Back معبد جانجاكوندا تشولابورام ARZ গঙ্গাইকোণ্ড চোলপুরম বৃহদীশ্বর মন্দির Bengali/Bangla Templo Gangaikondaĉolapuramo Esperanto Templo Gangaikondacholisvaram Spanish מקדש גנגאיקונדה HE बृहदीश्वर मन्दिर, गंगैकोण्ड चोलपुरम Hindi बृहदीश्वर मन्दिर, गङ्गईकोन्डा चोलपुरम MAI Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram SIMPLE Tempelj Brihadisvara v Gangaikonda Čolapuram Slovenian கங்கைகொண்ட சோழீசுவரர் கோயில் Tamil

Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Gangaikonda Cholapuram Brihadisvara Temple
கங்கைகொண்ட சோழீசுவரர் கோயில்
View of the entire temple complex.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictAriyalur district
DeityShiva
FestivalsMaha Sivaratri, Sadhaya vizha
Location
StateTamil Nadu
CountryIndia
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located in India
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Location in Tamil Nadu
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located in Tamil Nadu
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Tamil Nadu)
Geographic coordinates11°12′22.44″N 79°26′56″E / 11.2062333°N 79.44889°E / 11.2062333; 79.44889
Architecture
TypeChola Architecture[1]
CreatorRajendra Chola I
Completed11th century AD
InscriptionsTamil
Part ofGreat Living Chola Temples
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iii)
Reference250bis
Inscription1987 (11th Session)
Extensions2004

The Brihadisvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Jayankondam, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Completed in 1035 AD by Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design, and has a similar name, as the older 11th century, Brihadeeswarar Temple about 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the southwest in Thanjavur.[2] The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is smaller yet more refined than the Thanjavur Temple. Both are among the largest Shiva temples in South India and examples of Dravidian style temples. The temple is also referred to in texts as Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple or Gangaikondacholeeswaram Temple

The main temple dedicated to Shiva is based on a square plan, but it displays other Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara, Ardhanarishvara, and others.[3][4] It opens to the sunrise and its sanctum, as well as the mandapas, are aligned on an east–west axis. In addition to the main shrine, the temple complex has a number of smaller shrines, gopura, and other monuments, with some partially ruined or restored in later centuries. The temple is famed for its bronze sculptures, artwork on its walls, the depiction of Nandi and the scale of its tower. As well as its notability for having been built by Rajendra I, the temple is also noteworthy for its numerous inscriptions, although none of them are his.[3][5]

Except for this temple, the old city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram – the capital of a powerful Asian empire from around AD 900 to AD 1215 or over three centuries along with its other major Chola-era Hindu temples have been completely destroyed, leaving a desolate place.[6][7] The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple remains an active temple. Four daily rituals, and many yearly festivals are held there, of which the Shivarathri during the Tamil month of Masi (February–March), Aipassi Pournami during Aipassi (October– November) and Thiruvadirai during Margazhi (December–January) are the most prominent. It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) administers the temple as a protected heritage monument. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2004, along with the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur and Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram. These are referred to collectively as the Great Living Chola Temples.[3][8]

  1. ^ Rao, Raghunadha (1989). Indian Heritage and Culture. Sterling Publishers Private Limited. p. 32. ISBN 9788120709300.
  2. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 241–245.
  3. ^ a b c Great Living Chola Temples Archived 22 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India
  4. ^ PV Jagadisa Ayyar (1993), South Indian Shrines, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0151-3, pages 291-295
  5. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 241, 243–249.
  6. ^ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 241-245 with footnote on 243.
  7. ^ Irāmaccantiran̲ Nākacāmi (1970). Gangaikondacholapuram. State Department of Archaeology, Government of Tamil Nadu. pp. 14–16.
  8. ^ "Great Living Chola Temples". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 2004. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015.

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