Sunday, January 3, 2016

Brihadeeswarar Temple – Temple Construction

Brihadeeswarar Temple – Temple Construction
It is believed that Sri Raja Raja I of Chola Dynasty wished to build such a temple during his stay at Sri Lanka.
The architecture of the temple adheres to the design spelled out in ancient texts of Agamas and Vastu Shastras. The temple architecture and engineering was completed by Sri Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan, who is considered as ancestor of Vastu Vedas and belonged to the blood line of Dr. V. Ganapathi Sthapati of Chennai.
Dr Ganapathi is the chief architect of the famous Thiruvallur Statue of Mahabalipuram made of 133’ granite stone at the tip of Southern India. The art of ancient architecture and the marvellous engineering flows down the generation of this family and even as on date, the family members practise this art.
Based on the architecture of Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan in building Brihadeeswarar temple, Dr Ganapathi started the American University of Mayonic Science and Technology
This temple has the unique record of being constructed with granite stones and completing within short span of five years (beginning from 1004 AD). The temple rests on a solid base of 16 feet (about 5 metres in height). The deities made of stone are placed on this along with other idols of Shiva dance. The Kalasam, the top most portion of the shrine weighs very heavily approximately 81 tonnes of single stone block.
Apparently, lack of machines in those times, this stone was believed to have been dragged using an inclined plane having length of 6.44 km. The Nandi and presiding deity Lingam weighs about 20 tonnes and height of 3.7 metres respectively.
The architect and engineer of the temple was Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as stated in inscriptions found at the temple. The temple was built per ancient texts called Vastu Shastras and Agamas. The temple was built using a measure of 1 3/8-inch called an angula (24 units equaling 33 inches called a hasta, muzam, or kishku). This is the same measure found in ancient Lothal and other sites in the Indus Valley dating back 4000 – 6000 years. This same measure is used to build structures compliant with the Vastu Shastras and Agamas today. While some builders use a different measure this is considered a standard due to its antiquity.
The solid base of the temple raises about 5 metres (16 feet), above which stone deities and representatives of Shiva dance. The big Nandi (bull), weighing about 20 tonnes is made of a single stone and is about 2 m in height, 6 m in length and 2.5 m in width. The presiding deity of lingam is 3.7m tall. The prakaram (outer precincts of the temple) measures 240m by 125m.
The outer wall of the upper storey is carved with 108 dance karanas – postures of Barathanattiyam, the classical dance of Tamil Nadu. The shrine of Goddess was added by Pandyas during the 13th century; Subramanya Shrine by Vijayanagara rulers and the Vinayaka shrine were renovated by Maratha rulers. There were significant additions from the Thanjavur Nayaks.