Art and Architecture of Chola Period

Chola kings were great patrons of art and architecture. They built temples, canals, roads, cities, and palaces. Let's learn more about the art, architecture, and religion of the Chola period. The Chola rulers were not only great conquerors and efficient administrators but loved art and architecture. They built many temples, palaces, cities, roads, and canals throughout their kingdom. They built a typical and unique style of temple architecture in South India.

This technique style was called the Dravidian style, complete with Virmana (pyramid-like structure) or Shikhara. Each story of the pyramid was smaller than the lower one, carved with beautiful structures. There was a pillared hall and a large enclosure with lofty gates called Gopuram.

The Brihadesvara or Shiva Temple at Tanjore is a fine example of Chola art. The temple is also known as the Rajarajeshwara temple. It was built by the Chola king, Rajaraja I in 1011 AD. The temple�s entrance Gopuram is 30 m high.

The top of the temple is crowned with a single block of stone 25 m high weighing 90 tonnes with a Kalasa on top. The temple houses a gigantic Shiva Lingam which is about 8.87 m high. The temple has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Another example of Chola art is the temple built by the Cholas in their capital Gangaikonda Cholapuram. The temples in South India were also the centers of the cultural, spiritual, social, and economic life of the community.

The temples also provided employment opportunities for a large number of people who were involved in managing the place. The temples also served as schools for educating children. Big temples even participated in overseas trading.

The Cholas also made images of gods and goddesses. The bronze image of Lord Shiva as �Nataraja� � Lord of Dance is an excellent work of the Chola rulers described as the �cultural epitome� of the Chola period.

Literature and Religion

Temples were centers of education. Literature flourished during the Chola period and Telugu and Kannada languages developed.

During the Chola period, the Tamil language made significant progress. Various Bhakti poets of Shaiva and Vaishnav sects, called Nayanars and Alvars, composed works in Tamil. They preached the path of salvation through devotion or bhakti. Their work was collected in eight volumes called Tirumurais. It is also considered the Fifth Veda.

Do you know, who wrote the Ramayana in Tamil?

Kamban wrote the Tamil Ramayana and is considered the pride of Tamil literature. Many other religious books were translated from Sanskrit to Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada languages.

Mahabharata was translated into Telugu by writers like Nanniah and Tikkana. Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna were the three gems of Kannada literature.

Nala Venba written by Pugalandi was based on the love story of King Nala and his consort Damayanti. The two main characteristics of this epic were simplicity and sweetness. Kalingattuparani was a great work of Jayamkondar who described the war exploits of kulothunga Chola-I.

Vikramachola was a famous poet and Tamil writer in the court of Julotunga II and Rajaraja II. A treatise on grammar was written by Buddhamitra and Rawankashi. Several works were written by Amrit Sagar who was a Jain poet and enriched Tamil literature.

The Cholas encouraged the study of Grammar, philosophy, arts, and various sciences, which is evident from great literary works during the Chola period. The temples during this period became centers of education. Various schools were attached to them and village meetings were held in the temples.

Religion

Many new religious sects arose during the Chola period. The �lingayata� sect was founded by Basava in the twelfth century. Do you know, Hinduism was the chief religion during the Chola period? The Nayanars and the Alvars laid stress on Bhakti prayers. They strongly opposed the caste system and rejected sacrifices and fasts.

Some of the famous philosophers of that period were Shankaracharya, Madhava, and Ramanuja. Shankaracharya, a scholar of Sanskrit preached the �Advaita� philosophy. He traveled all over India and established centers of Gyan Marg at Badrinath, Puri, Dwarka, and Sringeri. He died at Kedarnath at the age of thirty-two.

The doctrine of bhakti became popular in South India. It preached that the only way to come close to God was by loving God with a pure heart. People who spread the idea of bhakti are called bhakti saints and spread the idea that all human beings are equal before God. Due to these saints, the Bhakti movement became popular in South India.

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