Neerpazhani is a hamlet in Kulattur taluk of Pudukkottai district, is credited with a Chola period Siva temple known in the name Valarmathi Iswaram. The temple lies in the outskirts of the village on its northern side in the midst of the paddy fields. It is a single prakara complex with main shrine in the center and sub-shrines of various deities surrounding it and with a gopura in the south. The temple is rich in inscriptions, the earliest inscription belongs to Maranjadaiya (a) Varaguna (765-815 C.E.). A temple for Vishnu in the name Sri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple is on the western side of the village and a newly constructed Ayyanar temple with Chola period Ayyanar sculpture is located to the northeast of Valarmathi Iswaram temple. A huge kanmai in the name Neerpazhani kanmai is seen on the eastern side of the village.
THE TEMPLE COMPLEX
Valarmathi Iswaram is a single prakara complex with the main shrine in the middle and the sub shrines around it. The main shrine consists of a vimana, mukha mandapa, maha mandapas and a porch arranged consecutively facing east. Adjoining the maha mandapa is the porch that extends on the south and the eastern side of the maha mandapa with steps on the south.
Among the sub-shrines, the shrine of Ganesa and Subrahmania are on the western side of the complex facing east, the shrine of Chandeswara and Swarnambigai are on the northern side and north-eastern side respectively and lies facing south. The madapalli is on the south-eastern side of the complex facing west. The shrine of Goddess Subatranayagi and Lord Bairava are on the northern-eastern side adjoining the mahamandapa facing south. The shrine of Goddess Subatranayagi is inside the maha mandapa whereas the shrine of Lord Bairava is on the outer side of the mahamandapa adjoining the mahamandapa and the porch. The nandi mandapa and the balipitha are on the eastern side facing the sanctum.
THE GOPURA
The gopura forming the main entrance of the temple complex is on the southern side lying two feet below the present ground level. One has to step down to enter the temple. The gopura is a single tier structure; it has adhishthana, bhitti and prastara, raised on a upapitha, besides, sectioned as bhadra in the middle and karnas in the corners with a pair of panjaras in between karana and bhadra. The sections of the tala viz., karnas, panjaras and bhadra are projected, in addition, the bhadra section is further projected in the middle forming the subhatra type. Besides, each section is represented by a pair of pilasters. The panjaras are nishkarantha type.
The adhishthana of the gopura is padabandha type but vargabeda is followed for jagati and kumuda in addition, for the vedica complex also. The bhitti that raise above the vedica complex is cantoned by vishnukantha pilasters which has ornamented head components. The potikas resting above the pilasters are vettu-taranga and bear the prastara elements. The roof of the tala is extending as flexed and over hanging forming the kapota of the tala and possesses the usual ornamentation. The roof is finished with cement plastering. The doorway in the gopura is flanked by brahmakantha split pilasters and has ornamental doorframe. An inscription in the eastern jamb records that the doorframe was endowed by a Kanmi of this village named Ilamaiyar. A small Ganesa seated in lalithasana is placed in between the panjaras on the south eastern side.
THE VIMANA
The vimana of Valarmathi Iswaram is a three tala nagara vimana, the aditala is stone structure and the super structure is entirely brick structure. It is quite interesting to see a well retained two tier brick super structure. However, the griva and sikhara are absent. The nagara vimana has padabandha adhishthana, bhitti, prastara forming the aditala. The adhishthana is followed by vedica complex. The padas of the gala and vedica complexes are adorned with miniatures.
The bhitti that raises above the vedica is cantoned by pilasters and sectioned as karna in the corners, bhadra in the middle and panjara in between. All the sections are represented by a pair of brahmakantha pilasters. Besides, the bhadra in the middle is projected and also adorned with a koshtha. The brahmakantha pilasters possess the capital components of sthana, padma kattu, kalasa, tadi, kumbha, pali, phalaka and virakantha. In some of the pilasters mala is shown. Besides, the kalasa is decked with leafy embossed works. The potikas are plain angular extending limbs to bear the uttira. Above the uttira is the vajana and valabhi. The valabhi is decked with bhuta mala, kapota is decked with plain kudu arches. Above the bhumidesa rests the vedica complex on which raise the second tala and the hara of the aditala. The hara of the aditala is arpita and consists of karnakutas-panjaras-bhadrasalas. The hara elements possess a tala, griva and sikhara, hence the components of aditala possess six angas. Kshudra nasikas are shown in the harantara. The harmaya of the second tala raise adjoining the hara of the aditala is cantoned by pilasters and the potikas resting above the pilasters are vettu potikas. The valabhi is decked with maddalas and kapota is adorned with kudu arches. Above the second tala is shown the hara of the second tala and the harmaya of the third tala. The hara of the second tala possess same elements as found in the hara of the aditala. Since the second tala hara is also arpita, the harmaya of the third tala raise adjoining the hara of the second tala. The harmaya of the third tala possess the same features aslike the harmaya of the second tala. The griva and sikhara are absent.
The gomukha is shown on the northern side of the vimana above the kumuda formed as an ornamented spout flowing from the mouth of the makara. The makara head is shown with its wide open mouth with sharp teeth, the long spout from the mouth of the makara is arched downwards. The spout is ornamented as fluted and blossom at its tip. The water chute is formed at its top.
On the north, south and western side of the vimana aditala koshthas are shown in the projected bhadra sections. Lord Dakshnamurti, Lord vishnu, Lord Brahma adorn the south, west and northern koshthas respectively.
THE MUKHA MANDAPA AND THE MAHA MANDAPA
The mukha mandapa extends in two levels, adjoining the vimana it extends narrowly and expands at both sides to the width of the vimana. The mukha mandapa has padabandha adhishthana, bhitti cantoned by brahmakantha pilasters at equal intervals with a koshtha in between the middle two pilasters. The vedica complex present in the vimana is absent here. The pilasters carry capital ornamentation, the potikas are vettu and taranga and bear the prastara elements. The valabhi is plain and the kapota is decked with kudu arches corresponding to the pilasters. The koshtha is flanked by brahmakantha split pilasters and crowned with makara thorana which remains plain.
The maha mandapa that extends adjoining the mukha mandapa is little wide than the latter. It has an adhishthana, bhitti cantoned by pilasters and prastara, all possessing the same features of the mukha mandapa. Kapota is absent since the mandapa adjoins with the porch. The entrance to the maha mandapa is shown on the eastern side and also in the southern side. Inscriptions of Later Cholas and Second Empire Pandyas and Vijayanagar are seen in the walls of the maha mandapa.
THE PORCH
The porch that extends on the southern and eastern side of the maha mandapa has a upapitha, single row of pillars and the prastara. The pillars in the porch are square kattu ornamentation with three squares and kattu in between. The potikas that rest above the pillars are vettu and taranga. Uttira, vajana and valabhi are the prastara elements seen. The roof of the porch is finished with cement plastering. Steps are arranged on the southern side and eastern side to reach the porch. A stone slab with Maranjadaiya inscription on one side and the sacred Trident as bas-relief on other side is kept planted on the southern side of the porch. The inscription of Maranjadaiya is the earliest inscription of this temple complex. The Bairava shrine is on the north-eastern side adjoining the porch.
INSIDE
Inside, the maha mandapa is a pillared hall with four pillars, the pillars are ornamented as square-kattu-square, the lower square is long. The potikas resting above the pillars are vettu-taranga. The potikas bear the uttira, vajana and valabhi. The Goddess shrine is on the northern side of the mandapa.
The mukha mandapa is a pillared hall with two rows of three pillars each is seen. The pillars are square-kattu-square ornamentation. The potikas resting above the pillars are angular-taranga. It is quite interesting to see the pillars in the bhitti are vettu-taranga whereas inside the mandapa are plain angular. A small Nandi is seen placed in the middle oriented towards the sanctum. Beautiful sculptures of Chola period are seen kept in the mukha mandapa. Dakshinamurti, Kshetrabala, Jyeshta, Muruga, Ganesa, Surya, Saptamatrikas are kept in the mukha mandapa.
The sanctum is a cubical chamber 3.44mts in the east-west direction and 3.10mts in the north-south direction. The walls of the sanctum are plain. The sanctum houses Lord Siva in the form of Linga and in the name of Lord Valarmathi Iswara.
In the mukha mandapa Dakshinamurti, Chandeswara, Jyeshta, Bairava, Muruga, Ganesa, Surya, Saptamatrikas are kept in well preserved form. Except Saptamatrikas the rest of the sculptures are pretty huge in size and the attributes of the sculpture place them to Chola period. It is puzzling such beautiful sculptures simply placed in the mukhamandapa and the size of the sculptures is comparatively huge to fit in the koshthas of the vimana also.
Twenty inscriptions were copied and published in Pudukkottai State volume, inscriptions of Early Pandyas, Cholas, Second Empire Pandyas are found in this temple complex. Among the twenty inscriptions, four belongs to Pandyas and the rest to Cholas. Numerous fragment inscriptions are seen in the temple complex due to renovation. Three new inscriptions were copied during the field visit. Among the inscriptions the earliest of this temple complex is Maran Sadaiyan (765-815 C.E.) alias Jatila Parantaka Nedunjadaiyan Varaguna. The inscription is in a stone slab with a Sulam carved on its other side and at present planted in the porch. An inscription in the stone slab reveals that the Sulam adigal was carved and installed by the Araiyan of the village.
Among the Chola inscriptions, the earliest being the tenth regnal year inscription of certain Rajakesari found in the mukhamandapa. The inscription vividly speaks about the gift of 5 1/8 veli of various land pieces endowed for different temple activities, it was ordered by Pirantakan Vira Cholan alias Mahimalai Irukkuvel while he was camping at Thiruparaithurai temple. As per the astronomical details it is 10th September 955 and probably Gandaraditya period, but the regnal year mentioned in the inscription is ten which exceeds Gandaraditya’s reign period. Though the content of the inscription belongs to Early Chola period, paleography push it to later period, in addition the mandapa in which the inscription inscribed has vettu potika to point the same. Probably the inscription might have been copied in the mandapa wall in the later period. It is to note that Pandya Maranjadaiya inscription is also in the stone slab, besides, no inscription is found in the vimana. Among the Chola inscriptions seven belongs to Rajadhirajadeva probably Rajadhiraja II.
The inscriptions speak about the gift of kasu, kalanju, lands for perpetual lamp, food offerings, festivals to the Lord Neerpazhani Udaiyar. Besides, two inscriptions speak about the installation and consecration of Lord Kshetrabala and Goddess Nallapillaipetra Nachiyar, the former during the period of Kulottunga III and the latter during Maravarma Kulasekara Pandya. Inscriptions of Kulottunga III, Rajaraja III found in the gopura brings to forefront its existence during Later Chola period. An inscription in the door jamb of the gopura reveals that it was gifted by a Kanmi of Neerpazhani.
Early Pandya and Chola inscriptions mention the God as Neerpazhani Mahdevar, Later Cholas and Pandyas inscriptions mention the God and temple as Neerpazhani Udaiyar, Valarmathi Iswaramudaiya Nayanar, Valarmathi Iswaramudaiyar koil respectively. Maranjadaiya and Gandaraditya inscriptions mention the village as Neerpazhani in Urattur Kurram, during Rajathiraja II period Urattur kurram came under the division of Vadakonadu in Rettapadikonda Chola valanadu but in Kulottunga III period Nirpazhani, Urattur kurram of Vadakonadu came under Kadaladaiyathilangai konda Chola valanadu which continued during the Sundara Pandya and Kulasekara Pandya period.
It is quite interesting to see a later period inscription probably late seventeenth or early eighteenth century, found on a pillar lay near the pond records an order prohibiting watering from the pond for fields and fishing from the pond as committing sin to God.
The inscriptions and architecture of Neerpazhani Udaiyar temple complex bring to forefront that the temple was under the continuous patronization of the Cholas and the Pandyas.