Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Though the presiding deity in this temple is Srinivasa Perumal, it is popularly called as Kondandaramaswamy Kovil because of the existence of a shrine in which Rama, Lakshmana and Sita are enshrined. Ariyalur also bears its name from the presence of Lord Vishnu here. ‘Hari Iruntha Oor’, the place where Lord Vishnu resides, in course of time became ‘Ari’ Yalur. The temple is facing East direction and built in Pallava style of architecture. The gopuram has 6-storied with a height of 90 feet and garba gruha has a (15 feet square) in size. The dwaja stambham is placed infront of the temple.

There are two inscriptions and one Copper plate in this temple. The earliest record is dated to 1635 A.D. and it is engraved in the South base of the main temple. It is damaged and refers to an order of Ariyalur Arasu Nilaiyitta Oppila Malavarayar who agreed not to collect some taxes in anju parru nadu in Vitta parru. A Copper plate charter dated to 1729 A.D. and issued during the reign of Arasu Nilaiyitta Rangappa Malavarayar refers to the decision reached by the shepherd community (called Ayppadi Gopala vamsattar) to contribute one panam per head and house of their community to this temple during the time of marriages in their families. Lastly an inscription of 1742 A.D. of Vijaya Oppilada Malavarayar son of Rangappa Malavarayar and grandson of Vijaya Oppilliada Malavarayar mentions a brahmana Venkatapathi Ayyan. However the last two records now disappeared from this temple. There are Ardha mandapa (17 feet long) and Maha mandapa, Dasavathara mandapa in this temple. In Dasavathara mandapa, four rows of pillars (20 Feet height) with 10 pillars in each row are set up in the mandapa. In these pillars the figures of the ten avatars of Vishnu are carved out. The figure is about 6.6 feet high. At the entrance of the row, the sculptures of a chief and his queen are also carved out. There is a Kodanda pushkarani in the Southern side of the temple. The basement of the gopura is built of chalk stone and the upper stories are built of brick and mortar.