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.