My Journeys In India: Darasuram Temple

January 8, 2015

Darasuram Airavatesvara Temple

Distance and Route Details

From Kumbakonam - 4 Kms
From Thanjavur (Tanjore) - 36 Kms
Route: On the Kumbakonam to Thanjavur main Road.

Temple Timings

Opening hours: 7AM till 12PM and 5PM till 8PM

Note: Local guide is available on request. Charges approx Rs.200/=. Contact the priest or temple office. He can explain the story and describe each carvings/sculptures in detail.

History

Airavat means white elephant. This is constructed by Rajaraja Chola-II in 12th century. This is also a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. King Indra's vahana the white elephant worshiped Lord Shiva here and hence the name. Refer Wiki which has some more details.

The main tower is 80 feet in height. There is a big mantap which is in the form of a chariot with large stone wheels and drawn by horses. The pillars in this mantap have intricate carvings.

Surrounding the inner sanctum, there are small oil lamps made on stone in round shape. It seems that those days, water was filled around the inner sanctum and these oil lamps are lightening up the whole temple. (Refer the photo below).

Sthala Virutcham

Vilvam tree or Wood Apple (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegle_marmelos) is the sthala-virutcham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sthala_Vriksha) of this temple.

Stay / Food options

Refer my other post on Gangaikonda Cholapuram which has the details and tips on trip planning.

Nearby Temples

1. Gangaikonda Cholapuram
2. Patteeswaram
3. Thiruvaiyaru
4. Poondi Madha Basilica - Catholic pilgrimage centre near Thiruvaiyaru
5. Thanjavur / Tanjore - Brihadeeswarar Temple
6. Kumbakonam Temples
7. Chidambaram

Now lets move onto the photos

Note: All the images are copyrighted. Click on the image to zoom and see details.

Darasuram Inner Temple View

Darasuram Nagarajan

Darasuram - Acrobat Rolling ball by two persons and they are rolled over by persons on sides

Darasuram Arthanareswarar

Darasuram Brahma

Darasuram Chariot Mantap with Stone wheels drawn by Horses

Another view of Darasuram Chariot Mantap with Stone wheels drawn by Horses

Darasuram Paintings - Amazingly the color is still there.

Darasuram Main Entrance View

Darasuram Husband Wife Fight

Darasuram Inner Prakaram View

Darasuram Kalabhairava

Darasuram Mantap View

Darasuram Nandi View

Darasuram Narasimha

Darasuram Ornated Pillar

Darasuram pillars

Darasuram Inner Prakaram

Darasuram Oil Lamps (round shaped, you need to zoom to see this) and place where the water is filled surrounding the inner sanctum to brighten up the temple in nights.