Built Spaces: Living Legacies: Film on Chola Temples of Thanjavur and Kumbhakonam

Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur
The celebrated Saiva temple at Thanjavur, appropriately called Brihadisvara and Daksinameru, is the grandest creation of the Chola emperor Rajaraja (AD 985-1012). It was inaugurated by the king himself in his 19th regnal year (AD 1009-10) and named it after himself as Rajesvara Peruvudaiyar. Architecturally, it is the most ambitious structural temple built of granite. It has been regarded as a 'landmark in the evolution of building art in south India' and its vimana as a 'touchstone of Indian architecture as a whole'. The temple is within a spacious inner prakara of 240.9 m long (east-west) and 122 m broad (north-south), with a gopura at the east and three other ordinary torana entrances one at each lateral sides and the third at rear.
Brihadisvara temple, Gangaikondacholapuram, Dist. Perambalur
Rajendra I (AD 1012-1044), the illustrious son of the great Chola king Rajaraja I (AD 985-1014) chose this location to build a new a great capital city for the Chola Empire most probably during the first quarter of 11th century in order to commemorate his conquest over northern territories. Nonetheless, he not only built a city, now in ruins and excavated partially but also a great temple for Siva. The Brihadisvara at Tanjavur had influenced this temple in many ways like the vast conception of the lay out and massive proportion of the elevation.
The lay out -- the sanctum with its axial units, the Chandikesvara shrine, the cloister mandapa with the subsidiary shrines and a gopura is similar to Tanjavur. The location of two smaller shrines -- The South and North Kailasa (now the Amman shrine) are different. But the architect of this edifice has shown remarkable intelligence to correct some of the shortcomings in the design of the Brihadisvara at Tanjavur like the provision for erecting a wooden scaffolding in the masonry of the sanctum, the pleasing elevation by appropriately changing and placing the hara elements etc.
The inscription recording accurately the donations to the God of the temple is missing here. In fact, there is no inscription of Rajendra himself. The earliest inscription is that of his son, but recording the donations of his father.
The temple has sculptures of exceptional quality like the dancing Ganesa, Ardhanari, Dakshinamurthi, Harihara, Adavallan (Nataraja) (on south wall niches), Gangadhara, Lingodhbhava, Vishnu, Subrahmanya, Vishnu-anugrahmurthi (west wall), Kalanthakamurthi, Durga, Brahma, Bairava, Kamantaka (north wall). But the most outstanding sculptures are found in the niches by the side of the northern entrance steps to the sanctum. They are the Chandesanugrahamurti and Sarasvati. The bronzes of Bhogasakti and Subrahmanya are masterpieces of Chola metal icons. The Saurapitha (Solar altar), the lotus altar with eight deities is considered auspicious.
A British officer in 19th century considered this temple as the best source for stones for the construction of a weir across the river Kollidam and therefore ordered its demolition. But the temple was not demolished due to protest by the locals.
Airavatesvara temple, Darasuram, Dist. Tanjavur
Built by the Chola king Rajaraja II (AD 1143-1173), this temple is a gem of Chola architecture. Though much smaller in size when compared to the Brihadisvara temple at Tanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram, this temple is different as it is highly ornate in execution. The temple consists of a sanctum without a circumambulatory path and axial mandapas. The front mandapa known in the inscriptions as Rajagambhiran tirumandapam, is unique as it was conceptualised as a chariot with wheels. The pillars of this mandapa are highly ornate. The elevation of all the units is elegant with sculptures dominating the architecture.
A number of sculptures from this temple like the full set of Bhikshatana with rishi patnis is various moods, are now preserved in the Tanjavur Art Gallery. They are the masterpieces of Chola art. Remaining ones like Nagaraja, Agastya, dancing Martanda Bhairava, Sarabhamurti, Ganesa etc., are equally gracious. The labelled miniature friezes extolling the events that happened to the 63 nayanmars (Saiva saints) are noteworthy and reflect the deep roots of Saivism in this region. In fact, the king made donation for the singing of hymns from Thevaram, the Saivite sacred book in Tamil, in this temple.
The construction of a separate temple for Devi, slightly later than the main temple, indicates the emergence of Amman shrine as an essential component of the south Indian temple complex.

[@sadenb]

Thank you Tamil nadu for keeping our tradition alive.

[@kaustabpaul4514]

but we cant visit there bcz.. ppl misbehave if you dont know Tamil... major reason ppl dont visit there but in Kerala

[@Ygspeaks10]

@@kaustabpaul4514 what do you mean by misbehave...i have been there 6 times...never face any issue..why are you stopping others to visit the great places like this...

[@kaustabpaul4514]

@@Ygspeaks10 I faced and not stopping anyone..

[@juiceworld8292]

@@kaustabpaul4514 everyone face this kind of problem in every state ... i am tamil and people misbehaved me in Karnataka because I don’t know kannada ... I think it happens in every state

[@shriramparasaran7048]

Templefoundagions

[@ravivaradhan4956]

The symbol of Nataraja, the Dancing Lord, is perhaps the most amazing creative expression of the human mind. Nothing can capture the dynamicism of this cosmos as beautifully as Nataraja.

[@onelinkadvt9800]

Be proud to be born In Thanjavur still strong after 1000 years and in tact with its marvels and this site has done an excellent description. Thanks a lot and the person comments gets so much of happiness and joys ecsracy

[@worldbesttoiletpapperdonki4932]

Real tamilans did not see stalin dmk destroyed more than 500 hindu temoles in cholas lands shame on tamil did no do single protest even i am a tamil

[@VeluVelu-wm5bj]

Bragadeeshwarar no Tanjai perudayaar temple

[@shankarsaunshi2970]

These ancient histories are taken very vital part to know the historical life of the mankind. Ok.

[@srivity]

The India the land of unique Hindu temples in the world.

[@ravindrababu7231]

Built spaces and living legacies is an excellent title.Architectural grandeur’s are plenty in India and elsewhere. visit of Ancient India into modern India temples through inscriptions will be a great exercise to unravel the mysteries of our culture and civilisation. Thank you.

[@sriram957]

that Goddess of wealth he reads is MahaLakshmi.(tirumagal in Tamil)

[@aryanrajaatheist496]

Laksmi is bad financial god sins thousands of years Hindus praying her why not india become rich.

[@ravidhyani3074]

Maharajadhiraj rajaraj chola 1 did a great work. Om namah shivaay

[@funzzzofnanthakumar7790]

single man army if our ancestors have unity we are the rulers of world

[@umasrips1841]

Proud to be a tamilian

[@rajukommu8396]

am not a tamilian still I feel very proud about this ancient culture.

[@indianjaihind5202]

Umasri Ps proud to be a bharatheyan

[@kaustabpaul4514]

Being proud is ok... but we who cant speak Tamil cant visit these places bcz... You ppl misbehave with us a lot if we dont speak Tamil.... what should we do ??????

[@INDEEDFACTChannel]

Wonderful 📸👌

[@troybrown6012]

bad ass. unbelievable architectural marvels. Nobody does it better. would love to visit.

[@Ab_someone]

Troy Brown Welcome! Please immerse in the Indian aesthetics beyond just architecture.. it's in ancient traditional lifestyle practises do experience the longest living civilisation. It's a glimpse of humanity itself. Ananda shall be the essence & Brahman the goal

[@jvg7566]

Respect from kerala .

[@rajeshvettiful]

what a marvellous endeavour ! It is a must visit, if you are ever in south India.

[@perrycomeau2627]

The Temple than the Tree.

[@sambasivarao98]

why the Indian true history was not documented by the kings in a detailed manner.it was destroyed or not written.

[@amanforyou9493]

Very nice video 👍 👌

[@sreevathsabv9408]

Wow! Amazing , we must revert to ancient scripts and tradition. Take lot of positive in it

[@DevarajSM]

Beautiful beyond words!

[@beanfotchott3303]

A really good documentary, thanks a lot for making this.

[@selladurai3106]

Very nice my people history understanding

[@sparklelight]

The dance is different frequencies and sounds within such frequency. What the girl dance to can be translated to the alphabet system as body symbolic movements into the frequency that is angles to sounds 🙏♥️

[@golgumbazguide...4113]

EXPLORE GOLGUMBAZ, bijapur, Karnataka

[@vasanthraja1984]

Nice presentation bro 👍

[@perrycomeau2627]

From Leaf to Bow

[@sunderauro]

beatufil

[@RajaKsgladi]

Good job..

[@priyathummiah4187]

wow wow wow wow pic like it

[@balasubramanian4321]

world heritage temple s

[@perrycomeau2627]

From Tree to Leaf

[@mark9549]

I just don't want to miss visiting this place in my life.

[@costiniucmircea]

foarte frumos si interesant

[@baheusa]

+Mircea Costiniuc very nice and interesting

[@VendhanMetal]

Thanks

[@zivenutritionandfitness2431]

Between 8 to 8:15 video has 108 othuvargal but voice over says 63 nayanmars. Kindly make changes since this is the first temple that carved 63 nayanmars for first time soon after the periyapuranam was written.

[@sureshm.k.8974]

Proud to be an indian

[@diwakarmsg2061]

Raja raja was neither a Hindu nor a indian

[@jodo6329]

Your voice is absolutely wonderful. I want to see your handsome face :D

[@srinithyayogapriyananda6337]

Tamizhan endru solluda thallai nemandhu nilluda tamizha da , what a temple , nice pics

[@susarithasekar2334]

Pl. Show the Amman temple near to the said Shiv temple. Thanks a lot to all concerned.

[@beerejayaram1153]

Super

[@sahara4371]

the man has a strong accent

[@govindaramesh1248]

I travel to tamilnadu and I don't feel they have any tamil pride..

[@ram0210]

Yes.Tamil Nadu is Govern by Telungas and the Central goverment...or it was govern by those Mafias arranged Money greed Tamilians.. That's why it was suppressed ..

[@venkatkrishnan4797]

Tamil is the first origin language in the world

[@user-zv3bn5ib9q]

errrrrrrr

[@jeremiaslara1515]

No i don't like The Hindia a lot of gods it's only one.

[@tittoaugistine2541]

It's like having different routes to the one...you choose or by default take one route...nobody can say otheres can't reach deationation because not following the same route... Hinduism (the name given by west) is not a religion, but a way of living and they understood this concept earlier ...all the monolithic religions come from one place in East and preaches i am right and i am the only right...in indian culture, we don't do that as they understood the life better and hence allow the multiple path to same eternal destination .