Brihadeeswarar Temple – Temple Construction
It is believed that Sri Raja Raja I of Chola Dynasty
wished to build such a temple during his stay at Sri Lanka.
The architecture of the temple adheres to the design
spelled out in ancient texts of Agamas and Vastu Shastras. The temple
architecture and engineering was completed by Sri Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja
Perunthachan, who is considered as ancestor of Vastu Vedas and belonged to the
blood line of Dr. V. Ganapathi Sthapati of Chennai.
Dr Ganapathi is the chief architect of the famous
Thiruvallur Statue of Mahabalipuram made of 133’ granite stone at the tip of
Southern India. The art of ancient architecture and the marvellous engineering
flows down the generation of this family and even as on date, the family
members practise this art.
Based on the architecture of Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja
Perunthachan in building Brihadeeswarar temple, Dr Ganapathi started the
American University of Mayonic Science and Technology
This temple has the unique record of being
constructed with granite stones and completing within short span of five years
(beginning from 1004 AD). The temple rests on a solid base of 16 feet
(about 5 metres in height). The deities made of stone are placed on this along
with other idols of Shiva dance. The Kalasam, the top most portion of the
shrine weighs very heavily approximately 81 tonnes of single stone
block.
Apparently, lack of machines in those times, this stone
was believed to have been dragged using an inclined plane having length of 6.44
km. The Nandi and presiding deity Lingam weighs about 20 tonnes and height of
3.7 metres respectively.
The architect and engineer of the temple was Kunjara
Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan as stated in inscriptions found at the temple.
The temple was built per ancient texts called Vastu Shastras and Agamas. The
temple was built using a measure of 1 3/8-inch called an angula (24 units equaling
33 inches called a hasta, muzam, or kishku). This is the same measure found in
ancient Lothal and other sites in the Indus Valley dating back 4000 – 6000
years. This same measure is used to build structures compliant with the Vastu
Shastras and Agamas today. While some builders use a different measure this is
considered a standard due to its antiquity.
The solid base of the temple raises about 5 metres (16
feet), above which stone deities and representatives of Shiva dance. The
big Nandi (bull), weighing about 20 tonnes is made of a single
stone and is about 2 m in height, 6 m in length and 2.5 m in width. The
presiding deity of lingam is 3.7m tall. The prakaram (outer precincts of the temple) measures 240m by
125m.
The outer wall of the upper storey is carved with 108
dance karanas – postures of Barathanattiyam, the classical dance of Tamil Nadu. The shrine of
Goddess was added by Pandyas during the 13th century;
Subramanya Shrine by Vijayanagara rulers and the Vinayaka shrine were renovated
by Maratha rulers. There were significant additions from the Thanjavur
Nayaks.
