This is continuation to my previous post where I described the outer side of the BIG TEMPLE. I have taken you people upto the Nandi or sacred bull. After that we see the grandeur of the BIG TEMPLE, which is an amazing sight. We cannot stop showing our excitement. Below is the picture of the BIG TEMPLE.
Now I am going to describe about some salient features of this Temple.
In my previous post I shared the pictures of Nandi, which is in Bhrama Sthanam that is centre part of the whole Temple.
The corridors are very lengthy 293ft from east to west and 397ft from North to south. In the picture you can see the North to South corridor at the backside.
There are separate Temples for Ganesa God and the Gods of 10 vital directions in the corridors
There is one more sacred bull in the left corridor which is also of a large size. It is equal to the pillar size of the corridor. Below is the picture of the Sacred bull of the left corridor.
The above picture is that of the bull or Nandi which is not used since this is having a slight difference in weight among the 8 bulls or Nandis to be placed on the Gopuram. These 8 Nandis control Seismic power and Strom withstanding by the structure and these 8 direction Nandis counter weight the balance. Below is the picture of the Gopuram. You can find a pair of Nandis, near the green spot. Like wise 4 sides 8 Nandis.
The Gopuram is a pyramid structure. A single monolitbic block stone, 26 x 26 x 4ft thickness 80 ton weight is placed at the end of the pyramid structure below the Nandis.
This Gopuram is standing in 70° inclination for more than 1000 years. Hollowness inside the gopuram is compiled of square hectagonal, octagonal, circular rings. The Gopuram is compiled of 13 floors. In the middle of every alternate floor, there are Gods sculptures, Shiva and Parvathi on east, Dhakshinamoorthy in South, Vishnu and Lakshmi in west and Bhrama in north side.
The Gopuram Crown by 8 stones, joined by interlocked sections is known as the Vinizhi Vimana.
The Kalsh is 16 ft height is plated with gold.
In the above picture on left top corner we can see Buddha’s image sculpted. Form this Buddha in straight line is standing Lumbini Buddha.
Bolow is the picture of the sculptures on the sides of the wall.
Below the sculptures there are many rock cut inscriptions are seen. There are 108 inscriptions on the Temple walls. Given elow is the picture of the scholar explaining the inscriptions.
It is regarding the Kings, princes and princess who offered materials to the Temple. Below is the picture of the inscriptions.
This Temple is also known as Dhakshina Meru. There are no binding materials used. All the rocks are interlocked. The engineering at that time in the 10th century is marvellous. They took 6 years to complete this BIG TEMPLE. Dear Friends DO YOU AGREE THAT THIS TEMPLE SHOULD BE ONE AMONG THE WORLD’S WONDERS? Still I have not covered about how a huge monolithic God structure the Shivaling, bigger than the entrance is inside the Temple.
With this 8th part I conclude my Heritage Inspired Chola Tour series. Below are the links of my previous posts of these series
Part - 1: Ruins of the 10th century Chola Palace
Part - 3: History through Inscriptions
Part - 5: Secret Spot and the battlefield
Part - 7: Entrance to the BIG TEMPLE (Greatest of Grandeurs) sub-Part 1
Part - 8: The above post Inside the BIG TEMPLE (Greatest of Grandeurs) sub-Part 2
Thanks in advance for reading my post. Your comments are highly solicited.
