The Brihadishvara Temple is just as much a symbol of power and wealth as it is a shrine to the Hindu god Shiva. Inscriptions—made on the walls detailing the ruler Rajaraja I’s lavish gifts to the temple—are evidence enough of the wealth of the Chola empire. They list jewels, gold, silver, attendants, and 400 female dancers who were brides of Shiva. When Brihadishvara was completed, in 1010, it was the biggest temple in India.
Moving away from the small-scale design of earlier temples, it set the standard for a new age of grandiose design. The temple’s design also started a shift toward favoring larger and more ornate gateways or gopuras until they eventually overshadowed even the main shrine in stature.
At a height of more than 200 feet (60 m), the main shrine of the temple is the highest pyramidal shrine tower in south India. Legend says its domed cupola—which weighs over 80 tons—was transported to the structure’s apex via a gently sloping 4-mile-long (6.5 km) ramp. Inside the main shrine sits a 13-foot-high (4 m) lingam, or sacred object, which represents the Hindu deity Shiva. Murals depicting Rajaraja I decorate the walls and are thought to be the most extant important examples of Chola painting, even though much of these have been partially obscured by a later Nayakas mural. A shrine and a pavilion to house a huge stone Nandi—Shiva’s bull—were also added during the Nayakas period in the 17th century. With its soaring pyramidal shrine, heavy doorways, and early paintings, the Brihadishvara Temple is a must-see and the unrivaled masterpiece of Chola art and architecture. (Alex Brew)
