Who built Brihadeshwara temple: The Temple Brihadishvara (originally called Peruvudaiyar Kovil), locally known as Thanjai Periya Kovil and sometimes referred to as Rajarajeswaram, is a Hindu Dravidian-styled Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva situated on the South bank of the Cauvery river in Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. The deity of The Lord Shiva of the Temple is in his dance pose. He is known as the Nataraj.
It is a vast temple easily visible from just a mile away. It is among the most prominent Hindu Temples of India and is an excellent example of the Dravidian architectural style during The Chola period. Who Built Brihadeshwara temple? The answer is Emperor Raja Raja Chola I. A vision of the Temple came to him through a dream when travelling in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). He ordered it in honour of his rule, which was viewed as one that had won the war and required the grandest Temple to reflect the empire’s dimensions.
At 216 feet, it is the highest point, and entirely carved out of Granite, it was 12 years in the making to build and was completed in 1010 AD. The Hindu Temple was one thousand years old.
It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”; the two other temples are Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple.
Where is Brihadeshwara Temple situated, and Who built Brihadeshwara temple?
Thanjavur, also Tanjore, is an Indian city located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the eleventh largest town located in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is a key central point in the South.
The city first gained prominence during the time of the Cholas; during that time, it was an imperial capital. After the empire’s fall, it was administered by several different dynasties like the Mutharaiyar Dynasty, Pandyas and the Vijayanagar Empire, the Madurai Nayaks, and the Thanjavur Nayaks, the Thanjavur Marathas and the British Empire. It has been part of independent India since 1947.
The majority Of the Living Chola Temples that are World Heritage UNESCO Monuments are situated within Thanjavur. One of the most famous is the Brihadeeswara Temple, located in the middle of the town. Thanjavur is also the home of Tanjore painting, which is a painting style unique to the region.
The Hindu Temple is constructed of 130,000 tons of stone, though the quarry was never located within 100 km of this temple site. It was built in the year 216 by the Hindu Kings of Tanjore. The Hindu Temple spans 216 acres. The Gopuram is about 6.5 feet (66-m) tall and boasts the world’s highest Vimanam.
The Kumbum, or spire at the top of Gopuram, weighs 80 tons. The placement of this rock on top of the spire is an Unknown engineering feat that is still undiscovered today. This high-rise temple is built with interlocking stones without binding material, which isn’t commonplace today. Engineers were still puzzled at how such a marvel was achieved in the 11th century.
The inner sacred (Garbhagriha), the Shiva lingam, is believed to produce a considerable volume of electrical energy. The 80-tonne stone tower helps channel the Temple’s point to maintain its spirituality and holiness. The positive energy radiated from Temple is believed to provide a relaxing and tranquil effect on the devotees.
The one Temple where it is possible to see the tower’s (Gopuram) shadow doesn’t show up on the ground at noon. Finally, all the credit belongs to Chola the King Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan.
Tanjore temple construction details: Brihadeeswarar temple architecture
Archaeologists and historians have long been pondering how exactly the Temple was constructed. Granite isn’t located nearby, not for more than 50 miles. Yet the Temple is made up of 130,000 tons, often massive pieces that are impossible for any human being to move. There isn’t any connecting material, but only interlocking.
Stone is a rare thing to find in tall buildings of today. Additionally, it’s intricately cut and is a challenging task considering that Granite is a hard rock. In addition, there is a massive Nandhi (the gatekeeper of Shiva and resembling the shape of a bull) at the Temple’s entrance. It is cut from a solitary piece of stone.
In speculating how many (wildly inaccurate) ideas are floated. The Temple is magnificent that the first observers began to develop Mythical theories of its construction. The supernatural, the aliens and the god of Shiva were all mentioned.
However, the truth is that it was constructed using the labour of tens of thousands of captive elephants. It took over 1,000 elephants to carry massive Granite slabs towards Thanjavur, fifty miles from the other side. To cut the rocks using a unique method, the workers made use of an innovative technique of engineering from the past that involved drilling small holes into the Granite and then putting wooden plugs in the gaps. As it rained, water expanded and enlarged the holes, creating the rock that would not break.
The Mahalingam — the top stone of the tower weighs over 80 tons and measures 23 feet in diameter and 9 feet high. To its top are 14 floors of intricately sculptured images. With no cranes, the ramp was constructed leading up to the tower. Elephants carried the stone to the top of the building, assisted by ropes hung by men.
Many believe The ball is placed on top of the Temple to remove negative energy and help positive energy flow through the temples, making the ones there holy and content. The energy flow Vedic energy is believed to calm devotees, and those who worship at the Temple will walk in a circular clockwise motion around the ceremony.
The bull-shaped and located just outside this Temple is a 12-foot high, 19-foot-long, 18-feet wide sculptured piece of stone, weighing 25 tons. The myth claims that The size of the structure continued to increase, and the people worried that it might grow beyond the tiny pavilion in which it was located. Therefore, they stuck a nail into the back of it, and it stopped the growth.
There are other, less confusing but still stunning features of the Temple. More than 100 passageways go underground and lead into the Palace of Raja and other locations. They also made it easier for the kings to visit temples during festivals without hassles or traffic.
Specific texts The passages were closed off as a security measure for the kingdom. If an intruder went in the wrong direction, the intruder would be stuck. The courses also assisted the royal family members and others escape if there were an attack. But, most of these routes are not accessible to the public due to security reasons visited by archaeologists. A local legend also claims that specific mantras will open hidden passageways.
There are intricate paintings along the Temple’s walls, which are often more elaborate than those in the same time frame. They portray Shiva and are essential Moments throughout the Raja Chola empire. Their bright and vibrant hues are derived from leafy greens, flowers, and petals. They make a statement against the Granite and appear more colourful than the other paintings of the time. Although the hues result in pigments of plants, the colours are striking and enhance the appeal to the Temple.
Brihadeeswarar Temple History
A Tamil emperor renowned for his role as Rajaraja Chola, I laid out the foundations of Brihadeeswarar Temple in 1002 CE. It was the first among many unique building projects Of Tamil Chola. Asymmetrical and axial geometrical structure determines the layout of the Temple.
Temples of the same period and the two centuries following represent Tamils Chola’s ability, artistic skill and power, expertise and wealth. The appearance of these elements, such as multi-faceted columns and a directional projection of square capitals, indicates the emergence of the Chola style, which was unique at the time.
It is an outstanding architectural example that shows the correct form of the Dravida type of architecture in temples. It also marks the symbol of the beliefs of the Chola Empire and the Southern Indian Tamil civilization. Brihadeeswarar temple “vows for Chola’s amazing painting, figure and designing achievements.
Casting, sculpture and painting.” It is believed that, after seeing Pallava Rajasimha Temples at Kanchipuram, Emperor Rajaraja Cholan dreamed of creating a gigantic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Brihadeeswarar Temple is the first of all structures that used Granite thoroughly and were completed in five years, from 1004 AD until 1009 AD.
The most impressive of Chola Emperors Rajaraja-I (985 A.D between 985 and 1012 A.D), the son of Sundara Chola (Parantaka-II), and Vanavan Mahadevi built this fantastic Temple called Brihadeeswarar in the city of Thanjavur is the capital city of the Chola dynasty.
Evidence of the epigraphic, it is clear that Rajaraja-I’s construction of this Temple in the 19th year of his reign was completed on the 275th day on the 25th anniversary year of his birth. It took only six years to complete the work in 1010 A.D.
The Chola period ended, and they were thrown out of power by Pandyas, then tossed out to the Vijayanagara Empire. In 1535 The Vijayanagara King was installed as an heir. Nayak King and clan, dubbed Tanjore Nayaks reigned from the middle of the 17th century. The Marathas repelled Tanjore. In the following years, along with the rest of India, Thanjavur also fell into British hands.
The memorials, frescos and inscriptions that decorate the exterior walls of Brihadeeswarar Temple are evidence of the change and rise of the city’s fortunes. Shiva is depicted as a vast stone, the lingam. The lingam is covered with Vimanams that stretch up to the height of 216 feet. It is constructed using stones that are joined and notched without Any mortar. The most affluent stone is an engineering marvel that weighs around eighty tons.
Rajaraja-I referred to this Temple Rajarajesvaram, and the god Shiva is known in his Linga form as Peruvudaiyar The Temple is also referred to in the name of the god’s name as Peruvudaiyarkovil (in the Tamil language). In the later period, Maratta and Nayak rulers built various gopurams and shrines at the Temple.
Brihadeeswarar Temple was built in the late 19th century. Brihadeeswarar Temple was built in approximately 1010 in the southeast area of the capital Thanjavur built in the basin of Kaveri (Cauvery) around 1010 in the southeastern part of Thanjavur, created by the King in the Chola Dynasty, Rajaraja I (r. 985-1014).
It was also referred to as Rajarajesvara Temple after the King’s name. It is among the two most beautiful temples dating back to the time that was Chola Dynasty. Chola Dynasty and the Rajendra -Cholisvara Temple were built in the following new capital, Gangaikonda cholapuram, which was constructed by his successor Rajendra I. These structures These massive national projects demonstrated the Chola Empire’s power in South India.
It is believed that Brihadeeswarar Temple was constructed in just seven years. Its precincts are bordered by Cloisters that cover an area of 120m x 240m. It is also surrounded on the outside by thick brick walls that cover 350m of space with a huge tank (reservoir). There is also a Nandi Shrine, surrounded by two large Mandapas (worship rooms for worship), An Antarala (antechamber), and Vimanas, with tall towers all arranged along an east-west axis. Gopurams (temple gateways) from the first period in the eastern part of the abbey and the brick walls are on this same line.
They are the only entrance places into the temple precincts. Though they were not the only entrances to temples, and The temples are decorated with sculptures. They appear lower than the later Gopurams of the massive temples of south India, and the size of the Vimana is striking in contrast.
The second Gopura in the line of the cloisters measures 24m in width and height. It’s lower than the previous Gopura, and its sculptures are more significant, with two Dvarapalas (guardian characters) opposite sides by sides of Dvarapalas (guardian figures) on both sides of the doorway. In the cloisters surrounding the precincts, there is an inscription of Lingas (phalluses) which are symbols of Shiva and the wall Paintings of paintings Nayaka time on the walls of the rear delight the eyes of the visitors.
This Brihadeeswarar temple made of brick and Granite is one of the most impressive works of the time. Dravidian (northern) style in its fantastic scope and a deep level of flawlessness, close to the incomparable Temple in Gangaikondacholapuram. Southern Indian-style stone temples grew at the tiny temples in Mahabalipuram. They reached their highest point at this point. Became the model for the temples to come. It was built in South India as well as Southeast Asia in the period of the Chola Dynasty.
After the demise of the Chola Dynasty in the 13th century, the style of temples changed dramatically. The huge Vimanas were not built anymore, but temples were built instead. Precincts were to be extended, and the Temple would be surrounded with folds to create only Gopurams at a gigantic size on all four sides. The Gopurams on the outer sides would be constructed higher and rise to more than 60 meters. The relation between the height of its main shrine and the gates would be reversed. From this angle to this point, the Brihadeeswarar Temple, located in Thanjavur, is the finest example of the orthodox south Indian temple design.
Brihadeeswarar temple mystery: Tanjore temple Secrets or Brihadisvara Temple Facts
If it is by design or accidental coincidence, the structure and composition of Thanjavur Temple have made it very obscure. Many mysteries remain unsolved. Stories about it that will interest anyone who visits here.
Please go through them and Check them out.
1. In most South Indian Temples, the gates (gopurams) are higher than the main Temple’s Tower (Vimana). Visit the Meenakshi temple, and you can tell what I’m referring to. But in the Brihadeeswarar Temple, it’s precisely the reverse. Gopurams in the Temple are less than Vimana’s main one.
2. The whole Temple was constructed from Granite. There was not a granite-cutting quarry or sources to obtain the Granite around Thanjavur. It’s Not even available within 50km of the location.
3. Speaking of Granite, The Vimana main structure has a height of 66 metres. It’s six stories tall and was the tallest building in South India in those days. The impressive One of the exciting aspects is the massive capstone of Granite on the top, weighing around 80 tons. That’s how it was erected above the hollow Vimana back in the day; it gets there? Nobody knows!
4. The high Vimana is constructed with interlocking bricks. It is not bound by any material utilized. The most impressive thing is that it has lasted for centuries and numerous invasions and natural disasters like earthquakes.
5. There is a controversy over whether it was the temple site or an observation tower. The moat around the Temple, and underground passages that lead to The various locations, will support this idea.
6. And this is the most obnoxious of all information regarding Brihadeeswarar temple. You won’t witness the shadow of Vimana at noon, regardless of the time of the year you visit.