AIRAVATHESWARARTEMPLE, DHARASURAM, THANAJVUR DISTRICT-TAMILNADU-COMPILED Dear friends,
During their dominant reign over South India, the Chola kingsbuilt the Great Living Chola Temples - majestic places of worship spread acrossSouth India and a few neighbouring islands. These temples are treasure houses,storing troves of historical, religious and cultural history, besides theirmonetary treasures. The Airavatesvara Templeis one such temple, a magnificent monument with ten centuries of history encapsulated between its walls andthe temple complex. Built in the 12th century CE by the famous Chola kingRajaraja Chola II, it stands as a testament to the Chola dynasty's richcultural heritage. With its stunning architecture, intricate sculptures, vividpaintings, and exquisite bronze casting, it is a true marvel. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is named after'Airavat,' the majestic white elephant of Lord Indra which got relief fromcurse by sage Durvasa by worshipping in this temple. One of its most strikingfeatures is the singing stepsinside the sanctuary that produce a musical note as you walk on them. The temple is a UNESCO world heritage site. The temple is Administered by ThanjavurPalace. Today my posting is about this temple. Hope a divine and informative reading. Gopalakrishnan 23-08-2025 Introduction The Cholas built hundreds of Hindu temples across theirempire, and among them, four were vast complexes with all-stone vimanas. The Airavatesvara temple is one ofthese four, classified as Karakkoil, a temple designed like chariotstaken in procession during festivals. Signature Chola architecture immortalised here. The temple is located in Darasuram, a suburb of Kumbakonam,Thanjavur District in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The artworkadorning the temple is detailed, intricate, and breathtakingly beautiful—true poetry in stone.Built in the Dravidian architectural style, the main stonework resembles achariot. The entire complex is rich with carvings and inscriptions that tellstories from ancient Indian Puranas. Words can't capture the charm andsplendour of this structure; it's something to be seen and experienced. One of the most awe-inspiring features of the temple is the musical steps. Theseseven singing steps, leading to the altar, are intricately carved to representseven musical notes. What a fascinating piece of art that dates back thousandsof years. My note- To avoiddamage by visitors, now these steps are enclosed in a grill work and alternatesteps are provided. Legends about thetemple According to one legend, Yama, the God of Death, was cursed bya sage, causing a constant burning sensation all over his body. TheAiravatesvara Temple is believed to be where Yama prayed to Lord Shiva andfreed himself from the curse by taking a dip in the sacred temple tank. Thisholy tank is now known as 'Yamatheertham'. According to legend, the Airavatesvara temple was named afterthe white elephant who prayed in this temple, Airavat, who belonged to the kingof heaven, Indra. One myth says that Airavat was cursed by the rishi Durvasaduring the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean by the gods and demonstogether) such that itswhite skin became black. Then while praying and washing in this temple’stank, the myth says that Airavatregained his lost white colour History This temple, built by Chola emperor Rajaraja II in the 12thcentury CE .The Airavatesvarar temple is one among a cluster of eighteenmedieval era large Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam area, Thanjavur District. The established capital for his predecessors was Gangapuri,also referred to in some inscriptions as Gangaikonda Cholapuram, named afterthe king brought water from holy Ganges River by defeating every other kingswho opposed him. Rajaraja II, however, spent most of his time in the secondarycapital city of Ayirattali, also called Pazhaiyarai and Rajarajapuri. Thisurban complex included Darasuram, the site of Airavatesvara Temple inKumbakonam. He was a patron of Tamil literature and sponsored new Hindu templesin the empire, instead of enhancements and expansions supported by hisfather and grandfather. The temple at Ayirattali, which came to be known as theAiravatesvarar temple in inscriptions is one of his legacies The Airavatesvara temple was much larger than it is now. Ithad sapta veedhis (seven streets) and seven courts, similar to the Srirangamtemple, according to the inscriptions. All are gone, except the one court withthe main temple that survives. The reasons for thisdestruction are unclear.According to Vasanthi, the Pandyas who defeated the Cholas during the laterpart of 13th century "may have raged the city [Gangaikonda Cholapuram] toground" to avenge their previous defeats. However, it isunclear why other temples were destroyed and this temple was spared, as well as why there are around 20 inscriptions from later Cholas,Pandyas and Vijayanagar Empire indicating various gifts and grants to thistemple. The city was attacked by Muslim commander Malik Kafur in 1311,followed by Khusrau Khan in 1314 and Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1327. The periodthat followed saw wars between the Hindu kings and the Muslim Sultans whoseceded the Delhi Sultanate and carved out new polity such as the nearbyMadurai Sultanate (1335–1378). Thanjavur was atarget of both Muslim and Hindu neighboring kingdoms, both near and far. The Madurai Sultanate wasestablished in the 14th century, after the disastrous invasions and plunder ofSouth India by Ala ud-Din Khalji's armies of Delhi Sultanate led by MalikKafur. George Michell (2008), Architecture and art of Southern India, CambridgeUniversity Press, pages 9–13, 16-21 Later Adil Shahi Sultanate, Qutb Shahis,Randaula Khan and others from east and west coasts of South India raided it,and some occupied it for a few years. The Vijayanagara Empire defeated theMadurai Sultanate in 1378 and this temple along with other Chola era templesthereafter came under Hindukings again who repaired and restored many of them Nomenclature The Airavatesvara Shivatemple has a water tank that has a connected channel that brings in water fromthe Cauvery River.Hindus gather annually to take a dip in the tank. The local mythology narrateshow Airavata, or Indra's white elephant was restored to clean, white skin afterhe took a dip in this tank. This legend is carved in stone in the inner shrine,and this Indra's elephant gives this temple its name. Architecture The Airavatesvara temple is another square plan structurecompleted in 1166 CE. The surviving temple is enclosed by a compound wall thatis approximately 107 metres by 70 metres with a nandi madapa and dhvajastambha foundoutside of the wall. The main temple itselfsits on a plinth that is 23 meters by 63 meters, and consists of thegarbhagriha (inner sanctum), and three mandapas - ardhamandapa, mukhamandapaand agramandapa. The garbhagriha or inner sanctum is a 12-metre-sided square,with thick walls on which the vimana (pyramidal tower) rises to a height of 24m .There is no circumambulatory path provided immediatelyaround the inner sanctum; rather, it is outside in the courtyard. The garbhagriha isconnected to the mukhamandapa through the ardhamandapa supported on pillars andflanked by two massive dvarapalas. The maha-mandapa is a rectangle of about 24 metres by 18metres, with six rows of right pillars (forty-eight in total. Towards the eastof the maha mandapa is the agra mandapa also called theRajagambhiran-tiru-mandapam after the king. The agra mandapa hall is shapedlike a chariot, with stone carvings of wheels and horses. Chief Deity The temple isdedicated to Shiva. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktismtraditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with Nayanmars – theBhakti movement saints of Shaivism. Shiva's consort has a dedicated shrine called the PeriyaNayaki Amman temple. This is a detached temple situated to the north of theAiravateshvarar temple. Other deities The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, andincludes major Vedic and Puranic deities such as Indra, Agni,Varuna, Vayu, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, Saptamatrikas, Durga, Saraswati, Sri devi(Lakshmi), Ganga, Yamuna, Subrahmanya, Ganesha, Kama, Rati and others. At present, parts ofthe temple such as the gopuram is in ruins, and the main temple and associatedshrines stand alone. It has two sun dialsnamely morning and evening sun dials which can be seen as wheels of thechariot. The temple continues to attract large gatherings of Hindu pilgrimsevery year during Magha, while some of the images such as those of Durga andShiva are part of special pujas. Temple Timings Opening time - 08:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 08:00 PM Poojas Daily poojas, including Kala Santhi Pooja (morning), UchikalaPooja (noon), and Sayaraksha Pooja (evening). Special poojas are also heldduring Shivarathri and Pradosham festivals. Daily Pujas: Kala Santhi Pooja: A morning ritual dedicated to Lord Shiva. Uchikala Pooja: A midday offering. Sayaraksha Pooja: An evening ceremony. Special Poojas: Shivarathri: A significant night festival dedicated to LordShiva, during which special poojas are performed. Pradosham:The period during the twilight hours, especiallytwo times a month, when special poojas are conducted for Lord Shiva. Festivals The main festivals celebrated at the Airavatesvara Temple inDarasuram near Kumbakonam are: Mahashivaratri: A major festival dedicated to Lord Shiva,usually held in February or March. Brahmotsavam: A nine-day annual festival honoring Lord Shivaand Goddess Parvati, which features cultural events and processions. It iscelebrated in the Tamil month of Chithirai (April–May). Arudra Darshan (Margazhi Tiruvadhirai): Dedicated to LordShiva, this festival in December or January features an abhishekam, or holybathing ceremony, for the deity. Natyanjali Dance Festival: A festival dedicated to LordNataraja, the temple hosts classical dancers from across India who perform hereto offer prayers. Adi Pooram: This festival, held in the Tamil month of Adi(July–August), honors Goddess Parvati. Navaratri: The nine-day festival in September or October isdedicated to Goddess Durga and her various forms. Karthikai Mondays: Special observances and worship take placeon Mondays during the Tamil month of Karthikai (November–December). Singing steps The agra mandapa has an attached square porch of 7 metres side.It has ornately carved steps that go from east to west. On its east, outsidethe main podium, is the bali-pitham. It is unusual, in that it is produced asintricately carved balustraded steps, that produce a musical note. They aretherefore called the "singing steps". Sculpture This temple is a storehouse of art and architecture and hassome exquisite stone carvings. Although this temple is much smallerthan the Brihadeesvara Temple or the Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, it is moreexquisite in detail. The elevation and proportions of all the units iselegant with sculptures dominating the architecture. The pedestal of the Balipitha adjoins a small shrinewhich contains an image of Ganesha. The reliefs all along the base of the main temple narrate thestories of the sixty three Shaiva Bhakti saints called Nayanars Other shrines In the south-west corner of the court is a mandapam having 4shrines. One of these has an image of Yama. Adjoining this shrine are large stone slabs sculptured withimages of the sapthamathas(seven celestial nymphs). The construction of aseparate temple for Devi, slightly later than the main temple, indicates theemergence of the Amman shrine as an essential component of the South Indiantemple complex. Inscriptions There are various inscriptions in the temple. One of theserecords the renovation of the shrines by Kulottunga Chola III. There are sculptures for rivergoddesses like Cauvery, Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari and Narmada.Another inscription close to the gopura, records that an image was brought fromKalyani, then known as Kalyanapura by emperor Rajadhiraja Chola I after hisdefeat of the Western Chalukya king Someshwara I, his sons Vikramaditya VI andSomeshwara II his capture of the Chalukyan capital The inscriptions are also important in identifying thesculptures that once were a part of various ruined monuments. The inscriptionsindicate that it had the following sculptures: Northern face: Adi Chandesvara, Gangadevi, Tumburu Nardar,Vaisravana, Chandra, Maha Sata, Nagaraja, Vayu West: Devi, Rudrani, Vaishnavi, Brahmi, Varunani, Nandidevar,Periyadevar, Santyatita Sakti, Santa devi, Vidya Sakti, Pratishta Sakti,Nivarti Sakti Southern face: Daksha Prajapati, Yamuna devi, Rati, Kamadeva East: Agni deva, Agastya, Sri devi, Durga devi, Devendran,Padma Nidhi, Surya, Subrahmanya, Kshetrapala, Sarasvati, Visvakarma, Isana Location The Airavatesvara Temple is located in Kumbakonam city, 310kilometres southwest of Chennai and 90 kilometres from Chidambaram. It is about40 kilometres to the northeast to the Brihadeeswara Temple inThanjavur, and about 30 kilometres tothe southwest of Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple. All three are a part of theUNESCO world heritage site. The nearest airport with regular services is TiruchirappalliInternational Airport, about 90 kilometres away. The nearest railway stationand bus stand are Kumbakonam. The temple though inland, is near the KollidamRiver, within the Kaveri (Cauvery) delta with access to the Bay of Bengal andthrough it to the Indian Ocean. World Heritage Site Airavatesvara Temple was added to UNESCO's World HeritageSite list of Great Living Chola Temples in the year 2004. The Great LivingChola Temples includes the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the Temple ofGangaikondacholisvaram at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Templeat Kumbakonam as told earlier. All of these temples were built by the Cholasbetween the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of similarities. Palace Devasthanam Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam comprises 88 temples, of whichthis temple is the one. Theyare maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and CharitableEndowments Department of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Address: Gurunathan Pillai Colony, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam,Valaiyapettai, Tamil Nadu 612702 Phone:1800 4253 1111 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/93619416.298964.1755923440293%40mail.yahoo.com.
