Day 5 - Thanjai Peruvudayar Koil "Big" Temple in Thanjavur

Impressive Brihadeswara or Big Tanjaore temple. Make sure you listen for the totally unexpected story about the word's "anaconda" Tamil roots - extremely interesting! We were graciously welcomed in family homes of a farmer and a music professor who sung a classical Sanskrit for us. Saw the making of the classical musical instrument “Veena”. Had heart-warming visit at a local orphanage/elder home where we played fun games with the children and spoke with the sweet older people.
South India travel video. Overseas Adventure Travel group tour Soul of India - the Colorful South, Sunday 10-26-14: We started the day with MAGNIFICENT Thanjai Peruvudayar Koil Hindu temple located in the city of Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Brihadeswara, Periya Kovil, RajaRajeswara or Rajarajeswaram Temple and is one of the largest and tallest temples in India and one of India's most prized architectural sites.
The 'Big Temple', as it’s called, is dedicated to Shiva and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples". The entire temple structure is made out of granite and follows a geometric layout. The vimanam (temple tower) is 216 ft. high and is among the tallest of its kind in the world. The Kumbam (Kalasha or Chikharam, the apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is carved out of a single rock and it weighs around 80 tons. Near the entrance there is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, that measures about 16 feet long and 13 feet high.
In the 10th century, Indian emperor Raja raja Chola, while visiting Sri Lanka, had a dream ordering him to build this magnificent temple. Raja raja Chola the Great, as he is also called, by building the temple established the beginning of the powerful Chola dynasty. Brihadeswara was really enjoyed with many royal ceremonies and performances by the best Bharat natyam dancers, the traditional classical Tamil Nadu dance that was demonstrated to us the previous day by the two young sisters. The upper outer wall of the temple is carved with 108 “karanas” (postures of Bharathanatyam) such as the ones the sisters did for us at the end of the previous night's dance.
We enjoyed our visit along with many Indian families; kids and women dressed in colorful saris were looking at all the intricate carvings and murals that decorate every inch of the place.
We then stopped by the home of a farmer who showed us his cows and young calf, and told us a little about his family and his life. Next, we saw how the impressive classical Carnatic instrument “Veena” is made. Different carpenters were doing different steps, such as carving out the shape, preparing the wax, etc. It’s amazing that by using wood and raw basic materials they can create such a wonderful, heavenly sounding piece of art. We were also graciously welcomed into the home of a professional Carnatic singer, who sung for us a beautiful haunting devotional Sanskrit song praising the Lord Ganeshwara. The daughter of a relative family that was visiting for Diwali, also danced for us.
We then visited an orphanage that is supported by the Grand Circle Foundation, the section of our tour company OAT that supports local efforts to help the people of the countries we are visiting. Most of the kids were not there due to the Diwali festival, but the ones that were, welcomed us warmly. They sang for us, played games, and took each one of us by the hand to show us around. Even more heart-warming than the kids were the many elderly. Feeble and with no family it’s hard to imagine what their fate would be without this place. I salute the people dedicating their lives to this cause and invite all to donate.