sengotuvel, I had the opportuity to visit the ancient pillared Shiva temple of Perur you are talking about, on a couple of occasions, though certainly missed out that pillar. Some of my thoughts.
In Tantrik Shaiva world, Mahadeva is often depicted with moustaches and some times with beard too, particularly in Himalayan traditions. Sri Pashupati Nath is often shown bearded, seated in meditation. Tibetean, Burmese, Thai sculptures and arts depict Bhagwan Buddha, Siddhas, Yogis, and particularly Mahadeva in beard and moustaches too, in meditation or in various yog-mudras (postures).
See this for example - Mahadev in meditation, seated in ardha-siddha-asana (half -siddha posture) from a temple of Thailand:
<img src='http://www.sundial.thai-isan-lao.com/images/shiva_meditating-.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
84 mahasiddha yogis in Tibetea Bauddha traditions are almost always depicted in pointed short beards and chinese-like moustaches. One such image I had posted in one of the threads, but could not find that now.
However, coming to this particular and very interesting case that you have described, does appears to be different, and certainly not depicting a yogi or siddha, going by the posture, and bhava you mentioned.
From the historical standpoint, this temple is a very ancient temple, going back to 8th/9th century, and outer portion was probably damaged during the raids of Khilji's armies under his eunuch general Mallik Kafuur, and rebuilt later by one of the later Kings.
Now, Cholas had a clear understanding and insight of the Islamic expansionism - not only military but also through the other means like the fakirs going around and converting people. In various temple images, Cholas have always tried to educate their people and even coming generations (us!!!) to be aware of the invaders. This message has often been sculpted along side the sculptures of Siddhars and Yogis and Yoginis on the temple walls, pillars, and the vimanas, though often outside the temple and not inside.
In a more popular case, have you noticed the very famous meditating-cat-figurine on the Vimana of another Chola temple? In this figure, right in the midst of other Yogis and Yoginis, a cat is shown meditating, standing in tAdAsana/vrikshasana with arms raised up in Namaskar mudra and eyes half closed. Some mice are shown being carelessly drawn towards her. The message is, the cat is only pretending to be meditating, while her real intention is to feed upon the mice. Those mice which are not careful would come close, thinking of her as a Yogini, and she would pounce upon them and devour them. There are other such sculpture examples too, in particular in Chola arts.
My speculation would be that th ecase you described is one of this category. Though I would say it is only a speculation.
In Tantrik Shaiva world, Mahadeva is often depicted with moustaches and some times with beard too, particularly in Himalayan traditions. Sri Pashupati Nath is often shown bearded, seated in meditation. Tibetean, Burmese, Thai sculptures and arts depict Bhagwan Buddha, Siddhas, Yogis, and particularly Mahadeva in beard and moustaches too, in meditation or in various yog-mudras (postures).
See this for example - Mahadev in meditation, seated in ardha-siddha-asana (half -siddha posture) from a temple of Thailand:
<img src='http://www.sundial.thai-isan-lao.com/images/shiva_meditating-.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
84 mahasiddha yogis in Tibetea Bauddha traditions are almost always depicted in pointed short beards and chinese-like moustaches. One such image I had posted in one of the threads, but could not find that now.
However, coming to this particular and very interesting case that you have described, does appears to be different, and certainly not depicting a yogi or siddha, going by the posture, and bhava you mentioned.
From the historical standpoint, this temple is a very ancient temple, going back to 8th/9th century, and outer portion was probably damaged during the raids of Khilji's armies under his eunuch general Mallik Kafuur, and rebuilt later by one of the later Kings.
Now, Cholas had a clear understanding and insight of the Islamic expansionism - not only military but also through the other means like the fakirs going around and converting people. In various temple images, Cholas have always tried to educate their people and even coming generations (us!!!) to be aware of the invaders. This message has often been sculpted along side the sculptures of Siddhars and Yogis and Yoginis on the temple walls, pillars, and the vimanas, though often outside the temple and not inside.
In a more popular case, have you noticed the very famous meditating-cat-figurine on the Vimana of another Chola temple? In this figure, right in the midst of other Yogis and Yoginis, a cat is shown meditating, standing in tAdAsana/vrikshasana with arms raised up in Namaskar mudra and eyes half closed. Some mice are shown being carelessly drawn towards her. The message is, the cat is only pretending to be meditating, while her real intention is to feed upon the mice. Those mice which are not careful would come close, thinking of her as a Yogini, and she would pounce upon them and devour them. There are other such sculpture examples too, in particular in Chola arts.
My speculation would be that th ecase you described is one of this category. Though I would say it is only a speculation.