CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

The Agastisvara temple is the larger of the two twin shrines of the Avani-Kandrapa-Isvaram temple at Kilaiyur belonging to the reign of Aditya I (871-907 CE). The other one is called the Colisvara temple. The earliest incontrovertible inscriptions on this temple are dated in Parantaka I's years (907 - 954 CE) though it has also been suggested that there are at least three inscriptions that belong to Aditya I's time. The stone of the main building is granite and that of the hall is a corrosive yellow stone. The names of the donors are inscribed on the pillars. The shrine is a prototype of early Chola art. The scrollwork over the jambs and lintels of the doorway is most ornamental. Another interesting feature is that the superstructure (vimana) is square and with a square finial (stupi) unlike its twin shrine that has a circular vimana and stupi. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1963, pp.13-20; M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, EITA, Lower Dravidadesa, Text, 1983, 215-18.

The Agastyesvara temple at Anangur is also called Tirukkarrali Mahadevar (the stone temple of Mahadevar). Sembiyan Mahadevi built this stone temple during the reign of Uttama Chola (971 - 988 CE). The temple bears inscriptions recording information on patronage and donation of gifts in the reign of Uttama Chola, Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE) and Vikrama Chola (1118-1135 CE). References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, pp. 185-186; D. Barrett, 1973, pp.92-93.

The Agastyesvara temple at Perungudi in the past was known as Tiruppermudi Paramesvaram. There are contrary opinions on the patronage of the temple. Although, the earliest inscription on the temple registers a gift in the reign of Aditya II (960-965 CE), which was part of his father, Sundara Chola’s reign (957-973 CE), it has also been suggested in scholarly debates that despite the hard style of the sculptures and their atavistic tendencies, the temple is not earlier than the time of Rajendra Chola (1014-1044 CE) especially since the reign of Sundara Chola and Aditya II was artistically bleak. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1971, p.156; M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 178 and 229.

The Agnisvarar temple at Tirukattupalli is one of the smaller and also one of the earlier temples of Aditya I's time (871 - 907 CE). The suffix palli suggests that the place should have been an abode of Jains, and indeed a stone image of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Jaina Tirthankara was discovered in the area. The local Jainsim was probably swept away by the Saiva Nayanars. The temple of Agnisvarar should have been in existence at least some time before the seventh century CE, as the Tamil saints Appar and Sambandar have sung hymns in the honour of the deity consecrated here. The image in the sanctum is so placed that the rays of the rising sun fall on the linga during the equinoxes. The feature accords with the belief that the Lord of this place is worshipped by the Sun. Appar also mentions that the deity was held dear by hunters and the learned. The earlier structure must have been made of brick or other perishable material and was probably replaced by a stone structure in the ninth century during Aditya I’s reign. The period is discernible from the temple’s style rather than inscriptions. The original temple of Aditya’s time consisted only of the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) with a superstructure (vimana) over it and the half-hall (ardhamandapa). These two parts form a unit by themselves. The other halls or mandapas and the shrine of the Goddess are later additions. The neck (griva) of the vimana and the crowning cupola (sikhara) are heavily stuccoed. While the divinity niche figures are later icons replacing the original icons, the figure of the Dakshinamurti in the niche of the griva on the south is original and seems almost Muttaraiyar (600-900 CE), that is, a bit more ancient than the sculpture style from Aditya's time hence the temple should be ascribed to early phase of Aditya's time. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.13-20 M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 161.

Agra City, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Agra Fort Complex, Agra, Uttar Pradesh