Rajarajeshwaram - The pinnacle of Chozha architecture - 3

Rajarajeshwaram aka Brihadheeshwara temple in Thanjavur has undergone many constructive and destructive interference since its inception. It survived and seen growth in various kings’ and dynasties of the rule. Even though every structure in the temple has its own story, they are built in different periods by different kings in their tenure which can be identified through the styles and details of the sculpture and artworks in the shrines.

Sthula Lingam on a calm evening

 

Thanjavur - Home of many dynasties

Thanjavur Sheltered the Nayaks, Pandyas, Sultanate, Marathas and Britishers other than the Chozha dynasty. During these many different rulers’ periods, this magnum opus of Arulmozhi Varman had gone through many changes.

Before reading about what were the original structures that were originally constructed by Raja Raja Chozhan, I’d like to give you a glimpse of different rulers and the period they were prominent in Thanjavur

Timeline of Thanjai

We all just made a picture in our mind that Thanjavur means Chozhas and Marathas will flash in our minds. But Thanjavur as a whole town/city or a capital during those times was a major attraction for various rulers to invade and loot. Thankfully the successors were always adding culture, architecture and wealth to Thanjavur. The only barbaric invasion was of Malik Kafur’s attack, which almost destroyed unique artistic sculptures and the building of Brihadheeshwara temple and also looted the granary and the bloodshed is unimaginable.

Raja Raja Chozhan's Nandi which is near Varahi Amman's shrine

All these incidents made Thanjavur what it is today now. Since Brihadheeshwara temple is the easily accessible one to reflect the influence of these invasions or taking over the throne, again and again, people and the rulers have contributed much more to it. Raja Raja Chozhan had something in mind and made this magnificent temple in the first place. Later on the Pandya kings, Nayaks and the Marathas added much more to it. In these intervals of change of powers, the temple had lost many of its important idols, shrines and the deities inside which Arulmozhi Varman, his architects and the people have made and contributed.

Raja Raja Chozhan's Rajarajecharam

This post will talk about the original structures and shrines made by Raja Raja Chozhan and the later editions by various kings. To begin with the creator of this marvellous temple to Lord Shiva, Arulmozhi Varman actually built the present day ‘Rajarajan Thiruvayil’ (entrance/Gopuram), the Srivimanam, Chandikeshwara Shrine to the north of Srivimanam and the 36 Parivara Devatas shrines were the original structures built by the Raja Raja Chozhan. The rest of the structures which we see today are later additions to what he made originally. 

Keralanthakan Vayil/Gopuram

Even the ‘Keralanthakan Thiruvayil’ was built by himself but was planned after he came back with a victory after invading ‘Kaanthaloor Saalai’ which is near Thiruvananthapuram.

Pandiyan King's Ulagu Muzhudhum Udaiya Nachiyar

The next major addition in the temple was the Amman shrine, which is known as the Brihannayaki or Periyanayaki Amman. Major addition as well as the very first important intervention in the temple. Even before this intervention by a Pandiyan King whose name is not available even in the inscriptions in this temple that he had built and also inscribed his order about building this temple.

Amman Shrine built by a Pandiyan King

Even before building this, it is believed that Rajarajeshwaram might have undergone severe destruction. This Amman shrine is built around the 14^th century. The Pandiyan King who built this shrine named the goddess as “Ulagu Muzhudhum Udaiya Nachiyar” (உலகு முழுதும் உடைய நாச்சியார்) which somehow translates to Goddess who has the whole world.

The artistic additions of Nayak kings

Most of the creative and artistic additions were mostly contributed by the Nayak rulers.

The most important addition of Nayak rulers to the Magnum opus of Chozha was the Lord Subramanya Shrine, built by the king Sevappa Nayak, an ardent Shaivite among the other Nayak rulers of Thanjavur. The name of the sculptor of this shrine is “Adhiraveesi Aasari” and overlooked by “Veerayya Nayakkar”. The most beautiful and artistic shrine of Lord Subramanya is an important addition to this temple.

Sculpturally beautiful Lord Subramanya Shrine

• The Nandi Mandapam which shelters the biggest Nandi is built by Nayak rulers

Nandi Mandapam by Nayak

• The Artha Mandapam and Maha Mandapam of the Srivimanam were built by the Brahmichi Nayak during Sevappa Nayak’s rule. This can be supported with the help of Vijayanagar style pillars found inside these Mandapams.

• The present-day Nataraja shrine and the Mandapam adjoining it was built by Moorthy Amman, wife of Sevappa Nayak.

Natraja Shrine

• The Mandapam adjoining Lord Subramanya Shrine is built by Mallappa Nayak. This can be figured out with the help of a carving of Mallappa Nayaka found in the Mandapam. Mallappa Nayak aka Bethamallar was the eldest one among the siblings Sevappa Nayak.

• The Moorthy Amman Mandapam and Mallappa Nayak Mandapam are built around 1532 CE.

 Ganapathys' of Rajarajeshwaram

Lord Ganapathy Shrine built by Serfoji King II

• Lord Ganapathys’ shrines in the temple is another important contributions.

• Lord Ganapathy installed by Raja Raja Chozhan is the one in the southwest corner next to the Nruthi Shrine which is a Parivara Devatas shrine. In front of that, there is a separate shrine built for Lord Ganapathy which was built by Maratha King Serfoji II in the year 1801.

• Another Ganapathy in the front Mandapam of the Srivimanam is known as the “Arumozhi Ganapathy”, in which “Arumozhi" refers to the name of Raja Raja Chozha. Most of the inscriptions in the temple carry Raja Raja Chozhan’s name as “Arumozhi” only.

Varahi Amman

The small temple of Varahi Amman on the southern side of the temple was built around the 20^th century. They found this Varahi being partly covered in the soil. Based on some in-situ details this Varahi should have been the part of the Sapta Kanni Mathas in the temple, for which the shrine was located in the backside to the present day Varahi shrine, currently which is being used as a mini-museum.

Varahi Amman Shrine

Karuvurar Shrine

The Karuvurar Shrine in the north behind Srivimanam was built during the 20^th century only. Some say that Karuvurar was the Guru of Raja Raja Chozhan, but there is no proof of both lived at the same time. This shrine is located behind the Srivimanam, adjacent to the Lord Subramanya Shrine.

All these are the important additions to the original Rajarajeshwaram that Arulmozhi Varman made. However, all these improvisations of various kings of different dynasties never disturbed the original fabric of the temple.

Stay tuned for such interesting information about this wonderful work of Raja Raja Chozhan!!!

P.S: The information being shared here is referred from the book "Rajarajecharam" by 'Kudavayil Balasubramaniam'.
Photos by my friends Thilakesh, Asiq and Guruprasath. 

Yours East Gaterr