The main deity in Perur is Patteeswarar. His consort is Pachai Nayagi amman. The natarajar mandapam has some fantastic sculptures. If anyone is going to CBE, this is a must-not-miss.
The temple has an old history, built by Karikala initially and then enhanced by Pandyas, Chalukyas and Hoysalas.
While talking of temples, perur temple is one that comes to my mind - in terms of beauty in stone. chanced on this article in the hindu with some beautiful photos....you have to see these to fully appreciate the artists mastery in stone...The fourteen pillars in the mandapam, each six feet high, are the heights of perfection of stonecraft.. particular mention of the Yanaiyuri Portha Moorthy....you have to actually go around the sculpture to see the brilliance of the elephant hide complete with its feet etc ..Agora Veerabhadrar - the perfection of the soolam ,,,,the fingers, nails and the realistic manner in which they hold it... the complex design and detailing in the Urthuvaa Thandavar.... and to cap it all these form parts of the actual pillars holding up the mandapam...truly two eyes are not enough to fully appreciate these..
It's a coincidence when this discussion was going on, I had been on an official trip to Coimbatore and had chance to visit the Perur Temple, one evening. I was thrilled to read few stone inscriptions around the sanctum sanctorum having words, like "Sivapathasekara", "kandaraditha," etc. The temple praharams, sanctum sanctorums were rebuilt in Chola period, but the outside mandap with the famous Gaja Samhara Murthi is of the late Thirumalai Nayak's period. Around the temple, many broken pillars are made to stand alone in the garden maintained within the temple premises. But, my memory could also recollect the Gajasamharamurthi which I clicked almost 2 years ago in the walls of Pullamangai, which we visited during the Tanjai trip. That thrills me more than the bigger image, as the miniature in Pullamangai, (size 7"x6" panel) deliberates more features and expressions unrivalled by any form, and the sculpturer must have been in divine bliss while making that, where as the Perur icon had enough space and material to work upon. Just my opinion. No doubt both are marvels of history. The picture I quote from Pullamangai can be seen in the photo section I posted then under the title Pullamangai photos.. Chandra
we are envious of you ... able to mix work with your passion.somehow nt able to view your photos. will try again later during the day.
big or small...its an amazing feat...considering they are working in a unforgiving medium..stone... how many times do we use the backspace/delete keys..truely masterpieces which are proof of the heights of artistic perfection of our kinsmen 1000 years ago.
Hi Vijayakumar. The photo was loaded I think in the name of Rudrathandavam! under the album Pullamangai photos in our group's yahoo photos section. Pls have a look. Also I had written a small piece on my blog years before after seeing that, whose link is given below: