'We interviewed a native of that place - an elderly Shiva baktha, who gave us the history and the myth behind this Temple'

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.