Brihadisvara Temple Thanjavur

Brihadeeshwara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is situated in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The temple holds many other names as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple, and Rajarajesvaram. The specialty of the temple is that it is one of the largest temples in India, having Dravidian architecture.

The History

The temple is believed to be built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I, which was continued till 1010 AD, which makes it thousands of years old temple now. The temple attracts a large crowd, and all factors about it also made it registered in the UNESCO World Heritage Site with the name “Great Living Chola Temples.”

The Rajaraja Chola I was the Tamil emperor who first established the foundation of the temple during 1002 CE. The temple stands out as one of some great creations of the Chola empire that are a symbol of Chola’s artistic expression, wealth, and power.

It is also an incredible example of Dravid architecture, which showcases the ideology of the Chola Empire and Tamil civilization.

There is a legend as well, according to which Emperor Rajaraja Cholan, after seeing the Pallava Rajasimha Temples, got a dream about establishing a huge Shiva temple. From here, the emperor started laying the foundation; the temple makes use of granite as its major component, and it was finished within five years from 1004 AD to 1009 AD.

When the Chola Dynasty ended up in the 13th century, the temple style changed drastically. The huge Vimanams were not the focus of the architecture; instead, temple precincts were expanded. Gopurams were constructed on a huge level in all four directions. The outer gopuram was extended in height, and it was built up to 60m. All these aspects of the Brihadeeswarar Temple made it a typical south Indian temple.

Architecture

The Brihadeeswarar Temple is surrounded by cloisters as well as a heavy wall made of bricks. There is a large water reservoir, too; other notable things are the Nandi Shrine, two Mandapas, one Antarala (antechamber), and a Vimana with a high tower. At the eastern center of the brick wall, there are gopurams that work as the only entry gateways to the temple.

The walls that stand around the temple are considered to be built during the 16th century. The height of Vimana is around 216 ft, which is considered the tallest in the world. The Kumbam or the apex is constructed using just a single rock that weighs around 80 tons.

The statue of Nandi is mesmerizing, which is also constructed using a single rock, 16 ft long and 13 ft in height, situated at the entrance. There are inscriptions on the walls of the temple which describe the history of the temple or the rise and fall of the city’s fortunes.

The prime deity Shiva’s lingam is a huge one that is covered by a vimana that comprises a height of 216 feet. This is built with stoned that are bounded together but without the use of any mortar that always makes the devotees go in awe and think about this divine creation.

Interesting Fact

In the memorial of the temple, India post released a rupees postage stamp featuring the 216 feet tall Raja Gopuram. A 5 rupee coin was released by the Reserve Bank of India. Soon, a 1000 Rupees Commemorative Coin will be released, too, embossing the image of the temple; however, it won’t be for public use.

In April 1954, the Reserve Bank of India had released a 1000 rupees currency note that was depicting the panoramic view of the temple. However, when all 1000 rupees notes were demonetized against black money, this currency note lost its presence too.

Connectivity

Devotees can come to visit the temple via all three ways: Air, Railways, and Roadways.

Airways:

The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli Airport, which is 60.8 Kms from Brihadeeswarar Temple. To reach the temple, you need to take a bus that drops you at the temple’s proximity.

Railways:

The nearest railway station is Thanjavur Railway Station, which is 1.9 Kms from Brihadeeswarar Temple. For covering the rest distance, you can hire a private cab or public transport.

Road Ways:

Brihadeeswarar Temple is just 1 Km from Thanjavur Old Bus Stand if you wish to travel via bus.

The temple is adorned with utmost devotion during Maha Shivatri. You can visit the temple during this occasion and receive the blessings of Lord Shiva in your life.