The construction of the Big temple of Thanjavur started in 1003 AD and was completed in 1010 AD. The vimana of this temple is higher than the usual gopuram or portal tower. It is 64.8 m or 208 ft. in height. It rises from a square base and shaped like a pyramid with 14 tiers. There is higher monolithic cupola carved out from 81.3 tonne block of granite on the top of the gopuram. This gopuram can be climbed from the village 'Saarappallam' by rolling it along a ramp of earth six km long like the way in which the Egyptian pyramids were built. It is set on a spacious prakara of 240m by 125m. The Big temple of Thanjavur has a Lingam in the sanctum of 3.70m height. The huge bull (Nandi) in the outer courtyard is monolithic 3.70m high, 6m long and 2.50m wide. It is the handiwork of the Vijayanagar rulers. It is the second largest in India, the first being the one at the Lepakshi temple in Andhra Pradesh. The dwarapalakas near the doorways of the Big temple of Thanjavur are 5.50m in height. The complex is bordered with various mandapams. One can enter the temple by the three gateways with gopurams. There are lots of inscriptions in the basement, which tell about the various grants and gifts offered to Brahadeeswara by innumerable kings, chieftains and nobles. The establishment of the Big temple had 1000 persons, 400 of them were female dancers. The outer side of the exterior wall is divided into 2 storeys with niches containing the images of Saivaite iconography. The sculptures of the temple represent the Vaishnavaite and Buddhist themes. Again, the outer walls of the temple are decorated with stone images. The inner wall of the sanctum is covered with Chola murals. These were concealed by the superimposition of Vijayanagar Nayak paintings. I The originals murals of Chola period in this temple walls were brought to light by a special chemical process in 1930. The amazing Chola painting were thus discovered to the world manifesting and this included those of Sundaramurthy Nayanar, Cheraman Perumal, Tiripuranthaga, Rajaraja, Karuvur Thevar and Dakshinamurthi. One can see them dazzle in floodlight inside the inner corridor after taking permission from the archaeological department. One can see 81 dance poses of Bharatha Natyam, the classical dance of the Tamils, which are carved on the outer wall of the upper storey. The inside of the spiralling 14 tiers is quite amazing and the precision of the engineers of the Chola period is outstanding. One wonder of the Big temple of Thanjavur is that the shadow of the cupola never falls in the ground. It is an extraordinary artwork and engineering skills of the Chola architecture. The Pandayan rulers added the shrine for the Goddess in the 13th century A.D. The Subramania shrine was added by Vijayanagar rulers. Sambaji, the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur renovated the Vinayaka shrine. |
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