CHOLA ART

WHY IN NEWS?

Times of India: Excavations discover Gupta and Chola age coins.

BACKGROUND

Cholas were a dynasty that ruled over South India from 850 -1275.

 TEMPLES

The Cholas continued the temple-building traditions of the Pallava dynasty and contributed significantly to the Dravidian temple design

BRIHADEESHVARA TEMPLE AT TANJAVORE

• Built by Rajaraja I in 1010
• The Garbhagriha has 70m tall Vimana (temple tower) crowned by a 80 tonne octagonal shikara.
• Dedicated to Loed Shiva (Has one of the largest Shiva lingas in India)
• The temple walls have numerous inscriptions in Tamil and Grantha scripts.
• Has mural frescos along the circumambulatory pathway.(A mural depicts Rajaraja I with his guru)

BRIHADEESHVARA TEMPLE OF GANGAIKONDACHOLAPURAM

• Built by Rajendara I in 1035 in the same style as the Brihadeeshvara temple at Thanjavur.
• There are several sculptural reliefs around the walls of the sanctum, three of which — Nataraja, Saraswatiand Shiva garlanding Rajendara I — being the most prominent.

 AIRVATESHVARA TEMPLE AT DASAURAM (KUMBAKONAM TAMIL NADU)

• Built by Raja Raja II
• Dedicated to Lord Shiva.

LITERATURE

• Kamban’s Ramayana written during this period.
• Tirumurai a 12 volume compendium of hymns in praise of Shiva was compiled during this period (The 12^th book called Periya Puranam depicting the life of 63 Nayanmars was written by Sekkilar during the reign of Kulathunga Chola II)

SCULPTURES

• Cholas perfected the art of making bronze Nataraja images of Shiva using lost wax technique.  These images were then placed inside temples and palaces.
• In addition bronze images of Vishnu, nayanmar and alvar saints were also crafted.