Brihadishvara Temple
The Brihadeeswarar Temple ( Tamil பெருவுடையார் கோயில , anglicised Brihadeeswarar Temple ) is one of the Hindu deity Shiva temple dedicated to the ancient capital of the Chola -Reichs Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu , who Rajaraja I. was built. It is considered one of the most important temples in South India and is one of the three " great temples of the Chola dynasty " (together with the Brihadishvara temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavateshvara temple in Darasuram ) on the UNESCO World Heritage List .
Location and surroundings
The temple is located on the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Thanjavur, which is famous for its numerous temple complexes. It can be reached via a secluded side street off West Main Street . To the west of the temple is a wooded area, south of the Grand Anikut Canal.
The Brihadishvara Temple stands in a rectangular, 241 × 121 m large temple compound, which is surrounded by a wall. The wall is adorned with 250 Linga statues . The wall's only gate is on the east side of the temple grounds. It is provided with two gopurams . The outside is about 30 meters higher, the inside decorated with Hindu stories. On the temple grounds is the third highest Nandi statue in India with a height of 3.7 meters .
architecture
The Brihadishvara Temple is a Dravida-style structure . Characteristic for this are the Vimana , the tower, which consists of a hollow step pyramid and a dome-like top, and the use of similar large stone blocks (also known as monolithic construction ). The Vimana of the Brihadishvara Temple is considered to be the pinnacle of Vimana architecture. The construction technique of the temple is considered clear and perfect; The entire temple complex is designed almost symmetrically. The temple was built to represent Rajaraja's vision of his strength, power and absolute order as a royal temple.
Construction and data
The outer wall of the temple is supported on partially inscribed bases and provided with numerous reliefs. On the east side of the temple there are two large, pillared vestibules, which can be reached via a staircase on the east side of the temple.
On the west side of the temple, on a floor area of 25 × 25 m, there is a 60.96 meter and 13 storey high plastered vimana , in which the sanctuary is located, which occupies the first two floors and is separated from the rest of the vimana by a ceiling. In this sanctuary there is a four meter high linga made of cut basalt.
The entire temple complex consists almost entirely of uncemented granite blocks. The dome of the Vimana consists of two granite blocks, each weighing 20 tons. Allegedly / presumably a several kilometers long ramp was built to bring it up to the step pyramid.
History of origin
Construction began in 995 by Rajaraja I. The stones had to be fetched from a quarry 45 kilometers away because there was no granite nearby. According to the inscriptions on the base of the temple, Rajaraja I. was involved in the completion in 1010 by adding the spire to the Vimana. The temple was officially dedicated to Shiva under the name Rajarajeshvera, but most likely served to glorify its builder.
History of the building
After the completion of the temple, Rajaraja I brought around 600 temple servants to Thanjavur, including musicians, dancers, singers, shell blowers, canopy carriers, lamp lighters, potters, washers, astrologers, tailors, carpenters and gardeners.
In the 17th century the vestibules were built by the Nayak dynasty. The Maratha dynasty plastered the vimana in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Since 1987, the temple has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the intact large Chola Temple. The reason given is that the Brihadishvara Temple is the first good example of Chola architecture, was built in an extraordinary and creative style and represents the art of Chola. In 2004 the World Heritage Site was expanded to include the temples of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram.
The temple is now a tourist attraction and a donation is expected upon entry.
See also
literature
- AK Seshadri: Sri Brihadisvara, the great temple of Thanjavur. Vellore 1998.
- Ekkehard Kunze: Seventy architectural marvels , published in 2002 by Zweiausendeins Frankfurt, ISBN 3-86150-454-5
- Sarina Singh: South India , published 2001 by Lonely Planet Publication Pty Ltd, Maribyrnong City, Australia, ISBN 1-86450-161-8
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sarasvati Mahal Library on the Brihadishvara Temple ( Memento of the original from March 31, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of April 20, 2008
- ↑ The Thanjavur website of India News ( Memento of the original from March 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of April 9, 2008
- ↑ The Thanjavur website of India News ( Memento of the original from March 8, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of March 28, 2008
- ↑ To temples and nature parks as of March 28, 2008
- ↑ Ching et al., Francis DK (2007), A Global History of Architecture, New York: John Wiley and Sons, pp. 338–339, ISBN 0-471-26892-5
- ↑ UNESCO.org : Great Living Chola Temples as of April 1, 2008
- ↑ Clark-Reisen: Travelguide ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. As of April 1, 2008
Brihadishvara Temple (Thanjavur) | Brihadishvara Temple (Gangaikonda Cholapuram) | Airateshvara Temple (Darasuram)
Coordinates: 10 ° 46 ′ 59 ″ N , 79 ° 7 ′ 57 ″ E