CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Ottaikovil Jaina temple, Chettiapatti, Tamil Nadu

The Hisar district is located on the eastern side of Haryana. During pre-Mughal times the place was known as Hizar-i-Firuza which was located at a strategic point where the old Delhi-Multan route branched to Khurasan. This city was founded by Firoz Shah as a challenging attempt to reclaim this barren tract of desert. Shams Siraj records that Firoz Shah took personal interest in the construction of the town and the excavation of canals. The Palace of Firoz Shah is situated on the northwestern side of the ruined citadel-currently in the main market area of the Hisar city. It has only one entrance from Qila-ki-darwaza. The eastern area of the palace complex has British period buildings. The palace was originally conceived in three levels out of which the third level is completely lost and only the bases of a few columns and a number of loose column shafts remain. Much of the complex is fallen and other parts are filled with rubble and earth.

Palayur, Baroque Architecture, Kerala

Pallavanisvara temple, Kaveripoopattinam, Tamil Nadu

Pancanadisvara temple, Allur, Tamil Nadu

Tiruvaiyaru means place of five rivers – the Kaveri and her four branches. Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar have glorified this place by their devotional hymns so this temple was a living institution even before the seventh century CE. In recent years, Tiruvaiyaru has gained greater prestige by the association with this place of saint Thyagaraja, one of the greatest exponents of Carnatic music. The Pancanadisvarar temple here is one of the holiest temples in Kaveri valley. It is a large complex with several subsequent additions but the main shrine is a small structure. The temple was probably rebuilt in stone in or before 888 CE. Reference: M.W. Meister and M.A. Dhaky, 1963, p. 161, S.R. Balasubrahmanyam, 1966, pp.149-152.