The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, also called Prahadisvarar or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and the masterpiece of Chola architecture. It was built by the emperor Rajaraja I as the centrepiece of his capital, to proclaim the power and wealth of the dynasty. Its granite tower, known as the vimana, rises in tiers above the sanctum and is capped by a huge single stone, while a large sculpture of the bull Nandi faces the main shrine. The walls carry inscriptions recording gifts, and traces of Chola-era wall paintings remain inside. The temple is part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and remains in active worship today.
Before and after
- 1006SN 1006
- 1006The brightest supernova in recorded history appears
- from 1007 to 1090Construction of Qal'at Bani Hammad
- c. 1010Origins of Hanoi
- 1010Construction of Prahadisvarar Temple
- c. 1010sMurasaki Shikibu writes The Tale of Genji
- from c. 1011 to 1215Ghurid dynasty
- from 1011 to 1934Construction of Saint Sophia Cathedral
- 1015Construction of Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 691 CEConstruction of Dome of the Rock
- 8th centuryConstruction of Borobudur Temple
- from 1206 to 1368Mongol Empire
- 1239Construction of Alhambra
- 1420Construction of Kremlin
- 1473Construction of Sistine Chapel
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 11th century.