The Great Temple of Thanjavur
The Brihadeeswarar Temple, also called the Big Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, stands in Thanjavur (Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu and is one of the grandest temples of India dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its name, Brihadeeswara, means 'the Great Lord', and here Shiva is worshipped in the form of a colossal Shivalinga.
Built over a thousand years ago (completed around 1010 CE) by the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I, it is a masterpiece of Dravidian temple architecture and a symbol of the devotion and glory of the Chola era. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the 'Great Living Chola Temples'. Beyond its breathtaking scale and artistry, it remains a living temple where worship has continued for a millennium, uniting spiritual devotion with an unmatched heritage of faith, art and engineering.
Significance, History & Architecture
The Brihadeeswarar Temple is remarkable on many levels:
- The towering Vimana: Its main tower (vimana) rises about 66 metres (over 216 feet), one of the tallest of its kind, crowned by a massive stone cupola. For a thousand-year-old structure, its scale and precision are astonishing.
- The colossal Shivalinga: The sanctum houses one of the largest Shivalingas in India, before which devotees offer worship to the Great Lord.
- The giant Nandi: A huge monolithic Nandi (the sacred bull of Shiva) faces the sanctum, one of the largest in the country.
- Chola devotion and art: Built by Rajaraja Chola I as an expression of both devotion and imperial glory, the temple is adorned with exquisite sculptures, frescoes and inscriptions recording its history.
- A living heritage: Worship has continued here for a thousand years, and the temple is honoured both as a sacred Shiva shrine and as a supreme achievement of Indian civilisation.
It stands as a testament to how the devotion of an age could raise a monument that still lifts the heart to the Great Lord.
Darshan & Visiting
For pilgrims and visitors to the Big Temple:
- Location: In Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, well connected by road and rail, and reachable from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) and other cities.
- Main darshan: Devotees offer worship at the great Shivalinga in the sanctum, and pay respects to the giant Nandi facing the Lord.
- Experiencing the temple: Take time to behold the soaring vimana, the beautiful sculptures and frescoes, and the vast, serene temple courtyard - a space that fills the heart with awe and devotion.
- Festivals: Maha Shivaratri and other Shiva festivals are celebrated with special fervour; the temple also hosts cultural and heritage events.
- Reverence and care: As both a sacred shrine and a protected heritage site, dress modestly, follow the temple and heritage rules, maintain cleanliness and silence, and treat the monument with respect.
A visit is both a darshan of the Great Lord Shiva and an encounter with one of the wonders of India's sacred heritage. Confirm current timings and any darshan arrangements locally before travelling.
What People Ask Most
What is the Brihadeeswarar Temple famous for?+
The Brihadeeswarar Temple, or Big Temple, in Thanjavur is a magnificent Chola-era temple to Lord Shiva, famous for its towering 66-metre vimana, colossal Shivalinga and giant monolithic Nandi. Built around 1010 CE by Rajaraja Chola I, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture.
Who built the Brihadeeswarar Temple?+
It was built by the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I and completed around 1010 CE, as an expression of both devotion to Lord Shiva and the glory of the Chola empire. It is part of the 'Great Living Chola Temples' recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Is Brihadeeswarar Temple still an active place of worship?+
Yes. Though it is a thousand-year-old UNESCO heritage monument, it remains a living temple where worship of Lord Shiva has continued for a millennium. Devotees offer worship at the great Shivalinga, and festivals like Maha Shivaratri are celebrated with special fervour.
About the author
Pandit Ravindra Sharma · Vedic Rituals & Bhakti, 22+ years
Pandit Ravindra is the Vandnaa editorial team's resident specialist on aarti, chalisa, and daily devotion. He has performed home and temple pujas across Varanasi and Delhi for over two decades and contributes the bhakti-focused articles on this site.
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