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Sculptures

KSHETRAPALA – 3

THIRUNERKUNDRANATHAR TEMPLE, THINNAKULAM Thinnakulam is a small hamlet in Pullambadi taluk in Tiruchirappalli district. The village is credited with a Chola period temple dedicated to Lord Siva in the name Thirunerkundranathar. Thirunerkundranathar temple is a single prakara complex, with the main shrine consists of a vimana, mukha-mandapa, maha-mandapa and open pillared mandapa, encompassed by huge […]

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Sculptures

KSHETRAPALA – 2

THIRUPOONTHURUTHI Thirupoonthuruthi, a village in Thiruvaiyaru block of Thanjavur district is renowned for Thirupoonthuruthi Mahadevar temple, an Early Chola temple and also one among the Thiruvaiyaru Saptasthanam group of temples. The temple is also associated with saints like Appar, Sundarar, Narayana Thirtha. Saint Appar established a mutt and did weeding work in this temple. Appar […]

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Sculptures

KSHETRAPALA – 1

THIRUVALANJUZHI KSHETRAPALA Lord Kshetra-pala, the name itself suggests Him a protector of land; the protector of fields, region, sacred places, and also against evil. In nude form with snakes entwining the body, locks arranged as flames, fangs ejected, eyes spewed out, arms carrying protective weapons, exhibits the fierceness of the deity. Ksetrapala is considered synonym […]

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Literature

MINIATURES IN MAHALINGASWAMI TEMPLE

RAVANA’S HUMILIATING DEFEAT UNDER VALI Thiruvidaimaruthur a town panchayat and headquarters of Thiruvidaimaruthur taluk is an important pilgrim center of Kumbakonam region, about 9kms from Kumbakonam and 38kms from the district headquarters Thanjavur. The place is renowned for Mahalingaswami temple, a padalpetra sthalam and also one among the Thiruneelakkudi Saptasthanam. The place and temple is […]

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Sculptures

SCULPTURES IN MADRAS MUSEUM – 2

LORD TRIPURANTAKA AND GODDESS TRIPURASUNDARI OF KODUMBALUR Kodumbalur, a hamlet in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu, is about 46kms from the district headquarters Pudukkottai and about 35kms from Tiruchirappalli. The village is renowned for its ancientness, being capital city of the Irukkuvel kingdom, credited with two ancient temples viz., Moovar Koil and Muchukundeswara temple. The antiquity […]

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Sculptures

SCULPTURES IN MADRAS MUSEUM – 1

Government Museum, Chennai, popularly known as Madras Museum is one of the oldest and largest Museum in India for Natural and Cultural history. A sprawling campus with British period structures, is situated in the neigbourhood of Egmore and also houses Connemara Library, National Art Gallery in the same complex. Madras Museum is known for its […]

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Sculptures

GANESA – THE LORD OF GANAS

Lord Ganesa as ‘the Lord of Ganas’ is beautifully captured by the Chola sculptors in Alanthuraiyar temple at Pullamangai. Pullamangai, at present known as Pasupathikoil is a small hamlet in Papanasam taluk of Thanjavur district and the village is credited with an elegant Early Chola temple dedicated to Lord Siva. Alanthuraiyar temple has a three […]

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Sculptures

INNISAI VINAIYAR

இன்னிசை வீணையில் இசைத்தோன் காண்க அன்னதொன் றவ்வயின் அறிந்தோன் காண்க Saint Manikkavasakar in the Thiruvandapaguthi extols Lord Siva as the concordant melody in the Vina and of its arcane virtue He alone is aware. Not only Saint Manikkavasakar, the other great Saiva saints also extols Lord Siva and His skill in strumming Vina in their hymns. The […]

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Structural Temples

THIRUCHCHENNAMPOONDI KADAIMUDIMAHADEVAR TEMPLE – 2

The aditala of the vimana is crowned with hara. Being anarpita hara, the harmaya of the second tala is detached from the hara structure. The harmaya is cantoned by four brahmakantha pilasters representing the bhadra and the karna sections. The pilasters possess the capital ornamentation and the potikas resting above the pilasters are plain angular […]

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Structural Temples

THIRUCHCHENNAMPOONDI KADAIMUDIMAHADEVAR TEMPLE – 1

Tiruchchennampoondi is a small hamlet in Budalur taluk in Thanjavur district and about 30kms from Tiruchirappalli and 36kms from the district headquarters Thanjavur. Tiruchchennampoondi is one among the villages situated in the land stretch between the rivers Cauvery and Kollidam. The northern and southern banks of river Cauvery till it reaches the sea is flooded […]