Edayarpakkam Mahadevar Temple, Kanchipuram

Address

Edayarpakkam Mahadevar Temple, Edayarpakkam, Sriperumbudur Taluk, Kanchipuram District – 631553 Mobile: +91 91714 45632

Diety

Mahadevar

Introduction

Mahadevar Temple is a Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Edayarpakkam Village in Sriperumbudur Taluk in Kanchipuram District of Tamilnadu. This temple was built by Cholendra Simha Chari during the period of King Kulothunga Chola – I during 11th century. The temple is protected by ASI. The temple is very small and does not have gopuram or flag staff. The historical name of the village is Raja Vidyadhara Chadur Vedi Mangalam. It was also called as Idaiyattrup Pakkam in those days. The actual name of the presiding deity is Tiruppada Kadudaiyar. He is called as Mahadevar nowadays. The Chola period Mahadevar shrine is two tiered vimana and an ardha-mandapam. The entire temple structure is made out of granite. The east facing sanctum measures 3.05 m in width in the north-south direction and 4.65 m in length in the east-west direction. The sanctum entrance is 1.35 cm in width. The sanctum houses “Tiruppadakkadu Udaiya Mahadevar” in the form of Shivalingam. This temple just has the main shrine and there are no other sub-shrines. A small Vishnu idol is also found in the shrine. This idol was found during an excavation in the recent past and someone has placed Vishnu adjacent to Shiva Linga. Hence, this temple of Shiva has Vishnu also in the main shrine. The upper portion of the vimana is broken and only half of the Vimana exists today. The Vimana is built as per the Gaja Brushtam style. Nandhi and Vinayaka and Dhakshinamoorthy on the southern Koshta and Brahma and Durga in the western Koshta is found. The place where the Lingothbavar is situated in the west Koshta has been destructed and not found now. There is no Chandikeswara shrine in this Temple. There is no idol of shrine for Goddess. Nandi idol and bali peetha are found facing towards the main shrine. A newly made or found small Ganesha idol is found below a tree in the temple complex. During the days of King Kulothunga Chola I the temples did not have an Amman Sannidhi. The temple has a Thamarai kulam (Lotus pond) at front.

Puranic Significance

This is a small east facing stone temple built during the reign of Kulothunga Chola I in the 11th century CE. There are four inscriptions belonging to the later Chola period, especially that of Kulottunga Chola I (1070 – 1120 A.D.), Kulottunga Chola II (1133 – 1150 A.D.) and Rajadhiraja Chola II (1163 – 1178) are found at this Temple. The inscription dated 13th in the reign (year 1083 A.D.) of king Kulottunga Chola I open with his venerated Prasasti (also known as Meikeerthi) is considered as the earliest inscription in this temple. Inscriptions mention the prime deity of the temple as “Tiruppadakkadu Udaiya Mahadevar” as well as “Aludaiyar Tiruppadakkadu Udaiyar”. Inscriptions cite the name of this village as “Edayarruppakkam”. Present name seems to have transitioned from Edayarruppakkam to Edayarpakkam. Edayarruppakkam village fell under the revenue division of Purisai Nadu, which was a sub-division of Manavir-kottam under the larger division of Jayamkonda Cholamandalam. The village was also known as Purisai village fell under the same revenue division, part of same sub-division and coming under the same larger division. The village was also popularly known as Rajavichadira Chaturvedi Mangalam.