Kulottunga III and The East Gopuram, Thiruvarur

The majestic temple of Tyagarajar, the huge chariot of the temple etc. are THE identity of the ancient city of Thiruvarur. It is also the birthplace of the Carnatic Trinity. The historic and religious significance of the temple goes on and on, sheltering two shrines that was sung and praised by the Shaivite Saints, Asia’s biggest Chariot, the shrine of Tyagaraja, Kamalakshi (one of the Pancha-Akshis), generous donations and infrastructural additions by Cholas and the legends of Muchukunda Chakravarthy and Manuneedhi Cholan adds more glory to the temple. 

Rajagopuram built by Kulottunga III

As per some Shaiva beliefs, it is believed that Aaroor is much older than the Chidambaram temple. This belief adds more to the religious importance of the temple. While the central sanctum is a construction of Adithya I’s period, the other sanctums around the temple have seen rapid developments and more additions by different dynasties that ruled the Chola country later. Even there are sculptures that belongs to the period of Pallavas. The shrine of Tyagaraja (Somaskanda brought to this world by Muchukunda Chakravarthy from Indran – as per the legend) was constructed by Rajendra Chola I. The inscription in the shrine is the only place where Rajendra Chola I clearly inscribes his birthdate as Aadi – Aarudra along with his father’s Aippasi – Sadhayam. Thus, this shrine plays an important role in providing us with an important historic information.

Now, what we are concerned in this post about this great temple is the East Rajagopuram. This Gopuram, with all the design elements, is assigned to Kulottunga III’s construction. Kulottunga III was one of the remarkable king among the Cholas. To commemorate one of his greatest victory, he built this Rajagopuram with the wealth that he won from the war. 

Eesaana Shiva, Guru of Kulottunga III

Kulottunga III ruled from 1178-1218. During his reign, somewhere before 1180, he fought against Veerapandiyan who was supported by the forces from Ceylon. Unfortunately, Veerapandiyan was defeated by the valorous Chola King. Kulottunga III installed a Jayasthambam and also deputed Vikrama Pandiyan to rule over the Pandiyan Kingdom. Later in 1188, Again Veerapandiyan fought against Kulottunga just to lose again. After sometime, Vikrama Pandiyan’s son Sadaiyavarman Kulasekaran waged a war against Kulottunga III around the year 1202. Sadaiyavarman fled the battleground and also Madurai was razed down to the ground. Followed by this Kulottunga won over the Chera kingdom and coronated him as the King of all the three kingdoms. He did Veerabhishekam and Vijayabhishekam in Madurai and added a title “Tribhuvana Veera Devan” to himself.

Kulottunga was so courageous and at the same time he proved that he was humble in front of Madurai’s Chokkanathar. He organized a procession of the deity and worshipped the lord in the streets of Madurai with the gold, pearls and gems that he won from the treasury of Madurai and the wealth he got from the war. From the Meikeerthi of this humble king, we get to know that he used this gold, gems and wealth to build the Rajagopuram and also gilded the shrine of Vanmikanathar and also renovated the ancient Devasiriyan Mandapam in the Thiruvarur temple. 

Tribhuvana Veera Devan - Kulottunga III

Kulottunga III also installs his own sculpture along with his Guru Eesaana Shiva aka Someswarar in this Rajagopuram. He is the only one among the Cholas to add his own sculpture in the Gopurams that he constructs in different temples. He gives more importance to the temple by first time inscribing his title of “Tribhuvana Veera Devan” here. This brief inscription of the glorious King is engraved as if Lord Shiva himself talks about his valor and mentions him as “Nam Thozhan” (meaning ‘My Friend’). This exalted status was bestowed to only Sundarar (One of the Shaivite Quartet) by Lord Shiva himself. With the details mentioned, this inscription was engraved somewhere around the September of 1201. Thus, the construction of the Rajagopuram must’ve happened around the same year.

Thus, this Rajagopuram is not just a simple Gopuram. This was built to commemorate the greatest victory of the King along with many beautiful sculptures that decorates the Gopuram amidst which the Humble King himself stands with his Guru Eesaana Shivar in different Devakoshtas. This Rajagopuram stands as a witness to the victory of the King as well as a testimony to the importance given to Guru, art and architecture that was patronized along with the growth of temples.

 Reference: Thiruvarur Thirukkovil by Kudavayil Balasubramanian

Yours East Gaterr