Airavatesvara Temple

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**Great Living Chola Temples**¹
**UNESCO World Heritage Site**

State Party	India
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iii, iv
Identification	#250
Region²	Asia-Pacific
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	1987 11th WH Committee Session
Extension/s	2004
WH link:	http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250
1 Name as officially inscribed on the WH List 2 As classified officially by UNESCO

Airateswara Temple is a Hindu temple located in the town of Darasuram, near Kumbakonam in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This temple, built by Rajaraja Chola II in the 12th century CE, along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram are a UNESCO World Heritage Site referred to as the Great Living Chola Temples^[1].

1 Legend
2 Architecture
3 Deities
4 UNESCO World Heritage Site
5 References

[edit] Legend

The Airateswara temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shiva is here known as Airavateshwara, because he was worshipped at this temple by Airavata, the white elephant of the king of the gods, Indra.

It is said that the King of Death, Yama also worshipped Shiva here. Tradition has it Yama, who was suffering under a Rishi's curse from a burning sensation all over the body, was cured by the presiding deity Airavateswarar. Yama took bath in the sacred tank and got rid of the burning sensation. Since then the tank has been known as Yamateertham.

[edit] Architecture

The sanctum is in the form of a chariot

This temple is a storehouse of art and architecture and has some exquisite stone carvings. Although this temple is much smaller than the Brihadeeswara Temple or the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple, it is more exquisite in detail. This is because this temple is said to have been built with nitya-vinoda, "perpetual entertainment", in mind.

The vimana is 25 m (85 ft) high. The front mandapam is in the form of a huge chariot drawn by horses.

[edit] Deities

The main deity's consort Periya Nayaki Amman temple is situated adjacent to Airavateshwarar temple.

Periya Nayaki Amman temple

[edit] UNESCO World Heritage Site

This temple was added to the list of Great Living Chola Temples in the year 2004. The Great Living Chola Temples includes the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airateswara Temple at Darasuram. All of these temples were built by the Cholas between the 10th and 12th centuries CE and have a lot of similarities.