Brihadisvara Temple

For the Brihadiswara temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, see Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
"Rajarajeswaram" redirects here. For the Shiva temple in Taliparamba, Kerala, see Rajarajeshwara Temple.

Brihadisvara Temple
தஞ்சைப் பெருவுடையார் கோயில்
Brihadisvara Temple complex is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as the Great Living Chola Temples.
Brihadishvara Temple complex
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictThanjavur district
DeityShiva
FestivalsMaha Shivaratri
Location
LocationThanjavur
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Brihadisvara Temple is located in India
Brihadisvara Temple
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Brihadisvara Temple is located in Tamil Nadu
Brihadisvara Temple
Brihadisvara Temple (Tamil Nadu)
Geographic coordinates10°46′58″N 79°07′54″E / 10.78278°N 79.13167°E / 10.78278; 79.13167
Architecture
StyleChola architecture
CreatorRajaraja I
Completed1010 CE[1][2]
InscriptionsTamil
Elevation66 m (217 ft)
Official nameThe Brihadisvara Temple complex, Thanjavur
Part ofGreat Living Chola Temples
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iii)
Reference250bis-001
Inscription1987 (11th Session)
Extensions2004
Area18.07 ha (44.7 acres)
Buffer zone9.58 ha (23.7 acres)

Brihadishvara Temple, called Rajarajesvaram (lit. 'Lord of Rajaraja') by its builder, and known locally as Thanjai Periya Kovil (lit. 'Thanjavur Big Temple') and Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Shaivite[3][4] Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style[5] located on the south bank of the Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.[1][6] It is one of the largest Hindu temples and an exemplar of Tamil architecture.[7] It is also called Dakshina Meru (Meru of the South).[8] Built by Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", along with the Chola-era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple, which are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively.[9]

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 Vaishnavism and Shaktism. The temple was damaged in its history and some artwork is now missing. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in the centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.[10][11]

Built using granite, the vimana tower above the shrine is one of the tallest in South India.[6] The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva lingas in India.[6][9][12] 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 the 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi, Parvati, Murugan, Ganesha, Sabhapati, Dakshinamurti, Chandeshvara, Varahi, Thiyagarajar of Thiruvarur, Siddhar Karuvoorar and others.[9][13] The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.[14]

  1. ^ a b Thanjavur Archived 7 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopaedia Britannica
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference mitchell was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Rajaraja the Great: A Garland of Tributes. Department of Museums, Government Museum. 1984. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ India Perspectives. PTI for the Ministry of External Affairs. 1995. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ^ Rao, Raghunadha (1989). Indian Heritage and Culture. Sterling Publishers. p. 32. ISBN 9788120709300. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)". Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. ^ Keay, John (2000). India, a History. New York, United States: Harper Collins Publishers. pp. xix. ISBN 0-00-638784-5. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  8. ^ K. V. Raman. Temple Art, Icons And Culture Of India And South-East Asia. Sharada Publishing House, 2006. p. 136.
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference UNESCO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 1–21.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference michell16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 20–21.
  13. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 16–29.
  14. ^ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 185.