Chandramouleeswar Temple, Thiruvakkarai – History

Chandramouleeswar Temple, Thiruvakkarai – History

It is believed that King Kochengat Chola, an early Chola King, built around 70 Maadakovils. This Temple is considered one among them. The unique feature about these temples are that it is not easily approachable by an elephant. He built these temples at an elevation and there are few steps need to be climbed before seeing Lord in the sanctum. Also, the entrance to the sanctum would be so narrow that elephants cannot enter it. But the Maadakoil built by Kochengata Chola might have been completely destroyed.

The temple in its current structure built of stone was built by the Chola king Aditya I (870 – 907 CE). There were about 43 inscriptions recorded in this temple and earliest inscription belongs to Aditya Chola I. The inscriptions on the two sides of the Southern shrine of the temple indicate an endowment from Aditya for perpetual lighting of lamps in the temple during  Theerthavari, the sacred bathing of the presiding deity during the auspicious days in the Tamil month of Puratasi (September - October).

The temple has another inscription in the second precinct during the time of Uthama Chola (970-985 CE) for the maintenance and worship of Chandramouleeswar and Varadaraja Perumal afforded to four able men. During the reign of Rajaraja Chola I (984-1015 CE), a village named Manali was gifted to the temple. This inscription indicates that the temple was built by Sembiyan Mahadevi. The temple has received gracious endowments from the Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi.

The structure of the Vishnu shrine is believed to have expanded during the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 CE). A bilingual inscription in the Vishnu temple indicates that the Kota Chola Vimana built by Kota Chola (might be Kochengata Chola) was rebuilt during the reign of Adhirajendra (1070 CE). There are references to indicate that the Vakra Kali temple is existing from Pallava times. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.