Brihadeeswarar Temple
பிரகதீஸ்வரர் கோவில்
Lord Shiva (Brihadeeswarar) · Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
✓ VerifiedHeritage★ 4.970,000 reviews10,000 visits
About the temple
Part of "Great Living Chola Temples"; Iconic Chola Architecture Strength, prosperity, and removal of obstacles
Temple information
- Darshan timings
- 06:00 – 20:30
- Established
- 1010
- Best time to visit
- Evening (to see the granite glow at sunset)
- Entry fee
- Free
Deity
Lord Shiva (Brihadeeswarar) · பிரகதீஸ்வரர் (லிங்கம்)DakshinamurthyMuruganVarahiChandikeswararLord Ganesha
- Deity form
- Massive Shiva Lingam (one of the largest in India)
- Religious tradition
- Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta
- Sanskrit name
- बृहदीश्वर मन्दिर
- Also known as
- Thanjai Periya Kovil, Rajarajeswaram
Darshan hours
- Daily
- 06:00 - 12:30, 16:00 - 20:30
- Break timings
- 12:30 PM to 04:00 PM
- Special days
- Extended during Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri
- Festival timings
- Open until midnight on Maha Shivaratri
Aarti & rituals
- Morning aarti
- 06:30
- Midday aarti
- 12:00
- Evening aarti
- 18:00
- Night aarti
- 20:00
- Special aarti days
- Pradosham (Twice a month)
- Ritual schedule
- Four kaala poojas
- Pooja timings
- Kalasanthi Pooja: 8:00 AM Uchikalam Puja: 12:00 PM Sayaraksha Puja : 5:00 PM Irandaam Kala Puja: 7:00 PM
- Abhishek timings
- Special Abhishekam for Nandi on Pradosham
- Special poojas
- Pradosha Pooja, Sahasranamam
- Online pooja booking
- No
History & heritage
- Historical period
- Ancient
- Built by
- Chola Dynasty (Raja Raja Chola I)
- Architect / builder
- Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perunthachan
- Construction materials
- Granite (transported from 60km away)
- Historical events
- Completion in 1010 CE; Consecration by Raja Raja I
- Renovations
- Nayaka and Maratha period additions
- Archaeological importance
- ASI Protected Monument
- Legends
- The shadow of the Vimana is said to never fall on the ground at noon
- Inscriptions
- Extensive Tamil inscriptions detailing grants and workers
Architecture
- Architectural style
- Dravidian
- Architectural period
- Chola Architecture
- Structure
- Complex with a massive Vimana
- Floors
- 16
- Gopuram
- Entrance Gopurams (Keralantakan and Rajarajan)
- Mandapa
- Nandi Mandapam, Mukha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam
- Sculptural features
- Massive monolithic Nandi (statue of the bull)
- Artistic elements
- Chola frescoes (hidden layers) and Maratha paintings
- Construction technique
- Interlocking stones without binding mortar
- Unique features
- 80-ton single stone Kumbam (capstone) at the top
Festivals & events
Maha ShivaratriRaja Raja Chola's Birthday (Sathaya Vizha)
- Festival calendar
- Sathaya Vizha (October/November)
- Special celebration days
- Pradosham is highly significant here
- Cultural events
- Bharatanatyam performances (Natyanjali)
- Annual events
- Chitra Pournami
- Peak crowd season
- October to March
Visitor information
- ✓ Parking
- ✓ Restrooms
- ✓ Drinking water
- ✓ Shoe keeping
- ✓ Prasadam counter
- ✓ Annadanam
- ✓ Photography allowed
- Entry fee
- Free
- Dress code
- Traditional
- Best time to visit
- Evening (to see the granite glow at sunset)
- Parking capacity
- 100+
- Parking fees
- Minimal (managed by municipality)
- Donation counters
- Yes
- Donation methods
- Cash, UPI
- Prasadam
- Laddu, Tamarind Rice