4th lesson தமிழர் கலைகள் part 1
Arts indicates civilization of mankind. Tamil people expressed
their feelings through arts. In the starting their every work
explicated arts. According to Manimekalai there are 64 forms
of arts.
Arts are the identity of multi-faced culture of a country. It
depicts the life style, habits, econimic status of people. There
were 64 basic arts in Tamil Nadu according to kambar. Those
which are useful to mankind is arts. There are 2 types of arts,
common arts and beauty arts. Mayilai Sini Venkatasamy told
that beauty arts give visual pleasure and hearing pleasure.
Architecture, sculpture, painting, singing and dancing arts of
beauty.
Architecture
The buildings like houses, temples, palaces in TN are
examples of their architectural art. Among these temples are
still there to exhibit the architecture of Tamil people beyond
time. From the time of Sangam era there were books for
construction called manai nool. Ilango adigal describes this.
Wooden buildings
In ancient times buildings were built with woods. Example of
this type is sabhanayakar mandapam in Chidambaram
Nataraja temple. Wood will get spoiled because of natural
elements. So to avoid that wooden structures were protected
with gold, copper and silver sheets were put upon them. After
wooden structures, clay buildings were emerged. The clay
buildings had wooden roof upon them. After that they started
construction of high quality buildings with baked sand and
stone.
Buildings made with bricks
From sangam period itself buildings made with bricks were
there. They were stronger than wooden and clay buildings.
Before 600 common year, all the buildings were of bricks
only. Kings repaired those structures regularly.
Cave temples were constructed by way of scooping out. These
structures had sanctum sanatorium, front hall and pillars. In
7th century common era, Mahendraverma Pallavan
constructed the first cave temple in Madagadipattu of
Villupuram district. First cave temple by ancient Pandyas is in
Pillarpatti. Cave temples had big halls so they were called
Mandapakkoil and as they were made from stones they were
also called stone temples.
There were temples made from single stones are there in TN.
The Mahishasuramardini temple which is incomplete is an
example of these temples.
Katraligal
To put granite stones one upon other and make a building
with out clay or lime in between them is called Katraligal. In 7th century common era this method was started by
Narasimhavarma pallavan.Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram,
panamalai temples are older than this. In 8th century common
era all the buildings were built in this method only. Later
period Chozhas changed the buildings made with bricks into
katraligal.
Dravidian architecture
Indinan temple structures are divided into 3. Nagaram,
vesaram and dravidam. If the dome of the temple constructed
with 4 sides and looks like a square then it is called Nagaram.
This is North Indian type. If the dome looks round then it is
called vesaram. Central India’s Bhudhits temples are
constructed like this type. If the dome has 8 sides and built
with border then it is dravidian type. South Indian temples are
built in this method only. From Krish river in the north,
Kanya kumari in the south, the dravidian architectural
method was spread.
Even it was spread in Sri Lanka, Burma, Malasia and
Cambodia. Architectural period of Tamil people can be
divided as, Pallava period, Pandya period, Chozha period and
Vijaya Nagara period and Nayakkar period.
The pyramid like structure over the sanctum sanatorium of a
hindu temple is called vimanam. That is commonly called
shatanga vimanam. It refers to 6 parts which is relatively
referring to 6 parts of human beings ( See picture)
Mostly there will be only one Kalash (pot) upon vimanam. In
chozha period vimanam were built in great heights.
Gopuram
Gopuram is the important and beautiful part of temple. Seeing
Gopuram brings goodness. Gopuram usually constructed on
entrances of compound walls. Gopuram can have many
Kalasams.
Constructing Gopuram on temples started in pallava period
and acclaimed supreme position during the period of Vijaya
Nagaram kings.
During Rajasimhan period first small Gopuram was
constructed on Kailasanathar temple in Kanchipuram.
Pallavas and Chozhas gave importance to vimanams. During
Vijayanagara and Nayakar period, vimanams became small
and Gopurams became larger in size. Krishna Devarayae
constructed high gopurams. He constructed high gopurams in
Kanchipuram, Chidambaram and Thiruvannamalai. These
were called Rajagopuram.
Architecture in Pallava period
Pallavas ruled Tamil nadu for 300 years from Kanchipuram as
capital. They constructed cave temples without wood,
concrete, metal, and bricks.
Ancient Pallavas typys of temples are in Mangapattu,
Pallavaram Mamandur, Vallam, Mahendravadi,
Siyamangalam, Thalavanur and Trichy.Among these
Mahendravarman period temple’s are Antiquities.
Mamallapuram temple are world famous. Tiger (Yali)faces
were carved in outer structure of a Cave temple at Saluvan
kuppam. It is amazing and now it is called Tiger cave.
Pallavas not only built cave temples and temples with one
stone but also constructed concrete temples. Example of this
is Kailasanathar temple at Kanchipuram,.
Architecture of Pandyar period
When Pallavas were ruling North of Tamil Nadu, Pandiyan
dynasty were ruling in the south TN. From the period of
Chezhiyansenthan to Veerapandiyan, their cave temples,
single Katralaigal and concrete temples are evidence to their
architectural excellence.
Cave temples of Pandyan period is made with beautiful
sculptures. You can see these in Pillayarpatti,
Malayadikurichi, anaimalai, Tiruparankundram, kundakkudi,
Thitumeyam, Kudimiyanmalai, Sithannavasal,
Mahibalanpatti, Piranmalai, Azhagiya pandiyapuram,
Moovaraivendran.
Single katralai at vettuvankiol is an evidence for Pandyas
talents. It is called southern Ellora. Thirupthur Katralinathar
temple is also an example of this kind.
Architecture of Chozhas period
Later chozhar’s period is golden period of TN architecture.
From Vijayalaya Chozhan to Rajaraja chozhan III they made
numerous temples. And converted temples made with bricks
into granite temples. Northamalai temple built by Vijayalaya
Chozhan is unique, as the outer compound wall made in
square shape and inner compound wall built in round shape.
Adhitha Chozha built so many temple on the banks of river
Cauvery. Paranthaka chozhan built Brhamapuriswarar temple
and Erumbur kadambavaneswarar temple explicits their
beauty and simplicity. The role of Chembiyanmadevi in
Chozha architecture is noteworthy. She helped generously to
built temples. Rajaraja built Thanjai Big temple which is also
called as ‘The Southern Meru’. This temple is a marvel of
architecture. There were no granite stones found near
Thanjavur but he built this temple full of granite stones with
216 feet height and 13 layers vimana and named it as
Rajaraswaram. Its front entrancew is called Keralanthakan
entrance and inner entrance is called Rajarajan entrance. At
the top of the vimanam 80 ton eight angled structure is
there.In 1987, UNESCO awarded this as a symbol of world
culture.
Rajendrachozha built Gangai Konda Chozhapuram in memory
of his victory over Gangai.It is 170 feet height. And considered
as an encyclopaedia of architecture.
Vijayanagara Dynasty and Nayakar dynasty
There were notable changes happened in the architecture
during Vijayanagara Dynasty and Nayakar dynasty. It was a
continuation of Pallava style and Chozha style of architecture
only. Subtle decorative works were the speciality of their
period. Big Gopurams and small vimanams are their style.
Thiruvannamalai, Madurai, Rameshwaram are examples.
Nayakar period architecture is same as Vijayanagara period.
Their speciality is to build 100 pillar halls and 1000 pillars
halls. Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal, Rameshwaram 1000 pillar
halls, Madurai Meenakshi temple pudhumandapam,
Thayumanavar temple in Trichy are examples. The history of
architectural marvel of TN declares their excellence to the
world.
Art of sculptures
Tombstone is radix of sculpture art in Tamil Nadu. Tholkappiyam, Agananooru, purananuru mention about these tombstones. Tombstones are stones erected in memory of people who died in a war or died while serving people. Their name and achievements were written on the tombstones and it was worshiped by people. It can also be called Veerakkal(Valour stone) and Ninaivukkal (Memorial stone)In tholkappiyar period it was like a stone and later on instead of stone people put the statue of the deceased person and worshiped. They made concrete idols of gods and worshiped them. Then it developed into the art of sculpture making idols out of stones. During festivals people made clay idols of animals and human beings and worshiped them. It was called Kadirai eduppu, uravaram. The sculptures made from stone are stone sculptures and sculptures made from metal are called padima uruvangal.
From paripadal we learned that in sangam era wooden sculptures were there. Korkai, Arikkamedu, uraiyur excavations revealed sangam period’s sculptures and backed mud tiles. Manimekalai mentions that people who gathered in Kaveripattinam enjoyed the concrete sculptures during the Indravizha. The sculpture artist was called Mannittalar. CE 3rd century to CE 10th centure Jainish and Buddhism were spread in Tamil nadu.Initialdays Bhudhists worshipped foot images and dharma chakram. Then they started worshiping Bhudha idol.In Jainism people worshipped idols of Mahavir and Thirthakarars.
Sculpture
Carving natural image or fictional image is called sculpture. It is made with stone, concrete, wood, tree, wax, ivory and metal. It is called pudaippu sirpangal (erected sculpture) and thanisirpangal (separate sculpture) If a sculpture is carved from a wall, tree, stone, or board and showing only the front portion of the person then it is called Pudaippu sirpam. If it is showing full struture or figure of the person or thing then it is called thani sirpam.
Temples in TN are nurtured because of the art of sculpture. In the beginning sculptures were made out of limestone and wood. Example Sundara varadaraja temple’s idols are made out of wood. Idols of Triplicane parthasarathy temple and Kanchi Varadaraja temple are made from Limestone. Pallavas started the stone sculptures and later Chozhas started the metallic sculptures.
Statues
Morphing one’s image as it is called statue. The oldest statues
are of Pallava kings. Chozhas started making metal statues.
Pallava period
Pallavas period was the origin of temple sculptures. The Dwar
Balakas (guards) of temples belonging to first
Mahendraverman were made as pudaippu sirpangal. These
were the first stone sculptures. But the idols at sanctum
sanctoram of temples were made with wood or limestones. In
Pallavas period statues of king and queen were also made.
There was granite rock in Mamallapuram near Govarthana
Mandapam. It is 96 feet width and 43 feet height. There is a
natural down-facing pit in this rock. The Pallvas used this
natural thing and carved a cluster of sculptures called
‘Bhagirath penance’ Bhagirath doing penance and Gangai
came to earth were beautifully carved as sculptures in this
rock. In their period they made sculptures telling stories of
mythology. In Namakkal both the sides of rock fort have cave
temples. In eastern side Pallikonda perumal koil (Vishnu) and
in western side Narasimha temple is situated. The 10 avatars
of Vishnu are also carved like sculptures here. Single stole
chariot and temple sculptures are specialities of Pallavas.
Chozha period
The developed state of Pallavas art of sculpture is what
Chozha style of sculptures. The short pudaippu sirpangal
were converted into highly structured pudaippu sirpangal and
statues in Chozha period. During this period not only in TN
even in Kajiraho, Bhuvaneshwar, Udaipur were attained high
position in scultures. High crowns, slim and tall images are
specialities of Chozha style of statues. Later chozhas
sculptures are having jewels and decoration on them. And the
images had round faces, short and fat body during these
period.
Raja raja chozhan’s Brahadeeshwarar temple in Tanjore has
Bhudh astatue in its souther entrance and Jain statue on top
of the vimanam. The Nandhi (bull) statue of this temple is the
second largest Nandi in India.
Its height is 12 feet, length is 8.25 feet and width is 19.5 .
Second Raja rajan built Tharasuram temple which has 90
sculptures depicting the life of Nayanmars.
Copper statues
Copper statues are contribution of TN to the world. From the
books of Maduraikanchi, Kurunthogai, Pattinappalai, we
came to know that even in Sangam era there might be metal
statues. But Chozhar era was golden period of metallic statues.
During the period of Nijayalayan, Paranthakan,
Chembiyanmadevi, Rajarajan the importance of metallic
statues was there. Among metallic statues of Chozha period
Natarajar statue is world famous. There were mentions in
stone carvings and metallic carvings regarding the Kings and
their family members’ donations of metallic statues to
temples. Later Pandyas art of sculpture was same as Chozhas.
They concentrated on beautifying outer walls and its
sculptures of the temple.
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