Sri Brihadeeswara Temple Gangaikondacholapuram | Gangaikondacholapuram Temple

Sri Brihadeeswara Temple/ Gangaikondacholapuram:

The biggest Shiva Linga is in Brahadeeswara temple at Gangai Konda Cholapuram. While the linga in the Tanjavur big temple is 12. 5 feet tall, the one at Brahadeeswara temple at Gangai Konda Cholapuram is 13.5 feet tall. Another difference between the Tanjai Linga and the Gangai Konda Cholapuram Linga is that the former is masculine with the ural design, and the latter is feminine with the Udukkai design. The linga at Gangai Konda Cholapuram is made of a single limestone, and the Nandhi too has something special. The light falls on Nandhi and is reflected on the linga. So, even when there are no lights, the devotees can see the light falling on linga in this 1000 to 2000 year old temple. The goddess is aptly named Periyanayaki, as she is 9.5 feet tall. The Navagrahas are all made of a single stone. Goddesses Saraswathi and Mahalakshmi are in the meditation form here.

History and Specialties of the temple:

Rajaraja Chola’s son Rajendra Chola  onstructed this temple when he conquered many countries crossing the border, including Kadaram. He made the kings he defeated to carry water from Ganga for doing abhishekam in this temple, and hence the name, Gangai Konda Cholapuram. The family deity of the Cholas is Durga, and here she is in the rare form of Mangala Chandi. Rajendra would pay his visit to Durga first and then worship Lord Shiva, and the same is followed by the devotees on Sunday.

·         Vinayagar is known as Kanankku Vinayagar because He helped the minister to restore the memory when he was worried about showing the account to the King when ordered to do so.

·         The nine planets are together on the Lotus peeta. Sun is with the 7 horses, and the devotees cannot circumambulate them because they should not be gone around as per one theory, which states that the planets revolve around the world, and hence no one should go around them.

·         The Durga here is in the rare form of pretty little girl with 20 hands. People offer archana for marriage, transfer and employment

·         The temple has the chandrakantha stone, which makes the sanctum sanctorum warm in the winter and cold in the summer.

Temple open and closing timing:

Temple timing: 6:00 AM to 12 Noon

Temple timing: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Contact Information:

Phone number: 9751341108

Address: Sri Brahadeeswara Temple, Gangai Konda Cholapuram, Ariyalur district

How to Reach:

This temple is 35 KM far from Kumbakonam and is on the Chennai Road

By Train: All the trains that go to Kumbakonan can be boarded, and then travel through bus has to be done

By Bus:

Buses to Jayamkondan and Kumbakonam can be opted

By Air:

Trichy is the nearest air terminal.