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Known as the ‘big temple’, Brihadeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is amongst one of the largest temples in the country. This temple is 1000+ years old and the temple tower is a whopping 216 feet high, making it the tallest in the world. Brihadeeswarar temple was constructed by Rajaraja Chola I and was designed by Kunjara Mallan Raja Rama Perunthachan. This is one of the most visited places in Tanjore. The shrine is rare as it houses statues of Ashtadikpaalakas or Guardians of Directions—Indra, Agni, Nirrti, Varuna, Kubera, Isana, Yama, and Vayu. Another interesting fact about its architecture is that the vimana (tower above the sanctum sanctorum) of the temple does not cast a shadow at noon! The temple is fully made of granite and has Chola frescoes on its walls, portraying various facets of Lord Shiva. Also, the temple has many pillars of which several produce different musical notes and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The base of the temple has the pictures of dancing Shiva and stone deities. A 2m high, 6m long, and 2.5m wide statue of Nandi Bull weighing 20 tonnes can be found at the entrance.
The bull is made up of a single stone and is the second largest statue of Nandi. The Shiva Linga inside the temple has the height of 3.7m. The dynasties that ruled after Cholas also added the pictures of many deities.
The platform on which the temple was built has the height of 5m. The outer walls of the temple are built like fort having a deep moat surrounding it. There are two entrances to the temple. Vimanam or the Shikhara of the temple is 60.96m high. The Centre of the temple has the statue of Nandi Bull. There are two halls in the temple also called mandapas. The whole of the temple is constructed from granite stones. History says there is no granite quarry for about 50 kilometers around the temple and therefore the massive sized stones employed in the temple construction should have been brought from far off places.

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2106151 S.J SRIRAGAVY

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தஞ்சைப் பெரிய கோவில் வரலாறு | Thanjavur Periya Kovil | Brihadeshwara Temple | Kathaiyalla Varalaru

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I thought this video tells about some very interesting things about the Tanjore Big Temple!

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Mysteries Secrets about Thanjavur Big Temple

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The Tanjore big temple has many names, it is world wide known as Brihadishvara temple, locally known as Thanjai Periya Kovil, also called as Peruvudaiyār Kōvil, Rajarajeswaram, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.
Located in the Cauvery delta, Thanjavur is often called the 'Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu'. ... Classical Carnatic music was codified, and some Bharatnatyam styles were developed in Thanjavur, also famous for its Tanjore paintings. Thanjavur is home to the Great Living Chola temples
The temple has the world's tallest vimanam (temple tower) and its Kumbam (the structure on the top) weighs approximately 80 tons. The temple has a huge statue of Nandi (sacred bull) at the entrance. The statue is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 20 tons. The Lingam inside the temple is 3.7 meters tall
Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan (Raja Raja Cholan)
is the chola king who built the Tanjore big temple.

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Facts about Tanjore Big Temple By Muhil 6E 

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Facts about Tanjore Big Temple By Muhil 6E 

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https://youtu.be/mGsJO3T9iAo

1. Tamil Nadu is a Southern most state in India, which is very well known for its ancient historic temples.
2. It has more than 33000 temples.
3. Most of the temples located in Southern location are more than 800 to 2000 years old.
4. This Temple is well known as the Tanjore Big Temple in Tamil Nadu. It marvels out with its giant structure and striking architecture.
5. The Big temple is considered as one of the oldest ancient temples in India and is offered to Lord Shiva.
6. Lord Shiva is considered one among the Three God heads in Hinduism. The master giant temple was constructed by the great king Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 AD. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva.

The temple has the world's tallest vimanam (temple tower) and its Kumbam (the structure on the top) weighs approximately 80 tons. The temple has a huge statue of Nandi (sacred bull) at the entrance. The statue is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 20 tons. The Lingam inside the temple is 3.7 meters tall.

UNESCO declared the Tangore Big temple as one of the Oldest World’s Heritage. They nest the marvel under the “Great Living Chola Temples”. Airavateeswarar Temple and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu were also declared as one of the greatest heritage monuments.

The temple is built up to a height of 216 feet and the temple is carved out of granite stones which weigh about 130,000 tons. The wondering aspect about this temple architecture is the technology used behind it. The entire temple is made by the method of interlocking stones, in which one rock is kept over the other without using the joint mortars and in some cases, they have used lime mortar for binding of rock pieces. The vast foundation of the temple is made without excavating the earth with a single grain of sand and yet the temple stands in its position and hence it is named as Big Temple. The temple is made with absolute zero degree inclination which makes the temple stand straight for more than 1000 years.

Roll no. 2106131

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தஞ்சை பெரிய கோவிலின் 8 அதிசயங்கள்! | 8 Unknown Facts about Brihatheeshwarar Temple

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Brihadeeswara temple was built on 1010 CE by King Rajaraja Chola. The temple is popularly known as Thanjavur big temple. The whole temple was built in granite yet, there were no granite mines found in a distance of 60-100 kilometres. https://youtu.be/YlAy-nHzsdU

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Mind Boggling Facts About Brihadeeswarar Temple's Architecture

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Explore and collect some interesting information about the Tanjore Big Temple.

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Explore and collect some interesting information about the Tanjore Big Temple.

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Brihadeeshwara Temple is a revered temple for Hindus, which they bestow to Lord Shiva (The God of destruction). This temple is one of the largest temples of India, and one of supreme brilliances of Indian architecture. Category : Archaeological site and Southeastern Asian Religious structure of Hindus.

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A study in Oriental architecture or history is certainly incomplete without a mention of the Tanjore Brihadeeshwara Temple or the Tanjore Periya Kovil (Big Temple). This imposing structure was built by Raja Raja Cholan and his sister Kundavai, both ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. It was constructed by the King at the height of the Chola reign to signify his power and strength. Here are a few facts not known about this Chola temple of Thanjavur:

a) The original name of the deity was Rajarajeshwar. It was the Marathas who gave it the name Brihadeeshwara or the Great Ishwara.

b) The main temple is entirely built of granite. More than 130,000 tons of granite is said to have been used to build it.

c) A long associated myth with this temple temple is that the shadow of the main structure does not fall on the ground. However, this has been proven wrong by scientists.

d) The statue of Nandi at the entrance of the temple is carved out of a single stone.

e) The main Vimanam, which is at about 200 feet is often called Dakshin Meru or Southern Meru.

f) The inspiration to build the temple came to Raja Raja Cholan during his visit to Sri Lanka and is a result of a dream he had.

g) The temple has a portrait of Raja Raja Cholan paying obeisance to Lord Natarajar. This is undoubtedly, the first ever instance of a royal portrait.

h) Inscriptions in the temple point towards Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as the chief architect of the temple. His successors survive to this day and practice the art of Vastu or Vastu Shastra.

i) Depictions of nartakis or dancers showing eighty one of hundred and eight karanas (synchronised movements of hands and feet) in Bharata Natyam are carved here. These karanas are a part of karanas mentioned in the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni or Sage Bharata. There is also evidence that the temple was a platform for talented dancers to showcase their talent. These depictions are first of their kind.

j) The inscriptions also mention the different kinds of jewels used in the period. Each of these jewels are mentioned in detail. A total of twenty three different types of pearls, eleven varieties of diamonds and rubies are mentioned in these inscriptions.

What astounds historians is that there was not a single granite quarry in about 100 km radius of the temple. This means that transporting these stones would have been a herculean task. But Raja Raja Cholan insisted on the use of these stones. All of these features make this Chola temple of Tanjore, a magnum opus of the Chola reign.

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Thanjavur  temple was built on 1010 CE by Rajaraja chola in popularly known as big temple

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Tamil Nadu is a Southern most state in India, which is very well known for its ancient historic temples. It has more than 33000 temples. Most of the temples located in Southern location are more than 800 to 2000 years old. This Temple is well known as the Tanjore Big Temple in Tamil Nadu. It marvels out with its giant structure and striking architecture. The Big temple is considered as one of the oldest ancient temples in India and is offered to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is considered one among the Three God heads in Hinduism. The master giant temple was constructed by the great king Raja Raja Chola I in 1010 AD. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva.

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Brihadeeshwara Temple is also know as Peruvudaiyar Kovil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara Temple and Rajarajesvaram. It is one of the largest temples in India and is an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola period. Built by emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD, the temple turned 1000 years old in 2010. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", with the other two being the Brihadeeswarar Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram andAiravatesvara temple.The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The vimanam temple tower is 216 ft 66 m high and is the tallest in the world. The Kumbam the apex or the bulbous structure on the top of the temple is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 80 tons. There is a big statue of Nandi sacred bull carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 ft 4.9 m long and 13 ft 4.0 m high at the entrance. The entire temple structure is made out of granite, the nearest sources of which are about 60 km to the west of temple. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.

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Peruvudaiyar Kovil (Original Name) locally known as Thanjai Periya Kovil, also called as Brihadishvara temple, Rajarajeswaram, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India.It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Tamil architecture. It is called as Dakshina Meru (Meru of south). Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple that are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively.