Airavatesvara temple, located near Kumbakonam in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is a wonderful Hindu temple, a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. The temple was built in the 12th century by the great Chola king, Rajaraja Chola II. It is listed by UNESCO as "Great Living Chola Temples" along with the Brihadeeshwara Temple in Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Airavatesvara temple is one of the eighteen important medieval Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam region dedicated to Shiva. The temple displays the devotion of the Nayanmar saints belonging to various traditions of Hinduism, such as Vaishnavism, Shaktism and the Saivite Bhakti movement.
The main attraction of this temple is the stone chariot structure, carved with the idols of Vedic and Puranic deities such as Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, Saptamatrikas, Durga, Saraswati, Sri Devi (Lakshmi), Ganga, Yamuna, Subrahmanya, Ganesha, Kamadeva, Rati and others. Located to the north of the temple is a separate temple called the Periya Nayaki Amman Temple, dedicated to Shiva's wife. It is believed that the outer courtyard must have been a part of the main temple when it was completed, though it is currently set as a separate temple.
Some parts of the temple, such as the gopuram (main gateway), are now in ruins, while the main temple and other shrines attached to it now stand alone. The temple has two sun clocks - one for morning and the other for evening, which can be seen as the wheels of the chariot. The temple hosts special festivals and rituals every year in the month of Magha, which maintains its cultural and religious significance.
Airavatesvara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shiva is known as Airavatesvara here because it is believed that Airavata, the white elephant of Indra, worshipped Lord Shiva in this temple. According to legend, Airavata was saddened by the change in his colour due to the curse of sage Durvasa. He regained his original colour by bathing in the holy waters of this temple. The inner chamber of the temple has an image of Indra sitting on Airavata, which symbolizes this legend.
Moreover, Yamaraja, the god of death, is also said to have worshipped Shiva here. According to tradition, Yama was suffering from a burning sensation caused by a sage's curse and was cured by the blessings of Lord Airavatesvara. He bathed in the holy tank of the temple and this tank came to be known as "Yamatheertham".
This temple is a treasure trove of art and architecture. The uniqueness of Chola craftsmanship is evident in every carving and construction of the temple. Though this temple is smaller in size than the Brihadeeshwara Temple and Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple of Thanjavur, its carvings and designs are more intricate and beautiful. This temple is said to have been built for Nitya-Vinod i.e. continuous entertainment.
The main shikhara or vimana of the temple is about 24 meters high. The southern part of its front mandapam is made in the form of a huge stone chariot, which is shown to be pulled by horses. There is also a group of buildings with beautiful carvings in the courtyard of the temple, in which a Balipeeth with the image of Ganesha has been constructed.
The stairs located in the courtyard of the temple are also amazing. Various musical sounds are produced on these stairs, which displays the magic of Chola architecture.
Apart from Lord Shiva, Airavatesvara temple also has a temple of his wife Periya Nayaki Amman, which is located to the north of the main temple. It may have been a part of the temple, but now it stands as a separate temple.
Many inscriptions are also found in the temple. These inscriptions mention the renovation of the temple by Chola king Kulothunga III. The names of Shivacharyas and the main events of their lives are also engraved in 108 sections in these inscriptions.
This temple was included in the list of "Great Chola Living Temples" by UNESCO in 2004. Along with the Airavatesvara temple, this list also includes the Brihadeeshwara Temple of Thanjavur and the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple. All these temples were built by the Chola kings between the 10th and 12th centuries. These temples are not only excellent examples of architecture, but they also reflect the religious and cultural splendor of the Chola empire.
The Airavatesvara temple is a precious gem of Indian culture, art and architecture. This temple not only reflects the greatness of Dravidian architecture, but through it we also get a glimpse of the religious and cultural traditions of that time. Visiting this ancient temple of Tamil Nadu is a unique experience, which embodies a unique confluence of history, religion and art.