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Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram literally means the Great Shiva Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. It was built (11th century) by Rajendra Chola I, the son of the famous Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I, who built the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur.

Rajendra Chola I built the majestic temple after his victories across India and as per Chola era texts the conquests included Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

The king demanded that the defeated kingdoms send him water from the sacred Ganga - and the water should be collected into the Brihadisvara temple's well which was originally called CholaGangam.

Thus Rajendra I was referred as Gangaikonda Cholan and he also shifted his capital to Gangaikonda Cholapuram from where Chola dynasty ruled for about 250 years. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Saranya Chidambaram | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Anugrahamurti at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Chandesa Anugraha Murti at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is masterpiece of Chola art.

This theme originally represents Siva bestowing his grace on Chandikesvara his devotee also one of the 63 renown Saivite saints - In this sculpted panel Chandesa is replaced by victorious King Rajendra Chola I who humbly presents himself as a devotee to receive grace of and blessings from Siva in the form of a garland. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: SezhiyanR | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Saraswati at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

A serene sculpted Saraswati at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram signifies a constant purifying force that enhances fluidity of languages and magnifies the brilliance of all art forms.

Goddess Saraswati at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is expressed seated on a lotus throne holding japmala and amrita kalasa - in a teaching posture with her index finger raised. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Jonathan Freundlich | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Gajalakshmi at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Gajalakṣmī sculpture at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is one of the forms of Ashtalaksmi who represents power apart from bestowing prosperity, good luck and abundance. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Gajalakṣmī depicted at the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, is represented as seated on a lotus throne in padmāsana and on either side of the goddess is an elephant watering the lotus which the goddess holds.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Via Wikimedia Commons | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Gangadhara at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Gangadhara at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a manifestation of Shiva that helps Ganga descent from the Himalayas to earth. Ganga is usually depicted in his matted locks and Parvati standing next to him. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

In most such sculptures you would have Bhagiratha standing with Anjali mudra in a posture of penance. Both Bhagiratha and Ganga are absent here.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Richard Mortel | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Ardhanarisvar at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Ardhanārīśvara sculpture found at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram - is a manifestation of Śiva where he is part Nara and part Nari holding a tribhanga posture. Śiva is usually represented on the right with jaṭāmakuṭa and Pārvatī on the left. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

As per Śiva Purana initially Brahma created only Prajapatis or male beings and directed them to regenerate, which they were unable to do. Perplexed Brahma reaches to Śiva for advise and to enlighten Brahma Śiva appears before him as Ardhanārīśvara.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Nandhinikandhasamy | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Nataraja at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Nataraja at Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram a well known form of Siva as the cosmic dancer. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Shiva when dancing the Ananda Tandav is expressing - a precarious balance of opposites. So whilst ‘tandav’ means the dance of destruction, ‘ananda’ in Sanskrit means pleasure. Nataraja holds ‘fire’ in one off his hands which destroys and the same ‘fire’ also symbolizes heat necessary for life. Whereas his drum provides the pulse or rhythm for life the same rhythm squashes apasmara who is symbolic of ignorance.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Richard Mortel | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Lingodbhava at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Liṅgodbhava carved in Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram refers to one of the many forms of Siva - Liṅgodbhava signifies Śiva as formless and incomprehensible - at a basic level the illustration reveals a tale from various ancient texts or Puranas that falsehood is not appreciated by God nor is it tolerated even if the gods or devas get involved in it. Basically if Śiva can help Brahmā, the creator realize his mistake every being can be punished for their evil activities. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Early Shaiva saint Tirugnana Sambandar refers to Liṅgodbhava as a form of Shiva as the nature of light that could not be discerned either by Vishnu or Brahma.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: trshash84 | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Bhikshatana at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Bhikshatana form of Shiva at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram i- Shiva as a Bhikshu a naked ascetic who is extremely good looking - wearing nothing except some jewelery and his hand holding a shallow begging bowl or kapala.

Bhikshatana Murtis are usually depicted along with a dancing deer standing on its hind legs reach up to Shiva's outstretched arm, followed by demonic beings and rishi patnis in various moods or rasa. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Via Wikimedia Commons | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Dakshinmurti at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Dakshinamurti sculpture at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is found in vīrāsana posture (left leg folded and right leg hanging down below the seat) holding a vyākyāna-mudrā that signifies Siva as the teacher of truth, values and scriptures. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Dakshin Amurti has many meanings one of them is >> Dakshin means being skillful in removing ignorance and Amurti means being formless - a formless Shiva as the ultimate Guru. Dakṣiṇāmūrti is invariability found in almost all the Śaiva temples.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Via Wikimedia Commons | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Vīṇādharamūrti at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Frame is of Vīṇādhara at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

As per vedas Rudra’s successor Siva is said to be fond of Samaveda (Veda of melodies and chants), and in one of his manifestations Siva as Vinadharamurthi teaches using music - playing the classical Indian string instrument Rudra-vina.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: trshash84 | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Kalantaka at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

This image is of Kalantaka a form Shiva who punishes Yama the god of death sculpted in Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

It is one of the forms of enraged Siva also expressed as Kalari (adversary of death), Kalahari (one who takes away death), unusually even Markandeyanugraha (bestowing grace upon Markandeya).

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Richard Mortel | Update: 15-Mar-2021
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Harihara at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Harihara at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is a composite image of Narayana and Shankar  or Hari and Hara. Mostly one would also see their vahanas in such panels - it would be Nandi next to Śiva and Garuḍa next to Hari. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Nandhinikandhasamy | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Vishnu at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Whilst Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is dedicated to Shiva, it reverentially includes not only deities and legends of Vaishnavism but also Shaktism.

Brihadisvara Temple also has sculpted Hindu concepts such as Harihara (equivalence and essential interdependence of Shiva and Vishnu) and of Ardhnarishvara (equivalence and essential interdependence of the masculine and feminine principles).

In this frame we see Śrīnīvāsa or MahaVisnu holding sudrashan chakra and shankh displaying the abhaya mudra, along with Sridevi or Lakshmi on his right and Bhūdevī on his left. 

How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: trshash84 | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Bhairava at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

This sculpture is of Bhairava from Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram - a ferocious manifestion of Śiva associated with destruction or annihilation. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

As per Rudrayāmala, Bhairava has 8 main forms that control the eight directions of this universe and they include Asitāṅga, Ruru, Caṇḍa, Krodha, Unmatta, Kāpāla, Bhīṣaṇa, and Saṃhāra. Each of these forms further have has 8 emanations equalling to 64 Bhairavas.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Richard Mortel | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Mahisasurmardini at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Mahiṣāsuramardinī sculpted in Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is one of Durga's or Shakti's ferocious avatars where she vanquished the unconquerable demon Mahishasura. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

As per Shilpashastra (iconography) she is usually represented with six pairs of hands. The right set of hands hold śūla (trident), khaḍga (sword), śakthāyuḍa (devi’s weapon), chakra (discus), a stringed bow, and gadā (mace) while the left hands hold pāśa, aṅkuśa, śaṅkh (shell), ghanṭ (bell), paraśu (axe) and shield. These pairs of hands are represented in kartarīmukha-hasta. If in a dancing posture than the hands are in kapittha-hasta and one pair of hands is in kartarīmukha-hasta.

Her expression usually is that of extreme rage with her tongue projecting outwards - There are many variations of her depiction when the sculptor focuses on particular sentiments or a story illustrating her characteristics in a different ways.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Richard Mortel | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Vimana, Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

The Sri-vimana at Gangaikonda has nine talas as compared to the soaring 13 talas at Thanjavur temple - scholars believe that the height of the temple was so designed as a mark of respect to Rajendra Chola's father's masterpiece.

Each tala of the Vimana has moulded horizontal cornices with gavaksha or floral motifs, mythical creatures and carvings that narrate Puranic tales from the Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta traditions.

Its griva (neck) is oriented towards the cardinal directions, and 4 Nandi’s posted on its top corners. The Kirtimukhas are above the griva which opens in a lotus. It is further capped with a kalasa with a lotus bud on it. Originally it was inscribed with gold coated which is now gone.

How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Rajaraman Sundaram | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Kailasantha North at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

The Vada Kailasam consists of an ardhamandapa and a mahamandapa. Its srivimana is dvi-tala with a curvilinear sikhara and stupi. How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

In its grabhagriha niches you will find Dakshinamurti in the south, Lingodbhava in the west and Brahma (bearded form) in the north.

Images found in ardhamandapa niches include Ganesha, Subrahmanyar, Bhikshatana Nataraja, Ardhanarisvar and Bhairava.

Images of Sarasvati and Gajalakshmi are found on the west wall of Mahamandapa.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra | Update: 17-Mar-2021
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Kailasantha South at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India

There are two shrines, one on either side of the main shrine at Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The shrine on the northern side is called Vada Kailasam and the one on the southern side is called Ten Kailasam or Dakshin Kailasam . Both of the shrines were originally dedicated to Siva but the Vada Kailasam was later converted into an Amman shrine.

Much of Ten Kailasam has collapsed or is in ruins and there is no deity. The garbhagriha and ardhamandapa walls have few figures in their niches which are same as the ones found in Vada Kailasam.

How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Nagavamsikatari | Update: 16-Mar-2021
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How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu, India?

Gangaikondacholesvara temple does proclaim the imperial dignity of Cholas till date and the erstwhile capital of the mighty Rajendra Chola I - was a planned city and a major administrative center till 13th century - all but the temple, has totally disappeared today.

How to reach Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram by air? Which is the nearest airport to Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Tiruchirappalli International Airport is the nearest airport to Gangaikonda Cholapuram and it is at a distance of about 138 km.

How to reach Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is near the city of Kumbakonam and Chidambaram - and both have railway stations that are connected to other cities by train.
Distance between Kumbakonam Railway Station and Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is about 36 km.
Distance between Chidambaram Railway Station and Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is about 43 km

Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram by road
Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located at Jayankondam, Tamil Nadu India
It is at a distance of about 35 km from Kumbakonam
It is at a distance of about 39 km from Airavatesvara Temple
It is at a distance of about 44 km from Chidambaram
It is at a distance of about 73 km from Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur
It is at a distance of about 253 km from Chennai

The best time to visit Brihadeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram is between November to February as the climate is much cooler.

Tag : Imperial Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Content: gud2travel.com | Image: Nithi Anand | Update: 17-Mar-2021