भारतीय वास्तुकला(Wonderful Indian Architecture)'s

Mar 4, 2021 • 16 tweets • 5 min read

Do read and RT!
Iconography and Symbolism: A thread on various aspect of the Hindu iconography
In this thread I'm going to highlight Hindu iconography and symbolism and deep philosophical meaning they carry.
1)Brahma from Aihole
His 4 faces are 4 Veda(s).His 4 arms are space.

2). Whole universe is composed of movable and immovable elements originating from Primeval waters(Apah in Vedas). Brahma holds these water hence Kamandalu represents those waters. Kala devours everything being and non-being(at the end, Pralaya) Akshamala represents Kala.

Jul 22, 2020 • 5 tweets • 5 min read

Ancient ruins of temples in Rishiyan, a place named so because of the belief that 84000 ऋषि used to live here. The place is important as ShriRam visited this this place on his way to Chitrakoot. I've also observed some spectacular hydrological enginnering seen rately. 1/n

Here this one is most extant temple devoid of any deity. Stylistically it is similar to temples of region. I believe there were 3 such shrines with common Mandapa(like Trikuta temples of Hoysala). See the fineness of craftsmanship unfortunately most of it was smuggled.

Aug 27, 2018 • 5 tweets • 4 min read

Thread: A collection of drawings made by Oviyar Shilpi, famous for his detailed renditions of South Indian art and architecture.
Compilation credit: AnuSri

1. From VenuGopal shrine in SriRangam Temple
2. Saraswati
3. Ganesha and Chennakeshava Temple, Belur

Aug 7, 2018 • 7 tweets • 6 min read

A brief thread on the ancient history of Simraungarh and Mithila
1)Simraungarh is one of the most important archeological site, erstwhile capital of Karnata Dynasty between ~11-14th century CE. It is located on the border of Nepal and NE Bihar state.

2) The region was also known as Videha, Mithila, Tirabhukti or Tirhuta.
YajnaValkya, one of the Vedic Maharshi(s) belonged to this region.
Later Mithila region was ruled by Maurya(s), Gupta(s), Harsha, Pala(s). In 1097CE, the region passed on to the hands of Karnata Dynasty.

Jul 26, 2018 • 4 tweets • 3 min read

Thread on GunPowder
1)Finely crafted Cannon with tiger's head like opening, Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
"India’s military technology is history’s greatest ‘hidden’ secret."
Until early 19th century CE, India alone had total monopoly over production of gunpowder.

2)"Unlike China, with an odd textual reference or a drawing or a singular artefact, was the entire industry in India – which remained unrivalled in the history of the world. Compared to China’s paltry production of gunpowder, India’s widespread and organized gunpowder production

Apr 17, 2018 • 4 tweets • 2 min read

Thread: Extent of India as per John Ogilby in 1673

1)A depiction of some avatars, John Ogilby, 1673

John Ogilby writes,"..India is divided into two great parts, whereof one, which extends from the River Indus to Ganges, is by

2)the Persians call'd Indostan, that is, The Countrey of Indus; and by the Greek and Latine Writers, India intra Gangem, or India within Ganges. The other part is call'd Mangi, or India extra Gangem, or Without Ganges.

Apr 6, 2018 • 8 tweets • 5 min read

1)Aerial view of Murud Janjira fort: An ancient engineering marvel
Built: In 15th century by Koli chieften
It reflects the marvel of ancient engineering. The fort stands withan impressive height of 40ft and is bounded by high walls on all sides. The fort was made by a mixture

2.of lead, sand and gul. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is quite close to it. It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape. The fort has 19 rounded bastions, still intact. On the outer wall flanking the main gate

Mar 31, 2018 • 5 tweets • 3 min read

Hanuman, Tamilnadu
Copper alloy, ~16th century CE
This is one of the best depiction of Hanuman, I've ever seen.
#HanumanJayanti

Ascetic's pectoral plaque with Hanuman as central figure
Note bell tied in tail. Seven hooded Naga flanked by peacocks form canopy over Hanuman. Outer ring is decorated with bead and reel pattern and lotus.
Very unique depiction indeed!
#HanumanJayanti

Mar 14, 2018 • 5 tweets • 2 min read

1)Temple of Vishveshwur, Varanasi
During the British period, the Gyan Vapi well was a regular destination on the Hindu pilgrimage routes in the city. Reginald Heber, who visited the site in 1824, mentioned that the water of the Gyan Vapi — brought by a subterraneous channel

2)Brahmin at GyanVapi, Varanasi
Greaves (1909) mentioned that a Brahmin (Hindu priest) sat at a stone screen surrounding the Gyan Vapi. The worshippers would come to the well, and receive sacred water from the priest.
Sherring (1868) mentioned that the well was surrounded by this

Mar 5, 2018 • 4 tweets • 3 min read

1)A panel from Bujang Valley, Malaysia
Depiction of temple is interesting. Dome of the temple is typical Deccani(of Bijapur type) with lotus base. Bujang Valley was a flourishing kingdom as early as ~4th century CE. The very name 'Bujang' comes from Sanskrit भुजंग(Bhujang).

2) Stupa depicted on panel, Bujang Valley, Malaysia
In India, conical spire atop dome of Stupa was replaced with simple Kalasha. Indian domes, being derived from Stupa retained same proportion throughout history. Now, compare this dome to dome of Bijapur.

Mar 3, 2018 • 4 tweets • 3 min read

Ancient colossal Sculpture of Durga, Devtamura(Tripura)
Note the scale!
Contrary to popular perception Tripura is home to a number of ancient archeological site. There are in all 37 rock cut images of Ganesha,Skanda etc. It was part of ancient route to SE Asia via Myanmar.

Colossal Ganesha from Unakoti, Kailashahar(Tripura)
Unakoti literally means 'one less in 10million', got its name due to thousands of small and large rock cut reliefs of gods and goddesses spread over miles. Images of Chaturmukha Linga and Vishnu also found there.

Shiva

Feb 18, 2018 • 17 tweets • 7 min read

Amazing Kalyani(Temple tank) at Hulikere near Halebidu(Karnataka)
Dated: ~12th century CE
Note the details of aedicula. Fractal pattern is obvious.

#ReclaimTemples #WalkToTemple

Chand Baori stepwell, Abhaneri ,Rajasthan
Dated: ~9th Century CE
The four sided 13 storied stepwell is over 100feet deep and lined with over 3500steps with an amazing geometrical precision. This stepwell is one of the largest stepwells, a magnificent device to store water.

Feb 17, 2018 • 4 tweets • 2 min read

Anda: Dome of buildings

Shodasandayutah(furnished with 16 cupolas), vibhushito'ndais cha vimsatya(adorned with 20 Cupolas)-(Brihat-Samhita)

There are many ancient buildings with 16, 20, 24, upto 84 or more domes.
Sketch of 'Anda' as per Shilpa-Shastra.

#ReclaimTemples

Anda(dome without neck) of an ancient building in Ahmedabad
It is capped with Kalasha. In Stupa(s) Anda is surmounted by conical spire 'Hti' .

Feb 17, 2018 • 5 tweets • 2 min read

1)Profile sketch of Bimran Casket
Dated: ~1-3rd century CE
Note pointed arched niches used in a constructional fashion. Height of arch is equal to height of square pier/columns.
Today any ancient building having similar cross section is absurdily dated to late medieval period...

2)First used of pointed arch in middle East is found in ~8th century CE that is 500 years later than their Indian counterparts.
Columns having rectangular recess can be seen in ancient monuments of Delhi, Rogtasgarh etc.

Sketch by: Charles Masson

https://twitter.com/wiavastukala/status/948778685439475713

Feb 15, 2018 • 8 tweets • 4 min read

1) Garuda ornaments from Palawan, Eastern Visayan, Phillipines
Dated:~10th century CE
Wherever European Christian culture went they tried to erase its history completely. Before the Discovery of Laguna copperplate inscription ancient Phillipines was generally assumed uncivilized.

2) Kinnari, gold, Surigao, Phillipines
Dated: ~10-13th century CE

Indian features are clearly visible.

Feb 13, 2018 • 6 tweets • 2 min read

1)Panchmukha Shivalingam, Bronze, Himachal Pradesh
Dated: ~16th century CE
This bronze linga is panchamukha and represents each of Shiva’s five heads, namely Sadyojata, Aghora, Vamadeva, Tatpurusha and, in the centre, Sadashiva (the ‘eternally auspicious’). #MahaShivratri

2)When these five heads appear on a linga they are usually different in appearance; Vamadeva is generally portrayed as a woman and Aghora as a fierce figure. But here there are five identical heads, an iconography more common after the fifteenth century.

Feb 11, 2018 • 4 tweets • 2 min read

Just see the huge, finely cut pieces of stone used in this temple. Also note the pointed arch(lotus petal arch) niche at the centre of the rectangular temple(fourth image). There are thousands of such temples lying in ruins.

External Tweet loading...
If nothing shows, it may have been deleted
by @ReclaimTemples view original on Twitter

Central niche of Adina Masjid, Pandua
These mihrabs are nothing but niche(s) sans Vigraha as suggested by E. B. Havell.
1. Trefoil arch resting pillars with Kalasha base(such pillars are depicted in Shunga sculptures)

2. Trefoil arch with extant Shikhara of Kalinga type

Feb 8, 2018 • 6 tweets • 1 min read

1)Neak Pean temple ,Angkor(Cambodia)
Dated: ~12th century CE
Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes (the ancient Hindus believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease);

2)..it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Each is connected to the central water source,

Feb 7, 2018 • 4 tweets • 2 min read

1)Rock cut temple of Neminath, Gwalior fort

The temple is mainly a rock cut chamber in which Neminath is sitting in meditating pose and carved out of same rock. Beautifully carved 'Chhatra(umbrella)' above Neminath is another unique feature. #ReclaimTemples

2)Ceiling is decorated with full bloomed lotus flower which has a special significance in Indian traditions. Front portion of chamber is designed as to look like temple. Like many other places this place also suffered the wrath of invaders(Islamic and British).

Jan 31, 2018 • 8 tweets • 2 min read

1)First: Painted Image of Maheshwara in typical Kashmiri style
Second: Painted Bodhisattva on same wooden plaque wearing typical Sassanian headgear and boots from Dandan- Uiliq, Xinxiang

Dated: ~6th century CE

Rectangular votive panel painted on both sides.

2)One side shows a three-headed and four-armed male deity, seated cross-legged on a chequered cushion supported by two white bulls. This figure holds in the hands the sun and the moon, a vajra (thunderbolt), and a white round object, possibly a bijapura (citrus fruit).

Jan 27, 2018 • 32 tweets • 7 min read

Thread on ancient naval defence system of India

1)Relief depicting naval vessel, Borobudur Temple, Java(Indonesia)
Dated: ~8th century CE or older
Even before the accounts of the 1st century BC, there were written accounts of Shipbuilding and war-craft at sea.

2)Professor R.C. Majumdar says that there existed a comprehensive book of Naval-architecture in India dating back to 2nd century BCE, if not earlier.

Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll