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About
Darasuram |
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Darasuram or Dharasuram is a panchayat town which is situated
about 3 kilometres from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur District,
Tamil Nadu, India. According to the 2001 census, the town had
a population of 13,027. The town is famous for the
Airavateswara temple which was founded by the Rajaraja Chola
II in the 12th century AD. The temple is a recognised UNESCO
World Heritage monument. This temple is a store house of art
work. The ceiling of the temple has beautiful carvings. Minute
work on the pillars fills the mind with admiration and
fascination.
Darasuram, Airavateeshwarar temple is a model of Tanjore Big
temple but smaller in size. One can see superb work of art and
the finely carved work on each and every stone, carved to
accomplishment. Even the steps leading to the temple has a
story to tell. The main mandapam of this temple is in the form
of a chariot drawn by horses. As of 2001 India census,
Darasuram had a population of 13,027.
The presiding deity here is Airavateeswara (Siva) and his
companion is Periyanayaki. The legend is that the deity here
was worshipped by Airavata (elephant), the mount of Indra.
There are also temples which are dedicated to Sarabeshwarar; a
form Siva took when he wanted to suppress the anger of
Narasimha after killing Hirnyakashipu, then for Dakshina
Murthy, a niche for Vinayagar and Lingodhbavar. The Vimana is
akin to the big temple but about 1/3 of its size.
Great care is being taken to preserve the interior as well as
the exterior. Lush green lawns stands apart with fine
difference to the pink sand stone temple.The Nandi found
outside the temple is vast and there are a few steps near it
which creates musical notes when tapped. It is sheltered with
a mesh presently. |
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Darasuram temple |
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Darasuram temple is a storehouse of art and architecture. The
vimana is 85 feet high. The front mandapam itself is in the form
of a huge chariot drawn by horses. The temple has some wonderful
stone carvings.
The Great Living Chola Temples (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) at
Thanjavur,Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram were built by the
Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of
similarities.The main deity's consort Periya Nayaki Amman temple
is situated nearby to Airavateshwarar temple. |
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Interesting features of Darasuram Temple |
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Prominent features of Darasuram Temple include Musical steps
near the Nandi mandapam outside and the chariot shaped mandapam
leading to the temple. |
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Architecture of Darasuram Temple |
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The main mantapa is called Raja Gambira as the elephant
draws the chariot. The wheels were put back by the ASI at
a later date. The ceiling has a beautiful carving of Shiva
and Parvathi inside an open lotus. All the dancing poses
of Bharatanatyam are engraved in the stone. They are
referred to as the Sodasa Upasaras. There is a carving
which shows the village womenfolk helping in the delivery
of another female, who has both her hands on the shoulders
of the two ladies, who are pressing their hands and the
abdomen of the lady to help her deliver. 'These are very
skillful and artistic works of marvelous style. This may
give a glimpse into the social conditions of the past.
The stone image of Ravana carrying Kailas which is a fine
example of workmanship. One finds sculptures of Buddha,
Bhikshatana, Saraswathi without her Venna, and a sculpture
of Brahma, Surya and Ardhanarishvara.
It was during this time that Shaivism took a very extreme
step and lord Sarabheshwara would seem to have come into
existence. Many reasons have been quoted for this
personification of Lord Shiva. Sarabha has the face of a
lion and the body of a bird and has placed on his lap the
powerful Lord Narasimha. A mantapa has been built
specially for lord Sarabha, and thereafter has been
installed in temples.
The paintings on the walls have been renovated during the
Nayak periods. At the very entrance to the temple two
Dwarapalakas, Sankhanidhi and Padmanidhi, are striking
figures which gives vibrant anatomical expressions of the
excitement of youth. In front of the temple, there is a
small mandapa, which can be reached by three steps in the
form of a ladder. The steps are stones, which give diverse
musical sounds when tapped. All the seven swaras can be
heard at different points. It is feared that if proper
care is not taken soon, village children will damage the
stones. Now these stone steps have been fully covered with
metal grills to save them from worsening. Meanwhile
Archeology department has taken many steps to prevent this
monument from public viewers and local villagers. |
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Legend Associated with Darasuram Temple |
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The
legend is that Airavata, the white elephant of Indra, worshipped
Lord Siva in this temple; so did also the King of Death, Yama.
Tradition is that the presiding deity Airavateswarar cured Yama
himself (the God of Death) who was suffering under a Rishi's
annoyance from a burning sensation all over the body. Yama took
a bath in the sacred tank and was rid of the burning sensation.
Since then the tank is known as Yamateertham. In the recent past
Raja Raja Chola and Karikala Chola worshipped the Siva Lingam in
this temple. This temple gets its supply of fresh water from the
river Kaveri and is 228 feet in width. Pilgrims make a point to
bathe in the tank.
Volume II of the South Indian Temple Inscriptions deals with a
number of endowments of the Pandya Kings also. On the temple
walls these inscriptions are given, from which it is seen that
the temple was known in those days as Raja Rajeswararn and Raja
Rajapuram. Two such inscriptions are copied here.
Initially Airavata worshipped the Lingam, the Lingam is named
after him as Airavateswara. The Goddess in this temple is known
as Deva Nayaki. Whatever remains of the sculptural part of the
temple is on the inside wall of the outer prakaram(outer
courtyard), about a foot from floor level. 'The statues contain
different poses of gymnastic feats seen in the modern circus
which were shown by females keeping their head at the centre and
legs interwoven in such a skillful way as to form the
circumference of a circle. It may be an illustration of the
present-day gypsy tribe entertaining villagers with gymnastic
shows and dancing poses. Such gypsies are still to be seen
visiting the interior villages of the country. Many styles of
physical feats shown by both men and women have been carved in
the stone. |
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How to reach Darasuram |
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By
Rail
The nearest railway station is Kumbakonam and many buses ply
from Kumbakonam to Darasuram.
By
Road
Darasuram is about 4 kms from the temple town of Kumbakonam
on Kumbakonam - Tanjore route.
By
Air
Trichy is the nearest airport, the distance is about 83 Kms.
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