By Deven Verma

1. Cholas Temples

2. Chola Temples : Role & Influence
• Temples reflect a well developed civilization. A number
of temples or temple-sites are located in Kaveri region.
An account of temples is found befitting here. The
temple has had an enduring ideological importance in
Indian history, which makes it the central focus of
historical processes like religions, social, economic and
political. Temple came to be the legitimating institution
of the ruling elite, the king in particular, who acquired
legitimacy and tried to convey the authority through
the temple and its symbolism.

5.  Middle of the 9th Century the Cholas emerged
 Vijayalaya (850-871AD) Founder of the later cholas
 Cholas ruled the lengthiest reign.
 Cholas continued and developed the art and architecture of
Pallavas
 They spent major income of the state to the development of art
and architecture.
 Architecture of the Cholas classified into three stages
1. Early Chola temples: 850-985 AD-Vijayalaya chola to Aditya
2. Middle Chola temples: 985-1070 AD- Rajaraja I and Rajendra I
3. Later Chola temples: 1070-1250 AD- Kulothunga I, Rajaraja II and Kullothunga III.
Later Cholas or Imperial Cholas
Art & Architecture

6.  Early Chola temples (Vijayalaya chola to Aditya)
Main features
 Stones used for the construction of the temples
Small in size and most of them structural temples
Vijayalayasolisvaram temple atNarttamalai great example
of structural temple which built by Vijayala Chola.
 he constructed this temple for the memory of his victory
over Mutharayas of Tanjore.
 Square Garbhagraha is generally found in the temples,
rarely it is circular
 Temples are surrounded by a wall with Gopura in front
Sub shrines dedicated to pairava or minor gods.
 There is no separate shrine for devi

7. Major Temples of this period
 Siva Temple at Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi dist
Ayyanarkovil and Muckundesvara Temples at Kudumbalur,
Pudukkottai dist
 Sundaresvara Temple, Tirukkattutalai, Pudukkottai dist
Koranganatha Temple, Srinivasanallur, Trichy dist
Mahalingaswami Temple, Tiruvidaimarudur, Tanjore dist

8. Middle Chola temples
 Rajaraja I and Rajendra I
 Constructed medium size and big structural temple
 Tiruvalisvaram temple at Brahmadesam in Tirunelveli dist. Great
example for medium size temple of middle cholas.
 Vaidyanatha temple at Tirumalavadi, twin temples of Siva and
Vishnu at Dadapuram in South Arcot district also medium size
temples of middle Cholas.
 Maturity of the Cholas temple architecture was found in two great
temples constructed in Tanjore and Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

9.  Greatest landmark in the history of South Indian Architecture is
Brahadeswarar Temple at Tanjore which known as Big Temple or
Periya Kovil, Peruvudaiyar Kovil, Raja Rajeswara Temple and
Rajarajeswaram.
 It has many architectural significance which built by Rajaraja I.
initiated around in 1003 AD and completed in 1010 A.D
 This is the largest and tallest temple in Tamil Nadu and one of the
largest temples in India.
 Temple tower is the tallest one which is 216 feet high (66mts). the
kumbam in the tower weighs about 60 or 80 tonnes.

10. Economic, Social & Cultural Aspect of Temple
• The royal temples of the early medieval rulers are to be
understood as a statement of political power. They have proved
to be an institution of enduring importance, as a symbol of
authority and political power.
• This was Bhakti ideology that was consciously fostered by the
Cholas to make the temple the focus of the underlying socio-
cultural process of an art tradition, which reached its maturity
in the highly stylized visual and verbal representation of the
dominant image of the god or king.
• The temple likewise was a powerful social and economic entity
besides being a source of religious inspiration for the people.

11. Continue…..
• Most of the activities centered round the village temple, which
had grown by the time of the Cholas to dominate every aspect
of social life all over the country.
• The role of the temple in the secular life of its neighborhood can
hardly be exaggerated and the temple and its affairs were
among the chief preoccupations of the local assemblies; and the
temples had separate group who were in charge of their
managements; but these authorities were subject to the double
control of the local assemblies who exercises a general
supervision and of the officer of the king who audited the
accounts.

12. Continue…..
• The construction of stone structure has provided employment
to the architects, artisans, sculptors and laborers i.e., of much
skill and taste in it’s planning and decoration.
• Religious and musical discourses have helped the propagation
of religion, music, dance, and other arts which received great
encouragement and provided pure and elevating type of
entertainment to the devotees.
• The granaries of the temple helped to the hungry, and these
unable to earn their livelihood due to disease and deformity.
There are several instances of even hospitals and dispensaries
being run by the temple. The temple played the role of a court
of law for settling disputes. The temple also gave shelter to the
people during wars.

13. THANK YOU
MADE BY DEVEN VERMA
CLASS 7TH D