Town Profile

                                                                                                                                                                                        INTRODUCTION OF TOWN PANCHAYAT

         The Darasuram First Grade Town Panchayat was constituted as Panchayat on 1964, it was upgraded as Town Panchayat on 27.03.1968 and now it is a First Grade Town Panchayat.

 

 

Darasuram Town Panchayat for very famous for “Irawatheeswarar Temple”.

 At the time of festivals the nearing some thousands people are visit here.

 

Darasuram Town Panchayat constituted in the year of 1964. The Town is coming under the administrative territory of Thanjavur District. The Town extends over an area of    2.3 sq.km. The Town is situated near Kumbakonam Town. The Kumbakonam is very famous for ancient koils.   The Town is in the via of Kumbakonam to Thanjavur. Apart 35km  the Thanjavur is situated. Darasuram is pilgrim spot in ancient epic and tourist centre. The population of the town as per 2011 census is 15326. Male population is 7663 and Female population is 7663 

 

DARASURAM – A HISTORICAL VIEW

 

            Darasuram, named ‘Raja Rajapuram’, by Raja Raja II was the capital of the Chola Empire during the 12^th Century. The famous town was a part of ‘Pazhayarai’, the once renowned place of  the Chola Empire. Darasuram is in the South Western direction of Kumbakonam which attracts lakhs and lakhs of pilgrims from far and near. The town Kumbakonam is known not only for its numerous Siva and Vishnu temples and silk sarees but is especially famous for the Mahamaham festival. The Mahamaham festival which is celebrated once in 12 years can be compared to ‘Kumbamela’ festival of  Allahabad. Town Bus and Minibus facilities are available from Kumbakonam to Darasuram. Darasuram is hardly 3 Kms away from Kumbakonam Bus stand.

 

            Darasuram, ‘Raja Rajeswaram’ temple better known as ‘Airavateeswaram Temple’ was built by Raja Raja II alias Rajagampeeran (1150-1173 A.D). The white elephant namely Airavatham, the vehicle of  Devendran was freed from its blushes by worshipping this God, Lord Airavateeswarar.

 

            The temple is famous for its scultptural marvel. Not even a single pillar is left  untouched by skilled artisans. Each pillar speaks volumes about the various events that had happened in the life of the Thevaram trio’s, Thirugnanasambandar, Appar and Sundarar. Though built at a later phase of the Chola rule the temple is still intact and has survived the onslaught of the Muslim invasions and the ravages of nature.

 

Special  Features:

 

            In the entrance to the temple,  the mandapas of  Nandideva, Flagpost and Sacrificial Peea and that of  Vinayaka are there. If a part of stone is thrown on the steps to the Sacrifical Peeta it sounds like ‘Saa, Ri, Gha, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa, the basic resonance of  Carnatic Music. The stones that were used for the construction were selected in such a way that they follow the rules of  the Agama.

 

            The front mandapa having more than 100 pillars is known as ‘Rajagampeera Mandapam’. All the pillars in the mandapa from top to bottom possess sculptures depicting various events from the puranas and Ithihasas.

 

            The 108 Karanams in dances are explicitly depicted in the Vimanas. In addition the life and services of  Nayanmars, Thohai Adiyars especially that of  Kannappa Nayanar, Thirunavukarasu Nayanar, Apputhi Adigal, Karaikal Ammaiyar, Aludia Pillaiyar and Nambiarooran find a place here.

 

            In the art of Scultpture this temple surpasses even the most celebrated Tanjore Big Temple.

 

UNESCO

 

            UNESCO has declared Darasuram Airavateswarar temple as a  world heritage monument.

 

 

 

NEAREST TOURIST PLACES

 

Sri Swaminatha Swamy  temple, Swamimalai:

 

            Swamimalai is a sylvan village, situated about five kilometers west of Kumbakonam on the banks of a tributary of river Cauvery. The temple is situated  3 kms from Darasuram.  

            Swamimalai is fourth among the six padai veedu or sacred shrines dedicated to Lord Muruga. The presiding deity here expounded the meaning of the Pranava mantra OM to his own Father Lord Siva Himself.

Sri Thenupureeswarar temple at Patteeswaram:

 

            Goddess Durga in the temple is mercifully powerful to relieve the devotees from the inflictions of Rahu and Ketu (dragon’s head and dragon’s tail). She also responds to prayers for good marriage alliance, happy marital life and getting children. People throng the temple during Rahukalam (one and half hours each day) especially during Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays, new moon days and full moon days and Ashtami and Navami (8th and 9th day from the new moon or full moon day) for praying Durga. This a famous Durgai amman temple at Patteswaram. The temple is situated  2.5 kms from Darasuram

 

Temple town, Kumbakonam:

           

The most important shrine in the temple town of Kumbhakonam (Kudandai, Kudamookku). The Mangalambikai shrine here is revered as a Shakti Peetham (Mantra Peetham). The Kumbheswara temple in Kumbhakonam (Kudandai - Kudamookku)  is considered to be the 26th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.  The Mahamagam festival associated with this temple attracts crowds from all over India. 

The major Shivastalams in Kumbhakonam are the Kumbheswarar Temple, Kudandaikkaronam, and the Nageswarar Temple (Kudandaikkeezhkottam). Other temples in Kumbhakonam include the Ramaswamy temple and the Vaishnava Divya Desam Sarangapani temple.

The Saptastanams of Kumbeswarar are Kalayanallur, Valanjuzhi, Darasuram, Swamimalai, Kottiayur, Melaikkaveri and Kumbhakonam.

Legends: During the great deluge, it is believed that Shiva caused the Amritakalasam (the pot holding the divine nectar) to stall here. This shrine is said to have been established built and consecrated by Bhrama.

The Kalyana Mandapam hall in the temple, is the seat of the Tirukkalyana Utsavam. The Navaratri mandapam bears a carvings of the 12 zodiac signs and the 27 asterisms. This temple also houses two nadaswarams made of stone. Many images in this temple deserve mention, especially those of Kiratamurthy and Subramanyar.

Kumbeswarar is represented as a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth - (said to have been made by Shiva in the guise of a hunter - Kiratamurthy). Shiva is also known as Amudha Kumbhesar and Amudheesar. The Kumbariya Vinayakar shrine is situated near the tank, while Aadi Vinayakar is worshipped in the temple. 

Festivals: Six worship services are offered each day here. The annual festival in the month of Masi is well attended. The Mahamaham tank is the center of great festivity once every 12 years - when Jupiter is positioned in the zodiac sign of Leo, and the sun is positioned in Aquarius and the moon is in the asterism of Magam (Maasi Magam) -   when Kumbeswarar is taken in procession there. Thousands of pilgrims converge for a dip in the Mahamagam tank during that time.  Several other minor festivals are celebrated each month here.

Sri Nageswaran Temple:

 This Shivastalam is a grand temple in the temple town of Kumbhakonam and is known for its grand shrine to Nataraja - Aadalvallaar and for its beautiful sculptural work, vimanams and mandapams. Kudandai Keezhkottam  is considered to be the 27th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. 

The major Shivastalams in Kumbhakonam are the Kumbheswarar Temple, Kudandaikkaronam, and the Nageswarar Temple (Kudandaikkeezhkottam). Other temples in Kumbhakonam include the Ramaswamy temple and the Vaishnava Divya Desam Sarangapani temple. This temple is situated 2 kms from Darasuram.

Sri Kasi Viswanathar temple:

 

The Kasi Viswanathar Temple in the temple town of  Kumbhakonam is associated   with the Mahamagam festival which occurs once every 12 years; when 9 of the saters of the revered rivers in India are believed  to assemble in the Mahamagam tank. This temple is considered to be the 28th in the series of Tevara Stalams in the Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri.