Similarities and Differences between Big Temple in Thanjavur and Gangai Konda Cholapuram
Brihadeeswarar Temple and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites and share several similarities: Similarities 1. *Architecture*: Both temples are exemplary examples of Dravidian architecture, showcasing the grandeur of Chola dynasty's temple-building skills. 2. *Dedication*: Both temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, with Brihadeeswarar Temple housing a massive linga and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple featuring a large linga as well. 3. *Construction*: Both temples were built during the Chola dynasty, with Brihadeeswarar Temple constructed during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I (985-1012 CE) and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple built by Rajendra Chola I (1012-1044 CE), son of Rajaraja Chola. 4. *Size and Scale*: Both temples are massive in size, with Brihadeeswarar Temple being one of the largest temples in India and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple being slightly smaller but still impressive. 5. *Carvings and Sculptures*: Both temples feature intricate carvings and sculptures depicting Hindu mythology and everyday life. 6. *Vimana and Gopuram*: Both temples have a prominent vimana (tower) and gopuram (entrance tower), showcasing the architectural skills of the Chola dynasty. 7. *Water Management*: Both temples have sophisticated water management systems, with Brihadeeswarar Temple featuring a large water tank and Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple having a complex system of canals and water channels. These similarities reflect the continuity and excellence of Chola dynasty's architectural and cultural achievements Differences - While both temples share similarities, there are distinct differences: 1. _Location_: Brihadeeswarar Temple is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, whereas Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is located in Jayankondam, Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu. 2. _Size_: Brihadeeswarar Temple is larger than Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, with a taller vimana (tower) and a bigger complex. 3. _Vimana Design_: The vimana of Brihadeeswarar Temple is a pure Dravidian style, whereas Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple's vimana has a hybrid style, blending Dravidian and Nagara styles. 4. _Gopuram_: Brihadeeswarar Temple has a single, large gopuram, whereas Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple has multiple, smaller gopurams. 5. _Water Management_: While both temples have water management systems, Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple's system is more complex, with canals and water channels bringing water from a nearby river. 6. _Sculptures and Carvings_: Both temples have intricate carvings, but Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple's sculptures are more refined and detailed. 7. _Historical Significance_: Brihadeeswarar Temple was built to commemorate Rajaraja Chola's military victories, whereas Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple was built to celebrate Rajendra Chola's conquests and his bringing of the Ganges River's water to the temple. 8. _Preservation_: Brihadeeswarar Temple is better preserved and maintained, while Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple has undergone restoration work due to damage over time. These differences highlight the unique characteristics of each temple, reflecting the evolution of Chola dynasty's architectural and artistic styles. THERE IS ONE MORE TEMPLE *Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram:* Also a Great Living Chola Temple and UNESCO site, it is a significant temple from the Chola period. Brihadeeswarar: is a Sanskrit name, with "Brihat" meaning great and "Ishvara" meaning Lord or God. The temple was initially called Rajarajeswaram by its founder, Raja Raja Chola I, after himself. The Tamil name Peruvudaiyar Kovil means "Great Lord's Temple", reflecting the deity's name. The temple is also commonly known as the "Big Temple" in Thanjavur, due to its massive size and scale. Brihadeeswara means only Thanjavur; but the attributes being a Sanskrit word meaning BIG GOD is placed also for the other 2 temples built by the chola dynasty. K Rajaram IRS 20825 On Wed, 20 Aug 2025 at 10:29, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > BRIHADEESWARAR TEMPLE, GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM, > ARIYALUR DISTRICT- TAMILNADU-COMPILED > > > > Dear friends, > > The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, also known as Brihadeeswarar Temple, > Gangaikonda Cholapuram, is a magnificent example of Dravidian architecture > located in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu. Built by Rajendra Chola I, it is > a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a part of the "Great Living Chola > Temples". The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known for its > intricate sculptures, towering structure, and historical significance. > > *During his recent visit to Tamil Nadu on July 27th, 2025,* Prime > Minister Mr. Narendra Modi visited the Brihadeeswara Temple at > Gangaikonda Cholapuram. > > PM Mr Modi attended the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at the temple. The > festival celebrated the 1000th anniversary of Rajendra Chola I's maritime > expedition to Southeast Asia. During the visit, a commemorative coin > honouring Rajendra Chola I was released by PM Modi. > > *This UNESCO World Heritage site* is a prime example of Chola > architecture and was built by Rajendra Chola I to celebrate his victories. > > Today my posting is about this Temple. > > Hope a divine reading. > > Gopalakrishnan 20-08-2025 > > Key Features: > > UNESCO World Heritage Site: Recognized for its architectural and > historical value, it is part of the "Great Living Chola Temples". > > Dravidian Architecture: The temple showcases the characteristic features > of this style, including towering structures and intricate carvings. > > Rajendra Chola I:*Built by Rajendra Chola I, son of Raja Raja Chola I *(who > built the Thanjavur temple), to commemorate his victories. > > Dedicated to Lord Shiva: The temple is primarily dedicated to Lord Shiva > and is one of the largest Shiva temples in South India. > > Rich Sculptures: The temple is adorned with elaborate sculptures and > artwork, reflecting the artistic achievements of the Chola period. > > Towering Structure:* The main temple tower reaches a height of 55 meters, > a testament to the architectural prowess of the Chola dynasty. * > > Additional Information: > > The temple is located in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which was the capital of > the Chola dynasty for over 250 years. > > *The temple's design is similar to the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, > but it is smaller and more refined in its details.* > > The temple is a popular destination for tourists and devotees interested > in history, architecture, and spirituality. > > Introduction > > The Brihadisvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in > Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Jayankondam, in the South Indian state of Tamil > Nadu. Completed in 1035 CE by Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new > capital, this Chola dynasty era temple is similar in design, and has a > similar name, as the older 11th century, Brihadeeswarar Temple about 70 > kilometres (43 mi) to the southwest in Thanjavur. The Gangaikonda > Cholapuram Temple is smaller yet more refined than the Thanjavur Temple. > Both are among the largest Shiva temples in South India and examples of > Dravidian style temples. > > Legend > > After his victory of Northern stated , Rajendra Chola 1 demanded that the > defeated kingdoms send pots of Ganges River water and pour it into the well > of this temple. Rajendra I, according to Tamil tradition, thereafter > assumed the name of Gangaikonda Cholan, meaning the one who conquered the > Ganges > > History > > The temple was constructed in 1035 CE by Rajendra Chola I (1012-44 CE), > the son of the famous Chola king Raja Raja Chola I, who built the > Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. *Rajendra wanted to emulate the > temple built by his father after his victory in a campaign across India > that Chola era texts state covered Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and > Bengal*. After his victory, he demanded that the defeated kingdoms send > pots of Ganges River water and pour them into the temple's well. The well > was originally called Cholagangam as it was filled with water from Ganges. > > Rajendra I, as is Tamil tradition, then assumed the name Gangaikonda > Cholan, meaning the one who conquered the Ganges. He established > Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his capital from the earlier Chola capital of > Thanjavur. Gangaikonda Cholapuram remained the Chola capital for the next > 250 years. > > Rajendra I built the entire capital with several temples using plans and > infrastructure recommended in Tamil Vastu and Agama Sastra texts. > > These included a Dharma Sasta, Vishnu and other temples. However, these > structures were destroyed in the late 13th and 14th centuries except this > temple. The other Chola landmarks, clearly shown by soil covered mounds and > excavated broken pillar stumps and brick walls, are found over a large area > nearby. The earliest inscription that mentions this city by name is dated > 1029, while the earliest reference to Rajendra I's expedition towards the > Ganges river in the north is dated 1023. The first gift to the newly built > Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is dated 1035. > > Rajendra I, states Dehejia, must have involved the same craftsmen used by > his father and transferred them from Thanjavur.[20] Most or all of the > Chola kings from Rajendra I had their coronation at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. > Archaeological > excavations have revealed fort walls and palace remains a few kilometers > from this temple. It is believed that Kulottunga Chola I, Rajendra's > successor, built fortifications around the city. > > The reasons for the city's destruction are unclear. According to > Vasanthi, the Pandyas who defeated the Cholas during the later part of > 13th-century "may have razed the city to ground" to avenge their previous > defeats. > > However, it is unclear why other temples were destroyed and this temple > was spared, as well as why there are around twenty inscriptions from later > Cholas, Pandyas and Vijayanagar Empires indicating various gifts and grants > to this temple if they previously razed this place. > > > > An alternative theory links the destruction to the raids, plunder and > wars, particularly with the invasion of the capital city and the > territories, that were earlier a part of the Chola and Madurai Empires, by > the armies of the Delhi Sultanate led by the Muslim commander Malik Kafur > in 1311, followed by Khusrau Khan in 1314, and Muhammad bin Tughlaq in > 1327. The period that followed saw wars between the Hindu kings and the > Muslim sultans who succeeded the Delhi Sultanate and carved out new states > such as the nearby Madurai Sultanate (1335–1378). > > The Vijayanagar Empire defeated the Madurai Sultanate in 1378 and this > temple, along with other Chola era temples, then returned to the control > of Hindu kings who repaired and restored many of them. > > Like the Thanjavur temple, this temple is also believed to have emerged as > a centre of social, economic and political activities. Cultural activities > like music, dance and art in the form of bronzes were encouraged and staged > in the temple. > > The temple was added to the list of Great Living Chola Temples in the year > 2004. All three temples were built by the Cholas between the 10th and > 12th centuries CE and have many similarities. The Archaeological Survey of > India (ASI) made additions to the shopping and visitor attraction offices > in the temple in 2009 that included a museum, restaurant, shops and > restrooms *under the aegis of the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of > the Government of Tamil Nadu.* > > The temples are classified as Great Living Chola Temples as they are still > visited, worshiped in and used as they were when they were constructed. > The millennium celebration of the coronation of the Rajendra Chola was > celebrated in the temple over two days during July 2014. > > Architecture > > Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is built in Dravidian architecture with a > square plan. The original courtyard is two squares stacked next to each > other, all mandapas, the upapitham, the shrine plans, the Garbha griha > (sanctum) and the tower elements are all square shaped and incorporate > circles and principles of geometric symmetry. The structural elements > resemble the big Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur. > > Both include a courtyard entered through multiple gateways and relatively > small gopuram (tower). Inside are shrines, most of which are aligned on an > east–west axis; a few are perpendicular. The temple complex includes > Nandi Mandapa, Alankar Mandapa, Maha Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa and Ardha > Mandapa. > > Some of these were added and restored by Hindu kingdoms after the 14th > century or by British India art conservation officials in the 19th century. > > The temple is one of the earliest ones to have pillared halls, which > became a common feature in subsequent temples. > > The main temple is built on an elevated structure with the courtyard > measuring 560 ft by 320 ft. Its sanctum measures 100 sq. ft and is > entered through the Ardha Mandapa. The sanctum doorway is flanked by > dvarapalas, the guardians, each 6 ft tall. The sanctum contains > Brihadeeswarar (Shiva) in the form of lingam. *This lingam is 13 ft tall > and the base has a circumference of 59 ft* > > > > There is an image of a seated Nandi bull in the courtyard, aligned axially > 200 m facing the sanctum. > > There are five shrines around the sanctum and a Lion well, which was > added during the 19th century. The temple site has a monolithic > representation of Navagraha, the nine planetary deities. > > The vimanam (sanctum tower) is 55 m (180 ft) high, which is 3 m (9.8 ft) > smaller than the Thanjavur Temple. Historians believe that the height of > the temple is deliberately kept low in dimensions compared to the Thanjavur > temple as a mark of respect of Rajendra to his father's masterpiece. > > Sculptures > > There are about fifty sculptural reliefs around the walls of the sanctum, > three of which — Nataraja, Saraswati and Shiva garlanding a devotee — being > the most prominent. There is a shrine for Shaiva saint and scholar > Chandeshvara (one of the sixty-three Nayanars). There are other niches > around the temple walls depicting various forms of Shiva, Durga and Vishnu. > There are many bronze statues in the temple depicting Chola art of the 11th > century, with the one of Kartikeya being the most recognisable. > > One relief includes a most unusual portrait of a Hindu ruler who built the > temple. Shiva, with Parvati beside him, hands down a garland of flowers to > mark his victory to a diminutive seated figure of Rajendra I. > > Deities > > The main temple dedicated to Shiva is based on a square plan, but it > displays other Hindu deities such as *Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara, > Ardhanarishvara*, and others. *It opens to the sunrise and its sanctum,* > as well as the mandapas, are aligned on an east–west axis. In addition to > the main shrine, the temple complex has a number of smaller shrines, > gopura, and other monuments, with some partially ruined or restored in > later centuries. The temple is famed for its bronze sculptures, artwork > on its walls, the depiction of Nandi and the scale of its tower. As well > as its notability for having been built by Rajendra I, the temple is also > noteworthy for its numerous inscriptions, although none of them are his. > > Except for this temple, the old city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram – the > capital of a powerful Asian empire from around 900 to 1215 or over three > centuries along with its other major Chola-era Hindu temples have been > completely destroyed, leaving a desolate place. > > Poojas and festivals > > The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple remains an active temple. *Four daily > rituals, and many yearly festivals are held there*. > > Though it is administered by the ASI as a monument, *worship practises > are followed similar to those at other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu*. > > The temple follows Saivite tradition and the temple priests perform the > pooja (rituals) during festivals and daily basis. > > The temple rituals are performed four times a day: Kalasanthi at 8:30 > a.m., Uchikalam at 12:30 p.m., > > Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., and Arthajamam between 7:30 –8:00 p.m. > > Each ritual has three steps: alangaram (decoration), neivethanam (food > offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Brihadeeswarar and > Periya Nayagi. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed > in the temple. > > It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu. The > Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) administers the temple as a protected > heritage monument. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2004, > along with the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur and Airavatesvara temple > at Darasuram. These are referred to collectively as the Great Living Chola > Temples. > > The temple has many festivals in its calendar, with the Shivarathri > during the Tamil month of Masi (February–March), Aipassi Pournami during > Aipassi (October–November) and Thiruvadirai during Margazhi > (December–January) being the most prominent. Annabhishekam, the ablution of > the presiding deity with cooked rice is performed during Aipasi festival. > > Location > > The Brihadeeswarar Temple is located near the village of Gangaikonda > Cholapuram, about 280 kilometres (170 mi) southwest of Chennai and 50 > kilometres (31 mi) from Chidambaram. Roughly 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the > northeast is the similarly named Chola dynasty era Brihadeeswarar Temple in > Thanjavur, and is about 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the northeast of the > Airavatesvara Temple. All three are UNESCO world heritage sites. > > The temple is on Highway 81 connecting Tiruchirappalli and Chidambaram. > The nearby city of Chidambaram is connected to other major cities by daily > trains on the Indian railway network, Tamil Nadu bus services and National > Highways 36, 81, and 245. The nearest airport with regular services is > Tiruchirappalli International Airport about 120 kilometres away. > > Though inland, the temple is near the Kollidam River, within the Cauveri > River delta with access to the Bay of Bengal and through it to the Indian > Ocean. > > *My note- While travelling in Train, the temple tower is visibly seen near > Ariyalur.* Ariyalur is a very hot place. Ariyalur is under Trichy > Telecom, where I worked as Deputy Divisional Engineer during 1979-1980. > > Temple timings > > The temple is open from 6:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. every > day. > > > > Are Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram the same? > > No, Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram are not the same. Thanjavur is > the name of a city and also the location of the famous Brihadeeswarar > Temple, while Gangaikonda Cholapuram was a city established by Rajendra > Chola I as his capital, and it also houses another Brihadeeswarar Temple. > Both temples are part of the "Great Living Chola Temples" UNESCO World > Heritage Site. > > Here's a more detailed explanation: > > Thanjavur:This is a city in Tamil Nadu, India, known for the > Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as the Big Temple, built by Rajaraja > Chola I. > > Gangaikonda Cholapuram: This was the capital city of the Chola dynasty > established by Rajendra Chola I, son of Rajaraja Chola I. It is also home > to a Brihadeeswarar Temple, built by Rajendra Chola I. > > Great Living Chola Temples: This UNESCO World Heritage site includes three > temples: the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, the Brihadeeswarar Temple > in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasura > > > > What is the difference between Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and > Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore? > > The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur and the Brihadeeswarar Temple in > Gangaikonda Cholapuram are both magnificent Chola-era temples dedicated > to Lord Shiva, but they have distinct characteristics. > > The Thanjavur temple, also known as the "Big Temple," is older, larger, > and considered grander, while the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is > slightly smaller but noted for its refined design and intricate sculptures. > > While smaller than the Thanjavur temple, it is still a large temple and > features a 55-meter tall vimana. > > In essence: Both temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are masterpieces > of Chola architecture. > > The Thanjavur temple is older, larger, and more imposing, while the > Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple is known for its refined design and intricate > details. > > Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites, part of the "Great Living Chola > Temple > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2000851856.1087125.1755665821474%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/2000851856.1087125.1755665821474%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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