Deep in the heart of Tamil Nadu, in the sacred city of Thanjavur, rises a marvel carved in stone – the Brihadeeswara Temple. The mystery lies in one of the three temples. However, every stone, every corridor, every shadow speaks of a civilization that saw gods not in heaven – but in geometry, rhythm, and fire.
Additionally, the mystery of multiples of the number 9 excites everyone. The Brihadeeswara temple – where mysterious history lies behind every door, and every midnight. Moreover, the carved stones tell stories that surprise everyone. The construction technique shocked many visitors.
And this story begins with a king from an ancient dynasty.
The deep meaning of the Brihadeeswara Temple
The Brishadesswara Temple is more than just an architectural masterpiece – it is a stone-bound philosophy. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The big temple, or the great temple, is another name for the Brihadeeswara Temple. Subsequently, the name of the temple came from two Sanskrit words that are very suitable for the temple. That is, Brihad means great or supreme, and Iswara means Lord or God. So, Brihadeeswara means.
“The Great Lord”
Or
“The Supreme God”
This refers to Lord Sliva in his vast, all-encompassing cosmic form. Built over a thousand years ago by the Raja. Raja Chola in 1010 CE. The Brihadeeswara Temple is the Zenith of Chola architectural brilliance. Raja Chola was one of the greatest emperors of the Chola dynasty. He built the temple with great devotion towards lord Shiva. He started the construction of this temple. Thereafter, the second king built another Temple named the same as the Brihadeeswara Temple. And then, the third king built the Airavatesvara temple. All three temples are marvels of architecture, but this one in Tanjore is unique.
This one holds a position in the list of mysterious temples, either in India or around the world. How did the workers build the temple? No one understands. The technology was far better than nowadays. Many visitors were fascinated for centuries because of the architecture, paintings, and that unknown secret. Furthermore, some devotees explained their experiences with some dark side too. Such as whispering sounds, the presence of somebody, and the sounds of chants.
The unknown secret
The Brihadeeswara Temple is the hub of secrets that are known to only a few people. People who can’t talk to us. The temple was built centuries ago, a question for science. Similarly, the Jajannath Puri Temple this temple does not cast a shadow at noon.
The vanishing shadow of Vimana is a phenomenon that defies logic. There is no shadow. Not on the ground. Not in the courtyard. Scholars have tried to explain it. But locals whisper a different tale.
Moreover, visitors have reported hearing chants in empty halls. Additionally, on certain days, priests claim to see a flicker of movement where no light should reach. They say, “A Shadow that moves without a source and A Shadow that waits for a long time”.
The temple of Brihadeeswara has some unexplored hidden passageways and underground chambers. At present, they are not in use. But earlier, they may have had royal access. In fact, people believe that the temple has musical pillars. Because there come the mystical secret sounds.
Above all, the above mysteries are either human-made or god interrupted. Who knows. That massive Nandi statue, made from just a single granite stone gazing over all the directions, is the epitome of the temple’s architectural features. The temple is full of majestic mysteries as the mystery of multiples of number 9. To illustrate, 9 pillars, a giant Nandi statue, 108 Karanas sculptures of dance poses, 108 Shiva lingams, and many more.
The Mysterious Granite
Everybody knows that Raja Raja Chola built the temple using granite. But no one has information on where the granite stone came from? In other words, there is not a single source of Granite in about 60 Km of radius around the temple. The temple has a structure entirely made of granite. Here remains a mystery of transporting and carving such big stones.
However, the ancient builder hauled tons of stone up to a tower 200 feet high. This tall tower dwarfs everything around it. The 80-ton capstone, Sri Vimana, is the next mystery of this temple. Atop the vimana sits a single granite stone weighing 80 tons.
How could anyone put such a heavy stone at that time? Some legends say that the builders made a 6 km-long ramp. And they used elephants and bulls to take up the vimana. Surprisingly, the structure is standing without any binding material. No cement. No glue, no mud. Just interlocking. This incredible interlocking is standing still even today.
However, the building structure of this Brihadeswara Temple is standing. Straight on the ground. Whereas monuments like the leaning tower of Pisa have tilted over time. Built with the same phenomenon but not in the same pose.
The eternal presence
The real title of the Brihadeeswara temple has changed several times. Series as Rajarajeswaram, Peruvudaiyar Kovil, and Brihadeeswara. But the originality and mystery never changed. Many of the above aspects are just based on assumptions, not proofs.
Thus, the Brihadisvara temple is a bridge between faith and engineering, between known history and unanswered questions.
Even after a thousand years, the temple doesn’t just stand, it breathes, whispering stories that history books never dared to write. At last, the temple is that monument which blends history with mystery very uniquely.
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Frequently asked questions
Q. What is the location of the Brihadeeswara temple?
A. Brihadeeswara temple lies in the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.
Q. How old is the Brihadeeswara Temple?
A. The temple, built in the 11th century, is 1,000 years old.
Q. Why is the Brihadeeswara temple mysterious?
A. The temple holds secrets that go beyond its stunning Chola architecture – from the unexplained placement of 108 lingams to ancient engineering feats that still puzzle scientists.