Narthamalai
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Narthamalai | |
|---|---|
village | |
  Narthamalai Location in Tamil Nadu, India  Narthamalai Narthamalai (India) | |
| Coordinates: 10°31′N 78°46′E / 10.51°N 78.76°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Pudukottai |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Telephone code | 91-4322 |
| Vehicle registration | TN55 |
Narthamalai, a cluster of small hills, is 25 km from Trichy on the Trichy-Pudukottai highway in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Here can be seen some of the oldest rock cut cave temples, as well as the longest rock-cut edicts, similar to Asokan edicts and extremely rare in the south of India.[1] The town houses Vijayalaya Choleeswaram built during the 9th century. The two rock-cut temples are classic examples of how temple architecture styles were fusing in different parts of the country.[1]
Narthamalai was ruled from the 7th to 9th centuries by the , who were feudatories of the Pallavas. The region was later captured by Medieval Cholas.[1] Though the temple is called Vijayalaya Choleeswaram, the temple was originally built by Muttaraiyar lieutenant, Sattan Paliyili, during the seventh regnal year of Pallava king Nripatungavarman during 862 CE.[2] As per some accounts, the temple is believed to have been built by the first king of Medieval Cholas, Vijayalaya Chola (848- 891 CE), but the view is highly debated.[3] As per the inscriptions, immediately after the construction, the temple was damaged by rains and lightning. The restoration work was carried out by Tennavan Tamiladirayan, aka Pallan Anantan.[4][5]
In modern times, the temple is maintained and administered by archaeological department of India as a protected monument.[6]
The place was called Telinga-kula-kala-puram in the 11th century during the times of Rajaraja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola I.[7]