Skip to main content

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

Brihadishvara Temple, called Rajarajesvaram (lit. 'Lord of Rajaraja') by its builder, is a Shaivite Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the south bank of the Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.

Built using granite, the vimana tower above the shrine is one of the tallest in South India. The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva lingas in India. It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja, Shiva as the lord of dance, in the 11th century.

Plan of Brihadishvara Temple
Plan Legend:

  1. Maratha Entrance
  2. Keralantakan Tiruvasal
  3. Rajarajan Tiruvasal
  4. Nandi Mandapan
  5. Varahi shrine
  6. South Cloister Mandapan
  7. Brihadisvara Temple
  8. Interpretation Center
  9. Ganesha Shrine
  10. Karuvur Devar Shrine
  11. Subrahmanya Shrine
  12. Chandikesvara Shrine
  13. North Cloister Mandapam
  14. Amman Shrine
  15. Nataraja Mandapam

Keralantakan tiruvasal gopuram (Plan No. 2)
The temple faces east, and once had a water moat around it. This has been filled up. The fortified wall now runs around this moat. The two walls have ornate gateways called the gopurams. These are made from stone and display entablature.

  • The main gateways are on the east side.
  • The first one is called the Keralantakan tiruvasal, which means the "sacred gate of the Keralantakan".
  • The word Keralantakan was the surname of king Rajaraja who built it.

Rajarajan tiruvasal gopuram (Plan No. 3)
About a 100 metres (330 ft) ahead is the inner courtyard gopuram called the Rajarajan tiruvasal.

  • This is more decorated than the Keralantakan tiruvasal, such as with its adhishthanam relief work narrating scenes from the Puranas and other Hindu texts.

Courtyard
The inner eastern gopuram leads to a vast courtyard, in which the shrines are all signed to east–west and north-west cardinal directions.


Rajarajan tiruvasal gopuram seen from west

The main Vimana (Shikhara) (Plan No. 7)
The main Vimana (Shikhara) is a massive 16 storeys tower of which 13 are tapering squares.

  • It dominates the main quadrangle.
  • It sits above a 30.18 m (99.0 ft) sided square.
  • The tower is elaborately articulated with Pilaster, piers (a raised structure), and attached columns which are placed rhythmically covering every surface of the vimana.

Nandi mandapam (Plan No. 4)
The Nandi mandapam has a monolithic seated bull facing the sanctum.

  • In between them are stairs leading to a columned porch and community gathering hall, then an inner mandapa connecting to the pradakshina patha, or circumambulation path.
  • The Nandi (bull) facing the mukh-mandapam weighs about 25 tonnes.
  • It is made of a single stone and is about 2 m (6.5 ft) in height, 6 m (19.6 ft) in length and 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in width.
  • The image of Nandi is a monolithic one and is one of the largest in the country.

Brihadisvara Temple seen from east (Plan No. 7)
The sanctum is at the center of the western square.

  • It is surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses.
  • Each side of the sanctuary has a bay with iconography.

Southern wall of the main Vimana (Shikhara)

Ganesha Shrine (Plan No. 9)
Separate Ganesha shrine with temple corridor in the back.


Karuvur Devar Shrine (Plan No. 10)

Main Vimana (Shikhara) seen from northwest

Main sikhara
The sikhara, a cupolic dome (25 tons), is octagonal and rests on a single block of granite, weighing 80 tons.


Panorama of the south side of Subrahmanya Shrine (Plan No. 11)
Subrahmanyar shrine in the north part of the courtyard.

  • Also called "Murugan", "Kartikeya" or "Skanda".

Vimana (Shikhara) south side of Subrahmanya Shrine

South entrance staircase to Subrahmanya Shrine

Guardians (Dvarapala) of the door of Subrahmanya Shrine

East entrance to Subrahmanya Shrine

Chandeshvara Shrine (Plan No. 12)
On right is the wall of main temple, in back the eastern gopuram.

  • Chandeshvara is a meditating yogi and Nayanmar Bhakti movement saint.

Drainage channel of the main shrine

North wall of the main shrine

Statues at the entrance to the main shrine (Plan No. 7)

Guardians (Dvarapala) at the entrance to the main shrine

Nandi mandapan seen from west (Plan No. 4)

Nandi mandapan seen from south

Nandi mandapan seen from east
The ceremony in which Hindu priests bathe the statue of Nandi is called Mahabhisheka or Abhisheka.

  • During this ritual, the statue is bathed with various sacred substances such as milk, water, tender coconut water, sugarcane juice, sandal paste, vermillion, curds, ghee, honey, and more.
  • The bathing of the deity's statue, including Nandi, symbolizes the purification of the idol and the invitation of divine blessings. The ritual is believed to cleanse the idol of any impurities and bless the devotees who participate or witness the ceremony.
  • The ritual demonstrates deep devotion and reverence towards the deity. It’s a way for devotees to express their love, respect, and gratitude.
  • The chanting of mantras and the offering of sacred substances create a powerful spiritual atmosphere, enhancing the connection between the devotees and the divine.
  • The substances used, like milk and honey, are considered pure and auspicious in Hinduism. Their use in the ritual sanctifies not only the idol but the entire environment, spreading positive energy.

Ritual Procedures:

  1. Preparation: The idol of Nandi is cleaned and decorated with flowers and garlands.
  2. Invocation: Priests chant mantras and prayers to invoke the presence of the deity.
  3. Bathing (Abhisheka): The idol is bathed with a series of sacred substances like water, milk, curds, ghee, honey, and others in a specific order.
  4. Offerings: After the bath, other offerings such as flowers, incense, and fruits are made.
  5. Decoration: The idol is then adorned with fresh clothes, jewelry, and flowers.
  6. Aarti: The ceremony usually ends with an Aarti (a ritual of worship with light), where devotees sing hymns and wave lit lamps in front of the deity.
  7. Prasad Distribution: After the ritual, the offerings are distributed among the devotees as Prasad (blessed food).

See Also

Source

Location

Location: Balaganapathy Nagar, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613007, India