Shri Sanatanam: Temple Series - Part 3 (Chola Temples)

Why were the Chola temples not destroyed ?

It's not that Chola temples but almost all the temples in Tamil Nadu remained conserved !!!!

Tamil Nadu was for a very lesser time in the Islamic rule and basically only Madurai Sultanate have tried hard to destroy the temples and destroyed one of the most sacred temple among Hindus i.e. Meenakshi Amman temple. However the temples were very strong and took a long time and high amount of man power to be destroyed and the time of Madurai Sultanate was very very less in compare to Sultanates in Northern India and Central India. Then due to the rise of Vijaynagar Empire in the leadership of Harihara Raya and Bukka Raya, the Madurai Sultanate was fall down and hence Sanathana Dhrama was restored again in Tamilakam and other regions of South India.

Mughals also tried hard to cross the Deccan and conquer Tamilnadu region but failed in that due the powerful resistance applied by the Nayaka Kings, continuous challenges from Maratha and Rajputs in North, Central, Eastern and Western India. This kept the mughals busy and led to the protection of the Ancient Temples in Tamil Nadu. Then the rise of Maratha empire in Thanjavur also was a reason for the protection of temples there.

The Nawabs of Arcot were not that much powerful that they could bring their Dictatorship in Tamil Nadu and control the people, instead were struggling for their own existence.

So basically not only Chola temples but most of the ancient temples remained conserved in Tamil Nadu. Even those which were destroyed during Madurai Sultanate period were again made during Vijaynagar Empire and were not allowed to be destroyed by anyone.

Here are the pics of some ancient and famous temples :-