Posts Tagged Big temple
HC Bench says no to borewell inside Big Temple premises to celebrate
The Madras High Court Bench here on Thursday restrained the Thanjavur Collector from sinking borewells inside the Brahadeeshwarar Temple premises as part of arrangements to celebrate 1,000th year of building of the temple on September 25 and 26.
A Division Bench comprising Justices D. Murugesan and M. Duraiswamy granted the interim injunction pursuant to a public interest litigation petition filed by Thanjavur Big Temple Rights Retrieval Committee represented by its president C. Murugesan (62) of Ayyanarpuram in Thanjavur Taluk.
According to the petitioner, the Brahadeeshwarar Temple, built by Raja Raja Chola-I in 1910, was a magnificent manifestation of the Chola style of architecture. It was notified as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations (UNESCO).
Also known as Big Temple or Rajarajeswaram Temple, it was declared as an ancient and historical monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and protected under the Madras Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1966.
Claiming that the officials had decided to drill a 400-metre deep borewell near the southern corridor, the petitioner said that the location was just 50 metres away from the main structure housing the sanctum sanctorum.
Enquiries revealed that the borewell was being sunk for the Abishekam (pouring holy water on the deity) which, as per the Agama Sastras (religious procedures), has to be done only with water taken from the temple premises.
“We are not questioning such Agamam. If there is any such Agamam, it can be followed by taking water from the Sivagangai Kulam which is also inside the temple premises,” the petitioner’s affidavit read.
His counsel T. Lajapathi Roy claimed that pumping water from the ground might weaken the gigantic main tower of the temple. “A notice board at the entrance states that it is a crime to dig a pit within 200 metres from the temple. But it is surprising to know that now a borewell was being sunk,” he said.
He also contended that neither a serious scientific analysis was undertaken nor any expert body was constituted before giving permission to sink the borewell inside the temple premises.
3 Temples in Thanjavur and Ariyalur districts world heritage monuments by the UNESCO
Posted by ganesh in Ariyalur, Communication, Culture, Departments, Information, Others, Temples, Thanjavur, government, programme on January 21st, 2010
Three temples in Thanjavur and Ariyalur districts, namely the Brihadisvara temple, Iravateswarawamy temple and the Big temple at Gangaikondacholapuram built by the great Chola kings have been declared as world heritage monuments by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur built by Raja Raja Cholan is celebrating its millenium this year; the Iravateswarawamy temple at Darasuram near Kumbkonam was built by Raja Raja II and the Big temple at Gangaikondacholapuram was built by Rajendran Cholan, son of Raja Raja Cholan in Ariyalur district.
The three temples are in stone and have almost same architecture and design except for the size. While the Big Temple at Thanjavur remains colossal in all its aspects — a towering Vimana with a height of 212 ft, a big Linga in the sanctum sanctorum, a huge Nandi in the front and Goddess Periyanayaki also standing tall, Darasuram and Gangaikondacholapuram account for smaller forms of the Big temple. Despite the general concept of a chariot being pulled, the sculptures differ in the three temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) maintains the three temples well and has almost reconstructed the whole temple at Darasuram.
The construction of the Big Temple — also known as Rajarajeswaran Udaiyar after the great king — began in 1003A.D. and was consecrated for worship on 275th day of the 25th year of the King’s reign (1010 A.D.). The temple is 1000 years old this year (2010). This edifice is one of the finest and most exquisite specimens of the Chola architecture. Dedicated to Lord Siva, it is located within a spacious inner courtyard measuring 240 X120 m. The temple is replete with inscriptions relating to its origin and endowments and also sports a profusion of friezes from the epics.
ASI organising 2 day seminar to commemorate the 1000th year of the Brihadisvara temple
Posted by ganesh in Communication, Information, Temples, Thanjavur, cultural, government, programme on January 20th, 2010
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is organising a two day seminar to commemorate the 1000th year of the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur on January 21 and 22 (Thursday and Friday), according to Sathyabhama Bhadrinath, Superintending Achaeologist, Chenna Circle, ASI.
She told presspersons here on Wednesday that the theme of the seminar is “Brihadisvara temple, the monument and its symbolism”. The seminar to be held at the South Zone Cultural Centre will be inaugurated by Thangam Tennarasu, State Minister for School Education and Archaeology. National and international scholars will be attending this seminar to discuss on varied subjects relating to the temple.
The Brihadisvara Temple is one among the four all stone temples built by the Chola Kings. The other three are the temples at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Darasuram and Thirubuvanam. Epigraphy, engineering aspects, inscription evidence of the temple among others will be discussed during the two-day seminar.
The aim of the seminar is to create awareness about the world heritage monument among the wider public about this greatest creation and also to promote the issue of its preservation, Bhadrinath said.
Mr. Nagasamy, Former director of State Archaeology, Ms. Champakalakshmi, former history professor of the Jawaharlal Nehru Unversity, Dr. Subbaryalu, former professor of the Tamil University and professors from Anna University will participate in the seminar.
Conservation work taken up inside the temple is in its final stage and will be completed in a month in time for the Kumbhabhishekam, Bhadrinath said. Kumbabishekams were held earlier in 1975 and 1998. A touch screen will be provided giving details of the monument. Appropriate signs will also be put up. A restroom —which even the physically challenged will find user-friendly — built to international standards has already been put to use.
The ASI is planning to create a new shoe repository on the right side of Keralandhagan gopuram at the entrance of the temple. A cloak room, a handicrafts centre and an eatery are also on the anvil.
Bhadrinath also said that the ASI has agreed in principle for allowing a sound and light programme in the temple. It is waiting for the feasibility report to give its approval. She said that the moat around Big Temple has not yet been handed over to the ASI by the Thanjavur Municipality.
PTI adds:
National and international scholars will attend a two day seminar on Brahadeeswara temple (Big temple) temple — the monument and its symbolism’ here from Thursday to raise awareness about the rich national cultural heritage, a top official of the Archaelogical Survey of India said on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters here, Sathyabama Badrinath, Superintending Archaeologist of ASI, which is organising the event as part of its cultural awareness programme, said the aim of the seminar is to make known various facets of the temple and elicit their opinions.
The seminar, being held at the south zone cultural centre here, was also meant to promote the issue of their preservation and incorporation to modern social and cultural life,
Recent Comments