25th
February 2018.
More
than 1000 years old living temples in Tamil Nadu, are built by Chozhas and Pandya Kings and
latter renovated by the Nayaks of Vijayanagara dynasty and Nattukottai
Nagarathars. These temples has the mystery behind the construction using stone. It is a challenging task for the today’s
engineers and Scientists to unfold the mystery. Till date nobody had given the
concluding statement, how the temple was built. One such architecturally marvel
temple is the Sri Rajarajecharam of
Thanjavur. The original name of Sri Rajarajecharam was changed to Sri Brihadeeswarar
due to the influence of Sanskrit. But still people used to call as Thanjai Peru
Udayar Kovil or Thanjai Periya Kovil.
The
Rajarajecharam temple was built by the Chozha King Rajaraja Chozha – I, who ruled
major part of India, Sri Lanka and a part of south east Asia. His ruling period was from 985 AD to 1012 CE,
which is considered as a golden period in Chozha’s history. It was
told that the construction of temple
took around 6 years from 1004 CE to 1010 CE, completely with stone. The Kailasanathar
temple of Kanchi was his inspiration to construct this temple. The chief architect ( sthapathy ) was Veera Chozhan Kunjaramallan Rajaraja
Perunthachan and assisted by Madhuranthaka NithaVinotha perunthachan &
Ilathi Chadaiyan Kandarathitha Perunthachan. The
inscriptions are done by Chathankudi Vellalan Iravi Paloorudyan.
This
temple is like an University for the students to learn architecture,
Engineering, construction and the inscriptions is an exhaustive documentation for the Governance of the temple. Tons and tons of granite stones are used to
construct this temple was sourced from a quarry approximately 75 KM distance from the temple site. It might
be a mammoth job of bringing 4 nos of single granite stone pillars measuring 40 feet length and 4 feet x 3 feet
size and a 18 feet dwarapalakas to the
site. Latter installation of 18 feet x 8
feet x 12 feet size Nandhi by the
Vijayanagara Nayaks might be an achievement.
This
Heritage walk was conducted on 25th February 2018. About 100+ Chozha history
Enthusiasts and the lovers of Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan Historical Novel participated
in this walk. Even- though I visited no of times in connection with Ponniyin Selvan meet, this visit is a special one
and mainly focused on heritage point of
view. Thought of learning at least a
little, about this temple like a drop of
water in the ocean. Referred the book,
on the previous day, written by Mr
Kudavayil Balasubramanian and took some
points to see at the temple during the walk.
The history of the temple and
Chozhas were explained by Prof. Dr.
Theivanayagam, our Chief Guest and also
he took us for reading the inscriptions
through our group member Mr Pon Karthikeyan. Mr Raman Sthapathy explained the
structure of the temple. Latter in the morning & afternoon session Dr
Udhaya Shankar, Mr Andavar Kani and Pon
Karthikeyan explained the various inscriptions which, speaks about the
donations made to the temple like regular functioning of Pooja, jewels, Moorthys made of Cheppu and articles
made of gold & silver. The Administrators of the temple, the
representatives of various divisions of Chozha mandalam who had taken care of
the security of the temple, Musicians,
Dancers were documented in the form of
inscriptions.
Went
around the temple and tried to locate the miniature sculptures in the kabotham,
which I had prepared what to see in the temple. We are fortunate to see Sri
Agni thevar, Eesanar ( Part of Ashta
thikku balakas ) and the Anukkan Vayil or the entrance, through which King
Rajaraja entered for darshan of Lord Shiva. We are also fortunate to have the
darshan of Lord Shiva from the same place where King Rajaraja had the
darshan.
I
extend my sincere thanks to Prof. Dr.
Theivanayagam and Mr Ramanathan on behalf of Prince, who arranged a special darshan. I also personally extend my sincere thanks to the organizers, Mr Selvaraj Nayakkavadiyar,
Mr Raman Sthapathy, Dr Udhaya Shankar, Mr Andavar Kani, Mrs Fowzia,
Miss Abirami Baskaran, the Vetrikaliru writer, Mr Pon Karthikeyan ( our Young
Epigraphist ), Mr Monish, Mr Guhan and the participants for this informative
and enjoyable heritage walk at Sri Rajarajecharam of Thanjai. Thanks to one and all.
Up
loading only part of the Photos and for the full album please click the link of GOOGLE PHOTOS
view of Marata’s entrance with Keralanthakan
rajagopuram on the back
Moat
at the entrance of the temple
Keralanthakan rajagopuram
View of Rajarajan entrance Rajagopuram
View of Rishaba mandapam and Ambal temple
The 5 tier Keralanthakan Rajagopuram view from
Rajarajan rajagopuram
View of Rajarajan entrance Rajagopuram fron Rishaba mandapam
The present Rishabam/Idabam under Nayak mandapam
Garden
and the Fort wall on the back side of the temple
Anukkan
Vayil
The man worshiping Uma Maheswarar may be the
King Rajarajar - the stucco images in
the Rajarajan Entrance Rajagopuram – experts may clarify
Lord
Muruga In one of the deva koshtam of Sri Subramaniyar Temple
Dwarapalaka at the entrance mandapam
Sri Saraswathy
in Deva koshtam
Chandran
in one of the deva koshtam
Sri Sankara Narayanar in Deva Koshtam
Kalanthakar in deva koshtam
Shiva with Uma and Ganga and on the right Kuda koothu
Natarajar
a miniature sculpture
Miniature
sculpture of Bairava.. or Kangalar ?
The
story of Markandeya – Kalanthakar
Mr Raman Sthapathy explains the details of the
temple and Dr Udhaya Shankar explains the meikeerthi of Rajaraja Chozha’s
inscription
FFE
and Chozha mandala varalatru thedal Kuzhu members
The
Participants
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---