The Great Living Chola Temples: What makes them so exquisite?
Indian history is replete with stories of power, bravery and flourishing art and architecture, characteristic of different empires. One such empire that ruled over Southern Asia for many centuries was the Chola dynasty. First mentioned in Ashoka inscriptions in the 3rd century BC, the Chola dynasty ruled from the 2nd century BC to the 13th century AD over several regions including South India. The Kaveri River valley was the initial home base for the Cholas. Their kingdom spanned from the current Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the south, to the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh in the north.
The Cholas constructed some of the most incredible and magnificent temples, leaving us with a massive chunk of rich cultural heritage to savour. Three specific temples constructed during the Chola dynasty, known as the ‘Great Living Chola Temples’, are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site (1987) for their timeless architecture. Let’s explore what made them so exquisite.
Brihadisvara Temple (Thanjavur)
Constructed by Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the Brihadisvara Temple is located in the current-day Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this is one of the biggest temples in South India with the tallest sanctum along with a 29-feet-tall Shiva Linga (idol). It reflects exquisite carvings and paintings of an era gone by. This grand temple has a symmetrical geometry with five divisions. The tallest tower with a sanctum known as Sri Vimana (200 feet) holds Kumbham, an 80-ton stone ball and has a Nandi Mandapam positioned in front of the temple complex. Between these two is a huge assembly hall known as Maha Mandapam and the community service hall, Mukha mandapam, which welcomes pilgrims to this shrine. At the entrance is the sacred bull Nandi that was carved from a single stone and measures 20 tonnes in weight, 16 feet in length and 13 feet in height.
Brihadisvara Temple (Thanjavur)
Interestingly, there is yet another Brihadisvara Temple in Tamil Nadu. It’s located in Gangai Konda Chola Puram, situated in Tamil Nadu’s serene Ariyalur district. Built by Rajendra Chola I in 1035 AD, the Brihadesvara temple is majestic, to say the least. Known as the feminine counterpart of the Thanjavur temple, it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, along with other gods, including Durga (Goddess and wife of Shiva), Surya (God Sun) and Vishnu (God who sustains this cosmic universe). The Shiva lingam in this temple is 13 feet tall with a base circumference of 59 feet.
The square floor layout in the Brihadisvara Temple depicts Dravidian (ancient South Indian inhabitants) architecture at its best. It has two square buildings constructed next to one another, enclosing the main central courtyard, Upapitham (lower basement), Mandapas (pillared hall), Garbha Griha (innermost sanctum) and the main sanctuary. The bronze statues worshipped at the temple showcase the artistry, characteristic of the 11th century Chola era.
Airavatesvara Temple (Darasuram)
Darasuram, in Tamil Nadu, is home to the Airavatesvara Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva, like the other Chola temples. Built by King Raja Chola II in the 12th century, this 24-meter-high temple is an architectural masterpiece featuring delicate carving and sculpting by skilled artisans. According to legend, the heavenly elephant Airavata (Ride of Indra, the lord of gods) worshipped Lord Shiva here. This is the story behind the name Airavatesvara Temple. Carvings at the inner shrine of the temple feature also this legend.
The entrance features a 212-foot Vimana, a Lingam, a massive statue of Goddess Periyanayagi and Nandi (sacred bull of Lord Shiva). Reliefs depicting the stories of the 63 Nayanars (saints who lived during 6th to 8th centuries) can be found at the base of the temple. Another feature of this temple are the singing steps. Yes, you read that right. When you climb on the finely carved steps leading to the Bali Pitham (sacrificial site), you can hear musical notes.