Great Living Chola Temples

Great Living Chola Temples
UNESCO World Heritage site
Scenes from the three temples
Location Tamil Nadu, India
Includes
  1. The Brihadisvara Temple Complex, Thajanvur
  2. The Brihadisvara Temple Complex, Gangaikondacholapuram
  3. The Airavatesvara Temple Complex, Darasuram
Criteria Cultural: (ii), (iii)
Reference 250bis
Inscription 1987 (11th Session)
Extensions 2004
Area 21.88 ha (54.1 acres)
Buffer zone 16.715 ha (41.30 acres)
Coordinates 10°46′59″N 79°07′57″E / 10.78306°N 79.13250°E / 10.78306; 79.13250Coordinates: 10°46′59″N 79°07′57″E / 10.78306°N 79.13250°E / 10.78306; 79.13250
Location of Great Living Chola Temples in India
Stone sculpture at Gangaikonda Cholapuram

The Great Living Chola Temples is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for a group of Chola dynasty era Hindu temples in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.[1][2] Completed between early 11th and the 12th century CE, the monuments include the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The Brihadisvara Temple was recognised in 1987; the Temple of Gangaikondacholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple were added as extensions to the site in 2004.

Location

Thanjavur
Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Airavatesvara
Chennai
Madurai
Bengaluru
Location of Chola temples in the UNESCO world heritage site.

The Brihadeeswarar Temple is located in the city of Thanjavur, about 350 kilometres (220 mi) southwest of Chennai. The Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple are about 70 kilometres (43 mi) and 40 kilometres (25 mi) to its northeast respectively. The city of Thanjavur is connected daily to other major cities by the network of Indian Railways, Tamil Nadu bus services and the National Highways 67, 45C, 226 and 226 Extn.[3][4] The site has a nearby airport (IATA: TJV) which does not have a regular air service. The nearest airport with regular services is Tiruchirappalli International Airport (IATA: TRZ), about 55 kilometres (34 mi) away.[5]

Airavatesvara Temple

A Dravidian architecture Pillar in Airavatesvara Temple, Darasuram @ Thanjavur district

The Airavatesvara Temple is in the town of Darasuram, near Kumbakonam completed in 1166 CE.[6] It is one among a cluster of eighteen medieval era large Hindu temples in the Kumbakonam area.[7] The temple is dedicated to Shiva. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with sixty three Nayanars – the Bhakti movement saints of Shaivism.[8][9][10]

The stone temple incorporates a chariot structure, and includes major Vedic and Puranic deities such as Indra, Agni, Varuna, Vayu, Brahma, Surya, Vishnu, Saptamtrikas, Durga, Saraswati, Sri devi (Lakshmi), Ganga, Yamuna, Subrahmanya, Ganesha, Kama, Rati and others.[11] The temple was much larger and once had seven courtyards according to inscriptions. Only one courtyard survives, parts of the temple such as the gopuram is in ruins, and the main temple and associated shrines stand alone.[12] The temple continues to attract large gatherings of Hindu pilgrims every year.[13][11][14]

Brihadisvara Temple

Brihadeeswarar Temple 011

The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva.[15][16] It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of fully realized Tamil architecture.[17] Built by Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD. The original monuments of this 11th century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures predominantly related to Shaivism, but also of Vaishnvaism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. The temple was damaged in its history and some artwork is now missing. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.[18][19]

Built out of granite, the vimanam tower above the sanctum is one of the tallest in South India.[16] The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva linga in India.[16][20] It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance, in 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi, Amman, Subrahmanyar, Ganesha, Sabhapati, Dakshinamurti, Chandesrvarar, Varahi and others.[21] The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.[22]

Gangaikondacholapuram Temple

Ardhanarishvara – half Shiva, half Parvati – sculpture at Gangaikondacholapuram.

The Gangaikondacholapuram Brihadisvara Temple is a Hindu temple located at Gangaikondacholapuram about 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple. Completed in 1035 AD 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 11th century, and sometimes just called the Gangaikondacholapuram temple.[23][24][25]

It is dedicated to Shiva and based on a square plan, but the temple reverentially displays Vaishnavism, Shaktism and syncretic equivalence themes of Hinduism with statues of Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara, Ardhanishvara, and others.[24][26][27] In addition to the main shrine with linga, 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 Nandi and the scale of its curvilinear tower.[24][28][29]

Criteria for being "Great Living Chola Temples"

Brihadisvara Temple

Criterion (i): The three Chola temples of Southern India represent an outstanding creative achievement in the architectural conception of the pure form of the Dravidan type of temple.
Criterion (ii): The Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur became the first great example of the Chola temples, followed by a development of which the other two properties also bear witness.
Criterion (iii): The three Great Chola Temples are an exceptional and the most outstanding testimony to the development of the architecture of the Chola Empire and the Tamil civilization in Southern India.
Criterion (iv): The Great Chola temples at Thanjavur, at Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram are outstanding examples of the architecture and the representation of the Chola ideology.

References

  1. ↑ "Great Living Chola Temples". World Heritage: Unesco.org. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  2. ↑ "Great Living Chola Temples" (pdf). Unesco. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  3. ↑ "NH wise Details of NH in respect of Stretches entrusted to NHAI" (PDF). Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India. National Highways Authority of India. p. 2. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "Thanjavur bus routes". Municipality of Thanjavur. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Ē. Kē Cēṣāttiri (2008). Sri Brihadisvara: The Great Temple of Thānjavūr. Nile. p. 5.
  6. ↑ George Michell (2012). Julia A. B. Hegewald and Subrata K. Mitra, ed. Re-Use-The Art and Politics of Integration and Anxiety. SAGE Publications. pp. 91–93. ISBN 978-81-321-0981-5.
  7. ↑ Ayyar 1992, pp. 349-350
  8. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1979, pp. 225-245.
  9. ↑ James C. Harle (1994). The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent. Yale University Press. p. 318. ISBN 978-0-300-06217-5.
  10. ↑ Vidya Dehejia (2010). Art of the Imperial Cholas. Columbia University Press. pp. 106–115. ISBN 978-0-231-51524-5.
  11. 1 2 S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1979, pp. 225-234.
  12. ↑ Ayyar 1993, p. 351
  13. ↑ Ayyar 1992, pp. 350-351
  14. ↑ Pratapaditya Pal; Stephen P. Huyler; John E. Cort; et al. (2016). Puja and Piety: Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Art from the Indian Subcontinent. Univ of California Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-520-28847-8.
  15. ↑ Thanjavur, Encyclopaedia Britannica
  16. 1 2 3 "The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)".
  17. ↑ Keay, John (2000). India, a History. New York, United States: Harper Collins Publishers. pp. xix. ISBN 0-00-638784-5.
  18. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 1-21.
  19. ↑ George Michell (2008), Architecture and art of Southern India, Cambridge University Press, pages 16-21, 89-91
  20. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 20-21.
  21. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 1-26.
  22. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 185.
  23. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 241-245.
  24. 1 2 3 Great Living Chola Temples, Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India
  25. ↑ Michell 1988, p. 4, 51-53, 145.
  26. ↑ PV Jagadisa Ayyar (1993), South Indian Shrines, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0151-3, pages 291-295
  27. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 241-249.
  28. ↑ S.R. Balasubrahmanyam 1975, pp. 243-249.
  29. ↑ "Great Living Chola Temples". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 2004.

Bibliography

  • Ayyar, P.V. Jagadisa (1993). South Indian Shrines. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0151-3.
  • Chaitanya, Krishna (1987). Arts of India. Abhinav Publications.
  • Davis, Richard (1997). Lives of Indian images. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-00520-6.
  • S.R. Balasubrahmanyam (1979), Later Chola Temples, Thomson Press, OCLC 6921015
  • S.R. Balasubrahmanyam (1975), Middle Chola Temples, Thomson Press, ISBN 978-9060236079
  • Michell, George (1988), The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, ISBN 0-226-53230-5
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