29th July
2015.
Every
time passing through this temple, I thought of visiting this Shiva temple
standing majestically on the high way between Jayankondam to Chennai.
Finally I made it on 28th July 2015. Purposely I planned my
travel from Thirukadaiyur to Chennai during day time, so that I can visit this
temple. For this I diverted the route via Kumbakonam, instead of
Chidambaram, to reach this place.
This
temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This is the replica temple of Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar temple, but not very much similar. The awesome and majestic
gopuram attract our eyes from a long distance. This was once a capital for
Chozhas and now there is no trace of palace or buildings around the temple.
Moolavar : Sri Brihadeeswarar
Consort : Sri Brihan Nayaki, Sri Periya Nayaki.
Some
of the important features of this temple are……
The
temple is facing east with a Rajagopuram ( only pillars are exist now with
dwrabalakars at front. Dwajasthamba
pedestal, Balipeedam and Big Stucco Rishabam are at the entrance to the temple.
In
the outer prakaram ( beautifully maintained lawn ) houses the sannadhis of
Vinayagar, Sri Periya Nayaki Amman sannadhi, Chandikeswarar and Mahishasura Mardini
Sannadhi. In addition to this there is a shrine with out Deity on the left, a
mandapam and Simha well are on the right. Moolavar is not so big like Thanjavur Periya Kovil.
In the koshtam Some of the statues are Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Arthanareeswarar, Natarajar, Vishnu, aalingna moorthy, Chandrasekar, Pichadanar, Gajalakshmi, Saraswati, etc.
There
are 4 entrances to the sanctum of which 2 are in front and 2 are at the side
after mandapam.
There
is a small Nandhi when we climbed the stairs at the front. The mandapam with
pillars are before sanctum. In the mandapam, Shiva with three faces Urchavars
and Saptamatrikas. A huge uninstalled kalash is kept along with urchavas.
There
is a passage/ corridor around moolavar sannadhi ( Sivachariyar
allowed me to circumambulate through that passage ).
The excerpts given below are taken from the display board
kept at Archaeological Survey Of India’s Office at Gangaikonda Cholapuram periya
temple.
Name : Periya Kovil ( Big temple )
Main
Deity : Peruvudaiyar (
Brihadeeswara – Big owner)
Consort
: Periyanayaki ( Big Deity)
Established : 1025 C.E.
Place
Meaning : Gangai ( Ganges of
Himalayas ) konda ( Conquered) Cholapuram ( Chola Place ).
Built
by : Rajendra Chola the great, also titled as Parakesari (
supreme furer), Mummudi Cholan ( of 3 crowns), Gangaikonda Cholan, Kadaram
Kondan,..etc.
Resemblance : Built
as replica of the big temple of Thanjavur, built by his father Raja Raja (
king of kings ).
Height :
182 feet ( 55 meters) and shorter than the Thanjavur temple tower with larger
plinth. It is often described as feminine counter part of Thanjavur temple.
Architecture :
Dravidian Architecture. ( an engineering marvel as the shadow of the main
granite tower never falls on the ground throughout the year).
Significance :
Was the capital city of South India and South-east Asia Extension.
Background:
Rajendra Chola-I (1012 to 1044 CE) the son of the great Rajaraja
Chola-I, Considered one of the greatest emperors and military leaders of
India, established this temple after his great victorious march to Himalayan
river Ganges in northern India. He defeated Mahipala, the Pala King of Bengal
and Bihar and commemorate his victory he built a new city called Gangaikonda
Cholapuram. The triumphant Chola armies brought back waters from the river
Ganges in golden vessels to consecrate the new found land.
Gangaikonda
Cholapuram was established as the capital of Chola Empire by Rajendra
Chola-I, shifting the traditional capital from Thanjavur ( Tanjore). It
occupies an important place in the history of India. As the capital of
the Cholas from about 1025 C.E, for about 250 years, the city controlled the
affairs of entire south India and also South-East Asian Countries, including
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Coastal Burma, Kadaram ( Kedah in Malaysia) and
Indonesia.
The Cholos became one
of the most powerful dynasties in Asia during Rajendra’s reign and Bay of
Bengal became virtually a Chola lake. Rajendra’s territories extended to
coastal Burma, the Andaman Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Maldives, conquered
the Kings of Sri Vijaya ( Sumatra, Java and Malay Peninsula in south east Asia)
and the Pegu islands with his vast fleet of ships. The Tamil Chozha armies
exacted tribute from Thailand and Khmer Kingdom of Cambodia. Tanjore
inscriptions also state that Suryavarman, the king of Kambhojia ( Cambodia )
requesting Rajendra’s help in defeating enemies of his Khmer kingdom,
where the state emblem and world’s largest non-functioning Hindu Angkor Wat
temple still stands today ( Srirangam is currently the largest functioning
temple).
Rajendra Chola- I,
under took several expeditions to occupy territories outside Indian shores.
In-fact Rajendra Chola I, was the Indian King to take his armies overseas and
make conquests of these territories, even though there is epigraphical evidence
of Deccan Dynasty of Pallava’s presence and their Tamil scribes in these
South-east areas, but it is not known that Burma and Indo-China were subordinate
to them as they were under Rajendra and his successor Rajadhi Raja up to
Kulothunga-I. When the capital of Chozhas moved to Chidambaram, until then all
the Chozha emperor’s coronation took place at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
The temple and it’s
property belongs to Archeological Survey of India and UNESCO.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple is kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.
CONTACT DETAILS :
The mobile number is
+91 9751341108
HOW
TO REACH:
The temple is on
Jayankondam to Chennai Road about 10 KM from Jayankondam and 2 KM from X-road.
Autos are available
from Jayankondam and X-road.
Buses also available
from Kumbakonam to Jayankondam via X-Road and passes through the temple.
LOCATION
OF THE TEMPLE :CLICK
HERE
Rishabam - Stucco
Dwarapalakas
Small
nandhi and big nandhi from temple view
Reliefs
on the sanctum wall inside
Saptamatrikas
Vinayagar
sannadhi
Temple
complex view
Mahishasura mardhini
temple
Temple
complex view
Simha theertham
South side entrance
North side entrance
Three ladies
Pichadanar
& Gajalakshmi
Vishnu
& Arthanareeswarar
Aalingna
moorthy
Natarajar
Lord Shiva with Parvathi
---
OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
Excellent photos and details Sir! Thanks for the upload!
ReplyDeleteWill write a post of the recent visit Saikrishnan.
DeleteThanks for the compliment.