Political History and Functionaries of Vikramapandeswar Temple – A Study

Abstract

Vikrama Pandeswara temple of Cholapuram is situated in ten kilometer surrounding of Rajapalayam town. This is one of the most important canonical temples built by the Pandya kings of 12th–13th centuries ruled from Madurai. This temple Vikrama Pandeswara was the creation of Pandya king Vikrama Pandya. The inscriptions of this temple are published in South Indian Inscriptions Volume XXVI from 509 to 530. These inscriptions possessed information about the temple in a number of items. It contains the political history of the temple, the villages and nadu’s, tax procedure, temple officials and the temple rituals. The available inscriptions of this place, the inscription No. 525 published in volume XXVI deserves our attention. Many village names are found in the inscriptions of Cholapuram temple. Some places like Anmar Nadu, Mudi Valangu Pandya Nallur, Uttama Chola Chaturvedimangalam, Veerapandiya Chaturvedimangalam can be known from the inscriptions of this temple. One can also know the temple administration system through the temple inscriptions. This article indicates a brief overview on functionaries of Vikrama Pandeswara temple.