The Colas c35.16

c35.16

Most typical of the transition period is the larger and very well preserved temple at Tirukkaṭṭaḷai (see plan) now known as Sundareśvara. It was built in the third year of Āditya I.¹⁰ The modern name of the place is derived obviously from the old name of the temple called Karkuṟicci-Tirukkaṟṟaḷi in the earliest inscriptions. The central shrine comprises a square *garbhagṛha* (12ʹ outside and 6ʹ 6ʺ inside) and an *ardhamaṇḍapa* besides a *mukhamaṇḍapa*, an obviously later addition of the time of Kulōttunga I. The *vimāna* is almost square and has a stone finial of corresponding shape. There are *simhalalāṭas* facing each cardinal direction below the *stūpi*, and the bulls in the next tier below. Further down, in two rows one above the other on the tiers of the *vimāna* are found in niches a seated Dakṣiṇāmūrti and Bhikṣāṭanamūrti in the south, Varāhamūrti and Viṣṇu on the west, two Brahmās on the north. And on the main wall of the *garbhagṛha* there are a standing Viṇādhara Dakṣiṇāmūrti on the south (fig. 37), a Lingōdbhava on the west and Brahmā on the north. The