Another place I ventured to, around Srirangam, was Srinivasanallur. The original name of the place is Mahendra Mangalam. Earlier this was a brick temple and Aditya Chola wanted this to be converted to a granite temple. However he couldn't do it in his reign and his son, Paranthaka Chola took it over and made his dad's wish come true in late 9th C.
The temple is a small temple, very similar to that of Gopurapatti temple. The Lord Shiva here is called Thirukkurakkutturai Perumanadigal according to the inscriptions. The upper part of the temple has been recently renovated just like how Kanchi Kailasanathar was renovated, or rather mindlessness in the name of renovation.
There is a foundation inscription along the lower band (adhishtanam) all around the temple.
The scroll details and the very intricate miniature works are a signature style of Paranthaka Chola. Infact, each and every one of these scrolls are unique, no 2 are similar!!! At some places, instead of minature scroll designs, there were some miniature dancing girls too!!!
Another fantastic feature here is the Yaali (mythical creatre) row. At all the corners is a Magaram (crocodile shaped mythical creature) with its mouth open. Within this open mouth are some soldiers and some even have a yaali!!! Excellent, right???!!!!!
Its an east facing temple. The west facing wall has Lord Brahma in it. However it was a sculpture placed here and not carved on the wall. Similarly the north has a highly corroded Dakshinmurthy(!) placed here and not carved on the wall.
However, my favourite thing, in this temple was the south facing wall and the incredibly beautiful Dakshinamurthy compositions sculpted in a high relief here! Remember the Dakshinamurthy of Gopura Patti, this was was several times better than that! The moment I saw it I was reminded of the Dakshinamurthy Fresco in the Thanjavur Brahadeeswara Temple. The detailing was that good! Here's that fresco.
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| Source: http://www.indian-heritage.org/ |
Every detail of that fresco, the snake, the monkey, the owls, the fabric, the rudraksha bead chain, the bag, everything is present in the sculpture as well!
And then the details on the side. Remember the Dakshinamurthy at Kanchi Kailasantha temple. Every being there is here as well - the 2 people in rick sack like outfit, the lions, the seated devotees, the bootha ganas, everything!!!
The Makara Thoranam too was very intricate. Between the 2 Makara in the side and centre are 4 soldiers seated on lions! I really couldn't get enough of this panel.
Atop another goshtam, was another equally beautiful Makara Thoranam, which has similar Makaram and lions and exactly at the centre was a very small miniature of Vishnu as Varaham with Lakshmi on his lap!
Another extremely beautiful aspect of this temple is the dwarapalas. On either sides of all Goshtams were 2 dwarapalas. They were so elegant. And their posture was something that I've never seen anywhere else, so far. They were too very elegant. Again they weren't facing the viewer. They were all slightly at an angle from the plane, to face the God at the centre!
TO REACH THERE:
From Karur: 47km via Puliyur, Kulithalai
From Trichy: 49 km via Srirangam, Musiri
Google co-ordinates: 10.973421,78.388723
Dedicated to Prof. Swamination and co...
Super..another temple I havent heard abt in trichy :(. If you read tiruarangan ula & madura vijayam..you'll get the history behind many Vishnu temples starting from Srirangam till Tirupathi and every ancient temple in between
ReplyDeleteThanks Sayuri! I glanced through Tiruvarangan Ula and Koil Olugu. Its too complicated and too detailed!!! I just know the basics! :)
DeleteTHANK U SO MUCH M/S BHUSHAVALI. its time to appreciate your best job. its my native place. you are the most memorable person in the world for me, because you are the only reason for the world talks about my native place.
Deleteemail- civilvinoth7@gmail.com
fb id-vino dine
lovely!! yet another temple to add to my trichy list!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anu! Do visit. I'd love to read your perspective on the place! :)
DeleteNice to read about these less frequented temples with amazing architecture. Good job Bhusha.
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Thank you so much Niranjan! :)
DeleteI liked the fine details of your photography and the content. Thank you for posting would love to visit this place some day.
ReplyDeletecheers
Glad you liked Vinod! Happy to have your comment on my blog! Do visit here someday! :)
DeleteFeeling ashamed! Despite having lived here for more than a decade in Trichy, I've not explored these places. Another must see place during my next visit to Trichy!
ReplyDeleteOh.... Its ok... Do visit here on the next trip!!!
DeleteThe top thoranam you show has a belly-faced gana on its right side. Otherwise, great series! My feeling is that if you are only able to visit 3 temples for sculpture in the Trichy/Thanjavur area, they should be: Srinivasanallur, Pullamangai & Kodumbalur.
ReplyDeleteYes. There is! Thank you so much for the appreciation Injamaven!
DeleteAnd so true. I'm yet to visit Pullamangai!! :(
Great account and fabulous pics from this amazing temple. The sculptures are so beautiful and intricate in details.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Ram Sir! :)
Deletebeautiful sculptures... beautifully captured...
ReplyDeletethanks
Thanks Krishna! :)
DeleteVery nicely explained and great images
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sunil! Do visit often! :)
DeleteExcellent description! Thanks
ReplyDeleteBlue water marvel phi-phi islands: http://keigetswings.blogspot.in/2013/02/day-5-day-trip-to-phi-phi-islands.html
Thank you so much Keisakura!
DeleteDo visit often! :)
Beautiful craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Thanks for stopping by! :)
Deletenice capture btw
ReplyDeleteThanks Sathish! :)
DeleteThanks for being so kind with lesser known temples. It is a delight to learn about them.
ReplyDeleteIts my pleasure PNS Sir! Glad you liked the post! :)
DeleteIt's been a long time since I checked out ur blog, have missed so much & have a lot of catching upto do :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog still remains a treasure trove of information.
Thank you Sathish! Long time? Its very, very long! Where have you been!
Deleteभारत भूमि में ऐसे हजारों सुन्दरतम इतिहास भरे हुए है।
ReplyDeleteSo true! A life is not enough to see each and every ancient temple in each village of India!
DeleteTHANKS THIS IS MY NATIVE PLACE
ReplyDeleteFine scrutiny .even gvt authorities don't care to detail what is proscribed here.they should make it a living temple for the public who are hard working on the soil to increase civic food productivity and nat.income by an investituture for regular worship poosanai in,the model of imperial cholas -,pallava modalities.like the Brigatheeswar -a grand one which even they dont further care to shield it and protect with western techno-archeological.updates,-howevehowever, emanated from a" kilavi karkkulathu mahadevar"into a stupendous monument by latter Imperial cholas,as a Prototype from this kurukuthurai parantaga Perumanadigal( to say, in that same version ,"Pragatheeswar or Peruvudaiyar or Adigal"!
ReplyDelete