Gangai Konda Choleeswara of Kanchipuram - Koozhampandal
If you reside in Chennai or Kanchipuram, you need not travel about 300 km to visit Gangai Konda Cholapuram. There is another Gangai Konda Cholapuram very near to your city. Koozhampandal (often written as Kulambandal) is a village located just 30 km from Kanchipuram and about 95 km from Chennai. The ancient Shiva temple of the village is called Gangai Konda Choleeswara temple. It also belongs to the period of Rajendra Chola I (r. 1014 - 1044 CE).
This village, Koozhampandal, has some other remnants of ancient temples/sculptures. But, the notable one is this Shiva temple. The temple is called Choleeswara or Jagannatheswara. The temple was built by Isana Shiva Pandit, the Raja Guru of Rajendra Chola I. The deity was called "Gangai Konda Choleswara" or "Iswaramudaiya Mahadevar". As per the inscriptions, the temple was called "Gangai Konda Cholapuram" and "Vikrama Cholapuram".
The inscriptions dated the 12th year and 22nd year of the reign of Rajendra Chola I, the 33rd year of Rajadiraja Chola I, and the later period Vijayanagara are found in the temple. It can be assumed that the temple was probably built sometime around the 12th year of the reign of Rajendra Chola I (1025-1026 CE).
The temple faces the east direction. It is entirely a stone temple. It has a sanctum, Ardha mandapa and Mukha mandapa. The sanctum enshrines Shiv Linga. The entrance of the shrine is on the side in the south direction. The Mukha Mandapa has a separate shrine for the Goddess, which is a later addition.
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