The Brihadiswarar Temple at Thanjavur (The Big Temple) was built by the Chola Emperor Raja Raja Chozhan, in the year 1010. It has been built entirely on granite and statues sculpted. It is a marvel of art and is extremely fascinating to behold. You know all the facts.
The temple reflecting Tamil culture, ethos, and Tamil way of life has completed One Thousand years this month and Mu Ka and the Tamilnadu Govt decided to have a grand celebration of the event - a 1000 years of Raja Rajeswaram. Celebrations commenced on 22nd Sep, the Thanjavur town and the Temple wore a festive look. Many literary sessions and orations later, there was a grand sight on 25th evening - there was a Dance program in which 1000 dancers took part!
The legendary Padma Subramaniam led these 1000 artistes and arranged, managed the spectacular show. The dancers were from all parts of Tamilnadu and other Indian states, and many had come from foreign countries also ! Everyone of them came to Thanjavur on their own expense (they spent for their lodging and boarding also ...) out of sheer dedication, love, and Bhakti "to perform in front of the God Brahadiswarar and Ambal Brahannayaki."
Chief Minister Mu Ka presided over this great spectacle (Visualise 1000 artistes in dance dress on a single stage -Medai-). They danced in unison for three songs, starting with ‘Ganapathy Kauthuvam,' followed it up with ‘Thirvisaipa songs of Karuvur Devar' and concluded with ‘Sivapanchaksharam, stotras of Adi Sankara.' It was a rare sight to see the hundreds of artists dancing around the Nandhi Mandapam with the 216-ft-tall Vimana of the Big Temple in the backdrop. Excellant, in one word.
On 26th Sep (yesterday) the celebrations came to a finale with unending speeches from hundred ministers of State and Central Govts. A postal stamp and a 5-rupee coin both depicting the magnificent edifice were released by Mu Ka. He also gave 1000 of these 5-re coins to the dancers. The coins were in a golden-bag (Porkizhi, in Tamil) and Padma Subramaniam couldn't lift the bag !! If a single coin would weigh 9 grams, then the Porkizhi would have weighed 9 kg!
Want to conduct any big-scale function or event ? Dikshits, Kalmadis of this world should learn how to, from our own CM Mu Ka. At his age, he personally supervises every single detail minutely, however small or trivial they may be. One may call him anything, but there is none to beat Mu Ka in organising mega events.
I have been to this temple only once, 20-25 years ago, that time its surroundings and Prakaarams were shabby and dirty. I hope to go to the temple in November this year - and I am sure the conditions have improved vastly.
When did you go there last?
Rajappa
11:00 AM
27 Sep 2010
The temple reflecting Tamil culture, ethos, and Tamil way of life has completed One Thousand years this month and Mu Ka and the Tamilnadu Govt decided to have a grand celebration of the event - a 1000 years of Raja Rajeswaram. Celebrations commenced on 22nd Sep, the Thanjavur town and the Temple wore a festive look. Many literary sessions and orations later, there was a grand sight on 25th evening - there was a Dance program in which 1000 dancers took part!
The legendary Padma Subramaniam led these 1000 artistes and arranged, managed the spectacular show. The dancers were from all parts of Tamilnadu and other Indian states, and many had come from foreign countries also ! Everyone of them came to Thanjavur on their own expense (they spent for their lodging and boarding also ...) out of sheer dedication, love, and Bhakti "to perform in front of the God Brahadiswarar and Ambal Brahannayaki."
Chief Minister Mu Ka presided over this great spectacle (Visualise 1000 artistes in dance dress on a single stage -Medai-). They danced in unison for three songs, starting with ‘Ganapathy Kauthuvam,' followed it up with ‘Thirvisaipa songs of Karuvur Devar' and concluded with ‘Sivapanchaksharam, stotras of Adi Sankara.' It was a rare sight to see the hundreds of artists dancing around the Nandhi Mandapam with the 216-ft-tall Vimana of the Big Temple in the backdrop. Excellant, in one word.
On 26th Sep (yesterday) the celebrations came to a finale with unending speeches from hundred ministers of State and Central Govts. A postal stamp and a 5-rupee coin both depicting the magnificent edifice were released by Mu Ka. He also gave 1000 of these 5-re coins to the dancers. The coins were in a golden-bag (Porkizhi, in Tamil) and Padma Subramaniam couldn't lift the bag !! If a single coin would weigh 9 grams, then the Porkizhi would have weighed 9 kg!
Want to conduct any big-scale function or event ? Dikshits, Kalmadis of this world should learn how to, from our own CM Mu Ka. At his age, he personally supervises every single detail minutely, however small or trivial they may be. One may call him anything, but there is none to beat Mu Ka in organising mega events.
I have been to this temple only once, 20-25 years ago, that time its surroundings and Prakaarams were shabby and dirty. I hope to go to the temple in November this year - and I am sure the conditions have improved vastly.
When did you go there last?
Rajappa
11:00 AM
27 Sep 2010
I have been there about 3 years before for the first time and amazed at the sight of this temple and the sivalingam, Nandi. History says all of them are of monolithic.
ReplyDeleteI have read it in History in school days and was happy to make a visit personally at that time.
It is also believed (a myth?!) that no one in power enters through main entrance of this temple. Probably that is the reason that Mu Ka entered through south entrance (he still wants to be in power!!!!)
I could not watch this event as I was in a temple when you informed me.
Suresh