SSC
The Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur was built by:
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Answer: Option B — Raja Raja Chola I
Detailed Solution
The Brihadeeswara (or Brihadisvara) Temple at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, was built by the Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I, and completed in 1010 CE.
About the Brihadeeswara Temple:
- It is also called "Rajarajeswaram" (after its builder) and "Peruvudaiyar Kovil".
- It is dedicated to Lord Shiva; its sanctum holds a huge Shiva lingam, about 3.7 metres high.
- It was designed by the architect Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan.
- It is built almost entirely of granite, although there are no granite quarries nearby; the stones were brought from far away.
The tower over the sanctum is about 66 metres (216 feet) high, one of the tallest in the world of its time. It has 13 tiers.
Its top is crowned by a single huge granite block (the cupola), traditionally said to weigh about 80 tonnes. It is believed to have been raised using a long ramp.
A huge monolithic Nandi (sacred bull), about 4 metres high and 6 metres long, faces the sanctum; it is one of the largest in India.
The temple walls have frescoes from the Chola period and inscriptions that give details of temple administration, dancers and musicians.
The sanctum walls have carvings of 81 of the 108 "karanas" (dance poses) of Bharatanatyam.
In 2010, the temple celebrated its 1,000th anniversary; a commemorative coin and stamp were issued.
UNESCO World Heritage:
It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. In 2004, the site was extended as the "Great Living Chola Temples", which also include:
The Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, built by Rajendra Chola I.
A third Chola temple, built by Rajaraja Chola II.
About Raja Raja Chola I:
- He ruled from about 985 to 1014 CE.
- He expanded the Chola empire to include large parts of South India, Sri Lanka (northern part) and the Maldives.
- He built a strong navy and a well-organised administration; he ordered a survey of land for revenue.
His son, Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 CE), led a naval expedition to Southeast Asia (Srivijaya), and an expedition to the Ganga, after which he took the title "Gangaikonda Chola" and founded a new capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Rajendra Chola I built the temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
- ✗Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) was a Pallava king of about 700 CE.
- ✗Krishnadeva Raya was a Vijayanagara emperor (1509-1529).
Quick tip
Remember: Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur = Raja Raja Chola I (completed 1010; 66-metre tower; huge Nandi; UNESCO 1987, "Great Living Chola Temples"); Gangaikonda Cholapuram = Rajendra Chola I.
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.