Brihadeeswarar Temple
Lord Shiva as Brihadeeswarar (Peruvudaiyar)
Photo: Govindaraj Mahalakshmi, CC BY-SA 4.0Legend
The Chola emperor Rajaraja I built this temple between 1003 and 1010 CE and named it Rajarajeshvaram, the temple of the god of Rajaraja. A later inscription calls the deity Periya Udaiya Nayanar, the great lord, which became Peruvudaiyar and Brihadeeswarar. Tradition holds that the whole complex was raised in about seven years. The temple is also called Dakshina Meru, the Meru of the South.
Why this temple matters
Thanjavur's Big Temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Great Living Chola Temples, inscribed in 1987. Its vimana rises about 63.4 metres (216 ft) and the capstone is a single granite block of about 80 tons. The linga is about 29 feet high and fills two storeys of the sanctum. The monolithic Nandi weighs about 25 tonnes. Chola frescoes lie under later paintings and 81 of the 108 Bharatanatyam karanas are carved in the upper corridor.
What devotees pray for here
Career Growth
Devotees see this temple, built by one of India's greatest kings at the height of his power, as a place of leadership and accomplishment. Many come before a new job, a promotion, a business launch or an exam and offer archana to Peruvudaiyar, praying for the clarity and courage that Rajaraja is remembered for.
Dosha Remedies
Tradition holds that prayer before the giant linga and a full pradakshina of the vast prakaram eases planetary and karmic burdens. Devotees seeking relief from doshas sponsor abhishekam to Brihadeeswarar and light lamps before the great Nandi.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March): night-long worship of Brihadeeswarar
- Sadaya Vizha (October–November): Rajaraja Chola's birth star Sadayam in the Tamil month Aippasi is remembered at the temple
- Pradosham (twice a month): evening worship of Shiva and Nandi
Poojas & rituals
- Archana in the devotee's name at the Peruvudaiyar sannidhi
- Abhishekam to the 29-foot linga, which devotees can sponsor
- Pradosham worship with lamps before Nandi
- Pradakshina of the outer prakaram past the Karuvur Devar shrine
- Lighting lamps at the Amman (Periya Nayaki) and Murugan shrines
Personal predictions for your own birth chart, pooja booking and prasad delivery are in the SantoBaba app.
How to reach
Tiruchirappalli International Airport is about 55 to 60 km away. Thanjavur Junction railway station is about 1.5 km from the temple and the old bus stand about 1 km. Thanjavur is about 350 km southwest of Chennai by road.
Timings
Open from about 6 AM to 12:30 PM and again from 4 PM to about 8:30 PM. The sanctum is closed in the afternoon.
Rules & dress code
Entry is free. Footwear is left at the entrance and modest dress is expected, as in any Tamil temple. The temple is an active place of worship as well as a heritage monument, so keep to the paths and do not touch the paintings.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Brihadeeswarar Temple famous?
It was built by Rajaraja Chola I around 1010 CE, has a 216-foot vimana with an 80-ton capstone, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Can I book a pooja at the Thanjavur Big Temple without visiting?
Yes. Archana and abhishekam can be arranged through a priest, and SantoBaba sends you the video and prasadam.
How far is Thanjavur from Trichy airport?
About 55 to 60 km, roughly an hour and a half by road.
Is the Big Temple open all day?
No. It closes in the afternoon, roughly 12:30 PM to 4 PM.
Photo gallery
Other temples for Career Growth: Chilkur Balaji Temple · Sabarimala Temple · Siddhivinayak Temple · Sri Kanaka Durga Temple · Tirupati Balaji Temple
Other temples for Dosha Remedies: Chamundeshwari Temple · Kashi Vishwanath Temple · Kedarnath Temple · Ramanathaswamy Temple · Somnath Temple · Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple · Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple · Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple