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the Vijayanagar rulers developed the Mantapams inside the temple and, from an inscription
of Krishandevaraya, we find that be built in 1516 A.D. the Hundred Pillared Mantapam and
the Galigopuram, which are facing west t o east. Sri Achutaraya, of the Vijayanagar
dynasty, got his coronation performed in the presence of Lord Kalahastiswara in 1529 A.D.,
before he finally celebrated it for the third and last time at Vijayanagar, his
capital City. Finally, the Natukottai Chettiars of Devakottai who are famous for their
charity gave the final shape to the temple in 1912 at a cost of nearly nine lakes of
rupees.
The main entrance of the temple begins from
Bikshala Galigopuram. Close to this and facing the east, is a temple dedicated to Kasi
Viswanath Swami and Annapurna. Passing this we enter the temple Prakara called Bala
Gnana-nanda Gopuram. Next to this is the temple of Patala Ganapati. There are two wells
called Surya Pushkarani and Chandra Pushkarani and adjacent to these Pushkaranis is a
Suryanarayana temple. Close to the western gate there is a temple of Subrahmanyaswami and
also of Sadyomukti Ganapati. The Krishandevaraya Mantapa, the Jalakoti Mantapa, the
Palagar Mantapa etc. are all situated closes by. Adjacent to these on the southern side,
there is a pathway which leads to the Bharadwaja Ashram, Kannappa Hill and the Manikarnika
temple.
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