan kalvai. I have also attached the Upanyasam of Kanchi mahaswami on Villupuram.