Sri Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

Address

Membalam Rd, Balaganapathy Nagar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613007

Diety

Brihadisvara

Introduction

Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Koyil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.[1][3] It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Dravidian architecture.[4] 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.

Puranic Significance

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 Tamizhan architecture from the Chola period. It was built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD.

Beliefs

Rajendra I, the Tamil tradition and the name Gangeskonda Solan, means Ganga. Gangaikonda Cholapuram was established as the capital of the former Chola capital of Thanjavur. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram was the capital of Chola for the next 250 years. [30] Rajendra built entire temples and several temples using the proposed plans and infrastructure in the Tamil Vastu and Akama Shastra texts. [16] This includes Dharma Sastha, Vishnu and other temples. However, these temples were destroyed in the 13th and 14th centuries. Other choler markets, including worms covered with mud and dug poles and brick walls, can be seen near a large area. [16] [31] The named inscription dates back to 1029, and carried out extensive travels on the river Ganga in the northeast, dated 1023. The first gift to the newly built Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple was dated 1035. [16] Rajendra I, the Tamil tradition and the name Gangeskonda Solan, means Ganga. Gangaikonda Cholapuram was established as the capital of the former Chola capital of Thanjavur. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram was the capital of Chola for the next 250 years. [30] Rajendra built entire temples and several temples using the proposed plans and infrastructure in the Tamil Vastu and Akama Shastra texts. [16] This includes Dharma Sastha, Vishnu and other temples. However, these temples were destroyed in the 13th and 14th centuries. Other choler markets, including worms covered with mud and dug poles and brick walls, can be seen near a large area. [16] [31] The named inscription dates back to 1029, and carried out extensive travels on the river Ganga in the northeast, dated 1023. The first gift to the newly built Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple was dated 1035. [16]

Special Features

A spectrum of Hindu temple styles continued to develop from the 5th to the 9th century over the Chalukya era rule as evidenced in Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal, and then with the Pallava era as witnessed at Mamallapuram and other monuments. Thereafter, between 850 and 1280 CE, Cholas emerged as the dominant dynasty.[2][20] The early Chola period saw a greater emphasis on securing their geopolitical boundaries and less emphasis on architecture. In the 10th century, within the Chola empire emerged features such as the multifaceted columns with projecting square capitals. This, states George Michell, signaled the start of the new Chola style.[2][note 1] This South Indian style is most fully realized both in scale and detail in the Brihadeshvara temple built between 1003 and 1010 by the Chola king Rajaraja.[1][2] The architect and engineer of the temple was Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Rama Perunthachan as stated in inscriptions found at the temple.

Festivals

It is a monumental administered by the ASI, and is worshiped in other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Festivals and Puja (rituals) on the basis of daily prayers are followed by the vegetarian tradition. Temple rituals take place four times a day: at 8: 30 o’clock at Kalashanthi, Echikulam 12:30 pm. Skinny 6:00 pm And from 7.30 am to 8 pm. There are three steps for each ritual: halibar (decoration), naveetham (food offerings) and aluthratharan (breathe) to both the Priya Deeswarar and the big heroine. There are weekly, monthly and two hundred rituals in the temple. The temple is open from 6 am to 12 pm. And 4:00 p.m.-9: 00 p.m. Everyday. There are many festivals in the month of December-January in the month of December-January and October (November-November) and in the month of February (February-March) in the month of February (March-February), Ipsi Poornimaia, Shivarathri and Kalandir. [44] Annapsekham, during the Essential Festival, brought cooked rice,