Brihadeeshwarar temple – popularly known as “Thanjavur Periya Kovil”– is the largest temple in India and is one of the greatest temples with an outstanding architecture in the country. The 1002 year old temple dedicated to the major Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, was built in 1010 AD by the Chola Emperor, Rajaraja Chola I. The temple represents the brilliancy and excellence of Cholas who scaled major heights in large scale as well as intricate architecture.The magnificent edifice not only has sculptures, a majestic Vimana (temple tower), and frescoes, but also has inscriptions disclosing the richness and wealth of Tamil people during those days. The temple has survived the ravages of climactic changes, six recorded earthquakes and a major fire. Recognizing its unique architectural excellence, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Monument.

Location:

The Thanjavur Periya Kovil is located in Thanjavur district in Tamilnadu, India. The temple was built on the banks of River Cauvery with its water turned to the moat. The temple, constructed entirely of granite, stands amidst fortified walls. There was no rock formation around this area. It is believed that the rocks would have been brought from a place at least 50kms away.

History:

Arulmozhivarman, the Tamil emperor, popularly known as Rajaraja Chola I, ruled entire South India, east and a part of the western coast, and he even conquered Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Srivijaya, Malaya, and the Maldives islands. He was also known as Sivapada Sundaranmeaning ‘a man devoted to the feet of Shiva’. He laid the foundations for the temple in compliance with the command received in his dreams when he was crowned as an emperor in Sri Lanka. The Chola originally named the temple as “Rajarajeswaram” and he conducted all important festivals in the temple regularly. The Thanjavur Periya Kovil and the capital had close business relations with the rest of the country and acted as a centre of both religious and economic activity. Villages from all over the country supplied men and material for the maintenance of the temple