Annamalaiyar Temple – Fifth Prakaram – Raja Gopuram
The tower located on the eastern side between the sixth
outer Prakaram and fifth Prakaram is the tallest of all the towers in this
temple. This is widely known as Raja Gopuram. It stands in splendid dignity at
the foot of Annamalai Hill overlooking the town with its immense height and
grandeur.
It is 217 feet in height with 11 storeys. It is The Raja
Gopuram, built by Krishnadevaraya lavishly with the sculptured art of that
period and the second tallest temple tower in South India.
The main entrance to Arunachaleswarar Temple is via the
east gate i.e. the Raja Gopura. The Gopura was built by Krishnadevaraya in 1516
A.D., and completed by the King of Tanjore, Sevappa Naicken in 1590. The Raja
Gopura is 11 stories in height (217 feet) and is the tallest Gopura in this
Temple.
The Gopura of the Tanjore Temple built by Chola Rajaraja
is 216 feet in height and it is believed that King Krishnadevaraya
intentionally built the Raja Gopura at Arunachaleswarar Temple one foot higher
so as to eclipse the big tower in Tanjore Temple. The Raja Gopura provides the
main entrance to Arunachaleswarar Temple.
On the northern wall of the entrance there are two
figures. The upper one is believed to represent King Krishnadevaraya. In
the Temple to the left of the main Gopura, is also a statue of the Gopura
Ganapati.
The Raja Gopuram’s base is 135 x 98 feet and believed to
be later than the southern base of Thirumanjana Gopura. The spire is said to
have been completed by Sevappa Nayak of Tanjore about 1690 A.D. Although the
spire seems to have little pilaster, only a small amount of brick work is
actually exposed.
