History, Importance, Timings, Architecture, Festivals, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Airavateswara Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India
The Airavateswara temple or Darasuram Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva located in a small town Darasuram just 3 km from Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Airavateswara temple was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list of Great Living Chola Temples in the year 2004 along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjuvur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. This temple is the one of the eighteen medieval era Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam area. Temple is popular as Darasuram Kovil or Airavateswarar Kovil in local people and previously deity named as Rajarajeswarar.
The stone temple has many chariot structures and it includes Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, Saptamrikas, Durga, Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Ganga, Yamuna, Subhramanyu, Ganesha, Kama, Rati and so many. Shiva’s consort dedicated Shrine is called Periya Nayaki Amman Temple. Today this temple is exactly north to the main temple. This might have been a part of the main temple when the temple was complete. At present gopurams and complex is ruined.
The great Dravidian Architecture style temple was built during 12th century by great Chola king Rajaraha II. The temple was much larger than today, as the gopurams, the complex were all destroyed but still court, main shrine and other sanctum still stand today. It is said that temple has seven street and seven court same as the Srirangam Temple. The reason for destroying is very unclear today but there are several theories behind it, some says that it was attacked by Mughals in 14th century.
As per Hindu mythology, Airavata, Lord Indra’s Elephant used to worship Lord Shiva here. The Sage Durvasa cursed him for not respecting him and he disappeared into a discoloured elephant. The elephant got free from curse by taking a dip in the water of this temple. The temple tank is formerly called a yamateertham as it is believed that Yama, the king of death had also took a dip in this tank to be free from curse. This temple is well known as Airavatesvara Shiva temple from the white elephant of Lord Indra – Airavat.
The architectural marvel of this temple is highly intricate and wonderful which has sculptures, bronze casting and paintings on walls which presents the great architectural brilliance of the then artists. The Vimana of Airavateswara temple is five tiered and around 80 feet in height. Infront of main temple, same like other Shiva temple, you can see the Nandi Mandapam where small idol of Nandi – the Gatekeeper and Vehicle of Lord Shiva. Near the Nandi Mandapam, the musical stairs called Balipeetham is another key attraction and it is said that seven step correspond to seven music note which produce music if you tap or walking up or down. The temple complex is full of carvings and inscriptions depicting stories from the historical epics like Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas which is like the “Poetry in Stone”. The temple is mainly divided in four Mandapam – huge hall namely Rajagambhiran Thiru Mandapam, Rajagambhira Mandapam, Mookha Mandapam and Ardha Mandapm. The exquisite carvings and sculptures that adorn the entire temple structure are just so magnificent which attracts thousands of devotee and tourist across the world.
How to reach Airavateswara Temple or Darasuram Temple, Great Living Chola Temple, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India
Airavateswara temple is just at a distance of 5kms from Kumbakonam. You can easily hire taxi/cab to reach your destination. The nearest Railway Station is Kumbakonam Railway Station at a distance of 7kms. The nearest Airport is Tiruchirappalli Airport at a distance of 87kms. As Kumbakonam is one of the major pilgrimage and tourist attraction of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu so it is very well connected with all major cities of India by Road, Rail and Air network. Tiruchirappalli international airport is the nearest at 90 lm from Kumbakonam from where you can get bus or cab to reach city easily. Kumbakonam has major railway station from where you can find trains to reach Bangalore, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, and various other cities. The road network is spread widely which connects to all major cities of Tamil Nadu via state and national highway and also regular buses are available for nearby cities, including Pondicherry and Trichy.
