{{Short description|12th-century Chola Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox religious building | image = A different view of Airavatesvara Temple.jpg | native_name = ஐராவதேசுவரர் கோயில் | caption = The main temple | location = [[Kumbakonam]], India | coordinates = {{coord|10.9484|79.3567|format=dms}} | area = <!-- {{convert|...|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} or similar with other units recommended --> | map_type = Tamil Nadu#India | map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]##Location in India | religious_affiliation = [[Hinduism]] | deity = [[Shiva]] | module = | architecture = [[Chola art and architecture|Chola Architecture]] | inscriptions = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] | year_completed = 12th century AD | creator = [[Rajaraja II]] | website = | footnotes = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site | child = yes | official_name = | part_of = [[Great Living Chola Temples]] | criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (iii)}}(ii), (iii) | ID = 250-003 | year = 1987 | extension = 2004 }} }} '''Airavatesvara Temple''' is a [[Hindu temple]] of [[Chola architecture]] located in [[Darasuram]], a suburb of [[Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District]] in the South Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. This temple, built by [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] emperor [[Rajaraja Chola II|Rajaraja II]] in the 12th century [[Common Era|CE]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], along with the [[Brihadeeswara Temple]] at Thanjavur, the [[Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram|Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple]] at Gangaikonda Cholapuram that are referred to as the [[Great Living Chola Temples]].<ref name=unesco>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250/ |title=Great Living Chola Temples|publisher= UNESCO World Heritage Centre|year=2004|access-date=28 November 2015}}</ref>
The Airavatesvarar temple is one among a cluster of eighteen medieval era large [[Hindu]] temples in the [[Kumbakonam]] area, [[Thanjavur District]].<ref>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1992]], pp. 349-350</ref> The temple is dedicated to Shiva. It also reverentially displays [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Shaktism]] traditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with [[Nayanars|Nayanmars]] – the [[Bhakti movement]] saints of Shaivism.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-245}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Indira Menon|title=Rhythms in Stone, The Temples of South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ym17YA_jhCgC&pg=PA118|year=2013|publisher=Ambi|isbn=978-81-903591-3-9|page=118}}</ref>
The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, and includes major Vedic and Puranic deities such as [[Indra]], [[Agni]], [[Varuna]], [[Vayu]], [[Brahma]], [[Surya]], [[Vishnu]], [[Saptamatrikas]], [[Durga]], [[Saraswati]], Sri devi ([[Lakshmi]]), [[Ganga (goddess)|Ganga]], [[Yamuna in Hinduism|Yamuna]], [[Subrahmanya]], [[Ganesha]], [[Kama]], [[Rati]] and others.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-234}} Shiva's consort has a dedicated shrine called the Periya Nayaki Amman temple. This is a detached temple situated to the north of the Airavateshvarar temple. This might have been a part of the main temple when the outer courts were complete. At present, parts of the temple such as the gopuram is in ruins, and the main temple and associated shrines stand alone.<ref name=ayyar351 /> It has two sun dials namely morning and evening sun dials which can be seen as wheels of the chariot. The temple continues to attract large gatherings of Hindu pilgrims every year during Magha, while some of the images such as those of [[Durga]] and [[Shiva]] are part of special ''pujas''.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-234}}<ref>{{cite book|author1=Pratapaditya Pal|author2=Stephen P. Huyler|author3=John E. Cort|display-authors=et al|title=Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NXolDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|year=2016 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-28847-8| page=65}}</ref>
==Location== [[File:Airavatesvara Temple full view.jpg|thumb|left|Entrance to the Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram]] The Airavatesvara Temple is located in [[Kumbakonam]] city, {{convert|310|km}} southwest of [[Chennai]] and {{convert|90|km}} from [[Chidambaram]]. It is about {{convert|40|km}} to the northeast to the [[Brihadeeswara Temple]] in [[Thanjavur]], and about {{convert|30|km}} to the southwest of [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple]]. All three are a part of the [[UNESCO]] world heritage site.<ref name=unesco/><ref name=asigcbt>[http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_cholabt.asp Great Living Chola Temples], Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India</ref>
The nearest airport with regular services is [[Tiruchirappalli International Airport]] (IATA: TRZ), about {{convert|90|km}} away.<ref>{{cite book|author=Ē. Kē Cēṣāttiri|title=Sri Brihadisvara: The Great Temple of Thānjavūr|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnXXAAAAMAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Nile|page=5}}</ref> The temple is on highway 22 connecting Tiruchirappalli, and highway 36 connecting it to Thanjavur. The nearby cities of Tiruchirapalli and Chidambaram are connected daily to other major cities by the network of Indian Railways and Tamil Nadu bus services.<ref name="road">{{cite web | url =http://www.nhai.org/Doc/project-offer/Highways.pdf | page =2 | title =NH wise Details of NH in respect of Stretches entrusted to NHAI | access-date =17 December 2011 | work =Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, [[Government of India]] | publisher =[[National Highways Authority of India]] | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090225142615/http://www.nhai.org/Doc/project-offer/Highways.pdf | archive-date =2009-02-25 | url-status =dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.municipality.tn.gov.in/thanjavur/city-routes.htm|title=Thanjavur bus routes|publisher=Municipality of Thanjavur|access-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617131259/http://www.municipality.tn.gov.in/thanjavur/city-routes.htm|archive-date=2013-06-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The temple though inland, is near the [[Kollidam River]], within the [[Kaveri]] (Cauvery) delta with access to the [[Bay of Bengal]] and through it to the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Marshall M. Bouton|title=Agrarian Radicalism in South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5-v_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA72|year=2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-5784-5|pages=72–78}}</ref>
==Nomenclature== The Airavatesvara Shiva temple has a water tank that has a connected channel that brings in water from the [[Kaveri|Cauveri]] River. Hindus gather annually to take a dip in the tank. The local mythology narrates how [[Airavata]], or Indra's white elephant was restored to clean, white skin after he took a dip in this tank. This legend is carved in stone in the inner shrine, and this Indra's elephant gives this temple its name.<ref name="Ayyar 1992, pp. 350-351">[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1992]], pp. 350-351</ref>
==Architecture == {{wide image|File:Airavatesvara Temple, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam ttkcvrvb122k23iph (451).jpg|1000px|Panoramic view of the courtyard and main temple of the Airavatesvara Temple}} [[File:"Architecture of World Heritage Monument Airavatesvara Temple".JPG|thumb|upright=0.65|left|A ''vimana'' or pyramidal tower inside the Airavatesvara Temple]] [[File:Chariot detail, Airavatesvara, Tamil Nadu.jpg|thumb|Chariot detail, Airavatesvara temple, Tamil Nadu.]] The [[Chola]]s built hundreds of Hindu temples across their empire. Of these four were vast complexes with made of stone ''[[Vimana (architectural feature)|vimanas]]'' (pyramidal towers).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of VIMANA |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vimana |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> Airavatesvara temple is one of these four temples and was built by [[Rajaraja II]].<ref name="unesco" /> It is classified as ''Karak Koil'', since it was designed after chariots - vehicles which were used in processions during festivals.<ref>{{cite book |last=Reddy |first=G.Venkatramana |title=Alayam - The Hindu temple - An epitome of Hindu Culture |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math |year=2010 |isbn=978-81-7823-542-4 |location=Mylapore, Chennai |pages=31–32}}</ref> The other three temples are found in [[Thanjavur]] built by Rajaraja I, [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] built by Rajendra I, and [[Kampaheswarar Temple, Thirubuvanam|Tribuvanam]] by Kulottunga II.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}}
The Airavatesvara temple is another square plan structure completed in 1166 CE.<ref name=michell91>{{cite book|author=George Michell|editor=Julia A. B. Hegewald and Subrata K. Mitra|title=Re-Use-The Art and Politics of Integration and Anxiety|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ZqHAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA91|year= 2012|publisher =SAGE Publications|isbn=978-81-321-0981-5|pages=91–93}}</ref> The surviving{{refn|group=note|The temple complex was seven fold larger. Much of it was destroyed in late 13th or early 14th century.<ref name="Ayyar 1992, pp. 350-351">[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1992]], pp. 350-351</ref>}} temple is enclosed by a compound wall that is approximately {{convert|107|m}} by {{convert|70|m}} with a ''nandi madapa'' and ''dhvajastambha'' found outside of the wall.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}} The main temple itself sits on a plinth that is 23 meters by 63 meters, and consists of the ''garbhagriha'' (inner sanctum), and three ''[[mandapa]]s'' - ''ardhamandapa'', ''mukhamandapa'' and ''agramandapa''.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}}
[[File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Sanctum sanctorum 3, India.jpg|thumb|''Sanctum sanctorum'']] The ''garbhagriha'' or inner sanctum is a {{convert|12|m|ft|adj=mid|-sided}} square, with thick walls on which the ''vimana'' (pyramidal tower) rises to a height of {{cvt|24|m}}. There is no circumambulatory path provided immediately around the inner sanctum; rather, it is outside in the courtyard.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}} The ''garbhagriha'' is connected to the ''mukhamandapa'' through the ''ardhamandapa'' supported on pillars and flanked by two massive ''[[Dvarapala|dvarapalas]]''.
The ''maha-mandapa'' is a rectangle of about {{convert|24|m}} by {{convert|18|m}}, with six rows of right pillars (forty-eight in total).{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}} These have reliefs and intricate carvings. Towards the east of the ''maha mandapa'' is the ''agra mandapa'' also called the ''Rajagambhiran-tiru-mandapam'' after the king.<ref name="unesco" />{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}} The ''agra mandapa'' hall is shaped like a chariot, with stone carvings of wheels and horses. The design is similar to the ''Nritta-sabha'' (community dance hall) of the Chidambaram temple and the [[Konark Sun Temple]] near Puri, Odisha.{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}}<ref>[[#Chaitanya|Chaitanya 1987]], p. 42</ref>
{{multiple image | align = centre | image1 = N-TN-C189 Airavatesvara Temple-Chariot- Like-Rajagambhira-Mandapam-Pulled-by-Horses.jpg | width1 = 250 | alt1 = | caption1 = The chariot-shaped ''agra-mandapam'', with pillars and Nandi on top. | image2 = Muha Mandapam Airavatesvara Temple.jpg | width2 = 230 | alt2 = | caption2 = The chariot wheel, the horse's head and body is ruined. | footer = }}
===Singing steps=== The ''agra mandapa'' has an attached square porch of {{convert|7|m}} side. It has ornately carved steps that go from east to west. On its east, outside the main podium, is the ''bali-pitham''. It is unusual, in that it is produced as intricately carved [[Baluster|balustraded]] steps, that produce a musical note. They are therefore called the "singing steps".<ref name=ayyar351>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1993]], p. 351</ref>{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=225-227}}<ref>{{cite book|author=K. M. Venkataramaiah|title=A Handbook of Tamil Nadu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2pAMAQAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=International School of Dravidian Linguistics|isbn=978-81-85692-20-3|page=283}}</ref>
===Sculpture=== [[File:PeriyaNayaki Darasuram.jpg|thumb|right|Periya Nayaki, a smaller shrine]] This temple is a storehouse of art and architecture and has some exquisite stone carvings. Although this temple is much smaller than the Brihadeesvara Temple or the Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, it is more exquisite in detail.<ref name=michell91/> The elevation and proportions of all the units is elegant with sculptures dominating the architecture.<ref name=unesco /> The pedestal of the ''[[Bali Pitham|Balipitha]]'' adjoins a small shrine which contains an image of [[Ganesha]].
The reliefs all along the base of the main temple narrate the stories of the sixty three Shaiva Bhakti saints called [[Nayanars]].<ref name=michell91/> These stories are found in the ''[[Periya Puranam|Periya Purana]]'' by [[Sekkilar]].<ref name="Harle1994p318">{{cite book|author=James C. Harle|title=The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent|url=https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl |url-access=registration|year=1994|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-06217-5|page=[https://archive.org/details/artarchitectureo00harl/page/318 318]}}</ref><ref name="Dehejia2010p106">{{cite book|author=Vidya Dehejia|title=Art of the Imperial Cholas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=23F7vTn3hBMC |year=2010|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-51524-5|pages=106–115}}</ref>
On the outer walls of the main sanctum are sculpture niches, five on each side, with the middle one larger than others. They show various Hindu deities, with the middle one of each side showing Shiva in different aspects.<ref name=michell91/>
===Other shrines=== [[File:N-TN-C189 Amman Shrine Airavatesvara temple Darasuram.jpg|thumb|right|Amman Shrine]] In the south-west corner of the court is a ''mandapam'' having 4 shrines. One of these has an image of Yama. Adjoining this shrine are large stone slabs sculptured with images of the ''sapthamathas'' (seven celestial nymphs).<ref name=ayyar351 /> The construction of a separate temple for Devi, slightly later than the main temple, indicates the emergence of the Amman shrine as an essential component of the South Indian temple complex.<ref name=unesco />
===Inscriptions=== [[File:"An inscriptions in Airavatesvara Temple".JPG|thumb|left|Inscription in Airavatesvara Temple]] There are various inscriptions in the temple. One of these records the renovation of the shrines by [[Kulottunga Chola III]].<ref name=ayyar353>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1993]], p. 353</ref> The north wall of the ''verandah'' consists of 108 sections of inscriptions, each containing the name and description and image of the 63 ''Saivacharya'' ([[Saivite]] saints) listing the principal events in their life.<ref name=ayyar353/><ref>[[#Chaitanya|Chaitanya 1997]], p. 40</ref><ref>[[#Vasudevan|Vasudevan]], p. 55</ref> This reflects the deep roots of Saivism in this region.<ref name=unesco/> Other important sculptures of the temple are the 108 Devara Othuvars who sung in the temple during the time of Raja Raja II. There are sculptures for river goddesses like Cauvery, Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari and Narmada.<ref>{{cite news |last=Srinivasan |first=G. |title=Darasuram: architectural marvel from Chola period |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/darasuram-architectural-marvel-from-chola-period/article2260784.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=20 July 2011}}</ref> Another inscription close to the ''gopura'', records that an image was brought from [[Basavakalyan|Kalyani]], then known as Kalyanapura by emperor [[Rajadhiraja Chola I]] after his defeat of the [[Western Chalukya]] king Someshwara I, his sons [[Vikramaditya VI]] and Someshwara II his capture of the Chalukyan capital.<ref name=ayyar353/><ref>[[#Davis|Davis 1997]], p. 51</ref>
The inscriptions are also important in identifying the sculptures that once were a part of various ruined monuments. For example, the eastern gopurum has niches with inscriptions that label the sculpture therein. Most of these sculptures are now broken or missing. The inscriptions indicate that it had the following sculptures:{{sfn|S.R. Balasubrahmanyam|1979|pp=227-228}} *Northern face: Adi Chandesvara, Gangadevi, Tumburu Nardar, Vaisravana, Chandra, Maha Sata, Nagaraja, Vayu *West: Devi, Rudrani, Vaishnavi, Brahmi, Varunani, Nandidevar, Periyadevar, Santyatita Sakti, Santa devi, Vidya Sakti, Pratishta Sakti, Nivarti Sakti *Southern face: Daksha Prajapati, Yamuna devi, Rati, Kamadeva *East: Agni deva, Agastya, Sri devi, Durga devi, Devendran, Padma Nidhi, Surya, Subrahmanya, Kshetrapala, Sarasvati, Visvakarma, Isana
==History== [[File:8.Tharasuram Airavatesvara Temple.jpg|thumb |Buddha as an avatara at Airavatesvara Temple]] The temple was built by King [[Rajaraja Chola II]]. He ruled the [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] Empire between 1146 and 1172 CE. The established capital for his predecessors was Gangapuri, also referred to in some inscriptions as [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]], named after the king brought water from holy Ganges River by defeating every other kings who opposed him. Rajaraja II, however, spent most of his time in the secondary capital city of Ayirattali, also called Pazhaiyarai and Rajarajapuri. This urban complex included Darasuram, the site of Airavatesvara Temple in [[Kumbakonam]]. He was a patron of Tamil literature and sponsored new Hindu temples in the empire, instead of enhancements and expansions supported by his father and grandfather. The temple at Ayirattali, which came to be known as the Airavatesvarar temple in inscriptions is one of his legacies.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
The Airavatesvara temple was much larger than it is now. It had ''sapta veedhis'' (seven streets) and seven courts, similar to the Srirangam temple, according to the inscriptions. All are gone, except the one court with the main temple that survives. There are ruins of gopuram and some structures at some distance from the current visitor premises confirming that the site was badly damaged at some point like the other major Chola era temples and various Chola cities including the capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
The reasons for this destruction are unclear. According to Vasanthi, the [[Pandyas]] who defeated the Cholas during the later part of 13th century "may have raged the city [Gangaikonda Cholapuram] to ground" to avenge their previous defeats. However, it is unclear why other temples were destroyed and this temple was spared, as well as why there are around 20 inscriptions from later Cholas, Pandyas and [[Vijayanagar Empire]] indicating various gifts and grants to this temple. An alternate theory links the destruction to the raids, plunder and wars, particularly with the invasion of the capital city and the territories that were earlier a part by the Chola Empire along with Madurai by the armies of [[Delhi Sultanate]] led by the Muslim commander Malik Kafur in 1311, followed by Khusrau Khan in 1314 and Muhammad bin Tughlaq in 1327. The period that followed saw wars between the [[Hindu king]]s and the Muslim Sultans who seceded the Delhi Sultanate and carved out new polity such as the nearby [[Madurai Sultanate]] (1335–1378).Thanjavur was a target of both Muslim and Hindu neighboring kingdoms, both near and far. The [[Madurai Sultanate]] was established in the 14th century, after the disastrous invasions and plunder of South India by Ala ud-Din Khalji's armies of [[Delhi Sultanate]] led by Malik Kafur.George Michell (2008), Architecture and art of Southern India, Cambridge University Press, pages 9–13, 16-21 Later Adil Shahi Sultanate, Qutb Shahis, [[Randaula Khan]] and others from east and west coasts of South India raided it, and some occupied it for a few years. The [[Vijayanagara Empire]] defeated the Madurai Sultanate in 1378 and this temple along with other Chola era temples thereafter came under Hindu kings again who repaired and restored many of them.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
==World Heritage Site== Airavatesvara Temple was added to [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage Site]] list of [[Great Living Chola Temples]] in the year 2004. The Great Living Chola Temples includes the [[Brihadeeswara Temple]] at [[Thanjavur]], the Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram at [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]] and the Airavatesvara Temple at [[Kumbakonam]]. All of these temples were built by the Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of similarities.<ref name=ayyar316>[[#Ayyar|Ayyar 1993]], p. 316</ref>
==In popular culture== The American astronomer [[Carl Sagan]] visited the Airavatesvara Temple for his 1980 television documentary series, [[Cosmos: A Personal Voyage]]. In the tenth episode titled ''The Edge of Forever'', Sagan talks about the Hindu religion and the Vedas, and narrates the legend of the god Shiva being considered a cosmic deity while displaying ancient Indian art.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Says |first=Umesh Mehta |title=The Great Chola Temples Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram {{!}} Sahapedia |url=http://sahapedia.org/the-great-chola-temples/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cosmos Carl Sagan s01e10 Episode Script {{!}} SS |url=https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=cosmos-carl-sagan&episode=s01e10 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Springfield! Springfield! |language=en}}</ref>
==Palace Devasthanam== [[Thanjavur Palace Devastanam Temples|Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam]] comprises 88 temples, of which this temple is the one. They are maintained and administered by the [[Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department]] of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam, Thanjavur - 613009, Thanjavur District [TM013967]., |url=https://hrce.tn.gov.in/hrcehome/index_temple.php?tid=13967 |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=hrce.tn.gov.in}}</ref><ref>தஞ்சாவூர் அரண்மனை தேவஸ்தானத்தைச் சேர்ந்த ஆலயங்கள், தஞ்சை இராஜராஜேச்சரம் திருக்குட நன்னீராட்டுப் பெருவிழா மலர், 1997</ref><ref>J.M.Somasundaram Pillai, The Great Temple at Tanjore, [Tanjore Palace Devastanams, II Edn 1958] Rpt 1994, Tamil University, Thanjavur</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery widths="180" heights="180" perrow="9"> File:Airavatesvara Temple, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam ttkcvrvb122k23iph (1).jpg|Enclosure wall of the Airavatesvara Temple complex File:12th century Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, dedicated to Shiva, built by the Chola king Rajaraja II Tamil Nadu India (4).jpg|Nandi at the temple File:12th century Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, dedicated to Shiva, built by the Chola king Rajaraja II Tamil Nadu India (96).jpg|Shiva flanked by Brahma (left) and Vishnu File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Gopuram, India.jpg|This is the other side of the gopuram sculpted with sculptures File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Mandapa at night 4, India.jpg|Mandapa at night File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Inner halls, India.jpg|Interior File:Darasuram, Airavatesvara Temple, Mandapa at night 2, India.jpg|Columns with Dravidian reliefs and carvings File:12th century Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, dedicated to Shiva, built by the Chola king Rajaraja II Tamil Nadu India (114).jpg|Sculptures carved on the walls File:Airavatesvara Temple Chariot.jpg|Stone chariot madapam detail File:"Entrance of Airavatesvara Temple 1".JPG|Front Gopuram in ruins File:Airavateswarar Temple.jpg|Airavateswarar Temple File:Airavatesvara Temple Panoramic View.jpg|Airavatesvara Temple Panoramic View </gallery>
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{reflist}}
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==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080815035747/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/07/07/stories/2004070704810500.htm World Heritage Site status for Airavatesvara Temple]}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150211170926/http://kumbakonam.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=189&Itemid=105 - A Complete Visitors Guide to Darasuram Airateswara Temple] {{World Heritage Sites in India}}
{{Hindu Temples of Kumbakonam}}
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in India]] [[Category:Shiva temples in Thanjavur district]] [[Category:Historic sites in Tamil Nadu]] [[Category:Chola architecture]] [[Category:Dravidian architecture]] [[Category:Hindu temples sacked in the Muslim period in the Indian subcontinent]]