The Great Living Chola Temples, a majestic UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a testament to the grandeur of the Chola Empire. These three magnificent temples, the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, were built in the 11th to 12th century. They stand tall today, almost one thousand years later, as a living testament to the rich Hindu culture and the architectural prowess of the Chola kings. The powerful monarchy of the great Cholas ruled for more than four centuries from the 9th CE, and in this long reign, they had many immense achievements, one of which was a royal promotion of art. This unique group of temples establish the development of high Chola architecture whilst summarising a distinct period of history and culture for the area.
Outstanding Universal Value
Traditional temple worship was established based on older Agamic texts over a thousand years ago. These living temples allow people from across the world to come together to worship in such culturally significant temples. The extensive detailing of these grand temples attracts people far and wide to visit and experience this unique place of worship where they can feel a special devotion to their deity. The three Chola temples represent a significant period in which the history of the Chola Empire is etched in stone as a testimony to some of the greatest architectural and creative achievements of Tamil Nadu.
The first Chola temple, the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, was the most remarkable architectural achievement for the Chola. In 985 CE, the construction began by Chola King, Rajaraja I, who later consecrated the masterpiece with his own hands in 1009 CE. The temple is encompassed by a colossal prakara with sub-shrines and a Gopuram (gateway) at the main entrance. The prakara leaves a rectangular court where the sanctum lays at the rear. The vimana (main tower) stands 59.82 metres high in a pyramidal form, and the ground tier carries images of Shiva, with 13 talas (storeys) rising above it. A ceremonial path around the sanctum holds a grand linga (pillar-like symbol of Shiva), and the temple’s walls are embellished with exquisite mural paintings. Inside the sanctum is the most sacred chamber of the temple, the garbhagriha, with 81 of the 108 karanas (dance poses) carved on the wall of the second tier.
The second Chola, The Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, began construction in 1012 CE by Rajendra I. The temple’s vimana reaches 55 metres high and is considered one of the biggest in South India. The vimana of this temple follows a more curvilinear contour in comparison to the other temples, as it provides a more graceful structure to honour Shiva. This temple was built for Shiva with sculptures of outstanding quality. The bronze sculptures of Bhogasakti and Subrahmanya are monuments of Chola metal icons, making this temple a desired destination for millions of people.
Finally, the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram was built by Chola King Rajaraja II, and construction began in 1143 CE. This temple is much smaller than the other two Chola Temples and differs with its unique execution, leaving it without a ceremonial path or axial mandapas. The front mandapa was conceptualised as a chariot with wheels; the lavish pillars of this mandapa are a prime example of how the elegant sculptures of this temple dominate the architecture. Many sculptures in the temple are monuments of the famous Chola art, and the miniature friezes depicting the events of what happened to the 63 Saiva saints testify to the deep-rooted Shaivism in this region.
UNESCO criteria
The Great Living Chola Temples fall under four of the cultural selection criteria (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). UNESCO created ten selection criteria, four natural and six cultural, to be included on the World Heritage List; a site must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one of the criteria.
To meet criteria (i) is ‘to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius’. Each Chola temple represents outstanding creative achievements in the form of architecture, sculpture, and art as they boast extraordinary detailing and unique concepts. To meet criteria (ii) is ‘to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design’. Leading with the first Chola temple it became a great example as it is a place where humans exchanged cultural and religious values for almost one thousand years, with the other two temples following closely behind. To meet criteria (iii) is ‘to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared’. All three Chola temples bear the most outstanding testimony to the Chola dynasty and the traditional temple worship in Hindu culture. To meet criteria (iv) is ‘to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history’. The Chola Temples represent the unique and phenomenal ideologies of the Chola Empire through architecture and art, leaving physical representation of that period in human history.
The monuments of the Great Living Chola Temples bring people from all corners of the world together in a harmonious setting where everyone is equal. The temples have not only aided India’s cultural progression but have also economically benefitted the country as they attract millions of tourists to Tamil Nadu. Together, the temples tell a story of the great Chola Empire, a significant piece of Tamil Nadu’s history that led to this moment. The Chola temples create a hub for Hinduism where religious followers can join in celebrating their deity in such an extraordinary environment where their spirit can truly come to life, a special and emotional moment for millions of people.
References:
Datta, R. (2023). Brihadeshwara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram: History of the Cholas etched in stone. [online]. Available at: https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/places/brihadeshwara-temple-at-gangaikonda-cholapuram-in-tamil-nadu-history-of-the-cholas-etched-in-stone/cid/1926537
Ministry of Culture. (2024). Great Living Chola Temples. [online]. Available at: https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/great-living-chola-temples
The Chola Dynasty. (2024). Glossary of Special Terms. [online]. Available at: https://chola-dynasty.info/glossary/prefix:b/
UNESCO. (2024). Great Living Chola Temples. [online]. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/250/
UNESCO. (2024). The Criteria for Selection. [online]. Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/
Images
Image 1. Liturgical temples. Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur. [photograph]. Available at: https://www.liturgicaltemples.com/brihadeeswarar-temple-thanjavur/#google_vignette
Image 2. Tamil Nadu tourism. Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. [photograph]. Available at: https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/gangaikonda-cholapuram
Image 3. Thrilling travel. Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram. [photograph]. Available at: https://thrillingtravel.in/darasuram-airavatesvara-temple-great-living-chola.html
