The
visit to these Ayyanar and Kotravai sculptures in the paddy field at Arasur
Village, which is about 10 KM South of Viluppuram city and Chennai to Trichy GST Road, was a part of the
“Shiva and Vishnu Temples Visit in and around Viluppuram” - on 11th
August 2024. These Ayyanar and Kotravai are under neem trees, in the paddy
fields on the South side of Arasur Village, near Viluppuram.
AYYANAR
This
Ayyanar sculpture is in the midst of paddy fields, about 1 KM east of Arasur to
Paraiyur road. This Ayyanar is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone,
installed facing west. Elephant vahanas are in front of Ayyanar. In addition to
Ayyanar, a Rashtrakuta-style Chandikeswarar sculpture on a flat stone is also
there. As per the experts, this Ayyanar
belongs to the 07th to 08th Century CE, Pallava period.
Going by the Iconography, this
Ayyanar was sculpted similarly to the Rashtrakuta style and is believed to belong
to the 10th century CE. Ayyanar is in Maharajaleelasana, sitting
posture. The left leg is on the pedestal and the right leg is hanging. A
yogapatti holds the left leg, which goes around the body. The left hand is on the left leg knee and
hanging ( similar to Pallava hastam ) and the right hand is resting on an
unidentified cylindrical object.
His hair is tied to form a tuft (
straight up upwards ) called Jadabaram. Ayyanar wears a padra kundala in the
right ear and a mahara kundala in the left ear. He also wears yagnopaveetha. An
Elephant and a horse are shown on the top. A person is holding an umbrella
below the Elephant and a lady is holding a whisk, below the horse. A thindu is
shown on his backside. A Dog with a vessel is shown below Ayyanar.
As
per the local people, this Ayyanar is under worship, and special poojas are
conducted in a grand manner on Pournami ( full moon days ) days.
Rashtrakuta style Chandikeswarar
Elephant Vahanas offered as prayer
KOTRAVAI
/ KORRAVAI.
This
Kotravai is in the form of a bas-relief on a flat stone and is about 500 meters
before the Ayyanar. This Kotravai is also in the form of a bas-relief,
installed facing east direction. This Kotravai is also called Durgai Amma.
Kotravai
is with 8 arms, lower right hand in abhaya hastam and left hand in ooru hastam.
The other hands are holding, Shankha, prayoga chakra, Sword, bow, Arrow, and
Shield. An arrow holder ( ambara ) is shown on the back. She wears padra
kundala in the elongated earlobes, and ornaments over the neck. A bra / Marbu
kachu is also shown. She wears a dress below her hip.
There
are two men shown on both sides of her leg. One man is offering his head to
Kotravai in the form of Navakandam and the other is in worshipping posture.
This Kotravai may belong to the 07th to 08th Century CE,
Pallava Period.
LOCATION
OF THE AYYANAR AND KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE.
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OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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