EXPERIENCING THE GLORIOUS PAST
Vivilia. D | I MA ENGLISH
As the famous
quote says, "Architecture is the biggest unwritten document of
History". On these lines, I wanted to choose something unique for my
presentation, and so I chose one of the oldest Chola temples built over 1100
years ago, that is located quite near my home.
This
temple has its own uniqueness. I thought of introducing this
beautiful stately and elevated Temple to my well-being as I was amazed by
seeing it.
The temple’s
name is ‘Dheenupuriswarar Temple’. It was once called as ‘Sittraerinadhar
Temple’. It is located in Madambakkam.
This temple was built by the Chola king ‘Sundara Chola (Parantaka Chola II)’, father of Raja Raja Chola I. The temple was built between 956-973 AD. The Cholas built their temples in their traditional way of Pallava Dynasty, Dravidian style. This temple is conserved and restored under the 'Archaeological Survey of India'.
My friends
and myself – we went to this temple in my car. It was a very drizzling moist
and chill evening. It felt like our travel was going from a suburb to a
village. We were deceived by the Google timings of the temple and went an hour
early before the temple could open. We parked our car and started to view
the temple pond. It was so fresh and filled with trees around it.
We were quite astonished on seeing the location of the temple. We felt the fresh air from the huge trees and the pond. It made us to relax our mind from our hectic week-long work.
It was a
bad day for me as I and my father met with a minor accident
even though I was wounded physically, I somehow wanted to go to the temple and
finish my documentary, but the climate and the fresh breeze changed my mindset
and took me to me to the glorious past. The pond was so huge. We took some
clips of the pond and entered the temple as a clock strike to 5.
It was a
temple without ‘Gopuram’ (entrance of Hindu temple), it was so strange to see a
temple without Gopuram.
The temple
had a huge wooden entrance door which welcomed us. We
entered the temple facing the huge Kodimaram (sacred pole) of the temple,
it was under renovation.
Then we entered the 'Nuzhaivayal'(entrance). We were so amazed and confound by the sculptures in the pillars of the temple. A number of fine inscriptions and sculptures dating to Chola Dynasty are also preserved.
We saw the sculptures of Lord Sarabeswara, Lord Vinayaka with Veena, Lord Muruga on his elephant holding his cock on one hand, Brahma worshipping Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva sitting on the snake Vasuki, Lord Dakshinamurthy with his consort, Sri Hanuman worshipping Raman, Brahma with his five faces, and also a 'kalvettu'( inscription). These sculptures were visual treat to our eyes.
Then we saw a huge Olden
temple bell hanged in sculptured karungal pillar (black stone).
Next we
saw a 'Annadhanam Kudam’, it provided free food for
poor people. It was offered by the devotees or by the temple. Then we went
around the temple and we could find many unique sculptures. There were many
'Balipidam' (place to offer food for God) around the temple.
We also
saw Nandi and Elephant sculptures near the 'Nuzhaivuvayal'. We
also saw the cornerstone with some inscription on it. Then we entered the
temple's 'Mandappam' (hall). My friend said they usually the ‘Mandappam’ kept
closed except the festival times, else it will be covered with the cloth.
Then we
saw the 'Anaya Vizhaku'(traditional Pooja lamp covered at
the top, which can be lit for longer hours) showcase in a glass Steel
stand. Next was the place where 'Dheenu' (Cow) is worshiped, the reason behind this
huge Temple.
We
interviewed a native of that place he was an old Shiva
bakthan, he gave us the history and the myth behind this Temple. It was King
Shantanu Chola's ‘Asvamegham Yathra’; he sends his horse, by seeing ‘Kapila’
Maharishi's meditation it stopped.
This
was misunderstood by the king and he brought his army
to wage war against Sage Kapila. Kapila destroys his opponent with its
meditational power after destroying meditates to Lord Shiva to give him 'saba
vimoksha' (to relieve from his curse). He mistakenly holds Lord Shiva
Lingam in his left hand Lord Shiva turns Kapila maharishi into an 'Karapasu' (a
type of cow which is considered auspicious in Hindu religion, it took only medicinal
plant and herbs for its meal , it is completely black in colour).
This
Karapasu always pours its milk on a mounted soil. One day
the Yadhavar sees this, in anger he hits the cow with the stone, the stone hit's
on the cow and falls on the 'Suyambu Lingam' mounted under the soil. The
Karapasu cries out loud in pain and blood.
The
pond turned into blood. Then Lord Shiva gives Kapila the 'saba
Vimoksha'. Then he also said the worship of ‘Lord Sarbaswarar’ started
when a blind sage from Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mailapur told the sithar's to
worship Sarbeshwara, an unique and unseen Avatar of Lord Shiva, from then the
temple is also famous for ‘Sarbeshwara Pooja’ on Sundays.
Then we entered the ‘Karuvarai’ (sanctum). It is the womb Chamber of the entire Temple and it was small in size. The Pujari was performing his Poojas for ‘Mulavar- Dheenupureswarar’ and ‘Thayar-Dhenukambal’.
The Suyambu
Lingam (self manifested Lingam) is present inside the
karuvarai. It is too small in size (6 inches tall and three finger size bottom).
It bears the scar caused by the cow's rare leg and also the stone attack, one
of the uniqueness of this temple.
‘The Main
Sanctum’- Gajabrishtam (sitting of an elephant's hip
position) in shape. It is also termed as apsidal, was also the uniqueness
of this temple. We can also see others Sanathies (shrine) like Lord
Vinayaga Perumal, Lord Muruga Perumal, Durgai Amman and Kala Bairavar.
We also
saw old bronze lamps. We saw a beautiful creative
architect of a pipe from Lord Dheenupuriswarar; the devotees get their
blessings from their lord through the outlet pipe from the Karuvarai.
We came
out of the sanctum, once more we went around the temple
to see the 'ther vehicle' (the temple car). There were two ther vehicles one
was old used during the kings time and the other one is present use.
The temple
was very apt to the quote "Architecture should
speak of its time and place but yearn for timelessness". I was stunned by
the magnificent architecture of Chola Dynasty. I had no mind or heart to leave
that majestic of the temple. We picked many pictures and memories. Our unexpected
plan turned to be a heart filled and satisfied exploration with my buddies. This
experience adds to my exploration in architecture of ancient India.