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| Brihadeeswara Temple source Wikipedia |
Introduction
The Brihadeeswara Temple is an Indian Hindu Temple, which is dedicated to god Shiva and is situated in Thanjavur town of Indian state Tamil Nadu. It is also the most popular Dravidian structure temples of the world constructed under the reign of Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I. The temple is famous because of its huge spires, massive Nandi statue, its finely carved sculpture and architectural creations. In 1987 the site was declared as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, in Great Living Chola Temples category. It is not only a religious site of today but a way of life and symbol of history and art of the Chola Empire.
1. Skyscraper peak The outstanding element of the Brihadeshwara Temple is its gigantic shikhara/vimana. It has a height of approximately 66 meters, and it was constructed over 1000 years ago but it currently stills stands strong. On the top of the peak, there is this huge rock of granite weighing approximately 80 tons of weight and still, historians, and architects are astonished with the way it was brought up to this height. This not only made Tamil architecture push to a new peak in terms of architecture but also in the symbolism that indicates a state of devotion and power.
10 Interesting Things about the Brihadeeswara Temple
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| The sikhara, a cupolic dome (25 tons), is octagonal and rests on a single block of granite, weighing 80 tons.Photo source Wikipedia |
1. Skyscraper peak The outstanding element of the Brihadeshwara Temple is its gigantic shikhara/vimana. It has a height of approximately 66 meters, and it was constructed over 1000 years ago but it currently stills stands strong. On the top of the peak, there is this huge rock of granite weighing approximately 80 tons of weight and still, historians, and architects are astonished with the way it was brought up to this height. This not only made Tamil architecture push to a new peak in terms of architecture but also in the symbolism that indicates a state of devotion and power.
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| Nandi Mandapam Photo source Wikipedia |
2. There was one big stone Nandimandapam, which is in the front of the entrance of Brihadeshwara Temple is one of the attractions of this temple. There is also a gigantic Nandi idol in a single granite rock. This Nandi measures 2 meters high, 6 meters long with the weight of about 25 tons. It is among the biggest Nandi in India. The detailed carvings, position and expressivity is what makes this idol a masterpiece. The extremely beautiful style and art of craftsmen of Chola era can be well observed in this Nandi one of the examples of devotion and delight to the worshipers.
3. The shadow peak less One more incredible aspect in the Brihadeshwara Temple is its shadow of the dome. The story is passed along that when the sun is in the sky during the day the shadow of this massive mountain never touches the ground of the temple. This architecture is a wonderful feature of old architecture knowledge and mathematics. The shape of the temple is such that regardless of the time of the day and where the sun is located the peak of the temple projects a shadow but it does not land into the courtyard of the temple. This mysterious architectural style does not only surprise the visitors but is deemed a hint of the highly developed scientific approach to the world of Chola era.
4. Old frescoes of the Chola period Brihadeshwara Temple is not famous in terms of architecture alone but also in terms of fresco paintings available inside the temple. The interiors of this temple are graced with beautiful Chola era murals. These frescoe represent - Shiva ins in its differing forms Gods of Dancing Bios of Rajaraja Chola and his courtiers The paintings made use of natural colors and this creates an easy effect that is visible even in the present century after several centuries. These frescos of Chola period are not merely a religious artwork and but a priceless source of society, culture and life-style of those years past. They are claimed to be the oldest fresco art in South India.
5. Biggest Shivalinga of South India This temple has a Brihadeshwara Stone where one of the largest Shivalingas in South India is found. The size of this Shivling is approximately 4 meters high and the bottom of it is almost octagonal in shape. This lingam is made of granite stone that was worshipped since the rule of Rajaraja Chola I. Each day thousands of Shiva worshipers visit here and recollect the grandeur of Shiva. This enormous Shivalinga does verily not only signify devotion; it is also a distinct sign of the ability, strength and devotion of kings.
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| Tamil Inscriptions in Thanjavur Brahadeeshwara Temple written 1000 years ago Photo source Wikipedia |
6. The Dream of Rajaraja Chola Brihadeshwara Temple is the dream of Rajarajan Chola that is mighty. The chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I was not only strong as an emperor but also was a great dreamer. It was his wish to construct a Shiva temple which was not only to depict the strength and might of the Chola Empire, but also to leave behind a mark of glory of Shiva in centuries to come. It is on this dream that the building of the Brihadeshwara Temple took shape in 1003 AD and was finished within 7 years. This temple of Rajaraja Chola presents the cultural and religious qualities of the supremacy of his empire to the rest of the world. Even now the Brihadeshwara Temple remains a testimony to this grandiose dream of
Rajaraja Chola that kept the history during thousands of years alive.
Rajaraja Chola that kept the history during thousands of years alive.
7. The ideal balance of the architecture The Brihadeshwara Temple is commonly known as an Architectural wonder. Part of this is that it is optimally proportional and harmonious. All the components of the temple i.e. the shikhara, the sanctum sanctorum, sanctum sanctorum, the mandapa, the wall and the entrance are constructed in an exemplary manner that they fit into each other. The temple was basically designed with a shikhara or vimanam of 66 metres, unprecedented feat in 18th century. In its own way, it has been constructed in the sanctum sanctorum all the way up to the edge of the peak that the more scenic beauty of the temple is captured when one is admiring it at a distance. In every sculpture, pillar, and even walls there is artistic balance and the perfect geometry can be witnessed in the temple. This is why the Brihadeshwara Temple can be called not only a religious site but an outstanding basis of knowledge about ancient Indian architecture.
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| Photo source Wikipedia |
8. Bharatnatyam dance The Brihadeshwara Temple is one of the landmark temples in the world not only because of the sculptures and architecture created on it, but also because of the ancient Indian dancing form. Mural paintings of the temple have Bharatnatyam dance styles on the walls and on the buildings. The carved images are an embodiment of each of the poses and gestures of Bharatanatyam without any imperfection. The eyes, hands, waist and steps as per the posture of the dance indicate that artists of that time had good understanding of the art of dance. These carvings played not only a decorative role, but also played a role of visualizing a guide on how to learn Bharatanatyam according to the historians. Even in today world, these are temple carvings are held in great esteem as an invaluable piece of cultural information upon the dance culture in South India. This is why the Brihadeshwara Temple is taken to be the epicentre of an animated dialogue of sculpture and dance.
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| Photo source Wikipedia |
9. Importation of granite The most astonishing feature of the Brihadeshwara Temple is that all the temple is created out of the stone of granite. Amazingly, there is no granite of natural source in the Thanjavur region. Scientists suppose that these super-size stones were transported over a distance of approximately 60km. The carvers of the epoch employed elephant, chariots and special wooden equipment to carry such heavy stones around. The most surprising was the massive single block of granite on top of the mountain which weighed about 80 tons and the moving of such was an engineering feat. The stones are placed in a way that many thousands of years later, the temple still stands. This testifies to the fact that, there was an unprecedented growth during the period of the Chola not only in art and architecture but also the science of engineering.
10. The world heritage UNESCO Brihadeshwara Temple was recorded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. It is part of a group comprised of the so-called Great Living Chola Temples, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple. The presence of remarkable architecture, engineering techniques and artistic artifacts has made UNESCO acknowledge the same. This is not only a religious site, but also an eyewitness to the strength, industrial culture and superior technology of the Chola Empire. Many local cultures and economies rely on the thousands of tourist who are visiting them each year; domestic, and foreign. The appreciation by UNESCO has given the temple conservation and research stronger effectiveness. Nowadays the Brihadeshwara Temple is recognized throughout the entire world as the token of Indian cultural grandeur.
The Conclusion
The Brihadeshwara Temple of Thanjavur is a very unique architectural work. All of the above 10 facts skyscrapers, the giant Nandi, the architecture which shroud no shadows, the ancient artistic frescoes, the massive Shivalinga, the dream epics of Rajaraja Chola, the perfect measures, Bharatanatyam carvings, the granites brought all the way and the UNESCO world heritage status- make the temple an epitome of the historical, cultural and religious greatness in all its sense. It is not only a temple; it is a wonder of the scale of the power of Chola Empire, perfection of work and Indian engineering antiquity. Until today, it still mystifies millions of followers and tourists; it is like a gem in the architectural history of India.
The Conclusion
The Brihadeshwara Temple of Thanjavur is a very unique architectural work. All of the above 10 facts skyscrapers, the giant Nandi, the architecture which shroud no shadows, the ancient artistic frescoes, the massive Shivalinga, the dream epics of Rajaraja Chola, the perfect measures, Bharatanatyam carvings, the granites brought all the way and the UNESCO world heritage status- make the temple an epitome of the historical, cultural and religious greatness in all its sense. It is not only a temple; it is a wonder of the scale of the power of Chola Empire, perfection of work and Indian engineering antiquity. Until today, it still mystifies millions of followers and tourists; it is like a gem in the architectural history of India.
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