Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Origin of the Name - A Peacock used for the rituals sought asylum at the feet of Mother Parvathi. As she ignored lord’s advice, she was cursed to become a Peacock. She came to this place as a Peacock and performed severe penance to get back her lord. Pleased with her penance, Lord Shiva appeared before her as a Peacock himself and danced as a Peacock – Mayura Thandavam. Parvati was restored to her original form. As lord came here as a Peacock-Mayura, he is praised as Mayuranathar.

The temple is facing East direction and built in Chola style of architecture, which has a 9-tier Raja gopuram with 194 feet tall. There is a Dhwaja stambham placed infront of the temple. The vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is known as Tridala vimana. On the temple walls, there is the sculpture of a devotee trying to sever his head as an offering to the god. Two Peacocks and two Monkeys are depicted in the banyan tree above the Lord Dakshinamurthy sculpture in the Goshta wall.

The temple was built by the Medieval Cholas. The oldest inscriptions on the temple walls date to the time of Kulothunga Chola-I. Massive renovations were carried out in the 17th century. In May 1927, a temple entry of Dalits was organized on a big scale by the proponents of the self respect Movement there by resulting in a huge clash. Around 17 inscriptions about the ancient rulers have been found by Archaeological Survey of India in 1907 A.D - 1911 A.D. Parandhaga Chola (10th century), the second Rajathi Rajan (1711 A.D.), third Kulothungan (1201 A.D.), Rajaraja Devan (1228 A.D.), Third Raja Rajan (1245 A.D.), Jadavarman Sundarapandian and rulers of Vijayanagara renovated this temple. From available inscriptions it is inferred that the Avayambal shrine came into existence during the period of Rajaraja Chola-III (13th century). Till then, there must only have been a Bhogasakti bronze image in the sanctum of Mayuranathar, as was the practice till separate Ambal shrines were introduced during the reign of Kulottunga Chola-I (1075-1120). There is a koneru named as Brahma theertham, Rishaba theertham. Originally the temple was of brick construction and was renovated to big granite construction only in the early 20th century A.D.