A good number of folks have read about the exploits of Napoleon Bonaparte. His conquests, battles and victories. However we must not forget our own Napoleon. India had its Napoleon 1500 years before the French.
Samudragupta (Rule: 335 AD to 375 AD)
(A brief thread)
Samudragupta was the second emperor of the Gupta dynasty. His leadership and victories earned him the title of ‘Napoleon of India’. A true vaishnavite, he performed the ashvamedha yagya to establish hegemony over rival kingdoms.(1)
All through the length of his rule he was never defeated or sent to exile. His body was covered all over with marks of wounds caused by the blows of weapons of war.(2)
Samudragupta was more versatile than Ashoka. Ashoka was proficient in scriptures, but the versatility of Samudragupta lies in the fact that Samudragupta was proficient in various facets of art and culture.(3)
Samudragupta had accomplished poet Harisena in his court who inscribed his king’s bravery on the Allahabad pillar. Samudragupta loved played the veena and was a patron of poetry and philosophy. He was titled ‘Kaviraj’ for his love of poems.(4)
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A place to assess, meditate and reorganize life. Let lord Ganesha remove the obstacles in your existence calming your fears and anxieties. A fulfilling sojourn in the lap of nature.
(Thread)
Victor’s Way Indian sculpture park is a privately owned enterprise which is spread over 20-22 acres in Roundwood village of Wicklow county in Ireland with the Great Sugar Loaf mountain in the backdrop.(1)
The park includes a series of figures of lord Ganesha and Shiva. Apart from Hindu gods, one also finds other sculptures including a fasting lord Buddha.(2)
This ekakuta temple positions itself as one of the masterpieces of Hoysala architecture. The temple's construction commenced in early 12th century by king Vishnuvardhana, when the town of Belur was the capital of Hoysala kingdom.
(Thread)
The temple took over 3 generations and 103 years to complete. Chennakeshava temple is an ekakuta(single shrined) dedicated to lord Chennakeshava (Vishnu) with 3 entrances. The shrine has a large vestibule that connects to the mandapa. Each entrance has statues of dwarapalakas.(1)
The emergence of Chennakeshava temple is believed to be closely related to military achievements of the king who commissioned it in 1117 AD. Vishnuvardhana fought wars with Chalukyas to emerge triumphant and also defeated the Cholas.(2)
The Kevalanarasimha Temple is the oldest existent Vakataka temple and the oldest stone temple in Maharashtra. The temple, dates back to 5th century. It has a square garbagriha with a comparatively smaller square mandapa at the front.
It has a square doorway with rectangular door jambs carved with Vakataka style ganas. The temple has an inscription which is an epigraphic record of the Vakataka dynasty.(1)
The inscription is built into an interior wall of the temple recording the lineage of Vakataka rulers and data related to foundation of temple. (2)
Parasurameswara temple is one of the most ancient Shiva temples in India. The lingam here is believed to be the longest continuously worshipped lingam,and is over 2200 years old. Gudimallam village is about 30 kms from Tirupati.
This temple is considered to be the oldest Shiva temple identified so far tracing its origins to 3rd century BC. The lord here is known as Parasurameswara and this lingam is believed to depict the trinity of brahma, vishnu and maheshwara.(1)
The legend of the temple connects it to Parashurama, an avatar of lord Vishnu. The lingam is believed to be a manifestation of the holy trinity. Brahma at the bottom, Vishnu in the middle, and Shiva on top.(2)
This temple dedicated to goddess Kichakeswari is an embodiment of charm and inimitable grace.
A brief about its destruction and restoration.
(Thread)
The ancient capital of Bhanja rulers, Khiching lies about 205 Km away from Balasore and 150 km from Baripada. The temple, which is about 100 feet tall, built from chlorite slabs, is dedicated to goddess Kichakeswari (Chamunda), the family deity of Bhanja dynasty.(1)
Bhanjas ruled the princely state of Mayurbhanj. Khiching was the capital from the 9th-12th ce. Khiching was invaded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1361. Tughlaq ransacked Orissa, and destroyed its temples. The Bhanjas shifted their capital from Khiching to Hariharpur in 1400.(2)
The Lakshmi Narasimha idol is the largest monolith statue in Hampi. The idol is located on the southern side of the Hemakuta group of temples that stand on the Hemakuta Hill.
(A thread)
The Lakshmi Narasimha idol and the temple housing it was built in 1528 during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara empire. The Lakshmi Narasimha temple is dedicated to lord Narasimha, one of the ten avatars of lord Vishnu, and goddess Lakshmi.(1)
The original sculpture had a small figure of goddess Lakshmi, consort of lord Narasimha, sitting on his lap. The idol was vandalized and mutilated in 1565 during a raid by Deccan Sultanate which led to the fall of Vijayanagara empire.(2)