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.

The vimana has three tiers (talas). Each tala has many small niches and miniature sculptures. The shikhara is decorated with a mahapadma on top. The circular greeva has four niche icons, Dakshinamurti, Sukasana and Brahma. The third tala has karna kutas in the corner and each is surrounded by pair of Nandis. The second tala too has karna kutas. The icons of Ashtha Dik Palas, but not in the correct order or direction, are also found on the vimana.

The three sides of the exterior walls have a total of eleven Koshtams. The adhistana has kumudam and padmam mouldings with the yazhi frieze on the top. In addition, so many miniature sculptures are also found here.

The south wall has Ganapati, Bhikshatana, Dakshinamurti and Harihara as the Koshta images. The west wall has Vishnu, Lingodbhava and Harihara. The north wall has Subramanya, Brahma, an empty niche and Durga.

The entrance faces the south direction and not the east direction. There are Dwarapalas found at the gate.

Nandi is found facing toward the sanctum. The 16-pillared mandapa is located behind Nandi. Only the pillars remain, and the mandapa has no roof.

Few excavated sculptures, such as Durga and others, are kept in the prakara.

Happy travelling.