About Brihadiswara Temple:
- Brihadiswara (Brihadeshwara) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.
- It is also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple, and Rajarajesvaram.
- It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period.
- It was constructed under the patronage of the Chola emperor Rajaraja I between 1003 and 1010 CE.
- It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Great Living Chola Temples”, with the other two being the Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavatesvara Temple, both constructed by Chola rulers and located northeast of Thanjavur.
- Architecture:
- It is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, which is characterized by the use of pyramid-shaped towers, pillared halls, enclosed courtyards, and sculpted walls.
- The entire temple structure is made out of granite. The construction of the temple out of granite was done without mortar.
- The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century.
- The central tower, or vimana, is 66 m high and is the tallest in the world. It is also the most ornate and elaborate, with intricate carvings and paintings.
- The Kumbam (the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) at the top of vimana is carved out of a single rock.
- There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock
- The temple complex is surrounded by two concentric rectangular enclosures (prakarams) with massive walls.
- These enclosures are entered through ornate gateways known as gopurams.
- Unlike later Tamil temples where the gopurams are taller than the central vimana, at Brihadeeswara, the vimana remains the tallest structure, emphasizing the primacy of the main shrine.
