Mukkuruni Vinayaka Shrine; click for a larger image

 Pandya Nayaka or Murukan Shrine; click for a larger image North Gopuram with Shivaganga Tirtha; click for a larger image Raja Sabha or 1000 Pillars Hall; click for a larger image Shivaganga Tirtha with the 100 Pillars Hall and the West Gopuram in the background; click for larger image Mandapam in inner courtyard of the Nataraja temple; click for larger image


HOME VINAYAKA PANDYANAYAKA GOPURAM RAJASABHA SHIVAGANGA MANDAPAM MAP BIBLIOGRAPHY GLOSSARY LINKS
ABOUT CONTACT
 

 

SHIVAGANGA and the WEST GOPURAM

Shivaganga Tirtha with the 100 Pillars Hall and the West Gopuram in the background; click for larger image


In this photo we see the southern part of the Shivaganga, the tirtha or sacred water place, the 100 pillars Hall and the West Gopuram.

The 100 Pillars Hall which is at present very dilapidated is clearly and beautifully visible on this photo. It shows the hall was open on all sides, with the entrance towards the south. We have here a clear panoramic view of the temple from before the time many changes were made. The West Gopuram is only decorated with miniature shrines in the form of shalas, kutis and karnakutis. The pavilion at the top of the steps into the Shivaganga has an elevated roof with stupi. This means it would have been consecrated as a shrine.

                                                                                                              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

Copyright © 2007 Raja Deekshithar. All rights reserved.
The author would like to thank the Digital South Asian Library
for its kind permission to reproduce the six photos of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple in Chidambaram.
All other photos by the author.