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virarajendra
21st August 2013, 08:30 AM
Author - Virarajendra

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A brief study on Chola-built temples in Andhra Pradesh

(1) Thiruppathi Temple

The Thiruppathi Temple is also located on Venkadam Hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh south-west of Kaalahasti temple. From the early days Venkadam Hills was known in early Tamil Literature to have been the northern boundry of then Tamil Nadu. This temple has as many as 1060 Inscriptions on its walls of which amost all are in Tamil Language, and was greatly patronised by the Pallava, Chola, Paandiya kings and subsequently by the Vijayanagar kings.

(2) Kaalahasti Temple

The Kaalahasti Temple is in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located adjacent to the river Swarnamukhi. During the period of medieval Cholas Kaalahasti was a region of the Chola empire. The main temple was constructed originally by the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1012-1044) in the 11th century A.D. In the early days prior to the period of medieval Cholas, like Thiruppathi Temple the Kaalahasti Temple too being in the south of Venkadam Hills formed a part of then Tamil Nadu. The concept of God being represented in Panchabootha forms evolved from the "Tamil Saivaism" of Tamil Nadu. Accordingly in the early Tamil Nadu all Panchabootha Thalams too were located well within the limits of the Tamilian region. However with the formation of new States within India after Independance, unfortunately the famous Thiruppathi Temple and Kaalahasti temple fell into the newly formed Andhra Pradesh.

(3) Ramalingeswara Temple

The Ramalingeswara Temple is situated at Santharavuru in Prakasam District, was built during Chola times.

(4) Simhachalam Temple

The Simhachalam Temple is situated in the Visakapattinam District of Andhra Pradesh. Chola King Kulothunga - 1 (A.D.1070-1120) has provided donations to this Temple. During this period the present Visakapattinam was known as "Kulothungachola Pattinam".

(5) Somalingeswara Temple

The Somalingeswara Temple presently known as Appikonda Temple is in the Visakapattinam District (Kulothungachola Pattinam) of Andhrapradesh, built in 12th Century A.D. by the commander-in-chief of Kulothunga Chola - 1 (A.D.1070-1120).

(6) Jagan Mohini Kesava Swamy Temple

The Jagan Mohini Keshava Swamy Temple is situated in the region Ryali in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. This temple has been built by the Chola king Vikrama Chola of 11th Century and dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu.

(7) Rajarajeswara Temple

Sri Rajarajeswara Temple (the present Vemulawada Temple) in Vemulawada km about 150 km Karimnagar District of Andhra Pradesh is a nineth century temple built by Rajaraja Chola - 1 and the governer of this region was his grandson Rajaththiya Chola - 1 situated at Vemulawada around 150 km from present Hyderabad in the Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. A further study to be made to confirm that this was a built by Rajaraja Chola - 1.

(8) Vaisakeswara Temple

".......According to legend, a Chola king {in all posibilities Rajendra Chola - 1 (A.D.1012-44) who went on war expedition Gangetic River in A.D.1022)} while on his way to Benares was so enamoured by the locale that he built a shore-temple devoted to the deity Visakha, the god of valour. The temple was named "Vaisakeswara (Temple)". The Shiva temple at the Naval Coastal Battery gives a strong and positive indication of a temple in the opposite vacant land which might have submerged into the sea-bed due to geological changes....."

"......The temple is referred to in a stone plaque with Tamil inscriptions which still exists in the Visakha Museum"

"......The place was called 'Theerthapu Rallu' in Kulottunga Cholapattinam, the earlier name of Visakhapatnam....."

Refer the Website with the following URL in confirmation of same:
http://sudhirjourno1.blogspot.com/2007/06/temple-under-vizag-sea.html

(9) Bheemeswaralayam Temple

The Chola Temple of Bheemeswaralayam is situated in Visakapattinam district

(10) Choleswaralayam Temple

The Chola Temple named Choleswaralayam is situated in Visakapattinam district.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whFHpYD3aCE&feature=player_detailpage

virarajendra
23rd August 2013, 09:41 PM
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