Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Once there were un-precedented heavy rains in the area and the irrigation tank in the village got filled up and was over flowing. The villagers, who feared that it might breach any time appealed to the lord who prevented the embankment from breaching, with his back. It is remarkable that the Moolavar idol even today sweats profusely and his garments, which become wet, have to be changed frequently. Hence, the Moolavar lord is also referred to as Eri Kaatha Vaikunta Vasa Perumal. The temple is facing in East direction. The temple has no Raja gopuram at present. The remnants of the Raja gopuram, which existed in the past or was left unfinished, are found at the entrance. Perumal is on Adisesha under the Pushpakoti Vimana which is on the sanctum.

The Nemili temple is abound with Inscriptions the earliest of which dates back to the 905 A.D. to the rule of the last of the Pallava rulers, Aparajitha Varma that records a gift of 100 kuli of land for sounding music at the temple. The pillar at the temple was constructed by Kovalan. There are also inscriptions relating to the Chola and Rashtrakuta rulers. A 920 A.D. inscription in tamil relating to Parantaka-I records the gift of land free of taxes for worship and offerings during the mid day service and for a lamp in the temple to the Sabha of Nenamali (the then name of the place) and a 945 A.D. inscription relating to the same ruler records a tax free gift of 1000 kuli of land near the tank. A 920 A.D. inscription in tamil relating to Parantaka-I records the gift of land free of taxes for worship and offerings during the mid-day service and for a lamp in the temple to the Sabha of Nenamali (the then name of the place) and a 945 A.D. inscription relating to the same ruler records a tax-free gift of 1000 Kuli of land near the tank, a 1010 A.D. Raja Raja-I Inscription on the South Wall provides details of taxes to be levied on crops raised on different kinds of lands. Death duty was to be levied on Brahmana community to be utilized for benefit of the temple tank. 1032 A.D. - 11th century A.D. inscriptions relating to the rule of Rajendra Chola-I dating to 1032 A.D. record the gift of 95 sheeps for a lamp and the gift of copper lamp stand to temple by a shepherd. During the rule of Rajendra-II, a 1054 A.D. inscription records the sale of 500 kuli of land by the maha sabha for maintaining a perpetual lamp in the temple. A 13th century A.D. inscription in tamil and telugu dating back to 1252 A.D. records the gift of 1010 kuli of land to the deity for four lamps and for offering during Irupalli Ezhuchi. Another Inscription records the gifting by Raja Kesari Varma’s gifting of sheep for a lamp. Also seen are Inscriptions of the Rashtrakuta dynasty of the ancient karnataka area and others of later times. The pillar at the temple was constructed by Kovalan. The temple was constructed with granite stones.