Temple Architecture

An interesting fact about the Cholas is that they did not place emphasis on buildings for secular purposes. They did not expend material wealth or manpower in building lasting palaces or private residences but instead put these resources into building magnificent temples inspired by their strong sense of faith and desire to glorify their religious beliefs. While many of their granite temples survive intact to present time, only the ruins of limestone royal dwellings have ever been discovered.

 

The Brihadishwara Temple is a prime example of Chola architecture, characterized by its towering vimana (temple tower) and intricate sculptural embellishments. The temple's vimana, soaring to a height of 216’, remains one of the tallest structures of its kind in the world. It is a marvel of engineering, constructed without the use of any binding materials, relying solely on the precise interlocking of its granite stones.

 

The original Chola built structures of this 11th-century temple included two gopura (gateways), the main temple with its massive Vimana, and colonnaded outer cloister, all embellished with inscriptions, frescos, and sculptures. 

 

In the centuries that followed, the temple was expanded and added to by subsequent rulers and dynasties, including the Pandyas, the Nayakas and the Marathas, and now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century. French and British administrators later made use of the temple as an arsenal and barracks for their soldiers.

 

Despite all these secular and military uses, the temple with its colossal main deity, the Lingam (representing Lord Shiva), still serves today as fully functional religious institution, a living tribute to Rajaraja Chola’s reverence and spirituality.