Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple

The Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as the Big Temple, is a famous Hindu temple located in the city of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It was built in the early 11th century by the Chola king Rajaraja I and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its magnificent architecture, which features a 66-meter-tall vimana (tower) with intricate carvings and sculptures. The temple also houses a huge Nandi (bull), which is carved out of a single stone and measures 6 meters in length and 3.7 meters in height.

The temple is renowned for its Dravidian style of architecture, which is characterized by its tall gopurams (gateways), intricate carvings, and elaborate sculptures. The temple is also known for its use of granite, which was transported from a distance of 50 km using elephants during its construction.

The temple is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus and attracts visitors from all over the world. It is also an important cultural center and is known for its music and dance festivals, which are held annually. The temple is a testament to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Tamil Nadu and is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, culture, and architecture.

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history of thanjai temple

The Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as the Thanjavur Periya Kovil or the Big Temple, was built in the early 11th century by the Chola king Rajaraja I. The temple was completed in 1010 AD and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture in India.

The temple was built to honor Lord Shiva, who was considered to be the patron deity of the Chola dynasty. The temple was designed by the architect Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan, who was a master builder and a skilled sculptor. The temple's construction was carried out over a period of seven years and is said to have involved over 130,000 tons of granite.

The temple's main structure, the vimana (tower), is 66 meters tall and is topped by a dome made of a single piece of granite weighing around 80 tons. The vimana is adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures, including depictions of gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures.

The temple also houses a massive Nandi (bull) statue, which is carved out of a single piece of granite and measures 6 meters in length and 3.7 meters in height. The statue is located in a separate mandapam (hall) and is one of the largest Nandi statues in India.

The Brihadeeswarar Temple has played an important role in the history of South India and is considered to be a symbol of the glory of the Chola dynasty. The temple has survived several invasions and natural disasters over the centuries and has undergone several renovations and repairs. The temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and continues to be an important pilgrimage site and cultural center in Tamil Nadu.

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intersting fact about thanjai temple

Here are some interesting facts about the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur:

The temple is home to the world's largest monolithic statue of Nandi (the sacred bull), which is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 25 tonnes.

The temple's vimana (tower) is built in such a way that it never casts a shadow at noon, which is a remarkable feat of engineering and architecture.

The temple has a secret underground passage that leads to the palace of the Chola kings, which was used as an escape route during times of war or invasion.

The temple is decorated with over 80,000 inscriptions that provide valuable information about the history, culture, and society of the Chola dynasty.

The temple was built using a technique called interlocking, where the stones are placed together without any binding material, making the structure earthquake-resistant.

The temple's main deity, Lord Shiva, is depicted in the form of a lingam (an abstract representation of the divine) that is over 3 meters tall.

The temple's tower is made up of more than 13 storeys, and visitors can climb to the top to get a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

The temple is also known for its musical pillars, which are made of granite and produce different musical notes when tapped.

The temple has inspired many works of literature, including the Tamil epic "Kalki Purana," which describes the construction of the temple by Rajaraja Chola.

The Brihadeeswarar Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the most remarkable and beautiful examples of Indian architecture.