Snippets of Information
Temple Architecture
* 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
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
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