Any
visitor will be impressed by the dexterity with which each image in the mandaparn has been
carved out. They are so life-like and their features and expressions so natural and real
that a person will be under the impression that he is actually in front of living beings.
Such beautiful idols can hardly be seen else where. The stone for carving out the
idols have been selected with such care that they produce melodious musical sounds when
struck at different places.
There are many good images of ingenious and rare
workmanship in the mandaparn, which is just opposite the presiding deity.
One of the pillars represents the story of the adventure of Bhimasena with Purushamrigam.
To fulfil the ritual at an important yaga, Yudhishthira required the milk of
Purushamrigam, a half-man, half-beast denizen of the forests, This creature is a devoted
Siva bhakta and Bhimasena achieved his purpose when it was in deep penance. |
