Tanjore - The city of big Temple
Tanjore
Tanjore, Tanjavur or Thanjavur as people pronounce it as per their origin is most famous center of Tamil cultural values and more than that for Brihadeeshwar or The Peruvudaiyar Kovil temple built in 10101 AD by Chola king Raj Raja Chola. Thanjavar, which has seen many royal dynasties but Cholas were the most powerful of them all and devoted toward religion, guarding the interests of art, culture and artists like no other clans did in that particular area. Temples built in Chola era are best proof of their love for art and culture especially religion beyond any doubt whatsoever. However, the unique Brihadeeshwar is most famous of them all and that justifies listing in world heritage sites of UNESCO.
One can only imagine the devotion of Cholas’ level of religious devotion by the vastness of Brihadeeshwar- the temple par excellence. The architectural excellence, strongly built, vastness and outstanding scriptural beauty shows that they were extremely keen to show their devotion for Lord Shiva as well their own might, strength and love for art and culture. This temple for its vastness became famous as Big Temple or Brihadeeshwar and not as per Shiva temple as per going system of naming temples with the name of gods the temples are dedicated to. The temple has two other names, which is also known as Peruvudaiyar and Rajrajeshwar. The temple was designed and constructed under the supervision of famous architect RajRajeshwaran
The temple is big proof of ancient Indian architectural in-depth knowledge of engineers and understanding of materials used for long lasting buildings, which shows that, that was golden period of our structural engineering. In the period when the Cholas doing the great Dravid structural work in south the eastern area of our country was experiencing construction and creation through glorious buildings and architectural beauties shaping especially in Kalinga area.
Brihadeeshwar the Big Temple
Brihad or Brahd stands for big and if the temple is famous with name- Brihadeeshwar, it’s for the hugeness of the temple supposed to be highest in south India with its forteen-storied structure and also for the area it covers that is 120mtx240mt. Although it has extended further by 20x30mt after the construction of higher boundary walls added centuries later and the scriptural on the outer walls is considered to be of the highest quality of its kind anywhere in he world. There is another fact with this temple that unlike other temple in Tamilnadu the place where the temple is located has no special religious value attached with it. The temple was built by Chola king just for his devotion to Lord Shiva and completion of 25 years of his rule.
In addition, the biggest difference that separates it from other temples is its dome, which is pyramid shaped and not traditional round dome that is common for Indian temples. On top of the temple 81-meter heavy round shaped crown built jointing eight different stones gives it a unique view. The temple stands at almost 61 meter from ground level. And to add to the vastness of the temple the Shivaling here is 3.66 meter high. The temple has two other buildings, which have many Shivlings established there.
Other special features of temple
The entire construction of temple has been carried out on a rectangular platform but the inside of temple is square shaped. The entire temple is constructed on double foundations so that it can withstand the weight that it carries. The dome of the temple is situated at right on top of the center of temple where Shivling has been established. The top of temple known as Viman is a hollow structure. There is another remarkable difference that separates this temple from other Dravid style temples is that its Gopurams are smaller than Main temple where in other Dravid style temples the Gopurams are generally higher than main temples.
Nandi the Bull of Shiva and guards
In front of main temple there is a platform where a single stone build idol of Nandi, the second biggest in India 6 meter long, 3.7 meter high and 2.6 meter in width is set. The temple has eight deities of eight different direction gods guarding temple from evil. The guards known as Indra, Varun, Yam, Agni, Kuber, Vayu, Niruti and Ishan are standing in different directions with all their alertness to see to it that no harm is done to Lord. All these idols are almost 6ft in height and splendidly designed.
The entrance
Devotees enter into the temple from Maratha Gate to pass through two Gopurams, first the outer one called Kerlantak Tiruvasal and then inner the Rajrajan Tiruvasal (the entrance). Both of these two entrance constructed at different times as the first, the outer one Kerlantak Tiruvasal was built by Rajraja Chola after his victory over Chera kings. The boundary walls were constructed by Nayak kings constructed the outer walls to protect temple and Maratha rulers constructed outer gate and decorated pillars. The big temple is visible from different parts of city but the real feel of its vastness can be experienced only when the visitors enter into Gopuram. Visitors find them spellbound as soon as they enter in to temple premises and climb on to the steps, which take them to the main temple where the big Shivaling awaits them in all its glory.
The Prayer System
There have been many changes in last one thousand years when construction of Brihadeeshwar temple was completed initially but as far the worship system goes nothing has changed. Visitors are allowed to have darshans of Lord Shiva after the systematic bath and decoration of Shivaling with proper 
chanting of mantras by Pandits. There are fewer Shivaling idols as glorious anywhere in the world, which can match the one set in Tanjore. After all Tanjore Chola temple is one of the three Chola temples included in the list of UNESCO list of world heritage sites.
Other places around Big Temple
After the demise of Rajraja Chola his son Rajendra Chola took over and he did the same what his father did to encourage culture and religion. He even developed another place as his capital known as Gangekondcholpuram. Rajendra Chola also built a temple of Shiva on the same pattern but a little smaller than the Big one. However this move lessened the importance of Tanjore and Cholas that made Nayakas to take over by the middle of 13th century.
However the kings who took over Tanjore later gave proper importance to Brihadeeshwar and contributed to it for its betterment. Nayakas added ‘Nandi’ section here and later Pandyas constructed Subramaniyam temple in Tanjore but later while Marathas took over the rule of Tanjore. Marathas added many places for visitors to stay as well the Sinhasana room where they kept a good collection of books and items of archeological value. Marathas made many changes with books, metallic utensils and coins extra only to lose later to British who took over in 1855.
There is much more in Tanjore to see like palace of Tanjore, Art gallery, Saraswati Mahal library, museum and main Darbar hall are main places apart from many more worth seeing places for devotees visiting here in big numbers. Nayak kings built the place in Tanjore but Marathas extended it with a temple shaped building that was probably to confuse invaders. The place is designed in such a manner that its reality can be traced only after entering into it. The entire city can be seen from top of this building and it was used as armory of Marathas. There are many rooms where items used by kings are on public show. Idols made of bronze, copper, stones and other art related items besides books collected by Maratha kings are on display here. Dresses, arms and other items used by the then kings are also available in government museum here.
There is another famous temple for architectural and scriptural beauty the Airateshwar in Dharasuram near Kumbhakonam about 35km away from Tanjore. As I mentioned earlier also the city of Gangekondacholpur the other capital town built by Rajendra Chola has another Brihadeeshwar temple smaller but as beautiful as the original one in Tanjore and both of these two are included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.
How to reach here
The Brihadeeshwar a very well managed temple A UNESCO world heritage site is a glorious structure constructed as I said almost 1000 yrs ago by Chola dynasty and later added by Nayakas, Pandyas, and Marathas etc. Tanjore is only 60km away from Tiruchirapalli the nearest airport or Chennai for visitors from north or east. Tanjore is very well connected with every part of our country therefore it should not be a problem to reach here also the city has very good facilities for lodging to suit all pockets.
Photo credit- wikipedia
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