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Art and Culture of Tamilnadu
R. Nagaswamy
7. THE VARAHA TEMPLE AT ŚRĪMUṢṆAM
Śrīmuṣṇam seems to have assumed importance from the middle of 11th century A.D. in Chöḻa times. There are two big temples-one dedicated to Śiva and another to Viṣṇu in his Varāha incarnation in this village. The Varāha temple is outstanding from the point of view of religious as well as architectural history.
The ancient name of the village was Suṅgam Tavirta Chöḻanallūr, evidently named after Kulöttuṅga Chöḻa I (A.D. 1070-1125). His inscriptions are found in the Viṣṇu as well as the Śiva temples. In the Śiva temple, records of the Chöḻas, the Pāṇḍyas, and the Vijayanagara Rājas are found. In the Viṣṇu temple most of the inscriptions belong to 15th-17th century A.D. (Vijayanagara and Nāyak periods) though a few Chöḻa inscriptions are also noticed.
It is the Varāha temple, situated to the east of the Village, which receives the attraction of visitors. At the entrence is an imposing Garuḍasthamba, a monolithic column, rising to over 10.6m in height carrying a small ornamental pavilion at the top, housing an image of Garuḍa. The gopura, the maṇḍapa and other structures were added in the 15th-16 century A.D. The main deity is Bhūvarāha, the embodiment of Supreme knowledge (Jñānappirān). The processional deity is called Yajñavarāha. The goddess is called Ambujavalli. There are subsidiary shrines to Śrīnivāsa, Lakṣminārāyaṇa, Rāma, Āṇḍāḷ, Rāmānuja and others. The main Vimāna in the vesara style is called the Pavana Vimāna.
During the invasion of Hyder Ali, it is said, the outer gopura suffered damage by cannon bails and the damage is even now identified. It is the sixteen-pillared maṇḍapa, that is virtually an architectural gem of the Tañjāvūr Nāyak dynasty. Built by Achyutappa, the second ruler of the Tañjāvūr Nāyak dynasty in the latter half of the 16th century, the maṇḍapa is elaborately planned and intricately carved from base to top. In the cardinal directions are sculptures of cavalry men. In the centre of the maṇḍapa, the pillars carry portraits of the builder Achyutappa Nāyak and his queen, Mūrtiamma. Other portraits are identified locally with his brothers, Anantappa, Koṇḍappa and Govindappa. It is said that Achyutappa had an ailment which was cured by the presiding deity Bhūvarāha of this temple and to commemorate this he built this maṇḍapa. The maṇḍapa is called Puruṣa Śūkta maṇḍapa, as it has sixteen pillars. It is a treat to see the base and ceilings of this maṇḍapa.
Vedanta Desika has extolled the greatness of this deity. Both the sub-sects of the Vaiṣṇava faith are greatly attached to this temple. Besides, Mādhvas also are great devotees of the temple and hold rights over certain recitations in the temple. Besides Vedic and Tamil hymns, the recitation of Purāṇas receives special attention in this temple. The Mādhvapurāṇa, Gajendramokṣapuraṇa, Viṣṇupurāṇa, Kaisikipurāṇa and the local Sthalapurāṇa are recited.
A point of interest in this temple is the special offering to Varāha, which consists of a sweet prepared from Koṛai roots, which is held very dear to Him.
In the reign of Kṛṣṇadevarāya special worships were endowed. A family of chieftains known as Kachchiyarayas were great benefactors of the temple. In 1857 a certain Guṇḍappa, son of Vāśudevappa, hailing from Bellary district, built the steps of the Nitya Puṣkariṇi tank.
An event of great interest is the visit Lord Bhūvarāha to Killai village near Bhuvanagiri every year during the Māsi festival when special offerings are made to a Muslim darga.