34-526: Sēkkilān Mādēvadigal Rāmadēva (12th century CE), known popularly by his family name as Sekkizhar , was a saint and a contemporary of Kulottunga Chola II . He compiled and wrote the Periya Puranam (Great Story or Narrative) in 4253 verses, recounting the life stories of the sixty-three Shaiva Nayanars , the devotees of Shiva . Sekkilhar himself was later canonised and his work, the Periyapuranam became
68-620: A bee at the lotus feet of Natesa at Chidambaram . As per the Muchukundasahasranamam , Anapaaya Mahipaala is another name of the deity Thyagaraja of Thiruvarur . In the film Dasavathaaram (2008), actor Napoleon plays the role of Kulothunga Chola II. Kundrathur Kundrathur is a town located in the Chennai Metropolitan Area and the headquarters of Kundrathur taluk in Kanchipuram District . It
102-528: A break in the line of succession. Kulothunga II preferred to live in Chidambaram rather than the royal capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram . Of the various titles he had, Anapaaya was perhaps his favourite. It is found in his inscriptions as well in the poetic tribute Kulothunga Cholan Ula . He was also called Tirunirruchola . Kulothunga II was succeeded by Rajaraja Chola II in 1150 CE. The extent of empire as inherited from his predecessor Vikrama Chola
136-545: A work dealing with the emperor's childhood were authored by Ottakoothar in honor of the emperor. Some scholars identify Kulothunga II with Krimikanta Chola or worm-necked Chola so called as he is said to have suffered from cancer of the throat or neck. The latter finds mention in the Vaishnava Guruparampara and is said to have been a strong opponent of the Vaishnavas. The work Parpannamritam (17th century) refers to
170-419: Is Nagathamman who takes the form of serpents and is worshipped as a guardian deity. This temple is situated half a km away from Thiru Nageshwarar temple. Goddess Ponniyamman, a form of Parvati is the chief deity here. The goddess is believed to be the guardian deity for a lot of people living in the locality. This temple is located near Thiruvooraga Perumal temple. Goddess Katyayani , another form of Parvati
204-430: Is celebrated annually in the month of Vaigasi-Poosam (May-June). Kulothunga Chola II , then a young king, was a devotee of Lord Siva at Chidambaram and continued the reconstruction of the center of Tamil Saivism that was begun by his ancestors. At the same time, he was very interested in the highly erotic Jain epic Jivaka Chintamani . Sekkilhar, upon noticing this, advised the king to instead turn his attention to
238-610: Is celebrated by Umapati Sivacharya in his fourteenth century work (1313 CE) called Sekkilhar Nayanar Puranam. Sekkilhar had the title Uttama Chola Pallavan and his brother, the title Tondaiman Pallavaraiyan . Sekkilhar is also called Ganga-kula tilaka (the glory of the Ganga race) and Bagirathi-kula tilaka (the glory of the Bhagiratha race) by Umapati Sivacharya in his work, the Sekkilar Puranam . The Guru Puja festival for Sekkilhar
272-576: Is considered a fifth Veda in the Tamil language and it immediately took its place as the twelfth and the last book in the Saiva canon. As per an inscription from Srivanjiyam , Sekkilhar was deified and provisions were made for the worship of his idol by a person called Anapaayan. There are temples dedicated to Sekkilhar. These include the Kundrathur Sekkilhar Temple at Kundrathur , Chennai , and
306-418: Is known to those who forsake attachments He who is of plaited locks of hair in which river flows and baby moon grazes He who is verily sublime light and who dances in the golden hall of chidambaram lets worship his rosy anklet girt feet Kulothunga Chola II was so moved upon hearing the Periyapuranam that he placed the poem and Sekkilhar on the royal elephant and took them out on a grand procession around
340-501: Is named Kundrathur due to the presence of a hill ( kundru in Tamil). The area is one of the 163 notified areas ( megalithic sites ) in the state of Tamil Nadu . As per the numbers from Census India 2011, Kundrathur has a population of 23,808 of which 11,950 are male and 11,858 are female. There are 2,817 children who form the 11.83% of the total population. The locality has a literacy rate of 76.5%. Male literacy rate stands at 80.38% while
374-515: Is said to have been a repentant son who supported Vaishnavism. Ramanuja is said to have made Kulottunga II as a disciple of his nephew, Dasarathi . The king then granted the management of the Ranganathaswamy temple to Dasarathi and his descendants as per the wish of Ramanuja. The Tyagarajaswami temple in Tiruvarur contains an inscription of the emperor in which he styles himself as Anapaaya and
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#1732858349341408-452: Is that Lord Shiva here is none other than Rahu himself and worshipping him will give devotees all sorts of fortunes in life. Perhaps one of the most popular temples in Chennai is also the only temple in the state of Tamil Nadu where Lord Muruga stands facing north. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Muruga stayed on this very hill during his travel from Thiruporur to Tiruttani . The temple
442-552: Is the birthplace of Sekkizhar , a well-known poet-saint who authored the Periyapuranam . Gerugampakkam, Irandam Kattalai, Kolapakkam, Kolachery, Kovur, Pazhanthandalam, Periyapanicheri, Sirukalathur, Thandalam, Tharapakkam and Tirumuddivakkam village panchayats are annexed to Kundrathur Municipality The locality is known for the Kundrathur Murugan Temple , one of the most popular temples in Chennai. The neighbourhood
476-435: Is the main deity. It is believed that worshipping her would lead to a happy married life. The temple is located half a km away from the main bus stand. Lord Vinayaka is the chief deity and there's a separate shrine within the temple for Lord Ayyappa . Other deities include Lord Hanuman, Lord Dakshinamurthy, Goddess Durga, Navagrahas and others. Devotees in large numbers gather here for "irumudi kattu" before their pilgrimage to
510-681: The Perambalam of the Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram with gold. He is also said to have constructed its gopurams and the Thousand Pillared Hall. Kulottunga Chola II's reign was marked by literary activity as evidenced by the works of Sekkizhar and Ottakoothar . Sekkizhar composed the Periyapuranam , a religious treatise on Shaivism during his reign. The Kulottunga Cholan Ula and the Kulottunga Cholan Pillai Tamil ,
544-547: The Sabarimala . Lord Vinayaka seen under the Jand tree is another speciality here. This temple is located in the residential area of Metha Nagar. Constructed through funds raised by the area's welfare association, the temple hosts Lord Shiva as Methaleeshwarar at the sanctum sanctorum along with Goddess Abhayambika. Other deities include Lord Krishna , Lord Hanuman, Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Chandiheshwara,
578-482: The Thousand Pillared Hall of the Chidambaram temple and arouse the latent Chola Saiva zeal. According to a folklore, when Sekkilhar sat pondering at Chidambaram temple as to how to begin his work, Lord Siva appeared and said his first verse should be: Ulakellam unarnthu otharkku ariyavan Nilavulaviya neermali veniyan Alakil jothiyan ambalatthu aaduvan malar chilambadi vaazhthi vanakuvom He who
612-639: The Chola king called Krimikanta who is said to have removed the Govindaraja idol from the Chidambaram Nataraja temple . The Kulothunga Cholan Ula states that during the reign of Kulottunga II, God Vishnu was sent back to his original abode, that is the sea. However, according to "Koil Olugu" (temple records) of the Srirangam temple, Kulottunga Chola was the son of Krimikanta Chola. The former, unlike his father,
646-643: The Devakottai Nagara Sivan Kovil (also called the "Sekkilhar Kovil") in the Chettinad region of Sivagangai district in Tamil Nadu , where Saint Sekkilhar is the procession deity. The Sekkilhar Research Centre conducts research on his epic Periyapuranam and the period, art, culture, civilization, rituals, socioeconomic conditions, and religion/secularism of the times and place surrounding it. Kulothunga Chola II Kulothunga II (died 1150 CE)
680-657: The Kadapa-Nellore chief, Madurantaka Pottapi Choda, son of Betta I and Buddhavarman III of the Kondavidu branch and his son Mandaya II also acknowledged the king's authority in the Andhra country. Chidambaram is one of those five places where Chola princes were invested with the crown. Kulothunga was a great devotee of the Chidambaram Temple to Lord Shiva in that city, and he celebrated his coronation there. An inscription of
714-729: The Navagrahas and other benevolent forms of Parvati. The temple's consecration happened under the presence of Srila Sri Arunagirinatha Gnanasambantha Desika Paramacharya of the Madurai Adheenam . This temple is located beside the Thiru Nageshwarar Temple, right on the South side of the Temple pool (Kovil Kulam). The deity here is Lord Ganesha it is one of the oldest temple in Kundrathur, with
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#1732858349341748-473: The Navagrahas, Lord Dakshinamurthy and Goddess Durga. The temple has around 84 steps but devotees are also allowed to drive up the hill. Thaipusam , Thaikiruthigai and Mahasashti are important occasions. This Shaivaite temple is just a few metres away from the Murugan temple. The history of the temple is that Lord Muruga during his stay at the hills placed a Shivling and worshipped him. The sanctum sanctorum hosts
782-402: The emperor from Tirumanikuli hails this event and states that the emperor celebrated his coronation so as to add lustre to the city of Tillai ( Chidambaram ). He also financed an elaborate renovation of the temple as described in the poem Kulothunga Cholan Ula . It is possible that this renovation work was a continuation of work started by Vikrama Chola. Kulottunga II is credited with gilding
816-628: The female literacy rate is at 72.59%. Kundrathur falls under Sriperumbudur constituency. T.R.Baalu of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is the Member of Parliament (MP) and Selvaperunthagai K of the Indian National Congress is the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) The temple has a rich history that dates back to the era of the legendary Kulothunga Chola II . When the king had a disease, Lord Vishnu appeared in his dream asking
850-787: The king to worship him at the iconic Ulagalantha Perumal Temple where he resides in the form of Thiruvooragan in Kancheepuram . The king visited the temple according to the words of the Lord and got rid out of his illness. As a token of love and gratitude, the king had built a temple for the Lord in Kundrathur. The deity under the name Thiruvooraga Perumal takes the form similar to the one in Tirupati along with his consort Thiruvirundhavalli Thayar. The temple also hosts Andal Nachiyar , Rama , along with Sita and Lakshmana and Hanuman . Idols of Vaishnavite gurus - Ramanuja and Periyalvar are also present near
884-655: The lives of the Saiva saints as described by Sundarar in his Tiruthondar Thogai . The king thereupon invited Sekkilhar to expound the lives of the Saiva saints in a great poem. Since Sekkilhar was a scholar in both the Vedas as well as the Agamas and being a Saiva saint himself, knew about Nayanmars . He composed the Periyapuranam or the Great Narrative about the lives of the sixty three Nayanmars or saints and would himself sing it in
918-403: The same Shivling as "Kandleeshwarar" to which Lord Muruga performed his pooja. Parvati appears in the form of Nagai Mukha Valli. The temple has other deities including Lord Surya , Goddess Durga, Lord Bairava, the Navagrahas and Lord Chandiheshwara. There are idols of all 63 Nayanmars and special rock art on Kannappa Nayanar . This temple is located at the entrance of the town. The deity here
952-533: The sanctum sanctorum. Apart from them, the temple also houses Lord Vinayaka , Lord Dakshinamurthy , Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi , Goddess Saraswati , Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivayanai , Lord Brahma , Lord Chandiheshwara , Goddess Durga , Lord Bhairava , the Navagrahas and Lord Saneeshwaran . Idols of several Shaivaite gurus including Sekkizhar are seen. Devotees throng temple during Maha Shivaratri , Anna Abhishekam, Arudra Darishanam and other important religious occasions. The larger belief
986-543: The sanctum sanctorum. The chief priest of the temple is Sri Suresh and it follows the Vaikanasa Agama of Sri Vaishnavism . The months of Purattasi and Margazhi and Vaikunda Ekadasi are important occasions. The temple is simply known as Thirunageshwaram and it is regarded as a parihara sthalam for Rahu . It was built by the celebrated Shaivaite poet Sekkizhar where Lord Shiva appears in the form of Thiru Nageshwarar along with his consort Parvati as Kamakshi just outside
1020-530: The streets of Chidambaram , the king himself waved the fly-whisks and showered Sekkilhar with honors. This work is considered the most important initiative of Kulothunga Chola II's reign. Although it is only a literary embellishment of earlier hagiographies of the Saiva saints it came to be seen as the epitome of Chola literary style. Among all the hagiographic Puranas in Tamil , the Periyapuranam (or Tiruttondar Puranam ) stands first. The Periyapuranam
1054-510: The twelfth and final book of the sacred Saiva canon. Sekkilhar was born as Arulmozhithevan, meaning the one of the divine language . He was a native of Kundrathur village (a suburb of the present-day Chennai ), a sub-division of Puliyur-kottam in Thondaimandalam. Sekkilhar was a child of precious genius and having noticed this, king Anapaya, that is Kulothunga Chola II appointed him as his Prime Minister on account of his talents. His life
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1088-402: Was a Chola Emperor from 1133 CE to 1150 CE. He succeeded Vikrama Chola to the throne in 1135 CE. Vikrama Chola made Kulothunga his heir apparent and coregent in 1133 CE, so the inscriptions of Kulothunga II count his reign from 1133 CE. According to historians Nilakanta Sastri and T.N Subramanian, Kulottunga Chola II was not the son of Vikrama Chola and they have suggested that there was
1122-405: Was constructed by King Kulothunga Chola II and its speciality lies in its sanctum sanctorum where Lord Muruga could be seen with only one of his consorts at a time though he appears with both. When viewed from one side he can be seen along with Valli while when viewed from the other side he could be seen with Deivayanai. The temple houses many deities including Lord Vinayaka, Lord Shiva, Lord Bairava,
1156-594: Was well maintained. The Western Chalukya kingdom was overthrown by the Yadava chiefs of Devagiri and Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra during this period. Kulottunga II took advantage of the internal skirmishes and rebellions in the Kannada and Chalukya country to establish his hold over Vengi and Eastern Chalukya territories. Gonka II of the Velanadu Choda family who ruled over northern part of Vengi acknowledged his supremacy. Similarly
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