History of Thanjavur Temple

Thanjavur has a long and rich past that dates back to antiquity. It belonged to the Chola dynasty, which flourished from the ninth to the thirteenth century AD and was one of the strongest South Indian kingdoms. The Cholas were renowned for their support of literature, the arts, and the construction of temples. In this time, Thanjavur became a well-known center of religion and culture.

The Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary, too known as the Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Enormous Sanctuary, is an structural wonder found in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Here's a comprehensive diagram of this radiant sanctuary

The foremost striking highlight of the Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary is its towering vimana (sanctuary tower), which rises to a tallness of approximately 216 feet (66 meters). This vimana is one of the tallest sanctuary towers within the world and is capped by a solid dome known as the "Kumbam." The complete structure is made of rock and is unpredictably carved with different figures and engravings.

The sanctuary complex too incorporates a enormous Nandi (bull) design, which is carved out of a single stone and measures around 16 feet (4.9 meters) in tallness and 21 feet (6.4 meters) in length. There are too a few mandapams (pillared corridors), holy places committed to different divinities, and a expansive yard. 

History:
Built by Raja Raja Chola I, who ruled from 985 to 1014 CE, the sanctuary was completed in 1010 CE. It was developed to celebrate the king's triumph over the Chalukya tradition. The sanctuary is devoted to Master Shiva and is one of the biggest sanctuaries in India.

Design:
The Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary could be a showstopper of Dravidian engineering. Its most conspicuous highlight is the towering vimana (sanctuary tower), which stands at around 216 feet (66 meters) tall, making it one of the tallest sanctuary towers within the world. The vimana is capped by a solid dome known as the "Kumbam." The whole sanctuary complex is developed utilizing rock and highlights complicated carvings and figures depicting various Hindu divinities and legendary scenes.

Primary Structures:
Vimana:
The most sanctum of the sanctuary houses a lingam (image of Master Shiva). The vimana is encompassed by a enormous walled in area with littler holy places and mandapams (pillared corridors) inside.
Nandi Mandapam:
At the entrance to the sanctuary, there's a expansive Nandi (bull) design, carved out of a single stone, which measures around 16 feet (4.9 meters) in stature and 21 feet (6.4 meters) in length.
Mandapams:
The sanctuary complex incorporates a few mandapams, counting the Maha Mandapam and the Ardha Mandapam, each embellished with unpredictably carved columns and figures.
Engravings:
The Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary is celebrated for its engravings, which give profitable verifiable and social information about the Chola tradition and the temple's development. These engravings are composed in Tamil and Grantha scripts and are found on the sanctuary dividers.

UNESCO World Legacy Location:
In 1987, the Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary was recorded as a UNESCO World Legacy Location, recognizing its social and architectural significance.

Devout Centrality:
The sanctuary proceeds to be an dynamic put of revere, pulling in aficionados and travelers from all over the world, particularly amid celebrations like Maha Shivaratri.

Conservation:
Endeavors are ceaselessly made to protect and keep up the Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary, guaranteeing that future eras can proceed to wonder at its magnificence and authentic significance.

Generally, the Brihadeeswarar Sanctuary stands as a confirmation to the engineering and creative accomplishments of the Chola line and remains a cherished image of Tamil Nadu's wealthy social legacy.
The colloquial term "Thanjai Kovil" is frequently utilized by local people and guests alike when alluding to this notorious sanctuary in Thanjavur.