Peruvudaiyar Kovil, which is also famous as Brihadeeshwara Temple, Rajarajeswaram and RajaRajeshwara Temple, is located at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the Hindu temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Built by Rajaraja Chola I in 1010 AD, is also popular by name of ‘Big Temple’. It was finished within 5 years. The inspiration to build the temple came to Rajaraja Chola during his visit to Sri Lanka and is a result of a dream he had. This temple remains as India’s largest and Indian architecture’s one of greatest glories. The original name of the deity was Rajarajeshwar. It was the Marathas who gave it the name Brihadeeshwara or the Great God.
It stands in middle of fortified walls added probably in sixteenth century. Entire structure of temple is made of granite, whose nearest source are near Tiruchchirapalli, which is nearly 60 kms from the temple. More than 130,000 tons of granite was used to built it. There is one temple tower, which people call as Vimana. It is 216 feet or 66 meters high. It is also one among tallest tower in whole world in its kind. Kumbam, Chikharam or Kalasha, which is bulbous, or apex structure on top of temple, people believe that it is made out of a single stone carving.
The temple has sculptures of exceptional quality like the dancing Ganesha, Ardhanari, Dakshinamurthi, Harihara, Adavallan (Nataraja) (on south wall niches), Gangadhara, Lingodhbhava, Vishnu, Subrahmanya, Vishnu-anugrahmurthi (west wall), Kalanthakamurthi, Durga, Brahma, Bairava, Kamantaka (north wall). But the most outstanding sculptures are found in the niches by the side of the northern entrance steps to the sanctum. They are the Chandesanugrahamurti and Saraswati. The bronzes of Bhogasakti and Subrahmanya are masterpieces of Chola metal icons. The Saurapitha (Solar altar), the lotus altar with eight deities is considered auspicious.
The inner wall of the garbhagriha or the sanctum has sculpted with 108 dance poses called karmas performed by Lord Shiva himself. The Shiva lingam is called Peruvudaiya, Rasjarajeshwaramudvya. It is a huge lingam, which is set in a two storeyed sanctum. Rajaraja Chola crowned it with 12.5 ft tall finial of 9.25 kilograms of choppers plated with 800 grams of gold. The temple also has a spacious ground, number of pillared halls, shrines and 250 lingams. There is one statue of a sacred bull Nandi at entrance of this temple measuring about thirteen feet height and sixteen feet long. It is result of a single rock carving which weighs around 25 tons.
Musical pillars : At the entrance of sanctum, there are two idols of Ganesha in the corridor. On taping the two, you will feel the sound traveling through stone in one idol and through metal on the other. There are some musical pillars producing different sounds when tapped.
Shadow Disappears at noon : The shadow of the temple, which surprisingly never falls on the ground at noon. It is designed in such a way that the vimana does not cast a shadow at noon during any part of the year.
Secret passages : A dedicated secret passage was created to connect different secret places (like the Palace of Rajaraja Chola and also to other important places) in hidden mesh-like structure. It is decorated with distinct features depicting Hindu history of India. While roaming through secret passages, it is impossible to come back to the starting point, as no one knows the route to reach the inter-places meshed to each other. That is the reason, most of the underground and secret passages are closed for the public and archaeologists.
How Granite Stones were Cut, Carved and Customized : It is said that series of holes were created in the granite block. The holes can be deeper or narrower based on the requirement. Then wooden sticks were filled in those holes, water is poured on the holes. After a long period of time the rocks would break. And in similar manner, customized Granite blocks were cut.
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| Brihadeeshwara Temple |
It stands in middle of fortified walls added probably in sixteenth century. Entire structure of temple is made of granite, whose nearest source are near Tiruchchirapalli, which is nearly 60 kms from the temple. More than 130,000 tons of granite was used to built it. There is one temple tower, which people call as Vimana. It is 216 feet or 66 meters high. It is also one among tallest tower in whole world in its kind. Kumbam, Chikharam or Kalasha, which is bulbous, or apex structure on top of temple, people believe that it is made out of a single stone carving.
The temple has sculptures of exceptional quality like the dancing Ganesha, Ardhanari, Dakshinamurthi, Harihara, Adavallan (Nataraja) (on south wall niches), Gangadhara, Lingodhbhava, Vishnu, Subrahmanya, Vishnu-anugrahmurthi (west wall), Kalanthakamurthi, Durga, Brahma, Bairava, Kamantaka (north wall). But the most outstanding sculptures are found in the niches by the side of the northern entrance steps to the sanctum. They are the Chandesanugrahamurti and Saraswati. The bronzes of Bhogasakti and Subrahmanya are masterpieces of Chola metal icons. The Saurapitha (Solar altar), the lotus altar with eight deities is considered auspicious.
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| Huge Shivalingam |
The inner wall of the garbhagriha or the sanctum has sculpted with 108 dance poses called karmas performed by Lord Shiva himself. The Shiva lingam is called Peruvudaiya, Rasjarajeshwaramudvya. It is a huge lingam, which is set in a two storeyed sanctum. Rajaraja Chola crowned it with 12.5 ft tall finial of 9.25 kilograms of choppers plated with 800 grams of gold. The temple also has a spacious ground, number of pillared halls, shrines and 250 lingams. There is one statue of a sacred bull Nandi at entrance of this temple measuring about thirteen feet height and sixteen feet long. It is result of a single rock carving which weighs around 25 tons.
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| Nandi |
Musical pillars : At the entrance of sanctum, there are two idols of Ganesha in the corridor. On taping the two, you will feel the sound traveling through stone in one idol and through metal on the other. There are some musical pillars producing different sounds when tapped.
Shadow Disappears at noon : The shadow of the temple, which surprisingly never falls on the ground at noon. It is designed in such a way that the vimana does not cast a shadow at noon during any part of the year.
 |
| Vimana |
Secret passages : A dedicated secret passage was created to connect different secret places (like the Palace of Rajaraja Chola and also to other important places) in hidden mesh-like structure. It is decorated with distinct features depicting Hindu history of India. While roaming through secret passages, it is impossible to come back to the starting point, as no one knows the route to reach the inter-places meshed to each other. That is the reason, most of the underground and secret passages are closed for the public and archaeologists.
How Granite Stones were Cut, Carved and Customized : It is said that series of holes were created in the granite block. The holes can be deeper or narrower based on the requirement. Then wooden sticks were filled in those holes, water is poured on the holes. After a long period of time the rocks would break. And in similar manner, customized Granite blocks were cut.
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