Indian Temples to leave you gasping
Brihadeshwara Temple or the Thanjavur Periya Kovil is famous for its architectural splendour. Its grandeur amuses each and every visitor. It is one of the largest temples in India built by emperor Rajendra Chola I and was completed in 1010 A.D.
The splendid architecture has made the temple a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known as the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’.
The temple is known by various names like Periya Kovil, Rajarajeswara Temple, Big Temple( Periya Kovil) while its original name is the Peruvudaiyaar Temple.
Lord Shiva is the deity of the temple that is located in the Thanjavur city of the Tamil Nadu state(India). Hence, the temple is also known as Thanjavur Periya Kovil. It is located about 342 kms from the State capital, Chennai. Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu) The Civil Airport and the Pondicherry Airport are the nearby airports. Thanjavur Junction is the nearest railway station. There are regular train and bus services available to reach the temple. Call taxi facilities are also available for the tourists. Hotels at affordable rates ensure the safe stay of the visitors.
Periya Kovil is one of the ancient temples located in Thanjavur(city named after the legendary asura ‘Thanjan’). Thanjavur known as ‘The rice bowl of Tamil Nadu’ was an important city of the Chola dynasty. The city was built up from a collection of villages with the Brihadeshwara Temple as the center of the city.
The brilliant workmanship, grandeur of the architecture and the magnificent central dome are the main attractions of this temple.
The complex that houses the main sanctum is known as the ‘Periya kovil’ and it stands amidst the fortified walls that was added later in the 16th century. The walls of the temple are adorned by beautiful paintings of the Chola period. The temple complex was built on the banks of Grand Anaicut river that was channelled to make a moat around the complex for defence purpose.
Another fascinating fact about the Brihadeshwara Temple is that it is the first complete granite temple in the world. The absence of any granite quarry within the radius of 100km of the temple reflects the amazing planning and the extraordinary effort and hard work that went into the building of the temple. The gigantic Shiva Lingam one can see there is more than 12 feet and the Nandi facing the sanctum is also 12 feet high.
Another extraordinary brilliant aspect of the architecture is that the vimana(the temple tower) of the temple does not cast a shadow at noon during any time of the year.
There are more surprises inside the temple for the visitors. For instance, at the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum there are two idols of Lord Ganesha. When one taps on the two idols, one feels that the sound travels as if through a stone in one idol while as if through something metal in the other. The musical pillars in the main hall produces different sounds when tapped and this hall is said to have been used for performing dance and music in service of the main deity, Lord Shiva.
The temple is the venue of the annual festival, celebrated for a period of nine days in the Visaka month according to the Hindu calendar. During the festival the deity is bathed in champaka flower-soaked fragrant water. When the ruling star is Satabhisha, birth star of Rajaraja, this is the best time to visit this Temple. It is when the car festival is organised.
Brihadeshwara Temple, standing 216 feet tall, is the tallest current temple in India. The magnificent Dravidian architecture and the festivals organised there attracts thousands of tourists everyday round the year.