Sri Brahadeeswarar Temple in Tanjavure

Brihadishvara Temple, is called Rajarajesvaram (lit. 'Lord of Rajaraja') by its builder, and known locally as Thanjai Periya Kovil (lit. 'Thanjavur Big Temple') and Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Saivite temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the south bank of the Cauvery River in Thanjavur, Tamizhagam India. It is one of a largest Lord Siva temple and an exemplar of south Indian architecture. It is also called Dakshina Meru ("Meru of the South). Built by Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temple.

The original monuments of this 11th-century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes, and sculptures predominantly related to Saivism, but also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism. Some works of art have been destroyed by the wrath of nature. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in the centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.

Built using granite, the vimana tower above the shrine is one of the tallest in South India. The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva lingas in India. It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja, Shiva as the lord of dance, in the 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi, Parvati, Murugan, Vinayagar,sabhapati, Dhakshinamoorty, Chandikeshwar, Varahi, Thiyagarajar of Tiruvarur and others. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.

Rajaraja Chola, who built the temple, entitled it Rajarajeshvaram, A later inscription says which is in Tamil language located in Brihannayaki shrine as Perudaiya Nayagi. Which is appearing the all the Sanskrit words has been changed in Tamil   in Brihadisvara as Peruvudaiyar Kovil.

Brihadishwara is a Sanskrit word. Brihat which means "big, great, lofty, vast”, and Isvara means "lord, Siva, supreme being, supreme atman (soul)”.

Architecture Marvel 

The Peruvudaiyar temple's plan and development utilizes the axial and symmetrical geometry rules. It is classified as Perunkoil  a big temple built on a higher platform of a natural or man-made mounds. It is also called Madakkoil. This temple complex is a rectangle that is almost two stacked squares, covering 240.79 metres (790.0 ft) east to west, and 121.92 metres (400.0 ft) north to south. In this space are five main sections: the sanctum with the towering superstructure (sri vimana), the Nandi hall in front (Nandi-mandapam) and in between these the main community hall (mukhamandapam), the great gathering hall (mahamandapam) and the pavilion that connects the great hall with the sanctumsantoriam.

The Peruvudaiyar temple continued the saiva siddantha temple traditions of South India by embraced architectural and decorative elements, its scale significantly exceeded the temples constructed before the 11th century. However, the great Chola era architects and technicians, those who have achieved to installed specifically with heavy stone the 63.4 metres (208 ft) high towering vimana. The temple faces east. Before it had a water moat around it.  At present there is a big wall around the moat.

The two walls have ornate gateways with temple towers. These are made from solid stone. The main gateways are on the east side. The first gateway is called the Keralantakan tiruvasal, the word Keralantakan was the surname of king Rajaraja who built it. The inner eastern gateway has a vast courtyard, in which the shrines are all to east–west and north-west main directions.

The gopuram of the main entrance is 30 m high, smaller than the vimana. The main temple Sanctum sanctorum is dedicated to Lord Siva that is called Sri Bragatheeswarar. The related monuments and the great tower are in the middle of this courtyard.

Around the main temple Sanctum sanctorum are dedicated to his consort Devi Parvati, Muruga, Ganesha, Nandi, Varahi, Karuvur deva (the guru of Rajaraja Chola), Chandeshvara and Nataraja.

The Nandi mandapam has a monolithic seated Nanthi is facing the sanctum. The Nandi facing the mukh-mandapam weighs about 25 tons. It is made of a single stone and is about 2 m in height, 6 m in length and 2.5 m in width. The image of Nandi is a monolithic one and is one of the largest in the country.

This temple as a world heritage monument, the temple and the premises come under the Archaeological Survey of India which falls under the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India, to ensure preservation and restoration.

The lighting of the monument is designed to enhance the natural color of the stone along with the sculptural forms adorning all corners of the temple. The sanctum is at the center of the western square. It is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses.

Each side of the sanctuary has a curve with iconography. The interior of the sanctum sanctorum hosts an image of the primary deity, Lord Siva, in the form of a sculptured in a single stone huge Linga. The sanctum sanctorum is called as Karuvarai, Tamil word’s meaning is "womb chamber"and the Sanskrit word also with the same meaning is called "Garbhagraha".

The sanctum sanctorum is the form of a miniature vimana. It has a path around the sanctum sanctorum for circumambulation.

The main Vimana (Shikhara) is a massive 16 storied tower of which 13 are tapering squares. It dominates the main quadrangle. It sits above 30.18 meters (99.0 ft) sided square. The tower is elaborately articulated with Pilaster, piers (a raised structure), and attached columns which are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the vimana.

The Stone Inscriptions:

There are Tamil Inscriptions in Thanjavur Brahadeeshwara Temple written 1000 years ago Numerous inscriptions are in Tamil and Grantha scripts. and Many of these inscriptions begin in Sanskrit and Tamil language with number of them discuss gifts to the temple, temple personnel, and residents of the city.

Mainly the temple complex has sixty four inscriptions of Rajaraja Chola I, twenty nine inscriptions of Rajendra Chola I, one each of Vikrama Chola, Kulottunga I and Rajamahendra (Rajendra II), and there are   two of them on Nayaka clane rulers in Pandiya kingdom, The names are Achyutappa Nayaka and Mallapa Nayakar. The significant thing is many inscriptions are mentioning the sculptors,and those who did help to the sculptors.  There is an inscription on the north wall of enclosure, dated 1011 CE, giving a detailed accounts of people employed and supported by the temple. people’s wages, roles and names. It includes over 600 names including those of priests, lamp lighters, washermen, tailors, jewelers, potters, carpenters, sacred parasol bearers, dance gurus, dancing devadasis, singers, male and female musicians, who were dancers and singers of devotional hymns. Among its numerous inscriptions stated that the bestowed wealth, and lands incomes from that should use for the worshipful hermits, sanyasis, gurus, and poor passers to offer food, and cash gifts.

The temple "testifies the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting." more this temple finds mention in many of the period like Muvarula and Kalingathuparani.  The temple has been declared as a world heritage monument by the Government of India and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument.

This temple was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram and Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram that are referred as the Great Living Chola Temples. These three temples are having very much similarities, yet each has unique design and sculptural elements.

Location

The Peruvudaiyar Temple is located in the city of Thanjavur, about 350 kilometres (220 mi) southwest of Chennai. The city is connected daily to other major cities by the network of Indian Railways, Tamil Nadu bus services and the National Highways 67, 45C, 226 and 226 Extn. The nearest airport with regular services is Tiruchirappalli International about 55 kilometres (34 mi) away.

These particular three temples are worth visit to see and enjoying   testified the brilliant achievements of the Cholas architecture, sculpture, painting marvels.