SPHINXES IN CHOLA TEMPLES
The Chola dynasty dominated southern India for 4 centuries.
From the middle of the 9th century till the latter half of the 13th century.
They were great patrons of spirituality and art and sponsored the construction
of countless temples. Many of the purushamriga sculptures I have discovered
can be dated to this period. For instance the sphinx in the Vishnu temple in
Tribhuvanai, the many narrative panels in the Shiva temple in Darasuram
and in the Shiva temple in Tribhuvanam (near Kumbakonam), all belong to this period.
Throughout this period we see primarily striding sphinxes with a complete
lion body, mane, a human face or head with elongated ears. But we also
encounter a few examples of the half lion-half human type, for instance in the
Shiva temple in Bahur (near Pondicherry).
The crouching sphinxes positioned and sculpted as pairs also can also be
dated to the time of the Cholas.
Outstanding among these are the pair of purushamriga that guard the
east entrance of the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram.
They represent a unique artistic idiom peculiar to South India, and do
not show any sign of foreign influence. They flank the entrance sitting on a
raised platform on both side of a flight of steps. They are male and female,
forming a pair. These purushamriga are part of the temple tradition.
They are said to remove impurities and liberate those who enter the temple
from sins. They are being worshipped as part of the tradition.
The male purushamriga is situated on the south of the doorway.
The female one is placed on the northern side. They are sculpted plain,
almost without jewels or other decoration. They have full manes, represented
by concentric rows of curls, surrounding their faces and covering their chests.
They have elongated ears and wear the appropriate male and female ear studs
as only jewelry.
The male purushamriga has fangs. The female purushamriga has a very
slight indication of female breasts. They both have round slightly bulging eyes,
with prominently arching eye-brows. A devotional poem called
‘Kuncitangristava’, by the 13th century poet Shri Umapati Shivacharya,
describes the purushamriga as guarding the east entrance.
Yaccitrastambhakaksyamadhi vishadakhila pranivarganvishuddhan
Kurvankashcinmahatma purusamrigatanuryogirad yatsabhayah
Purvasmindvaradeshe nivasati hrdaye santatam yam vicinvan
Tam devam cidvilasaprakatitanatanam kuncitangrim bhaje’ham
This translates as
In the enclosure with the wonderful pillars,
Resides permanently the noble person,
The purushamriga, a yogi,
The one who removes, purifying the living beings.
He who is consciousness, dwells in the heart of who is forever
in the place of the entrance, to the East of the Sabha.
I worship that divine Lord, whose dance manifests the shining spirit,
Whose foot is curved.
