Airavateswarar Temple Dharasuram | Kumbakonam Airavateswarar Temple

Arulmigu Airavateswarar Temple

The Airavatesvara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in Darasuran town close to Kumbakonam. The temple was built in the twelfth century CE by Rajaraja Chola II who was on the throne somewhere in the range of 1146 and 1172 CE. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Presiding Deity is called Airavatesvarar and Goddess is PeriyaNayaki Amman. According to legend, Airavata, the trinket of Indra and King of Death, Yama, worshipped Lord Siva in this temple. Hence the Lord got this name.

Architecture

The temple shows with all due regard Saktham and Vaishnavism customs of the religion of Hinduism along with the legends identified with the Nayanars. The classification of this temple has an intriguing foundation. According to Hindu Purana, the elephant of Lord Indra, Airavata got reviled by sage Durvasa for showing a lack of regard for him by thrashing the Garland adorned by Goddess Parvati. Because of this revile, a skin discoloration happened to the elephant which has just got relieved by taking a dunk in the consecrated water of Airavatesvarar. 

The engineering wonder of this temple is exceptionally complicated and brilliant having models and canvases on dividers. It bears declaration of the extraordinary engineering splendor of the then specialists. There is just no rejecting that the temple is a not-to-miss one for every strict individual and furthermore for those having extraordinary interest ever. The temple is loaded with an epigraph and uncommon figures which dig into the historical backdrop of Rajaraja Chola. Irrespective of the way that this temple is nearly more modest than any other temples of Great Living Chola Temples, in any case, there is basically no uncertainty over the way that it has undeniably more perplexing figures. With the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) keeping up and caring for this temple rather splendidly, it has to be sure become a top place of interest for clear reasons.

The divinity's associate, Periya Nayaki Amman, has her temple arranged close to this temple. It is known as a storage facility of workmanship and design with a vimana of 85 feet high and front mandapam of an immense chariot and some choice stone carvings. 

Significance of Temple

The Cholas constructed many Hindu temples across their territories. Of these, four were tremendous buildings with all stone vimanas. The Airavatesvara temple is one of these four. The other three are the temple found in Thanjavur worked by Rajaraja I, in Gangaikonda Cholapuram worked by Rajendra I, and in Tribuvanam by the later period Chola ruler Kulottunga II.

Temple Timings & Address

The temple remains open from 6 am to 7 pm.

Address

Arulmigu Airavatheeswarar Temple
Pateeswaram to Kumbakonam road,
Thanjavur district, Dharasuram - 612001.