The doorway of a classical Nagara style temple is probably the highest expression of art achieved in Bharat. Each and every element of the doorway including the threshold is intricately decorated. The doorway is comprised of numerous elements. Lets have a look at each element (1)
This part of the doorway is called the Lalatabimba. A miniature form of the deity present inside the Garbagriha is depicted here. (2)
On top of the Lalatabimba is an element what is known as Uttaranga. It is where usually Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara & sometimes even Skanda along with their respective devis are depicted. (3)
Then comes Dwara Shakas. These are offsets surrounding the doorjamb . They are usually 1,3,5 or 7 in number. There are various types of Shakas depending on what is depicted. If it depicts lions, its called Simha shaka. Likewise there are Gandharva,Mituna & Patra(floral) shaka (4)
Then we have the Dwarapalas guarding the Garbagriha on either side of the doorway. It could be Jaya - Vijaya, Ganga-Yamuna depending on the principal deity inside the Garbagriha. (5)
This element is called the Mandaraka. The name comes from the Mandara mountain which was used during the Samudra manthan to obtain Amrutha. Sometimes the event is depicted here. (6)
Below the Mandaraka is the Udumbara, which is the lowest element among all. It is the threshold. It is unfortunately not visible in the original photo as it is buried beneath the mud. This is qn equivalent example from the Suryanarayana temple at Osian. (7)
An excellent example of Mithuna Shaka from Ashapuri Temple. Nagara architecture reached its peak crescendo in Madhya Pradesh area. The development of architecture came to an abrupt end following the invasions. Sadly we'll never know to what newer heights it would have reached.
Vishvanatha temple, Khajuraho. Under the patronage of the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, Nagara architecture reached its very peak. Especially the gateway elements leading up to the Garbagriha. Just have a look at each element. So intricate, aesthetic, classy & so graceful.
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Namaste friends🙏 Had the good fortune of having a darshana at one of the most iconic temples of Bharat last week, the ancient Pallava era Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchi.
This is a thread on the temple's history, architecture & sculptures. There is so much to share. Do read. 🕉️
Firstly, brief history of the temple. It was built during the 8th century by Pallava emperor Rajasimha. The temple also goes by the name Rajasimheshwara. This temple served as the architectural blueprint for the Chalukyas & later Rashtrakutas for their temples at Vatapi & Ellora.
There is a Pallava-Granta inscription in the temple that praises Rajasimha as a great ruler. He is praised as having mastered the vedas and shaiva siddhantha. He is compared to Indra & Kubera
Some of the titles used by Rajasimha were Ishanacharana, Sivachudamani, Kalasamudra.
A detailed THREAD on the history, architecture & sculpture of the Hoysala built Chennakeshava Temple at Somanathapura, Karnataka.
This is going to be a long one & it took me a while to piece all the information together. Do continue reading till the end. Lets's start 🕉️ (1)
The Keshava temple was constructed by Somanatha Dandanayaka on receiving funds from reigning King Narasimha III. This temple was consecrated in 1238 CE & is considered the last major temple building activity undertaken by the Hoysalas. (2)
In front of the entrance of the temple is a 10mt high Dipasthambha. The Temple is enclosed in a prakara wall & is entered through a mantapa on the east. To the left of this mantapa is a 3mt high slab with inscription in both Kannada & Sanskrit dating to the reign of Narasimha (3)
A Thread on the history, architecture, paintings and sculpture at The Veerabhadra swamy temple in Lepakshi, Andhra. The temple represents the awe inspiring architectural brilliance of the Vijayanagara Empire. (1)
Hanumalinga shrine is located at the southwest corner of the pradaksina path that surrounds the garbhagrha & antarala (vestibule) of the Veerabhadra shrine. The entrance to this shrine is situated in the southwest corner of the pradaksina wall. (57)
Facing the east, the shrine consists solely of the garbhagriha, which houses a linga placed on a vedi (pedestal). Above the roof is a four faced Nagara Shikhara. (58)
Da Vinci was undoubtedly a great innovator. But 500 years before him was Paramara Bhoja. He authored the Samarangana Sutradhara, a multi disciplinary text, where he describes building advanced warfare machines including mechanized soliders! This is 500 years before Da Vinci! (1)
Bhoja's legendary work, the Samarangana Sutradhara has no parallel for its time. In this particular chapter called Yantra vidhanam, he describes the method of building advanced mechanical devices like Golakabhramana, Jalayantra & many others. (2)
Bhoja talks about a number of advanced mechanical devices which he calls as "Yantras"
He defines a Yantra as " The device by which the mahabhutas like earth, water, fire, air & ether are controlled. When the free & natural activities of these mahabhutas...cont...(3)
THREAD. Chief reasons for the decline of Buddhism in India listed out by historian scholar PV Kane.
1) People realised the dangers of buddhist teachings of constantly being preached on how the world is a place of suffering & giving up on all desires etc
(1)
2) Hindu concept of 4 Ashrama system gave men a real purpose in life. Inculcated discipline in them, unlike Buddhist philosophy that threatened the very stability & continuance of human society that gradually led to loss of physical & mental vitality, idleness & race suicide
(2)
3) Later Buddhists strayed so much from the original teachings of buddha, in the process they simply ended up copying Hindu ideals like Bhakti. The line between Buddhism & Hinduism got so thin that the former got subsumed in the vast superior ocean that is Hindu dharma.
After turushka invader muhammad khalji destroyed nalanda & vikramashila, his hordes set eye in tibet. On the way back, his men were ambushed by Vallabhadeva's army. Vallabhadeva was the then ruler of Assam. In the battle many turushkas were killed. An inscription records this.
For the next century and a half, turushkas kept trying to push into Assam & failed. Some were mortally wounded & their armies destroyed. Resistance to turushkas by Hindu assamese is a great inspirational story.
When turushka malik yuzbak decided to invade Assam in 1257 CE, the then Hindu king set up a well planned trap which led to malik being captured & executed. His army was destroyed too. The Hindu king who led this operation is identified as Kamateshvara Sandhya.