தொண்டை மண்டலத் தலபுராணங்கள்: இலக்கியம், வரலாறு மற்றும் பண்பாட்டுப் பரிமாணங்கள் - ஓர் ஆய்வு

Tondai Mandala Sthala Puranas: Literary, Historical, and Cultural Dimensions – A Study

Abstract

Tondai Mandalam, also known as Tondai Nadu, serves as a pivotal center for spiritual, political, and literary development in South Indian history. Spanning from Vengadam (Tirupati) in the north to the Pennai River in the south, this region attained artistic and cultural excellence across various eras under the rule of the Pallavas, Cholas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Nayaka kings. This article focuses on the ‘Sthala Puranas’ (temple chronicles/legendary histories), which detail the history of the sacred sites located within this region, as its primary research subject.

Specifically, this study establishes that these Puranic literatures—which flourished from the 12th to the 19th century—are not merely temple myths but serve as vital records of contemporary social history, administrative divisions (24 Kottams), architecture, and religious philosophies (Saiva Siddhanta and Vaishnava Prapatti). It discusses in detail how literary works such as the Kanchi Puranam, Thirukalathi Puranam, Attigiri Mahatmyam, and Kolasala Sthala Puranam align with the hymns of the Nayanmars and Alwars to authenticate the antiquity of a site. Furthermore, the spiritual eminence of Tondai Mandalam is thoroughly examined, including the historical significance of the 24 Kottams, the 32 Paadal Petra Sthalam (Shiva temples praised in hymns), and the list of 22 Vaishnava Divya Desams.