- Construction Period: from 995 to 1010
- Location: Tanjavur, South India
The temple dedicated to the god Shiva, built by King Rajaraja I in Tanjavur, is ranked as one of the monumental structures of Hinduism in Asia, notable not only for its colossal scale but also for its architectural perfection and clarity in design. Much is known about the patron of the temple and the construction details thanks to numerous inscriptions that run along the base of the structure. Having been neglected and modified several times, the temple has once again become a true place of worship.
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View of the temple, with the steep conical towers rising above the sanctum housing the linga located behind the open courtyard to receive the gaze of Nandi (Photo: constelar) |
Rajaraja I (reigned 985-1014), was the first king of the Chola dynasty to choose Tanjavur (known as Tanjore in English) as the capital of his rapidly expanding territory. From this capital, strategically located at the head of the fertile Kaveri River delta in the Tamil region, Rajaraja conducted numerous military campaigns across South India, as well as extending his reach to Orissa and Sri Lanka; his envoys were even respected when they visited Sumatra.
According to inscriptions in the temple, Rajaraja took a personal interest in the construction of this monumental temple, overseeing the placement of a bronze water pot atop its highest point to mark its completion. Along with his queen, Rajaraja also donated numerous gold and silver idols to the temple. The inscriptions also mention that around 600 people were employed by the temple, including dance teachers, dancers, singers, musicians, conch blowers, umbrella holders, lamp lighters, potters, male washers, astrologers, tailors, carpenters, and florists. Although built to honor the patron king, the temple is officially dedicated to the goddess Shiva under the name Rajarajeshvara, later changed to Brihadishvara. As is often seen in shrines to the goddess Shiva, the male deity is also worshipped in symbolic form as a phallus, represented by a polished basalt sculpture standing 4 meters (13 feet) tall.
Construction
The architecture of the temple in South India reached its zenith during the Brihadishvara dynasty.
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Columns in the temple corridor (Photo: dis.uniroma1) |
The temple is situated in an expansive rectangular courtyard surrounded by walls, with the usual row of pillars found in subordinate temples. The entrance to the inner courtyard is located in the center of the eastern side through a rectangular gate topped with a vaulted roof, with a wider, taller outer entrance of the same style.
The temple itself consists of a square sanctum housing the linga, surrounded by a corridor divided into two levels, leading into the sanctum through a narrow ante-chamber with doorways aligned with several steps at the north and south. Two columns extend eastward from the corridor. The outer walls rest on two rows of built-up foundations, with a frieze above that incorporates pilasters adorned with animal sculptures. Above this frieze, two rows of five stacked walls with buttressing columns and a curved roof that protrudes from the walls. Sculptures of Hindu deities are placed in wall niches, while flat buttresses hold pots, all intricately carved, using the wall niches in the middle space.
The conical tower rises with 13 diminishing tiers. Each tier is placed on a balustrade with a curved vaulted roof, decorated and shaped like an inverted bowl, a characteristic feature of South Indian temples. The apex of the sanctum’s tower is covered with a massive hemispherical dome topped with a sculpture resembling a bronze pot placed by Rajaraja himself.
The temple is constructed entirely from granite blocks, stacked without the use of mortar. The sanctum tower is built in steps on multi-tiered scaffolding, with protruding stones gradually sloping inward until they nearly meet the hemispherical roof. Although the tower is hollow, the enormous quantity of stone used in its construction is estimated at around 17,000m3 (600,350 cubic feet). Since granite was not available in nearby regions, the material was quarried upstream from Tanjavur and transported by river from a quarry located approximately 45 km away.
Scholars study how the large stone blocks were raised to the upper levels of the sanctum tower.
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The Rajarajeshvara tower (Photo: atributetohinduism) |
About 6 km northwest of Tanjavur lies a village named Sarapallam, a small valley with scaffolding. It is thought that a spiraled earthen ramp could have been constructed around the tower to haul the stones up. Regardless of the method applied, the tower stands as a testament to the masterful engineering skills of the Chola dynasty.
Fact Sheet:
- Sanctum Tower: 25m2, height 60m
- Hemisphere dome diameter: 7m, height 7m
- Enclosed inner courtyard: 241x121m
- Decorative materials: Dry-stacked granite blocks (without mortar) carved granite with multi-colored plaster.
- Renovation periods: 17th and 19th centuries
Later Additions
The plaster layer decorating the details on the granite tower was added in the 18th and 19th centuries when the temple was renovated under the leadership of the Marathas of Tanjavur. However, it was the Nayakas in the 17th century who completed the outer corridor of the temple and constructed the additional hall to house the gigantic statue of Nandi, which still stands prominently in front. The Nayakas also built the intricately decorated Subrahmanya temple and the shrine to the goddess, forming part of the temple complex. The presence of these post-Chola structures attests to the significance of the Brihadishvara dynasty as a royal commemorative structure in the post-Chola era. But the greatest achievement remains with Rajaraja and his architectural masterpiece.
“On the 275th day of the 20th year (in the era after Christ), King Shri Rajarajadeva placed a bronze pot atop the bronze tower of the sacred temple thanks to the male deity Shri Rajarajadeva” – Inscription, Brihadishvara Temple
