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Here comes an enchanting photo blog portraying the inspiring workmanship of the magnificent Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
The Great Living Chola Temples: Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram, in today’s new world, is a town in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu. However, if we turn the pages of history, this humble small town served as the capital of the Chola dynasty during the reign of Rajendra Chola I. Dating back to the 10th century and up to the beginning of 13th, spanning a period of whopping 250 years, the Chola dynasty is the longest-ruling dynasty in the history of southern India. With its massive military powerhouse, the entire peninsular India was under the reign of the Cholas.
With the peninsular India under the rule of the Cholas, he had successful campaigns to the Sri Lanka and stretching up to present day Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia in the east. Towards the west, it was the island nation of Maldives. Leading this supreme authoritative reign of the Cholas, Arulmozhi Varman, was conferred with the adopted name Raja Raja Cholan I. The verbiage Raja Raja refers to “King of Kings” and why shouldn’t he be that granted such a prestigious title. A predominant follower of Shaivism, he engineered the architecture of the impressive Brihadisvara temple in Thanjavur dedicated to Lord Shiva. The entire temple structure is carved out of granite. The intricate carvings and elaborate patterns are some of the finest examples of Dravidian architecture.
The Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram was built by Rajendra Chola I, son of Raja Raja Chola, to commemorate his victory over the imperial powers of the north – the Pala dynasty. The verbiage Gangaikonda Cholapuram means the town of the Chola that defeated several kingdoms en route river Ganga and emerged victorious. Upon return, the victorous Chola regiment poured the water obtained from the river Ganga into a well of this temple, and the emperor of the Chola ordered the kings of the defeated empires to follow the same procedures at this new capital city of the Chola dynasty.
The Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a miniature version of the majestic masterpiece built by his father Raja Raja Chola at Thanjavur. Access to the vimana is led by the beautifully built structure with intricate carvings with a delicate and gentle curve. Guarded by the majestically carved dwarapalakas on the front and either side of the entrance, the main deity is a 13 feet tall Shiva Lingam. Outside the garbagriha, there are smaller shrines dedicated to Godess Brihannayaki, Lord Ganesh, Lord Chandikeshwara and others.
The temple was given the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2004 and is often termed – The Great Living Chola Temples. Currently, the temple is being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
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