The Historic Melpadi
Melpadi is a historically significant town. It is around 130 km from Chennai and around 22 km from Arcot in the Tamil Nadu state of India. This article focuses on the Chola period temples of the town as well as its historical connection.
During the Chola period, the town was called Rajasrayapuram (named after the surname of Raja Raja Chola I). In 959 CE, the Rashtrakuta King Krishna III encamped in this town (per the Karhad plates). This town acted as a garrison to guard the Chola lands from the attack of the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas.
Somanatheswara Temple
Somanatheswara temple is the main attraction of Melpadi. It is a vast temple complex. As per the inscription found in this temple which belongs to the period of Raja Raja Chola I, the presiding deity was called Cholendra Simhesvara in those days.
On the south wall of the sanctum, the inscription dated in the 14th year of the reign of Raja Raja Chola I is found. It talks about the conquest of the Kudamali region and the Pandyas. It also mentions the Chola officer, Irayairavan Pallavayan, who served under Rajaraja.
It is assumed that this temple was built by Raja Raja Chola I in the 10th century CE.
Temple Layout
The temple has south facing entrance. The outer gate does not have a tower. The inner entrance has a three-tiered tower, which is a later addition. The entire temple complex is surrounded by wide fortress walls.
The sanctum faces the east direction and enshrines a big-sized Shiv Linga, the presiding deity. He is named Somanatheswara. The vimana is made entirely of stone, which is a notable feature.
Two huge figures of Dwarapalas at the entrance of the sanctum are lovely. The flagstaff, bali peetha and Nandi are found facing toward the direction of the shrine, but they are separated by the wall from the sanctum. The Mukha Mandap has a beautiful vratta stambha (round pillars).
Ganesha, Dakshinamurti, Vishnu, Brahma and Vishnu Durga are found as the niche images. They all look beautiful, for sure. However, they do not belong to the original Chola period. They appear to be later additions.
The Goddess Tapaskruta Devi is found in a separate south-facing shrine in the outer prakara. The shrine has an attractive vimana and a mukha mandap. This is a later addition, probably done by the Vijayanagaras.
The Chola period Kalyana Mandap and a few other mandapas found in the temple have beautiful sculptures depicted on the pillars. There are a few small-sized attractive and interesting bas-relief images on the temple's outer wall.
Cholesvara Temple
Cholesvara temple is located in the opposite direction of Somanatheswara temple. This is comparatively a tiny temple.
Three stone inscriptions dating the 29th year of the reign of Raja Raja Chola I and one inscription of the 9th year of the reign of Rajendra Chola I are found in this temple.
As per the inscriptions, the temple was originally called Arinjigai Ishwara or Arinjishwara.
This temple is a Pallipadai temple. Raja Raja built the Pallipadai temple of his own grandfather, Arinjaya Chola. (We can assume that Shiv Linga was installed in memory of Arijaya Chola or built atop the samadhi of the Chola emperor.)
Temple Layout
I have heard and read about the niche images, dwarapalas and other aspects of the temple. But, I could not get a chance to enter into the temple. ASI or God only knows when the temple is opened. I could see only the outer wall and the beautiful stone vimana.
Happy travelling.
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