CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Takkolam is the site of the famous battle between Rajaditya and Krishna III in about 949 CE. Jalanathesvara (the Lord of Water) temple called Tiruvural in the ancient inscriptions on account of being a natural spring is one of the major monuments of this region. Its walls are engraved with many inscriptions of Parantaka I (907-954 CE) from the seventh regnal year to thirty-fifth and some inscriptions belong to Aditya I (871-907 CE). This temple in Tondaimandalam is not as developed as contemporary monuments in Colamandalam. On the basis of iconographical characteristics of the temple, it has been suggested that the temple's original patron must have been a Pallava. For example, the sculptures follow a Pallava convention in that they are four armed which is different from early Chola convention. References: D. Barrett, 1974, pp. 64-65.

Accessible through a number of steps, this temple is located within an open court. Building plan is linear with a large hall with three bays, separated by arched openings. Main architectural features in the interiors are highlighted by using ornate plasterwork. The interior bays are covered with three domes with the central one being the highest. Interior of the domes are decorated with paintings while the exterior is ribbed, plastered and topped with finials. Two minarets are located at the front corners building. The interior of the structure that was originally a Jami mosque, has undergone several alterations due to its new use as a Durga temple.

This Mosque is a rectangular shaped structure with octagonal turrets at all corners. Three recessed arched openings lead into the interiors where the central opening is higher than the other two. The interior spaces are spanned with three ribbed domes over three bays with central dome higher than the adjoining ones. The main façade is covered with red sandstone with carved detailing. Interiors are plastered and now converted to house a temple. The mosque is located in the main market of the town, close to Sheesh Mahal. All these structures were once part of the walled city of Farrukhnagar.

The Jama Masjid is situated in the middle of the town. The mosque was erected in AD 1531 in Humayun?s time as inferred from the inscription under the pulpit stairs. Outside, over the south arch is another inscription of the time of Aurnagzeb, AD 1667-1668, stating that the mosque was built by Khwaja Rahmat Ullah by order of the Emperor in the tenth year of his reign. But there are two Arabic inscriptions which tend to show that a mosque existed here even before the reign of Humayun. Currently the mosque is in reuse as a Gurudvara but the structure has remained unaltered despite its current religious status.

Jami Masjid, Agra, Uttar Pradesh

This mosque located aadjacent to Abdullah & Nassiruddin Shah's Dargah, a complex situated in one of the lanes of the main market. The mosque is a linear structure flanked by a porch. Three arched openings lead to the individual bays from an open porch. The walls of the porch are adorned with niches in plaster.The interior comprises of three bays separated by arched openings. All three bays are spanned with a dome, supported on squinches, with central dome higher than the ptwo. These domes are topped with inverted lotus and finials.