TEMPLE LAYOUT, STRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE

3.2.1 PROFILE

3.2.2 TEMPLE LAYOUT, STRUCTURE AND ARCHITECTURE

The temple stands on a sprawling 7 acre ground surrounded by a tall and hefty compound wall. The mathilakam (the bounding enclosure) is very extensive and has two dvarasalas, at west and east, the latter in ruins. Some 10-15 Aswatha trees punctuate the temple grounds with their wide spreading canopies.

FIG. 3.17_THE SHIVA TEMPLE AT PERUVANAM, SINCE 12TH CENTURY. ONLY THE TOP OCTAGONAL ROOF (SHIKARA) IS COVERED WITH COPPER AND THE OTHERS ARE TILED. A TEMPLE PRECINCT (USUALLY RECTANGULAR) IS ENCLOSED WITH WALLS CALLED NALAMBALAM.

FIG. 3.18_WESTERN FAÇADE OF PERUVANAM

vernacular architecture of Kerala 32

As one enters the western dvarasala, the make-shift Koothambalam on an old foundation is seen in front of the Naalambalam. There are two Balikkals (of 2 (14.33 mt diameter). It is an ekatala vimana built on a granite adhishtana .

There are two dvarapalakas on either side of the Shrikovil entry, standing on the coils of a snake. One of the legs entwines the club and the other rests on the hood of the snake. The coil of the snake in turn is placed on a lotus seat. The garbha-grha is square in shape enclosed by the circular shrikovil. Two rows of pillars - the inner row having twelve and the outer row sixteen - have been arranged around the square sanctum.

FIG. 3.20/21_CIRCULAR SRIKOVIL AND DWARPALA ON SNAKE MOTIF FIG. 3.19_BALIKKALS

The superstructure (bhithi) is made of laterite blocks, duly plastered and decorated with Kudya stambhas, niches etc. A recessed mukhamandapa exists, at the top of the flight of steps in the Sopana, with a free-standing pillar facade and shrine door proper at the rear wall. The idol consists of two lingas, contributing to the concept of Erattayappan, the lord in the double, signifying Ardhanareeswara to some and Shankaranarayana to others. The Sopana is having lateral steps meeting at a common landing, screened by a carved phalaka in front of the western entrance to the Shrikovil.

FIG. 3.22_CARVINGS ON LATERITE STONE AT PERUVANAM

33

There are three functional openings and a ghanadvara (dummy door) in the circular ground plan. Apart from the Shrikovil entry on the west, those in the south and east accommodate Dakshinamoorthy and Parvathy respectively. The ghanadvara is on the north, just above the pranala, which is supported on a bhuta-gana figure in the pose of drinking lustra water from a bowl.

There is a spacious namaskara mandapa in front of the circular Shrikovil, built on a square plan. As in all traditional swastika mandapas, there are twelve pillars along the periphery with four numbers larger ornamented pillars inside the mandapa. Its pyramidal roof, like the conical roof of the main shrine, is covered with copper sheets.

Beautiful wood carvings adorn the mandapa ceiling as well as the pillars.

The southern side of the shrikovil has Kiratham katha engraved in wood, starting from Parvathi's shrine. Another woodwork which is worth mentioning is that of Garuda swallowing Jeemoothavahana and that of Dakshinamoorthy.

FIG. 3.23_VIEW OF TWO DOORS TO PERUVANAM FROM WESTERN FACADE

FIG. 3.24/25_VIEW OF NAMASKARA MANDAPA ADJACENT TO CIRCULAR SRIKOVIL AND PRESERVED TREES WITHIN THE TEMPLE PREMISES

FIG. 3.26_WOODEN CARVINGS ON WALLS AND DOORS OF PERUVANAM

vernacular architecture of Kerala 34

To the south of the Erattayappan shrine is the Maadathilappan shrine, facing west. It is a tri-tala-vimana (one of the earliest in Kerala, the others being the ruined one at Uliyannur and the one at Parambu Tali) built on a high podium and approached by long flight of steps. Two lateral flights of nine steps (one each in the north and south direction) meet at a common mid landing from where ascends the middle flight of fifteen steps in an easterly direction towards the shrikovil. The ground tala (floor) constitutes the plinth with the shrine on the upper tala (first floor). The ground as well as the upper tala are plastered over with pilasters and panjaras. Wall decorations include ghanadvaras in the centre, kudyastambhas (ornamental pilasters) and false niches with panjaras. Pilasters are tetragonal in the lower half and octogonal in the upper with potikas or bevelled projections on top. The pranala at the first floor level is a plain one without any ornamentation and issues out on the northern side.

Axially, the plan of the first tala consists of a square shrine integrated with a narrow, pillared mukhamandapa in front. The garbha-grha, which is circular inside has a domical roof. Above the first story of the shrikovil, rise in succession the dvitala and tri-tala parts of the vimana. But for the octagonal shikhara with copper roofing, all the floors are made of tiles; in the upper talas, wood has been used profusely with shukanasa projections. There is no namaskara mandapa in front of the maadathilappan shrine. A small Nandi is seen placed on the midlanding.

FIG. 3.27_VIEW OF TRI-TALA-VIMANA – 3 FLOOR SHRINE

FIG. 3.28_DETAIL OF TRI-TALA VIMANA

1ST TIER : TALA/MUKHMANDPPA 2ND TIER : DVI TALA/SQUARE SHRINE 3RD TIER : TRITALA/CIRCULAR SHRINE AND VIMANA

35 books such as Manushyalaya Chandrika and Vastu vidya. This attempt standardized the house construction suited to different socio-economic groups and strengthens the construction tradition among the craftsmen. The traditional craftsman, specially carpenters, preserved the knowledge by rigidly following the canonical rules of proportions of different elements as well as the construction details to this day.

Basically the domestic architecture of Kerala follows the style of detached building;

row houses seen in other parts of India are neither mentioned in Kerala texts nor put up in practice except in settlements (sanketam) occupied by Tamil or Konkini Brahmans. In its most developed form the typical Kerala house is a courtyard type – NALUKETTU. The central courtyard is an outdoor living space which may house some object of cult worship such as a raised bed for tulssi or jasmine (mullathara). The four halls enclosing the courtyard, identical to the nalambalam of the temple, may be divided into several rooms for different activities such as cooking, dining, sleeping, studying, storage of grains etc. Depending on the size and importance of the household the building may have one or two upper storeys (malika) or further enclosed courtyard by repetition of the nalukettu to form ETTUKETTU (eight halled building) or a cluster of such courtyards.

PHILOSPHY

'Sala' in Thatchusastra. (They face towards the East, the North, the West or the South) the edges of the house facing west such a construction is called South). 'Dhwamsyam‘

• The house that faces the East, may have extensions from the northern Dhwamsyam . Residents in 'dhwams' will suffer from loss of sons, torture from and southern edges, it becomes a house with three parts. This is called "Sukshetra'. enemies, and obstructions for everything such other ruins.

• Prosperity will flourish if one lives in such a house. If a house is constructed facing the south and extensions are taken from the made it is called 'Hiranyanabhi'.

• Living in such house bring in prosperity and wealth to the eastern and western edges, it becomes a house with three parts. This is called 'Chulli' as per Thatchusastra.

inmates. Godliness will prevail always in such houses. Residents of such a house will suffer from loss of wealth, loss of children, diseases for kids increasing enemies etc kids, etc.