Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Parasuramesvara Temple is also known as Thretheswara swamy Temple. According to tradition there lived a Rakshasa by name Threthasura in Thretayuga who brought misery not only to man kind but to sages also. Then to get rid of him, sage Narada and other Maharshis peformed a yagna in propitiation of lord Eswara. Eswara came out from the homa gundam in the form of a Tejo lingam and emancipated the rakshasa by killing him. Sri Parasurama was installed in a temple and hence the shrine is known as Parasurama kshetram. Parasuramesvara Temple is facing in West direction and constructed in the Chola type of pilasters, sculptures decorative devices. Parasuramesvara Temple has Rectangular gopura gateway. It measures 3 metres x 5.10 metres and has a Dhwaja Stambham. Exterior measuring 8.3 x 5.35 meters and apsidal in the interior. The walls of the garbhagriha an few with sculptures in between pilasters and the recesses.The doorway of the sanctum is of trisaka type. The jambs are decorated with patralatha, stambha and lathapatra motifs. The dvarapalas an represented at the bottom portion of the door jambs. At the lintel Gajalakshmi is present. Above the lalatapattika makaratorna is featured. Interestingly, the torana contains a warrior holding a sword and shield in the center. On either side simhamukhas are carved in which kneeling human.

Siva Kalyanasundaramurti sculpture is found carved on the wall portion of the Garbhagriha of the temple. Siva has a young bridegroom is standing in tribanga pose. The image of Nataraja is found on the wall of Garbhagriha. The temple figures for the first time in an epigraph 969 A.D. To the south of this temple there is a 72 pillared hall,It consists of garbhagriha. antarala and mukhamandapa walled on all sides and with an open pillared mandapa. In the south west position of the courtyard. The open pillared mandapa is located in the south west of the courtyard. It measures 21.80 X 10.70 m. The mandapa contains 72 pillars arranged in 6 rows, each containing of 12 pillars. The pillars are of three types viz., a pillar with a rectangular block at the base with tapering octagonal shaft. In the second type pillar consists three square blocks at bottom, middle and top and thus dividing the octagonal shaft in two sections and the third type of pillars contain round-shafts. However all the pillars have the corbels of roll and leaf type. Kevalamurti form of Siva is found laying in the mukhamandapa. It is supposed to be the original image enshrined in the sanctum. In this image Siva is represented as Sthanakamurri. The legs of the image are broken below the knees. Holy river Cheyyeru located near foothill.