Brihadisvara Temple / Myths and Facts of Rajarajeshwara / Thanjavur Periya Kovil / Rajarachecharam / Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur, Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu.

 10th september 2015

MYTH - 1.

The top globe shaped ‘greevam’ is on a base of 8.7 meters  weighing 80 tonnes and circumference of 20 meters is of single stone.

FACT

When the archaeologists and experts climbed till stupi  and found out that the structure was not made of single stone. It was made of several stones with joints. The joints are made (amazingly) so that they are not easily visible.

MYTH - 2

The top dome supporting structure  is of  Bramaranthira stone and the same was denoted by the old lady who offered water to the sculptors and Sthapathis.

FACT

The stone is not a Bramaranthira stone  and there is no evidence  to prove. If it was a donation,  Rajarajan  would have mentioned in any of the inscriptions.

MYTH – 3

The top dome is of single stone was moved to the top height of 60.4 meters through a slope path created from the village called ‘Sarapallam’. Also some body  claims that the single stone was lifted through reciting Vedic mantra like sages lifts their body by reciting mantra during meditation ( CLICK HERE )

FACT:

Few years before happened to watch a documentary in BBC channel. In that the experiment of moving a stone through a slopped ramp through elephants was shown. The documentary has not concluded to any solution. Since the top dome is not of single stone lot of new theories are evolved now. One such new theory is moving the stones of weighing about 2 tone to 3 tone through elephants in a specially created round / circular path around the Sri Vimanam. This method consumes less energy than the any other method.  Latter the path was removed and the stones were used to construct the outer walls or Praharam walls. 

MYTH - 4

The Sri Vimanam outer structure like kapotham, Keerthi mukha are made of stone.

FACT

The stone inner main structure continues from Santharam/ circumambulatory path second level to top with stones. Over the stone structure Kabotham, Keerthi Mugam and sculptures / sirpangal were made of stucco / sudhai ( lime mortar and brick).

MYTH - 5

The top dome and kalasam will not cast shadow on the ground.

FACT.

This is not true. The photos uploaded below  proves the above myth is wrong and shadow falls on the ground. 

MYTH – 6

It was believed that there are many underground tunnels through which Rajarajan and his family used to comes to this temple for worship. After Rajarajan the tunnels were closed for safety reasons.

FACT

This is not true and there was no such archaeological evidence to prove. The Anukkan vayil or the entrance on the north praharam might be used by Rajarajan. As per the archaeological evidence the King Rajarajan came to the temple through North side Anukkan vayil (Srinivasapuram, where his palace was constructed. ). That’s why the Anukkan entrance was constructed in a grand manner with sculptures, Sanganithi & padmanidhi with lamps, poorna kalasam, ladies with samaram etc,. The pillars were sculptured like wood. Also the entrance to the artha mandapam on the north side was also constructed in a similar manner with the addition of  ashta mangala sculptures of Simham, Elephant, rishabam, mathalam etc,.

MYTH – 7

Karuvur thevar  applied ashtabanthanam to Shiva Lingam.

FACT

King Rajarajan’s guru was Eesana Siva Pandithar. In Karuvur thevar’s hymns there is no word mention about Rajarajan. Also Karuvur thevar’s name was not mentioned any of the Rajarajan’s  inscriptions. Moreover Karuvurar sannadhi was constructed in the 20^th century only.

MYTH – 8

The paintings in santharam is King  Rajarajan and Karuvurar.

FACT

It was a pure misunderstanding. As per the experts and Kudavayilar both are Sankatha munivars. The figure without beard is Sanat Kumara and not the king Rajarajan. All there sanakaatha murivars are old with white beard and yogapatta can be seen and this is a dothi used to cover the upper part of the body and not the sacred thread. In Sanakaatha munivars one person is young without beard. All the four munivar's hand fingers are in yoga Chin mudra with lotus flowers and holding jalakandi on the other hand. Also all the munivar’s head are drawn with jadamudi. It is not a custom to draw a King with Jadamudi.

MYTH – 9

In one of the keerthi mugam on north side of Sri Vimanam an European’s head is there. It was predicted that European’s rule will come latter.

FACT.

This is not true. European’s hat with head in the keerthi mugam was constructed during Thanjavur Raghunatha Nayakar’s period. There was a good relationship between Danish merchants and Nayaks. For the remembrance they used the Danish peoples head. Latter the British rule has come. This is mere a coincidence.

MYTH – 10

The present Idabam was installed by the king Rajarajan.  After installation the Idabam started growing. A nail was inserted to arrest the growth.There is also another story of a Therai ( a kind of frog), due to that also the Idabam started grown.

FACT

The present Idabam was not installed by Rajarajan. The Idabam which was installed by Rajarajan was removed during Nayaks period and the present Idabam was installed.  The Nayak Kings sculptures are on the pillars. The phenomena of growing Idabam was false.

  

  The old Idabam / Rishabam  

Reference Books :

1. Thanjavur Thirutha Varalaru by Poigai Ve Anandha Sundara Rajan

2. Rajarajecharam by Sri Kudavayil Balasubramanian. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---