Temple paradise in Tharamangalam

Down south

Tharamangalam is a small town situated near Salem in Tamil Nadu, which could go easily unnoticed by pilgrims or tourists visiting places like Salem, Yercaud etc. Kailasanathar (Lord Shiva) Temple here is truly an architectural wonder, being home to some exquisite stone carvings.

Though parts of the temple are said to have been in existence since the 10th century, it was the Gatti Mudhali dynasty who completed the construction in its entirety in the 17th century. An astounding fact about the temple is that the sculptures here have been carved out of monolithic stones. It is important to engage an official temple guide if you want to learn more about all the sculptures and the stone carvings on the temple pillars.

On the ceiling just in front of the entrance to the inner sanctum, one can see the inverted open lotus with pairs of elegant chains carved out of stone. This lotus can be rotated with a stick. Then there is an imposing yali with an actual stone ball inside its mouth, which can also be rotated. The great hall in the temple portrays sculptures of men, women and gods in their exquisite forms.

The sculptures and carvings in the temple depict scenes from the epic Ramayana and other mythological stories. One such carving is about Vali vadha (killing of Vali) that has been amazingly depicted. While one could see from Lord Rama’s vantage point, Vali and Sugreeva fighting, Rama cannot be seen from Vali’s position.

The entrance to the inner sanctum is through a portico supported by six carved stone pillars. These are beautiful sculptures of princes seated on horses on a hunting expedition. The main tower of the temple is about 90 feet high, conceived as a chariot drawn by elephants and horses.

There are numerous Nandi statues embedded on the walls. Another interesting aspect about the temple is that every year on February 21 and for the three days that follow, the sun’s rays travel through the first gopuram of the temple. From the entrance gate, the rays pass through a small hole and fall on the statue of Shiva, making it glow. The temple tank is another imposing characterestic of the temple.

There is no doubt that this temple rivals many such temples of architectural beauty like Belur, Halebeedu, Tiruchengode etc. It is noteworthy to mention that many of these ancient temples are not only known for their deities, but also for their sculptures. One cannot help admiring our ancestors who created them. These temples have always remained an integral part of our ancient culture.