Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because of their…

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Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture. Comment.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

The Cholas are remembered with pride chiefly because their temples perfected the Dravida style and their bronzes set a global benchmark in art. Rajaraja I's Brihadisvara at Thanjavur, completed in 1010 CE with a granite vimana of about 60 metres, leads UNESCO's Great Living Chola Temples.

**Introduction**

The 2025 millennium celebrations at Gangaikondacholapuram show that the imperial Cholas (c. 850 to 1279 CE) remain a living source of pride, chiefly through their temples, bronzes and murals.

**Chola Architecture: The Dravida Temple Perfected**

FIGURE: history-p31-1 | Chola Dravida temple: towering vimana over the garbhagriha, mandapa and a modest gopuram

1. **Monumental vimana**: Rajaraja I's Brihadisvara at Thanjavur (1010 CE), with a granite vimana of about 60 metres crowned by a massive granite cupola, was the tallest temple of its age.
2. **Variety within style**: Gangaikondacholapuram softened the vimana into concave curves and Darasuram's Airavatesvara added a chariot-shaped mandapa; UNESCO lists all three as the Great Living Chola Temples.
3. **Temple as institution**: Inscriptions record lands, dancers and accounts, making the temple a hub of worship, learning and economy.

**Chola Art: Bronze, Stone and Paint**

1. **Bronze casting**: Lost-wax bronzes culminate in the Nataraja, now a global symbol of Indian art, a craft alive in Swamimalai's GI-tagged icons.
2. **Sculpture and murals**: The Chandesanugrahamurti panel and Thanjavur's frescoes of Shiva as Tripurantaka show narrative mastery.
3. **Beyond art**: Uttaramerur's village assemblies and Chola naval reach add to their fame, though agrarian surplus and war spoils funded the temples.

**Way Forward**

1. **Protect and sustain**: Monitor the granite and murals scientifically, repatriate stolen bronzes as with the Sripuranthan Nataraja in 2014, and support Swamimalai's casters.

**Conclusion**

The statement is largely valid: Thanjavur perfected the Dravida temple style and the Nataraja set a global benchmark in bronze casting. Under Article 51A(f), they remain living heritage, frozen music in granite.

Though the great Cholas are no more yet their name is still remembered with great pride because of their highest achievements in the domain of art and architecture. Comment.

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