We have witnessed so many love stories in history. Still there are more in the queue. Such an interesting story is gleaned from the Mahākūṭeśvara temple at Mahākūṭa an architectural wonder of Cālukyas of Bādāmi. The temple is assigned to Maṅgaleśa(596-609 CE) and further research revealed that the same is reconstructed during 625 CE…
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We have seen about the important materials that are used for manuscripts viz Palm leaf, Paper, Bhūrjapatra and Sāñcīpāt. Now we can move into other materials. As I have stated elsewhere, other materials are divided into two. Metals Non metals. Among metals, now we can see the usage of gold the royal metal in the…
Continue readingThe following inscription is inscribed on the east faces of four pillars in front of the central shrine of Raṅganātha svāmi temple śrī Raṅgam. The inscription is recorded in the ARE report 1892 with the number 60 and the text alone is published in the SII Vol IV with the number 507. The inscription…
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Find spot These plates were purchased from Sri. Govindarajan, Tamil professor, Karunthaṭṭāṅkuḍi, Tañjāvūr. Birla Archeological and Cultural Research institute, Hyderabad, purchased these plates. Plate details There are five plates in the set and measure 23 cms in length and 9 cms in breadth. The thickness of the plates is 2 cms. The…
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Kāmikāgama while explaining the types of Pañjaras, explains the following pañjaras. तस्यादौ सिंहसंज्ञकम् सार्धपञ्जरमन्यत्स्यात्तृतीयं पञ्जरं मतम् १३२ निर्यूहपञ्जरं पश्चात्पञ्चमं लम्बनासिकम् सिंहश्रोत्रं तु षष्ठं स्यात्खण्डनिर्यूहकं ततः १३३ झषपञ्जरमन्यत्स्यात्तासां लक्षणमुच्यते The Pañjaras are classified as Siṃha Pañjara, Sārdha Pañjara, Pañjara, Nirvyūha Pañjara, Lambanāsika, Siṃha śrotra, Khaṇḍa nirvyūhaka and Jhaṣa Pañjara. The definition of these Pañjaras are…
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We have seen Palm leaf, paper and Bhūrja patra, the major materials that are used for writing manuscripts. These are other two materials that were used only in the north eastern part of the country. Sāñcīpāt and Tūlipāt are the materials. Sāñcīpāt The Agaru or aloe tree is called as Sāñcī in Assam and…
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We know the parts above the pillar in a temple structure are Uttara, Vājana, Valabhi and Kapota. The combination of the above parts is called as Prastara varga. The Valabhi is an important component in the above where Bhūtamālā, haṃsamālā or siṃhamālā is usually projected. The synonym of this element is explained in Mānasāra….
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The third important material used for manuscripts in India is paper. It is generally accepted that paper was invented in China by Tsai Lun in 105 CE and was introduced in India during the Moghul rule. But some interesting evidences are there to claim that paper was invented in India. Nearchos, admiral of Alexander…
Continue readingWe know the history of Kaṇṇappa Nāyaṉār who gave his own eyes to my Father after seeing blood from the eyes of a śivaliṅga. The incident is said to be happened in Kālahasti, Andhra Pradesh. A temple by name Maṇikaṇṭhīśvara, at the town has an inscription which praises my Father with that of the…
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The compound like structure around the temple complex is termed as “Mālikā” in the scriptures. While defining the term Mālikā, Kāmikāgama gives the following explanation. शालायामपि शालाङ्गा निष्क्रान्ताननशोभिता। सा शाला मालिका ज्ञेया शास्त्रेस्मिन् कामिकाह्वये।। Part of a śālā with beautifully projected front portion is termed as “Mālikā” in this scripture with…
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