| Identification / पहचान | |
| Reference Number / संदर्भ संख्या | TN22003655 |
| Built Heritage/Site निर्मित धरोहर / स्थल |
Built Heritage |
| Name of the Monument / Built Heritage / Site स्मारक / निर्मित धरोहर / स्थल का नाम |
Gokarnesvara Temple |
| State / राज्य | Tamil Nadu |
| District / जिला | Pudukkottai |
| Manual District | |
| Sub District / उप-जिला | Others |
| Manual Sub District | Tirugokarnam |
| Village / गाँव | |
| Manual Village | |
| Cultural Affiliation / सांस्कृतिक सम्बंधन | |
| Date/Period तारीख/युग |
2,00,000 B.P. - 1,00,000 B.P. |
| Sub Period | |
| Geo-Location / भू-अवस्थिति | |
| Latitude / अक्षांश | |
| Longitude / देशान्तर | |
| Approach to the Monument / पहुंचने का मार्ग | |
| Approach /पहुंचने का मार्ग | |
| Air Port / विमानपत्तन | Tiruchirappalli 44.3 km. |
| Railway Station / रेलवे स्टेशन | Pudukkottai |
| Bus Station / बस स्टैंड | |
| Topographical Features / स्थलाकृतिक विशेषताएं | |
| Topographical Feature / स्थलाकृतिक विशेषताएं | |
| Topographical Description / स्थलाकृतिक विवरण | N.A. |
| History / इतिहास | |
| Brief History / संक्षिप्त इतिहास | The temple was erected during the reign of Mahendra Verman Pallava 600-630 A.D. . The rulers of several subsequent dynasties, notably the Pandyas and the Cholas added new Mandapas to the original rock-cut shrine. Inscriptions on the walls of the temple record the lavish gifts offered by successive dynasties to the shrine. It includes the inscription of the Pandya King Maranjadaiyan 781-82 A.D. , epigraphs of Rajaraja I Chola 992-93 and the record of offerings of land by Rajaraja III Chola 1236 A.D. . in 1518 A.D. Krishnadeva Raya, the Vijayanagara emperor worshipped at this shrine. The Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai 19 early 20th century A.D. hailed Brihadambal, the presiding Goddess of the temple as their tutelary deity and atyled themselves Sri Brihadambadas Servant of Sri Brihadamba . The coins issued by these rulers bear the figure of the above goddess. |
| Local / Traditional description associated with Built Heritage / Site निर्मित धरोहर / स्थल से सम्बंधित स्थानीय/ परम्परागत विवरण |
N.A. |
| Architectural Style / स्थापत्य शैली | N.A - उपलब्ध नहीं |
| Building/ Structure/Site
इमारत / संरचना / स्थल |
|
| Description of Building/ Structure/Site
इमारत/संरचना/स्थल का विवरण |
The story about the origin of the temple is centered around Kamadhenu, the divine cow. It is said that on one occation Kamadhenu was late to Lord Indra s Court and hence,was condemned to live the life of an ordinary cow on earth. Thus the cow reached the hermitage of Sage Kapila and on his advice began to worship the image of Gokarnesvara Shiva under a bakula tree Mimusops elengi . As per tradition, each day the cow tramped from Tirugokarnam to the river Ganga in north India to bring the sacred river water in her ears for the God s ablustion. This explains the very name Gokarnesvara or Lord of the Cow s ear . Once, during twilight, when the cow was returnig to Tirugokarnam with the sacred water, a tiger encountered her at a place called Tiruvengaivasal the tiger s gate and wanted her as his food for the day. On her appeal she was allowed to go, on the condition that she should return after the worship. True to her promise, the cow returned to the tiger. Then suddenly the tiger disappeared and in his place stood Lord Shiva and Parvati who escorted Kamadhenu back to heaven. A tarn in the hill behind the shrine is said to have been cut by the cow with her horn for storing the Ganga water in it. A cleft on top of the linga in the temple is believed to be the hoofprint left by the cow as she bathed the linga with the water. |
| Structure material and other material संरचनागत सामग्री और अन्य घटक |
|
| Building/Structure material and other material used प्रयोग में लाई गई इमारती / संरचनागत सामग्री और अन्य घटक |
Stone |
| Usage(s) & Sub Type | |
| Usage(s) / प्रयोग | Living Monument - प्रयोग |
| Sub-Usage(s)/ उप-प्रयोग | |
| Ownership / स्वामित्व | Endowment - स्थायी निधि |
| Protection status / संरक्षण अवस्था | Unprotected- असंरक्षित |
| Plan/Elevation विन्यास/उध्र्व विन्यास | |
| Published Reference / प्रकाशित संदर्भ | |
| Author / लेखक | INTACH |
| Name / नाम | Distt. Pudukkottai,Tamilnadu |
| Year / वर्ष | |
| Published/Unpublished प्रकाशित / अप्रकाशित |
Unpublished |
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