Thursday 17 November 2022

Arinjaya Chozhan Pallipadai / ஸ்ரீ அவனீஸ்வரம் கோயில் / அரிஞ்சய சோழன் பள்ளிப்படை / மேல்பாடி அரிஞ்சய சோழன் பள்ளிப்படை, Melpadi, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu

While I was searching the Aalayam Kanden web site, understand that Srimathi PadmaPriya Baskaran is organizing a one day trip to Thakkolam ( click here ), Melpadi, Pullalur and Thiruvalam on 9th August 2015 for Ponniyin Selvan Group ( Click here  Click Here ). Even-though I had been earlier to Thakkolam and Thiruvalam temples as a part of pilgrimage yatra to cover 276 Thevar Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal (for details CLICK HERE ) thought of doing once again with a group of heritage enthusiastic peoples.
 

ARCHITECTURE 
The Pallipadai Temple Consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardhamandapam. The sanctum Sanctorum is on a Pada bandha adhistanam. The eka tala vesara vimanam is made of dark green stone with kalasam ( point is missing ). The same colour stone is used for the Pothiyal ( Pillar support ). In Kostam  Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma and Durgai. The murtis are damaged on many parts, but still the beauty is worth to see.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS.
This temple is also maintained by ASI. This was built in the year AD 1014 by King RajaRaja I,  over the mortal remains of his grand father Arinjaya Chozha ( AD 956 – 967), who died in a war at Arur near Thakkolam. The temple is called Choleswaram. There are many inscriptions all over the sanctum wall. 

The inscriptions are mainly about donations made in the form of ewe to supply ghee to burn the perpetual lamp in the temple till moon and sun endure, Rajaran’s meikeerthi, the boundaries of the land given for construction of the temple, watering to illuppai field ( from the seeds oil is extracted to burn the lamps).
 
From the inscriptions the place Melpadi belongs to Tunadu, a subdivision of Perumbanapadi in a district of Jayankonda Chola Mandalam. The ancient name of the Melpadi is mentioned as Rajasrayapuram and the temple  Choleeswaram was called as ArinjigaiIswara or Arinjiswara. The temple is also called as Pallipadai ( Portion of the inscription image is given below). 
  
Arinjaya Chola’s Pallipadai shrine   
   Dawarapalakas  
 Dakshinamurthy
Dakshinamurthy - a closer look
 Maha Vishnu
Brahma
Durgai 
Durgai - a closer look
 Krishna killing demon – in the form of bird 
 Rajarajan is worshiping Choleswara 
  Sri Shiva as Pichadanar at Tharukavanam 

I extend my sincere thanks to Srimathi Padmapriya Baskaran, Mr Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, Mr Vaidyanathan Ramamurthy and other organizers of  Photo walkers for organizing a wonderful one day trip. 

LOCATION OF THE PALLIPADAI TEMPLE     : CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

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