FindingTemples™

ALT Moovar Koil or "The Three temples" is a Hindu temple complex situated in the village of Kodumbalur, 36 kilometres from Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu, India. These temples were constructed by the Chola feudatory and Irukkuvel chieftain Boothi Vikramakesari as per the inscription. Only two of the three temples have managed to survive. The place was ruled by Irukkuvel chieftains. Kodumbalur was also the site of a fierce battle between the Pandyas and the Pallavas.

ALT According to the chief's inscription, he built three temples in the complex one for himself and the other two for his wives, namely, Nangai Varaguna Perumanar and Karrali. Only the basement survives the northern shrine. The basement is moulded like a full blown lotus flower(padma pushkala adisthanas). The other two shrines, namely the central and southern are more or less intact. Each central shrine is 6.4sqmetres at the base and they all face west. The walls are rich in details and there is a small shrine for Nandi in front of the Maha mandapa. The two circular pilasters with circular shafts on four sides of the vimana indicates the antiquity of the temple. The feature is possibly termed Vrittasputitas in silpa texts like Shilparatna.

ALT Bhuti Vikramakesari had two sons from his queen Karrali, Parantaka and Aditya. These are identical with Sembiyan Irukkuvel alias Bhuti Parantaka and Sembiyan Ilangovel alias Bhuti Aditta-Pidaran. Madhurantakan Irukkuvel alias Adityan Bhuti or Adityan Vikramakesari was the son of Sembiyan Ilangovel. Sembiyan Irukkuvel had three sons, Virasola Ilangovel alias Parantakan Kunjaramalla, Mahimalya Irukkuvel alias Parantakan Virasola and Vira-Irungolar alias Parantaka Siriyavelar. The last of these was married to Varaguna-Perumanar, the sister of Parantaka II Sundara Chola.

ALT As per Muvar Koil inscription, Bhuti Vikramakesari was ruling over Kodumbalur. He is stated to have defeated the Pallava-s and the Pandya-s. Samarabhirama, father of Bhuti, was married to a Chola princess Anupama. Bhuti Vikramakesari is identified with Tennavan Ilangovel who was a feudatory of the Chola king Aditya I. In this case the Pallava king slain by him could be Aparajitavarman who was overthrown by the Chola king Aditya I. This makes Samarabhirama contemporary of the Chola king Vijayalaya. He would have helped Vijayalaya in his conquests and established his ancestral domain of Konadu. His son, Bhuti, being contemporary of Aditya I was given the region which was ruled previously by Muttaraiya-s after their defeat in the hands of Aditya I. The Pandya king defeated by Bhuti would have been a Vira-Pandya who might be a probable contemporary of Pandya Rajasimha and a member of collateral line. Daughter of Bhuti, Nangai was married to the Chola prince Arikulakesari son of Parantaka.