In our search for Cholas we are currently looking at the research results of Darasuram Iravadeswarar temple. Let’s look at page three , four and five in a row.
The pillars in this Darasuram Airavadeswarar temple and the intricately carved sculptures are the additional highlights of this temple. In the historical temples built before this, sculptures , decorative arches, etc. are carved on a large scale. But I have never seen such tiny sculptures in any other temple like this one.
Each of the pillars in this temple is filled with sculptures. In the lower part of each pillar , there are wonderful carvings like a large snake encircled in a circle and in the middle there are sculptures that express happiness such as drumming , dancing , and riding on an elephant. It features a sculpture of a woman dancing on a pillar. In it, the sculpture is set up with great artistic grace as a man with a long beard stands behind the dancing woman and admires her unbeknownst to her.
Even after the restoration of the temple by the archeology department, the remains of other ruined statues , pieces of stone and wooden objects are found here and there unattended in the forgotten cornes of the temple. I consider it a big mistake for the archeology department to ignore this and not do further study on these aretefacts.
It would be very good if the temple is protected like other temples under the control of archeology department by setting up museums and preserving the ruined idols. But somehow the archeology department forgot to do it.
The idols of many deities are placed on the surrounding walls of this Iravadeswarar temple. Among them, the idol of Bhairava , the idol of bow and sword warriors , the idol of a sage doing penance , the most wonderful idols like Shiva Parvati on a bull chariot are found around this temple.
Not only sculptures but also some paintings are painted on the walls of this temple. It is not known whether these paintings are of Chola period or Nayaka period paintings. It is very disappointing that these paintings are not dated.
One thing we know is that there are sculptures on the walls and pillars of the temples the we have not seen so far in other temples. But the beautiful carvings and decorative arches carved on the roof of the front hall of this temple are very surprising.
Looking at the exquisite design of these sculptures, it is my guess that they may have been pre-carved during the construction of the temple and later attached to the roofs. Because there is no chance to carve such beautiful sculptures as it was on the ceiling without even a small mistake.
I have uploaded many black stone sculptures in this temple and photos of the temple complex on this page. Many things related to this temple that are not mentioned in my writting is there for you to see yourself as there are too many immages. Now let’s go to the fourth page.