30/12/2023
The Brihadeeswarar temple contains more than 100 underground passages to various places. The underground channels also contain some secret paths that lead to various places like the Palace of RajaRaja Chola and also to other important destinations.
The underground transits end at different temples and also to various places in and around Tanjore. Most of the underground passages were sealed, and if people choose the wrong passage, there are possibilities that the path might lead to mazed unexitable zones. It is widely known that this was a trap for the safety of RajaRaja Chola kingdom.
Underground Passages of Thanjavur (Tanjore): The underground passage is built for Sages, Kings, Queens who roamed through various temples using underground routes conveniently.
The routes were very useful to reach temples during auspicious days like Thaipusam (தமிழர் திருவிழா), Deepawali (दीपावली), Makar Sankranti (मकर संक्रांति), Maha Shivratri (महा शिवरात्रि), and other such pious Hindu festivals.
Few passages were interconnected to be used for the free flow of fresh air running through lush green vegetation filled with oxygen for the healthy breathing of the occupants roaming through the underground transits of the Thanjavur (Tanjore) temple.
There was a separate elevated platform constructed for RajaRaja Chola so that he could conveniently perform the abhishek of the large Shiv Ling present in Garbhagriha.
Other passages were leading to doorways of tunnels that were sources of water channelized from the fresh river water.
