#7 Gangaikondacholapuram – Ariyalur

The One more Lofty Living Architecture of Chola

Are you an oriental architectural lover ???, If it so, don’t miss the historical mystery of  old Brihadeeswarar Temple , Master piece of ancient art and architecture.

Yes this temple is also called as Brihadeeswarar Temple as same as Thanjavur’s Big Temple

We all very well known about Brihadeeswara  Temple. If not  just  go back to my previous topic. If yes, then stay tuned. How many of you know about Gangaikondacholapuram????? . I am here to impose some details to your knowledge about that.

Gangaikondacholapuram Brihadeeswarer temple- Entrance

Location : Ariyalur

Built by : Rajendra Chola I

Built In : 11^th century

Dedicated : To Lord Shiva

Significance : Biggest Shivalingam in South India

Well known  for Dravidian Architecture

Age : Only 17 more years to reach a 1000 years milestone

Construction : 9 years.

Temple right side view

Gangaikodacholapuram, wow it sounds different???  You should know the story or meaning of this name.

• The King Rajendra Chola I was the son of Rajaraja Chola I who built the brihadeeswara temple to emulate his father’s creation after his victory over pala dynasty.
• The war took place near River Ganga thus giving the temple its’ name gangaikonda, literally meaning the “one who conquered ganga”.
• The surrounding also got its name from the temple. Gangaikonda Cholapuram went onto became the chola capital for the next 250 years. It is believed that king rajendra employed the same artisians who had built his father’s thanjavur temple.

Architectural significance

The idol of Nandi is sculpted in such a way that it reflects the sunlight to the sanctum.

Nandhi – Single rock

The Nandi is sculpted in stucco and fallen stones, a stone known as Chandrakanta is said to have been laid in the sanctum, which helps the area remain cool during summers and warms the area up during the winter season.

• It is built on an elevated structure with a rectangular courtyard. The sanctum is approached through a columned mukha mandapa which served as the prayer hall and a ardha mandapa.
• The sanctum is built by 6 feet high dwarapalaka, the guardian deities. The vimana above the shrine is 180 feet high only slightly smaller than that of thanjavur temple.
• The well carvings of the sanctum deficit deities such as Nataraja, Saraswati and shiva garlanding a devotee prominently amongst many others.

Gopuram (Vimana)

The vimana sits above the garbhagriha or inner sanctum, which is accessed through a beautiful pillared mandapa or hall. It is rather plain on the outside since it has been rebuilt after the original wall was ruined. However, the stretch closest to the vimana reveals that it was originally two-storeyed and quite ornate.There are three entrances to this mandapa – one in front, and two on either side, and they are all guarded by pairs of enormous dwarapalas or guardian deities.

Tamil Inscription

The walls flanking the side entrances are decorated with elaborate carvings depicting episodes from Shaivite mythology. Especially stunning is the sequence of panels telling the story of the saint Chandikeshwara, who is worshiped along with Lord Shiva in the region. For a long time, it wasn’t uncommon for transactions in temples to be carried out in Chandikeshwara’s name! A separate shrine dedicated to him stands right next to the vimana.

Simakeni

A circular well guarded by a lion stands to the northeast of the vimana.

Selective Coloring of the monstrous demon that has been sculptured on the temple wall

The main deity in the garbhagriha is a 13 feet tall Shivalinga. Two walls run around the deity just like in Thanjavur, but there are no sculptures or paintings to be found here.

Because of its delicate appearance and gentle curve, this temple is often called the feminine version of the one in Thanjavur.

Originally, a two-storeyed hall ran all along the perimeter. None of it remains now, except for a bit that has survived on the northern edge of the complex. Stone from this hall and the entrance gopura was used in building the Lower Anaicut dam nearby.

The raised platform that the hall stood on has now been used to display idols from the ruined parts of the temple, that have withstood the ravages of time.

The temple stands tall despite of all the natural calamities that it has faced through a millennium in the heart of Tamil Nadu.

Back side view

Gangaikondacholapuram served as the Chola capital for about 250 years, until the decline of the Cholas and the rise of the Pandyas. Today, the temple features on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites, and is one of the three Great Living Chola Temples.

Gopuram Top view

The Brihadeeshwara temple of Gangaikondacholapuram is undoubtedly as worthy a successor to the Brihadeeshwara temple of Thanjavur, as Rajendra Chola was to Rajaraja Chola.

Aerial view

Don’t forget to visit this intelligent construction , if you get a chance to visit India.

Visiting the temple would enrich you with lots of information about Dravidian culture.

It is recommended that you spend a full day out here in this temple complex since it will take a lot of time to go around from one structure to another.

Stay tuned!!… Next week will exclaim you more with Some other topics.!!..