Brihadishvara Temple

Brihadishvara Temple is located in Thanjavur, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The temple is known by several names: Britannica lists Brihadeeswara Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple and Brihadeshwara Temple as alternate spellings, and Rajarajeswaram Temple, Peruvudaiyar Kovil and Thanjai Periya Kovil as other names. Inscriptions call the temple Dakshina Meru. Dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, it remains an active place of worship.

The temple was built under the patronage of the Chola emperor Rajaraja I. Britannica dates its construction to 1003–1010 CE and says it was completed and consecrated in 1010. The Archaeological Survey of India’s account says work was inaugurated around 1003–1004 and the temple was consecrated in 1009–1010. It was a major royal and religious project at the height of Chola power, and its inscriptions provide historical information about the temple and its endowments.

The temple is a landmark of southern Indian temple architecture. Its central sanctum is crowned by a tall, pyramidal vimana, rising more than 60 metres according to Britannica. The complex was constructed largely from granite and includes gateways, a colonnaded enclosure, subsidiary shrines, sculptures, murals and extensive Tamil inscriptions. The Archaeological Survey of India describes a 13-tiered vimana and wall paintings; UNESCO recognizes the temple as the earliest great example in the development of Chola temple architecture.

Brihadishvara Temple was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987. In 2004, the property was extended to include two further Chola temples: Brihadisvara at Gangaikondacholisvaram and Airavatesvara at Darasuram. The three temples are collectively known as the Great Living Chola Temples. UNESCO highlights their continuing religious use as well as their importance for Chola architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting.