Brihadeeshwara Temple

Brihadeeswara Temple Tanjavur is one of the best temples in South India, built by Chola emperor Raja Raja I (985-1013 AD). This is the Chola dynastys finest contribution to Dravidian art. The construction is unique; the vimanam, known as Dakshina Meru, soars high while the gopuram remains stunted. The 64.8-metre-tall, 14-tier and pyramid-shaped vimanam rises from a square base and is topped by a huge monolithic cupola weighing 81.3 tonnes. The shadow of the cupola never falls on the ground.The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples".

Brihadeeshwara is a gigantic Lingam (about 8.7 metres high). There is a massive Nandi at the portals of the temple. It is the second largest monolithic Nandi in the country. There are excellent sculptures of lord Siva in different forms and other gods and goddesses besides several interesting Chola paintings. It took 12 years to complete the construction of the temple that is the tallest in Southern India. The Great Vimana built over the sanctum sanctorum is 216 feet high with 14 storeys. The style of construction of temple resembles the temple in Bhuvaneshwar. The site on which it was constructed is said to be the place where the great sage Naimisaranya lived in meditation and prayer. In the south, generally, Gopurams or towers at the entrances to the four sides of the outer walls or prakarams are of g reat height; the central tower or Vimana over the sanctum sanctorum is usually overshadowed by the height of the Gopurams.

But at Tanjore the main temple rises above the Gopurams as is seen in the temples of Orissa. Within twelve years the temple was completed and the Kumbhabhishekam (installation ceremony) was done on the 20th day of the 26th year (1011 AD) the Shivalinga was installed in its place by the Adi Saivas

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