Site Name:
Date: ca 1178-1216 CE
Subject: General view
CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
Kampaharesvara temple complex, Tribhuvanam, Tamil NaduThe Kampaharesvara temple is the last of the four great temples built by the Cholas. Kulottunga III (1178–1218 CE) made three wars against the Pandyas. After his victory in the third war, he held a grand celebration at Madurai and assumed the title of Tribhuvana Vira devar and built in commemoration of his great victory, this temple dedicated to Siva in the name of Tirubhuvana Viresvarar. According to a Sanskrit inscription, the temple was built at the instance of the king’s spiritual preceptor Somesvara also called Isvara Siva. Tanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram temples were built under similar auspices. The temple is unique in that the shrines for the Devi and for Sarabhamurti, a newly evolved icon of the late Chola period are contemporaneous. On the west side of the hall that is approached by stairs (sopana-mandapa) is a shrine dedicated to Shiva. These became Somaskanda – separate shrines dedicated to Somaskanda are popularly called Tyagraja shrine after the celebrated shrine at Tiruvarur. These gained popularity in Tanjuvar area around this time. Although the superstructure (vimana) is relatively plain, the platform is very tall that is an interesting deviation from the norm. References: S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1975, p. 33, M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, pp. 312 - 317.