GOPS CREATIV :: REDISCOVERING MY LOST PASSIONS
Jan 20
by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage 28 comments tags: airavat, Airavateshwarar, Airavatesvara, architecture, Chola, Darasuram, Dharasuram, Dravidian, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops photography, gops.org, Great, great living chola temples, heritage, hindu, india, Kumbakonam, Living, monument, mural, nayak, painting, period, photography, raja raja cholan, shiva, site, south, Tamilnadu, Tanjore, temple, Temples, Thanjavur, unesco, தாராசுரம்

THE GREAT LIVING CHOLA TEMPLES, PART 3 of 3 : DARASURAM (தாராசுரம்)

The Chola Dynasty, which thrived from 300 BC to 1279 CE in Southern India, were devout followers of Shaivism and ardent supporters of arts, literature, and poetry. The Chola Kings, also known as “சோழர்” in Tamil, held a significant position among the rulers of India. They were renowned for constructing numerous Shiva Temples across the world, many of which still stand today. The collection of three remarkable architectural wonders, known as ‘The Great Living Chola Temples,’ were constructed by the Chola Kings and can still be found in Thanjavur, Gangaikondacholapuram, and Darasuram in Tamil Nadu. These temples stand out for their distinctive Dravidian architecture and exceptional artistic craftsmanship. The Brihadeeswarar temple ( Read about it here ) , also known as the Big Temple or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, situated in Thanjavur, was completed in 1010 AD by Emperor Raja Raja Chola I (985–1014 AD). This magnificent temple, which celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2010, is among the largest temples in India and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. Rajendra Chola-I (1012-1044 AD), the son of the renowned Rajaraja-I, expanded the kingdom as far as the Ganga River in the North and earned the title Gangaikondacholan. He was a […]
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Jan 20
by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage 11 comments tags: angkor wat, Bali, blog, BRIHADISWARA, Chola, CHOLAN, CHOZHA, Combodia, Darasuram, dynasty, Gangaikondacholapuram, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops.org, Great, heritage, hindu, history, india, Living, Nadu, Perumthachan, Perunthachan, photography, RAJA RAJA, Rajendra, ruler, shiva, Tamil, Tanjore, Temples, Thanjavur, tourism, unesco, WORLD, கோயில், பெருவுடையார், ராஜராஜ சோழன், പെരുന്തച്ചന്‍

THE GREAT LIVING CHOLA TEMPLES, PART 2 of 3 : GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM (கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம்)

The group of three magnificent architectural wonders dating back to the Medieval Chola period are collectively known as ‘The Great Living Chola Temples’, and are still standing proudly in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. These remarkable temples, Brihadiswara (<click), Gangaikondacholapuram and Darasuram (<click) , are celebrated for their exceptional Dravidian architecture, profound scientific knowledge, and astonishing artistic craftsmanship. Before delving into this page, I recommend acquainting yourself with the story of Raja Raja Chola and his monumental creation, the Brihadiswara Temple. Rajendra Chola-I (இராசேந்திர சோழன்), the son of the illustrious Rajaraja-I, reigned from 1012 to 1044 AD. Renowned for his conquest that extended as far north as the Ganga river, he was conferred the title Gangaikondacholan, signifying ‘The Chola who brought Ganga.’ Rajendra, commanding one of the most formidable naval forces of his time, subsequently expanded his father’s kingdom across distant shores. His reign witnessed the Chola Kingdom’s dominion over large swathes of Southern India, as well as territories in Northern India such as Kalinga (present-day Orissa), Bihar, and Bengal/Bangladesh. Moreover, their influence extended to foreign regions including Sri Lanka, Burma, Bali, Java, Sumatra, Kadaram (now Kedah in Malaysia), and Cambodia. It is notable that the Hindu traditions observed in Indonesia and […]
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Jan 20
by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage 8 comments tags: angkor wat, Bali, blog, BRIHADISWARA, Chola, CHOLAN, CHOZHA, Combodia, Darasuram, dynasty, Gangaikondacholapuram, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops.org, Great, heritage, hindu, history, india, Living, Nadu, Perumthachan, Perunthachan, photography, RAJA RAJA, Rajendra, ruler, shiva, Tamil, Tanjore, Temples, Thanjavur, tourism, unesco, WORLD, கோயில், பெருவுடையார், ராஜராஜ சோழன், പെരുന്തച്ചന്‍

THE GREAT LIVING CHOLA TEMPLES, PART 1 of 3 : BRIHADISWARA (பெருவுடையார் கோயில்)

‘The Great Living Chola Temples’, a group of three magnificent architectural marvels, were constructed during the Medieval Chola period and continue to stand proudly in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. These extraordinary temples – Brihadiswara, Gangaikondacholapuram (<click) and Darasuram (<click) – are renowned for their Dravidian architecture, advanced scientific knowledge, and exceptional artistic craftsmanship. During my explorations of the history of the Chola empire, I had the opportunity to witness the entire life cycle of a dynasty that governed nearly all of Southern India for an extensive period. While the precise origins of the Chola dynasty remain ambiguous, it is thought that they coexisted with Ashoka around 300BC and maintained their dominance until 1279AD. Similar to many influential civilizations situated near rivers, the Chola territory was also established around the Kaveri river basin, and their remarkable legacy endures through the grand temples they constructed in the area. Among the prominent Chola rulers, Raja Raja Cholan and his son Rajendra Cholan stand out as leaders who oversaw the prosperous era during the 460-year Chola reign. The Cholas boasted one of the most formidable naval forces of their time, enabling them to capture the northern half of Sri Lanka in 996AD. Towards the conclusion […]
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