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This Sri Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI ), maintained by the Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam. Recent renovations are done by the present Prince of Maratha king Babaji Rajah Bhonsle. This temple is declared as a UNESCO monument under Great Living Chozha Temples along with Thanjavur, Sri Rajarajecharam alias Brihadeeswara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram. ASI allowed for the regular pooja to moolavar.
Moolavar : Sri Airavatesvara
Temple complex view.
Consort : Sri Periya Nayaki, Sri Deiva Nayaki
Some of the salient features of this temple are....
The temple is facing east with Balipeedam and Rishaba mandapam out side. The steps of rishaba mandapam emanates musical sound when tapped. Dwarapalakas are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Annapoorani, Saraswati without veena, Kannappar, Nagaraja, Nandikeshwara. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy,Lingothbavar, Arthanareeswarar, Lingothbavar, Ashta Bhuja Bairavar, Vishnu Durgai etc. Sanga nidhi and Padmanidhi are in the mukha mandapam. The Pillars of saobana mandapa has the bas relief of Shiva and Parvati's marriage on all the 4 sides of the Pillar.
The Adhistanam has the bas relief sculptures of the 63 Nayanmar stories. In praharam 11 Surya Lingas and saligrama Lingam, 63var on the wall, Gallary, displays Sri Valli Devasena Murugan, Rajaraja-II.
Ambal is in separate temple on the left side of the main Temple. Ambal is in standing posture with abhaya varada hastam.
Ambal
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of Sanctum Sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, maha mandapam and mukha mandapam. The sobana mandapam was built like a chariot pulled by horses. The sanctum sanctorum is on a Upanam. The Vimanam is of 5 tiers. Nayanmar's story are sculpted on the base of the Temple.
The temple is
maintained neat and clean with landscape out side. Lot of relief on the
walls, ceilings and pillars are found. In one pillar complete story
of Lord Shiva’s marriage was chiseled on all four sides of the pillar.
The Shiva and Ambal images are very beautiful. Different sounds are observed
when tapped on various parts of the image of Annapoorani. It was a wonderful
experience to see the details of the bas reliefs, sculptures and statues chiseled made out of stone.
Mandapam is like chariot style construction
Entrance Mandapam
Temple complex view
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The temple belongs to 12th Century CE, built by the Chozha King Rajaraja-II.
The temple was in dilapidated condition during 1990s and the same was reconstructed by the Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam.
The king Raja Raja II ( 1146 AD ) in the gallery.
Chozha period Tamil inscriptions
LEGENDS
As per the legend, The Indra's vahana white elephant Airavata was cursed by Durvasa for destroying the graland to become an ordinary Elephant. The Airavatam came to this place and worshipped Shiva of this temple and got relieved from Durvasa's curse. Hence moolavar is called as Airavatesvara.
In Another legend An Asura / Demon called Daran worshipped Shri Shiva of this temple and obtained the boon of conquering the celestial deities and live without death. Hence this place is called as Darasuram.
Arthanareeswarar - see the three heads like Brahma an unusual sculpture..
Annapoorani
Closer look, the face
with sharp nose, a master piece - Annapoorani
See the details of hand,
fingers and nails - observed different sound when tapped on akshaya patra, lotus flower and the head. - Annapoorani
See the details of the
right hand holding the lotus flower - Annapoorani
See the saree foldings
and the design of wearing - Annapoorani
See the beautiful smile
on the face of Annapoorani
Adhikara Nandi
holding a sword 
Lord Shiva in sitting
posture holding Shield (Kedayam ) and sword in a pair of hands and bow &
arrow in a pair of hands.
Bairavar in koshtam - finished like metal
Closer look of
Dhakshinamoorthy see the jadamudi curling and the ear ring on left ear.
Right hands with Chin
mudra and rudraksham in the other hand
Lingothbavar - Vishnu and
Brahma on both sides
Vishnu Durgai - in koshtam
See the smiling face with
abhaya hastham
Kannappar (..?)
Saraswati
Nagaraja
Sri Valli Devasena Sri Subramaniar - in the gallery
63 var on the wall
Lord Shiva and Parvati's marriage relief on the 4 sides of the pillar.
Lord Shiva and Parvati's marriage relief on the 4 sides of the pillar.- Ambal's Dhabas and below, worshiping Lord Shiva
Lord Shiva and Parvati's marriage relief on the 4 sides of the pillar. - Lord Shiva came in the Rishaba vahanam
Lord Shiva and Parvati's marriage relief on the 4 sides of the pillar.- See the Navagrahas attending the marriage with their vahanas.
Lord Shiva as Gaja samhara moorthy. - see the left leg's padam
Oorthava thandavam where Lord Shiva danced at Thiruvalangadu - a relief on the pillar.
Dancer - a relief on the pillar
one of the Relief on the base - dancing to drums - who damaged this sculpture?
Relief also available in the ceiling
Arthanareeswarar and old
painting - on the gallery wall
Old painting - may be
Thiagarajar - on the gallery wall
Old painting - on the gallery wall
Sandal wood paste making stones - in the gallery
Rishaba mandapam
Entrance view of the
Darasuram temple with Rishaba mandapam
Temple complex view
Ambal Temple complex view.
Ambal Temple
AIRAVATESVARA TEMPLE - ANOTHER VISIT- DARASURAM
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