Tanjai Periya Koil

Tiruchitrambalam. Todays -(9 August 2010) Tamil newspapers carried a story on Tanjai Periya Koil to celebrate 1,000 years of Temple completion on September 25 -26, 2010. Its simply astonishing that Tanjai Periya Koil has stood for the last 1,000 years. Its indeed a remarkable history of our ancestor's great intelligence, high tech knowledge, science background, spiritual guidance and God's blessings itself has stood all the way till now. (Please follow the information provided by Indian Heritage Temples Internet service)

The Brihadeeswarar temple, an imposing structure was built by Raja Raja Chola 1. He had conquered the Chera, Pandiya kings and also crossed the oceans to gain victory over many overseas land including Kadaram (Kedah state in Malaysia). Impressed by the huge magnificent temples and idols of Buddha, he dreamed of erecting a massive temple in his native land for Lord Siva. this temple is also called by various other names such as Rajarajeswaram, Perivudayar Koil, Adavallan Koil and Periya Koil.

The temple was built in a short span of six years. The imposing Vimana rises to a height of 216 feet with 14 storeys. the Sikhara built in accordance with Silpa Sastra is crowned with a massive dome consisting of a single stone that weighs 80 tons. And over it is placed an octagon shaped Stupa and a 12 feet high Kalasam. To lift and carry this gigantic stone to the top, an inclined road about 6 miles long was laid out, emulating the technique adopted by the Egyptians while constructing the decorate this Vimana from top to bottom. Though the Dravidian style of temple architecture predominates, there is indeed a harmonious blend of the Nagara, Vesara and Dravidian styles.

The arch way at the first entrance, called the Kerlanthakan gate way rises to a height of 90 feet. Next comes the grand gate called Raja Raja Vaasal embellished with exquisitely carved figures. Beyond this lies the sculptural wealth studded in the courtyard measuring about 500 feet long and 250 feet wide, and is surrounded by a high compound wall with a deep moat to its eastern and western sides.

The shrine for Parvathi, called Periya Nayaki was originally located in a garden in the north of the temple. During the Nayak regime, it was transferred to a grand shrine built in the first prakara. the shrine for the six faced Murugar carved out of single rock lies at the northern end of the west quadrangle. the enormous monolithic Nandi is installed in a high pavilion right in front of the garbha griha. It measures 19 1/2 feet in length; 8 1/4 feet in breadth; 12 feet in height and weighs 25 tons. The black Siva Linga, carved out of a single rock is considered the second biggest, next to the one in Lepakshi. It is 9 feet in height and 23 1/2 feet in circumference. It is installed on a high flat dias measuring 54 feet in circumference and 6 feet in height.There is an archaeological museum in the temple yard. The history of the Chola kings and the temples are depicted in sculpture and paintings.

There are other more info on this temple to be read in website dedicated to Tanjai Periya Koil. I hope this info give a picture on temple built race people- Tamils to be proud of and see that at least we, in Malaysia follow the temple building concept and philosophy to be followed whenever to build a temple- be it a small temple but just follow the agamic structure.

May Siva bless every soul in the world. sivasiva

Balakrishnan Kandasamy