Aivar Koil, Kodumbalur – The
Temple
This temple follows the Panchayatana style of architecture. Panchayatana is an architectural style where the main shrine is built on a common plinth with four smaller subsidiary shrines at the four corners and making it a total of five shrines. Perhaps, this temple is the only one of its kind in Tamilnadu or even in South India. This temple is facing towards west. Nandi can be seen facing the Sanctum on the western side.
The Sanctum Sanctorum consisted of Sanctum, Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam. The Sanctum contains an inner sanctum enclosed by a narrow circular prakaram, against the square outer walls of which are four attendant shrines. All the five shrines have a common base or plinth, and now contain only the broken pedestals of lingams.
The lingam in the central shrine is larger than those in the sub shrines. The plinth of the Ardha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam can be seen in front of the sanctum. The plinth is lower than that of the main shrine. The Ardha Mandapam was a closed structure while the Maha Mandapam was supported by sixteen pillars and had a veranda all round.
Two flights of steps, one on the north and the other on the south, leads to the Ardha Mandapam, and two others to the circumambulatory passage of the central shrine. The subsidiary shrines at the four corners have also flights of steps to access the respective shrines. Carvings of Bhooda Ganas blowing the conch can be seen on the railings of the steps. All the shrines housed Shiva Lingas only.
Friezes of dwarfs & elephant, bulbous tops of polygonal pillars, corbels and corner pieces of the cornice, an idol of Durga with four arms, four armed Vishnu, dvarapalas and architectural fragments can be seen in the temple complex. There is an ancient circular stone well to the south of the main temple.
Inscriptions:
There are two inscriptions discovered in this
temple dating back to the reign of Rajaraja Chola I. Both these
inscriptions talk about the gifts made for keeping perpetual lamps burning.
