Sunset View of the Brihadisvara Temple © Roehan Rengadurai / Flickr
In Tamil Nadu, the southeast of India, dedicated to Lord Shiva in the posture of dance, the Brihadisvara Temple is an architectural marvel famous for its size and engineering. This temple of Natraj, one of the largest South Indian temples, has attracted the attention of archaeologists and inspired legends to make them feel exemplary examples of Tamil architecture.
One of the largest South Indian temples, the Brihadisvara temple is part of a group of Chola-era temples that cherish and narrate their past stories. This temple presents an ideal depiction of the great heights of Tamil architecture by the Chola rulers. This temple dedicated to Lord Bhoot Bhavan Shiva, located on the south bank of the Kaveri river in Thanjavur, also known as Rajarajeswaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, known as the “The Great Living Chola Temples” - (The Chola dynasty era includes the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple); One of each is built in tamil architectural style. The structure of this temple was constructed using some of the most Dravidian techniques of the time; Detailed inscriptions 107 paragraphs engraved on stone, high walls of the temple complex, entrances fort-like, a moat, rooms, long and wide corridors and paintings of Lord Shiva painted on the walls. This magnificent architecture of the temple and along with these inscriptions also provide a glimpse of its patrons, its rituals, that show for one of the major Chola kings, King King I and his empire how prosperous they were.
Side View of the Brihadisvara Temple © Simianwolverine / Flickr
Built between 1003 and 1010 A.D. by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I, the temple has celebrated 1000 years of its existence in 2010, is still an active centre of worship and reverence for devotees and the temple holds a fair of devotees daily. The original monument of the temple built in the 11th century is built around a Moat. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the tower above the sanctum Sanctorum (famous as Vimanam) is 216 feet (66 m) long. Shivlinga 13 feet tall, with a circumference of 54ft, which is one of the tallest shivlingas in India. The "Kumbam" (bulbous structure or the apex) of the temple, weighing about 80 tonnes, carved from a single rock, is considered to be a show case of architectural excellence of that period. At the entrance of the temple complex is the monastery of a huge Nandi (the gate guardian of Shiva and a bull deity), about 12 and a half feet high, 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide and weighing 25 tonnes, as a protector, sitting at the entrance of the temple. The tower and lifting the cupola to the top, it has been constructed in such a way that the shadow of Cupola does not fall on the ground, it is a wonderful proof of the engineering skills of Chola Architects. For historians and archaeologists has long been a theme of how the temple has actually been constructed, as well as surprise anyone visiting the temple. Built using more than 130,000 tons of granite, this magnificent structure reflects the architectural prowess and affinity of Indian kings.
Aspiration and History
Arulmozhivarman, a Tamil emperor who ruled ancient Tamil Nadu as a Rajraja Chola I popularly as chola emperor; Under which the Brihadisvara Temple has been built. Legend is that Raja Raja I, after visiting the Pallava Rajasimha Temples in Kanchipuram, contemplated to build a huge temple for Lord Shiva and started the construction of the temple in its 19th year itself. Moreover, there is a another legend that Raja Raja I came a vision of building a temple in his mind when he visiting Ceylon (Sri Lanka); And he decided to make it in honor of his reign, which is seen as victorious. The architecture of the temple is exemplary, which demonstrates the true form of architecture of the Chola Empire and the Tamil civilization of South India. The greatest Rajaraj-I of the Chola emperors, the son of Sundara Chola and Vanavan mahadevi, built the magnificent temple in Thanjavur in the name of Brihadeshwarar. The temple testifies to the splendor achievements of the Chola Empire in "architecture, painting, bronze casting and sculpture".
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| Tallest extant in South India © Hafiz Issadeen / Flickr |
The Brihadisvara Temple, marked with the lofty empire of the Chola era in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, represents the construction tradition of one of the most beautiful architectural splendors of the Chola Empire. Thanjavur, earlier known as Tanjore, used to be the capital of the Cholas when the city was reaching its peak. He held his footprints on the river Ganga in North India and from Odisha in north-east India to foreign countries and some other parts. It is seen that in the third century CE, the Cholas faced the invasion of the Kalabhras, after which their territory was faded with darkness. But before capturing the empire of the lost Thanjavur, Thanjavur was ruled by the Mutharaiyar Dynasty Empire for nearly three centuries between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. But, the spectrum of Hindu temple styles continued to develop during the Chalukya era. The rule of the Mutharaiyar dynasty was overthrown by Vijayalaya Chola (r. 850–870 CE); in 850 BC, Vijayalaya Chola established a small kingdom in Thanjavur and its vicinity, later developed into a wide empire by the successors of the Vijayalaya.
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| Gaja-Lakshmi Mural, a Vaishnavism Themed Artwork © Nimal Skandhakumar / Flickr |
Under Chola reign, his empire, including the city of Thanjavur, had reached great heights of excellence in art, religion, music and literature. The Chola period also marked the culmination in both the fields of art and architecture that began in the Pallava Dynasty (4th to 9th century CE). The 11th century CE is known for its magnificent temple construction activities all over India. The main temples with its Gopurams are of the beginning of the 11th century. The temple has endured saw of additions, renovations and repairs over the years. Raids and wars, as well as attempts by Muslim sultans (who controlled Madurai) to destroy the culture and Hindu king (who controlled Thanjavur), have been tried and damage. The temple has been repaired by the Hindu dynasties who have controlled. In the meantime, efforts have been made by the rulers to renovate the temple with faded paintings by ordering new murals on top of older paintings.
Marvellous Architecture
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| Statues of deity on carved walls © Simianwolverine / Flickr |
If it's to be considered as to how the temple came, how it was constructed, many scientific facts would be estimated and theories would be seen floating. The construction of the temple is very impressive and surprising. Archaeologists and observers have developed many hypothetical theories thinking about the construction of the temple. But these principles cannot be stamped. However, techniques such as axial planning and symmetrical geometry rule have been used in the construction of the Brihadeshwara temple.
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| Nandi-Mandapam, A bull weighing about 25 Tonnes © Nimal Skandhakumar / Flickr |
The entire structure of the temple complex is mainly made of granite, and large blocks of these stones have been brought to the site by the labour of thousands of captive elephants from about 60 km west of the nearest source temple. The temple complex remains in the form of rectangular area, spread over an area of 790.0 feet (240.792 m) from east to west and 400.0 ft (121.92 m) from north to south. The entire complex space of the temple is mainly covered in five sections - the main-structure (Sri-Vimana), a Nandi Hall (Nandi Mandapam) in front, a great gathering hall (Maha-Mandapam), the main community hall (Mukh-Mandapam), and the front mandapa, which is connecting the great hall to the sanctum (Ardha-Mandapam).
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| Gopuram (entrance), known as Keralantakan Tiruvasal © Lodo / Flickr |
The main entrance to the temple is amazing, its height is about 200 feet (60.96 m). The structure of the temple has been made defensive, including a moat and fortification walls. One of the reasons for this may be that the dreams and aspirations of Rajraja Cholan were always huge and opted to build the magnificent temple monument to showcase the power and valour of their empire. Outside the pillared veranda of the temple complex are two walls of enclosure, the outer wall is defensive as a stronghold and the other in 1777 BC In the temple with gun-holes added as arsenals by French colonial forces. Inside the temple courtyard, there are two other major temples with the main sanctum and Nandi-Mandapam, one for Parvati Devi (Shiva's Consort) and for Kartikeya (Shiva's children), and many other small temples; they are dedicated to Ganesha, Nandi, Varahi, Karuvur deva (the guru of Rajaraja Chola), Chandeshvara and Nataraja. Nandi Mandapam, a monolithic sitting bull in front of the sanctum, weighing about 25 tonnes, is made of a single stone. The face of the temple is on the east side and there are two Gopuram (entrances) to the east of the complex. The main gates after the Maratha entrance are the first one known as Keralantakan tiruvasal, which means "the holy gate of Keralantakan". About 100 metres ahead, there is the inner Gopuram, which is called Rajarajan Tiruvasal. It leads to the Gopuram spacious courtyard, where all the temples and mandapas are pilgrimage centres.
How to Get There
By Road - Thanjavur has two major bus stands and is well connected to most of South India by well-constructed roads and motorable highways. Thanjavur is easily accessible from other cities via bus. Many private companies, and government buses are operated continuously. Brihadisvara Temple is at a distance of (1 km) from Thanjavur Old Bus Stand and (5.2 km) from Thanjavur New bus stand.
By Train - Brihadisvara Temple is 1.9 km from Thanjavur junction railway station, is the nearest railway station in Thanjavur. Thanjavur is directly connected to Tiruchirapalli, Chennai, Madurai and other South Indian cities by rail. Thanjavur is easily accessible from other cities.
By Air - Brihadisvara Temple is 60 km from Tiruchirapalli International Airport, is the nearest airport from Thanjavur. The temple is easily accessible from the airport by bus or cab.
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