Pallipadai Temples

Pallipadai is Tamil name for sepulchral shrine. I am not sure when this tradition started but it looks common during later Cholas period (10^th and 11^th century). I came to know about this when I watched this documentary about Raja Raja Chola few years back. I did not believe this at first, thinking why someone will build Shrine near or on the burial/cremation ground.  After doing some research I came across several Siva temples of this nature.

I started my research by referring to Historian and Prof. K.A. Nilakanta Sastry work titled Cholas. In that he was discussing about Pallipadai and its close alignment with Saivism. He discusses about that cult of Deva-raja and how inscriptions highlights the construction of sepulchral temples over the remains of kings and princes. Following is the quote from his book “The Adityesvara at Tondamanad erected as a pallipadai to his father by Parantaka I, the Arinjigai-Isvara at Melpadi built by Rajaraja I likewise to commemorate Arinjaya who died at Arrur, and the Pancavanmadevisvara in Ramanathan Koyil apparently erected by Rajendra I are among the most conspicuous examples of this practice”

In his book he also mentioned about human bones unearthed sanctum sanctorum of several temples during the temple renovation. This practice may be prominent among Cholas but certainly not limited to them. There is one such shrine in Pallimadam for King Sundara Pandya. Prof. K.A. Nilakanta Sastry mentions this practice is very common in most South-Asian countries as well. It was not clear whether it spread from South India or they received from elsewhere.

It can be argued that extreme Saivite groups such as Kapalikas and Kalamukahs performed human sacrifices in remote Siva temple premises. They eat the food in skull and besmear the body with ashes of dead body. They also eat ashes, keep the pot of wine and worship Siva in seated position in those shrines/places. However we cannot attribute the bones found in the Pallipadai temple as remains of these activities. Pallipadai temples are substantiated by inscriptions found in those premises which are expected as it was common practice during later Cholas.

I visited one such Pallipadai (as it stated in Chenglepet District Archealogical Guide) temple near Kanchipuram in 2011.  Gangaikonda Choleswarar temple at Koozhampandal is built by Isana Siva Pandita the spiritual guru of Rajendra Chola I. It was built in memory of Rajendra Chola I after his death. It has lot of similarities with Gangai Konda Cholapuram temple. This place close Peru Nagar believed to be regional (Mandal) Head Quarters of Chola Kings during that time.  This temple is under ASI, however I could see lot of damages done to the sculptures in recent past (see below. Sculptures plastered with cement recently). I am confident excavation around this temple will yield lot more information.

Tirumala Temple - Historical Background - Update

I received quite a few emails and tweets asking for the source related to usage of revenues from temple during English and Nawab of Arcot period.  I mentioned one source in my previous blog. Further investigation confirms the same. The following are the exact text from the book, "History of Tirupati" by T.K.T. Virraraghava Charya published by TTD re-print 2003.

"The Diary and Consultation Book and the Country correspondence after 1758 do not yet appear to have been printed by the Government yet. A reliable history relating to the further period cannot therefore be written until they are available. It is however seen from a report made by Pigot to the English at (F.S.G.) dated April 8, 1762 that after the surrender of Vellore by the French, the English army marched to the Nellore country. Nazibullahkhan, Kallidar of Nellore was attacked and he took refuge with Poligar of Udayagiri, who out of fear delivered him up. Bangaru Yachama Naik, Poligar of Vengatagiri compromised for 2.5 Lakhs rupees; Damarla Venkatapati Naik, Poligar of Kalahasti made peace for 1.5 Lakhs and Boomarazu settled in a few days. Tirupati was thus rendered safe and secure for the English. It continued to be the sure and unfailing source of income for them even till September, 1800, as we have seen from Lord Clive's letter to the Nawab of Arcot in connection with the arrangements to be made for the pilgrimage of Raja Raghottama Rao to Tirupati although the temple along with pergana of Tirupati was nominally the property of the Nawab of Arcot. The revenues stood assigned to the English."

Tirumala Temple - Historical Background

I recently read The Tirumala Temple by Dr. N.Ramesan. This book is published by TTD. I would like highlight some interesting facts from the book.

1. Ramanuja visited Tirumala/Tirupati thrice. On First occasion, he spent about a year with his uncle, Tirumalai Nambi learning the esoteric  meaning of Ramayana. The second visit was for settling a dispute that arose between Saivites and Vaishnavites regarding the nature of the image set up in Tirumala temple. During the last visit, which was at the advanced old age of 102, Acharya installed the image of Govindaraja and laid the foundation of the present town of Tirupati.

2. The Tirumala-Tirupati region was saved from ravages of the Muslim invader because they took a south-western direction and did not march south of Warangal through the heart of the Andhra country.

3. In 1327 A.D. (as stated, some say 1310 A.D.), Malik Kaffur attacked SriRangam. The sanctum of the temple was walled up and all jewels are hidden. The processional deity (Utsava Moorthy) of Sri Ranganatha was smuggled out of Sri Rangam by Pillai Lokacharya and other devotees. After wandering in various places, they reached Tirumala. It was placed in Tirumala Temple along with Venkateshwara later date.

4. Gopanna was a Brahmin general of Kampana and Governor of  "Senji". He went on a pilgrimage and found the idol of Sri Ranganatha of Sri Rangam worshipped along with that of Venkateswara. With the consent of the priests of Tirumala temple, he transfered the image first to Senji and then to Sri Rangam.

5. In all probability,  the Ranganatha procession image was removed in or about 1368 A.D. Harihara II is mentioned in an inscription from Tirumala.

6. Maratha ruler Siavaji,  passed through the Kallur pass, near Tirupati in 1676 A.D.while on his way for the conquest of Arni, Vellore and Ginjee (Senji).

7. In 1710, Carnatic Nawab adviser, Todar Mal, visited Tirumala and installed three statues of himself, his wife and his mother.

8. Safdar Ali who succeeded to Nawabi (about 1733 A.D), paid fifty thousand rupees from Tirumala treasury which was under his control and got rid of Marathas.

9. In 1744 A.D., Anwaruddin became the Nawab. Later Mohammad Ali, son of Anwaruddin who was championed by the English for the Nawabi, sent two lakhs of rupees from the treasury of the Tirumala temple to the English Commander Clive who was besieged at Arcot.

10. The revenues of Tirumala had for many years been paid to the ruler of the district within which it situated. The Nawab of Arcot, Mohammad Ali, who thus received nearly two lakhs annually, assigned this value source if income to the English in consideration of the assistance rendered by them in establishing his power in the Karnataka.

Here is just few facts. More to follow.