#Peruvudaiyar Kovil

[shikhersimagery]

Inner peace by Shikher's Imagery Via Flickr: There are two places to find inner tranquility and peace: in the lap of nature and in the lap of the one who created nature.

[shikhers]

Inner peace by Shikher's Imagery Via Flickr: There are two places to find inner tranquility and peace: in the lap of nature and in the lap of the one who created nature.

[tamiltravelman]

Thanjai Periya Kovil: தஞ்சை பெரிய கோயில் கட்டிய ராஜ ராஜ சோழன்

Brihadeeshwara Temple (Peruvudaiyar Kovil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

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"The Majestic Brihadeeswarar Temple: Architectural Marvel of Tamil Nadu"

Brihadeeswarar Temple, located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, is a stunning example of Dravidian architecture and one of the most remarkable temples in India. Built by the Chola emperor Rajaraja I in the 11th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site is also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Rajarajeswaram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is an architectural marvel, showcasing the grandeur and sophistication of Chola craftsmanship.

The temple's central feature is its towering vimana (temple tower), which rises to a height of 66 meters, making it one of the tallest in the world. The granite used in its construction is an engineering marvel, considering its massive size and the lack of modern technology at the time. The temple complex includes a massive Nandi (bull) statue, carved from a single stone, and beautifully adorned with intricate carvings depicting various deities, mythological scenes, and motifs.

Brihadeeswarar Temple is not only a place of worship but also a testament to the artistic and architectural brilliance of the Chola dynasty. It continues to attract devotees and tourists from around the globe, offering a glimpse into India's rich cultural and historical heritage. The temple's enduring beauty and spiritual significance make it a must-visit landmark.

[pujapujari]

Brihadeeshwara Temple of Thanjavur

Are you an avid traveler who is fascinated by the mysteries of ancient land?

Are you a theist looking to uncover the mystery of spirituality?

Are you looking to escape into realms of surreal architecture?

Or do you merely want to visit a temple with incredible positive vibrations?

We think we have one of the perfect places for you.

Just hop into your favorite mode of transport and land in the Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu, India. Located on the banks of the river Kaveri, the city standing amidst the lush greenery was the capital of the Chola emperors for a very long time.

The district is home to one of the most exquisite ancient architectural marvels – the Brihadisvara temple. Oldest among the group of Chola temples, the archaeologists estimate the temple is at least ten centuries old. The name Brihadeshwar is derived from the Sanskrit word Brihat and Ishwar, which translates to – a colossal supreme being, with reference to Lord Shiva.

Brihadeshwara temple beautifully illustrates the technological advancements achieved during the Chola period. Built according to the Chola architecture, the temple is home to one of the largest Shiva lingams in India. The temple mirrors the power held by Raja Raja Chola I, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, who is credited with the construction of this magnificent temple.

The ancient Shaivite shrine has a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, which signifies that this architectural marvel has immense value to humanity.

Read on to discover why UNESCO considers this exemplary architecture filled with immense knowledge, wisdom, spirituality, and divinity a heritage site.

Brihadisvara temple – From the Historical Pages

Standing in front of the magnificent architecture, one cannot stop but wonder why and how this temple was built. A glance into its past will give us valuable insights surrounding the efforts and the sheer brilliance that went into constructing this Periya Kovil.

Since time immemorial, the temples have been the storehouse of wisdom, culture, and architecture, and a window into the life of the people who lived in the past. The Rajarajeshwara temple or the Bhadeshwara temple is no exception.

Emperor Raja Raja Cholan was inspired to build such a monumental temple for lord Rudra after seeing the Pallava Raja Simha temples in Kanchipuram. To make his mark in the pages of history and see his inspirations come to life, the foundation stones for this huge Brihadeshvara temple were laid in 1002 CE. What followed during the next few years was the creation of a miracle. Epigraphical evidence shows that it took just eight years to complete this temple work in 1010 CE.

Commemorating his work, Raja Raja Chola 1 named the temple Rajarajeshwaram and the Lingam as Peruvudaiyar.

The Mesmerizing Architecture of Brihadisvara Temple

The Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur was the first of its kind. The pearless architecture that stands amidst great walls has inscriptions telling the tales of Thanjavur City and how it witnessed the rise and fall of great empires.

The first architectural detail of the temple is that only granite and bricks went into building this incredible temple. The new architectural style introduced by the Cholas is based heavily on symmetrical and axial geometry. A Nandi shrine, two extensive worship rooms, antechambers, the vimana, and the sole entrance to the temple precincts, the gopuram, lie on the east-west axis.

A colossal Lingam carved from a single granite stone lies in the sanctum sanctuary. The supreme deity is covered by a vimana that is 216 ft high. The surprising fact about this vimana is that it is bonded with no binding materials like mortar. The most astonishing fact is that the topmost stone of the Vimana gopuram weighs about 80 tons, making it an engineering marvel.

The temple premises have a wide prakara and a large reservoir. A huge Nandi that measures 16 ft long and 13 ft high, again carved out of a single stone, lies at the entrance. There are eight such Nandi statues surrounding the prakara. The cloisters have wall paintings dating back centuries, which are nothing short of a visual treat.

Though we might never know the exact reason why the temples were built, we can only speculate and form theories based on the evidence. But no matter what, we cannot rule out that the Brihadesvara temple is a testimony to the brilliant minds of people during the Chola era who excelled in creating intricate architecture, painting, bronze casting, and sculpture.

The architectural styles of the temples that followed the rule of the Chola dynasty changed drastically, making these structures a unique representation of orthodox South Indian temple architecture.

Mysteries Surrounding the Brihadisvara Temple

As we said in the introduction, the Brihadeesvara temple of Thanjavur has many mysteries surrounding it.

1. One of the most mysterious things is the technology used to place the capstone weighing 80 tonnes on top of the 216 ft vimana gopuram. Imagining the efforts and the technology used in the absence of modern construction materials is definitely baffling.

2. The vimana, which is built entirely of granite, is said to be a depiction of Mahameru. It is hollow inside and is built using interlocking granite slabs. The hollow form reverberates the mantra Om throughout the structure, enhancing the positive energy of the temple.

3. The Thanjavur temple has a series of intricate underground passages built to enable easy and safe passage for the kings and important people without being noticed by the enemies. What’s more interesting is these passages have ample air and water supply.

4. A whopping 130,000 tons of granite stone went into building this mammoth structure. These granite stones find their origin at least 50 miles from the temple making transportation a feat in itself. Adding to the fact is the efforts and technology used to carve out the most intricate details in one of the hardest rocks on earth.

5. The everlasting beauty of the Thanjavur paintings on the prakara is yet another mystery. The artworks have not lost their color even after ten centuries, which tells us a lot about the wealth of knowledge our ancestors had in preserving artifacts for future generations.

6. The only temple in the world that does not cast a shadow on the earth during noon is the Brihadeesvara temple. One theory says this because of the magnanimous basement that absorbs the shadow, and the other points out that the flora that flourishes in the temple absorbs the shadow of this mammoth structure. All we know is that there is no conclusive evidence backing these theories.

7. The temple has depictions of natya shastra, the first of its kind, where 81 of 108 karanas are carved into the temple walls.

8. Another marvel of the Chola dynasty is the Brihadesvara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, built by Rajendra Chola. It not only imbibes the values of the temple built by his father but takes it a step forward, making it yet another architectural marvel. Let’s keep this equally amazing story for another blog, another day.

The temples of India are nothing short of a marvel. These temples are a phenomenon that inspires people in more ways than one and shows us nothing is impossible. Brihadeshwara temple by Raja Raja Chola 1 is an example of outstanding achievement and what one can achieve when he puts his heart and soul into realizing his visions.

Scholars point out the fact that he was a visionary. And this temple was his way of showing the entire world a way to remain forever in the people’s memories even after the mortal body ceases to exist. His work has stood the test of time, and we are sure it will continue to stand for centuries, majestically.

So come, visit this temple in the early mornings of July to February, and witness the greatness of a bygone era to see and uncover the mysteries for yourself and transport yourself back centuries.

Article Source: Brihadeeshwara Temple of Thanjavur

[srijita-photography-blog]

Brihadeeshwar temple or Big temple of India is famous for its grand architecture and is considered to be one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Chola dynasty. It is known for its massive tower, or Vimana, which is 66 meters tall and is one of the tallest in the world.

The construction of the temple took around 7 years to complete and involved the efforts of more than 130,000 artisans and laborers. The temple was built using 1,30,000 Lakh tons of granite, which was transported to the site from a distance of more than 50 kilometers using elephants. The entire structure is constructed on plane land without any underground foundation. Also, no adhesive like cement, tar, etc, was used for the construction. The whole structure is made using the interlocking technique of stones.Read more

[famousplacesinindia]

Temple in Frame :- Brihadeeshwarar Temple, Tanjore, Tamilnadu Featured From :- @ourworld_mynikon Brihadishvara Temple (officially known as Rajarajeshwaram) locally known as Thanjai Periya Kovil (Thanjavur Big Temple), and also called Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Hindu Saivite temple built based on Chola architecture dedicated to the lord Shiva located in South bank of Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Built by Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. #natgeoyourshot #natgeotrav #storytelling #chola #ponniyinselvanmovie #ponniyinselvan #natgeotravel #traditionalart #templephotography #tamilnadu #tamilnadutourism #tamilnadutemples #ngtindia #natgeoyourlens #yourshotphotographer #travelphotography #unesco #ourfotoworld #bbctravel https://www.instagram.com/p/CkE90kUPO_l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Peruvudaiyar Kovil, Thanjavur 🤩

-பிரவீன் மோகன்

[shikhersimagery]

Sky in reverence by Shikher's Imagery Via Flickr: No matter how mighty and grand the temple was envisaged, the entrance to the ‘garbh grih’, like any other temple, was kept low enough for even the emperor to bow before he sought blessings from his deity. Brihadisvara temple, also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Rajarajeswaram, was built under the reign of Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 CE.

[shikhers]

Sky in reverence by Shikher's Imagery Via Flickr: No matter how mighty and grand the temple was envisaged, the entrance to the ‘garbh grih’, like any other temple, was kept low enough for even the emperor to bow before he sought blessings from his deity. Brihadisvara temple, also known as Peruvudaiyar Kovil or Rajarajeswaram, was built under the reign of Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 CE.

[hinducosmos]

Brihadeshwara temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu Mahidoes wrote: Brihadeshwara temple (Tamil: Peruvudaiyar Kovil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva. It is located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Periya kovil, Rajarajeswara Temple and Rajarajeswaram. It is one of the largest temples in India. Brihadeshwara is an example of tamil architecture from the Chola period. It was built by emperor Raja Rajacholan I and completed in 1010 AD. The temple turned 1000 years old in 2010. The temple is part of the Unesco world heritage Site known as the "Great living Chola temples", along with Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara temple. (via Instagram: mahidoes)

[omgindiablog]

 Brihadishwara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India: Brihadishvara Temple, called Rajarajesvaram by its builder, and known locally as Thanjai Periya Kovil and Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Shaivite Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the south bank of the Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Wikipedia

[soulandfuel]

Brihadeeshwara Temple (Peruvudaiyar Kovil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajesvaram. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period. Built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD, the temple turned 1000 years old in 2010. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples #brihadeeswarartemple #tanjavur #enchantingtamilnadu #soulandfuel #india #tamilnadutourism #tripotocommunity #natgeoyourshot (at Brihadeeswarar Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWlMWBNLkEn/?utm_medium=tumblr

[iflynfeast]

Brihadeeshwara Temple (Peruvudaiyar Kovil) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. One of the most impressive temples in India and the finest example of Indian architecture is located here. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu. Check out the Instagram for more informative and amazing content- https://www.instagram.com/iflynfeast/

[moonpaints]

Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Tamil architecture. It is called as Dhakshina Meru of south. Built by Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple that are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively.

The original monuments of this 11th century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures predominantly related to Shaivism, but also of Vaishnvaism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. The temple was damaged in its history and some artwork is now missing. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.

Built out of granite, the vimana tower above the sanctum is one of the tallest in South India. The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva lingas in India. It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance, in 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi, Parvati, Kartikeya, Ganesha, Sabhapati, Dakshinamurti, Chandeshvara, Varahi and others.