Soundararaja Perumal Temple, Nagapattinam

Sources differ on the temple's beginnings. The 1961 survey says the temple is said to have been built by Kulothunga Chola, while Wikipedia states that it is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas in the late 8th century, with contributions from the Pallavas and Cholas between the 8th and 10th centuries; it records two inscriptions from the Chola period.

Nagapattinam was a busy port, held by the Portuguese and then the Dutch, as the district administration's history records. According to the 1961 survey, Jagannatha Naidu, popularly known as Jaggul Naidu and described as a minister to the Dutch rulers, is said to have built the rajagopuram with Dutch funds and endowed the temple with jewels; statues of him and his wife in a prostrating pose stand at the entrance to the main shrine. Wikipedia gives a related account in which a Nayak-period official of the 1650s, Jagul Nayakar, built the tower, halls and compound wall, and records the tradition that the tower was used as a lighthouse at the request of the Dutch.

Wikipedia also credits Kundo Pandithar, an officer of 1737, with the Ashtana mandapam and several shrines, and lists renovations by townspeople in the early 20th century. The 1961 survey adds that the original main image, made of brick and mortar, was replaced in 1941 by a stone image through the efforts of a devotee, Ramaswamy Pillai.

Architecture and sacred features

The temple faces east and has three prakarams (enclosures). The 1961 survey describes a seven-storeyed rajagopuram with plaster figures; the lead of Wikipedia's article describes a five-tiered tower about 90 feet high, while its history section also mentions a seven-tiered tower, so the count differs between sources. A smaller tower stands on the west side, and the chariot runs through the broad streets around the walls. The standing main image, about ten feet tall, has four arms holding the conch, discus, mace and lotus.

Inside, the Vasantha mandapam faces the tank Sara Pushkarini. There is a south-facing shrine of Ranganatha reclining on Adisesha, and shrines of Rama with Sita, Srinivasa Perumal, Andal and Hanuman; the goddess's shrine is on the southern side. The survey notes a bronze of Narasimha slaying Hiranyakashipu while blessing Prahlada (Wikipedia describes a rare eight-armed Narasimha) and the unusual five kalasams (finials) on the vimana over the sanctum. Wikipedia also mentions a chariot-shaped Nayak-period hall and two large guardian figures at the entrance.