@Jvarahareshwarar temple « Prabhu Hari’s Weblog !

@Jvarahareshwarar temple

08Dec08

Jvarahareshwarar(to be read as Jvara-hara-eshwarar) temple is another 1000 year old temple.This was built by the chola kings some where in 900 A.D. Although Kanchipuram was predominantly a pallava state, the cholas have been built a few temples here.Most Chola temples have been built either thanjavur or at Madras.

Complete View of the Temple

Interestingly,this is the only chola temple in kanchipuram that has not been modified or altered by the Pallavas who ruled the place after them.Most temples tend to get altered except for the god at the mulasthaanam.The temple is pretty small and has recently been brought under the control of ASI.

Unlike other temples, this has a remarkable variation in the architecture with respect to the cell that houses the statue of the God. It is circular in shape at the bottom and ascends cylindrically. In contrast most other temples have a cell, with a rectangular base and ascends rectangularly – which is the traditional style of a Gopuram. The Circular base of the gopurams seem characteristic to Chola architecture and is termed “GajaBrishtam”.

Cylindrical Cell that houses the God - Rear View

The temple also uncommonly has two nandis facing eachother.I m not sure of the reason but there must be one.

   Apart from these, the temple was pretty small and serene.The temple had a heads of lions roaring at each other sculpted on its outer wall. These minute details have certain interpretations, in this case it refers to the king who built the temple.All temples built by this chola has the serial faces of roaring lions.

    Later in the evening, I visited the Guru Koil and Kamakshi Amman Temple. These are a couple of snaps from the Guru temple, which also has the “GajaBrishtam”.

The typical GajaBrishtam

Another Snap

A board in this temple explains that the Gopuram looks like the rear of an elephant , hence called Gaja(elephant),Brishtam(rear).

Then,I returned back home cancelling the third day @ Kanchi 2 attend some important stuff @ chennai.

Read….
Day 1 at Kanchipuram – Vaigunda Perumal koil
Day 2 at Kanchipuram – KailasaNathar Temple