Margasahayeshvara, Visalur
God
Margasahayeshvara (Margapureeswarar), facing east
Goddess
Sivagami Amman, facing south
Other Deities
Twin Ganeshas, Vidyaganapathi, Maha Vishnu with Sridevi and Bhoodevi, Vishnu Durga, Mahalingeswarar, Naagar, Muruga with consorts, Rudra Bhairava, Surya, Chandran, Navagraha, Jeshta Devi
Margasahayeshvara Visalur is a beautiful old temple that goes back to the Chola and Pandya period. Originally built in the second half of the 9th Century CE, there were 8 sub-shrines for Surya, Ganesha, Muruga, Sapta-mathar, Chandran, Chandikeshvara, Jyeshta and Bhairava. Entrance is from the east through a large gateway with 2 beautiful Yali/Lion idols on each sides, followed by a 3 tiered Gopuram. Outside the gopuram is the idols of Twin Vinayaka. A single large Prakaram house the sanctum sanctorum and the sub-shrines. A raised covered corridor runs on all four sides inside the compound wall with small niches in it.
Holy Water – Temple pond to the east of the temple
Holy Tree – No information
History
The Lord here is mentioned as Vasukisvaramudaiyar Mahadeva in the Chola inscriptions and Varadukasuramudaiya Nayanar in the Pandya inscriptions.
A Pandya inscription at Kudumiyanmalai mentions Visalur in connection with a land grant. The inscription of King Jatavarman Veerapandya II at Kudumiyanmalai mentions transfer of a land at Visalur, by the assembly of Visalur, to the temple of Kudumiyanmalai to accommodate their unpaid dues.
Initially Six inscriptions were reported and published. Later 18 more inscriptions were discovered during the cleaning of the paint and stucco at the temple. These inscriptions were dated in the period of the Chola King Rajaraja I, Rajendra II, Kulothunga III and some chieftains. The inscription of Kulothunga III, dated 1222 CE, mentions installation of statues of the king and his queen in the temple by a local chief, Adhitan Thenkarai Nadalvan.
Inscriptions:
On the north wall of the temple – written in Tamil – dated in the twelfth regnal year of the Chola king Rajarajakesarivarman (Rajaraja I), who destroyed Kandalursalai, approximately in 997 CE – Records grant of lands, made tax-free, to the temple of Vasukisvaramudaiya-Mahadeva, by the assembly of Visalur in Misen-gili-nadu for providing worship and offerings to the deity.
On the south wall of the temple – written in Tamil in 11 lines – damaged and incomplete – dated to forty-seventh regnal year of the Chola king Kulottunga-Choladeva (Kulothunga I), approximately in 1117 CE – Records provision made for burning of lamp in the temple of Varadukasuramudaiya-Nayanar in Visalur in Misengili-nadu, a sub divison of Jayasingakulakala-valanadu by Andan Aliyadan of the village.
On the south wall of the gopura entrance to the temple – written in Tamil in 14 lines but incomplete – dated in the fourteenth regnal year of the Pandya king Jatavarman alias Sri Vira-Pandyadeva – Records a gift of land by the residents of Puliyur in Misengili-nadu, a sub division of Jayasingakulakala-valandu, for offerings to Varadukasuramudaiya-Nayanar of Visalur.
On the wall to the left of the gopura entrance to the temple – written in Tamil but incomplete – dated in the fourteenth regnal year of the Pandya King Vira-Pandyadeva – mentions Misengiliyur-nadu.
Legend
No information
Directions
Margasahayeshvara, Visalur is about 13 kilometers north-east of Keernaur on the road going to Malayadipatti.
Food and Stay
None locally. The places of food and stay would be Trichy or Pudukottai.