Today we are going to talk about Brihadeshwara temple. This temple is also called Peruvudaiyār Kōvil or Rajarajeswaram. Brihadeshwara temple is known as a Hindu temple. This temple is dedicated to Shiva. The Brihadeshwara Temple is located on the south bank of the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu and Thanjavur.
The Brihadeshwara temple is known as one of the largest temples in South India and is a perfect example of Dravidian architecture. The Brihadeshwara temple is called Dakshina Meru. The Brihadeshwara temple was built by the Tamil king Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD. The Brihadeshwara temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known as the "Great Living Chola Temples". So let us gather a little more information about Brihadeshwara temple.
The original monuments of the 11th century Brihadeshwara temple were built around a moat. The Gopura, the main temple, its huge towers, inscriptions, murals and sculptures in this temple are mainly related to Shaivism but this temple also includes the Shaktivad traditions of Vaishnavism and Hinduism. The temple was damaged in the history of Brihadeshwara temple and now some artwork is missing. The Brihadeshwara temple is now located between the fort walls, added after the 16th century.
The Brihadeshwara temple is made of granite, the plane tower above the uterus is the tallest in South India. This temple was probably one of the tallest structures in the world at the time of its construction. The Brihadeshwara temple has a large colonized type and the largest Shiva linga in India. The Brihadeshwara temple is famous for the quality of its sculptures as well as the place which was handed over to the brass Nataraja-Shiva in the 11th century as the lord of dance. Brihadeshwara temple is known as one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.
Architecture
The planning and development of this temple uses axial and symmetrical geometric rules. Brihadeshwara temple is classified as Perunkoil. Brihadeshwara temple is known as a big temple. And the Brihadeshwara temple is built on a high platform built of natural or man-made mounds. The Brihadeshwara temple complex is 121.92 m from north to south and 240.79 m from east to west.
The Brihadeshwara temple has a sanctuary with a spacious superstructure, opposite Nandi Hall and between this main community hall, there is also a large gathering and a pavilion connecting the sanctum sanctorum with the sanctum sanctorum. The spacious courtyard of the Brihadeshwara temple integrates a huge pillared and covered veranda. This temple has a perimeter of about 450 meters for circulation. There are two outer walls outside the veranda with pillars at Brihadeshwara temple.
At the east end of the Brihadeshwara temple is the original main gopuram and which is barrel vaulted. And it is less than half the size of the plane of Brihadeshwara temple. Additional structures were added to the original temple after the 11th century such as the mandap in its north-east corner and additional gopurams on its perimeter allowing people. And enter and exit from many places.
This temple continued the tradition of Hindu temples in South India by adopting architectural and decorative elements, but the scale of Brihadeshwara temple increased significantly from the temples built before the 11th century.
Temple Personnel
Gives detailed details of people employed and supported by Brihadeshwara temple. The inscription of Brihadeshwara temple gives his salary, role and names. The Brihadeshwara temple contains more than 600 names including priests, lamp lighters, tailors, jewelers, potters, washermen, carpenters, holy parasol carriers, dance gurus, dancing girls, singers, male and female musicians, superintendents of performance artists, People included.
The Brihadeshwara temple employed Devadasi who were dancers and singers of devotional hymns. The Brihadeshwara temple is Numerous inscriptions contain frequent gifts that state "to provide for worship, for repairs and for food to assembly of sannyasis". According to George Mitchell, This Temple was one of the largest charities in its history. At Brihadeshwara temple it provides free meals to pilgrims, devotees and travelers on a daily basis.
Additions, Renovations and Repairs
The Brihadeshwara temple and its gopuram date back to the early 11th century. The Brihadeshwara temple also saw renovations and additions and repairs over the next 1,000 years. Wars and Raids are especially among the Muslim sultans who controlled Madurai and among the Hindu kings who controlled Thanjavur and damaged the Brihadeshwara temple.
In some cases the rulers at the Brihadeshwara temple tried to renovate the temple by fading paintings, ordering new murals on top of the old ones. Notable temples of Kartikeya, Parvati and Nandi at Brihadeshwara temple date back to the 16th and 17th century Nayak era and so the Brihadeshwara temple was built later.
Mandapa and Murals
The Brihadeshwara temple has two pavilions and square plan structures, Maha-mandap and Mul-mandap, which are arranged between the sanctuary sanctuary and Nandi mandap of Dhis temple There are six pillars on each side of the Brihadeshwara temple. Along with the mandapa of Brihadeshwara temple there are eight small temples for diklaps or guardian deities in every direction like Agni, Indra, Varuna, Kubera and others.
The Brihadeshwara temple has a lower layer of chola frescoes on the walls of the uterus along the circumambulatory tract. The murals of this temple are which cover from floor to ceiling. The painters used natural pigments for the murals of Brihadeshwara temple and poured it in wet limestone as it was set. The frescoes of Brihadeshwara temple depict Hindu mythology.
Millennium Commemoration
The Brihadeshwara temple turned 1000 years old in September 2010. A number of cultural events were held at the Brihadeshwara temple to celebrate the 1000th year of the grand structure of the state government and the town. He was to commemorate the 275th day of his 25th Rule Year during the event when King Chola gave a gold-plated pen to the final sanctity to crown the aircraft.
Reception
This temple bears witness to Chola's brilliant achievements in sculpture,architecture, painting and bronze casting. The Brihadeshwara temple is mentioned in many contemporary works of the period like Kalingathuparani and Muvar Ula. Chatterjee and Dravidian architecture received the highest form of expression in the Brihadeshwara temple. Brihadeshwara temple has been declared a Heritage Monument by the Government of India.
Brihadeshwara temple was declared a World Heritage Site by Nesco. This temple is located at Gangaikondacholapuram and Airavatesvara temple of Darasuram which are known as the great living Chola temples. The Brihadeshwara temple has unique design and sculptural elements. Brihadeshwara temple is classified as "Great Living" because Brihadeshwara temple is active in cultural, pilgrimage and worship in modern times.
Administration of This Temple
This temple is currently managed by Thanjavur Maratha royal family and Babaji Bhonsle. All these members serve as the inherited trustees of Devasthanam of Theis Mandir which manages 88 Chola temples including this temple. According to one of the protesters, who also became the convener of the Big Temple Rights Recovery Committee, Babaji Bhonsle is also not the legal heir of the Maratha kings of Thanjavur.
