The Mysteries of Asia three-part video series was originally produced for the Le

arning Channel. During this segment, historians and others examine temples built
in India more than 1,000 years ago. They remain quite intriguing, though today s
tourists rarely visit them. Records reveal that trained elephants had to drag mi
llions of stone blocks to help erect these structures. The program notes that du
e to the temples size, the U.S. Senate, Versailles, the Houses of Parliament, and
St. Paul s Basilica in Rome could all fit within a single one of them. Michael Be
ll narrates as footage and animated maps are used to help viewers learn more abo
ut what these ancient structures look like and why they were built. Asia is a co
ntinent steeped in ancient cultures, religions, and buildings. In this intriguin
g program, we are transported to this exotic land and examine the mysteries behi
nd some of the most fascinating structures found there. Southern India has the l
argest temple complexes ever built. In Lost Temples of India , we examine these 1,0
00-year-old temples adorned with intricate and beautiful sculptures. We learn ho
w the kings used large herds of trained elephants to drag the millions of stone
blocks into place and how these temples are virtually unknown and unvisited by W
estern tourists. Truth or fiction, the stories of Mysteries of Asia will amaze a
nd delight.
When people think
rial dedicated to
India hidden deep
orts in the human
ious temples that
of emerald green
mples soar toward

of India, they think of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan s eternal memo
his wife Mumtaz Mahal. But there is a more ancient and secret
in its tropical jungles, with one of the greatest building eff
[record]. History has produced thousands of strange and myster
are today lost and forgotten. This is India s Deep South, a land
rice fields and immense palm forests, where every few miles te
the heavens in the countryside.

Here, over a thousand year ago, 985 AD to be exact, Rajaraja Cholan became King
of the Chola Dynasty. His original name was Arunmozhivarman, and his title was R
ajakesari Varman or Mummudi-Sola-Deva. He was the second son of the Parantaka Ch
olan II.
His capital was the city of Thanjavur. Thanjavur was the royal city of the Chola
s, Nayaks, and the Mahrattas. Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan-an asura (g
iant), who according to local legend devastated the neighbourhood and was killed
by Sri Anandavalli Amman and the God Vishnu.
Rajaraja Cholan was one of the greatest kings of India, and in the south he emba
rked on one of the largest building plans in the history of mankind that still c
ontinues till this day. He and his successors moved more stone then the great py
ramid of Giza.
The extent of the Temple Grounds is so large that over 200 Taj Mahal s can fit int
o it.
You might ask why Rajaraja Cholan built all these temples. Well, it was the same
motive that built Europe s cathedrals and Egypt s pyramids. He was moved by the pow
er of faith. You have to understand one thing about India: this is a land with a
lmost as many gods as people, and it believes all life to be sacred; even a humb
le ant has its place. Gods are worshiped differently here than in Europe. During
festivals, for example, the gods are taken from their shrines and paraded aroun
d in the temple grounds, their costumes are changed at the end of the day, and t
hey are put to bed for a few hours rest at night.
Generally, it s believed that if these and other rituals are performed perfectly,
then it s going to be more beneficial for you, so that s why rituals are taken very
seriously and they are memorized rigorously by priests. These rituals hardly if
ever change with the passage of time. For any religion, anywhere in the world, i
ncluding Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and so on to flourish it helps to have f

riends in high places, like kings or very wealthy benefactors. For Hinduism, wit
h its vast temples and thousands of priests, friends in high places are absolute
ly essential. Rajaraja was one of the greatest patrons of arts and religion in I
ndia s long history.
And this was his start, the great temple of Bragatheeswarar.