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Brihadeshwara – TNPSC Study Materials

CE. An axial and symmetrical geometry rules the Brihadeshwara Temple temple layout. from this period and the Brihadeshwara Temple (Tamil:Peruvudaiyar following two centuries are an expression of the Kovil) is a dedicated Tamilars (Chola) wealth, power and artistic to located in in the Indian expertise. The emergence of such features as the state of . It is also known as Periya multifacetedcolumns with projecting Kovil, RajaRajeswara square capitals signal the arrival of the new Chola Temple and Rajarajeswaram. It is one of the style. largest temples in and is an example of during the Chola Intended to display the emperor's vision of his period. Built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and power and his relationship to the universal order, the temple was the site of the major royal completed in 1010 AD, the temple turned 1000 years old in 2010.[4] The temple is part of ceremonies such as anointing the emperor and the UNESCO World Heritage Siteknown as the linking him with its deity, Shiva, and the daily "Great Living Chola Temples", with the other two rituals of the deities were mirrored by those of the being the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda king. It is an architectural example showcasing the and Airavatesvara temple. pure form of the Dravida type of temple architecture and representative of the Chola The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were Empire ideology and the Tamil civilisation probably added in the 16th century. in Southern India. The temple "testify to the The vimanam (temple tower) is 216 ft (66 m) high brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, and is the tallest in the world. The Kumbam (the , painting and bronze casting." apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single rock and weighs Construction around 80 tons. There is a big statue The architect and engineer of the temple was of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as measuring about 16 ft (4.9 m) long and 13 ft stated in inscriptions found at the temple. The (4.0 m) high at the entrance. The entire temple temple was built per ancient texts called Vaastu structure is made out of granite, the nearest sources Shastras and Agamas. The temple was built using a of which are about 60 km to the west of temple. measure of 1 3/8-inch called an angula (24 units The temple is one of the most visited tourist equalling 33 inches called a hasta, muzam, or attractions inTamil Nadu. kishku). This is the same measure found in ancient The Brihadeshwarar temple was built to grace the Lothal and other sites in the Indus Valley dating throne of the Chola empire by the Tamil emperor back 4000 – 6000 years. This same measure is used to build structures compliant with the Vaastu Arulmozhivarman, popularly called Rajaraja Chola I, in compliance to a command given to him Shastras and Agamas today. While some builders in a dream. One of the first great Tamil Chola use a different measure this is considered a building projects, the temple's foundations were standard due to its antiquity. laid out in 1002 1 Download Study Materials on www.examsdaily.in Follow us on FB for exam Updates: ExamsDaily Brihadeshwara Temple – TNPSC Study Materials

The solid base of the temple raises about 5 metres Main temple (16 feet), above which stone deities and A first rectangular surrounding wall, 270 m by 140 representatives of Shiva dance. The m, marks the outer boundary. The main temple is big Nandi(bull), weighing about 20 tonnes is made in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a single stone and is about 2 m in height, 6 m in of a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and an length and 2.5 m in width. The presiding deity assembly hall (), and many sub-shrines. of is 3.7m tall. The prakaram (outer The most important part of the temple is the inner precincts of the temple) measures 240m by which is surrounded by massive walls 125m. The outer wall of the upper storey is carved that are divided into levels by sharply cut with 108 dance karanas – postures andpilasters providing deep bays and of Bharathanatyam, the classical dance of Tamil recesses. Each side of the sanctuary has a bay Nadu. The shrine of Goddess was added emphasising the principle cult icons. The by Pandyasduring the 13th century, Subramanya karuvarai, aTamil word meaning the interior of Shrine by Vijayanagara rulers and the Vinayaka the sanctum sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum shrine was renovated by Maratha rulers. There and focus of the temple where an image of the were significant additions from the Thanjavur primarydeity, Shiva, resides. Inside is a huge Nayaks. stone linga. The word Karuvarai means "womb Temple complex chamber" from Tamil word karu for foetus. Only The temple complex sits on the banks of a river priests are allowed to enter this inner-most that was channelled to make a moat around the chamber. complex's outer walls, the walls being built like a In the Dravida style, the Karuvarai takes the form fortress. The complex is made up of many of a miniature vimana with other features exclusive structures that are aligned axially. The complex to southern Indian temple architecture such as the can be entered either on one axis through a five- inner wall together with the outer wall creating story or with a second access directly to a pradakshina around the garbhagriha the huge main quadrangle through a smaller free- for circumambulation (pradakshina). The entrance standing gopuram. The massive size of the is highly decorated. The inside chamber housing main Vimanam () is ca. 60.96 meters the image of the god is the sanctum sanctorum, high, with 16 elaborately articulated stories, and the garbhagriha. The garbhagriha is square and sits dominates the main quadrangle. Pilaster, piers(a on a plinth, its location calculated to be a point of raised structure), and attached columns are placed total equilibrium and harmony as it is rhythmically covering every surface of representative of a microcosm of the universe. In the Vimanam. The gopuram of the main entrance the center is placed the image of the deity. The is 30 m high, smaller than the vimana. It is unusual royal bathing-hall where Rajaraja the great gave in the dravidian architecture where the gifts is to the east of the hall of Irumudi-Soran. are generally the main towers and taller than the The inner mandapa leads out to a rectangular vimanam. mandapa and then to a twenty-

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columned porch with three staircases leading the paintings in the sanctum sanctorum and the down. Sharing the same stone plinth is a small walls in the passage had been damaged because of open mandapa dedicated to Nandi, Shiva's sacred the soot that had deposited on them once uopn a bull mount. time. Owing to the continuous exposure to smoke and soot from the lamps and burning of camphor in Adjoining structures the sanctum sanctorum over a period of centuries Surrounding the main temple are two walled certain parts of the Chola paintings on the enclosures. The outer wall is high, defining the circumambulatory passage walls had been badly temple complex area. Here is the massive gopuram damaged. The Tanjore Nayak kings replaced them or gateway mentioned above. Within this a portico, with a few paintings of their own, about 400 years a barrel vaulted gorpuram with over 400 pillars, is ago. The Archaeological Survey of India, for the enclosed by a high wall interspersed with huge first time in the world, used its unique de-stucco gopurams axially lined up to the main temple. process to restore 16 Nayak paintings, which were Features superimposed on 1000-year-old Chola frescoes. These 400-year-old paintings have been A widely held belief is that the shadow of the mounted on fibre glass boards, displayed at a Vimana never falls on the ground. However, separate pavilion. several photographs exist showing the shadow on the ground. The temple is said to be made up of Temple personnel about 60,000 tons of granite. The capstone itself is Since its consecration in 1010 AD by Raja Raja made of four pieces of granite and weighs about 20 Chola I, the temple maintained a staff of 1000 tons., on top of the main gopuram is believed to people in various capacities with 400 being temple have been taken to the top by creating an inclined dancers Besides the Brahmin priests, these slope to the height of 66m to the top of included record-keepers, musicians, scholars, and the gopuram. craftsman of every type as well as housekeeping Murals staff. In those days the temple was a hub of business activities for the flower, milk, oil, and The temple has Chola frescoes on the walls around ghee merchants, all of whom made a regular the sanctum sanctorum potryaing Shiva in action, supply of their respective goods for the temple for destroying demonic forts, dancing and sending a its poojas and during festival seasons. Moreover, white elephant to transport a devotee to as evidenced by the inscriptions that found in the heaven. These frescoes, discovered in the 1940s by compound wall of this temple, the temple had S. K. Govindasami of the University, always served as a platform for dancers who portray the mythological episodes of the journey of excelled in the traditional dance form Saint Sundarar and the Chera King to heaven, the of Bharatnatyam. battle scene of Tripurantaka (Lord Siva) with Asuras (demons). The Chola artists have Millennium commemoration proved their mettle by portraying even Built in the year 1010 CE by Raja Raja Chola in the Asura women with a sense of beauty. Some of Thanjavur, Brihadeeswarar Temple popularly 3 Download Study Materials on www.examsdaily.in Follow us on FB for exam Updates: ExamsDaily Brihadeshwara Temple – TNPSC Study Materials

known as the 'Big Temple' turned 1000 years old in Temple's contribution to the country's cultural, September 2010. To celebrate the 1000th year of architectural, epigraphical history, a special ₹ 5 the grand structure, the state government and the postage stamp featuring the 216-feet tall giant Raja town held many cultural events. It was to recall the Gopuram was released by India Post. 275th day of his 25th regal year (1010 CE) when Mumbai Mint issued Rs 1000 Commemorative Raja Raja Chola (985–1014 CE) handed over a Coin with the same picture as on the Rs 5 coin. It gold-plated kalasam (copper pot or finial) for the was the first 1000 Rupees coin to be released in the final consecration to crown the vimana, the 59.82- Republic of India coinage. This coin was a Non metre tall tower above the sanctum. Circulative Legal Tender (NCLT). Commemorative stamps and coins On 26 September 2010 (Big Temple's fifth day of millennium celebrations), as a recognition of Big

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