HISTORY OF BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE

HISTORY OF THANJAVUR BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE

The Brihadeeswarar temple is called peruvudaiyar kovil or Thanjavur kovil.This "Great Living Chola Temple " is dated back to the 11th century and the times of the famous Raja Raja Chola. The temple is built using granite and is dedicated to lord shiva. During the reign of one of the longest ruling dynasties of India-the Cholas, The temple was called Rajarajeshwaram. It was a center for all religious function and festivals .

Later, after the Nayakas and Marathas invaded it, the temple become famous as the brihadeeswarar temple. It is now a UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific And Cultural Organization.) Heritage site and one important destination in south India.

GOPURAMS SMALLER THAN VIMAMA-BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE .

1.In most South Indian temples ,the gopurams (gates) are taller than vimana (the main temple tower). However ,in the Brihadeeswarar temple,it is exactly the opposite. The gopurams are smaller than the vimana.

2.The entrie temple is made of Granite. Evidence shows that there was no granite cutting quarry or even sources to get the stone around Thanjavur. In fact,it is not available even within 50 km of the site.

3.Speaking of granite ,the main vimana measures 66m in height .This is 6 stories high and was the largest structure in South India in these days.The astonishing part about this is that the large granite capstone on the top weighs around 80tons .This is those days,was placed over the hollow vimana-how?No one knows!.

4.The tall vimana is made using interlocking bricks.There is no binding materials used.The best part is-it has survived so many centuries and various invasions and calamities like earth quakes.

5. And here is the whoopiest of all facts about Brihadeeswarar temple .You will never see the shadows of the vimana at noon.

LAYOUT OF THE THANJAVUR TEMPLE.

GOPURAMS OF BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE .

There are three gates but only two elaborate gopurams. The first one is more like a fort gate that was built by the Marathas to defend the place .It was connected to the moat that surronded the temple .The second gate is Keralantakan Tiruvasal and the third gate is Raja Rajan Thiruvasal .

THE OUTER MOST GATE OF THE TANJORE BIG TEMPLE

KERALANTAKAN TIRUVASAL

KERALATAKAN GOPURAM

RAJA RAJAN TIRUVASAL

NANDI MANDAPAM

Where there is Shiva,there is Nandi . Nandi is Shiva's guardian as well as his mount.Every hindu temple that is dedicated to Shiva,will have a Nandi outside its shrine,with the Nandi idol facing the Shiva idol.Brihadeeswarar temple too . However ,the interesting thing is that the pavilion wuth this Nandi was only built later in the 16th century by the Nayaka kings.

SRI VIMANA OF BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE

THE WEDDING COUPLE-SHIVA AND PARVATI -ALONG THE WALSS OF THE CLOISTER MANDAPAM

108 LINGAS IN CLOISTER MANDAPAM OF BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE

The Maratha king -Saraboji installed 108 shiva lingas here.Some of them in cluster while some of them in a line along with their guardian Nandis. Behind them the sequence of murals tells you a pictorial tale of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Godess Parvathi.The wall arts has been done using natural organic colours like vegetable dyes and has survived the long passages of time.

THE ACCOUNTS OF CHOLA KINGDOM CARVED ON THE WALLS OF THE BIG TEMPLE