The Thanjai Periya Kovil, additionally called Rajarajeshvaram or Peruvudaiyar Kovil, is the sanctuary committed to Ruler Shiva in Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. It is situated on the southern bank of tha Kaveri River. Rajarajeshvaram is the Shiva deity's original name. The Marathas, on the other hand, have it the name Brihadeeswara, just like their descendants did when they imposed a different language without any rights.

Nataraja, the “cosmic dancer” who is in attendance, is Lord Shiva. The temple was constructed by the Tamil King Arulmozhivarman, more commonly referred to as Raja Raja Chola I. It was constructed between the years 1003 and 1010 A.D., and in September of 2010, its celebrated its 1000th year. It is the very best example of Dravidian architecture.

The History of Thanjavur Periya Kovil:                                                   Ruler Arulmozhivarman, subsequent to overcoming Sri Lanka, is said to have had to fantasy. He started building this architectural masterpiece after having this dream. There is also the possibility that this was the great king's final resting place. The following is the story about his death. One of the defeated king's daughters may have escaped when he conquered Sri Lanka. She ultimately gained his trust and was raised to higher positions. At the point when they were together in a higher story of the sanctuary, she understood the open door. He was crushed to death by her. However, the reason he died on his own remains a mystery.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram, which was built by his son, King Rajendra Chola I, is not far away. It is 75 kilometres (two hours) away from Periya Kovil. He designed it after a significant portion of India, including the entire south and the Ganges River. Consequently, the name Gangaikonda Cholapuram Cholapuram translates to “Chola City,” and Gangaikonda means “Possessing Ganga.” As a result, it is sometimes referred to as “The City of the Cholas after Conquering Ganga.”

Construction of Thanjavur Periya Kovil:

The sanctuary is one of the UNESCO World Legacy Destination, alongside its sister sanctuaries, Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Airavateshwara Sanctuary. The first structure in the world made entirely of granite was the Peruvudaiyar Temple, which was constructed entirely of granite. The quantity, according to some estimates, is around 130,000 metric tonnes. The fact that there are no granite quarries within a 100-mile radius of the temple is the more surprising and preplexing aspect.

It is not easy to carry to engrave scriptures into granite. The temple's numerous inscriptions demonstrate the Dravidian architects' technical prowess. Furthermore, this magnificent structure is constructed without the use of any binding materials. Considering that there are no designs higher than 200 feet without the use of restricting specialists, it makes it really entrancing.

The walls of the extraordinary sanctuary are engraved with Tamil and Grantha-script compositions. Traditional literature, information from the King, and contribution made by others to the temple are among these. They also go into great detail about the various kinds of jwellery used. There are eleven different kinds of diamonds and 23 different kinds of pearls in the jwellery. 

During its construction, the temple's Vimana (tower) was one of the tallest structures. It stands tall at 63.4 meters (208 feet). The Shiva is a Shivalinga. The Linga has a staggering height of 29 feet, 8.7 meters. A single stone also made the linga. Additionally, it is one of the world's largest. The Nandi sculpture present at the entry was likewise made from a single stone.

Unique Merits:

The tower's cap weighs 80 tonnes. It brings about the impression of energy towards the Karuvarai (Garbha Graha). As a result, the temple never loses its upbeat energy. The people who are present typically feel at ease as a result of this positivity. There are a few underground passage that were used by the Lord, sages, and the Illustrious Family.

As previously started, Lord Shiva the is focus of worship at the temple. However, it has sub-sanctuaries with the divinities of Vishnu and other Vaishnava divine begins. Because of this, it is one of the very few temple's that can say that it has dieties from Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

The temple's two main mysteries are as follows:

The temple's construction was completed in just seven years. This may not appear to be something major until you understand the following truth: Despite being six times smaller than Periya Kovil, the construction of the Great Pyramid to Giza took approximately twenty years. 

The way that the cap of the Vimana gauges a surprising eighty tonnes itself is an extraordinary accomplishment. The method by which they achieved they 60-metre height without requiring any modern requirements remains a mystery.