CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

The Siva temple at Madagadipattu is also known as Kundankuli Mahadeva temple. A weatherworn inscription on the temple tells that that the temple was founded by Rajaraja I (985 – 1014 CE), constructed by one Puri Bhatta. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 228.

Siva temple, Ongallur, Kerala

Siva temple, Perambur, Tamil Nadu

Siva temple, Tiruvandudurai, Tamil Nadu

Siva temple, Trailoki, Tamil Nadu

Sivalokanatha temple, Gramam,Tamil NaduThe Shivalokanatha temple was originally called Tirumundisvaram in the period of the Tamil saint Appar and Mouli-gramama in the days of Prantaka I (907 - 954 CE) but now is simply called Gramam. The old Siva temple was rebuilt by Vellangumaran, a Keralite general of Rajaditya – in Parantaka I’s thirty-sixth regnal year – 943 CE. Gramam was the headquarters of Rajaditya who maintained an army there against a threat from the Rashtrakutas. Earlier inscriptions, ranging from the twenty-third to the twenty-ninth year of Parantaka seems to have been re-engraved. Architecturally this temple does not show any advance on the temples if the reign of Aditya or those of the earlier part of Parantaka I's reign. References: D. Barrett, 1973, pp. 76-77, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1971, pp. 60-63, M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 172