The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, built by Raja Raja Chola I between 985-1014 CE, is a significant example of Dravidian architecture and reflects the grandeur of the Chola dynasty. The temple features a massive vimana, intricate sculptures, and frescoes, showcasing various forms of Shiva and depicting scenes from mythology. It is considered one of the largest temples in South India and offers insight into Chola contributions to art and architecture.

1. Brihdeshwar
Temple
Tanjore
Dr.Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
A.I.H.C. & Archaeology
Banaras Hindu University,Varanasi

2. Brihdeshwar
Temple

3. Introduction
• The great Cholas established a powerful monarchy in the
9th CE at Thanjavur and in its surroundings.
• Cholas, achievements in all fields such as military
conquest, efficient administration, cultural assimilation
and promotion of art.
• Shaivite in belive
• The Chola period is a very significant span of time in that
south Indian art and architecture.
• The Brihadishvara at Thanjavur, is the most significant
temple of their period.
• Temple was constructed Rajraj I (985-1014 CE)

4. Imperial Chola
Vijayalaya (850-871)
Aditya(871-907)Parantaka I
(907-953)Parantaka II/Sundar
Chola (973-973)Uttam Chola
(973-985)
RajrajaI (985-1014)RajendraI
(1014-1044)Rajadhiraj(1044-
1052)

5. Chola Architecture
•Early Temples
• (Vijayalaya c.850 CE to Uttama Chola 973-985 CE)
•Later Temples
• (Rajaraja I c.985-1014 CE to Kullotunga I (c.1072-
1122 CE)

6. Early Temples (850-985 CE)
a) Influence of Pallava Architecture
b) Innovations in plan and designs
c) Niches of walls are small as compare to Pallavas
d) “Kudu” of shikhara are different than the Pallavas temple
e) Pillars are different than Pallava
f) Dwarpalas are similar to Pallava (two handed)
g) Before the Rajaraja (c.985—1014 CE) Chola temples usually
consists Vimana, Ardhmandapa and group of eight Parivara
shrines surrounded by prakara.
h) Also has small gopuram at the entrance
i) Vimana are normally squares
j) Adhisthanans show variety of ornate forms including
narratives from Epics, Puranas and regional religious
traditions.
k) Pilasters of the wall are tetragonal, octagonal or circular

7. a. Panjara
b. Kuta
c. sala

8. Vijayalaya Cholisvara Temple, Narttamalai

9. Vijayalaya Cholisvara Temple,
Narttamalai

10. Later Chola Temples
1.Brihadeshwar Temple
2. Gangaikonda Cholapuram
3. Eravateshwar

11. Later Temples (985-1122 CE)
1. Architecture style reached its apogee
2. Influence of Challukyan art and Architecture
3. These temples are huge, enclosed in wall and all
elements of temples are big in size.
4. Dwarpalas are big and four handed
5. Single storied vimana are extended to multi storied
6. The brackets of the pillar and pilasters get tenon-like
projections
7. Big temples show greater variety in sculptural
embellishment.
8. Big Gopuram
9. Temples reflecting glory of Imperial Chola.

12. Brihadisvara Temple, Tanjore

13. The
Brihdeswara
Temple
• The Brihdeswara Temple
is located in Tanjavur, lies
350 kilometres southwest
from Tamil Nadu.
• The temple is within a
spacious inner prakara of
240.9 m long (east-west)
and 122 m. broad (north-
south).
• A gopuram at the east.
• The temple with its
massive proportions and
simplicity of design.
• This temple provided
inspiration not only in
south India but also in
south-east Asia.

14. Brihdeswara Temple
•Rajaraja, who commissioned the temple,
called it Rajarajeshvaram literally “the
temple of the god of Rajaraja”.
•Brihdeswara: Brihd means Big,
and Ishvara means lord, “Shiva”, The name
means the “Great lord, big Shiva” temple.
•An exemplary example of a fully
realized Dravida style temple architecture.

15. Brihdeswara Temple, Tanjore
• Bult by Rajraja I
• Aptly called “Dakshin Meru”
• Enclosed in huge Prakara
• Rectangular on Plan
• Elements: Garbhbriha, Antarala, Mandap, Mahamandap,
ardhmandapa and Nandimandap (separate)
• 9 feet wide Pradakshina path
• Vimana is 16 story’s structure (58 meters/ 190 ft)
• Whole temple stands on a bold ornate basement (plinth),
covered with inscriptions.
• Two storied Garbhagriha
• Constructed large blocks of Granite
• It is one of the largest South Indian temples

17. Elements of temple
• Garbhagriha: Main component (two storied)
• Antarala: flight of steps on either side (North and
South)
• Mahamandapa: Bigger than mandapa
• Mukh-Mandapa: A rectangular entrance hall
• Ardhmandapa: the opening face of the temple
• Nandi mandapa: separate, monolithic bull on a
pedestal
• Prakara: Compound wall.
• Vimana: Shikhar of the temple.

20. Elements of temple
• Garbhagriha:
a) The garbhagriha is square on plan
b) Stand on on a plinth with up-pitha and
adhisthana
c) Colossal Shivlinga is 8.7 m high.
d) Each side of the Garbhagriha depict
image of Shiva,
e) Sarvotabhadra (opening from four
cardinal sides)
f) Sandhara: at two lowest talas
g) It is 8.7 m (29 ft) high, occupying two
storeys of the sanctum.
h) 16 storeys tower of which 13 are
tapering squares
i) 108 images of Shiva in dancing form
j) Sculpture of Rajraja I and Queen Lok
Mahadevi

21. Mandapa
• Two Mandapa
• Mukh-mandapa (front)
• Maha-mandapa (middle)
• Rectangular plan, axially
aligned between the sanctum
and the Nandi mandapa.
• Closed by walls
• Numerous pillars
• mandapa have big dwarapala
image at front

22. Viman
1. Base: square on plan, 82
x 82 feet, 50 feet Hight
2. Pyramidical: 16 storied,
1st is bigger, decorated
with vertical and
horizontal lines
3. Ovel stupica: huge
approx. 80 ton stupica,
has nandi on 4 corners,
4. 190 ft. Hight
5. Each story carries a hara
of kutas, sala and panjara
6. Whole shikhara is
decorated
7. Tallest shikra in India

23. Elevation of the Temple

29. The moulded plinth is extensively engraved with inscriptions by its royal builder who refers to
his many endowments, pious acts and organisational events connected to the temple.

30. Garbhagriha rest upon pitha
This is moulded and 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) thick.
It consists of upapitham 140 cm and adhishthanam 360 cm thick.

32. Decoration

33. Decoration
1. Moldings divides the lower part of vimana into two
storied.
2. Ground floor (aaditala) of the vimana portray various
form of Shiva: Lingodbhava, Bhikshatana, Natraja,
Gangadhara, Ardhnarishwara, Harihara and
Chandrasekhar etc.
3. Entire interior of the of the ground floor ambulatory,
has been covered with paintings
4. Second tala shows 108 panels (27 uncarved) shiva
demonstrating the 108 dance poses according to
Natyashashtra.
5. Door-guardians are colossal

34. Sculptures on the Mahamandap walls
North side South side
Bhairava (Shiva) Ganesha
Mahishasuramardini
(Durga)
Vishnu
Saraswati Gajalakshmi
Sculptures on the Garbhagriha
GROUND FLOOR
East West
Lingodbhav Harihara
Pashupat Lingodbhav
2 dwarpala Chandrashekhar
Sculptures on the Garbhagriha
GROUND FLOOR
North South
Ardhnarishwar Virbhadra
Gangadhar Dakshinamurti
Pashupat Natraja

35. • The mural paintings on the
walls of the lower
ambulatory inside are
finest examples of Chola
and later periods.
• These frescoes on the
sanctum walls along the
circumambulatory
pathway.
• These frescoes discovered
in 1931.
• Painting depicts the
contemporaneous scenes
with legendary ones.
• Most frescoes are related
to Shiva

37. Rajaraja
Chola

39. Gangaikonda Cholpuram,
Brihadisvara temple

50. Thank You