The celebrated Saiva temple at Thanjavur, appropriately called Brihadisvara and Daksinameru, is the grandest creation of the Chola emperor Rajaraja (AD 985-1012). Architecturally, it is the most ambitious structural temple built of granite. It has been regarded as a �landmark in the evolution of building art in south India� and its vimana as a �touchstone of Indian architecture as a whole�. The temple with its massive proportions and simplicity of design provided inspiration for future designs in constructions not only in south India but also in south-east Asia.
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