TRIBUTES OT THANJAVUR PERIA KOIL
Posted on: 27/Sep/2010 1:25:59 AM
Millennium celebrations of the Big Temple in Thanjavur have under way on Saturday. The Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi and his Ministerial colleagues participated and Watched the spectacle of special dance performance by 1000 artists Dr Parma Subrahmanyam in the lead. , a fitting tribute to the Peria Koil. The 1,000-year-old Big Temple, built by the emperor Rajaraja Chola in Thanjavur and regarded as an architectural wonder, was the venue of a spectacular Bharatanatyam performance on Saturday.
Dressed in colourful costumes, the dancers started with ‘Ganapathy Kauthuvam,` followed it up with ‘Thirvisaipa songs of Karuvur Devar` and concluded with ‘Sivapanchaksharam, stotras of Adi Sankara.` It was a rare sight to see the hundreds of artists dancing around the Nandhi Mandapam, which faces the 216-ft-tall Vimana.
One thousand years ago, dancers patronised by Rajaraja Chola paid their obeisance in the same temple to Lord Brihadisvara every day, according to inscriptions.
On Saturday, the dancers gave their performance in praise of the emperor and the temple`s glory besides paying obeisance to the Lord. Within the available space (four ft by four ft for each dancer) the artists gave a perfect performance. Earlier, 108 Oduvars rendered Thirumurai (a compendium of hymns in praise of Lord Siva) in chorus. They started with ‘Thodudaiya Seviyan Or Thuvenmathi Soodi` – Thevaram of Thirugnanasambandar and followed it up with ‘Kutrayina Varu Vikalakyile,` ‘Pitha Pirai Soodi,` ‘Manthiramavathu Neeru,` ‘Anjana Velvizhi Madamanthar.` By the time Mr. Karunanidhi reached the venue, the Oduvars had completed their recital. But, they sang a verse in response to the request of the Chief Minister.
Mr. Karunanidhi, who was wearing a silk ‘angavastaram,` commended Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam for the dance programme. When he came to know that she was planning to stage the programme to celebrate the 1,000 {+t} {+h} year of the construction of the temple, he told her that the State government would join her in the celebration. Dr. Subrahmanyam thanked the artists who came to the programme at their expense.
She appealed to the Chief Minister and the Archaeological department to see to it that an inscription referring to the dance programme was engraved in the temple. The Chief Minister released a book authored by R. Nagasamy, veteran archaeologist, on the 400 dancers of the temple during the period of Rajaraja Chola. M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister, received the copy. LED screens were put up around the temple.
The Chief Minister released postal stamp depicting Brihadeeswara Temple, while G K Vasan the Shipping Minister released a coin commemorating the temple.
