In the Brihadeshvara Temple built by the Chola dynasty at Thanjavur, which form of Lord Shiva is most prominently represented in the temple's iconography and sculptural programme?

Introduction / Context:
The Brihadeshvara Temple at Thanjavur is one of the finest examples of Chola temple architecture and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Beyond its towering vimana and grand scale, the temple is also significant for its rich sculptural programme, which emphasises particular forms of Shiva. Questions in history and art culture sections often ask about which specific aspects or forms of Shiva dominate the iconography of this temple. This question focuses on identifying that most prominent form.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The temple considered is the Brihadeshvara Temple built by the Chola ruler Rajaraja the First at Thanjavur.
• The options include different forms or aspects of Shiva: Harihara, Bhairava, Rudra and Tripurantaka.
• Only one of these forms is especially highlighted in the sculptural decoration of the temple.
• We assume familiarity with the basic iconography of major Chola temples.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall which episodes or forms of Shiva were particularly favoured by the Cholas in their royal temples. Brihadeshvara Temple contains numerous reliefs showing Shiva in the form of Tripurantaka, the destroyer of the three cities of the demons. While many other forms of Shiva and other deities also appear, Tripurantaka as the heroic warrior figure is a recurring theme that reflects royal power and divine support for the king. By contrast, forms like Harihara, Bhairava and the more generic Rudra are not the central emphasis of this temple's iconographic programme.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Brihadeshvara Temple is a Shaivite temple with many depictions of Shiva in different aspects. Step 2: Understand that Chola rulers used temple art as a medium to project their royal power and victories, often linking themselves symbolically to powerful forms of Shiva. Step 3: Recognise that the form of Tripurantaka, in which Shiva destroys the three cities of the demons with a single arrow, is particularly associated with royal victory and cosmic dominance. Step 4: Note that this Tripurantaka motif is repeatedly represented in the temple's sculptural panels and therefore becomes the most prominent special form of Shiva in Brihadeshvara. Step 5: Compare with other options such as Harihara (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu), Bhairava (a fierce form of Shiva) and the more general Rudra aspect, none of which dominates the temple visuals in the same way. Step 6: Conclude that Tripurantaka is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to recall how standard art history and culture textbooks describe Brihadeshvara Temple. They typically mention the large number of sculptures showing Shiva with his bow attacking the three demon cities, emphasising the Tripurantaka aspect. While the temple certainly houses many other forms such as Nataraja or representations of other deities, the narrative panels associated with Tripurantaka stand out. Moreover, Harihara is more associated with some later temples and Bhairava images are more common in other contexts. This pattern confirms that Tripurantaka is the most prominent form in this specific temple.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Harihara: This is a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva, but it is not the main iconographic focus of Brihadeshvara Temple.
• Bhairava: Although Bhairava is a fierce aspect of Shiva found in some shrines and images, he is not the form that dominates the sculptural programme of this temple.
• Rudra: Rudra is an early Vedic name for Shiva, but the temple stresses more specific narrative forms rather than this broad aspect.

Common Pitfalls:
One common error is to choose Bhairava because candidates associate big, powerful temples with fierce forms of Shiva. Another pitfall is to overgeneralise and pick Rudra simply because it sounds like an ancient and important name. Some students may also confuse Tripurantaka with Nataraja, another famous form of Shiva that is widespread in Chola art but is not the specific focus mentioned in this question. Careful reading of standard temple art descriptions helps avoid these confusions.

Final Answer:
The most prominent form of Shiva represented in the Brihadeshvara Temple is Tripurantaka.