Sri Särangapäni Temple,
Kumbakonam
My first visit
in July 2010 to this temple was a quick one, hence this time in August 2012, it
was my second priority in my list (first being Kumbeswara which I had not seen
at all). Among the sacred 108 Divyadesam in Vaishnava sampradaya, Sarangapani Temple is given the third place next to Sri
Rangam and Tirupati.
The Builders
The central
shrine (vimanam) was built during the
Chola period (900-1150 CE), while the rest of the huge temple (Gopuram
etc.) was built by the Vijayanagara emperors (1350-1565 CE) and their Nayaka successors (1600-1750 CE).
The Rajagopuram
The
12-tiered Rajagopuram is 7th tallest in India, standing tall at 44
metres (146 feet).
Famous Gopurams
|
Place
|
Tier
|
Height
|
Builder
|
|
1
|
Sri
Ranganathaswamy Temple
|
Trichy
|
13-tiered
|
240 feet
|
1980
|
2
|
Arunachaleswara
Temple
|
Tiruvannamalai
|
217 feet
|
||
3
|
Ekambareswara
Temple
|
Kanchipuram
|
194 feet
|
||
4
|
Sri Andal
Temple
|
Srivilliputhur
|
11-tier
|
192 feet
|
|
5
|
Southern
Rajagopuram of Minakshi
|
Madurai
|
9-tier
-1511
sculptures
|
160
feet
|
Sevvanti
Murty Chettiar in 1559 CE
|
6
|
Eastern
Rajagopuram of Minakshi
|
Madurai
|
153 feet
|
Maravarman
Sundara
Pandyan
|
|
7
|
Sarangapani Temple
|
Kumbakonam
|
12-tier
|
146 feet
|
|
8
|
Suchindram
|
Kanyakumari
|
134 feet
|
||
9
|
Rameswaram
|
Rameswaram
|
126 feet
|
 |
Erotic art
is visible in the first tier of the Rajagopuram, not in stone, but in cement
and rather crude.
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Various karanas are also sculpted on the outside
as well as inside walls of the Rajagopuram.
Some Ganas –
dwarfs are seen with musical instruments, on the Rajagopuram wall.
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There are yalis on the entrance of the mandapas
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Temple architecture/style
The central
shrine resembles a chariot on wheels, complete with elephants and horses pulling
it.
 |
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(Other
Chariot Temples that I have visited are Konark in Odisha, and Airavateswara
Temple in Darasuram. However in Konark, the mukhasala
is built as a chariot. In Airavateswara, the mandapam is in the form of a
chariot. In Sarangapani, the central shrine is in form of a chariot.)
 |
 |
(Now I understand the Temple-plan better.)
Beyond the
100-pillared hallway is the sanctum,
which was reportedly modified several times by the rulers of many dynasties.
The inner court is guarded by images of huge dvarapalas, while between them stand perforated stone screens.
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The sanctum enshrines Lord Vishnu in anantasayana posture, very similar to
Sri Rangam posture.
There are
two entrances to the sanctum, enough
to confuse me. One is kept open throughout the Uttarayana period, and the other during the Dakshinayana period. I think both my visits were in dakshinayana, so I would have entered
through the same dakshinayana
entrance.
|
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Balustrade at Sarangapani
|
Balustrade at Darasuram
|
On both
sides at the entrance steps are small balustrades in the form of elephants
(better such style is seen Darasuram Temple).
The
lion-pillared corridors resemble similar style seen in Vaikuntha Perumal Temple
in Kanchipuram.
|
|
Lioned
Pillar in Sarangapani
|
Lioned
Pillars in Vaikuntha Perumal Temple
|
There
is an intricately carved pillar (perhaps of granite), with striking filigree
work.
The
outside corner of the central sanctum
is richly sculpted resembling Brhadiswara and Kailashnath.
Kailshnath, Ellora
|
Brhadiswara, Tanjavur
|
Sarangapani, Kumbakonam
|
Sarangapani Temple
|
Darasuram Temple
|
I
remained confused for years seeing the position of the elephants and horses,
trying to pull the chariot-temple in opposite directions. After much exposure I
now understand it as – the elephant is in the balustrade, and the other
elephant (in Sarangapani) and horse/s are pulling the chariot-temple.
The dhvajastambha – flagstaff, and the balipitham are outside the sanctum.
The
Temple Tank named Hema-Pushkarini separates Sarangapani Temple and Kumbeswara
Temple.
Temple Paintings
Connection with Nathamuni
The
Temple is associated with Nathamuni, one of the twelve Äÿvärs. He is said to
have meticulously pieced together the scattered portions of the Näläyira-Divya-Prabandham (Vaishnava Legends) by invoking the blessings
of Aaravamudhan, another name for Lord Sarangapani.
Näläyira-Divya-Prabandham
has 4,000 Tamil
verses of the Äÿvärs, the Vaiñëava Saints.
The twelve
Alvärs are – i) Periyä* Äÿvär (600-900 CE), ii) Äëòaÿ* (600-900 CE), iii)
Kulaçekhara Äÿvär (600-900 CE), iv) Tirumaliçai Äÿvär, v) Tiruppän Äÿvär, vi)
Madhurakavi Äÿvär, vii) Tirumaìgai Äÿvär, viii) Nammäÿvär, ix) Bhudattäÿvär
and x) Pey Äÿvär, xi) Näthamuni (824-924 CE), xii) Yamunä (918-1038 CE).
*Äëòaÿ was
the foster daughter of Periyä Äÿvär (600-900 CE).
Of the 4,000 verses, the last 1,000 verses were written by
Nammalvär known as Tiruvaimozhi. The ecstasy of the madhura-bhakti of the Gopis for Kåñëa that creates a divine intoxication is the rasa of Nammalvär's poetic
compositions.
|
Contribution of various Dynasties
to South Indian Temple Architecture
(4 of the Temples are World
Heritage Sites)
Dynasty
|
Period*
|
Temples
|
Style
|
Place
|
The
Pallavas of Kanchi
(Initiaters
of Rock-cut Temples)
|
600-900 CE
|
Five
Rathas,
Shore
Temple
|
rock-cut,
architectural
|
Mahabalipuram
(World Heritage Site)
|
Kailasanath
Temple
|
architectural
|
Kanchipuram
|
||
Chalukyas
of Badami
(in
west/north?Karnataka)
|
500-753 CE
|
Vesara
|
Aihole(cradle
of Indian Architecture), Pattadakal
(World Heritage Site)
|
|
Rashtrakutas
of Manyakheta
|
750-983 CE
|
Ellora
|
cave
temples,
Monolithic
rock-cut Temple
|
Ellora
(World
Heritage Site)
|
Chalukyas
Of Kalyani
|
983-1195
CE
|
Lakkundi,
Dambal, Gadag
|
||
Hoysala
Of
Karnataka??
|
1100-1350
CE
|
Somanathapura
(proposed as World Heritage Site), Srngeri
|
||
Chola
Of
Tanjavur
|
900-1150
CE
|
Brhadiswara
Temple
|
Dravida
|
Tanjavur
(World Heritage Site)
|
Brhadiswara
Temple
|
Gangaikonda
(World Heritage Site)
|
|||
Airavateswara
Temple
|
Darasuram
(World Heritage Site)
|
|||
Sarangapani sanctum
|
Kumbakonam
|
|||
Vijayanagar
Of Hampi?
|
1350-1565
CE
|
Tiruvannamalai
|
||
Sarangapani Gopuram/s
|
Kumbakonam
|
|||
Rajagopuram
of
Ekambareswar
|
||||
Nayakas
Of Madurai
(succeeded
Vijayanagara)
|
1600-1750
CE
|
Sri Rangam
(expansion)
|
* Period is
indicative since historians will not agree to one period.
***
Work in Progress
***
