Does any one know if the Varahi temple inside periya kovil complex was built during RRC time or is it newer ? I believe the varahi is powerful and I am interested in knowing more about the history of the temple.
Cannibalistic .. Never.. Not by any Hindu Emperor in Tamilnadu.
RRC need not have taken old pillars for a massive project as Big Temple..
There could have been other reasons as well :
Pallavas and Chozhas were more in friendly terms - unlike with ther Southern counter-parts.
With evidence surfacing that Sundara Chozhar thunjiya (passed away) PON MALIGAI at NANDHIPURAM (near Tirukandiyur / Thiruvaiyaru) - palace belonged to NANDHIVARMA PALLAVA, these two pillars could have been positioned for certain specific reasons too - from Pallava origin.
Just posted Sundara Pandiya Meykeerthi (coutesy Dr Jaybee).
Sundara Pandia has destroyed every Political structure - except Karikalan 16 pillar mandap from where he gave away gift to Pattinappalai Author Kadiyalur Urithirankannanar !
BUT he too gave grants to Chozha built temples.
None of our South Indian Emperors disturbed any place of worship - least at the place of worship of Same Faith..
If my memory serves me right, the Varahi looked more like a structure from the wall than a pillar.
Plus your mention on the Pallava - Chola association is of great importance as we see post battle of Aditya 1 Vs Aparajitha pallava. Was this pillar or wall acquired post period of Raja Raja's dominance ? Another major question is why 'Varahi' against so many other saptha maatha's ? Was periya kovil initially a saptha maatha stalam ?
I am searching archives, google etc but not many answers...but questions seem to be increasing :-)
> > None of our South Indian Emperors disturbed any place of worship - > least at the place of worship of Same Faith.. > > > regards/ sps > > ===================
During kulottunga I, the kachi kailasanatha temple was closed down and the temple lands were given to another nearby temple. Subsequently during vijayanagara period ( his officer) koppangal cancelled this order and reopened the temple.
South indian inscriptions:
The three inscriptions Nos. 86, 87 and- 88 contain orders, which, were issued by a certain koppanangal/Koppannangal or Koppanan to the authorities of the temple. Koppanangal -was probably the executive officer of Kambana- udaiyar at kanchipuram. The Kaiiasanattha Temple is designated, by three different names, Rajasimhavarmesvara,Edudattu-ayiram-u-daiya-nayanar and Tirukkarraliimahadeva. The last-mentioned term means "the holy stone- temple (of) siva, The meaning of the second is not apparent. The first name, RajasimhayarmeSvara, shows that the Pallava king Rajasimha, the founder of the temple, was not yet forgotten at the times of Kambana-udaiyar, and that his full name was Rajasimhavarman.
Kulottunga-Chola-deva, the Rajasimhavarmesvara Temple at Kanchipuram had been closed, its landed property sold, and its compound and environs transferred to the temple of anaiyapadangavudaiyanayanar. Koppanangal ordered, that the temple should be reopened and that its property should be restored."
To avenge Vathapi having been set to Fire, Chalukya army invaded Kanchi - in post Narasimha period and upon seeing the beauty of Kanchi Kailasanatha temple, the invasion was stopped, grants given and retreated without causing any damage to the Pallava Capital !