Brihadeeswarar Temple | Timings, Architecture & Poojas

Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located on the banks of the Kaveri (Cauvery) river and has a rich historical heritage. Brihadeeswarar temple timings are from 6 AM to 8:30 PM. The Brihadeeswarar Temple is also known as Rajarajeswaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil.

Brihadeeswarar Temple

It is considered one of the most beautiful architectural sites on the subcontinent. The Brihadeeswarar Temple is also a testament to the achievements and progress of the Chola Empire at that time.

The Temple has Tamil architecture and was built in 1010 A.D., which reflects the power of King Raja Raja Chola I.

The main reason for the Temple’s construction is that it can be used for royal ceremonies and to display the vision of the king. The subtle details and intricacies of the construction of this Temple speak of the Dravidian style.

And the exciting thing is that the sacred shrine was built following axial and symmetrical geometry rules. The engineering part is exact, and all the parts of this sanctuary are arranged latitudinally.

History

The Brihadeeswarar temple history says:

• The Temple, also known as the ‘Large Temple, ‘ is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Sama Varma designed it.
• This deity was initially named ‘Rajarajeshwara’. The Marathas named it Brihadeeswarar or the great Ishvara.

Who built the Brihadeeswarar Temple?

This sacred shrine had been built to add charm to the throne of the Chola dynasty in fulfilment of an order made to him by the Tamil emperor Arulmolivarman or Raja Raja Chola in a dream.

On the 275th day of his 25th reign, the king presented a gold-plated urn to mark the coronation of the aircraft. A large number of artists, musicians and traders visited this sacred place.

In addition, it also served as a significant venue for dancers practising the Bharata Natyam dance form. This Temple showcases the emperor’s vision of power and his relationship with the universal order.

The king is associated with his deity, Lord Shiva, and the king echoes the general rituals of the deities.

The perfect splendour of this place of worship symbolizes the Cholas’s perfection in idol sculpture, painting and bronze casting.

Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple Architecture

• The main reason for the Temple’s construction is that it can be used for royal ceremonies and to display the vision of the king.
• The subtle details and intricacies of the construction of this Temple speak of the Dravidian style. The exciting thing is that the sacred shrine was built following axial and symmetrical geometry rules.
• The engineering part is exact, and all the parts of this sanctuary are arranged latitudinally.
• The Brihadeeswarar Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Great Living Chola Temples list.
• Approximately 130,000 tons of granite were used in the construction of this Temple.
• The shrine has a temple dome (plane) built at 216 feet. Being the highest in the world, it represents Mount Peru.
• The ‘domes’ or two gates are at the Temple’s east gate.
• At the temple entrance is a large idol of Nandi carved with a single stone (sacred bull), 16 feet long and 13 feet high.
• Aquarius is an essential part of the holy shrine and weighs 60 tons.
• It is also carved from a single granite stone. Inside the Temple is a massive idol of Lord Shiva with three eyes along with 108 dance forms or ‘karmas’.
• At the other end, the outer part was decorated with sculptures. There are 250 lingas in the entire temple precinct.
• This famous sanctuary consisted of a pillared hall and assembly hall, also known as mandalas and several sub-shrines.
• The interior of the pavilions is essential and is divided into different sections with the help of sculptures and pilasters.
• One of the rare temples in India, one can see statues of ‘Ashta-Dikpalakula’ or guardians of the directions.

Brihadeeswarar Temple Facts

• The unique Temple has six-foot statues of Agni, Varuna, Indra, Yama, Isana, Kubera and Nirrithi.
• Being a masterpiece, the dome’s shadow on the Temple’s gateway never falls to the ground, especially in the courtyard.
• There are two idols of Ganesha on the altar at the entrance of this holy shrine.
• When a person presses on one of the statues, a sound travels through a stone at one end, and the metal travels towards another statue leaning on the other end.
• There are two idols of Lord Ganesha at the entrance of this holy shrine.
• There are many pillars in the Temple that produce such musical sounds.
• To mark the 1000th anniversary of the Brihadeeswarar Temple, the State Government of Tamil Nadu organized a classical dance performance called Bharatanatyam Yajna under the patronage of renowned dancer Padma Subramanian.

Poojas and Rituals

The deity was worshipped four times a day. Following are the timings of the rituals and poojas:-

Brihadeeswarar Temple Timings

The Brihadeeswarar temple timings are from 6 AM to 8:30 PM. Below are the different poojas with fairs.

Prasadam had offered to the devotees after the noon puja. Pilgrims can offer their offerings to God during poojas.

Kala Sandhi or Morning Pooja	8:30 AM.
Utchi Kalam or the mid-noon Pooja	noon.
Sayaratchai or evening Pooja	5:30 PM.
Artha Jamam or night Pooja	8:30 PM.

Festivals

1. Arudra Darshanam
2. Maha Shivaratri
3. Kumbabhishekam

How to reach Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple

Air: The nearest airport is at Trichy (66 km).

Train: This is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to reach Thanjavur. As the city has its railway station, it is well connected with other major cities in India.

Road: Traveling to Thanjavur is also a good alternative. It is connected to all the towns in Tamil Nadu, including Ernakulam, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Bangalore also has good connectivity with Thanjavur.

Nearby Temples

1. Thiruvayaru Temple
2. Darasuram Airavatesvar Temple
3. Kumbakonam Sarangapani temple
4. Punnai Nallur Mariamman Temple
5. Thirukandiyur
6. Swamimalai Temple
7. Darasuram

Brihandeeswarar Temple Address and Contact