Penneswaraar_Temple
Penneswaraar Temple
Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India
Penneshvarar Temple, also known as Penneshvaramadam Shiva Temple, is a Hindu temple of Shiva in the Krishnagiri district in Tamilnadu. It was built by Kulothunga Chola III in the year 1188 CE in the 12th Century CE, after defeating the Hoysala Dynasty of present day Karnataka region. It is located in Penneshvaramadam, Kaveripattinam Town near Talihalli, Krishnagiri District. The temple is straight next to Thenpennai River which flows from Nandi Hills. This Temple exists as the origin for Bharadvaja Gotra, an ethnic group of Brahmanas in Tamil Nadu who are royal descendants of later Pallavas (Pallava Dynasty), who are present in Kanchipuram on Palar River in Tamilnadu.[1] The Temple has the highest number of sculptures of Navakandam within the state of Tamil Nadu.[2]
The 7-tiered Rajagopuram, which is the largest in the Krishnagiri District of Tamilnadu, is told to be built by the Athiyaman. The temple has the inscriptions regarding the port of Chennai (Chennapattinam), as well as information regarding digging canal in Chennapattinam during the time of Kampanna II.[3] It has the statue of Kulothunga Chola III as a proof and tribute to the constructor of the temple. It is Parashurama who prays to Shiva in Penneshvaramadam after killing evil Kshatriyas 21 times.