Temples of Tamilnadu
Tamil Nadu is home to more than 30,000 temples and is aptly called "the land of temples". The rulers of various dynasties constructed these temples over centuries. Tamilnadu is the land where Dravidian style of temple architecture manifested itself in a grand and magnificent way. Vimanas (stores) andGopurams (towering gateways to the temple complex) best characterize the temples of Tamilnadu. You will be amazed to see that most of these temples bear a superficial architectural resemblance with each other as they share the similar physical features- Gopurams (the imposing tower over the entrance, from all four directions) and the Vimana (the tower over the sanctum). It is interesting to note that the temples of South India were not merely a place of worship but a large part of social and cultural life of the people revolved around them.
Temple Architecture
The temple architecture in Tamilnadu grew with innovation and experiments. The rule of the Pallavas, Pandyas, Cholas, Vijayanagar rulers and the Nayakas saw the construction of a number of magnificent temples. Thousands of temples, with rising towers that touch the skyline of Tamil Nadu, were constructed during the reign of the above-mentioned empires. These temples demonstrate that the Tamils have been the most innovative temple builders. This fact is very well evident in the temples from the pre Christian era as well as those from the 20th century. The spectacular architecture of these temples inspires awe and amazes the onlookers.
Most of the ancient temples of Tamilnadu were constructed in brick and mortar. However, by the 7th century AD a unique style of temple construction emerged when temples were hewn out of caves. The rule of the Pallavas saw (up to 900 AD) building of temples of stone. The Cholas (900 -1250 AD) were great temple builders and they have a number of magnificent and spectacular to their credit. The Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur, built by Raj Raja I, is a tribute to the Chola rulers. The Chola rulers added many ornate mandpams (halls) to temples and built large gopurams (towers). Subsequently, the Pandya Style (Up to 1350 AD) saw the emergence of the temple architecture with huge towers, high wall enclosures and massive gateways. The Vijayanagar rulers also made significant contribution to the temple architecture. They are known more for the intricacy and decorated monolithic pillars.
As you travel across the state of Tamilnadu, you will be awestruck and amazed to see the intricately carved designs and the splendid architecture of the temples spread over the length and breadth of the Tamil land.
Airavatheeswara Temple
The temple architecture reached its zenith during the rule of the Chola rulers. Thanjavur, being the capital of the Chola rulers, witnessed most of the architectural activities.
Brihadeswara Temple
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu.
Kailasanath Temple
Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries.
Kanyakumari Temple
Kanyakumari forms the southern most end of mainland India. It is also the place where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean merge.
Mahabalipuram Rathas
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex.
Meenakshi Temple
The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai city.
Murugan Temple
The Murugan temple at Tirupporur is one of the major temples dedicated to Lord Muruga in Tamilnadu. The Murugan temple is situated at a distance of about 45 Km from Chennai.
Rameshwaram Temple
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of the Hindus in India. The Jyotirlingam at the Ramanathaswamy temple is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India.
Airavatheeswara Temple
| Location: | Dharasuram, 34 km from Thanjavur |
| Built By: | Raja Raja II (1150- 1173 AD) |
The temple architecture reached its zenith during the rule of the Chola rulers. Thanjavur, being the capital of the Chola rulers, witnessed most of the architectural activities. The Airavatheeswara temple, located at Dharasuram is one such example. The great Chola ruler, Raja Raja II built the Airavatheeswara temple, which has now been recognized as a world heritage monument by the UNESCO. The Airavatheeswara temple is an outstanding example of the pure form of the Dravida type temple.Structure of the Airavatheeswara Temple
The Vimana (tower) of the temple rises to a height of 23 meters. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is nirandhra i.e. without the circumambulatory passage. There is an ardha Mandapam, and a 100-pillared Maha Mandapam in the temple.
The outer walls of the Maha Mandapam and the garba griha have finely carved sculptures. Besides these, the pillars supporting the Maha Mandapam, the inside of the Maha Mandapam and the walls of the prakara (enclosure) have beautifully carved panels.
In the southwest part of the prakara, a lady's acrobatics have been chiseled out to symbolize four in one. The statue of Annapoorani in the ardha Mandapam is a wonderful piece of sculpture, the face glowing in smile, the left hand carrying a brass vessel and the right holding a lotus. The eastern and western sides of the Maha Mandapam contain Ratha-like side projections that are characteristic of 12 other Chola temples at Chidambaram, Tiruvarur and Melakadambur.
How to Reach the Airavatheeswara Temple
Road
The nearest town, Thanjavur has road links to all the major cities in Tamilnadu and neighboring states.
Rail
Connected by rail with Trichy, Madurai and Chennai directly.
Air
The nearest airport, Tiruchirapalli, is 58 km away and connects important cities of Tamilnadu and neighboring states.
Brihadeswara Temple
| Location: | Tanjore or Thanjavur, Tamilnadu |
| Significance: | One of the biggest Dravidian Temples in the world |
| Other Nearby Attractions: | Shore Temple, Pancha Pandava Rathas, Krishna Mandapa, Varaha Cave and Krishna's Butterball |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
The Brihadeswara temple is one of the most ancient and the most celebrated Hindu temple in the world. The temple is located in the city of Thanjavur that is also known as Tanjore, in the Indian province of Tamilnadu. The UNESCO has adjudged this thousand years old temple a "World Heritage Site".Brihadeswara is the most illustrious and a brilliant example of the Dravidian style temple architecture. The building that carries the main sanctum is known as the 'Periya Kovil'. This stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' of the temple is about 70 meters and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The 'Shikharam' (crown) of Brihadeswara temple is itself very large and heavy (81.25 tons) and has been carved out of a single stone.
The great Tamil ruler, Rajaraja Chola I of the Chola dynasty, built the Brihadeswara temple. Later various additions were made in the temple but the most prominent one among these was the addition of a copper pot over the tower by King Rajaraja Chola II. The main deity that is worshiped in this temple is Lord Shiva. He is worshipped in the form of Lingam. This was originally called Adavallan that meant an expert dancer. The same name occurs in Thiruvisaipa as the name of the deity at Chidambaram. The tower over the shrine is named Dakshina Meru after the abode of Lord Shiva at Kailash that is also called Meru Mountain in Hindu scriptures.
Another remarkable feature of the temple is the great Nandi (stone bull) that is established at the entrance of the temple as well as ceiling of its enclosure that is decorated with frescoes in the typical Thanjavur style of painting. The Nandi weighs 27 tons and is probably the largest of its kind in the world.
Kailasanath Temple
Kanchipuram is a pilgrimage city. A former Pallava capital (7th - 9th century), Kanchipuram is filled with temples dating from the 8th - 17th centuries. These temples are the perfect study of the evolutionary changes that the South Indian architecture underwent while different reigns made their impressions on them.
Among the oldest temples in the temple city of Kanchipuram is Kailasanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. King Rajasimha, of the Pallava dynasty, built this Shiva temple in the early 8th century. An epitome of an early structural temple, Kailasanath Temple reflects the rapidly emerging South Indian style: gopuras, pilastered walls, a pyramidal shikhara, and a perimeter wall enclosing the complex.
Constructed mostly of limestone, the walls and vimaanam of this temple are filled with great sculptures, and paintings. There are 58 small shrines situated around the main shrine. Paintings of Fresco-style adorn the inner walls of the shrines. It has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions.
It is the only temple at Kanchipuram, which is devoid of any of the recent additions of the Cholas and Vijayanagar rulers. It is believed that the temple also served as the king's shelter during wars and the remains of an escape tunnel in the temple's precincts attests to that fact.
On the auspicious day of Maha-Sivaraathri, thousands of ardent devotees converge to the temple. The temple is far removed from the city and thus quite peaceful. Under the maintenance of the Department of Archeology, Government of India, tourists are allowed to freely photograph the sculptures in and outside the temple, with the exception of the Sanctum and the main Deity.
How to Reach
By Air
Chennai (75 km) is the nearest airport from Kanchipuram.
By Rail
Trains for Kanchipuram are available from Chennai, Chengalpattu, Tirupati, and Bangalore.
By Road
Kanchipuram is well connected by a good network of roads.
Kanyakumari Temple
| Location: | Kanyakumari |
| Chief Deity: | Kanya Kumari/Devi |
| Best Time: | Throughout the Year |
| Opening Times: | The Kanyakumari temple remains open for public from 4.30 AM to 11.45 AM and 5.30 PM to 8.45 PM |
Kanyakumari forms the southern most end of mainland India. It is also the place where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean merge. Kanyakumari has been a great center for culture, civilization and pilgrimage for years. Kanyakumari is named after the virgin goddess Kanyakumari whose temple is situated here. Legends have it that Kanya Devi, an incarnation (avatar) of Goddess Parvati, was to wed Lord Shiva but he did not turn up for the wedding and the marriage never took place. According to legends, the rice and cereals meant for the marriage remained uncooked. Even today, stones that look exactly like rice and cereals are available in the market. It is a common belief that these stones are the leftovers of the legendary marriage, which could not be solemnized. As the marriage could not take place, Kanya Devi became a virgin goddess
The Kanyakumari temple is dedicated to Kanya Devi. The main entrance to the Kanyakumari temple is through the northern gate. Though the deity in the temple is seated facing east, the eastern gate is kept closed except for some special occasions. There are three corridors that surround the sanctum. After a walk around the outer corridor, the devotees cross the 'Navarathiri mandapam' and head to the second corridor, which encircles the shrine. From here you can get a clear view of the Goddess. The main festivals at the Kanyakumari temple are held in the month of Vaikasi (May/June) and the Navarathri (September/October). Male worshippers are required to remove their shirts before entering the temple.
How to Reach the Kanyakumari Temple
Air
The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (80-km), well connected with national and International flights. Taxis and buses are available for Kanyakumari.
Rail
Kanyakumari is well connected by train services with all the places in India. Express trains connect kanyakumari with northern cities like Jammu and Delhi and other cities of India.
Road
Kanyakumari is connected by regular bus services with Chennai, Pondicherry, Trichy, Bangalore, Madurai, Nagercoil, Mandapam (Rameshwaram) etc. Local bus services, tourist taxis and auto rickshaws are available.
Mahabalipuram Rathas
| Location: | Mahabalipuram, Tamilnadu |
| Significance: | Pioneer in Dravidian style monoliths |
| Other Nearby Attractions: | Shore Temple, Krishna Mandapa and Varaha Cave. |
| Best Time: | Throughout the year |
Mahabalipuram is a temple town that is situated along the Coromandel Coast 55 kilometers off Chennai, the capital of Tamilnadu. The place is famous for its Ratha temples that are a part of the famous shore temple complex. The Pallava king Narsimha built the magnificent 'Ratha' cave temples of Mahabalipuram. The beauty of the sculptural art of the rock-cut temples tells about the architectural contribution of the erstwhile Pallava rulers. These 7th century temples are regarded the pioneer of an entirely revolutionary style of architecture that came to be known as Dravidian architecture style. These 'Ratha' temples of Mahabalipuram are commonly called the Pancha Pandava Ratha. These temples are considered pioneer of the Dravidian monolith era and mark the point of transition between the earlier tradition of rock-carved temples and the later tradition of freestanding stone structures. There are actually eight Rathas at Mahabalipuram out of which five are named after the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and one after Draupadi. The five rathas that can be seen are Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Draupadi Ratha and Nakul Sahadev Ratha.
The interesting features among all these Ratha temples are the fact that all of them are monolith and are based on the Buddhist Viharas and Chaityas. The largest and the smallest among them are three-storied Dharmaraja Ratha and one-storied Draupadi Ratha respectively. The magnificent way in which these Monolithic Cave Temples were excavated by scooping out the scarp of the hill from front to back is a real treat for the eyes.
Apart from the famous Rathas, there are other magnificent temples in Mahabalipuram too. These temples are renowned for their Mandapas (cave sanctuaries). A Mandapa is an open pavilion or a hall with cells in the back wall and is cut out of a single piece of rock. The giant open-air relief such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges' and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva, are the most attractive. Both of these temples attract a lot of crowd every year.
How to Reach Rathas Temples
Air
Chennai is the nearest airport from Mahabalipuram. Flights are available for almost all major destinations in India and abroad.
Rail
The nearest railway station is Chengalpattu. You can easily get trains for Chennai and several other south-Indian cities.
Road
Mahabalipuram is well connected by road to Chennai, Kanchipuram, Pondicherry, Madurai and other towns and cities of Tamilnadu.
Meenakshi Temple
| Location: | Madurai |
| Dedicated to: | Goddess Meenakshi |
| Best Time: | November to March |
| Other Attractions: | Mariamman Teppakulam, Tirumalai Naik |
The Meenakshi temple complex is one of the largest in India. The presiding deity at the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, the Athens of South India, is Goddess Meenakshi. The nucleus of the temple is older than the Madurai city. The splendor of the Meenakshi temple has remained intact for the past so many centuries. The Meenakshi temple complex at Madurai is not only an architectural marvel but also the epitome of Indian culture and civilization. Madurai is one of the ancient cities of India and truly personifies the cultural ethos of India. Madurai has been closely associated with the literary wealth of Tamil. It is interesting to note that four of the 6 major streams as codified by Sankaracharya (i.e. Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and the worship of Skanda) converge in this historic city especially during festivals and celebrations.
The Meenakshi temple complex is spread over an area of about 6 hectares. The temple has 12 gateways (Gopurams), which range in height from 45 to 50 m and the tallest Gopuram is the southern. The southern gateway is nine stories high and has images of gods and goddesses. A unique feature of the ancient Dravidian culture of South India is that people paint their gods in brilliant and bright colors. This is very much evident atop the gateways of the Meenakshi temple.
How to Reach the Meenakshi Temple Madurai
Air
Madurai is connected by air with Mumbai and Chennai. Madurai airport is 10 Km away from the city.
Rail
Madurai has direct rail connections to cities like Bangalore, Kollam, Coimbatore, Chennai, Thanjavur, Rameshwaram, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupathi and Tuticorin.
Road
Madurai is well connected by road to all parts of South India. From Madurai town buses, taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are easily available to reach the Meenakshi temple.
Murugan Temple
| Location: | Tirupporur, Chennai, Tamilnadu |
| Chief Deity: | Murugan |
The Murugan temple at Tirupporur is one of the major temples dedicated to Lord Muruga in Tamilnadu. The Murugan temple is situated at a distance of about 45 Km from Chennai. It is an ancient temple, which was built during the reign of the Pallava rulers. The Murugan temple is associated with many legends. According to one legend, Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi were subjected to the curse of saint Kanva. Lord Shiva came to Tirupporur and relieved them from this curse. It is because of this reason the Tirupporur temple is so significant for Lord Shiva and his son Muruga, who are worshipped here. According to the Sthalapurana, Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Devayanai granted protection to the Gods and explained the meaning of Pranavam or reality to Agastya Muni at Tirupporur. Legend also has it that Vishnu worshipped Shiva on the Pranava Hill.
Skanda is enshrined in several forms at the Murugan temple and all the forms are related to legends from the Skanda Puranam. The most interesting of these is the depiction of Skanda as a warrior, "Samhara Subramanya". At the Murugan temple, Skanda is also enshrined in the form of a child.
How to Reach the Tirupporur Murugan Temple
Air
Nearest airport is Chennai, which operates both national and international flights.
Rail
Chennai is the nearest railway station, which is a major junction and is well connected with different parts of Tamilnadu and India.
Road
Tirupporur is accessible by road from Chennai and Chengalpattu. Private taxis and buses ply from Chennai and Chengalpattu to Tirupporur.
Rameshwaram Temple
| Location: | Rameshwaram |
| Chief Deity: | Lord Shiva |
| Significance: | One Of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India |
The Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred shrines of the Hindus in India. The Jyotirlingam at the Ramanathaswamy temple is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India. It is considered as holy as Banaras/Kashi. The Ramanathaswamy temple is situated on the Rameshwaram Island, off the Sethu coast of Tamil Nadu. According to legends, this temple is associated with Ramayana and the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.The Ramanathaswamy temple is greatly revered, as it is believed that Lord Rama himself built the temple. According to the legends, after killing Ravana Lord Rama returned to India and offered worship to Lord Shiva at Rameshwaram to expiate the sin of killing the demon king. Lord Rama directed Hanuman to bring the lingam from Kailasha within a certain time but Hanuman was delayed and Sita had to prepare one of sand, before the auspicious hour. It is said that this is the same Linga of Sri Ramanatha in the temple.
Shrines at the Ramanathaswamy Temple
In the main sanctum at the temple there is the Linga of Sri Ranganatha. It is the same one, which Lord Rama had sanctified. The Vimana is three storeys tall and contains images of Hanuman, Agastya Linga and the Gandhamadhana Linga. The Linga of Vishvanatha, which is said to be brought by Hanuman, is enshrined in another sanctum to the north. Another shrine houses the image of Visalakshi, the Consort of Visvanatha while Parvathavardhani, the consort of Ramanatha is enshrined in a sanctum to his right.
How to Reach the Ramanathaswamy Temple
Air
The nearest airport is Madurai (167 Km), connected by flights with Bombay, Calicut and Madras.
Rail
Rameshwaram is connected by rail to Chennai, Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore.
Road
Rameshwaram is connected by regular bus services with Kanykumari, Karaikudi, Chennai, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and several other cities of Tamilnadu and neighboring states.
