Chola Paintings in Brihadeshwara the Tanjore Big Temple
After my eyes feasted and my lens scanned the spectacular stone sculpted images of Brihadishwara Temple, I moved on to the murals on the walls around the temple.
These huge Thanjavur temple paintings are now of great interest to the historians, mainly because three different styles (Chola, Nayaka and Maratha) have been portrayed through them. The Nayak Paintings and Maratha Paintings were known for long.
In 1931 the Chola Paintings in Brihadeeswarar the Tanjore Big Temple were accidentally discovered by S.K. Govindaswami, a young history lecturer from Annamalai University. Ever since the locals and tourists flock to see the Thanjai Periya Kovil paintings, as they fondly call it. (meaning Thanjavur big temple paintings). The Nayaks who ruled in 17th century had painted in their own style over the Chola paintings.
Great Living Chola Temple is in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list since 1987.
Chola Paintings in Brihadishwara Temple Goddess Durga.
Chola Paintings in Brihaeeshwara Temple Lord Ganapati.
Chola Paintings in Brihadeeshwara Temple Marriage of Lord Vishnu.
Chola Paintings in Brihadeshwara Tanjore
There are 2 sets of Chola paintings that you can see and admire in the Tanjore Big Temple.
One set is open for all and can be seen in the corridors that run along the wall of the temple. All pictures in this post are from there.
Another set of Chola paintings that were discovered recently as mentioned above in is inside the temple. They are in the walls of the secret passages of the temple that connects the temple with palace of Raja Raja Chola. Much like what we do in our homes today – lining up corridors and walls of foyers with pictures and paintings.
Chola Paintings in Brihadishwara Temple Balaram and Krishna.
Chola Paintings in Tanjore Big Temple Shiva Ling.
Chola Paintings in Brihadishwara Temple Goddess Parvati.
Lord Shiva is depicted in various forms, each mural telling a story, even hairdos of queens, their ornaments drawn in detail. The fine proportions in the drawings make them comparable to the frescoes of Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
Chola Paintings in Brihadeshwara Tanjore Temple Goddess of fire.
Chola Paintings in Tanjavoor Big Temple Lord Shiva.
Chola Paintings in Secret Tunnels of Thanjai Periya Kovil
You can see more paintings in the secret tunnels inside Brihadeeshwara Temple. No photography is allowed here.
Chola Paintings in Brihadeshwara Tanjore Temple Raja Raja Chola worshiping Lord Shiva.
Chola Paintings in Thanjai Periya Kovil
Interested in more Indian art? See Warli Art Work
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(This blogpost was first published on Feb 25, 2010.)
Beautiful frescoes and an interesting post!
meticulous and ancient, the paint resisted the generation!
I will call it ancient graffiti 🙂
A story unfolds through the frescos. Hopefully since it is a heritage site, it will be preserved well.
Hi Indrani! March has arrived and maybe this awful winter will be gone…
Happy Holi. Great Festival of Colours!!
Blogtrotter 2 is still in Haiti, now at Malfini Beach. Hope you enjoy and have a great week!!
Lovely paintings.
Wish you a very Happy Holi.
Wonderful pictures. Last week I have visited Tanjore.
Mind boggling – imagine the artists and the times – them working without the ease of what technology offers today to create such everlasting frescoes.
This is one amazing place… I really want to go to here just to see the paintings!!!
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What beautiful art. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Indrani, these frescos are absolutely amazing: so well painted and rich in details! I'd like to see them in person! Great photos!
Always so much to learn and enjoy from your posts.
Oh my goodness.. how do you always find such incredible places?
was supposed to be in thanjavur again this weekend..post is making me nostalgic
Wow! Those are awesome. What a cool place to visit!
Incredible!!!! I hope something can be done to preserve these amazing works of art. It would be a tragedy to lose them to future generations. Great photos Indrani, thank you for sharing them.
Beautiful. On Our Next Visit List Now…Thanks for Posting
That is a wonderful story! What interesting pictures.
Wow. Those are Very cool!
Wow!!
Beautiful ART work 🙂
Amazing paint style ….
Have a relaxing weekend Indrani
Kareltje =^.^=
Anya 🙂
What beautiful pictures!
I'm learning so much from this blog. 🙂
Wonderful attention to detail in these paintings.
Magnificent, arn't they. So sad, they are deteriorating.
Beautiful. You are so lucky to be able to visit such glorious places.
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Hi Indrani! Wow! This is awesome!! Wonderful shots!!
Meanwhile, Blogtrotter 2 is in Haiti. Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!!
Beautiful fresco paintings. Good to see that they have lasted so long.
How old are the Chola frescoes? They seem to be fairly well preserved. Fascinating post.
excellent artwork. thanks for shared
Such cool places you visit!
These are beautiful, how wonderful that you got to see them in person!
I love the way older cultures often simply added their own touches to the already existing art — to make it their own.
Very nice.
Beautiful!
I'm with jinksy…I hope they get preserved for future generations!
Great! On my list of places to see.
There is so much good stuff on this blog. I have to come back.
I hope there are modern techniques that can help preserve these – it would be so sad to see them disappear for ever.