Brihadishwara Temple

The Brihadishwara Temple is also known as Rajarajeswaram, at Thanjavur, is the world's first complete granite temple and a brilliant example of the architectural excellence of the Cholas. It is a tribute to the power and glory of its patron RajaRaja Chola I and remains as one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples" and an ultimate testimonial for the Vishwakarmas architectural cognizance in planning and sculpting this temple.

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 (about 70 meters) and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kalash or 'Shikhara' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is of monolithic granite weighing 81.25 tons. 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 entire temple structure is made out of hard granite stones, a material sparsely available currently in Thanjavur area where the temple is located.

History

The temple had its foundations laid out by the ambitious emperor Chola king Rajaraja Chola I in 1002 CE. According to tradition, the temple was built by the Chola king RajaRajeshwar in compliance of a command given to him in his dream. Although there were later modifications by the Chalukyan and Pallavas, the scale and grandeur is in the Chola tradition. Temples from this period and the following two centuries are an expression of the Chola wealth, power and artistic expertise.

The Brihadishwara Temple was built to be the royal temple to display the emperor's vision of his power and his relationship to the universal order. The temple was the site of the major royal ceremonies such as anointed the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva, and the daily rituals of the deities were mirrored by those of the king. The temple maintained a staff of 600 people in various capacities. Besides the Brahmin priest, these included record-keepers, musicians, scholars, and craftsman of every type as well as housekeeping staff.

The temple is an example of the Dravida type of temple architecture and testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.

Temple complex

The temple complex sits on the banks of a river channeled to make a moat around the complex's outer walls, the walls around it more like a fortress. The complex is made up of many structures aligned axially. The complex can be entered either on one axis through a five-story gopuram or with a second access directly to the huge main quadrangle through a smaller free-standing gopuram. The massive size of the main sikhara (although it is hollow on the inside and not meant to be occupied), is 63 meters in height, with 16 severely articulated stories, and dominates the main quadrangle. Pilaster, piers, and attached columns are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the shikhara.

Main temple

The apex of the tower is the octagonal single stone granite piece of 81.25 tons

The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall (mandapas), and many sub-shrines. The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is surrounded by massive walls divided into different levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters for deep bays and recesses. Each side of the sanctuary has a bay emphasizing the principle cult icons.

The garbhagriha or 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. In the Dravida style, the garbhagriha takes the form of a miniature vimana; as the inner wall together with the outer wall creating a pradakshina around the garbhagriha for circumambulation (pradakshina). The entrance is highly decorated. The garbhagriha is square and sits on a plinth, its location calculated to be a point of total equilibrium and harmony as it represents the microcosm of the universe. In the center is placed the image of the deity.

Origin of Idea

The wish to build a mammoth temple like this is said to have occurred to Raja Raja while he stayed at ealam (today's Sri Lanka) as a war head. He saw a lot of Buddha statues that were very tall and huge, which would have made him wish to build a great temple to his cordial deity Shiva in such a large scale.

Other

Not only the temple and the "moolavar", (prime deity, Shiva) but all other deities (Koshta Moorthigal) like Dakshinamurthy, Suriya (Sun), Chandra (Moon) are very huge sized. Especially, Brahadeeswar temple is one of the rare temples having statues for "Ashtadhig Balakas" [Lords of all Eight Directions [Indra, Varuna, Agni, Eesana, Vayu, Niruthi, Yama, Kubera], each of which is a life like status i.e approximately 6 feet tall.

Whichever way you look at it – either peity or an eye for architectural excellence – Brihadishwara temple is a place you cannot afford to miss.