CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Kiri Torana is one of the two toranas that is upright now; the fragments of the other one lie in the vicinity. The two toranas were identical in size and style and may have belonged to a very large temple complex at one point. The corbelled projections uphold maiden. There is an image of Shiva at the center of the pediment.

 
Dhar, Parul P. The Torana in Indian and Southeast Asian Architecture, 164, 166

Tranguebar, Baroque Architecture, Tamil Nadu

Trichur, Baroque Architecture, Kerala

Trilokyanatha Jeenaswamy Temple, Tiruparuthikundram, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

It was Shah Quli Khan’s first project as the Governor of Narnaul. He built a beautiful garden in the south-east of present Narnaul town in 1575 A.D. Unfortunately today only the enclosure walls an old well, an arched gateway known as “Tripolia Darwaza” leading to the Bagh from west side of the walled enclosure and his own beautiful tomb, are existent. Shah Quil Khan also constructed a beautiful mausoleum for him in 1574-75 AD which was built about 25 years before his own death. During the decline of the Mughals the Bagh, the subsequently built Jal Mahal and other monuments built during the Mughal reign were completely neglected. This garden became a dry patch of land. As the Bagh virtually did not exist anymore, the District Administration, with a view to utilise the land for profitable purposes, parcelled the open land into smaller plots and leased out a plot each to the local farmers. In 2007 the administration cancelled the agricultural licenses and initiated restoration processes.

The Tyagarajasvami temple is associated with the legend of Sundarar to whom the God served as a messenger of love and arranged his marriage with Paravi and Sangili Nachiars. Thyagaraja like Natraja dances - He performs the Ajapa dance here. The presiding deity is however Lord Vanmikanatha. The temple complex that spreads over 20 acres has an island temple in the centre. Vanmikantha shrine is the earliest edifice, Akileswari a coming next and Thyagaraja the next. The temple has many halls (mandapas). Outside the temple there is a sculptural representation of Manuneedhi Chola who ran his chariot on his own son to mete out justice to the cow whose calf was killed by his son. This temple has preserved bronze images that are assignable to Aditya I's time. One of them is the Adipuram Amman bronze - this representation of the Goddess Parvati shows her resting her hand on her attendant. Though this image is Chola in form, it is surmised that it was inspired by outside sources, perhaps the Far East. As Sri Sambandai and Appa have sung about the deity, this temple can be presumed to be in existence even in the seventh century CE. This is one of the 'Panch Boothe’ (five elements) ‘Sthalam’ and is famous as the seat of the 'Prithvi' (earth) Lingam. The main structure consists of a pagoda; three prakaram, 1,008 stone pillars, four sanctum and six mandapas. Sri Thyagarajaswamy and his consort Sri Kammalambal, Sri Vanmiganathai with his consort, Nilothpalambal are the principal deities of the temple. The Moolavur, Sri Vamikanthan is a Swayambu Lingam. The Brahmothsavam in Panguni and the Adi Pooram are the two important festivals celebrated annually. The wooden car of Tiruvarur is the biggest of all the temple cars in the State. Reference: R. Nagaswamy 1988, p. 163