Sphinx (face of human and body of lion or other animal) or Purush Singha was popular way of probably representing figure of royalties or kingship in Egypt and India and even Mesopotamians. This thread capture such instances of Purush Singham from India.
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Keith 1914 translates Purushamriga Chandramase as 'The Human-Beast to the Moon' YV-II.5.5.14 but we will call such figures Purush Singham for sale of simplicity and uniqueness.
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These 4500 years old Harappan seals with depictionof Nari Singham or anthropomorphic figures with face of a human mostly female and body of a beast (mostly tiger) are probably of a queen/King/royalty.
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This Pair of Purusha Singha guard the entrance of the Shri Shiva Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, India. Male and female,
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Purush Singham and Nari Singham on a pillar of Shri Airavateshvara temple in Darasuram
12th cent. CE
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Pair of Purush Singham in Shri Sarangapani temple in Kumbakonam
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Seated sphinx among the sculpture of the Krishna cave in Mamallapuram
Granite
8th century
Approximately 85 cm high
Photo by Raja Deekshithar, 25 July 2005
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Walking Purush Singham
Shri Shiva Nataraja temple
12th century
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Purush Singham from the wall of the Shri Varadaraja Perumal temple in Tribhuvanai near Pondicherry
1000 CE
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Purush Singham ? and Bhima from the
Mahabharata and the judgment by Dharmaraja Yudhistira in the Shri Airavateshvara temple in Darasuram
Granite
12th century
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Purush Singham worshipping a Shiva Linga South Gopuram of the ??? temple in Villianur, Puducherry
15th century
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Purush Singham worshipping a Shiva Linga, South gopuram of the Shri Arunachaleshvara temple in Tiruvannamalai
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Purush Singham in standing upright posture
Shri Subrahmania shrine, Rajarajeshvara temple in Tanjore
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Purush Singham depicted on the base of the Vishnu shrine in the temple of Tirumalai in Kanya Kumari district
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Sad, some of the temple are only 400 years old with these purush Singham sculptures and yet we can only guess about their meaning. There are no expert of the subject matter left it seems. This thread is from my own research and opinions. Pics taken from respective owners
Just to clarify
Purush Singham has manly face and lion body
Narsimha has a lion face and human body.
In ancient times, Gods were depicted with animal faces and human bodies while Kings were depicted with human faces and animal bodies.
So not to be confused
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Purush Singha from Harappan Period
This Anthromorph figure of composite animal and humanly may be precursor of Early Purush Singha (Depiction of a King) #Archaeology
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The Gubyaukgyi (or Kubyauk-gyi) temple, near Bagan, Myanmar, was built in 1113 AD by Prince Yazakumar after King Kyansittha's death. It's renowned for its well-preserved frescoes, the oldest in Bagan, featuring Old Mon captions that mark early language use in Myanmar.
Located near the Myazedi Pagoda, it stands beside a key historical pillar with inscriptions in Pali, Old Mon, Old Burmese, and Pyu, often dubbed the "Burmese Rosetta Stone" for its linguistic significance.
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Stone pillars with inscriptions in four ancient Southeast Asian languages: Pali, Old Mon, Old Burmese, and Pyu. The inscription on the pillar displayed by the Myazedi Pagoda is called the Burmese Rosetta Stone, given its historical and linguistic significance as a key to deciphering the Pyu language.
Compare the protection given to this pillar by a relatively smaller country. @AsiGOI can learn from these smaller countries as to how to protect heritages of national importance.
Did you know that "Bull Leaping" or "Bull Taming" finds its roots in India, and was gender neutral ? It later made its way to Europe, where it goes by different names. The earliest seal dates back to around 2600-1900 BCE. The second piece of evidence for Bull Leaping comes from Banawali, near the dry Saraswati riverbed in Haryana, dating from 2300-1700 BCE.
#Archaeology
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The subsequent known depiction of bull-leaping appears on Hüseyindede vases, originating from the early Hittite period around 1650 BCE. #Archaeology
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During the period from around 1600 BCE to 1450 BCE, the late Minoans engaged in the thrilling sport of bull leaping. This bronze sculpture, crafted through the 'Lost Wax Technique' (a method originating from India that remains in use today by @Nasa), captures an acrobat in mid-somersault.
DEVDASI | Journey from GLEAM to GLOOM | Most respected to most dejected
Thread to look back in time to where we are today. An untold story in the evocative book 'NITYASUMANGALI' by Saskia C Kersenboon
Exploring the devadasi system's transformation, this narrative traces its shift from revered spiritual practice to marginalized existence. Devadasis, once divine performers in temples, faced decline as societal changes turned respect into rejection. Kersenboon's research reflects on cultural shifts, urging readers to ponder tradition, power, and identity.
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Devdasis, also known as Rudra Ganikas, played a crucial role in temple ceremonies. They were the figures who encircled the IDOLs during rituals led by the royals. Revered as both sacred and auspicious, they symbolized wealth and protection for the populace. They also conducted various ceremonies related to weddings and births.
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The initiation into becoming a DevDasi was a CHALLENGING ritualistic journey, focused on mastering Shakti and anchoring it to a symbolic DEITY. It began with the King's consent, followed by seclusion, detachment from family, and a bond with GOD. Even upon death, a Devdasi adorned herself as SU-Mangali (a MARRIED woman).
Beyond ancient docks, lies advanced metrological wisdom.
From Mauryan architecture to now known as Qutub Minar, and Tajo Mahal the 5000 years old legacy lives on.
Bookmark this thread.
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As per latest studies, Dholavira construction used metrological units continued even in Tajo Mahal.
The author of this paper used "Dhanus" as 1.9 meters to evaluate dimensions and found that #harappan were not only fond of ratios but applied to all settlement of that period with some MOE
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The city's length EW axis and width NS are in a ratio of 5:4
The Castle also reflects the city's ratio of 5:4.
The Bailey is square (ratio 1:1).
The middle town's length and breadth are in a ratio of 7:6
The ceremonial ground's proportions are 6:1
The Brihadeshwarar Devalaya was founded by the Tamil emperor Arulmozhivarman, popularly known as Rajaraja Chola I, in 1002 CE. It was the first major building project of the great Tamil Chola dynasty.
Inspired by Shaivism, the temple stands as a significant testament to this tradition.
The frescoes on the Devalaya walls were damaged due to exposure to smoke and camphor. The Tanjore Nayak replaced the damaged paintings with their own. Later, @ASIGoI repaired the paintings. However, a few of the original artworks have begun to reappear.
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This exquisite fresco, dating back over a millennium, vividly captures the grace of two female and one male dancer in a mesmerizing performance. Nestled within the revered Brihadeshwarar Devalaya in Tamil Nadu, this ancient artwork reflects the region's rich cultural heritage and the timeless allure of classical Indian dance traditions.