Domlur Chokkanathaswamy temple

History

The temple faces east and contains several notable sculptures and decorative features. A Tamil inscription of 1270 CE on a door frame records that the doors were donated by Alagiyar. Another inscription mentions a donation by Talaikattu, and a 1290 CE inscription states that Poysala Vira Ramanada made donations.

Tamil inscriptions

The Chokkanathaswamy Temple in Domlur dates back to at least 1200 CE, based on inscriptions recorded in Epigraphia Carnatica. Tamil inscriptions within the temple refer to Domlur as Tombalur or Desimanikkapattanam. Chakravarthi Posalaviraramanatha Deva left orders for temple authorities in his kingdom. Devaraya II of the Vijayanagar Empire recorded tributes, taxes, and tolls given to the temple, including houses, wells, and land around Tombalur for the deity Sokkapperumal.

A 1270 Tamil inscription notes Alagiyar donated two door posts. Another inscription describes Talaikkattu and his wife donating lands from Jalapalli village and Vinnamangalam tank. A 1290 CE inscription mentions Poysala vira Ramananda donating ten pens from Tommalur’s revenue.

Did You Know?

• The images of Vishnu, Sridevi and Bhudevi in the Garbhagraha are carved from Shaligrama stone brought from the Gandaki river in Nepal.
• Only the sanctum sanctorum and two ardhamantapas exhibit antiquity; the temple has been extensively renovated several times.