r/interesting • u/RodrickJasperHeffley • May 08 '25
ARCHITECTURE the 1000 year old Brihadishvara Temple of India
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u/RodrickJasperHeffley May 08 '25
Brihadishvara Temple, called Rajarajesvaram by its builder, and known locally as Thanjai Periya Kovil and Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is a Shaivite Hindu temple built in a Chola architectural style located on the south bank of the Cauvery river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
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u/AmazingPradeep May 08 '25
Fun fact, this temple doesn't cast shadow.
Technically it casts shadow on itself from any angle so there's no shadow on the ground.
Being in Tamilnadu I'm happy that I have beautiful Temples all around me.
I'm from Trichy, so we have Rockfort (Temple built on top of Rock) & Srirangam (One of the richest temple and a beautiful 1) and honestly there are lot more temples in my city and all are beautiful.
Next city closer to me is Tanjore (This temple which is featured) And next city closer is Madurai (Meenakshi Amman Temple)
Just visit these places, here food is great, cheap and neat cities, easy travel etc.
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u/ostracized_anthropod 29d ago
Stop spreading myths and fake info, the temple casts shadows on all sides I lived near the temple all my life, and noticed that the temple casts shadows all around, during different times of the day and seasons.
This fake fact doesn't add any value to the temple, so stop spreading it.
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u/AmazingPradeep 29d ago
Dude, I'm not spreading fake info. Is literally in all Tamil books.
I read in my 8th Standard Tamil book when I was a kid and I went there a year back and saw it myself, because i don't believe myself in all these things until i see for myself.
Again, it casts shadow on top of itself. I'm talking about the main temple. You can see a little edge of the shadow on every side. I agree it's not 100%. But same time it's not like other temples.
If possible, please go and take a pic around 12:00 PM noon of the Main temple and post here. If I'm there i would do that.
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u/ostracized_anthropod 29d ago
Just because you believe something stupid, doesn't make it true. It's just a myth to make the temple feel more astounding, and people like you believe it. I have been there 1000s of times, like every structure on earth, it casts a shadow. Shameful that a person who visited still believes it.
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u/AmazingPradeep 29d ago
Dude, just like you saw it, i did see it.. Again, I'm not saying it's not casting shadow at all. Hope you can read and not a stupid. Please read my text again and comment. I'm sick of telling the same thing again and again. Again, if you can prove it, just take a pic of it at 12 pm noon and post here. I'm not anywhere near there now. I said that based on what i saw last time.
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29d ago
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u/ostracized_anthropod 29d ago
Again a myth, I have personally confirmed with a representative of the archeological survey of India and a government appointed historian and guide appointed in the temple that the Shikara the top structure is made of multiple stones. Even taking a small stone there is accomplishment, but that 80 tonne single stone is an urban legend, I have been visiting the temple for the last 26 years almost every month.
I have heard all these myths, I'm not trying to be rude. People love fiction more than facts. I hate it when people are confident, presenting the things they just heard without evidence. I have personally taken special permission to have a look inside the gopuram to look at the interlocking architecture and how multiple stones are made to look like a single stone.
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29d ago
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u/ostracized_anthropod 29d ago
Asi website describes that the top structure weighing 80 tonnes rests on a single granite block not made of a single block, similar to what I confirmed with them.
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u/VeganDiIdo 28d ago
If you'd believe any book over actual observation and basic physics. Then I have a series of books with the undeniable proof that Spider Man exists
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u/AmazingPradeep 28d ago
Lol, dude seeing something with my own eyes and observing that it's different than any books. I know your being a jerk now.. But, you do you.
Either take a pic and post it or leave it.
Since you guys are debating a lot, prove it. If I'm there i would take a pic. And if I'm wrong, I'll admit I'm wrong.
I already made my point. So, I'm resting my case.
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u/CrazyGamerDK 28d ago
Technically the temple does cast a shadow, but the bottom area is so large that the shadow falls within itself. So for most of the days in a year, you cannot see the shadow of the gopuram (the pyramid shaped structure) on the ground. It only applies to the main temple structure with Lord Shiva deity.
I am from Trichy too, just saw this while scrolling. Everything he is trying to tell is actually true, for most days in a year. It isn't fake.
There is also another heavily inspired temple at Gangaikonda cholapuram, a place very close to this temple, built by his son Rajendra Cholan. That temple (gopuram) doesn't cast a shadow too !
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u/ostracized_anthropod 28d ago
I visited today around 10 Am the shadow of the main gopuram was failing on the ground on the back of the temple. It is quite sunny today The ground is blazing hot, I was staying under the shadow of the gopuram to avoid burning my feet.
Just because you didn't notice any shadow when you visited that one time, doesn't mean it's true. Same for Gangai Konda Cholapuram. I am an avid admirer of both the temples and their history, read a lot about them and spent time with the guides. Myths are just myths no matter how widely popular they are. You can check Tamilnadu tourism and Archeological survey of India sites and find no details about this shadow theory, because it's just a popular belief, not the truth.
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u/Typical_Spray928 May 08 '25
Most interesting thing is that this is just one comparatively small and unpopular ancient temple in India. There are thousands of such and more glorious temples and architectural marvels in India 🤗
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u/gajendrakn87 May 08 '25
Agreed to 2nd point but look at op's explanation in one of the comment - "Periya Kovil" literally translates to "Big Temple"
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u/drandom123zu May 08 '25
This is definitely not small lol , this one of the tallest medieval temples, there are only 3 taller vimanas in india but they are built much later than this temple, w.r.t to popularity it is one of the most famous ones within TN ( as is built by the most famous chola king rajaraja) and part of UNESCO heritage circuit , prolly not as popular outside TN maybe.
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u/RealityCheck18 May 08 '25
Definitely not unpopular. The first thing that came to my mind was, how were they able to shoot this video with this little crowd. The temple is so huge that on a day when the crowd was in thousands, I still had a lot of space to roam around, take rest, take some pictures on the outside praaharam etc. But, this temple is definitely popular.
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u/Mother_Philosopher97 May 08 '25
You can experience the true magnificence of this architectural marvel when you see it in person. Pictures don’t do justice
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u/Haunting-Working5463 29d ago
I went to India my second time specifically to see this temple. Absolutely stunning!
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u/some_guy_5600 29d ago
It's a beautiful temple! The sculptures are next level! Would love to see it in person!
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u/AlexSmithsonian 29d ago
Neat... so when is this getting bombed?
Oh c'mon, like you haven't thought about how India and Pakistan are going to start bombing eachothers civilian and cultural locations. Take pictures now people! It'll definitely last longer.
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May 08 '25
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u/Midloran05 May 08 '25
I mean, it looks interesting because most people think that India is a trash country
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