Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram – Periyanayaki Amman
Shrine
A separate temple dedicated to Airavateshvara’s consort
Devanayaki Amman (also called Periyanayaki Amman) stands next to the temple, in
its own enclosure. It wasn’t a part of the original plan, but was built by
Rajaraja II’s successor, Kulothunga III, and modified extensively in the Nayaka
period. This temple marked the beginning of the practice of building shrines
dedicated to the Goddess as Lord Shiva’s wife, and not just another attendant
deity.
Adjacent to Airavatesvara is a shrine to Devi,
contemporary with the main temple. Dedicated to Parvati or Deivanayaki Amman,
the outer prakara-wall of the shrine measures about 70 m west - east and 30 m
north-south.
Essentially the same as the main temple, its Vimana has
three tiers, its niches contain Devi images and it exhibits features which
place it among the Amman shrines of a slightly later period. At the entrance,
balustrade-decoration of yalis with riders on either sides are fine works of
art. Some lattice-window carvings are also worthy of note.
The gargoyle, which presents a dwarf gana in quaint pose
and functions both to receive water into the cell and carry it out, is
interesting. The tiny dance-figures in the lattice-windows and the naga-decoration
are particularly remarkable. The maha-dvara is partially conserved; its empty
niches bear inscriptions naming the thirty-six deities they once contained.
The profusion of dance and musical scenes in both
shrines cannot but attract the visitor's attention. The Chola kings were great
patrons of dance and music, and even the slightly later gopurams at
Chidambaram, with their dance-figures that illustrate the various sthanas and
karanas of Bharata's Natya-Sastra, bear out this exuberance of natya-figures in
the embellishment of the temples.
Special Poojas are conducted on Navarathri days and on every
Fridays.
