Quiz Time – Airavateshwara Temple, Darasuram, Kumbakonam

This month’s quiz is based on the Airavatesvara Temple located in Darasuram, near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, the last of the Great Living Chola Temples.

1.Name the great Chola King who built the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram.
a.Raja Raja Chola II
b.Rajadhiraja Chola
c.Virajendra Chola

2.Which deity is the Airavatesvara Temple dedicated to?
a.Lord Vishnu
b.Lord Krishna
c.Lord Shiva

3.The Airavatesvara temple is named as such because Airavata bathed in the ____________________ of the temple, turning his skin clean and white.
a.Pool
b.Water tank
c.Lake

4.In which century was the Airavatesvara temple built?
a.Eleventh century
b.Ninth century
c.Twelfth century

5.The tank in Airavatesvara Temple is also known as Yamateertham because _____ was cured of a rishi’s curse by bathing in it.
a.Lord Yama
b.Airavata
c.Lord Indra

6.The major architectural theme at Airavatesvara temple is _____.
a.Horses
b.Bulls
c.Chariots

7.The ________________ is the smallest of the three Great Living Chola Temples
a.Brihadeeswara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
b.Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram
c.Brihadeeswara Temple, Tanjavur

8.The architecture of the Airavatesvara Temple architecture is primarily based on a ___________ design plan.
a.Circle
b.Oval
c.Square

9.The surviving inner courtyard is almost ________ stacked squares tall.
a.Seven
b.Four
c.Six

10.How tall is the vimanam of the Airavatesvara Temple?
a. 26 meters (85 ft)
b. 8 meters (36 ft)
c. 40 meters (131 ft)

11. At the Airavateswara Temple, _____ “singing steps” cause bell like sounds to ring out when struck. Each step represents a different note in the musical scale.
a. Seven
b. Nine
c. Ten

12. All along the base of the main temple, there are reliefs narrating the story of sixty-three saints. What are these saints called?
a. Nayanmars
b. Rishis
c. Alwars

13.An inscription inside the temple records the renovation of the shrines by _________.
a. Kulothunga Chola III
b. Athirajendra Chola
c. Vikrama Chola

Answers:
1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-c, 5-a, 6-c, 7-b, 8-c, 9-c, 10-a, 11-a, 12-a, 13-a

Shruthi Swaminathan,Milpitas,CA

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