The Chola empire was once home to some of the greatest conquerors, thinkers, poets and architects of South India. Its legacy has left an indelible mark on Dravidian culture. In almost all spheres of life, the Cholas have proved to be high achievers. One of the most remarkable aspects of the reign was the construction of gorgeous temples. Indeed, in this society, the temple meant more than just a place of worship. Life revolved within the beautifully sculpted walls of the gopura. It was an institution unto itself, a prime centre for cultural and social gatherings, for learning, sharing, growth, art, spiritualism and literature.
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One of the most extraordinary temples constructed during this period was the Brihadeeshwara temple at Thanjavur, the once powerful capital city of this kingdom. Built in 1003 AD by Raja Raja Cholan, one of the greatest kings of this era, the gopura of the temple
just above the sanctum sanctorum soars to a height of 208 ft and has 14 impressive, beautifully sculpted tiers. Another unique aspect of the Brihadeeshwara temple is the circular structure crowning its main gopura.
Built in 1003 AD by Raja Raja Cholan, one of the greatest kings of this era, the gopura of the temple just above the sanctum sanctorum soars to a height of 208 ft and has 14 impressive, beautifully sculpted tiers. Another unique aspect of the Brihadeeshwara temple is the circular structure crowning its main gopura.
Kingdom of the
Cholas
Over 3.5m high, the black shiva lingam in the inner sanctum is called Adavallan, "the one who can dance well", a reference to Shiva as Nataraja. This structure has been carved from a single stone–an 81 tonne block of granite. Legend has it that during the construction of the temple, this huge granite boulder was placed at the top of the gopura by an elephant who rolled it along from the neighbouring village using a ramp that was 6kms long! How the elephant was hoisted down afterwards remains a mystery and yet, it's an interesting tale! The architecture of the temple in itself is an amazing feat, worthy of such a fantastic legend. Though the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is full of Saivate iconography, there are Vaishnavite and Buddhist themes as well. It took seven years to complete the construction of the temple. Stone sculptures adorn Rows of Shiva lingam at the Brihadeeshwara temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple is full of Saivate iconography.
The reign of the Cholas was a golden period in Tamil heritage. Windows & Aisles features some of the most breathtakingly beautiful temples and timeless monuments that graced this epoch in history...
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A portion of the Brihadeeshwara temple. the outer walls, while brilliant murals in glowing colours grace the inner walls of the sanctum. Interestingly enough, these were concealed by the Vijayanagara kings who were said to have painted over the murals. In 1930, the original paintings were revived by a special chemical process. The outer wall of the upper storey of the temple is carved with 81 sculptures depicting various mudras and postures of Bharathanatiyam dance. This isn't unusual when you consider how the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who in his Nataraja form is also the God of dance. There are spacious grounds around the temple with 250 lingams carved in the panels along the outer walls. The sheer raw power of the temple and the architectural precision of its
The walls of the temple are adorned with beautiful sculptures of nandi, the sacred bull.
There are spacious grounds around the temple with 250 lingams carved in the panels along the outer walls. The sheer raw power of the temple and the architectural precision of its gopura will never cease to amaze you. gopura will never cease to amaze you. This is indeed the crowning diamond of the Chola legacy. The Cholas were great adventurers who constantly thirsted for conquests. Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I extended the kingdom beyond Tamil Nadu. At its
A view of the Gangaikonda cholapuram temple.
zenith of glory, the Chola Empire stretched from Srilanka in the South to Andhra Pradesh. It also included many small kingdoms along the Ganges. The Gangaikonda cholapuram temple was built by emperor Rajendra Chola nearly two decades after the
Brihadeeshwara temple. It is yet another beautiful Saivite shrine. An interesting legend has it that the rulers of the kingdoms near the Ganges (over which the Cholas held sway) were ordered to bring the gushing waters from the Ganges here.
PHOTO: TOP - VB. ANAND
These were emptied into a huge tank near the temple and hence the name, 'Gangaikonda cholapuram'. Later, the capital city was shifted here and as a result, Thanjavur slowly began to lose its importance.
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statue a lion. The well is called the Simhakeni. The Darasuram temple built by Raja Raja Chola II (11461172 AD) was dedicated to Lord Iravatheeswara. The sculpted panels of the walls depict 63 Saivaite saints and describe episodes from their lives. The temple is known for its richly ornamented pillars and is a fine example of the artistic grandeur of the Chola reign. It's not only in the
construction of temples that these rulers excelled. Monuments were errected for purposes of effective warfare. One such monument, the Gingee Fort, was the bastion of the Chola empire during the 9th century AD. Later it was further fortified by the Vijaynagara kings. This fort is built on seven hills and was rumoured to be impregnable. Though
Gangaikonda cholapuram was soon at the helm of affairs, controlling the South. Today, the temple stands an icon of history, in a small, quiet and non-descript village. The main gopura is surrounded by a cluster of smaller temples and much of this is in ruins.
Gangaikonda cholapuram was soon at the helm of affairs, controlling the South. Today, the temple stands an icon of history, in a small, quiet and non-descript village. The main gopura is surrounded by a cluster of smaller temples and much of this is in ruins. However, in the north-east near a shrine housing Durga, there is a strikingly beautiful well guarded by the
A beautifully sculpted lion guarding the waters of a well, set in the northeast corner of the temple. 15
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Darasuram temple, built by King Raja Raja Chola II was dedicated to Lord Iravatheeswara.
much of it is in ruins today, it certainly is a lasting tribute to the sheer might of the Chola powers. There is so much that we don't know about the Cholas. Sangam literature has a record of mythical kings who graced this era. These myths speak of the king Kantaman, a supposed contemporary of the sage Agastya, whose devotion brought the river Cauvery into existence. It was during the Song Dynasty of China that an embassy from Chulian (assumed to be Chola) reached the Chinese court in the year 1077, during the reign of Kulothunga Chola. 16
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This was apparently a trading venture and was highly profitable to the visitors, who according to the Chinese historical records, returned with 81,800 strings of copper coins in exchange for glass articles and spices! Unparalleled in their capacity to churn out the most capable rulers who promoted arts, trade and spirituality in equal measure, the Chola period was indeed the lasting legacy of this southern state. Its imprint has transformed the face of Tamil Nadu forever.
FACT FILE How to get there: To explore the heritage left behind by the Cholas, you'll need to visit Thanjavur. Trichy international airport is 58 kms from Thanjavur. GangaikondaCholapuram is located in Udayarpalayam Taluk of Perambalur district, at a distance of 100-km from Trichy. The nearest airport from the Gingee Fort is Chennai. The main hub of Paramount Airways is located in Chennai. Paramount Airways also offers daily direct services to Trichy from Chennai with through connections available from other cities.
PHOTO: VB. ANAND
The temple is known for its richly ornamented pillars and is a fine example of the artistic grandeur of the Chola reign. It's not only in the construction of temples that these rulers excelled. Monuments were errected for purposes of effective warfare.
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