Thanjavur Periya Kovil: The UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Thanjai Periya Kovil, also known as the Brihadishvara temple, is a Hindu temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
It is situated on the Kaveri River’s southern bank. The Shiva deity’s original name is Rajarajeshvaram. The Marathas named it Brihadeeswara, exactly like their future ancestors did when they imposed another language on them without their consent.
Lord Shiva appears as Nataraja, the “Cosmic Dancer.” The temple was established by Arulmozhivarman, also known as Raja Raja Chola I, a Tamil king. It was constructed between the years 1003 and 1010 A.D. In September 2010, the temple celebrated its 1000th anniversary. It is a magnificent example of Dravidian design at its finest.
Illustrious history Behind Thanjai Periya Kovil
History suggests that after conquering Sri Lanka, King Arulmozhivarman is supposed to have experienced a dream. He began building on this architectural masterpiece after having this dream. There is also the possibility that this was the great king’s final resting place. The following is another account of his death. One of the fallen monarchs’ daughters appears to have escaped when he captured Sri Lanka. She finally gained his trust and was promoted to higher positions. She saw the opportunity while they were together on a higher level of the temple. She was the one who pushed him to his death. His death, on the other hand, remains a mystery.
Construction of Thanjavur Periya Kovil
Thanjai Periya Kovil temple, together with its sister temples Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavateshwara Temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanjai Periya Kovil Temple has the world’s first all-granite edifice, which has been constructed entirely of granite. According to some estimations, the total weight is around 130,000 tonnes. The more startling and perplexing aspect is that there are no granite quarries within a 100-mile radius of the temple.
Granite is a heavy material that is difficult to transport or engrave scriptures on. The various inscriptions carved into the temple demonstrate the Dravidian architects’ technical prowess. In addition, no binding material is used in the creation of this magnificent edifice. It’s all the more fascinating because there are no structures taller than 200 feet without the use of binding chemicals.
Tamil and Grantha-script texts are carved into the massive temple’s walls. These hold traditional literature, the King’s information, and donations to the temple from others. They also go into great detail about the various types of diamonds utilized. Eleven different types of diamonds and twenty-three different types of pearls are among the jewels.
The temple’s Vimana (tower) was one of the world’s tallest monuments at the time of its erection. It stands at a colossal height of 63.4 metres (208 feet). Shiva is represented as a Shivalinga. The Linga towers over everyone at 8.7 metres tall (29 feet). A single stone was also used to create the Linga. It is also one of the world’s largest. A single stone was also used to create the Nandi figure at the entrance.
The tower’s cap weighs 80 tonnes, making it one of the most unique structures in the world. It causes energy to be reflected back to the Karuvarai (Garbha Graha). As a result, the temple’s wonderful energy never fades. This positivity has a calming influence on the others in the room. The King, the sages, and the Royal Family had access to various underground passages.
As previously stated, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It does, however, have sub-temples dedicated to Vishnu and other Vaishnava gods. As a result, it is one of the few temples in the world to house deities from both Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
Mystery About Thanjai Periya Kovil
The Thanjai Periya Kovil’s construction took only seven years to complete.
This may not seem significant until you consider the following truth. The construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza took about twenty years, despite the fact that it is six times smaller than Periya Kovil.
The fact that the Vimana’s cap weighs an incredible eighty tonnes is impressive in and of itself. Then there’s the question of how they got it to 60 metres without any modern-day requirements.
Thanjai Periya Kovil Timings
Morning: 6.00 AM to 12:30 PM
Evening: 4.00 PM to 9.00 PMThe main deity and the inner sanctum closed between 12:30 P.M. to 4.00 P.M.
Thanjai Periya KovilPooja Timing:
Morning Pooja: 8:30 AM Kala Sandhi
Mid Noon Pooja: 12:00 Noon Utchi Kalam
Evening Pooja: 5:30 PM Sayaratchai
Night Pooja: 8:30 PM Artha Jamam
