The Brihadishwara Temple (Tamil: பெருவுடையார் கோவில், peruvuḍaiyār kōvil [?]), also known as Rajarajeswaram[1], at Thanjavur, is the world's first complete granite temple[2] and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas in temple architecture. It is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron RajaRaja Chola I. It remains as one of the greatest glories of Indian architecture[3]. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples" and this temple is an ultimate testimonial for the Vishwakarmas architectural cognizance in planning and sculpting this temple.
This temple is one of India's most prized architectural sites. The temple stands amidst fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' - or the temple tower - is 216 ft (66 m) high [4] (about 70 meters) and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kalash or 'Shikhara' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is of monolithic granite weighing 81.25 tons. There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long and 13 feet high[5]. The entire temple structure is made out of hard granite stones, a material sparsely available currently in Thanjavur area where the temple is located.
Not only the temple and the "moolavar", (prime deity, Shiva) but all other deities (Koshta Moorthigal) like Dakshinamurthy, Suriya (Sun), Chandra (Moon) are very huge sized. Especially, Brahadeeswar temple is one of the rare temples which is having statues for "Ashta dik paalakas" [Lords of all Eight Directions [Indra, Varuna, Agni, Eesana, Vayu, Niruthi, Yama, Kubera], each of which is a life like status i.e approximately 6 feet tall.
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[edit]Brihadeshwara Temple in Historic Novels
- Balakumaran has written the story Udaiyar based on the life of Raja Raja Chola I and the building activities around Brihadeshwara temple
[edit]Picture Gallery
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The main purpose of Buddhist art in India was to popularise the religion of Buddhism. Buddhist art in India came into being after the historical life of Gautam Buddha during the sixth to fifth century B.C. and then it developed by contact with other cultures as it spread all through Asia and the world.
ReplyDeleteThe presence of Lord Buddha was portrayed by the symbols of empty throne, a pair of foot prints, a lotus, or a Bodhi tree. The sculpture developed later on into more precise and explicit definition of the episodes relating to the life of Lord Buddha and his teachings. It is in north India that the first anthropomorphic representation of Buddha is said to have emerged. The two main proponents of Buddhist art in India is the Gandhara School and the Mathura school of art.
https://www.indianetzone.com/42/buddhist_art_india.htm