DATE: 2.11.23

TIME: 9.45 a.m. -11.45 a.m

VENUE: Uttiramerur Sundaravarada Perumal Temple and Vaikunta Perumal Temple stone inscriptions

Participants: Class 8 A & B students, 3 teachers, 1 office staff and 4 parent volunteers.

Report:

Sundaravarada Perumal Temple and Vaikunta Perumal Temple are located in Uttiramerur in Kancheepuram district approximately 90km from Chennai.

Vaikunta Perumal Temple was built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II in the 8th century. Cholas captured the place in the later part of 9th century. There are inscriptions from the period of Parantaka Chola I, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I and Kulothunga Chola I in the 10th,11th and 12th centuries indicating various gifts to the temples. The process of democratically electing the local representatives through a system called Kudavolai during t Parantaka Chola regime is documented in the inscriptions.

Sundaravarada Perumal temple unlike other South Indian temples has a two storied sanctum. The first tier is approached by a flight of steps on either side, usually one is used for ascending and other for descent. The sanctum first tier houses the image of Vaikuntavarada Perumal. This was also built by the Pallava king Nandivarman II. The outer wall of this temple also has inscriptions of Pallava and Chola kings.