Kari Varadaraja Perumal Dadapuram is an ancient temple as is evident from the numerous inscriptions found all around the base and walls of the sanctum sanctorum. From these, it is understood that the temple was constructed by Kundavai, daughter of Parantaka Sundara Chola (regnal years 956 – 973 CE), the elder sister of Rajaraja Chola I (regnal years 985-1014 CE) and wife of Vallavarayan Vandhiya Devan. 14 inscriptions belonging to Rajaraja I, Rajendra I (regnal years 1012-1044 CE) & II (regnal years 1052 – 1064 CE) are found here. The ancient name of the temple was Kundhavai Azhwar Vinnagar and the name of the village was Rajaraja Puram which has been sadly corrupted over time to Dadapuram today. Kundhavai also constructed the nearby Shiva Temple and a Jain Temple.
The earliest of these dates back to the twenty-first regnal year (1006 CE) of Rajaraja I and mentions a list of vessels and ornaments made of gold, silver, and pearls presented to the temples of Kundavai Vinnagar, Ravikula Manikkesvaram, and Kundavai Jinalaya. It refers to the temples as built by the Princess ‘Pirantakan Kundavai Pirattiyar’, the daughter of ‘Ponmaligai-tunjina devar’ (Sundara Chola), in ‘Rajarajapuramin Nallur Nadu, a sub-division of ‘Venkundra kottam’. It mentions an official called Parakrama sola Muvendavelan. There are two inscriptions dating back to the twenty-third regnal year of Rajaraja I, one mentions a gift of ninety sheep for the installation and burning a lamp by a maid-servant of Kundhavai, and the other records that the dancing girls attached to the temples should accompany the processional deities, sing and dance during the hunting festival of the Kundavai Vinnagar Vishnu temple.
An inscription of the twenty-fifth regnal year of Rajaraja I mentions a gift of sheep for lamps to the temple of Kundavai Vinnagar Azhvar by Pirantakan Kundavai Pirattiyar. The inscription also mentions that Senapati Mummudi-Chola Brahmamarayan was in charge of the management of the temple. He was the Army Commander of Rajaraja I and his actual name was Sri Krishnan Raman.
There are two inscriptions of Rajendra I. The first, dating back to his fourth regnal year, mentions a gift of sheep for ten lamps to the temple of Kundavai Vinnagar Azhvar by his aunt Kundavai Pirattiyar. The other, belonging to his eleventh regnal year, just mention his name.
