Explained: The Great Living Chola Temples
Hyderabad: The Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for a group of Chola dynasty-era Hindu temples deep in the southern State of Tamil Nadu. Completed between the early 11th and the 12th century CE, the monuments include Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Airavatesvara Temple at […]
Hyderabad: The Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for a group of Chola dynasty-era Hindu temples deep in the southern State of Tamil Nadu. Completed between the early 11th and the 12th century CE, the monuments include Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, which offer a reminder of the dynasty’s 1,500 year-long reigns.
Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur
This is popularly known as Thanjai ‘Periya Koil’ (Big Temple). This temple was built by Raja Raja Chola I in the year 1010 AD. This temple celebrated its 1000th year of existence in the year 2010. The tower above the sanctum sanctorum is 216 feet tall.
‘Kumbam’, a bulbous structure above the tower cut out of one rock that weighs almost 80 tonnes, is regarded as the showcase of the architectural excellence of the period.
The other attraction of the temple complex is the 12-and-half feet tall, 8 feet long, and 5 feet wide sacred bull Nandi, made out of a single rock weighing 25 tonnes installed outside, in front of the sanctum sanctorum. The lingam is 13 feet tall, with a circumference of 54 feet.
Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram was the capital of Rajendra Chola. He conquered several northern kingdoms to bring the holy waters of River Ganga to his kingdom. As a mark of celebration, he created a ‘liquid pillar of victory’ (Jalamaya Sthambha), a tank where the kings contributed Ganga water as a tribute to the conqueror. Hence he was called Gangaikondachola – the Chola king who brought the Ganga – and the town was named after him.
The temple dedicated to Lord Brihadeeshwara located here is similar in many aspects to the temple in Tanjore. There are some striking sculptures of Mahisasuramardini, Nataraja, Ardhanariswara, Chandikeshwara, etc.
The State Archaeology Department unearthed the remains of a royal palace constructed by Rajendra Chola I, at a site in Maligaimedu, two km southwest of Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram
Situated on the outskirts of Kumbakonam, Darasuram has many ancient temples. The Airavateswara temple is the most important of them all.
A temple here was built by the Chola King Raja Raja II in the 12th century and derives its name from the story of Airavatha, another legend relating to a white elephant of India, which had its white colour restored miraculously by bathing in the tank here after it was changed from a curse by sage Durvasa.
In front of the main shrine is Alankara Mandapa. On the south front of this mandapa, each side of the base has large stone wheels and a horse. Thus, the mandapa has the appearance of a chariot, wherein the deity is decorated on festival occasions. Other shrines in its enclosure are those of Parvati, Yama, Subramanya, Saraswati, and sculptured representations of the saptamatrikas and various Shaivaite devotees.
HIGHLIGHT – (BOX/ BLURB)
The Temple Complex at Thanjavur was recognised in 1987. The Temple Complex at Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple Complex was added as extensions to the site in 2004. Thanjavur is about 350 kilometre southwest of Chennai. Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Darasuram are respectively about 70 kilometre and about 40 kilometre to its northeast.
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