King Vira Narasimha Deva vowed to secure the release of the Chola Emperor from Kapperunjinga
A Gold Necklace was gifted to Vahindrapuram Lord during the rule of Kulotunga III
Thiru Vahindrapuram is a Divya Desam (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2008/03/thiruvahindrapuram-devanathan_29.html) whose history dates back to the Dwapara Yuga when Arjuna is believed to have had darshan of Deiva Nayagan. Inscriptions at the temple relating to the period 11th-13th Century AD on the walls of the prakara of the main shrine of Deiva Nayakan provides insights into the functioning of the temple, the festivals, ornaments of the Lord and the battles in this region.
While inscriptions on the walls of the Vahindrapuram temple record gifts of lands and villages for offerings and worship to the Lord, gifts of sheep and cows for perpetual lamps, gift of ‘Kasu’ for feeding the Vaishnavas at the temple Mutt and for providing offerings to God on the 8th day of the festival, one of the lengthier inscriptions found on the West Wall of the Prakara of the Deiva Nayakan Divya Desam in Thiru Vahindrapuram that dates back to 1232 AD to the rule of Raja Raja Chola III records the process of securing the release of the Chola Emperor from Kapperunjinga.
When King Vira Narasimha Deva heard that Kapperunjinga had captured the Chola Emperor at Sendamangalam, he vowed to vindicate his title as the leader of the Chola Country. Starting from Dorasamudra, he uprooted the Makara Kingdom, while his two generals destroyed Ellers and Kalliyurmulai village. On their way, they offered their prayers to the Lord at Ponnambalam following which they went on to destroy Tondaima Nallur.
They then camped at Tiruppaadiri Puliyur (today’s Cuddalore) before the Hoysala army marched on to Thiru Vadigai (about 15 kms West of Thiru Vahindrapuram and now popular for Sayana Narasimha temple) destroying that village. Finally, they reached Sendamangalam forcing Kopperunjinga to release the Chola Emperor. Celebrating the release, the Chola Emperor was accompanied by the army into his dominion.
On the Western Gopura, at the entrance, there is a reference to Tondaiyar Koman Adaiya Valaindapiran and his heroism in battle.
Garden for the temple
There was an order in 12th Century for a flower garden for the temple. In addition, expenses were also provided for, for the subsequent repairs and maintenance of the garden.
An inscription dating to the rule of Kulotunga III refers to a gift of a gold necklace to Deiva Nayagan
The Standing Vishnu
An inscription dating back a 1000 years refers in simple terms to the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram as ‘The Standing Vishnu’.
Sacred Bath for Deva Nathan
Inscriptions also record minute details like taking care of God's bath during his processions on Festive occasions when he leaves the temple premises. Expenses were sanctioned for providing a sacred bath to the Lord. One such inscription in Tamil on the South Wall of the Prakara records an order communicated to the trustees of the temple granting lands and a garden, free of taxes, for expenses of taking God for a sacred bath to the sea near Nissankhamallan Pattinam on the Maasi Magam day.
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