Big Temple in twilight

Roller on Nandi

A blue jay/Indian Roller sits on a Nandi. Picture taken at the Big Temple - Brihadiswara Temple -- in Thanjavur.

The Big Temple. Here are a series of pics that give a closer view of the temple.

The entrance to the Big Temple.I was lucky to catch it in the early morning glow. The two massive figures guarding the doorway, `dwarapalakas,' are a common feature in the Chola temples in Gangaikondacholapuram and at Darasuram. 

The outer gopurams seen from inside the temple. The statue of shiva thandavam in pic below is I think on the outer side of the tower to the left. 

The Nandhi facing the temple. This is carved from a single rock. 

A detail from one of the outer towers (gopuram) - Shiva's `urthava thandavam.' 

Saraswati, the goddess of learning. 

The BIG TEMPLE

I have posted a series of pics of the Brihadiswara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Next week I will try to put up a few pics that give a closer view of the sculptures. (Check out May 2005 archives of the Airavateswara temple at Darasuram, Kumbakonam, another example of Chola architecture.)

The Brihadiswara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is more popularly known as the big temple - an apt name. But it is not just massive but also beautiful. It was built by one of the greatest Chola Kings, Rajaraja (King of Kings), who completed it in 1010 at the peak of his power.  

A head-on view of the Brihadiswara Temple. The monolithic nandi can be seen in front. It is popularly believed that the dome on top of the temple tower is carved from a single stone. But no, say recent studies. Devamani Rafael, author of `Thamizhnattu-k Kalai Kovilgal' (Artistic temples of Tamil Nadu) says in that book that experts have observed that it is actually made of several stones but the pieces are fused so well together to seem like a single piece.

A closer view of the temple. (I think I used a polariser filter - can't recall, it was a few years back.)

The temple lit up. 

A panoramic view of the Brihadiswara Temple. 

The big temple at night with the Nandi Mantapam (hall) at the right. 

Getting ready for the day ahead. 

This is a composite image of the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. The full moon was introduced from a second negative using conventional darkroom processing.