51. MADHURANTAKAM

ARULALA EASWARAR TEMPLE

Distance: 90kms from Chennai

Shiva: Arulala Easwarar

Amman: Ealavarkuzhali

Speciality:

The Greatest Dhalapathi of Kulothunga I who served the last stages of Kulothunga I and the early stages of his son Vikrama Chola was Naraloga Veera. He was given the rights and the power more than a Petty King. He has contributed a lot in the development of Chidambaram and Thiruvadhigai Shiva temples. He has also given money, land, gold in large quantity to temples of the Chola region. Naraloga Veeran had many special names such as Agalankan, Arumbakizhan, Karunakaran, Kalingarkon and Arulalan. Though he was an ardent devotee of the Perumal in Madurantakam he built the Shiva temple here and named his special name Arulalan. Therefore the Shiva was named as Arulala Easwarar. He built the Arulala Easwarar temple towards the southern part of Madurantakam where weavers lived. This place was earlier called Kaikolar Paettai. 

He built Mandapa and Thiru Chutrumaligai around the temple. He created a flower park around the temple.
The name of the place was known as Agalankaeaswaram during the Chola period.

All the deities of the Koshta and the Prahara are present as in other temples.

The Vinayaka in the Prahara is seen with an elephant Vahana. 

There are 12 pillar built during the Chola period. 

The temple was taken care of by Devaradiyars and Shiva devotees in a very good manner. 

A place called Madavilagam was built to cook for the people who work for the temple. 

A lot of Lands were given to this temple by Kulothunga Chola II.

This temple was renovated by Senkundhars in the 16th century. 

The Mulavar Linga dates back 2000years old.

The temple has Dwajasthambam, nandhi mandapam and 2 Praharas.

This temple is maintained very well.

About the Place:

Parantaka Chola the first (907 - 955 AD) conquered Madhurai from the Pandyas. So he was called Madhurai Konda Kopara Kesari. He was also called as Madhurantakan which meant he was a Yama to Madhurai (Andhagan means Yama). Therefore this place was named after him as Madurantakam. Parantaka Chola II, Kandaradhitha Chola, Uthama Chola, Rajendra Chola I and Vera Rajendra Chola were all named Madhurantakan after Parantakan the first as they had Madhura under their Regime. Kulothunga the first wife was called Madhurantaki. Madurantakam was formed by Parantaka the first by uniting many small villages after he conquered Madhurai. Parantaka Cheri, Madhurantaka Cheri, Parakesari Cheri, Thiripuvana Madhavi Cheri, Sura Kulamani Cheri, Irumudi Chola Cheri, Kothandam Rama Cheri, Veera Chola Cheri, Singalandhaga Cheri and Pallicheri were united to form Madurantakam. Except for Pallicheri all the other places were named after Chola Kings. Pallicheri is now called Vanniyar Paettai. All these details are collected from the inscriptions in the Kothandarama temple.