Brihadisvara Temple :
Location : Thanjavur , Tamil Nadu , India .
Coordinates : 10° 46′ 58″ N, 79° 7′ 54″ E
Brihadisvara temple is an ancient hindu temple dedicated to "Lord Shiva" , Brihadisvara means "The Great Eswara" . It was also known as Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil .It was also known as Rajarajesvaram because Lord Shiva is called as Rajarajesvarudu . It was one of the Largest South Indian temples and was called as Dhakshina Meru of south . Built by Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD . The temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site which was known as the " Great Living Chola Temples ", along with the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara Temple .
History and Construction :
The great Cholas established a powerful monarchy in the 9th CE at Thanjavur and in its surroundings. They enjoyed a long, eventful rule lasting for four and a half centuries with great achievements in all fields of royal endeavor such as military conquest, efficient administration, cultural assimilation and promotion of art.The inspiration to build the temple came to Raja Raja during his visit to Sri Lanka and in a result oa a dream he had . All three temples, the Brihadisvara at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara at Gangaikonda cholapuram and Airavatesvara at Darasuram, are living temples . Brihadusvara temple was constructed by Raja Raja Chola I , King of Chola Dynasty between 1003 and 1010 AD . The temples consists of a gopuram along with the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures of Shivasm, Vaishnvaism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism .The main temple along with its gopurams are from the early 11th century . The temple also saw additions, renovations, and repairs over the next 1,000 years . The temple as built completely with Granite . Over 1,30,00 Tones of granite was used to construct it . Though There weren't any Granite mountains around 100 kms to the temple , all the granite was brought from a long distances with the help of nearly 300 elephants . It was one of the best example of ancient temples.
Architecture :
This temple is a perfect illustration of the great heights achieved in the field of architecture by the Chola rulers. Inside the temple, there is a temple tower famous as Vimana among the devotees and tourists. This temple tower has an elevation of 66 meters. Vimana is one of the tallest temple towers on the earth .The Whole temple was built with the granite.Nearly 1,30,000 tone of granite stone was use . It was built only by placing stone one stone , no cement or binding materials were used to attach them . The stones were carved such a way that they lock the stones around them. Even no foundation was laid to the temple . 80 tones of stone was placed above 200 feet height using a ramp which was constructed at a distance of 6 kms . This method was also used in the construction of pyramids . Eighty-one of the one hundred and eight karanas, posed in Baharatanatya,are carved on the walls of second bhumi around the garbhagriha. The statue of Nandi which is the vahanam of Lord Shiva was placed at the entrance of the temple, Which is carved on single stone . Outside the temple enclosure are the fort walls of the Sivaganga Little Fort surrounded by a moat, and the Sivaganga Tank, constructed by the Nayaks of Tanjore , who succeeded the imperial Cholas in 16th century .
Amazing Facts about Brihadisvara Temple :
1.A long associated myth with this temple is that the shadow of the main structure does not fall on the ground .
2.Over 130,000 tones of granite is used in the construction of temple .
3.The statue of Nandi at the entrance of the temple is carved on single stone .
4.Depicitions of Nartakis or Dancers Showing eighty one of hundred and eight karanas in Bharata natyam are carved here .
5.The inscriptions also mention the different kinds of jewels used in period . A total of twenty three different types of pearls , eleven varieties of diamonds and rubies are mentioned in these insriptions .
6.It was built only by placing stone one stone , no cement or binding materials were used to attach them . The stones were carved such a way that they lock the stones around them.
Restoration and Tourism :
The three cultural properties, namely, the Brihadisvara Temple complex at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara temple complex at Gangaikondacholapuram and the Airavatesvara temple complex at Darasuram have been under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India from the years 1922, 1946 and 1954 respectively. Further, all of them were brought under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act from the year 1959, at the time of its enactment. The "Brihadisvara Temple, Tanjavur", which was previously inscribed on the World Heritage List, is part of the "Great Living Chola Temples".Its amazing architecture attracts many people around the world .
Map :
Comments
Post a Comment