The structural temple constructed in the time of Rajaraja Chola : Srinivasan A TO Z INDIA JULY 2022 PAGE 25 Lord Murugan was punished for having intruded on a private conversation between Shiva and Parvati, and performed penance here. Later, a king affected by leprosy bathed in the tank created by Murugan, and after it was filled with milk by Kamadhenu, his disease was cured. But the most interesting aspects of this place are almost entirely attributable to Rajaraja Chola, who also built this templ e. What are these fascinating aspects, including a heavily disputed theory about the great king’s end? Read here: Rajaraja Chola and his queen. Then, in the mandapam in the front of the temple (leading up to the Amman shrine) is a sculpture depicting a Lingam being worshipped by a person. This is known as the Sivapadasekara Anugraha Murti, created exclusively to depict Rajaraja Chola’s devotion to Siva. Th e temple also has several inscriptions, including several specifically mentioning Rajaraja Chola. Other inscriptions also refer to patronage by Kulothunga Chola I, Vikrama Chola , Rajaraja Chola II, Kulothunga Chola II , Rajaraja Chola III and Sadayavarman Sundarapandiyan. Other Information for your visit: The Paalkulathi Amman temple mentioned above, is so named because Her temple is located on the banks of the Paal Kulam (the one filled with milk by Kamadhenu). This temple is significant, and of interest to those keen on Chola history. This Amman temple’s doorjamb – made of granite – carries the inscription announcing the demise of Rajaraja Chola. Kailasanathar Temple, Udai yalur, Thanjavur great pomp at this temple. While the temple faces east, the main entrance is through a Mottai-Gopuram to the south. There is no Raja Gopuram here. The architecture here is classic early Chola, evident by the fact that the koshta murtis all clearly seem to be later additions. Amman’s south-facing shrine is, unusually, not part of the maha-mandapam, but separately to the east of the temple (a nd hence there is no eastern entrance). In the north-west corner of the temple are Lingams which were worshipped by the five elements – pancha boothas. There is also a separate shrine for the Pancha Bhairavars. Elsewhere in various places within the premises, are old or damaged murtis, which are strewn around the temple. One could say that the temple’s architecture almost entirely revolves around Rajaraja Ch ola and his devotion to Siva, depicted by some very interesting and engaging elements of iconography and architecture at this temple. First, at the feet of the dwarapalakas in the garbhagriham, are two devotees – one male, and one female – with a tuft on their heads. Given that Sivapadasekaran is one of the titles of Rajaraja Chola, the two devotees should be depictions of Rajaraja Chola and his queen Ulag amuzhuthudayal. Next, adjancent to these are two sculptures of a king and queen worshipping Siva – these would also be