Chapter 4 : Brihadeeshwara Temple-A Stand Alone Marvel

Introduction

• The Brihadeeshwara Temple (The Great Temple) in Thanjavur is a magnificent structure that speaks volumes about the Chola era's architectural ability.
• One of the country's biggest Shiva Lingas is located in this Shiva Temple. Above the shrine is a magnificent Nandi (bull). It is made of a single stone and is the second-largest Nandi in all of India.
• It is situated in Thanjavur on the Cauvery River's Southern Bank.
• Dakshina Meru is another name for it. Together with the temples from the Chola era in Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara, the temple is a part of the "Great Living Chola Temples" UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Historical Perspective

• The Kaveri delta region's ancient city of Thanjavur (also known as Tanjore) serves as its cultural epicentre. When the town was taken over by the Vijayalaya Cholas at the beginning of the ninth century, the Cholas claim to have recognised it as a potential political centre.

Regarding Thanjavur

• The Kaveri delta region's old city of Thanjavur serves as its cultural epicentre. The Cholas, the Vijayanagar, and the Maratta rulers were three dynamic kingdoms that controlled this region of Tamil Nadu throughout the past millennium, leaving behind the city and its cultural legacy.
• When the town was taken over by the Vijayalaya Cholas at the beginning of the ninth century, the Cholas claim to have recognised it as a potential political centre.
• Rajaraja-I, who participated in a number of military campaigns, was inspired by the exquisite temple construction favoured by the Pallavas, his forebears, and his ancestors, who were devoted Saivites and had a hand in the creation of numerous well-known Siva temples.

About Brihadeeshwara Temple

• The temple complex, which is located inside what is known as Sivagangai tiny fort, measures around 244 metres on the east-west and 122 metres on the north-south. Rajaraja-I undertook this enormous work of construction.
• During Sevappa Nayaka's renovations in the 17th century, this fortification was added.
• Visitors are welcomed by a beautifully sculpted archway with stucco representations of several gods that was constructed during the Maratta period.
• After passing through the Maratta entrance, guests are greeted by Keralanthakakan Thiruvasal, a famous gopuram from the Rajaraja era.
• A cellular ambulatory may be found on either side of this five-tiered gopuram. Rajarajan Thiruvasal, the second gopuram, is about sixty metres away.
• Massive monolithic dwarapalakkas, also known as door guardians, can be seen on this gopuram's eastern side.
• The stone base of this gopuram also features bas-relief panels with scenes from puranas.
• The majestic, artistically beautiful panorama of the Sri Vimanam and the sub-shrines greets visitors as they enter this gopuram.
• The 13-story, 66-meter-tall pyramidal vimana is embellished with the proper motifs, architectural elements, and sculptures of different deities.
• The 12-foot-tall, gold-plated kalasam is perched atop a shikhara that resembles a spherical dome.
• Two-story cloistered halls had been built to serve as multipurpose space all the way around the perimeter of the compound wall.
• Between these walled-off rooms, sub-shrines have been constructed that house shrines for the temple yagasalai, Ganesha, and the ashtadikpalaka (gods who watch over the eight directions).
• The Rajaraja-era shrine, known in the inscription as Parivara-Alayattu Pillaiyar, was vandalised, therefore the Maratta monarch had a new building constructed for him.
"Nandhi Pavilion"
• The enormous monolithic Nandi, the sacred bull, in front of the main shrine is an equally fascinating aspect of the temple.
• The pavilion itself is a later construction, as is the platform on which the Nandi is located. To replace the previous nandi installed by Rajaraja, the monolithic nandi from the Nayaka era was brought in.

Engineering Wonder

• It is very amazing to see the vimana perched atop the two-story sanctum sanctorum. The structural load sharing has been meticulously and wonderfully planned.
• Pushing the subsequent layers a few inches closer together inside the structure created the pyramid's very mild slope.
• The shikhara on top of this pyramid serves as a counterbalance to keep everything in place.

Conclusion

• The temple is a magnificent display that reflects the sophisticated sense of aesthetics and planning that the region and its inhabitants had attained a millennium before.
• The temple, which Rajaraja referred to as Rajarajeshwaram, was regarded as the culmination of a single man's life's labour that several millions of people put a lot of effort into.
• The goal of commissioning a huge sacrifice to the almighty without sacrificing traditions was accomplished millennia ago, and the idea of temples acting as the hub of civilization has been tried and proven to work.