Panamalai
| Panamalai | |||
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 India
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| State : | Tamil Nadu | ||
| District : | Viluppuram | ||
| Sub-district : | Viluppuram | ||
| Location : | 12 ° 6 ′ N , 79 ° 23 ′ E | ||
| Height : | 100 m | ||
| Area : | 9.98 km² | ||
| Residents : | 5,694 (2011) | ||
| Population density : | 571 inhabitants / km² | ||
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Panamalai is a village with almost 5,800 inhabitants in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu . Just outside the village there is an important Shiva temple from the Pallava period.
location
Panamalai lies at an altitude of almost 100 m above sea level. d. M. approx. 30 km (driving distance) northwest of the district capital Viluppuram or approx. 20 km south of Gingee . The climate is tropical and warm; Rain falls mainly in the monsoon months from July to December.
population
The inhabitants of the place are predominantly Hindus ; other faith communities are hardly represented among the rural population of southern India. The female share of the population is around 2% less than the male.
economy
In the area around the village there is farming and some cattle breeding (chickens); In the village there are small traders, craftsmen and day laborers, but also a school and a bank.
history
With interruptions mainly due to the Chola , the dynasties of the Pandyas (capital Madurai ) and the Pallavas (capital Kanchipuram ) ruled the region for a long time , but they often delegated the actual power to regional vassals. In the 14th century, Muslim rulers briefly occupied power, which then passed to the Hindu Vijayanagar empire, which in turn had to make way for the Nawabs of Karnatik (approx. 1690–1801). In the meantime, however, the British and French fought for supremacy in the region in the Carnatic Wars (1744–1763).
Attractions
- The only attraction of the place is the Talagirisvarar temple , located on a mountain flank west of the place and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva , whose cella ( garbhagriha ), surrounded by three smaller shrines , dates back to the Pallava epoch due to a preserved inscription . H. the late 7th or early 8th century. King Rajasimha, who is identical to Narasimha Varman II, is named as the founder; he was also the client of the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram and the coastal temple in Mamallapuram . While the outer walls of the temple are only slightly structured and - with the exception of a few lion-like Yali figures - rather unadorned, the multi-tiered tower structure ( vimana ) is richly decorated with pseudo-architecture and windows ( kudus ) etc. The great vestibule ( mandapa ) was added later.
- In the northern annex shrine, remains of paintings from around 700 can still be seen.
- At the foot of the granite rock there is an image of the many-armed and weapon-staring goddess Durga on her mount, the tiger or lion.
Web links
- Panamalai, Talagirisvarar Temple - Photos + Info (English)
- Panamalai, Talagirisvarar Temple (Wikipedia, English)