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Imperial Cholas were not just mighty warriors they commissioned many magnificent monuments across their kingdom. Shaivism was the preeminent religion of the Chola empire and was definitely reinforced by Rajaraja I and Rajendra I and these excellent Chola centers of religion as well as learning were mostly sculpted around Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram, and Darasuram.

All the three temples Airvatesvara, and both the Brihadisvaras’ are symbols of artistic magnificence and ingenuity of Cholas and their craftsmen. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Airavetesvara temple of Darasuram is built with a subtle balance almost like a fusion of intricate designing mingled with sculptural narrative plus exquisite carvings which are either small panels on its columns or depictions in large images in niches or recesses elaborately covering the entire temple.

Originally called Rajarajasvaram or Rajarajeshvara it was built by the Chola king Rajaraja II (1146-1173) who like his ancestors utilized his colossal wealth earned through his extensive conquests in building long-lasting stone temples and exquisite sculptures and you will find many still stand proudly articulating those glorious days. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

What does an Indian ratha or chariot signify as a temple? They seem to be symbolic to acts of valor and vanquishing evil by gods and hence metaphorically extending the same qualities to the mighty Kings who build those temples. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Ratha at Airavatesvara Temple has been designed to represent the entire cosmos - a divine ratha used by Tripuratanka who is a manifestation of Shiva. The chariot plays an important role in Tripura dahana, the three cities reduced to ashes by Tripuratanka. 

Or The ratha of Surya in Konark temple - symbolic of Surya, the Sun god traveling the entire earth in 24 hours daily drawn by seven horses traversing emitting light of life.

Or Arjuna's ratha built by Vishvakarma as mentioned in Rigveda a ratha that was capable of conquering all directions - Ved Vyasa has detailed Arjuna’s ratha with its Kapi Dhvaja in Mahabharata during the Khandava vana period of their life - Agni Dev gifted the Ratha to Arjun to help him burn down Khandava vana.

The polished black basalt sculpture of Ardhanareeshwara at Airavatesvara temple - in a rare three faced manifestation.

Ardhanārīśwara image personifies 'Creation of Life' as it manifests equally split male and female principles of Hindu deities Siva and Parvati (Uma or Shakti) or blending force and grace that procreates life.

How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Lingodbhava at Airavatesvara Temple is a form of Rudra-Siva that erupts as a never-ending pillar of light - in this frame we have Gods Brahma and Vishnu offering their prayers with an Anjali mudra. In a way a flaming pillar of shivlinga that doesn't have a beginning or end personifies the formless divine essence of Siva. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Gods Brahma and Vishnu had a dispute of who was greater - and as per mythology of Lingodbhava as mentioned in Linga Purana, Kurma Purana as well as Shiv Purana is that Siva appeared as a flaming pillar of indeterminate size and asked them to find either the beginning or the end. Vishnu took his boar - varaha and dived deeper to find the end of the flaming pillar whereas Brahma flew on his hamsa to find the beginning. Vishnu admitted to Shiva that he couldn’t find the end and as per the tale Brahma tricked Shiva with the help of Ketaki (a flower) that he did see the beginning of the flaming linga. Furious Siva at Brahma’s devious attempt = Shiva cursed Brahma that he will never be worshipped and the Keyaki flower met the same fate never to be allowed to be part of any prayer or worship..

Sculpture is that of Vinadhari form of Shiva and edged by leaping yalis.

As we explore the UNESCO listed Great Chola Temples it almost seems that Shiva has emerged with many forms with multiple personas be it Vinadhari as seen in this frame at Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram or forms that may be terrifying as sculptures of Bhairava or in serene form as Dakshinamurti.

How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

This particular frame is that of Uma and Mahesvara at Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Siva and Pārvatī have many forms and incarnations and in this graceful sculpture - Shiva is Maheshvara and Pārvatī as an incarnation or Uma, the daughter of Himavan who performed severe penance to marry Shiva. Together, Uma and Maheshvara signify an ideal married couple and are usually found with arms draped around each other.

The Cholas enjoyed and encouraged nritya and sangeet and their monuments especially temples apart from being spiritual beacons were cultural learning centers with their profuse panels and sculptures of dance and musical scenes - gods and ordinary people came alive sculpted in myriad karanas that left their visitors awestruck. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Frame is from Airavateshvara Temple in Darasuram Shiva performing urdhvatāṇḍava also known the ūrdhvatāṇḍavamūrti - Shiva enacted this Urdhava karaṇa to defeat Kali in a dance competition which was designed especially to calm Kali's fury after the ferocious goddess had brutally killed Asura's Sumbha and Nisumbha. Once the competition began witnessed not just by the sages, wild animals and birds in the Thiruvalangadu forest - Vishnu, Brahma and devas joined to witness this divine event. As Nataraja and Kali danced all were lost as the Damaru whirled and each matched the other to its hypnotic beats. The mesmerizing tandav was a fusion of raw power - just than Shiva's energetic movement caused him to drop the tatanka from his ear - in a seamless gesture without missing a beat Natesha picked up the errant tatanka with his toes and inserted it back in the ear - his uplifted leg pointing towards the sky and he continued holding his Urdhava Tandava posture gazing intently at Kali - one look at Shiva's masculine stance and the goddess blushed, gently returning to her graceful feminine form.

Many types of Tandava are found in the Hindu Scriptures - when performed with ecstatic rasa or joy it is Ananda Tandava when performed in a violent rasa it is Raudra Tandava - others include Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samhara Tandava, Kali (Kalika) Tandava, Uma Tandava, Shiva Tandava, Krishna Tandava, Gauri Tandava and Urdhva Tandava.

Shiva Parvati carved in stone at the Airavateshvara at Darasuram near Kumbakonam in the Kaveri delta. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

All three temples Brihadisvara at Thanjavur, Brihadisvara at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavateshvara at Darasuram are ‘living’ temples today - basically meaning functional temples - note that they suffered an interrupted patterns of worship over centuries as indicated by its later inscriptions.

Though conforming to the traditions of Shilpa Shastra rules that were set centuries ago - the sculptors in Chola period worked with great freedom and this is best portrayed by a transformed narrative - one of Shiva’s form - dance here becomes a visual language to express victory over evil. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

The dark black basalt sculptures against the contrast of tones of brown granite in the Airavatesvara temple niches introduces or teaches visitors not only tenets of Shaivism but also showcases Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Representation of Nayanars at Airavatesvara marks the element of peace and tranquility as a sacred theme at Airavatesvara as compared to the heroic or victorious elements that were a core to the sculptural forms found in Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur and Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

Images of Saiva Nayanmar saints at Airavatesvara temple also provide ample proof of the importance of the saints of the time, and of the fact that their hymns were collected in the Thevaram at the time of Rajaraja Chola I. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Many such miniature panels at Airavateswara Temple some with inscriptions narrate stories linked with 63 Nayanmars or the great Shaivite saints displaying the Chola connect with Shaivism over generations. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Rishaba Kunjaram at Airavtesvara Temple may be the oldest examples of illusions in art. The sculpture depicts both a bull and an elephant with a single head and different bodies - a sculptural illusion of the Chola era where depending on the direction of your darshan you will see either a bull or elephant. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Garbha Griha of Airavatesvara temple with its elaborately embellished pillars and classic sculptures is enshrined with shiva-linga that is illuminated by natural light.

The main deity of Airavatesvara temple of Darasuram is called as Rajarajesvaram-udayar, as the temple was built by Rajaraja II - in a way elevating the ruling king to divinity. Similar to the Chola tradition - Sivalinga at Brihadisvara at Gangaikondachola is referred to as Gangaikondachola Isvara or the God of Gangaikindacola (Chola who conquered the Ganga) How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Raja-gambhiran tiru-mandapam named after Rajaraja II was conceptualised as Tripurantaka’s ratha being pulled by animated galloping horses and vivacious elephants. Many elements of the celestial Tripurantaka ratha are carved in stone - explore Prithvi as the Chariot, Brahma as Charioteer, Sun and Moon as the Chariot Wheels, Mount Meru as a Bow, Bow String is Vasuki and Vishnu as the Arrow.

The front base has carved panels illustrating Siva fighting the tripuras from his chariot, Shiva as Kalantaka protecting the son of Mrikandu from Yama, Siva annihilating Kama who dared to shoot a passion arrow from his flowery bow, Virabhadra destroying Daksha’s yagna…

This mandapa has 108 brilliantly and elaborately covered Pillars and you cannot miss the expressive yali’s (a mythical creature usually sculpted on pillars depicting lion, elephant, horse, serpent - Yali’s are protectors symbolising strength, power, ferociousness…) How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Exquisitely embellished pillars at the Airavateswara temple at Darasuram are a classic example of Chola art and architecture. Pillars narrate scenes from Puranas and other epics - and the rectangular portions illustrate stories of Shaivite saints, Parvati performing penance, Burning of Manmatha or Kama, Shiv Parvati’s marriage, birth of Kumara…

Many pillars have purely decorative patterns that include circular medallions and graceful creepers holding within the, figures holding dance postures or playing an array of musical instruments. The ceiling at Airavateswara temple is well decorated with patterns too.

How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Rajaraja Chola I titled as Rajakesari Arumolivarman (985-1014 CE) ruled for about three decades with unmatched war victories both with foreign countries and across India was also well known for his administrative skills, proponent of art and literature, and his religious tolerance. His successor Rajendra Chola I (1012-44 CE), was as brilliant and the Chola dynasty reached its zenith during his rule - well known as the most extensive, powerful and influential Hindu kingdom of its time.

Rajaraja I ensured that all transactions pertaining Brihadisvara temple in Thanjavur would be recorded and much of the important notes inscribed on temple walls, columns or steps. His successors continued the good practice thus in a way creating a preserved official record lasting for centuries and these delivered apart from accounting all transactions also a detailed chronological history of each king’s rule.

How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram by air? Which is the nearest airport to Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?
Tiruchirappalli International Airport is the nearest airport to Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram and it is at a distance of about 89 km.

How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?
Airavatesvar temple at Darasuram is near the city of Kumbakonam and the distance between Kumbakonam Railway Station and Airavatesvar temple at Darasuram is about 5 km.

Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram by road
Airavatesvara is at a distance of about 38 km from from Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur
Airavatesvara is at a distance of about 39 km from Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Airavatesvara is at a distance of about 83 km from Chidambaram
Airavatesvara is at a distance of about 301 km from Chennai

The best time to visit Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram is between November to February as the climate is much cooler.

Vasuki, the king of Nagas in an Anjali mudra at Airavatesvara Temple - Anjali means to offer and being an avid devotee of Shiva, Nagaraja is offering his prayers to receive blessings from Shiva. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?

Nagaraja literally means King of Snakes and is applied to Anantha or Shesha nag, Takshak, and Vasuki and all three are brothers as they are children of Kashyap rishi and Kadru. Whilst Anantha the eldest is a devotee of Vishnu - Vasuki the youngest is an ardent devotee of Shiva - whereas Takshak represents the venomous aspect of why we should fear snakes.

Apart from pillars - even the base of the main Airavatesvara temple is covered with carvings that narrate the legends of the Nayanars. These sixty three saints of Shiva greatly influenced the Bhakti Movement in Tamil Nadu and reflect the deep roots of Saivism. How to reach Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram?