Brihadisvara Temple / Sri Brihadeeswarar Temple / Thanjavur Periya Kovil / Sri Rajarajecharam, - Lokabalars also known as Adhta Dik Balakas Thanjavur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

25^th February 2018.

The Shiva temple in Sri Rajarajecharam, Thanjai, has many unique features. One such unique feature is the Ashtathik Palakas  installed in small sannidhis around the prahara (Thiruchutru Malaika). Indra’s sannadhi is abutting the Rajarajan entrance, Rajagopuram. Indran is in the sukhasana sitting posture with Vajrayudham (the sannadhi was kept locked).

On the southeast of prahara is Agnithevar’s sannadhi (inside Madapalli). He is in a sitting posture and found in damaged conditions; in spite of that, Agni Thevar looks cute. Agni Thevar is in yoga posture with yogapatti holding accamala in one hand and Amirtha kalasa in the other. He has a long beard with fire jwala on the head. The thiruvasi on the back is also in half-broken condition. Yema and Niruthi are completely damaged during the Malik-kafur invasion. Varuna is sitting on a lotus with one leg folded. He holds a pasa in one hand, and his right hand is in varatha hastham. A crown is found in damaged condition.

On the Northwest corner, the sannadhi for Vayu is in damaged condition.  In the Northeast direction, Eesannan is sitting in a sukhasana posture on a lotus. Both hands are in a broken condition. The crown looks very beautiful.

Agni 

Eesanan

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---