Snippets of Information
Hindu temples, Tamilnadu
Airavatesvara temple, Darasuram, Kumbakonam
* 6 May 2023
A sculptor's dream come alive in stone - Airavateswara
Temple in Darasuram, Tamil Nadu. Of the quartet of grand temples built
by the Chola kings, this is easily considered the most aesthetic. Built
in purely Dravidian architectural style in the 12th century during the
reign of Rajaraja Chola II, the temple took 25 years to complete and was
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
- While one can see the characteristic Chola architectural stamp on the
temple, the Pallava influence is clearly palpable in several aspects of
the structure.
- There is a separate enclosure for the Nandi next to which is a grilled
chamber with the seven "musical" steps providing access to the Nandi.
The steps when tapped is believed to produce the seven notes of music.
- The main hall, Rajaghambira mantapa is shaped like a chariot drawn by
exquisitely sculpted horses and held aloft by 108 sculpted pillars.
- Particularly striking is the portrayal of Goddess Saraswati emerging
from a closed and open lotus, symbolic of the rising and retiring sun.
- The "five-in-one" mythical Yaali is imaginatively depicted, bearing a
lion's torso, elephant's tusk, goat's horns, pig's ears and cow's tail.
- A rare piece of art work, supposedly seen only in this temple and in
the Shiva temple at Thirubhuvanam, is that of an elephant delivering.
Source: Temple architecture: Aesthetics, carved in stone by Chitra Ramaswamy, The Hindu, Feb 10, 2012
* 6 May 2023
Airavatesvara temple, located in the town of Darasuram near Kumbakonam
is also called the Darasuram Temple. It was built in the 12th century CE
by the then-ruler of the Chola Dynasty Rajaraja Chola II. Lord Shiva is
worshipped as Airavata and Ambal as Periya Nayaki Amman. It was added
to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in the year 2004 under the Great
Living Chola Temples. Garbhahriha can be approached via Ardh Mandapa
and Mukh Mandapa. Mahamandapa is full of pillars. On the side is another
mandapa called agra-mandapa, named after the Chola king. It is this
mandapa that is in the shape of a chariot. The steps at the entrance are
supposed to be musical producing musical notes
The temple is named after Indra’s elephat Airavat. It is said that
Airavat took a dip in the temple tank that is connected to sacred Kaveri
river. It gained resplendent skin. The legend is carved on in stone in
this temple.
The name Darasuram probably comes from Daruka-Vana indicated by the many images of Kanakala and Rishi Patni.
Source: Musical Steps of Airavatesvara Temple At Darasuram by Anuradha Goyal, inditales.com, Dec 27, 2012
* 6 May 2023
It is believed that the chariot wheels at Airavateswara
Temple in Darasuram are actually sun dials, used during mornings and
evenings for time calculations. Technically these chariot shaped
temples are calle Karakkoil as their inspiration is temple chariots. Konark Sun Temple in Odisha and Vithala temple in Hampi are two other temples with wheels.
Source: Musical Steps of Airavatesvara Temple At Darasuram by Anuradha Goyal, inditales.com, Dec 27, 2012
* Jul 2021
According to Kudavayil Balasubramanian, an epigraphist and temple
expert, there are many unique sculptures in the Airavatesvara temple at
Darasuram. They include a 73 panel of sculptures depicting the life
history of 63 Nayanmars. "Nowhere one can see in such details the life
history of Nayanmars. There are sculptures depicting the life history of
Nayanmars at Melakadambur and Thirupanandal temples too.
Other important sculptures of the temple are the 108 Devara Othuvars who
sung in the temple during the time of Raja Raja II. There are
sculptures for river goddesses like Cauvery, Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari
and Narmada. "While the sculptures of rivers like Cauvery, Yamuna,
Godavari are with human form till hip level and depicted in the form of
water circles below, sculpture of Ganges is in full human form with a
vessel of water in one hand and lotus flower in the other hand.
Source: Darasuram: architectural marvel from Chola period by G Srinivasan, The Hindu, 20 July 2011
* Jul 2021
Two sculptures found in Darasuram have been brought to the Art gallery
at Thanjavur . One is Gajamharamurthy ( Gaja Samhara) in which Lord Siva
slains the elephant demon and another is Dwarabalaga brought by Raja
Raja I from Kalyan in Maharashtra as a war trophy.
Source: Darasuram: architectural marvel from Chola period by G Srinivasan, The Hindu, 20 July 2011
* Jul 2021
The Airavatesvara temple at Tanjavur was built by the Chola king
Rajaraja II (1143-1173 CE.): it is much smaller in size as compared to
the Brihadisvara temple at Tanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram. It
differs from them in its highly ornate execution. The temple consists of a
sanctum without a circumambulatory path and axial mandapas. The front
mandapa known in the inscriptions as Rajagambhiran tirumandapam, is
unique as it was conceptualized as a chariot with wheels. The pillars of
this mandapa are highly ornate. The elevation of all the units is
elegant with sculptures dominating the architecture.
Source: whc.unesco.org
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