Vibrant at 1000 Big Temple, Thanjavur, India

DETAILS : 

• Author : Anuradha Iqbal
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎  Enrich EduCDs, Chennai
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 January 2010
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 140 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8185984433
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8185984438
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 900 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Vibrant at 1000: Big Temple, Thanjavur is a beautiful commemorative and historical volume written by Anuradha Iqbal. The book was crafted to celebrate a monumental milestone in human architecture: the 1000th anniversary of the completion of the Brihadisvara Temple (popularly known as the Big Temple) in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Built by the great Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 CE, the temple stands as a pinnacle of Dravidian architecture.

Anuradha Iqbal’s work blends historical facts with deep cultural appreciation. The book captures the enduring spirit of the temple through:

• Architectural Marvels: Explaining the engineering genius behind the 216-foot-tall Vimana (temple tower) and the massive, monolithic Nandi statue.
• The Living Heritage: Documenting how the temple is not just a museum of the past, but a "vibrant," active spiritual center where ancient rituals, music, and Bharatanatyam dance continue to thrive.
• Inscriptions and Art: Highlighting the extensive stone inscriptions that serve as a detailed public record of the Chola administration, alongside the exquisite, hidden Chola frescoes.

The book is rich with visual descriptions, making it both an informative guide for history enthusiasts and a tribute to the longevity of Indian heritage.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anuradha Iqbal is a cultural writer, historian, and researcher with a profound passion for Indian temple architecture and heritage conservation. She belongs to a class of writers who seek to make classical history engaging for the modern reader without diluting its factual accuracy.

Iqbal’s writing is known for its evocative and empathetic tone. Instead of treating ancient monuments as mere stones and mortar, she focuses on the human element—the artisans who carved the granite, the kings who envisioned the structures, and the communities that have kept the traditions alive for a millennium. Her work on the Thanjavur Big Temple is highly regarded for how it captures the "vibrancy" and cultural pulse of the site, making readers feel as though they are walking through its grand prakaras (enclosures) themselves.