The awesome roof!

 Avudaiyar Koil (Koil is a Tamil word for Temple) in Tamil Nadu, in southern part of India is an outstanding example of South Indian temple architecture. Believed to have been built between 6th and 9th century, this temple is dedicated to lord Shiva. Manickavasagar, a tamil poet is the person who built this temple. It has a collection of sculptures which are breathtaking and every part of the temple is unique in some way or the other.

The roof of this temple is something unique and cannot be seen anywhere else. The entire roof is made of granite and the way they are assembled is something one has to see to believe! Avudayar Koil is famous for the art of Kodungai carving, the work done under the stone that forms the sun shade or overhang of the roof. It usually sits on top of the beam stone and is a superb example of the craft of the 9th century artisans. The popular story is that any contract for constructing a temple that were made subsequent to the construction of this temple specifically excludes the roofing of this type as it was considered impossible to replicate this kind of roofing! In fact, a British officer who visited this temple years back did not believe that the roofing was made of granite. So to check that, he fired two shots with his pistol on the roof! The holes that were made of these bullets can be seen on the roof even today!

The granite roof is first carved in several pieces in the ground and subsequently hoisted above the temple and then assembled! One can see the assembly of the roof with screws, bolts and padlocks - all of which are made of granite! You need to observe the pictures posted here carefully to appreciate how this temple’s roofing is unique and outstanding! Such an awesome roofing is not seen anywhere in the world!

The roof also has sculptures of snake made of a single stone. Also you can see sculptures which have chains hanging and the entire structure along with the chains are made of single stone!

 

They have also sculptured the twenty eight birth starts on the roof. Baratha Natya mudhras (Baratha Natyam Dance poses) are also sculptured on the roof! I have not seen in any temple with such an elaborate work on the roof anywhere in India!

Besides the sculptures, we can also see marvelous paintings in the roof of this temple. In this post I will be posting pictures of only roofing of this temple.

The person who guided me through this temple is one Mr. Manickam (His mobile number – 91598-53680). This guy is awesome! He knows every inch of this temple and takes personal pride of this temple and its beauty!

Squirrel

Squirrel is probably the cutest animal frequently seen in our neighborhood! It is quite difficult to photograph this guy because it is extremely timid and awesomely swift! If you want to get some quality picture you definitely need a good camera with a descent zoom lens. Above all you need ‘something’ to pin it down to a place for a reasonable time so that you can shoot him nicely.

That something is – Sun flower seeds! Yes, squirrels are madly in love with sunflower seeds! When they see a sunflower seed they are attracted to it like a magnet! While they are eating a sunflower seed they are almost oblivious to the environment! So you can go very close to it and take the picture!

Recently my daughter gave me this information and also a packet of sun flower seeds. Armed with this and my Nikon I started shooting the squirrels which frequently visit our balcony. I have posted some of the shots of more than 500 pictures that I shot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kirk of Chennai

April 6th, 1818 was the day the foundation stone of St. Andrew’s Church was laid. Three years later, on 25th February 1821, the Church was consecrated. This is one of the finest churches of India and it is said have been built in Georgian style. It was built to serve the Scottish community of Madras who were working with East India Company during those days! This church is often referred to as `the Queen of Scottish Churches in the East'

The St. Andrew's Church, Egmore is popularly referred to as 'The Kirk'. Kirk is a Scottish word meaning a church, or more specifically, the Church of Scotland. St Andrew’s Kirk of Chennai is the second Kirk to be built in India, the first being in Calcutta. The cost of building this church those days was 20,000 British pounds! Kirk is a beautiful legacy of British Raj in India.

 The speciality of this Church is the Dome. The inside diameter of this dome is 51.5 feet. Sixteen fluted Corinthian columns support it. The dome was constructed using the 'Syrian masonry' technique. An architectural marvel, the dome has a framework of brick supported by an annular arch and is filled in by pottery cones. Its blue interior is formed by crushed sea shells mixed with lapis lazuli. The thickness of the dome at the crown is only nine inches and it gradually increases to nearly twice that dimension at the cornice. This is the only building in the world wherein a dome of masonry of those dimensions is supported on a colonnade of that height, the entablature of which is a straight arch, without beam or lintel. Many larger domes exist, doubtless, but they are supported on solid walls or strong arcades!

 

On the 8th May 1820 the steeple was completed and on the eleventh, only three days after, the steeple was hit by a most violent storm! The wind blew with the greatest violence for thirty hours during which period sixteen inches of rain fell at Madras. The steeple resisted the whole storm unhurt!

Under the foundation stone of this church they have placed specimens of several coins of the British and Madras currency and a brass plate containing the following inscription:

By the Grace of Almighty God,
in the Reign of GEORGE III, Father of his Country,
and during the Regency of GEORGE his Son,
the First Stone of this Edifice
appertaining to the Church of Scotlans,
was laid,
in the presence of
Robert Fullerton, David Hill, Kirkby Dalrymple,
and William M’Taggart, Esquires,
the Elders of the Church of Scotland at this Presidency,
by John Allan, D. D. and M.D,
their Minister and Moderator,
on the 6th April 1818:
The Right Honorable Hugh Elliot being Governor:
Major Thomas Ellot de Havilland. Architect.
The stained-glass windows above the altar, in warm, rich colors, are among the attractions of the church.

It seems the first time the bell of this church tolled was for the death of a pastor! So considering this inauspicious they removed that bell and replaced it by another one! 

Rock cut temples of Thirumayam

 

Thirumayam is a small village in Pudukotai district of Tamil Nadu. There is a fort, a Shiva temple and a Vishnu Temple. These two temples are rock cut and they are at the bottom of a hill on which the fort is built. According to Archeological Survey of India, Shiva temple was built during the early part of 7th century while the Vishnu temple was built during the early part of the 8th century - although some say Vishnu temple was the earlier one to be built. Interestingly there seems to be no consensus on when these temples were built or who built these temples! 

 

 

The Vishnu temple here has many gigantic sculptures of man and women carved in each pillar.

For further reading on these two temples you can visit:

http://puratattva.in/2011/04/11/thirumayam-the-land-of-truth-18.html

Ramaswamy Temple - Kumbakonam

 

Sometime in 1600s the King of Tanjavur Raghunatha Nayak ordered to dig a water tank in the small village of Dharasuram in Tanjavur district. While the workers were digging the water tank, to their surprise they found idols of Rama and Sita buried underground. Inspired by this, the King who was a staunch devotee of Rama, ordered three temples to be built at Kumbakonam, Srirangam and Rama Sethu.

 

The one that was built in Kumbakonam is called Ramaswamy temple. This temple was built between 1600 and 1634 AD by Govinda Dikshitar who was a minister of the king Raghunatha Nayak.

 

This temple is at the center of Kumbakonam town facing north. The Rajagopuram at the entrance leads to Mahamandapam. This I can say is the art gallery of this ancient temple! Every column in this hall is profusely decorated with fantastic sculptures! Each pillar is a master piece of art. Every pillar narrates an episode from the Epic Ramayana.

 

The sculptures of Mahamandapam, they say, represent a very interesting amalgamation of Chola, Hoysala and Tanjur Nayak art tradition.

 

 

Please observe the last picture below carefully. Even the transparent dupatta on the girl is so intricately carved! The sculpture has brought out the effect of transparency so brilliantly on stone!

Ninth century temple

 

Nageswaran Temple at Kumbakonam is another masterpiece from the Chola kings! Aditya Chola (871 – 907 CE) built this temple during the 9th century! This temple is older than the Brihadeswarar temple of Tanjavur. 

 

When one walks around the temple praharam (Corridor) one can see some of the most splendid architectural sculptures ever. Every niche in the outer wall of the sanctum sanctorum is filled with a beautiful sculpture. They are large, all in standing position, both male and female. I think these sculptures are not of any God! Their beauty, hairstyle, attire, jewellery and shape are all examples of the supreme skill of the Chola sculptor!

 

These statues have resemblance to the ones seen in Buddhist centers. I do not know why! Did Buddhism exist in this part of the world during 9th century? I am not sure. 

They say that this temple is constructed in such a way that the rays of the Sun fall on the Shivalingam for three days in a year during April/May.

 

Considering the age of this temple and wonderful sculptures there in, I strongly feel that Archeological Survey of India should take this temple and preserve it for posterity! 

Present condition of the temple is reasonably good and I am not sure how long it will remain good if professional care is not given!