Valiswaram - legend says Vali used to worship 108 sivalingams daily. We are tracing those temples which were in existance prior to 12th C withexistencele epigraphic and literary proof. Though we respect the Temple sthala Puranams, for this series we consider only temples with a verifable proof of pre 12th.
We have seen so far 6 valisvarar temples datable to pre 12th .
1. Vadakurangaduthurai - refered by Sambandar 2.Valikondapuram - epigraphs of Aditya 1, RRC 3. Thiruvaleeswaram Ambasamudram - epigraphs of RRC 4. Koliyanur Villupuram - epigraphs of RRC 5. Thakkolam - epigraphs of Rajendra 6. Pattaraip perumpudur - epigraphs of RRC/Parantaga1
Now - the seventh Valisvaram at Mylapore.
I thank our member Mr Sampath, who inspired me to go deep into this temple as initially i could not get any epigraph of the temple. Finally the epigraph of this temple is found in another temple nearby.
The epigraphs of Chennai city are recorded by British and an edition was published by TN Archelogy under Dr R.N.
It looks there are lot of epigraphs found in the floor of sri parthasarathi temple, There are many part inscriptions in the tempels of kapleeswara, karaneeswara ( Mylapore), Valiswara and Madhava Perumal temple.
The one which is required by us was found in the floor of Vishvaksena shirine in Madhava Perumal Temple., Mylapore.
Much damaged and only partially readable even at that time.
Period Rajadiraja - 3rd Year
It mentions about a gift made by the merchants of pattinam to Thiruvalisvaram.
" ... Vilangu Manu neri nin.... itriruna jayangonda... ka veera rajakesraivanmar... ishervarkku aandu 3 .... kanda chola manda... thup puliyur nattu nagara ... isvaramudayarkkuch cho... pattanathu vyapa (a)ri gana. .lur (thi) ruvalisvaram ud...seiva...
Hence the temple is referred as Valisvaram in Rajadiraja 1 period.
There were epigraphs in the Valisvarar temple but most of them were damaged even at the time of recording.The one readable on the walls - North - mentions about donation to Thrivanmiyur temple. ( second Rajaraja)
many partial inscriptions belonging to period 12th to 14th. Part of Kulothunga 1's mei keerthi also found. Eevn a kopperunjingan period epigraph mentioning grants to Thiruvanmiyur temple.
Telugu Pothappi chola inscription also found.
In floor the mei Keerthi of RRC was also found and we can assume that this temple existed in RRC period. The word Valisvaram is also mentioned prior to 12th.
4 pages were devoted in that book for valisvara temple and only one is found now. Many are polished.
This temple is recently renovated and most of those epigraphs are lost. I could read the words " pothappi" near chandikesvara. The RRC mei keerthi is still available in the floor. One devotee said that in spite of his protest, 6 pillars with inscriptions were used as a foundation stone for a compund wall. He showed the exact place, where they could be found. He said that he fought with the Admin but they did not listen him.
We saw a monkey worshipping lingam in Koliyanur. Here an image of Vali, in worshipping pose stands near the lingam.
Images enclosed.
Request members to give details of other Valivarams. sugrevesvaram, Ramanathesvarams known to them.
As usual, thought provoking inputs. In your album you have shown a miniature and said that it does not belong here. Why? This is a chola sculpture
By a comparison I was able to identify what this panel is about. This is Rama and Seetha meeting Adri maharishi and Sati Anasuya. This episode is well detailed in Valmiki and Kamban. You might remember the famous verse of Adri praising Rama
"Namaameesa meesana nirvana roopam Vipum vyapakam brahma veda swaroopam..."