ARCHITECTURE OF BHUVARAHA TEMPLE IN SRIMUSHNAM

Srimushnam is one of the Swayambu kshetram in India. The others are Srirangam, Tirupathi and Vanamaalai in South India and Saligramam, Naimisarinyam, Pushkaram and Badri in North India. Srimushnam nineteen miles by road, north-west of Chidambaram is found for a noble fan for Vishnu as Sri Bhoovarahaswamy one of such eight self created Swayam Vyaktam Kshetras in the South. It is a saiva centre as well with a temple for Tiru-mutta mudaiya mahadevar. The two earlier Shrines were composite until divisions arose, and they were separated. Twentyseven inscriptions of the Chola, Pandya and Vijayanagara kings dating from 1073 A.D. are recorded from the Shiva temple, and eighteen of Vijayanagar lines from the Vishnu temple. They relate to Devadanas, recital of Thevarams etc., and it is noticeable that the heyday of the rising of the Vijayanagara kings and with Achyutappa Nayak of Tanjavur, who with his architectural endeavours, has made the temple the wonder that it is now.