Those who have read PS are familiar with Nandhipuram. This is near Pazhayarai (Kumbakonam). There was another Nandhipuram near Thanjavur Thiruvayaru - Thirukkandiyur. Kudavoil Balasubramanian has established that it was Thanjavur Nandhipuram which was the Capital of Cholas and Not Pazhayarai Nandhipuram. As a matter of fact, except an ancient Copper image, nothing else here resembles Chola period. Following is the gist from his book NANDHIPURAM :: Author: Kudavoil Balasubramanian (Of Saraswathi Mahal, Thanjai) Published by INTACH in 1992. South Indian Adviser : Dr. Nagaswamy, 22, 22nd Cross Street, Besant Nagar, Chennai 90. (The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage).
R.Gopalan says In History of Pallavas of South India: Nandhipuram is identical with Nandhipura Vinnagaram of Thirumangai alwar near Kknm;
KA Sastri :: History of South India Earlier Rajasimha formed an alliance with Vikramaditya II and after inflicting a number of defeats on Nandhivarman, Pallavamalla besieged him in a place called Nandigrama i.e., Nandhipuram near Kumbakonam
M.RASAMANICKANAR :: Pallavar Varalaru
Nandhipuram @ Nadhankoil was near Kumbakonam, with a Perumal temple.
Sundarachozhan is known as Nandhipura Sundaracholar which place is 3 KM south west of Kumbakonam. RAJARAJAN in his last days was bed- ridden in the Aayirathali Palace in Pazhayarai. (Don't know how this information was derived)
Source for these statements is from Thirukkodikka inscription : "Idhuvum oru Pazhangalpadi Kovirajakesari panmarkku yaandu 15vadhu PAZHAYATRU NANDHIPURATHU vyapari Kumaran Kanavathi Thirukkodikka Mahadevakku.. grant"
person is from Pazhayarai Nandhipuram. There is another Umbala naattu Nandhipuram (near Vedharanyam). Subject Nandhipuram is NITHA VINODHA VALANATTU KIZHAR KOOTRATHIL AAYIRATHALI NANDHIPURAM. Pazhayarai Nandhipuram is Uyyakondar valanaattu Thirunaraiyur Nattu (Thirunaraiyur = Nachiarkoil) Pazhayarai Nandhipuram.
Other sources: (1) Grant to Thiruppalanam by Kizhaar Kootrathu Devadhana Nandhipuram Aayirathali thiruvadi.." (2) Thiruchotruthurai grant by "Nandhipuramana aayirathali vyabari mazhapadi.. " belonging to Parantaka I.
There were only TWO Aayirathalis in Tamil History: (1) Pandiya kulanasini valanattu aarkkattu kkootrathu Niyamathu Aayirathali; (2) Nithavinodha valanattu Kizhar kootrathu Nandhipuramana aayirathali.
Nemam is near Thirukkattuppalli. There is another interesting theory. Here was the original Kallanai. I have already put this in one of my earlier mails. In Pazhayarai there was no Aayirathali. Niyamathu Sahasralingeswaram says Senthalai inscription.
Thalicheri inscriptions in Big Temple denote the shares for:
Door no: 49 Aayirathali Nakkan aiyaru; 18: Aayirathali Nakkan Anavaradha Sundari; 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 26, 35, 36, 37 were also belonged to various Nakkans of Aayirathali.
Thirukkandiyur inscriptions talk of Vaageesar (Laguleesam :: earlier mail) Vanavan Madecharam etc.
Periya Pazhuvettarayar was MARAVAN KANDANAR . (Ref: Earlier mails on this subject : including Udayarkudi inscriptions) Melappazhuvur inscriptions in his 10th and 11th Regnl. Yrs speak of : " Pazhuvettarayar Maravan Kandanar Avani Kandarpurathu mandrupadu epperpattathu pandai Nandhipura mattradhiye kollka enru aruli " For systems of Avani Kandarvapuram, follow the system that exists in Nandhipuram "
After destroying Cholas, Sundara Pandiyan performed his Veerabishekam in this Nandhipuram palace only according to Thiruparankundram inscription. This is reconfirmed in Srivilliputhur inscription. Since this was Pallava's place, this was not under Chola's control till Parantaka I. After Sundara cholan, Kulothunga I used this Palace which was known as Ahavamalla Kulakavathu Palace Kalingarayan Seat. The grant conferred for Buddist Vihar in Nagai is known as Small Leiden Copper plates. This place was also known as MEENAVANAI MEN KANDA CHOLAPURAM. Hence Sundara Pandya performed his Veerabishekam here. By Valavan, there is an interpretation for Killivalavan also. Rajendra brought Indira aaram (maalai) and Sundara Mudi (Crown of Pandyas) from Ealam. Kulothunga III destroyed Madurai Palace and seeded Varahu and ploughed with Donkeys. That is why Sundara Pandyan has taken his revenge in similar way against Cholas. Here existed Sundara Cholan & Vaanavan Madevi's Pallippadai and hence he was known as "Pon Maaligai Thunjiya Devar".
Presently this place is known as Rettakkoil, Veerasingampettai, Sengamedu & Aavikkarai in Thirukkandiyur. Wherever they dig, the people are finding Sivalingams. I have seen such Lingams by the side of Main Road (Kandiyur Papanasam bus route) under the Soolam in open air - when I visited this place last month.
Hi all, Since there seems to be some interest in Pazhayarai, let me reproduce an old verse which talks about a town called Aarai.
Terulaippuravi vaaranattokuti tirai konarndu varumanna nin Tecametunatu naamametu pukal cenkai yaazh tadavu paana kel Vaarum othakudi neerunaamum mahatevan aarai nakar kaavalan Vaanapoopati makizhntalikka veku varicai perru varu pulavan yaan Neerum ipparicu perruvaralakum ekum avan munril vaay Nittilaccikara maatamaalikai nerunku kopura marunkelaam Aarum nirkum uyarvempum nirkum valar panaiyum nirkum atan arukile Aracum nirkum aracaiccumanta cila atti nirkum ataiyaalame
I am writing from memory and the poem is a conversation between two paanans: one is back from the court of the vaana king and the other sees him surrounded by chariots and elephants,horses etc as though he were a king.The latter asks him about the country for which he is king and for hs name.To which the former tells him that he is only a paanan who has received from the vaana king ,Mahadevan of Aarai, and assures him that he may also get similar gifts from him if he went into the courtyard of the vaana king where an aathi tree,a vempu tree, a panai tree,an aracu tree and an athi tree would stand.These are also the insignia of the cera,cola,pandya kings.Athi stands also for an elephant which carries a king(Aracu). Aarai is here said to be the town guarded by vaanapoopati.Pazhaiya aarai might have later become pazhayaarai.The vaanar kulam is the one from which vantiyattevan hailed and may be connected to the bana kings of the konkan coast. GR