Vishnudharmottara purana tells us that Dattatreya must be depicted just like Valmiki. One more iconographic text, Rupamandanam identifies Dattatreya under another name. He is called Hari-Hara Pitamaha. Ajayameru museum houses a fine sculpture of this form indianculture.gov.in/ajmer-museum-h…
Rupamandanam states that the image of Hari-Hara Pitamaha should have 4 faces, 6 hands &
single body made to stand on a pitha. The right hands should carry the akshamala, the trisula &
the gada, while the left hands should be made to hold the kamandalu, khatvanga & chakra.
The Rupamandanam is a compendium of various iconographic texts. It has details on nearly every iconography, which makes it one of the most exhaustive texts. I've written briefly on this. Check it out.
This partially completed monolithic Pallava rock cut temple from Mahabalipuram presents a very good visual representation of how ancient Sthapatis went about carving out material from a monolithic rock. Valayankuttai Ratha was being built during the reign of Parameshvaravarma.
If the Sthapatis had managed to complete the above Temple, it would have looked similar to the Temple below. This is the Arjuna Ratha from the same Pancha Ratha Temple complex. The Upapeetha(base) & Adisthana(plinth) remained incomplete in the previous Ratha.
This is also a good opportunity to understand the different elements that make up a Ratha type temple. It basically comprises of 6 major parts or Angas as it is called in the Shilpashastra.
For folks saying 2nd one is gym body, unhealthy etc. I haven't been to the gym for 2 years. Majority of this was achieved at home with minimal equipment and on a vegetarian diet rich in protein. One needn't go to the gym to get stronger.
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)
There is not one good reason for a Hindu man to be consuming alcohol. Not one. I can write a lengthy thread on how it is condemned in the Shastras, on how in ancient & medieval times the society had a very low opinion on the ones consuming it.
So when one sees men here proudly sharing their drinks stack or whatever they call it, one cannot help but not think highly of such behaviour.
Usual justification given by alcoholics is "In Rigveda people consumed Soma"
But what they will not tell you is that Soma & Sura are two entirely different things. Rigveda itself make out a distinction between the two
Indian men in the 1930's. One of them in the picture(striking the front double bicep pose) is Bishnu Charan Ghosh. He was brother of Paramahamsa Yogananda. He was a practitioner of Hatayoga. In 1930 he authored a book called Muscle control where he details various exercises.
Simple instructions given in the book which are applicable even today.
1)Avoid over exertion
2)Perform the exercise in correct form.
3)Good ventilation & breathing techniques
4)Healthy eating.
5)Proper sleep of atleast 7 hours.
Most pertinent point of all. He tells us alcohol is NERVE POISON & to avoid it.
Note that anabolic steroids were not developed until 1935. All these Indian men built strength & muscle naturally. With a combination of Hatayoga & weight training.
Tamilians know how to honour their military heros. An example from history. When Hoysala king Ballala deva was forced to leave his capital Dwarasamudra in Karnataka following the sultanate invasion in the 1300's, he made Tiruvannamalai in TN his capital. (1)
Ballala Deva fortified Tiruvannamalai & would use it as a base for many years to fight invaders. Even though he was a Kannadiga, he is revered by Tamils even today as "Veera" Vallala. So much that one of the Gopurams at Tiruvannamalai Temple is named after him. #VeerVanakkam
Veera Ballala sacrificed a lot for his people. You can read about this great king here.