Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram – Inscriptions
There are various inscriptions in the temple. One of
these records the renovation of the shrines by Kulottunga Chola III.
The north wall of the verandah consists of 108
sections of inscriptions, each containing the name and description and image of
the 63 Saivacharya (Saivite saints) listing the principal events in their
life. This reflects the deep roots of Saivism in this region.
Other important sculptures of the temple are the 108
Devara Othuvars who sung in the temple during the time of Raja Raja II. There
are sculptures for river goddesses like Cauvery, Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari and
Narmada.
Another inscription close to the gopura, records
that an image was brought from Kalyani, then known as Kalyanapura by emperor Rajadhiraja Chola I after his defeat of the Western
Chalukya king Someswara I,
his sons Vikramaditya VI and Someswara II his capture of the Chalukyan
capital.
Volume II of the South Indian Temple Inscriptions deals
with a number of endowments of the Pandya
Kings also (see pages 556
to 562). On the temple walls these inscriptions are given, from which it is
seen that the temple was known in those days as Raja Rajeswararen and Raja Rajapuram. Two such inscriptions are copied here.
Inscription No. 563 at page 557 & No. 23 of 1908 on
the inner Gopura of the temple, right of entrance, Record dated in the 10th
Year, Tai 11, of the reign of the Pandya King Maravarman alias Tribhuvana
Chakravartin Srivallabhadeva registering the provision made for repairs and for
celebrating festivals in the temple of XXXI Ra (ja) ra (ja) isuram
Udaiyanayanar, by the residents of Uttattur-nadu, a sub-division of
Kulottunga-valanadu.
Inscription No. 564 at page 558, Record dated in the
31st Year, Makara, Ba. Dvitiya, Uttarashada (probably a mistake for
Uttaraphalguna) of the reign of the Chola king Tribhuvana chakravartin Sri Rajarajadeva
registering the grant of land (Irandu Ma mukkani araikkani) 23/160 of a veli to
meet the expenses of worship, offerings, etc., to the God by a native of
Peruchchalipuram, a village in Kilar-kurram, a sub-division of
Pandyakulapati-valanadu.
