Posted on: 25 September 2010

Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur celebrates its first millennium | The Archaeology News Network

Thanjavur Brihadeswara Temple Celebrates 1000 Years

The UNESCO World Heritage listed Brihadeswara Temple in Thanjavur, affectionately called the Big Temple by locals, is celebrating being 1000 years old this week. That's a lot of birthdays!
The Cholas built more than 70 temples in Thanjavur, but this one is the most outstanding. It's also one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Shvia in India.
This weekend, visitors will be treated to a mammoth cultural festival at the temple. The highlight, a dance spectacular featuring over 1000 artists, will take place this evening. While the majestic Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur was built 1,000 years ago, it was only in 1956 that 81 exquisite sculptures depicting the karanas' or transitional movements intrinsic of Bharatanatyam and other classical Indian dances, were discovered in the first tier of the 66-metre tall struc...


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The Wiki : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brihadeeswarar_Temple

Rajaraja’s great reign is commemorated by the magnificent Siva temple in Thanjavur, calledPeruvudaiyar Kovil or Brihadeeswarar Temple or Raajarajeswaram - the finest monument of this period of South Indian history. @ The temple is remarkable both for its massive proportions and for its simplicity of design. @ It is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, forming part of the Great Living Chola Temples site. @The construction of the temple is said to have been completed on the 275th day of the 25th year of his reign. @After its commemoration the great temple and the capital had close business relations with the rest of the country and acted as a centre of both religious and economic activity. Year after year villages from all over the country had to supply men and material for the temple's maintenance.

Rajaraja had a number of wives.The mother of Rajendra I, the only known son of Rajaraja, was Vanavan Maha Devi, Princess of Velir. Rajaraja must have had at least three daughters of whom the names of two are said to be Kundavi. Rajaraja was succeeded by Rajendra Chola I. While there is reliable information about Rajaraja's political and military achievements, there is no authentic description, statue or painting of the king himself.

wow u no so much..................how?

Rajaraja laid the foundations for the Later Chola dynasty. He invaded Sri Lanka and started a century-long Chola occupation of the island. Rajaraja Chola I holds the distinction of being one of the Six Indian kings who never lost out on the battlefield to the enemies. His great warrior son Rajendra Chola is also one among that exclusive league.

@ Sahas I was there wen all this happened! <(:-P no seriously i'm a history enthusiast! dig into the net n get my facts! nthing difficult in it! I'm nt a scholar bt I wanna share wat I find <(:-)

See the writeup in Reader's Digest----ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO INDIA---ON THIS TEMPLE ---its excellent--and the photographs from satellite imagery are brilliant