VESARA VIMANA
Jwarahareswara temple mentioned as Suravattaramudaiya Nayanar temple in inscriptions lies in the car street of the historic town Kanchipuram. The temple is known for its unique architectural features, viz., the Vesara vimana, vimana and the mukha mandapa raised on a plinth, exclusively panjara adorned bhitti, perforated windows are remarkable to mention. Among the vimana types, vesara is rare and only very few vesara vimanas are found in Tamil Nadu. Hence, the ashtanga vesara vimana of Jwarahareswara temple can be taken as a unique architecture in Tamil Nadu.
The temple is a spacious single prakara complex with a gopura on the east, the main shrine consists of a vimana, mukha mandapa, a small mandapa, maha mandapa and a porch facing east. In addition, two nandi mandapas and a balitala are in the front. A shrine for Chandeswara is on the northern side, besides, a small chamber and a well are also seen there. The entire shrine viz., the vimana, mandapas and porch are raised on a upapitha, especially the vesara vimana is raised in the middle of a square plinth.
The gopura is a three tier structure raised on a upapitha, the upapitha and aditala are stone structure whereas the super structure is brick and cement work. The aditala has padmabandha adhishthana, bhitti cantoned by vishnukantha pilasters and prastara. Potikas are seen only above the split pilasters, however vettu in type. The prastara of the aditala has all the usual features, the kapota is decked with kudu arches. Bhumidesa is plain but yazhi frieze is seen at the bhadra section. The bhitti is ornamented with kumbhapanjaras that adorn the spaces between the corner and middle pilasters. The upper tiers of gopura is richly adorn with stucco figures. The adhishthana features seen on the eastern side of the gopura is absent on the western side. As like, stucco figures are also absent on the western side. A pair of Nandi is shown seated at the corners on the roof of the second tala. The gopura is crowned with sala sikhara. The compound wall that extends on either side of the gopura encompasses the temple complex.
A long pathway from the gopura leads to the main shrine. In front of the main shrine a balitala and two nandi mandapas are seen. The balipitha is placed on a square plinth ornamented with the features of vargabedha adhishthana. It has padabandha adhishthana with the components of upoupana, upana, jagati, kumudha, gala complex, pattika and upari kampa. The middle section on all the sides of the pitha is projected and shown with the features of kapotabandha adhishthana, the jagati is padma jagati, and the kapota is decked with kudu arches. In the padabandha section the upper part of upana is ornamented with padma series. A small balitala shaped as a bloomed lotus is placed in the center of the pedestal.
The nandi mandapa consecutive to the balitala possesses the features of a vimana; nagara talas with vesara sikhara. The dvitala mandapa has adhishthana, pillars and superstructure. The padabandha adhishthana possess all the usual features with upana ornamented as padma and the kumuda as rudra. Four rudrakantha pillars raise at the four corners above the adhishthana and bear the vettu potikas. The vettu potikas extend its limbs and bear the uttira which is followed by vajana and valabhi. The kapota and the entire superstructure is brick and cement work. The aditala is shown with hara and the bhadrasalas are adorned with deities of cardinal directions. The second tala raise appliqué to the hara and above the second tala rests the vesara sikhara. A pair of bracket figures are shown on each side bearing the second tala. The maha nasikas of the sikhara is also adorned by cardinal deities. A pair of Nandi and a dikpala in anjali hasta are shown in the corners. It is quite interesting to see a Nandi mandapa carrying the features of a shrine.
continue…
- The author thank Mr. Seetharaman Subramanian, Director, SR Realtors, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu for sponsoring trips to Jwarahareswara temple. This article was presented in a conference at SCSVMV University, Kanchipuram co-authored with Seetharaman Subramanian.