The Brihadeeswarar Temple - secrets behind the ancient indian architecture

Brihadeeswarar Temple

the brihadeeswarar temple

The Peruvudaiyar Koyil also known as Brihadeeswarar Temple,at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, is the world's first complete granite temple and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas in Tamil architecture.. It remains India's largest temple and is one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples".

Secrets of Brihadeeswarar Temple

 This temple is one of the world's most prized architectural sites. The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The vimana or the temple tower is 216 ft (66 m) high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam (or Kalash or Chikharam) (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is not carved out of a single stone as widely believed. The shadow of the gopuram never falls on the ground. However, some scholars have dismissed this as a myth. it falls somewhere else. nobody have found the shadow till now. It shows the architectural excellence of india before 1000 years also. There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high.

the gopura of brihadeeswarar temole whoose shadow is belived to be not fallen on earth

There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high. 

the nandi at the entrance

The Temple

 

The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and mandapas, and many sub-shrines. The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses. The karuvarai, a Tamil word meaning the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum and focus of the temple where an image of the primary deity, Shiva, resides. Inside is a huge stone linga. Only priests are allowed to enter this inner-most chamber.

the large nandi carved out from a single rock

 

Not only the temple and the "moolavar", (prime deity, Shiva) but all other deities (Koshta Moorthigal) like Dakshinamurthy, Suriyan (Sun), Chandran (Moon) are very huge sized. Especially, Brahadeeswar temple is one of the rare temples which has statues for "Ashta dik paalakas" (Lords of all Eight Directions) — Indra, Varuna, Agni, Eesana, Vayu, Niruthi, Yama, Kubera — each of which is a life-like statue

Transport details

Thanjavur can be reached easily by road, rail and air. Tamil Nadu state government runs frequent public buses from nearby Trichy, Chennai, Kumbakonam, Pudukkottai, Pattukkottai, Tirunelveli, Karur, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore and many other cities in the state. From the state capital Chennai, a National Highway (NH 45-A) linking Chennai with Chidambaram, Mayavaram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, and Nagappatinam provides convenient access to tourists who come to visit Thanjavur and the adjoining towns. There are also several buses operated by private bus operators.

Rail services are run by Indian Railways from many cities across India including Chennai, Trichy, Tirunelveli, Madurai and Nagore. The train station is Thanjavur Junction.

Tiruchirapalli Airport is the nearest airport, located 65 km away.

Images Of Brihadeeswara Temple

long view of the temple

Inscriptions about the workers who worked to build the temple

the sculptures for sale in tanjore and the entrance to the temple

sivalingams in temple

 

 

 courtesy: wikipedia.com, manukmsv.wordpress.com