[Solved] Tripurantaka Shiva in Brihadeshwara Temple | Chola Art

What form of Shiva is most prominent in the Brihadeshwara temple built by the Chola dynasty?

[UPSC CDS 2016 (II)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

The Chola emperors, particularly Rajaraja I, favored grand, multi-armed manifestations of Shiva that symbolized imperial power and cosmic order.

Authentic Source Evidence

In the Brihadeshwara temple (Thanjavur), the Tripurantaka form of Shiva is the most prominent. It depicts Shiva as the destroyer of the triple gold-silver-iron cities (Tripura) of the demons, usually shown with multiple arms on a chariot.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Tripurantaka was an imperial favorite because it equated the king’s military conquests with the divine victory of Shiva over the demons.

Logic 2: While other forms like Nataraja and Dakshinamurti are present, the repetition and scale of Tripurantaka reliefs define the temple's specific iconography.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What does the Tripurantaka form symbolize in Chola statecraft?"

It symbolizes the absolute authority of the sovereign to destroy evil and disorder within the kingdom.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The prominence of Tripurantaka illustrates how the Cholas used mythology to legitimize their imperial expansion and military prowess."

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