Swasthika well of Thiruvellarai Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple

Thiruvellarai Sri Pundarikaksha Perumal Temple near Trichy, Tamilnadu.

This temple is one among the Cholanadu Divyadeshams and it is a Moksha Sthalam.

This temple pond is known as Swastika kinaru (kinaru means well) and it’s a architectural marvel .

This post is about the unusually designed well located at the back of the (beyond the compound wall of the) temple premises. This Swastika shaped well is surrounded by hedges and bushes. It is protected by Tamil Nadu state department of Archaeology and renovated with the financial assistance of 13th finance commission 2013-14. The well together appears like the symbol ‘Swasthika.’ Each wing of the Swasthika has 51 steps leading to the water and , on descending down the 20th step, one has to take a right to reach the tank below. The supporting beams made of stones criss-cross the structure. The peculiar feature of the well is that it ensures privacy for those taking bath in the four enclosures. Hence local people call it as Mother-in-law – Daughter-in-law Tank (மாமியார் மருமகள் குளம் அல்லது கிணறு) since when taking bath in this tank both of them would not be visible to each other. This peculiar shaped well was excavated by one Kamban Araiyan from Alampakkam during the year 805 A.D. during the reign of Pallava king Dantivarman (746 – 847 A.D.). It was excavated under the instructions of Dantivarman. The well is named after ‘Marpiduku’ one of the royal titles king Dantivarman and popularly called as ‘Marpiduku great well.’ There are statues of Nandhi (bull vehicle) and Nagas (serpents) found around the well. According to the hoarding kept there the well underwent renovation during the 13th century A.D. by Yosala Veera Ramanathan and this renovation was carried out by Kudanthai Vanigan Uyyaneri Kaatinaan .

An inscription found on one of the side wall of the well speaks about the excavation of the great well

No. 40 – (A. R. No. 541 of 1905) – Tiruvellarai, (then) Lalgudi Taluk, Trichinopoly District. On the margin of a well called ‘Nalumulaikkeni’ (which means the well that has for corners) – This inscription records the construction of a well called Marppidugu-Perunkinaru at Tennur in Thiruvellarai by Kamban Araiyan , the younger brother of Visayanallulan of Alambakkam , in the 4th year of Dantivarman. Published in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. XI, p. 157. (Grantha and Tamil characters)

Courtesy:Know Your Heritage.