Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds

Site Name:

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Subject: Parvati

Site Name: Vadacheri

Date: 1600-1699 CE

Subject: Krishna Navanita-Nartana: Balkrishna or Child Krishna was a favorite with several of the Vaishnava saints. This is the most popular imagery for child Krishna is as a dancing infant, with one hand in the divine gesture of protection (abhaya) and the other stretched out in the movement of the dance. Clothing is absent and child Krishna is clad only in ornaments that include the traditional girdle of bells and range of necklaces, armlets, and anklets.

Site Name: Vadacheri

Date: 1600-1699 CE

Site Name: Tirumullaivasal

Date: 1300-1399 CE

Subject: Adhikaranandi and Devi: A personified representation of Nandi, the vahana (mount) of Lord Shiva. Adhikaranandi's two back hands hold the battle axe) and the antelope and the two front hands are folded on the chest in the obeisance pose. Since Nandi is chief of Shiva?s ganas (retinues) and exercises his authority (adhikara) over them, he is called Adhikaranandi. Adhikaranandi is accompanied by consort Devi.

Site Name: Tirumullaivasal

Date: 1300-1399 CE

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Subject: Kalyanasundara: Kalyanasundara or The Wedding of the Charming One depicts the marriage of Shiva and Uma Parvati. The theme of divine wedding has a very special significance in Tamil Nadu. As Minakshi (Fish-Eyed), Uma is the patron goddess of Madurai, the capital city of the Pandyas and married to Shiva. Shiva also has a different name in Madurai-Sundara, or the Handsome One. This is re-enacted there and at other temples each year as part of the annual Panguni Uttiram temple festival, performed with processional icons of the couple. The god Vishnu and his wife Lakshmi are often pictured as giving away Parvati to Shiva.

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1099 CE

Site Name: Jambavanodai

Date: 1300-1399 CE

Subject: Surya standing, back

Site Name: Jambavanodai

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Subject: Shiva as Pradosamurti: Although the crescent moon is one of Shiva?s standard attributes, he is referred to as Candrasekhara or the Lord whose locks are crowned with the crescent moon when he's shown in an entirely benevolent form, far removed from his major feats of destruction. The crescent moon symbolizes his power of creation and destruction and adorns the right of Shiva?s tall crown like arrangement of matted locks. He is depicted with his consort Uma Parvati whom he gently embraces, knows as alingana (embracing) Candrasekhara.

Site Name: Jambavanodai

Date: 1100-1199 CE

Site Name: Tiruvengadu

Date: 1076-1099 CE

Subject: Nandi: Nandi, the bull plays an important role in Saiva imagery. Originally under the name Nandikeshvara, it seems to have existed in human form as a rishi (sage) who belonged to Shiva?s retinue, sometimes acting as a doorkeeper. There are several accounts in the Puranas of the way in which he achieved divine or semi-divine status. These include his recognition as another form of Shiva but more often he is in the form of a bull. In the temple plan, Nandi is invariably placed in front of the sanctum of Shiva. Nandi rests casually on a double lotus pedestal with his tail folded over his hind legs, his two front legs partially bent in typical fashion and his tongue licking the tip of his nose. He has the distinctive hump of an Indian bull and is lavishly adorned with jewelry in a manner befitting his stature, from the metal covers on his horns to his range of foot ornaments.

Site Name: Tiruvengadu

Date: 1076-1099 CE

Site Name: Tiruvengadu

Date: 1076-1099 CE

Site Name: Jambavanodai

Date: 1100-1299 CE

Subject: Appar: Appar was one of the most famous Saivite saint and hymnologist said to have lived in the eighth century. He was an elder contemporary of Sambandar, and his title of revered father (Appar) was given to him by the child-saint. Appar converted from Jainism to Saiva worship. Visiting all the then existing Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, Appar sang the glories of Shiva in delightful verses, these hymns constitute the fourth, fifth and sixth books of the sacred writings of Saivas. He, along with Jnanasambandar spearheaded the Bhakti movement that changed the nature of religious life not only in Tamil Nadu but the entire country giving impetus to construction of temples. To testify his devotion to Shiva, he went about weeding the courtyard of temples. He is usually represented with his weeding implement resting on his right arm. He wears his prayer beads (rudraskhas) and is clad in the meager loincloth (koupina) of the ascetic.

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1048 CE

Subject:

Bhiksatana, detail: A detail from Shiva’s manifestation as Bhiksatana (Enchanting Mendicant) that shows his matted locks are scraped back off his forehead, behind a jeweled headband with a central flame motif.

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1048 CE

Subject:

Bhiksatana: Shiva’s manifestation as Bhiksatana (Enchanting Mendicant) represented with an alms bowl in hand has strong appeal in southern India. The four-armed Shiva is shown naked with a serpent knotted around him to serve as a loincloth. Another serpent peeps out of his matted hair, which is adorned with the crescent moon and arranged in an elaborate halo-like formation around his head. Shiva is shown naked, bedecked in jewelry and sacred threads tied round his body. On his feet he is wearing a pair of toe-knob sandals (paduka) as suits his mendicant status.

Site Name: Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1048 CE

Subject:

Site Name: Tiruvengadu / Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1199 CE

Subject: Rajapradhani-Brahmadhirajan: The figure is probably a portrait of Brahmana chief who served the Chola monarch as an army commander. He is sparsely dressed with little jewelry on his body and his hands clasped in front carrying a chaplet of flowers. It is known that many Brahmanas served as commanders of the imperial army, especially under Rajaraja I, Rajendra I and his successors, distinguishing themselves in every war. They were given the title Brahmadhirya, king among Brahmanas. This image belongs to the period of Rajaraja I, and is an excellent example of Chola portraiture, of several other examples are known, most of these being set up in the temples as devotees.

Site Name: Tiruvengadu / Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1199 CE

Site Name: Tiruvengadu / Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1199 CE

Site Name: Tiruvengadu / Tiruvenkadu

Date: 1000-1199 CE

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