The Chola Dynasty, a Tamil dynasty, ruled primarily in southern India until the thirteenth century. Under the Cholas, Tamil Nadu reached new heights of excellence in art, religion, and literature. In all of these areas, the Chola period marked the culmination of movements that had begun earlier under the Pallavas. Monumental architecture in the form of majestic temples and sculpture in stone and bronze reached a level of finesse never before seen in India. In this article, we will discuss the Art and Architecture of Cholas which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Art and Architecture - Features

• The period of the imperial Cholas (c. 850 CE - 1250 CE) in South India was one of continuous improvement and refinement of Chola art and architecture.
• They used the wealth gained from their extensive conquests to construct long-lasting stone temples and exquisite bronze sculptures in an almost entirely Hindu cultural setting.
• The Cholas built their temples in the style of the Pallava dynasty, which was influenced by the Amaravati school of architecture.
• Chola artists and artisans drew further inspiration from other contemporary art and architectural schools, elevating the Chola temple design to new heights.
• The Chola kings constructed numerous temples throughout their kingdom, which typically included the plains, Central and Northern Tamil Nadu, and at times the entire state of Tamil Nadu, as well as adjoining parts of modern Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• We can roughly see three major phases in the evolution of Chola temple architecture, beginning with the early phase of Vijayalaya Chola and continuing until Sundara Chola, the middle phase of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola when achievements scaled heights never reached before or since, and the final phase during the Chalukya Chola period of Kulottunga I until the Chola empire's demise.
• In addition to temples, the Cholas constructed hospitals, public utility buildings, and palaces. Many such structures are mentioned in inscriptions and in contemporary accounts.
• The golden palace allegedly built by Aditya Karikala for his father Sundara Chola is an example of such a structure.
• However, such structures were made of perishable materials, such as wood and fired bricks, and have not withstood the test of time.

Chola Sculpture

• Stone and metal sculptures abound in Chola temples. They depict Chola period socio-religious ideas. The Nataraja sculpture is famous not only for its beauty, but also for its spiritual significance.
• In Vaishnava temples, there is a Vishnu idol. In sculptural representations of Alwars, a spiritual calmness is depicted. The Cholas used sculptures to decorate the walls, pillars, and roofs.
• The importance of sculpture is palpable in Chola works. The decorative sculptures are still in place.
• During the Chola period, realism dominated sculpture. Scenes from the Ramayanam Mahabharatam, Puranas, and the lives of the 63 Nayanmars are sculpted in narrative panels on temple walls.

Chola’s Contribution to Art

Portraits

• In the art of portraiture, the Cholas outperformed the Pallavas. The best portraits can be found on the walls of Koranganatha and Nageswarasamy temples.
• In Kalahasti temple, there are portraits of Cholamadevi and Kulothunga-III. They are excellent examples of Chola portraiture.

Paintings

• Paintings flourished, and figures were painted with realism. The Choia painters' skill can be seen in their paintings. Paintings in the Big Temple are excellent examples.
• Scenes from Periyapuranam are beautifully depicted, and the Kailasanathar temple in Kanchipuram and the Vishnu temple in Malaiyadipatti both house fine examples of Chola paintings.
• During the Chola period, Rajaraja-I and Rajendra made greater contributions to the development of the art of painting.

Music

• The art of music flourished during the Chola period. In music, twenty-three panns were used. The seven music alphabets were used: sa, ri, ga, ma, pa, da, and ni. In every temple, Aiwar and Nayanmar hymns were sung.
• Nambiandar nambi and Nathamuni made significant contributions to the advancement of music.
• Music has inspired the creation of books. In the Brahadeeswarar temple, several musicians were appointed. Drums, udukkai, veena, and flute were well-known musical instruments.
• Sagadakkottigal assembled a band of musicians. Endowments have been established to promote music. The kings rewarded musicians.
• Temples and mutts provided vocal and instrumental music instruction.

Dance

• The Chola kings supported the art of dance. During the Chola period, two types of dances were performed: Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Lord Siva was depicted as a performer of the Karana dance.
• Lord Nataraja can be seen dancing at the Natarajar temple in Chidamparam and the Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam.
• Rajaraja I assigned 400 dancing girls to the Tanjore Big Temple.
• There were two dance directors in charge of coordinating these dancing girls.
• Dance dramas were also performed on stages during festival times. Chola kings established endowments to promote the art of dancing.

Drama

• Drama was promoted by the Cholas. Drama was linked to music and dance.
• Dramas were performed on a variety of stages and theatres. During the festival, two dramas were performed: Rajarajeswara natakam and Rajarajavijayam.
• The Chola kings rewarded drama actors with honours. One type of drama is Koothu. Ariyakuthu, Chakki koothu, and Santhi koothu are all mentioned in the inscriptions.
• The Cholas' cultural glory is reflected in Chola literature. Chola kings constructed hundreds of temples.
• The Cholas' cultural monuments include the Tanjore temple Brahadeeswarar (Big Temple) and the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple.
• The glorious Chola culture had a large impact on Tamil society, instilling many cultural values such as bakthi.

Cholas as Builders of Temples

• Innumerable temples were built and patronised by the Cholas. The royal temples of Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Chozhapuram, and Darasuram are the repositories of Dancing woman accompanied by musician, Brihadishvarar temple architecture, sculpture, paintings, and Chola arts iconography.
• The temples became a focal point for social, economic, cultural, and political activities.
• The temple paraphernalia, which includes temple officials, dancers, musicians, singers, players of musical instruments, and their masers led by priests worshipping the gods, reflects the royal court.
• Architecturally, the Chola temples are simple and modest in the early stages. Sepulchral temples (pallip-padai) were also built where the kings were buried.

Temple Architecture During the Cholas

Brihadeeshvarar Temple​

• The Grand Temple of Thanjavur, also known as Rajarajisvaram and Brihadishvarar Temple, is a magnificent example of Chola architecture, painting, sculpture, and iconography.
• Rajaraja's polity was greatly legitimised by this temple. The sanctum, which has a 190-foot vimana, is topped with an 80-ton stone.
• The figures of Lakshmi, Vishnu, Ardhanarisvara, and Bikshadana, a mendicant form of Siva, on the outer walls of the sanctum are notable.
• The fresco paintings and miniature sculptures of scenes from puranas and epics in the temple walls reveal the Chola rulers' religious ideology.
• Dancing girls, musicians, and music masters were chosen from various settlements across Tamil Nadu and attached to this temple.
• Singers had been assigned to recite the bhakti hymns in the temple grounds.

Brihadishvarar Temple

Gangaikonda Chozhapuram​

• In commemoration of his victory in North India, Rajendra I built Gangaikonda Chozhapuram on the model of Brihadisvarar temple in Thanjavur.
• He constructed the Chola-gangam irrigation tank near the capital of Jalastambha (water-pillar). It became the coronation centre, which became a Chola landmark.
• The sculptures of Ardhanariswarar, Durga, Vishnu, Surya, Chandesa, and Anugrahamurty are the best pieces of the idols of gods placed in the niches of the sanctum's outer wall.

Anugrahamurthy Gangaikonda Chozhapuram

Darasuram Temple

• Darasuram Temple, built by Rajaraja II (1146–1172), is yet another significant Chola contribution to temple architecture.
• In the form of miniatures, incidents from the Periyapuranam are depicted on the temple's garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) wall.

Darasuram Temple

Features of Chola Architecture

• The dvarapalas, or guardian figures, at the entrance to the mandapa, or hall, which began in the Palava period, became a distinctive feature of Chola Temples.
• After a transition from the Pallava Period's rock cut structures, the Dravidian Style was fully developed.
• In comparison to the colossal buildings of the Imperial Cholas, the early Chola temples on the banks of the Kaveri River were smaller and made of brick.
• The Imperial Chola temples are adorned with exquisite, well-composed sculptures and frescoes.
• The Siva Temple of Tanjore, the largest and tallest of all Indian temples, was built during the Chola period.
• Among the sculptures at the temple, Ganas are the most memorable figures created in Chola temples.

Significance of Chola Architecture

• Chola temples had a beautiful shikara stone at the top. It had intricate and meticulously carved carvings.
• It's amazing how these structures, weighing hundreds of tonnes, are placed without the use of cranes.
• During their reign, the Cholas built temples in Nageshwara, Brihadeshwara, Airavatesvara, and Chidambaram.
• Other kingdoms in South India and Sri Lanka adopted their style.

Conclusion

Until the arrival of the Cholas, the art was supported by the common people and the community. During the reign of the Chola Kings, however, the Kings themselves guided and advanced large donations for the construction of grand temples. The sophistication of art in these temple structures reflected the atmosphere of the imperial court. As time passed, the size and grandeur of the temples began to trump the earlier emphasis on art. It can be seen that the Chola temples built in the later half of the period were vast structures proclaiming the majesty and power of the deity while also depicting the majesty of the rulers who built them.

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