This is big temple since 1000 years in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India was built. Rajaraja I, king of the Chola Empire, wanted to build a grand formation in his capital. Thanjavur had no granite quarry around. This did not deter him. His men toiled and brought as much as 50,000 metre cube of stones from places as far as 45 km. After long years (historians still debate whether it took 10 or 30 years), the wonderful temple of Rajarajesvaran, as it was then known, was completed
The description that a temple is ‘a mountain and cavern combined' would most excellent fit this structure. Nowhere else would a visitor literally see a hand-crafted mountain towering over the sanctum. A 60 metre tower known as srivimana was built with enough open space in front to view it well.
Building this was not simple. Rajaraja's architects had to design a modern double wall at the base to support the weight (about 40,000 tons) and laid the entire temple in great precision. However, we are yet to know how such huge and heavy stones were lifted to such great heights.
Apart from impressive architecture, the Big Temple has some of the finest sculptures and beautiful frescoes (see box). Inscriptions on the walls describe that many wonderful bronze images were also gifted, but most of them are now lost.
To financially support and sustain the temple, Rajaraja endowed it with land and wealth and described in detail the duties of different groups of people who will keep accounts, sing, dance and guard. He also made sure they were well paid and even specified their places for living.
The Big Temple was not ended when Rajaraja died. His son Rajendra I, who succeeded, decided to build his own grand temple at Gangai kondacholapuram slightly than complete it.
The description that a temple is ‘a mountain and cavern combined' would most excellent fit this structure. Nowhere else would a visitor literally see a hand-crafted mountain towering over the sanctum. A 60 metre tower known as srivimana was built with enough open space in front to view it well.
Building this was not simple. Rajaraja's architects had to design a modern double wall at the base to support the weight (about 40,000 tons) and laid the entire temple in great precision. However, we are yet to know how such huge and heavy stones were lifted to such great heights.
Apart from impressive architecture, the Big Temple has some of the finest sculptures and beautiful frescoes (see box). Inscriptions on the walls describe that many wonderful bronze images were also gifted, but most of them are now lost.
To financially support and sustain the temple, Rajaraja endowed it with land and wealth and described in detail the duties of different groups of people who will keep accounts, sing, dance and guard. He also made sure they were well paid and even specified their places for living.
The Big Temple was not ended when Rajaraja died. His son Rajendra I, who succeeded, decided to build his own grand temple at Gangai kondacholapuram slightly than complete it.
