A TO Z INDIA - MARCH 2022
AWESOME ASSAM: WHAT IS ASSAM ABOUT... - Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. It is known to visitors for its World Heritage Site - Kaziranga and Manas National park, home to the one horned Rhinoceros.
AWESOME ASSAM: WHAT IS ASSAM ABOUT... - Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. It is known to visitors for its World Heritage Site - Kaziranga and Manas National park, home to the one horned Rhinoceros.
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A <strong>TO</strong> Z <strong>INDIA</strong> ● <strong>MARCH</strong> <strong>2022</strong> ● PAGE 8<br />
Exploring India:<br />
Magnificent Moovar Koil<br />
Santha<br />
Moovar Koil, aptly named in Tamil which literally means “Three temples”. The temple<br />
complex originally consisted of three almost identical temples standing in a line facing<br />
west, but only two have survived.<br />
In front of the Three, their front ardha-mandapas connecting to a common maha-mandapa and surrounding<br />
the main shrines are sixteen shrines for the subsidiary deities (parivara devatas). Among these, only the two<br />
(central and the southern) temples are intact in full and rest of the structures with only basement and<br />
pathways.<br />
The temple is adorned with beautiful sculptures of Siva as Ardhanari, Bhikshatana, Umasahita, Gangadhara,<br />
Kalari, other gods and apsaras. The remarkable one is ‘Bhara Siva’ - Shiva shown holding a linga over his<br />
shoulders as a representation of the practice of carrying ishta-lingas or movable linga.<br />
Place: Kodumbalur (erstwhile Capital of Irukkuvelir which is referred as ‘Kodumbai’ in Tamil epic<br />
‘Silappatikaram’), now a village in Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu.<br />
Period: Commissioned by Irukkuvel Chief Bhooti Vikramakesari on behalf of himself and his two wives,<br />
Katrali and Varaguna between 9th-10th Century. Irukkuvel were connected to the Cholas matrimonially,<br />
making them taking side of the Cholas against fights with the Pallavas and the Pandyas.
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