1000 años de Gloria de Tamilnadu - Thanjai Periyakoyil

We did an unforgettable journey to this city thanjavur which is situated in TN south india. This city is also called a city of glory since the Big Temple is situated here. In this temple, lord shiva is worshipped in a name called “Bruhadeeswar”.  

In Sanskrit word Bruhad means BIG and eeshwarar is a pseudonym of Lord Shiva

The districts of Thanjavur, Kumbhakonam and Nagappattinam (constituting the erstwhile Thanjauvr district) boast of hundreds of ancient temples. 

The town of Thanjavur was the seat of the glorious Chola Empire of Tamilnadu, and was later the seat of the Nayaks and the Marathas.

Before entering to the temple, we could take a look at this beautiful town and met a person who was offering food to the beggars.While we asked that person why he offers food to them, he responded us saying that “there is a guru from the Annai Sharadha devi aashram who contributes the food to beggars every day.

Raja Raja cholan was born as Arulmozhi Thevar was also called as Rajakesari varman Raja Raja Thevar and respectfully as Peruvudaiyar

He was one of the Biggest emperor of the Chola empire of Tamilnadu who ruled between 985 and until 1014

He established the Chola Empire conquering the kings of south India extending his empire from Sri Lanka in the south and the kalingas in the northeast of Orissa

Being an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, Raja Raja Cholan Constructed Periyakoyil which is the Big and Magnificient Temple of Thanjavur. 

Each and every sanidhi will have a board kept outside where we can find the history

of each and every God or Saint who is being worshiped there. This temple was constructed during the year 1003 & 1010 and was consecrated in the year 101. This temple represents the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, nevertheless It’s remarkable to know that this temple is a part of UNESCO

     

 These paintings belongs to the 16th century Nayakas Period

 

These 15 feet 2 big monolithic sculptures of dwarapalas are found at the entrance of the Shiva Sannidhi. Reveals the concept “Thattva” that God is everywhere. If one of these statues noticed well, one can see the Elephant being swallowed by a snake and that snake being thrashed by Big Dwarapala. This act of Dwarapalaka is called “Aanai kondan” which was later derived as Anaconda.

Famous poet thirgnanasambandar mentioned this act in his literature "Kailayapadhikam"

 புரிகொள் சடையார் அடியர்கேளியார் கிளிசேர் மொழிமங்கை தெரியவுருவில் வைத்துகந்த தேவர் பெருமானார் பரியகளிர்றை யரவு விழுங்கி மழுங்க இருள்கூர்ந்த கரியமிடட்ரர் செய்யமேனிக்கைலைமலயாரே

An enormous Nandhi (Sacred Bull which is the vehicle of Lord Shiva) sits looking towards the sannidhi, it weighs 25 tons and was built in one single stone.This is the Biggest Nandhi among all the Nandhi statues in the Great Nation India.

This temple is also known in the name of diety as peruvudaiyar koil in Tamil Language. Later, Marathas & the Nayakas Government constructed various other Sannidhis and Gopuram (towers). Goddess parvathi is worshiped in the name of "Bruhannayagi". Bruhannayagi's sannidhi was constructed in 13th century by Pandiyas. Marathas painted the ceiling in the 18th century which depict mythological stories. 

Raja Raja Cholan assumed the title "Keralandhagan" after his victory over the King of Kerala Baaskara Ravivarma.The long prakaram surrounds the great temple (500 feet/250 feet), and the walls surrounding the prakaram again go back to Raja Raja Cholan's period. The octogonal Shikharam rests on a single block of granite weighing 81 tons.It is believed that this block was carried up a specially built ramp built from a site 6 kilometers away from here.It is widely believed that the shadow of the gopuram never falls on the ground. The temple stands within a fort, whose walls are later additions built in the 16th century.In the front side of the Goupram, various forms of Lord Shiva can be seen Rudrathandava posture which is a fericous dance of Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva with Godess parvathi and Pitchaandar. Form of Pitchaandar (Shiva as a Beggar), Raja Raja Cholan was the First King to Document the archives of his Government in the form of Manuscripts and Caligraphy.

At the top of the Raja Gopuram, an image of the Man with a Hat can be seen. Its astounding to know that the Astrologers of Raja Raja Cholan predicted that ENGLISH people (different colored skin man) are going to rule India even while they constructed the temple 1000 years before.

Incidents from the lives of the Nayanmars, various 108 Bharata Natyam Dance postures, manifestations of Shiva.

(Aadalvallaan - Nataraja, Tripurantaka, Dakshinamurthi etc.) are depicted in sculptured panels or in exquisite Chola murals.

Tanjore has a number of important places that are visited by many tourists through out the year.

The influence of history, religion and nature are visible in all the places of attraction here. It is primarily a place for art lovers, especially those who like temple architecture and monuments. During their reign, the Cholas made significant contributions to various disciplines of art and architecture. The famous Thanjavur painting style was developed by Sarfoji, the 19th-century Maharaja of Thanjavur.

The Brihadeeswara temple, the Palace, the Art Gallery and the Saraswati Mahal Library are some other things to be seen in Tanjore. Thanjavur can be reached easily by road, rail and air. Tamil Nadu state government runs frequent public buses from nearby Trichy, Chennai, Kumbakonam, Pudukkottai, Pattukkottai, Tirunelveli, Karur, Nagapattinam, Coimbatore and many other cities in the state linking Chennai with Chidambaram, Mayavaram, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur, and Nagappatinam provides convenient access to tourists who come to visit Thanjavur and the adjoining towns. There are also several buses operated by private bus operators.

 Its very important to visit this place if you have the opportunity.

Thanks to everyone. Long Live Thanjavur, Long Live the Great monuments, Long Live MY INDIA!