Pazhayarai
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Pazhayarai or Pazhaiyarai (Tamil
: பழையாறை paḻaiyāṟai) was an ancient capital of the medieval Chola dynasty
in Tamil Nadu
. Today there are a number of villages within the area of historic Pazhaiyarai.
, Sathi mutram, Patteeswaram
, Harishchandrapuram with all their temples. There were four legendary temples, Vadathali, Kelthali, Metrali and Thenthali across four sides of the city. The houses(veedu) of the warriors namely Arya padai veedu, Pudhu padai veedu, Manapadai veedu and Pambai padai veedu. There was only one palace for Vijayalaya Chola
, but later individual palaces were built for all the princes. The great Chola king Rajaraja I, who built the Big Temple of Thanjavur
is said to have spent his last days here,the capital of his predecessors. Rajaraja Chola's final resting place is in the present-day village of Udayalur (also known as Sri Kangeyapuram),within a few kilometers from Pazhayarai.
on the Kumbakonam- Aavoor road and around 2 km away from the Patteeswaram temple. The temple is 3 km away from Darasuram
. The village has thralling streets. The best mode is taking town buses from Kumbakonam
or mini buses from Darasuram
, the bus stop is Cholan Maligai. The Darasuram
railway station is also close by to the temple.
) in his hands is beautifully carved in this temple. The Durga here is also very famous.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
: பழையாறை paḻaiyāṟai) was an ancient capital of the medieval Chola dynasty
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Today there are a number of villages within the area of historic Pazhaiyarai.
History
There are lot of small villages inside the historical town of Pazhayarai - Thirunandipura VinnagaramThirunandipura Vinnagaram
Thiru Nandipura Vinnagaram Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Korukkai, Tamilnadu, India. It is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars.-The Temple:...
, Sathi mutram, Patteeswaram
Patteeswaram
Patteeswaram is a village, eight kilometres from Kumbakonam in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. The village was named after Patti, the calf of Kamadhenu, the divine cow in Hindu mythology.- Patteswaram village :-Temples:...
, Harishchandrapuram with all their temples. There were four legendary temples, Vadathali, Kelthali, Metrali and Thenthali across four sides of the city. The houses(veedu) of the warriors namely Arya padai veedu, Pudhu padai veedu, Manapadai veedu and Pambai padai veedu. There was only one palace for Vijayalaya Chola
Vijayalaya Chola
Vijayalaya was the Chola king of South India Thanjavur during c. 848 C.E. and re-established the Chola dynastic rule.-Dark age of Cholas:The ancient Chola kingdom once famous in Tamil literature and in the writings of Greek merchants and geographers faded in to darkness after c 300 C.E. Cholas...
, but later individual palaces were built for all the princes. The great Chola king Rajaraja I, who built the Big Temple of Thanjavur
Brihadeeswarar temple
The Peruvudaiyar Koyil , also known as Rajarajeswaram, at Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the world's first complete granite temple and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas kingdom Vishwakarmas in Tamil architecture. It is a tribute and a reflection of the...
is said to have spent his last days here,the capital of his predecessors. Rajaraja Chola's final resting place is in the present-day village of Udayalur (also known as Sri Kangeyapuram),within a few kilometers from Pazhayarai.
The Pazhaiyarai Someswarar Temple
The Pazhaiyarai Someswarar Temple, or Pazhaiyarai Vadathali, is located 6 km away from KumbakonamKumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
on the Kumbakonam- Aavoor road and around 2 km away from the Patteeswaram temple. The temple is 3 km away from Darasuram
Darasuram
Darasuram or Dharasuram is a panchayat town located 3 kilometres from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. According to the 2001 census, the town had a population of 13,027. The town is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century AD...
. The village has thralling streets. The best mode is taking town buses from Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
or mini buses from Darasuram
Darasuram
Darasuram or Dharasuram is a panchayat town located 3 kilometres from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. According to the 2001 census, the town had a population of 13,027. The town is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century AD...
, the bus stop is Cholan Maligai. The Darasuram
Darasuram
Darasuram or Dharasuram is a panchayat town located 3 kilometres from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. According to the 2001 census, the town had a population of 13,027. The town is known for the Airavateswara temple constructed by the Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century AD...
railway station is also close by to the temple.
The Legend behind the temple
The city of Pazhayarai was once an important town in the Chola empire. The temple has been revered by the verses of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. This temple is in the centre of the once famous Pazhayarai city, surrounded by Pazhayari Vadathali in the north, Araimetrali in the south and Thenthali in the south. This is the birth place of Mangayarkarasiyar, a saint amongst the 63 nayanmars. The scene of Ravaneswara holding Kailasanathar(ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
) in his hands is beautifully carved in this temple. The Durga here is also very famous.