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| View of Temple as you enter |
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| Side view of the massive Nandi or bull |
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| closeup of the Temple Vimanam |
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| Intricate sculptures on the Vimanam - above & below |
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| Various beautiful idols installed around the Temple |
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| A small sub shrine amidst green land scape |
Monday, August 19, 2013
Gangaikondacholapuram
Gangaikonda Cholapuram( around 100 Kms from Trichy, via Ariyalur in Tamilnadu) was erected as the capital of the Cholas by Rajendra Chola I, the son and successor of Raja Raja Chola,
the great Chola who conquered a large area in South India, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Sumatra, Kadaram (Kedah in Malyasia) at the beginning of the
11th century A.D. It occupies an important place in the history of
India. As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 A.D. for about 250
years, the city controlled the affairs of entire southern India, from
the Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon(now renamed Sri Lanka) in the south and other south east Asian countries. The great temple of Siva at this place is next only to the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur (in Tamilnadu)
in its monumental nature and surpasses it in sculptural quality. The
Gangaikondaan temple is an architectural and engineering marvel because
the shadow of the main tower never falls on the ground throughout the
year. Here are some pics taken during my visit in December 2012.
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Do you know the significance of all the figures having so many arms?
ReplyDeleteDeities are often portrayed with multiple arms, especially when they are battling cosmic forces. The multiplicity of arms emphasizes the deity's immense power and ability to perform several acts at the same time. The portrayal of a deity in human form but with multiple arms is the artist's attempt to express the deity's superhuman power. Demons are frequently depicted with multiple heads to convey their superhuman power as well.
DeleteSometimes I feel like I have multiple arms. lol
Deletebeautiful snaps...
ReplyDeleteFirst of all welcome back..I missed your posts ...Thanks for taking us to Gangaikondacholapuram
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely marvelous and beautiful photos from the Temple complex! I am looking forward to visit this temple at the end of the year.
ReplyDeletethe temple itself is amazing, but i like that huge bull!
ReplyDeleteglad to see you again!
Wow! That is amazing looking temple. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHello Ram .....nice to see your post!
ReplyDeleteThis a spectacular place with so many beautiful carvings.The scale of the bull must seen up close to really be appreciated I think.
Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.
Ruby
The pictures certainly reminded me of Brihadeshwara temple - Thanks for the intro about the Chola empire - very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThese temples are museums in their own right. Long live these places rich in sculptures that relate many a tale. :)
ReplyDeleteMagnificent temple with beautiful architectural works. Would love to visit this temple.
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
Fantastic pictures
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...
ReplyDelete