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 a circumference of 20 meters is of a 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 it. If it was a donation,  Rajarajan would have mentioned it in any of the inscriptions.

MYTH – 3

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

FACT:

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

MYTH - 4

The Sri Vimanam outer structures like kapotam and Keerthi mukha are made of stone.

FACT

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

MYTH - 5

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

FACT.

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

MYTH – 6

It was believed that there were many underground tunnels through which Rajarajan and his family used to come 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 King Rajarajan came to the temple through the Northside of Anukkan Vayil (Srinivasapuram, where his palace was constructed. ). That’s why the Anukkan entrance was constructed in a grand manner with sculptures, Sanganithi & Padma Nidhi with lamps, poor kalasam, ladies with samara, etc,. The pillars were sculptured like wood. 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 Ashta bandhana to Shiva Lingam.

FACT

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

MYTH – 8

The paintings in santharam are King  Rajarajan and Karuvurar.

FACT

It was a pure misunderstanding. As per the experts and Kudavayilar, both are Sankatha munivars. The figure without a beard is Sanat Kumara and not King Rajarajan. All the Sanakaatha Munivars are old with a white beard and the yogapatta can be seen 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 a beard. All four of Munivar's hand fingers are in yoga Chin mudra with lotus flowers and holding Jalakandi on the other hand. Also, all the Munivar’s heads are drawn with jadamudi. It is not a custom to draw a King with Jadamudi.

MYTH – 9

In one of the keerthi mukha, north side of Sri Vimanam, a European’s head is there. It was predicted that European rule would come later.

FACT.

This is not true. European hat with a 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 people's heads. Later the British rule came. This is merely 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), and due to that the Idabam started to grow.

FACT

The present Idabam was not installed by Rajarajan. The Idabam which was installed by Rajarajan was removed during the Nayaks period and the present Idabam was installed.  The Nayak King's 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:---