Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi

Saivite Temples, Thiruchirappalli District

God

Kailayamudayar, facing east

Goddess

Karpagambal

Other Deities

Vinayaka, Bikshadanar, Dakshinamurthy, Vishnu, Brahma, Durga, Chandikeswara, Navagraha

Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi is an ancient east facing temple which is under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi is approached from the west side through a gate does not have a Rajagopuram. Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi is in a quiet area amidst lush green fields and looks beautiful. the goddess idol is kept alongside the main deity. The Dwarapalakas here are large carvings. Many idols have been excavated from here and include Ayyanar with two consorts, Kaumari, Muruga, Chandikeswara, Surya and Vishnu Durgai.

Holy Water (Theertham) – No information

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – No information

History

Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi was built during the period of Rajaraja Chola (985 – 1014 CE). Stone inscriptions belonging to Rajaraja Chola, Rajendra Chola and Veera Rajendra Chola are found here. As per inscriptions the village was once called “Thenkarai Brahmadesam Sri Cholamadevi Chathurvedi Mangalam. Cholamadevi was one of the Queens of Rajaraja Chola and he built this temple along with a palace nearby for her. An inscription also mentions a large flower garden of about 7 acres that was present alongside Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi. This is also the place where a scholar called Sidhanandi Padarar wrote commentary for Aadhi Sankaracharya’s ‘Sareeka Bashyam’.

Legend

In the northern side of the sanctum sanctorum of Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi there is a small hole with a carving of a snake which is said to have been kept to allow snakes to enter and worship the Lord.

Directions

Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi is on the south of Thiruverumbur. On the highway to Thanjavur while going from Thiruchirapalli take a U turn at the railway over bridge (ask for directions to Cholamadevi or refer our map below) and drive on for about 3 kilometers to reach Kailayamudayar Cholamadevi. The temple is visible from the opposite side over the paddy fields.

Stay and Food

None locally except tea and snack shops, closest is Thiruchirapalli.

Saivite Temples

Kailayamudayar, Cholamadevi