Kotravai / Durgai worship at Sri Hanumantheeswarar Temple, Anakkavur / Anakkavoor / Anakavur, Sengadu and Palanjur, Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to these Kotravai sculptures at Anakkavur, Sengadu and Palanjur  was a part of  Heritage Visit to the Temples, Thavvai, Kotravai, Durgai, Hero Stone sculpture’s around Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai District on 22^nd August 2021.

Kotravai at Anakkavur, Sri Hanumantheeswarar Temple.

There are Two kotravai sculptures installed in this temple. The Kotravai near the Nandi sannidhi belongs to latter period.

The Kotravai is standing a buffalo’s head She is shown with 8 hands holding Changu, Chakra, Sword, Arrow / Chithramezhi ..?, Shield and Bow. While she holds a bowl and feeds to a Parrot in the lower right hand and what she is holding in the left hand is not known. She wears ornaments in her elongated earlobes and around neck. An ambura thooli / arrow holder is shown behind her right shoulder. Her vahana antilope or Vari aadu is shown on her back. Two men are shown at her feet. The Man on her right leg is shown like offering his head / Navakandam and the left side man is offering some thing / may be flower to Kotravai.  This kotravai is believed to be belongs to 10^th  to 12^th Century Chozha period.

 

The Old Kotravai is kept on back side of the temple. The Kotravai is standing with left leg in firm condition and right leg folded behind the left leg. She is shown with 8 hands with Conch, Chakra, Sword, bow etc. Lower right hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in kadi hastam. A Trident is shown behind her left shoulder. She wears ornaments in her elongated earlobe, around her neck and yagnopaveetha. Dress frills and knots are shown beautifully. Since bottom portion is highly eroded, the details of men in Navakandam and offering are not known. As per the experts this kotravai may belongs to 9^th to 10^th Century Pallava period.

LOCATION     : CLICK HERE

Kotravai, Sengadu.

This Kotravai is installed on the east side of an Amman Temple with colour wash.

Kotravai is standing on a buffalo’s head, whose ears are beautifully chiseled. Kotravai is with eight hands holding Sangu / conch, Chakra, Sword, arrow, bow and Shield. Right lower hand is in abhaya hastam and left hand is in ooru hastam. She wears ornaments in ears and around the neck. The saree frill knot is shown on her right hip. Considering the Maguda, experts of the opinion that this Kotravai belongs to 9^th to 10^th Century Pallava period.

LOCATION    : CLICK HERE 

ஸ்ரீ துர்க்கை அம்மன் ஆலயம் / Kotravai,  பழஞ்சூர் / Pavunjur.

This Kotravai is called locally as Durgai and installed under a tree  of the temple. The Kotravai is standing on  buffalo’s head. She wears ornaments in her elongated earlobes and around her neck. She is with 8 hands holds various weapons like Changu, Chakra, Sword,  Shield, Bow, arrow, Chitramezhi (..?). A deer / antelope is shown on her right side. On both sides of her leg Two men are shown. One man is shown with Navakandam posture ( Cutting his head ) and the other man is in anjali hastam.

LOCATION     : CLICK HERE

Antilope

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