Assertion (A): The construction of the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur by Rajaraja I symbolized not only supreme imperial devotion to Lord Shiva but also served as a political statement of Chola hegemony over peninsular India. Reason (R): The monumental stone temple was financed entirely through the spoils of successful military campaigns across South India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, showcasing the massive economic centralization of the Chola imperial state.

💡 Solution & Explanation

Imperial temples in medieval South India functioned simultaneously as sacred religious centers and grand political instruments affirming royal legitimacy and sovereignty. The Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur was lavishly endowed with gold, silver, and vast tracts of tax-free land captured through triumphant military campaigns across neighboring kingdoms and island territories. Inscriptions on the temple walls meticulously record these endowments and the assignment of hundreds of temple servants, musicians, and dancers, illustrating the profound socio-economic centralization achieved by the Chola monarchy.