Saturday, February 18, 2006
Varadaraja Perumal Temple
Back to Kanchipuram. (See related pics posted in January of the Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Kanchipuram.) Quite a few of the large temples in Tamil Nadu have the 100-pillar halls referred to as `Nootru Kaal Mandapam' (100-legged halls), and the pillars are profusely carved. The Varadaraja Perumal Temple too has one such hall. Here are a few details from there.
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15 comments:
again - beautiful in your pics :-)
Thank You. But the sculptures are some of the most intricate you can find anywhere.
I don't know Balaji - this trip to India was somewhat of a letdown for me.
I went to this place last month and did not see the beauty in the sculpture. Must have been a state of mind.
But state of mind apart, it must be recognised that in India the places of architectural/heritage value are not maintained or showcased as well as they should be.
For eg, did you know that inside the 100-pillar hall, near the ceiling above the central stage, there are sculptures that rotate freely on their axis.
Balaji,
Quite true what you say about the architectural beauty not being showcased properly. Wonder why. Probably because nobody is interested. Really sad state of affairs.
Nice shot. My idea was to snap this sculptures, blow them up & hang it on the wall but the interior of temples are just too dark! If they just fix some spotlights inside the the temple, it will be great for photo taking. I don't know why our place of worship have to be dark & dirty!
great ones balaji (Rajesh Chandramouli)
Balaji, Awesome!!!
When will you go to Thanjavur and post pictures of Vaideeshwaran koil?
Waiting.
Hi, Rajesh, I would love to go to Thanjavur anytime. But for now I really cannot tell.
Been to Thanjavur or Chidambaram on personal and official work - I am certainly looking forward to the chance.
Maran, forget spotlights to help photographers, many temples dont even let cameras inside. I wonder why.
Sathish, i remember a guy in madurai meenakshi temple telling that the 1000 pillared hall there doesnt actually have 1000 pillars. it seems some students from a local college systematically counted the no of pillars and found 12-16 pillars missing!!!
Sathish, I've have not counted them but 100 pillars is quite possible. Though as Ramnath says in the case of the 1000-pillar hall I suppose you can give or take a few.
Sathish, Ramnath, Balaji
In matters of God, you don't question!!! If someone tells you there are 1,000 pillars in the all, just accept it. That adds to the myth!!!
Balaji, Long time..
I visited varadaraja perumal kovil today - but, sadly without any camera..
the 100 kaal mandapam was awesome; but, poorly maintained.. there were cobwebs everywhere..
Also, the murals inside the temple sanctum were in real bad state..
Hi :) I have been researching and trying to find as much as i can about this temple. But, in vain! After my trip to this temple, I think I found some kind of an inner peace! It was unbelievable to imagine that we humans were smarter, brighter and MORE ENLIGHTENED back then! the architectural beauty just amazes everyone!
and in reference to some of the old comments about why they dont put lights inside the hall and other places is because:
the walls have many paintings drawn on the walls and the bright lights cause the vegetable dye they used as paint,to fade.
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