A Majestic Marvel of Chola Architecture
The Brihadeeswara Temple, also known as the Brihadeshwara Temple or the Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is an architectural marvel nestled in the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. This magnificent Hindu temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands as a testament to the artistic brilliance, cultural heritage, and architectural prowess of the Chola dynasty.
Historical Significance:
The Brihadeeswara Temple was built during the reign of the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I in the 11th century AD. It was conceived as a symbol of the emperor's power, piety, and patronage of the arts. The temple served as the epicenter of Chola's religious and cultural activities and remains a revered pilgrimage site for devotees.
Architectural Marvel:
The Brihadeeswara Temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, characterized by its grand proportions, intricate carvings, and precise stone craftsmanship. The temple's main structure, known as the vimana or the tower, soars to a height of approximately 66 meters (216 feet), making it one of the tallest temple towers in the world.
The vimana is constructed entirely of granite blocks, meticulously stacked to create a soaring edifice. The outer walls of the temple are adorned with elaborate sculptures depicting gods, goddesses, celestial beings, and narratives. The intricate detailing on the sculptures and the precision of the architectural elements are a testament to the technical prowess of the Chola artisans.
Unique Features:
One of the notable features of the Brihadeeswara Temple is the absence of a shadow cast by the main tower at noon during certain periods of the year. This architectural marvel has puzzled observers for centuries, highlighting the advanced astronomical and mathematical knowledge possessed by the Chola architects.
The temple complex also includes a large courtyard, various halls, and smaller shrines dedicated to different deities. A significant attraction within the complex is the colossal Nandi, Lord Shiva's sacred bull, carved out of a single stone, which stands at the entrance.
Spiritual Significance:
The Brihadeeswara Temple holds immense spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. The temple's sanctum sanctorum houses a magnificent Shiva Lingam, the sacred symbol of Lord Shiva. Devotees throng the temple to seek blessings, offer prayers, and participate in religious rituals and festivals, especially during Mahashivaratri.
UNESCO World Heritage Site:
In recognition of its exceptional architectural and cultural value, the Brihadeeswara Temple was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. This prestigious recognition highlights its global significance and places it among the world's most remarkable heritage sites.
Visiting the Brihadeeswara Temple:
Visitors to the Brihadeeswara Temple can immerse themselves in the grandeur of Chola art and architecture. The temple welcomes tourists from around the world to explore its sprawling complex, marvel at the intricate carvings, and experience the aura of divinity. Tanjavur, with its rich cultural heritage, also offers other attractions like the Tanjore Palace and Art Gallery, providing visitors with a holistic experience of the region's heritage.
The Brihadeeswara Temple in Tanjavur stands as a testament to the artistic genius and spiritual devotion of the Chola dynasty. Its towering vimana, intricate carvings, and sacred ambiance offer visitors an immersive experience of the rich.
Mystery of the Brihadeeswara Temple
An interesting fact about the Brihadeeswarar Temple is that it is built entirely out of granite which is not even native to Thanjavur. The historians have failed to trace even a modicum of a trace of any nearby granite quarry within 50 km or even a site for post-construction waste disposal. This adds to the mystery of the Thanjavur temple. A whooping 1,30,000 tonnes of granite was used to build the Tanjore temple. Read that again!
Not to mention, granite is one of the strongest stones in the world! That makes it very difficult to make delicate designs and patterns on sturdy granite stones. Powerful blunt tools must have been used for carvings.
Where were granite stones brought from?
As per some claims, the stone for the main Shivling was brought from Saurashtra Gujarat which is an astonishing 2100 km away. No, there were no trains or vehicles in those times. It is not easy to transport big blocks of granite from one place to another. How did they move granite to Thanjavur? It remains a mystery to date!
Kudos to the phenomenal architectural expertise of the Cholas for achieving this impossible feat!
How did they cut granite?
Some British colonists tried to imitate and cut granite but failed miserably. On the other hand, the Mughals tried to destroy temples and failed in many cases as well. To this date, it is not possible to replicate the carvings as seen in Sri Brihadeeswarar temple.
A special method was used for cutting and carving granite in those days. Several holes were made in granite slabs. The depth of the holes depended on their purpose. After inserting wooden sticks in the holes, it was filled with water. This helped in breaking granite over a long period.
How was Brihadeeswara Temple built: The mystery of method
Just how did they do it? Unfortunately, we do not have any written record of how the Cholas managed to carry so much granite to the construction site or how they were able to lift such heavy and tall structures on the topmost part of the temple.
Picture this! The Vimana or the Shikhara/tower alone is a whopping 208 feet or 63.4 meters. How did it arrive at the top of Garbhagriha?
Or for that matter the Nandi statues that rest on the granite slab. The slab weighs 80 tons or 80,000 kg. The octagonal cupola dome that rests on top of it weighs 25 tonnes or 25,000 kilograms.
How did Cholas lift the heavy stone to the top of a tower? Perhaps how it was done in ancient Egypt for building pyramids! Men and elephants made it happen over years of carrying the stones on makeshift ramps made at 45 degrees. The stones were tied to ropes and pulled by elephants every day.
1,000 elephants and 5,000 horses were used to build structures by RajaRaja Chola. He built several temples, of which the Tanjore temple is the finest example.
It was not possible to lift the entire stone in a day. So, after halting the stone-carrying activity to the point where it was manageable, the activity was again resumed the next day. Grand structure indeed demands grand efforts! Phew!
Elevating Chanting of Vedic Mantras
Some sources also claim that the stones simply levitated once the sages chanted the ancient Vedic Mantras. Huge rollers pulled on inclined ropes could have also been used by men with ropes to lift the colossal stones. That seems unlikely as the weight of stones is beyond the strength of humans alone.
Om or ओ३म् (ॐ) is the Vedic Mahamantra. It has also been proven that the Sun makes a similar Om or ओ३म् (ॐ) sound. How the Om or ओ३म् (ॐ) sound helps Sun stay in its position, similarly, reciting Vedic Mantras could have also helped the 80-ton stone levitate. The sages in those days knew several secret mantras or gupt mantras.
What was the need to cap the Tanjore temple?
A huge amount of positive electromagnetic energy exists in the garbhagriha which houses the colossal Shivalinga. The 80-ton stone cap was placed to repulse the force. This helped in channelizing the flow of energy within the temple precincts. This gave divinity and piousness to the temple.
The Secret of Nandi Idols
8 huge sacred Nandi bull idols are placed near the Gopuram of the Sri Vimana of Peruvudaiyār Kōvil or Brihadeeswara Temple. These colossal Nandi statues are carved from a single stone.
You can see an idol of Nandi Ji in southern Prahara. This can help you gain perspective on the enormous weight and size of Nandi ji near the Shikhara of Tanjavur temple. A sculpture of Mahameru or the abode of Shiv ji can also be seen on the east face of Sri Vimana. It is entirely built with granite.
It is incredible how this thousand-year-old temple was built! There were no sophisticated equipment or machines in those days to make it happen! The Nandi ji statues must have also been pulled up through elephants and men as explained above.
The secret of Sri Vimana
The Vimana which is more than 200 feet tall and is also known as Dakshin Meru or Southern Meru is said to be the center of the universe and axis of the world.
Secret Passages of Brihadisvara Temple
I am sure you had no idea that there are more than 100 secret underground passages in the complex of the Great Living Chola Temple. These secret tunnels lead to places such as the palace of RajaRaja Chola and other nearby historical places. The tunnel is a maze and was built to ensure the safety of the kingdom of RajaRaja Chola.
These mysterious underground passages were also used by Kings, Queens, sages, military men, etc. During festivals such as the Thaipusam festival and Mahashivratri, these secret passages ensured the smooth movement of the Royal family.
These secret passages have been sealed by the Government and temple management as it is easy for people to lose their way in the labyrinthine tunnels. It is said that it is very difficult to return to the starting point once a person enters the maze. There are many unexcitable zones here. Some secret passages also opened to the source of fresh river water.
Mantra for passages:
Also, much like the Padmanabhaswamy temple of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, some doors of passages could be opened only after reciting sacred mantras. Only the closest confidants of RajaRaja Cholas knew about these well-kept secrets.
Some of these passages are still connected to treasure chests, vaults, calligraphers, and rare manuscripts.
Secret Chambers of Thanjavur Palace:
Did you know that there are many Secret Chambers in the Thanjavur Palace? These mysterious chambers are off the limits for regular tourists. Some excellent acoustic techniques were used in the construction of these secret chambers.
It allowed the messenger to convey code messages through whispers to 3 floors above it. Sadly, tourists and travelers are not allowed to visit the secret passages. These tunnels are of great historical significance.
European man on Brihadeeswarar Temple wall:
I noticed the figure of a European man, wearing a hat on the external wall of the Brihadeeswarar Temple. He was shown folding his hand in a relaxed posture as if peeping out of a window. The Nandi bull that gave him company represented the union of West and East in old times.
No one knows the secret of who this European man on the temple wall was? Maybe it was fictional! Perhaps ask the Nandi, sotto voce!
The Secret of Sound:
Throughout Thanjavur, you will come across many places where acoustic techniques have been beautifully incorporated into the architecture of the buildings such as the nearby Sangeetha Mahal. Tanjore temple is no exception.
As you enter the garbhagriha, you will notice that there are two idols of Ganesh ji, son of Shiv Bhagwan in the corridor. If you tap the two, you will realize that the sound travels through the stone in one idol and through metal on the other idol.
Mystery of Musical Pillar:
There are also several musical pillars in Gangai Konda Cholapuram. There are many such musical pillars at many temples in South India. In the old days, devotees and musicians used to sing sacred bhajan devoted to Shiv ji in the main hall of Thanjavur Big Temple.
It is common knowledge that the ancient Hindus used sacred sounds, geometry, vibration, and secret mantras intelligently! It would not be an overstatement to say that the Cholas integrated several sciences into their magnum opus– Rajarajeswaram or Brihadeeswarar Temple.
Secret of paintings
Even today, after so many centuries, have passed, the actual colors of paintings and murals can be seen in several places in the complex of Gangaikondacholapuram or Sri Brihadeeswarar temple. Isn’t it a miracle that such paintings look so fresh and natural even after centuries have passed? While walking around the temple complex and cloister mandapa, I felt like these paintings were made only recently.
Herbs and natural ingredients such as haldi (turmeric), colorful leaves, flower petals, salts, neem, mud, etc were used to make these long-lasting paintings.
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