Whenever I see Brihadheeshwara temple, every single time I feel like seeing this masterpiece for the first time. Raja Raja Chozhan’s vision and his people made his dream come true. He made all the Stapathis who worked for the temple to fall in love with their works. Also, these kinds of art and architecture almost reflect the importance given to the economic activities as well.
Rajarajeshwaram and myths
Rajarajeshwaram holds many secrets. Many myths and rumours revolve around this majestic beauty. These rumours are somehow strongly believed even now.
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| Rajarajeshwaram |
To start with, I’ll talk about the myths from the top of the Srivimanam to the bottom.
Single piece - 80 tons
The most common myth is that the big round stone on the top of the temple is a single stone weighing 80 tons. It is also believed that the stone was donated by an old woman called ‘Azhagi’, who couldn’t help the workers while building and offered people buttermilk without any expectations and finally asked the workers to use this big round stone which was believed to be there near her house.
The reality is different. Many authoritative researchers and scholars of the Rajarajeshwaram have examined the stone and found it to be resembling a big round stone which is actually eight pieces of stone put together. They have also found the joints of the pieces.
People still believe that it is a single massive stone and Raja Raja Chozhan built a huge ramp in front of the temple to the top in order to put that stone which weighs 80 tons using elephants and wooden planks to pull it up to the level.
Where is the shadow?
The second popular myth is about the shadow of the temple. The shadow of the Brihadheeshwara temple actually falls in the ground. Some say because of the structure of the Srivimanam, the shadow cascades itself in the structures as it is constructed wider from top to bottom. But the fact is nothing like that happens, the shadow falls on the ground every day.
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| Brihadheeshwara Temple |
Another story is that there were more trees were nearby the Srivimanam many years ago, so the shadow fell on the trees. Even today we can see the shadow of the Srivimanam falling in the ground. We can enjoy standing in the shadow of the Srivimanam in the temple in reality.
Growing Nandi?!
Another common rumour is about the Nandi. People believe that the Nandi in the temple is actually growing. The reality is disappointing for such believers actually. No logic, no base and nothing true about this rumour. Just because the size of the Nandi in this temple is big, it doesn’t mean that this Nandi is growing. People might find it different every time when they look at the Nandi.
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| Nandi |
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| Nandi decorated on a Pradhosham |
Thanjavur to Madurai - Secret tunnel in the moat?
Coming out of the temple complex, we find a moat that runs around the temple. I believed people saying that this moat has some secret tunnel which connects us to the temple pond of Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. Growing up with this rumour always made me stare at the moat which is totally covered with dense bushes now. I read somewhere that there were crocodiles and snakes in these moats earlier. I was eager to travel through the tunnel and just disappointed when I know it was actually a rumour.
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| The moat around the temple |
Politics & Brihadheeshwara
Politics doesn’t let Brihadheeshwara escape from this rumour. Powerful politicians believe that if some politicians enter this temple, they will lose power. Sometimes I’ve heard people say that politicians even die once they visit Brihadheeshwara temple. I wish this one happens for real so that I could take all the greedy politicians to the temple at one shot and enjoy.
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| Rearview of the Srivimanam |
Overall most of the common people believe all these rumours and when they actually come and see the temple, all these rumours only comes to their minds. Nobody realizes the cultural, historical and architectural significance of the temple. The artwork, sculptures, inscriptions and the scale of the Srivimanam becomes hidden facts behind the rumours.
To make Arulmozhi Varman’s dream of building a temple to reach the heights of sky to Lord Shiva true, there were many important people. Raja Raja Chozhan addressed everybody’s effort and credited them for this contribution.
One should always remember these given names when we talk of Rajarajeshwaram.
- Chief architect – Veerachozhan Kunjaramallan/Rajaraja Perunthachan
- Deputy architect – Madhurantakan/Nithavinodha Perunthachan
- Assistant architect – Lathi Sadaiyan/Kandaraditha Perunthachan
- Administrative officer – Aaditan Suryan/Thennavan Moovendha Velan
- Head priest – Pavanapidaraan
- Sculptor (inscriptions) – Sathankudi Vellalan Ravibalurudaiyan
- Raja Raja Chozhan’s sister – Kundhavai Piratiyar
- Raja Raja Chozha’s son – Rajendra Chozhan
- Army chief – Senapathy Krishnan Raman aka Mummudi Chozha Brihmamarayan
- Rajaguru of Raja Raja Chozhan – Eshaana Shivapandithar
- Rajaguru of Rajendra Chozhan – Sarva Shivapandithar
Raja Raja Chozhan’s name will be remembered forever. Other than these people, there were the soldiers, town councils and many individuals, who helped Arulmozhi Varman to successfully execute his dream. This temple helped in many other things to boost up the spirituality, art and architecture and the economy of the Chozha dynasty to flourish.
Raja Raja Chozhan is definitely the great emperor we wish to see. He inscribed each and every name of the people who worked for his dream to come true. Each and every name of the workers, volunteers, donors and many others are still in the inscriptions. This reflects that Arulmozhi varman is a true emperor, who loved, acknowledged his people’s work and that still makes Rajarajeshwaram stand strong.
Yours East Gaterr