Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds

Site Name: Mangudi

Date: 900-999 CE

Subject: Surya: Surya, the Sun God is represented holding a lotus (padma) in each hand. The god stands frontally in an unflexed position (samabhnaga posture) and has an orblike halo setting off his crowned head. He wears elaborate ornaments including a jeweled crown (ratna mukuta), necklace (hara) and a sacred thread (yajnopavita). Images of Surya had a role to play in temples dedicated to other deities. In the imagery of northern India, Surya regularly wears boots; however in Tamil Nadu, Surya is invariably barefoot as are all other deities.

Site Name: Nemam

Date: 851-899 CE

Subject: Bhudevi: Bhudevi is the Earth Goddess who is Vishnu's consort and whom he rescued from the depths of the cosmic ocean in his incarnation as the great boar, Varaha.

Site Name: Patteeswaram

Date: 900-999 CE

Subject: Buddha seated: In South India, the Buddhist and Jain faiths were quite vital in the Chola period. Buddhist monasteries attracted donations of individual images of the Buddha and Buddhist deities. The early arrival of Buddhism in south India is evident from the ancient Buddhist monastic sites that dot Godavari and Krishna basins of the Andhra region as well as literary sources. However with the upsurge of Shaiva nayanmars and the Vaishnava alvars, the power of Buddhists greatly reduced. Buddhism received new impetus during the eleventh century partly because of the arrival of a colony of Buddhists from the kingdom of Shrivijaya in Indonesia. This is a seated figure of Buddha in dhyani-mudra (contemplation gesture). The robes cover only one shoulder.

Site Name: Patteeswaram

Date: 900-999 CE

Site Name: Patteeswaram

Date: 851-899 CE

Subject: Nandi, standing

Site Name: Patteeswaram

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Somaskanda: Somaskanda is the term used to describe a composition that depicts Shiva and his consort Parvati seated on a throne with their infant son Skanda between them. Skanda is missing from this composition.

Site Name: Patteeswaram

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Site Name: Perunthottam

Date: 800-825 CE

Subject: Vishnu: An early bronze sculpture of a seated figure of the Hindu Vishnu. The rear hands that bear the shankha (conch) and chakra (discus) are broken.

Site Name: Perunthottam

Date: 800-825 CE

Subject: Vishnu, seated, back

Site Name: Sendalai

Date: 876-899 CE

Subject: Deity

Site Name: Sendalai

Date: 900-999 CE

Subject: Shiva

Site Name: Sendalai

Date: 850 CE

Subject: Female Attendant

Site Name: Sendalai

Date: 950 CE

Subject: Dakshinamurti: Shiva as a teacher of yoga, music and other sciences is known by the name of Dakshinamurti.

Site Name: Sirkali

Date: 1200-1299 CE

Subject: Skanda: Skanda as Subrahmanya is the South Indian god of war. Skanda has only one head and four arms, holding ritual weapons-head of a spear and a thunderbolt in his upper hands. The lower two hands are held in abhaya (gesture of fearlessness) and varada (favorable mudra) mudra.

Site Name: Sirkali

Date: 1200-1299 CE

Subject: Parvati

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 900-925 CE

Subject: Ardhanarishvara: The composite figure of Shiva where he is depicted as half male and half female to indicate the shiva-shakti relationship of the unified whole. The right half represents Shiva while the left half represents Parvati. Shiva has the matted locks piled high on his head and leans on his mount, the bull. Parvati's side has a jeweled crown, earring, full breast, broad hips, long skirt, and only one arm.

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Subrahamanya, lower part: Subrahmanya as Muruga is adored as the embodiment of youth, beauty and knowledge. Muruga is highly regarded in the Tamil country and his exploits are celebrated in Tamil literature. Subrahmanya is a War God, and Devasenapathi the greatest commander-in chief of the celestials.

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Subject: Durga, standing

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1000-1025 CE

Subject: Sarasvati: Sarasvati is the goddess of knowledge, learning, and music. In her hands, she holds a lotus (padma) and a rosary of white pearls (aksamala). She presents the varada mudra (bestowing of gifts gesture).

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Vayu: Vayu is the god of the winds and the guardian of the north-western sector of the universe. He is reckoned as one of the five elements and is often associated with Indra in the Rig Veda, as Vata with Parjanya. In a later age, Vayu had a son Hanumat who played an important role in Rama?s expedition in search of Sita. In the Mahabharata, Bhima, one of the Pandava brothers, is also said to be a son of Vayu. Sculptural representations of Vayu are rare but in early medieval temples of cult gods, Vayu was shown as riding on a stag and holding a flag in his hand. Here is shown seated on a stag.

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Pradosamurti: The Shiva idol taken on procession as Utsavmurtis on Pradosha or the thirteenth day of every fortnight in the Hindu calendar is the Pradosamurti.

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Brahma: Brahma is in charge of carrying out the work of creation. In this sculpture he has the attributes associated with his priestly appearance, the prayer beads and the kamandalu or ritual water jar and his matted dreadlocks are piled on his head. Four arms connote superhuman power, and four heads convey the idea that his creative activities spread in all four directions. Brahma featured regularly in one of the three central niches on the exterior sanctum walls of the earliest Chola temples.

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Brahma, profile: Brahma is in charge of carrying out the work of creation. In this sculpture he has the attributes associated with his priestly appearance, the prayer beads and the kamandalu or ritual water jar and his matted dreadlocks are piled on his head. Four arms connote superhuman power, and four heads convey the idea that his creative activities spread in all four directions. Brahma featured regularly in one of the three central niches on the exterior sanctum walls of the earliest Chola temples.

Site Name: Thanjavur

Date: 1100-1199 CE

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Tanjore Art Gallery and Museum, Thanjavur