CHENNAI: Somangalam, an ancient village, approximately 13 km from Kunratthur, a suburb of Chennai, has a recorded history dating back to the Chola era. It is home to a Vishnu temple dedicated to Soundararaja Perumal. The name Somangalam has been retained from the Chola era. The viallge was situated in the ancient territorial subdivision of Maganur Nadu in Chengattuk-kottam in Jayankonda-cholamandalam.
The main deity is seen in a standing pose with the upper hands holding the sankha and chakra, the lower right hand in abhaya hasta (gesture of blessing devotees) and lower left hand resting on the hip and flanked by Goddesses Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. The processional image (utsava vigraha) also worshipped as Soundararaja Perumal is in the same posture as the moolavar with the two goddesses on either side.
There is only one circumambulatory passage (prakaram) in this temple which is spacious. Herein are seen a number of sanctums, the most important being that of Goddess Lakshmi worshipped as Soundaryavalli Thayar. A neatly maintained garden (nandavanam) skirts the temple compound.
The eye-catching feature of this temple, which can be seen as soon as one enters the prakaram from the gopuram, is the main mandapam which has a unique tiled roof. Inside the mandapam one can see a lot of woodwork holding the roof.
A long Chola inscription exists on the north, west and south walls of the garbha-griha in this temple. The lithic record mentions the deity was worshipped by the name Thiruchitra-kuttatu-Alvar in the Chola times. It records gift of lands by the mahasabha (administrative unit) of the village. The gifts were intended for various services, and evening lights as also for the some ceremonies during Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. The devotees were to be fed from tax money of the land gifted.
(The writer is a historian who focuses on temple architecture)