Temples of Nayak Period

TEMPLES OF NAYAK PERIOD

The Nayaks were ruling over Tamil Nadu for about 210 years from 1526 AD to 1736 AD. This rule started in 1526 AD in Gingee. It started in Madurai in 1529. In 1532, it started in Thanjavur. Among these, Madurai alone had Nayak rule for almost 207 years.

Most of the time, the Nayak Kings were involved in the restoration of the earlier temples. Like the Pandyan Kings, they made certain changes in the towers of the temples. Temple towers were more than ten levels were erected during the reign of Nayaks. The Nayak built mandapams with many decorative carvings.

Tower Architecture of the Nayaks ol

Nayak period architecture illustrates that the technique of erecting very large multi-storied towers with a height of 150-200 feet was known as early as 16-17th Centuries.

Examples

1. Rasagopalasamy Temple - Mannargudi.

2. Kumbeshwarar Temple - Kumbakonam

3. Meenakshi Amman Temple - Madurai

4. Arunachaleshwara Temple - Thiruvannamalai

5. Andal Temple - Srivilliputhur

All these temples are about 150-200 feet tall.

1. The Special Features of the Towers

1. Entrance

The main part of the tower is the entrance. It rises upto the first Kapotha of the tower and splits into two. The height of the entrance should be twice the width. Generally, the entrance to the towers has two openings. One hole is for the entry and the other for exit.

2. The Door

Tower entrances are also known as doorways (or) gavadas. The door entrances are mostly made of single stone (or) wood.

3. Threshold

The threshold is made of a single stone. Its roof is slightly higher than the other entrance canopies.

4. Upper Layer

The tops of the towers are built of brick, lime and mortar. The areas upto the kalkara level have been made of black stone.

5. Paintings

The inner sites and the canopies of the tower have been decorated with beautiful colour paintings. These paintings are meant to illustrate religious and social events.

6. Sculptures

The role of Nayaks in introducing innumeral miniatures to the towers was immense. Sculptures with many mythological scenes and stories have been introduced on the walls of the towers. On the pillars of the temple, the carvings of kuravan, kurathi, hunter, etc., were seen. This shows that equality was maintained during that period.

2. Major Nayakkar Temples

1. Alagar Temple, Andal Temple

In Vasantha Mandpam of Alagar Temple and Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, the paintings of Madurai Nayaka depict the important happening found in Ramayana as series. In the Alagar Temple Vasantha Mandapa paintings, the beginning of Ramayana to the end of Yuddha Kandam are shown. Below each scene, its description is written in the colloquial Tamil language of the time.

The birth scenes of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha and Shathruka, their going to school and the death of Dasaratha are depicted in it.

2. Natham Siva Temple

In the front hall of the Amman temple, the birth scenes of Muruga from the Skantha Purana are painted. The front hall of the Swami temple has the image of Ilingama Nayak and various modifications painted on it.

3. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

i) In Madurai Angayarkanni Temple, there are 64 coloured paintings of Tiruvilaiyadal scenes on the north and east sides of the hall walls around the Potramarai Pond.

ii) In one of the mandapams on the top of Potramarai Pond, there is a historical painting of the era of Rani Mangammal. It features scenes of Tadathagai Pratiyar, born as the daughter of Pandya, fighting with the eight guards, the sceptre festival held annually by the Nayak kings and Meenakshi Thirukkalyanam.

iii) The sceptre ceremony painting depicts the scene of Rani be Mangammal receiving the sceptre.

iv) In this painting, there is a scene where Muthu Visayaranga Sokanatha Nayak and Thalavai Ramappaiyan are enjoying seeing Meenakshi Thirukkalyanam with Rani Mangammal.

4. Thiruvarangam Temple

i) At Srirangam, the Muthangi Seva procession of Thiruvaranganathar is depicted in a beautiful colour painting on the canopy of one of the towers on the way to the temple, past the Rajagopuram.

ii) Bhagavatha legend is elaborately painted on the canopy of Thirusutru Mandapam of the Mother Shrine.

iii) The history of the Alwars and the Acharya method can be seen in colour paintings in the Ramanujar Temple swoften Mandapam.

5. Patteeswaram Shiva Temple

In the Shiva Temple here, Thala Purana is painted in Amman Temple Mandapam. The custom of fishing is well depicted in it. The Nataraja dance performance is depicted in the Shiva Temple Tower.

6. Chidambaram Sivakamiamman Temple

Chidambaram Sivakamiamman Temple's front porch canopies depict the mythological scenes of Chidambaram and Lord Shiva's destruction of the Sages of Darugavana. In this painting, Lord Shiva disguised as Pitchandan and the rishi women are behind him taking the centre position. The sages of Darungavana are departing behind Tirumal who is in the form of Mohini.

7. Avudaiyar Temple

In this painting, the history of Manikka Vasaga is depicted.

8. Thiruvannamalai Ezhuthu Mandapam

On the road to Girivalam, there is a mandapam called Ezhuthu Mandapam. Lord Shiva marrying Umaiyal, the Ramayana, Kannan's frolics with the shephereds' wives and Muruga's marriage to Valli have been depicted as colour paintings.

9. Chengam Perumal Temple Mandapam

Next to Thiruvannamalai, at Chengam in the Perumal Temple Mandapam, Telugu Ramayana scenes have been painted. One of these scenes where Hanuman beats Mandothari holding her hair is different and innovative.

10. Tanjore Great Temple

On the wall of Praharam surrounding the Sanctum Sanctorum of the temple, paintings of the Nayak period are placed on the top of the paintings of Chola period. The sight of the guards coming in their vehicles, praying for elixir in the sea, Durga fighting with the monsters Sumban and Nisumban, Thirumal plucking lotus flowers from a pond to receive chakra from Shiva have been painted.

11. Thiruvarur Thiagaraja Temple

Paintings have been done on the ceiling of its hall. It depicts the story of the legendary King Musukuntha Chakravarthy. The monkey-faced Musikuntha Chakravathy sits on an elephant and comes in procession followed by two attendants moving the Samaram (fan).

12. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple

In this temple, the wedding scene of Meenakshiammai and Sundareswarar is beautifully painted in the swing hall opposite to the shrine of the goddess. Near Devi, Thirumal with Bhudevi pour water to Shiva and arranges the marriage. Eight guardians and Nandidev stand at the back. Nanmugan makes a fire below. Some members of the Royal families are watching this with happiness. Rani mangammal is standing next to Lord Shiva with folded hands.