Why is everyone talking about the big temple

The truth versus propaganda about Raja Raja I and the famous temple built by him in Thanjavur has reached a climax with the production of the film. ponniyin selvan, Now known as Brihadeshwara, the temple was originally called Rajarajeshwaram (Aja Rajecharam in Tamil). As a researcher of the history of Bharatanatyam, I have had the privilege of studying all aspects of this monument. Renowned archaeologists, epigraphists and Tamil historians have covered everything you need to know about the great Chola king and this temple.

Let’s start with a 216-feet-high summit or a dome-like structure on top of a plane – it’s not a big rock. Many heavy stones were carried to the top and the mystery of achieving such an incredible feat a thousand years ago remains an enigma to an expert engineer even today.

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The shadow of the plane falls on the ground around the main structure, although for a long time people believed the opposite.

Raja Raja appointed 400 Devaradiyars (devadasis) to the temple, many of whom were from Tiruvarur. Their names and other details are engraved on the inner wall. The inscriptions also mention all bronze icons, gold lamps, etc. donated by queens and nobles. But only the icons of Nataraja, the favorite deity of the king, have survived. This sign was called Adavallan and was a symbol of his empire. It was restored by Kamakshi Bai Saheba, the last Maratha queen of Thanjavur (one of Shivaji’s wives). Some of the idols of Raja Raja and his queen are believed to have been obtained from a private collector and now stand near the sanctum sanctorum.

The king knew the stories related to the King Nayanmars, Shaivite sages, who lived before his time. The lost hymn (thevaram) was literally rediscovered and propagated by him throughout his empire. The temple houses an idol of Kannappa Nayanar, while the image of Sundaramurthy Nayanar is depicted as a mural inside the vimana. It shows the saint riding a white elephant with Cheraman Perumal on a horse.

Big temple at ‘Nandi’ (bull) big temple in Thanjavur. , Photo Credit: Photo: The Hindu Archives

The oldest and largest examples of dance movements and postures described in the Natya Shastra are carved on stone in this temple.

The foundation of this huge building is a wonderfully constructed double wall. Despite a slight earthquake a few miles away, it has kept a load of stone and bricks with it. It is believed that the perfect, tall vimana symbolizes the sacred Meru, Mount Kailash, the sacred abode of Shiva. That is why it was called Dakshina (Southern) Meru, and the Lord was known as Dakshina Meru Vitankar.

The Shivling in the sanctum is one of the largest. It saw no worship for decades when British troops occupied the temple and made it a fort and garrison for cannon and ammunition.

A Kumbhabhisheka was performed by Raja Sarfoji, who lost the Thanjavur kingdom to the British. You can find details about his reign in old Marathi inscriptions.

The real Nandi, who is younger, is sitting sadly alone in the covered road outside. The larger Nandi, which occupied the center stage, was added later during the Nayaka period. And it does not grow in size every year as it is believed. The intricately carved Subramaniam temple was built by Sevaappa, the first Nayaka ruler of Thanjavur.

Through the doctrine of imposition by the British on the Indian Maharajas, he took away everything from Shivaji, the last Maratha king who had no male successor. Rising from the ashes like a phoenix, his queen, Kamakshi Bai, challenges this merger. She fought the British with the help of a British lawyer, John Bruce Norton, took the case to the Privy Council as far as London, and recovered all the palaces and properties and 88 temples.

Today, one of the Maratha descendants is the friendly prince Babaji Raja Bhosale, who not only looks after Brihadeshwara, but does a lot more.

The author is an experienced Bharatanatyam dancer and scholar.