The Colas c36.21

c36.21

Fig. 15. Airāvatēśvara temple, general view from south-east. Dārāśuram, Tanjore District. This is another example of the style in which the temples at Tanjore and Gaṅgaikoṇḍa-cōḻapuram are constructed, but later than those temples. Development of details evident in the pillars, mouldings, niches and balustrades. New addition is the open pillared *maṇḍapa* in front of the *mahāmaṇḍapa* with which the earlier temples stopped. More significant and interesting are the horses attached to the *maṇḍapa* to make it a chariot, a novel idea given concrete form. (Cf. examples of this kind at Cidambaram and Kumbakonam). Simple *śuruḷ* balustrades occur side by side with balustrades showing figures of elephants alone and figures of elephant being attacked by lions. It is in this temple that there is a series of carvings in bas-relief representing the lives of the famous Śaiva saints according to the *Periya-purāṇam* of Sēkkiḻār. Lives of a few of the saints have not been carved but the original sketches in red ochre of the scenes to be carved are still to be found. As usual the *gōpura* is stunted although it has become ornate. But the *vimāna* here shows signs of diminishing size.