Nandi Mandapam (Map 4)
Within the main temple complex, the first structure you see in front of you is the pillared Nandi Mandapam (Hall of the Nandi bull). Nandi, the sacred bull, is the vahana (mount) of Lord Shiva. Nandi statues are found in Shiva temples typically facing the main shrine as they serve as a guardian and an intermediary for devotees seeking Lord Shiva’s blessings.
The Nandi Mandapam is dominated by the statue of the largest monolithic Nandi (bull) in India! The robust, youthful, bull with its tongue tucked under the upper lip and head tilted to the right, looks as if it is keenly listening to Rajarajeeswara!
Carved from a single block of stone brought from Pachaimalai, near Perambalur 137 km away, this 12-foot tall, 19.5-foot-wide statue weighs 25 tons. Historians and archaeologists have long marveled at the effort and ingenuity it must have taken to source and transport a stone of this size and weight!
Some historians believe that the Nandi was carved during Rajaraja’s time, but other historians believe that the Nandi statue was installed during the Nayaka period and that the original Chola Nandi was moved to its current location on the southern side of the cloister. This theory is based on the similarity of the Chola Nandi to the other Nandi statues on the main Vimana. Adding further speculation to this theory, a huge unfinished Nandi statue was found in the town of Sanyasikuppam which is on the way to Thanjavur from the stone quarries of Thiruvakkarai where many Chola sculptures were created. This unfinished Nandi appears to have fallen and broken during transit and may have caused Rajaraja Chola to have another smaller statue created in time for the temple consecration.
The pillared mandapam surrounding the Nandi statue was added around 16-17 century during the time of the Nayakas. Climb up to the raised platform and look up at the ceiling with its colorful frescos that were painted during the Maratha rule.
Walk behind the Nandi Mandapam and observe the beautiful bronze covered dhwaja stambham, the tall, sacred flagstaff that was added during the time of the Nayakas. It serves as a symbolic marker of the deity's presence and spiritual authority, with devotees offering respects to it before entering the sanctum. Saffron flags are flown from it on ceremonial occasions as is customary for Shiva temples.
Before you proceed towards the main temple, look up at the front of the Vimana (main tower) and observe the huge, semi-circular, high relief sculpture in front of the Vimana. The hemispherical projected relief work is a replica of the profile of Mount Kailash (Shiva’s heavenly abode) and features sculptures of Shiva and his consort Parvati along with their two sons, Ganesha and Subrahmanya. The relief is referred to as Dakshina Kailasam (Southern Kailash) and was said to have originally been covered with gold plate! It is believed that Rajaraja Chola may have either made a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash (in modern day Tibet) or received a rendering of the outline of the mountain that was used to design this relief.