Sacred Heritage of Konerirajapuram: Patronage, Architecture, and Ritual at the Uma Maheswarar Temple, Thirunallam

The Uma Maheswarar temple at Konerirajapuram, erected between 971–974 CE by Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi, represents a pivotal moment in Chola art and architecture. Unlike being merely a predecessor to the Brihadisvara temple, this granite monument demonstrates how queenship, Shaiva devotionalism, and artistic innovation converged through its unique royal portrait sculptures and early monumental bronze Nataraja. The study reveals that the temple functioned as an active institution for land management, ritual endowment, and local administration for over two centuries, supported by epigraphical evidence. Researchers used interpretive-historical analysis of the temple's tenth-century inscription alongside architectural surveys to highlight its independent significance in religious, historical, and art-historical contexts.

Chandramohan, S., & Vivekanandam, V. (2026). Sacred Heritage of Konerirajapuram: Patronage, Architecture, and Ritual at the Uma Maheswarar Temple, Thirunallam. Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Science, 3(3), 95–103. https://doi.org/10.69739/jahss.v3i3.2361