Ayyanar and KoRRavai Sculptures /Sri Ayyanarapan Temple/ஶ்ரீ அய்யனாரப்பன் கோயில், அரசூர் /Arasur, Viluppuram District, Tamil Nadu

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 11^th 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 07^th to 08^th Century CE, Pallava period.

Going by the Iconography, this Ayyanar was sculpted similarly to the Rashtrakuta style and is believed to belong to the 10^th 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 07^th to 08^th Century CE, Pallava Period.

LOCATION OF THE AYYANAR AND KOTRAVAI: CLICK HERE.

Kotravai- under the Neem Tree

Ayyanar is on this island

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---