Brihadeshwar Temple - A treasure to cherish!

In one of the posts, we have read about Brihadeshwar temple of Thanjavur. The link for that post is here.https://silvervegantravels.blogspot.com/2020/10/brihadeshwar-temple-exquisite-example.html 

In that post I had written about the history and general structure of Brihadeshwar Temple. In this post I am planning to write about some of the points in detail. 

In the first post, if you remember, I had written about Maratha Rulers of Thanjavur and their contribution in Brihadeshwar temple architecture. 

Here is the photograph of Maratha gate of the temple. This is the first gate of the temple and was built by bricks and lime mortar to protect inner gates.

 

Maratha Gate
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Inside the temples you can find, inscriptions in Devnagari lipi and Marathi language as a sign of Maratha role in the temple.

Marathi Inscription
📷Aniruddha

I am giving here the plan of the temple, which can give you the overall idea of the temple architecture. 

Temple plan
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

In front of Nandi Mandap, you will find a beautifully decorated Jaystambh or Dhwajstambh.

Dhwajstambh as seen from Nandimandapam.
📷Yashwant Kakad 

 

Dhwajstambh 
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Dhwajstambh is always an important part of the temple architecture. Here you can clearly see the three horizontal parts or plates on the top. They are called as Mekhala. Small bells are hung to the Mekhalas so that with wind they will make a pleasant noise. 

Dhwajstambh 
📷 Wikipedia

I have given here part of the photograph and zoomed it to show you the bells and Mekhalas. On the top you can see a Nandi. Usually on the top is the vahan ( vehicle) of the main deity of the temple. Here the main deity is Shiva, so his vahan Nandi is sitting on the top of the Dhwajstambh. 

The pillar is tall and it is balanced by different shapes and forms of the base structure.

 

DhwajStambh base
📷Aniruddha

On the sides of the base, images of Ganesh, Shiv+parvati, Kartikeya/ Subramaniam are carved. 

Ganesh on Dhwajstambh
📷 Yashwant Kakad

Shiv+parvati 
📷Jayant Abhyankar 

 

On the lotus base, you can see some strong women carrying the weight of the Dhwajstambh and then on the upper layer, elephants are balancing the weight. The lotus motif and petals design is continued on the upper layers as well. If you see on the top of the deity images, you will see design like the lotus flower center or seeds. 

Brihadeshwar Temple is a paradise for iconography enthusiasts. There are thousands of beautiful and intricately carved human, god as well as animal figures. 

If you talk about elephant, then there are numerous elephants in various poses. The pose is given according to the task the elephants are accomplishing. 

On the Dhwajstambh, you have seen elephants balancing weight of the stambh by their lifted trunks. Here are some more elephants.

On the steps. 
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Here the elephant trunk is used as a border for the steps. Here his walk is steady, but still the artist has been successful in showing the motion of the walk. While walking, has he toppled down a man? You can see a human figure down there.

 

Elephant
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Here you can see that the elephant is angry and is walking fast, almost running! His front left leg and right back leg are in the air. He has spread his ears. His tail is curved. With the tusk he is holding a man who was sitting on the horse. The man is getting actually squeezed in the elephant trunk. Elephants were used in the battles for many centuries. This looks like a scene from some battle. 

I agree that there are many elephants in Brihadeshwara Carvings, but one more animal appears many times as well. He is Vyala or Yali. 

These are mythical characters having body with some parts of tiger, lion, horse, elephant, bull and many more different animals. 

Some times they are confused with another mythical animals called Makar. Makar is having face of crocodile and body of fish. 

 

Vyal 
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Here the Vyala is having face of Crocodile. 

Vyala on pillar
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Closeup Vyala
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Vyalas or Yalis are considered to be the protectors of temples and so are carved on the pillars and ways and steps to temples. 

For carrying the Abhisheka Jal or water from the temple this system is in operation. Is that a trunk of an elephant? The face looks like Makara. 

Outlet of Abhishek Jal
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Tank
📷 Jayant Abhyankar 

The Abhishek Jal is stored in a tank which is carved out of a single stone. The tank is resting on lions. 

Now if you had enough of animal information, let's talk about gods!

Ganesh appears in many forms in the temple. Sometimes in sitting position, sometimes in standing position. Some times with four hands and some times with eight hands. 

Ganesh with ten hands
📷 Aniruddha

This figure is very unusual. We don't get to see often, Ganesh with ten hands. This figure is carved on the Maratha Gate which is the first gate of the temple.

The right two hands are in broken condition. One of the right hands is kept on the lap. From the left hands, one hand is holding his shakti who is is sitting on his lap. 

In the other hands, what I could see is that, he is holding a conch, flower, paddy ear, a club and a disc. Most probably this is a Maha ganapati Form of Ganesh. 

Ganesh with four hands
📷 Aniruddha

Here you can see three Ganeshs. All are four handed. Mostly they are having same attributes. 

Ganesh in one of the temples
📷 Aniruddha

Ganesh in one of the temples
📷 Aniruddha

Ganesh in standing position 
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Siblings
📷 Jayant Abhyankar

Here you can see the siblings, Ganesh on his rat and his brother Kartikeya or Subramnya on his peacock. 

There is lot more to write about. There are murals, paintings. Being a Shiv temple, Shiv idols in many forms can be seen. Devi forms, Kartikeya, the yogis, the dancers and so on. The Dwarpals are also worth taking note of. I don't know when I will write about all these. 

But today's post I would like to conclude with human figures. 

This is a scene of Gopi Vastraharan. What a beautiful carving it is! 

At the base you can see two Makara faces denoting that this is a place near water. The left two ladies are elderly while right two are young girls. 

You can see the difference in their hairstyles and their body language. The left two have tied their hair in buns while the young girls have let their hair loose!!!

 The left most lady is feeling shy as she is not having any clothes on her. The second one is trying to climb on the tree to take the clothes. The young girls are not bothered by what's happening!!

You can see their wonderful bracelets, anklets, earrings, neck pieces. All are having different styles. 

The tree is depicted beautifully, with branches, leaves, flowers, sturdy stem. On the tree mischievous Krishna is sitting, who has taken Gopi's clothes when they were taking bath in the river. 

You are amused by the details the craftsman has put in this figure. What a wonderful job he has done!! The granite tree looks like a real one and so thinks a real live parrot! If you zoom the picture, you can see a parrot seating amongst the leaves of the tree. What better appreciation can a artist get!!

Gopi Vastraharan 
📷 Yashwant Kakad

Overview of the temple.
📷Aniruddha

This much for now. First dose of vaccination is not a pass to roam freely!! Take care and stay safe!

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