The prakara (enclosure) was built at the order of Rajaraja I, by his Commander-in-chief, sri Krsnan Raman (also called Mummadi-Cola Brahmamarayan). The two-storeyed, cloistered prakara goes around the main temple as a garland and is called "Tiruc-curru-malikai" (prakara malika). The upper storey has disappeared in most parts of the enclosure. The prakara is an absolute rectangle, its length being exactly double its width. It houses 36 subshrines of different secondary deities, some of which have disappeared. The external wall of the prakara carries a row of Nandis seated on top of it.

The subshrines, assuming the form of miniature temples with sikharas and stupis, are distributed according to Vastu texts, at appropriate locations in the prakara, and are either square or rectangular in plan, carrying appropriate crowning elements. The sikharas of the square shrines are octagonal in shape. They face either the inner side of the central yard or the main shrine and form an integral part of the prakara, with two bays. The front bay assumes the form of a ... More

The prakara (enclosure) was built at the order of Rajaraja I, by his Commander-in-chief, sri Krsnan Raman (also called Mummadi-Cola Brahmamarayan). The two-storeyed, cloistered prakara goes around the main temple as a garland and is called "Tiruc-curru-malikai" (prakara malika). The upper storey has disappeared in most parts of the enclosure. The prakara is an absolute rectangle, its length being exactly double its width. It houses 36 subshrines of different secondary deities, some of which have disappeared. The external wall of the prakara carries a row of Nandis seated on top of it.

The subshrines, assuming the form of miniature temples with sikharas and stupis, are distributed according to Vastu texts, at appropriate locations in the prakara, and are either square or rectangular in plan, carrying appropriate crowning elements. The sikharas of the square shrines are octagonal in shape. They face either the inner side of the central yard or the main shrine and form an integral part of the prakara, with two bays. The front bay assumes the form of a mandapa in front of the subshrines, wherever they are provided, and the back bay becomes the enclosed shrine. The secondary deities enshrined include: Visnu, Brahma, Goddess Uma, Saptamata, Ganesa, Subrahmanya and Dikpalas (directional deities). Some of the original deities housed in the shrines have survived. isana siva pandita, the Rajaguru (Royal Priest) of Rajaraja I, gifted copper pots to crown the sikharas of the shrine of the directional deities, during the consecration of the main temple.