Bharatiya Pragna - Dr. Th Chowdary

The two separate ‘Gopurams’ (Towers) at the
entrance of the vast inner courtyard are carved
with illustrations of Shivite stories such as
‘Shiva-Parvathi marriage’, ‘Shiva saving
Markandeya’ and ‘Arjuna getting Pasupatha
weapon from Shiva’ etc, apart from two Dvarapalas.
The central shrine has a colossal Linga named
after Rajaraja as ‘Rajarajesvaramudayar’ and
the huge monolithic ‘Nandhi’ (Rishaba) was
installed by Sevappa Nayak.
The paintings on the walls and their colours are
soft & subdued with firm lines and bright &
true to life expressions, serving as the priceless
document of Chola art, which has been
interestingly a continuation of Pallava art, as
evidenced by the commonalities in the paintings
of Kancheepuram and Thanjavur temples.
Rajaraja Chola has documented his achievements
in the name of ‘Mei Keerthi’ meaning
‘True Accomplishment’.
Rajaraja Chola was so magnanimous that he
honoured the chief architect of the temple with
the title ‘Rajaraja Perum Thachchan’.
The plinth, walls, roofs and every part of the
temple has been carved with inscriptions, sculptures
& paintings, which serve as great documentation
and account of the glorious Chola
period.
During the Islamic invasion of India, in
the later stage, Malik Kafur had desecrated this
temple when he invaded South India. He destroyed
two tiers of the ‘Gopuram’, took some amount of
Gold found on the ‘Vimana’ and vandalised many
parts inside the temple. The French and the British
have also used the massive ramparts of the
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temple as barracks of their armies. Later on the
temple came under the control of the ‘Marathas’,
as per the turn of history. Now, the temple, which
comes under the administration of Hindu Religious
& Charitable Endowments Board of Tamilnadu
government, is protected and maintained by the
Archaeological Survey of India.
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI), which falls under the Ministry of Culture,
is responsible for the archaeological researches,
protection and Maintenance of ancient monuments
and archaeological sites and remains of
national importance. Besides it regulates all archaeological
activities in the country as per the
provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also
regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
To achieve its objective, the ASI works in 24
Circles throughout the country. The organisation
has a large work force of trained archaeologists,
conservators, epigraphist, architects and scientists
for conducting archaeological research projects
through its Circles, Museums, Excavation
Branches, Prehistory Branch, Epigraphy
Branches, Science Branch, Horticulture Branch,
Building Survey Project, Temple Survey Projects
and Underwater Archaeology Wing.
It is almost one year since the ASI has
started working in Thanjavur Big Temple in the
name of ‘Renovation & Restoration’, which has
become an issue of utmost concern for historians,
research scholars, religious scholars and the
local people. They feel that the great historical
temple is at peril and that the timeless inscriptions,
sculptures and paintings are under immi-
nent threat.
November & December 2008 Bharatiya Pragna