Brihadeeswarar Temple 26.9.2010

Built in year 1010 CE in Thanjavur by Raja Raja Chola, Brihadeeswarar Temple is popular among people as ‘Big Temple’ and it turns 1000 years in September of 2010. To celebrate 1000th year of this grand structure, town and state government organize several cultural events. This occasion was to bring to mind 275th day of Raja Raja Chola’s (985-1014 CE) 25th regal year 1010 CE who handed over one gold-plated kalasam, which is a finial or a copper pot, for final consecration towards crowning Vimana, a 59.82 meters tall tower on top of sanctum.

Bharathanatyam Yajna. In order to mark this occasion, state government of Tamil Nadu organizes one Bharathanatyam Yajna, which is a show of classical dance under Padma Subramaniam, a noted dancer. Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) and Brhan Natyanjali Trust of Thanjavur organized this jointly. For marking this building’s 1000th year anniversary, a thousand dancers from Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, New Delhi, Pune, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Malaysia, U.S. and Singapore dances in concert on Thiruvichaippa or Thirumurai’s ninth divine music’s recorded eleven verses, whose composer was Karuvur Thevar or guru of Raja Raja Chola named Tiruvisaippa. This whole event turns this small town into one cultural hub, which began on September 26th 2010 for 2 days as street dancers and performers perform throughout town.

The stamp on the FDC features the giant 216 feet tall Raja Gopuram.