A Historical Treasure - Thanjai Periya Kovil

The Thanjai Periya Kovil also called the Rajarajeshvaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil is the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is located on the southern bank of the river Kaveri. The original name of the Shiva deity is Rajarajeshvaram. But, just like their future generations imposing another language without any right whatsoever, The Marathas named it Brihadeeswara.

‘Brihadeeswara Kovil’ is not a Tamil name at all, but it is a Sanskrit name. How did the Tamil Kovil get a Sanskrit name? Briha means ?????????? — Mihapperiya (huge) and Eswara means God Sivan. It was named so when Maratha Kings ruled Thanjai during 17th-18th Centuries. But, the real name of the Thanjai Periya Kovil is Thanjai Peruvudaiyar Kovil (??????? ???????????? ??????). Not only the name alone Tamil, This is a fully Tamil Kovil. You will be wondered if you hear the true story.

Thanjavur Periya Kovil Historical Background:

The height of the Lingam in the sanctum of the temple is 12 feet which is equal to the number of Tamil vowels. The height of the Linga pedestal is 18 feet which is equal to the number of Tamil consonants. The height of the Temple Gopuram is 216 feet which is equal to the number of Consonantal-vowels. The distance between the Lingam in the sanctum of the temple and the Nandi (Bull) is 247 feet which is equal to the total number of Tamil characters. 5000 elephants were used for this Temple construction. It took 30 years for the completion of the construction and all the workers’ names, the prime sculptor to water boy, are carved on the stones. It took five years to take an 80000 Kg stone from the floor to the top of the temple. This temple is fully constructed with the balance to the gravity of the Earth. Only one stone is used to make the Nandi of the temple and it is the second largest in India. This temple is made up of grenade stones, but there is no grenade stone to be found within the surrounding 60km of the temple. It is still a wonder how it was possible. Archeologists found many figures reflected foreign people and kings inside the temple. It reveals that King Raja Raja Chola had a strong relationship with many foreign kings. Every Tamil should visit Thanjai Peruvudaiyar Kovil. Let’s walk around the temple once in our life where King Raja Raja Chola walked.

Thanjavur Periya Koil is the grandest creation of Cholas and it is visible from any area in Thanjavur, perhaps the only temple with such a characteristic.

Unique Features:

This temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Great Living Chola Temples”. The temple became popular all over the country on its 1000th birthday in September 2010. In its commemoration, a rupees postage stamp, featuring the 216 feet tall Raja Gopuram (Vimana) was released by the India Post. A 5 rupee coin was released by the Reserve Bank of India. A 1000 Rupees Commemorative Coin with the same picture on the 5 rupees coin of Thanjavur Periya Kovil will be issued soon. This will be the first 1000 Rupees coin to be released in the Republic of India coinage, but it will not be for public circulation. In April 1954, the Reserve Bank of India had released a 1000 rupees currency note with panoramic view of the temple. Later, during the Indira Gandhi rule, all 1000 rupees notes were demonetized to curtail black money.

The two main mysteries associated with the temple are:

• It only took seven years to complete the construction of the Temple. This may not seem a big thing until you realize the next fact. The Great Pyramid of Giza took around twenty years to complete it’s construction, although it is six times smaller than Periya Kovil.
• The fact that the cap of the Vimana weighs an astounding eighty tonnes itself is a great feat. Then, the way they took it to 60 meters height, without any modern-day requirements, still remains a mystery.