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Question 27 of 94 · Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms
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The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, part of the 'Great Living Chola Temples', was built by:

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Answer: Option A — Rajaraja Chola II

Detailed Solution

The Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, near Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, was built by the Chola king Rajaraja II in the 12th century CE.

About the Airavatesvara Temple:

  • It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped here as "Airavatesvara".
  • According to legend, Airavata, the white elephant of Indra, worshipped Shiva at this place, and its name comes from this story.
  • It is smaller than the great Chola temples at Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram, but it is known for its exquisite and intricate sculpture.
  • It is built in the Dravida style, with a vimana (tower) about 24 metres high.
  • Its front hall (mandapa), called the "Rajagambhira mandapa", is designed like a chariot, with stone wheels and horses.
  • It has "musical steps" (stone steps that produce musical notes when tapped).
  • Its walls have many miniature sculptures depicting stories from the Puranas, the lives of the 63 Nayanar saints, and scenes of dance and music.

The Great Living Chola Temples (UNESCO World Heritage Site):

  • The Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur (built by Rajaraja I, completed 1010 CE); inscribed in 1987.
  • The Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram; added in 2004.
  • The Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram (built by Rajaraja II); added in 2004.
  • They are called "living" temples because worship continues in them today.

About Rajaraja II:

  • He ruled from about 1146 to 1173 CE.
  • His reign was relatively peaceful.

Chola architecture:

  • Chola temples are known for their tall vimanas, large courtyards, gateway towers (gopurams) and beautiful bronze sculptures.
  • In later Chola temples, the gopurams became larger than the vimanas.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Rajendra I built the temple at Gangaikondacholapuram.
  • ✗Kulottunga III built the Kampaheswarar Temple at Thirubuvanam.
  • ✗Good to know
  • ✗Rajaraja I built the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur.

Quick tip

Remember: Airavatesvara Temple (Darasuram) = Rajaraja II (12th century; chariot-shaped mandapa; musical steps); Great Living Chola Temples = Thanjavur (1987) + Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (2004).

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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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