Chola: Tanjore. (Thanjavur) Brihadesvara Temple.
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Frederic, Louis
Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Built by Rajaraja the Great about 1000. Consists of a high, square vimana, standing on a cella with two storeys. The vimana has 13 storeys, is 236' high, with a base measuring 79' on each side. The dome must have been constructed out of a single block of stone weighing 80 tons, and brought into position by means of a ramp, 6 miles long. The temple lies in the middle of a courtyard. There are two entrance porches. A mandapa was built in front of the vimana in 15th C. Between the sanctuary and entrance is a sanctuary consecrated to Nandin, Siva's bull. The storeys of the vimana are decorated with pavilions and models of buildings, surmounted by a structure related to the kudu, but which assumes the shape of a peacock's tail. The two storeys of the base of the vimana are well decorated.
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Basham Collection
Date created
1959
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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