BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE

Thanjai Periya koil   BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE - THANJAORE

Located on the south banks of Cauvery river is one of the biggest temple ever in history, called the Brihadwwswara temple. This world-famous temple is in Tanjaore, Tamil Nadu. As the name indicates(in sanskrit, Brihad=huge, eeswara=Lord, God) the temple  is very large with huge towering structures which has amazing sculpture all over on all sides.  It is  one of the biggest Shiva temples in the world. The large Nandi statue stands guarding over the temple. nandi is said to be a symbolic representation of time and is ever present attendant of lord Shiva. The temple is locally called as Periya koil which means big temple and is also known as Rajarajeswaram. This refers to the very famous Chola ruler RAJARAJA CHOLA who built this magnificent work of art. The temple construction was completed in 1010 AD. More than a thousand years old,  this temple was made by Rajaraja chola,  and his sister Kundavai who were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. The Chola dynasty ruled over the greater Indian peninsula for more than 400 years and this temple was constructed at the peak of their reign.

It is said that the original name of the deity was Rajarajeswara and later the Maratha kings changed the name to Brihadeeswara, which meant the the Great God.!

We had the good fortune to visit the temple last week. As we entered the large compound we saw the huge statue of Nandi, which has been carved out of a single stone/rock. The smoothness of this work cannot be described in words. Each and every detail is done with such precision that one will surely wonder if this was really done by human beings! The whole structure of the temple is build in granite and about 130000 tons of granite is used for the making.

The exquisite carvings, statues and other works displayed in the temple are a feast to the eyes. Inscriptions in the temples show all the details used to plan and execute its construction. The chief architect, Rajaraja perunthachan is also portrayed here. His successors even now follow the traditional study of vastu shastra and architecture till today. Another interesting feature is the different hand gestures and movements mentioned in the Natya shastra, the text for dance and drama, is portrayed in such details that you will be amazed to see them etched over granite, for ever.! It must have taken several generations to plan and execute the construction of such a huge work of art and culture. The Chola frescos are all over the walls of temple and the earliest design plans dates back to 921 AD.!

 Historians and archeologists are surprised to know that there are no granite quarries anywhere near this huge temple. Then how could they bring it ? From where ? How? these puzzles are still remaining unsolved!