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Balaji Viswanath

Rajaraja Cholan, the Great Chola king built The Bragatheeswarar Temple, also known as Big Temple. Fills a large portion of the small fort (Sivaganga Fort), encircled by moat on the east and west, the Grand Anaicut Channel (Putharu) on the south , and by the Sivaganga Garden on the north. The temple is entered by an imposing gateway on the east, on either side of which stand two small shrine dedicated to Ganapathi and Murugan. The western and northern wings have Sivalingams consecrated therein, and there are paintings over these walls depicting sixty-four Nayanmars, sacred sport of Siva. The outer measurement of the temple are 793 feet by 397 feet. The great Vimana is of the Dravidian style of architecture. It rises to a height of abut 216 feet, a tower of fourteen storeys, finely decorated with pilasters, niches and images of gods of the Hindu pantheon. The Shrine of Sri Subramanya consist of a tower covered with delicately carved figured, pillars & pilasters. The walls of the pillared Manadapam are decorated with the portraits of the Maratha rulers. This shrine has been pronounced to be "As exquisite a peace of decorative architecture as is to be found in the south of India", believed to be of the Nayak period. The Nandi is massive and striking is 12 feet high, 19.5 feet long and 18.25 feet wide, is a monolith weighing about 25 tons.

balaji viswanath,