Brihadeeswarar Temple - Rajarajan Gopuram
This gopuram is built by Rajaraja-I and depicts the
mediaeval chola architecture where the Raja gopuram (the entrance gopuram)
diminish in size and the Karpagraham (the main deity's gopuram) is
significant.
The two huge 15 feet monolithic Dvarapalas on either
side of this entrance is seen The 15 feet huge monolithic stone sculpture of
the Dvarapala reveals the Thattva (concept) that God is everywhere as shown by
the upper two hands and the pose of right hand index finger denotes that God is
one and only one.
On keen notice one can see an Elephant is being
swallowed by a snake and the Lion standing behind. This denotes even if one
faces such a big problem as of this magnitude a strong stand (a firm belief in
God) similar to that of a Lion's strong standing posture will lead ways to
realize God.
The puranic scenes are engraved in small panels in the
front and the rear lower part of the gopuram. These miniature sculptures
capture the events of the Hindu mythology to the sufficient detail to
one to narrate the mythological story behind the scene. Various scenes from Kannappa
Nayanaar, Valli Thirumanam, Shiva's Kamathahana etc., are seen.
One has to note that the gopuram was constructed in the
first place with the predetermined location for the panels, and then these
puranic scenes were carved on the completed gopuram with the highly skilled
craftsmen. A bina (a fault in engraving the sculpture) is not
rectifiable due to the panel is fixed in the gopuram and irremovable. Still now
we can see some panels where left free without any scenes on the rear side of
this gopuram - the reasons for leaving it free without scenes are unknown.
