The Indian subcontinent has always been known as an inexhaustible source of wonders and marvels, often embodied in numerous monumental temples.
When it comes to these architectural landmarks, one of the must-visit places is the city of Thanjavur, located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an ancient Dravidian city, and it gains special significance during the rule of the Chola dynasty, when it becomes the capital of their empire. Within and around the city, there are over a hundred temples, among which Brihadisvara stands out, located in the heart of Thanjavur.
This temple, also known as Rajarajeswara, is the first temple in the world entirely built of granite. It was constructed in just a few years (1003-1010) in honor of the ruler Rajaraja Chola I and is dedicated to Shiva. Brihadisvara is an impressive rectangular structure, with its outer walls measuring two hundred and seventy-fourteen meters, marking its outer boundaries. The eastern side is dominated by a thirty-meter-high tower. With gates (gopuras) leading to the inner doors adorned with symbolic temple guardians, the path to the main sanctuary continues through a series of halls and open courtyards, and in one of them stands a pavilion with a colossal statue of Shiva’s sacred bull Nandi, carved out of a granite rock weighing twenty-seven tons. Above the main sanctuary rises a pyramidal tower, sixty point nine five meters tall (vimana), crowned with a round monolith weighing eighty tons. This tower, adorned with dense ornamentation, is considered a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. However, the central part of the temple, where rituals are performed and worship is expressed, is a small underground chamber, garbhagriha (womb), which resembles cave temples in appearance.
During the reign of Rajaraja I (985 – 1014), Brihadeshwara Temple housed several hundred priests, four hundred dancers, and fifty-seven musicians. Today, the temple is protected by UNESCO as one of the most impressive examples of Indian architectural art. I apologize, but I need the Croatian text in order to translate it into English.