---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: virarajendra
Date: 2008/11/17
Subject: [ponniyinselvan] Significance of the "Rajarajaeswarem" &
"Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem" Siva Temple
To: ponniyinselvan@yahoogroups.com

The great significance of the "Rajarajaeswarem" & "Gangaikonda
Cholaeswarem" - Siva Temples of Tamil Nadu

The "Rajarajaeswarem" Siva temple - of Thanjavur district, the
"Thanjai Periya Koyil" (also known as the "Birahatheeswarer Temple"
after the Naayakkar occupation of Thanjavur), was built by the Tamil
Emperor "Rajaraja Cholan - 1" (A.D.985-1014) - one among the two
'Greatest Rulers' of Tamil Nadu, -$- who conquered 3/5 of India,
northern half of Sri Lanka, and the Maldive Islands, during the period
of his rule.

Rajaraja Cholan - 1 also had much political and trade relationswith
the Hindu-Buddhist Malaysia (the Kadaram, and others), theBuddhist
Empire of Sumatra - Indonesia (the Sri Vijaya, and others),and the
Southern Sung Empire of China of his period.

In this great temple "Rajarajaeswarem" built by him, the presiding
deity of the Karuvarai (Sanctum Sanctorium) was known as the
"Rajarajaeswaram Udaiyar" also known as "Peruvudaiyar" - the God Siva
in the form of Lingam. This is the second biggest Lingam among the
Siva Temples both in India and Worldover, having a height of 9 ft and
23.5 ft in circumferance.

The "Vimanam" of the big temple goes to a height of 216 ft, being the
tallest building of India at that time, and the construction of the
temple was completed and Kumba-abishekam done in the year
A.D.1011.This is confirmed by one of Rajaraja Chola's own inscription
atRajarajaeswaram Temple dated the 26th year of his reign -
inA.D.1011(985 + 26), which states "....(at) Thanjavur in
ThanjavurKootram the 'sacred granite-stone temple' (Thiru-Kat-trali) I
got iterected, the Sri Rajarajeeswaram Udaiyar....."

A medieval period bronze statue of this great Emperor Rajaraja Chola -
1 is presently seen on display at the Gujarat Museum.

Three Video Websites on Rajarajewaram Temple (Birahatheeswarem Temple)
of Thanjavur.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGYqxjIj8yY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZzNplDpXB0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EQk1ATt6Yk&feature=related

The "Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem" Siva temple - of Ariyalur district, was
built by the Tamil Emperor "Rajendra Cholan - 1" (A.D.1012-1044) the
worthy and most eminent son of Rajaraja Cholan - 1, -$- whoconquered
3/4 of India including present Bangaladesh, whole of SriLanka, Maldive
& Laccadive Islands, Andaman & Nicobar Islands,Lower Miyanmar
(Rammanadesa), Lower Thailand (the Takkolam, andothers), many regions
- of Malaysia (the Kadaram, and others), and ofSumatra of Indonesia
(with the capital city Sri Vijaya - the presentPalembang, and others),
Singapore (former Singapuram), and part of Laoson behalf of the king
of then Kampuchea (former Kambojadesa) - duringthe period of his rule.

His Indian-mainland war expedition went up to the Ganges River in
North India, from where on his return he brought forth holy water from
the river Ganges in metal vessels to the Chola country.

With the victorius expedition of Rajendra Cholan - 1 to Ganges in
A.D.1023, he claimed a new title as "Gangaikondaan" and gave the title
"Gangaikonda Cholan" (the Chola who captured Gangai) to his younger
brother who lead the Gangetic expedition. .

On he reaching the Chola country after his expedition in North India,
commenced the construction of a new city named the "Gangaikonda
Cholapuram", with a new Siva Temple named "Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem",
and a big 'temple water tank' named the "Chola Gangam" where the holy
water brought in from the Ganges River was mixed.

Notes:
The location of the former city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram still
existtoday (by the same name) at Udaiyaar Paalayam in Ariyalur
district ofTamil Nadu, where the great Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer temple
too existsas the world heritage site. The Chola Gangam tank now exists
as a greenweed and bushes grown area adjacent to this temple. There
are someregions of the present day Tamil Nadu still bearing the place
names asGangaikondaan (Thirunellveli), Gangaikonda Cholapuram
(UdaiyarPaalayam), and two other Siva temples both named as
GangaikondaCholaeswarer temple at Kanyaakumari and Kulampandel. The
GangaikondaCholaeswarer temple at Kulampandel was built by the Royal
Guru of Rajendra Chola - 1 the Isaana Siva Pandithar, on the occasion
of the return of the Chola Forces from their Gangetic exoedition to
chola country.

His overseas war expedition went up to Kadarem and Sri Vijaya - the
present Kedah and Perak regions of Malaysia, and the present Palembang
region of Sumatra in Indonesia,being the foremost regions of their
interest 'among others' in theirSouth-East Asian war expedition. With
his triumps over these regionsRajendra Chola - 1 assumed another new
title as "Kadaremkondaan", and one of his grandson who lead the
Kadarem expedition was given the title "Kadaremkonda Cholan", (the
Chola who who captured Kadarem), and a region of the present
Narasingapuram in Tamil Nadu was named as the "Kadaremkonda
Cholapuram".

With the victories of Rajendra Chola - 1 over Kadaram and Sri
Vijaya(m) in A.D.1025, further two Siva Temples were built in Tamil
Nadu, and named them as Kadaremkonda Cholaeswarem (N.A. - Ins'
615,617,618, Inscriptions of Madras Presidency by V.Rangacharya, also
416,418,419 of 1905) and Vijayamkonda Cholaeswarem(S.A. - Ins' 188,
Inscriptions of Madras Presidency by V.Rangacharya,also 396 of 1913)
commemorating his triumps over these principalregions of his
South-East Asian war expedition. .

Notes:
TheKadaremkonda Cholaeswarem and the Vijayamkonda Cholaeswarem
templesstill exist today at Kudimallur and Erumbur of Tamil Nadu.
There areregions of the present day Tamil Nadu still bearing the place
names asKadaramkondaan (Thiruvaarur), Kadaramkonda Cholapuram
(Narasingpuram),etc.

Rajendra Cholan - 1 also had much political and trade relationswith
the Hindu-Buddhist Malaysia (the Kadarem, and others), theBuddhist
Empire of Sumatra - Indonesia (the Sri Vijaya, and others),Hindu
Kampuchea, and the Southern Sung Empire of China of his period.

In this great temple "Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem" built by him, the
presiding deity of the Karuvarai (Sanctum Sanctorium) was known as the
"Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer" also known as "Peruvudaiyar" - the God Siva
in the form of Lingam, the biggest Lingam among the Siva Temples both
in India and Worldover, having a height of 13 ft and 20 ft in
circumferance.

The "Vimanam" of this big temple goes to a height of 176 ft falling
short in height to the Rajarajaeswarem temple of Rajaraja Chola-1, and
the construction of this temple was completed and the Kumba-abishekam
done, possibly around A.D.1028.

It was with their great triumphs in the wars in the Indian mainland,
near overseas, and far overseas, they built these "magnificient &
gigantic temples completely out of Granite stone" - as the living
monuments of their great valour, and of the superior status of the
Medieval Chola Empire in the World History of that period (A.D.1025) -
which are now included in the present day "UNESCO World Heritage
Series".

Two Video Websites on Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem Temple of Gangaikonda Cholapuram
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF2NqHn8NfI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pehTGt6ldCA

The Saivite Sage "Karuvur Thevar" of the period of Rajaraja Cholan - 1
and Rajendra Cholan - 1 has sung 'Thiruvisaippaa' (Hyms) on these two
great Siva Temples, which have now been included in the nineth
Thirumurai of the twelve - Tamil Saiva Thirumuraikal.

Notes:
The Siva and Vishnu temples of the Chola period had tall "Vimanams"
(tower over - Karuvarai i.e. Sanctum Sanctorium of the temples). This
could be seen in the temples namely Rajarajaeswarem (Birahatheeswarem)
at Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholaeswarem at Udaiyar Paalayam (in
Kumbakonam), Rajarajaeswarem (Airaavatheswarem) at Darasuram
(Palaiyaarai) built by Rajaraja Cholan - 2 (A.D.1146-1163),
Thiribhuvanaeswarem (Kampaheswarem) at Thiribhuvanam built by
Kulothunga Cholan - 3 (A.D.1178-1218), and others.

The names Birahatheeswarem, Airaavatheswarem, and Kampaheswarem were
the subsequent names given to these Chola temples, with the ascendance
of the "Naayakkar" rule over Thanjavur district.

It was only during the period of Pandiyan kings and Naayakkar kings
the prominance was given to tall "Gopurams" (tower over the Main
entrance to the temples) while Vimanam remained shorter like what are
seen in the temples at Chithambaram, Thiruvannaamalai, Sri Rangam,
Madurai others.

The events indicated above by the 'doller symbol' -$- are confirmedby
the - "Meikeerthikal" (True Glories) of Rajaraja Cholan - 1
andRajendra Cholan - 1, their Copper Plate Grants and Temple
Inscriptions,contemporary period Historical and Literary Works and
ArchaeologicalRemains - in Tamil Nadu and other regions of India. They
are further confirmedby the Inscriptions, and the local - Historical
and Literary Works ofthese "far and near" Overseas Countries and the
Archaeological Remainsin some of them, and by the Chinese Historical
writings of that era.

Video Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfhesYL_wp0&feature=related
This Video provides the "Aerial Views" of both the Rajarajeswaram
Temple Complex at Thanjavur, and the Gangaikonda Cholaeswarer Temple
Complex at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, among the views of the other
Temples.