Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The Leaning Temple of Huma

The Leaning Temple of Huma in India is the only leaning temple in the world. It is located in Huma, a village situated on the bank of the Mahanadi, 23 km south of Sambalpur in the Indian state of Orissa

Badami cave temples.

Natraj ( Lord Shiva Dancing )

Cave No. 1 at Badami Cave, 6th Century CE,Bhagalkot District,Karnataka, India.
Badami has four cave temples which were excavated during the Chalukyan period ( 6th- 8th Century CE ). These cave temples were carved after the Ajanta Caves. They may not be as elaborate as the Ajanta Caves, but they continued the same traditions. In fact, the Badami caves are influenced by the Ajanta Caves. But compared to the Ajanta, these caves are modest in size, and in complexity. But nonetheless, this is the beginning of Hindu art as compared to the Buddhist art of Ajanta.
We do not know the chronological order in which the caves were carved. But Cave No. 1 being the simplest may have been carved as the first cave. Although the Chalukyan Royalty were Vaishnavites, but Cave No. 1 is a Shaivite cave. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
On the outer wall of the Cave is this over life size sculpture of Lord Shiva as a dancer or Natraj. The most famous Natrajs are of course the Chola Bronze ones. But here we see Natraj depicted for the first time. He has eighteen arms, he stands on a pedestal, while Lord Ganesh, like a child, tries to imitate His father. Nandi, the bull, stands quietly as though nothing is happening. A drummer beats the rhythmic patterns of the music.
It is said that the eighteen arms capture different postures of Bharatnatyam. It is not that the God has eighteen arms, He could have just two arms. But the arms are shown in motion. It is a continuous narrative, as it were. But the image is a dynamic one. The flaying arms capture the fast movement, the rhythm ofthe dance.
It is dance which represents the whirling universe: it turns and twists, it moves and swirls. It is still yet in movement. The universe dances to Time ( the drummer). But a sense of calmness pervades with a sense of wisdom ( Lord Ganesh). However, through life, through its ups and downs, Nature is unmoved (Nandi, the bull ). The over lifesize sculpture is not about a God who is merely dancing; it is an existentialist statement. It is full of philosophy.

Chennakeshava temple

 Chennakeshava temple -Built by Amarasilpi Jakkanachari



1.Amarashilpi Jakanacharya was a legendary sculptor credited with building many fine temples for the Kalyani Chalukyas and Hoysalas.
2.Jakanacharya was born in a small village called Kaidala, Karnataka. The original name of the town as per records was Kridapura. His life was one of love and dedication to art. His career began when Nripa Haya ruled as a local chieftain of the area.
3.Interesting life story of Jakkanachari :
As per local tales, he left home shortly after his marriage seeking fame in his field of work. He traveled far and wide building many temples and became so engrossed in his work that he forgot all about his wife.Jakanacharya's wife gave birth to his child, named Dankanacharya. Dankanacharya himself grew up to become a famous sculptor and set out to find his father.
At Belur, he found a job as a sculptor and noticed a flaw in a figure sculpted by the great Jakanacharya himself. Dankanacharya told Jakanacharya that the stone which he was carving had a toad living inside which was a considered to be a flaw by the sculptors. Furious at this, Jakanacharya challenged to cut off his right hand if the young sculptor was correct in his assessment of the sculpture.
Dankanacharya chiseled the place where the flaw was present and a toad jumped out with a little water flowing from that spot. Upon testing the figure, the flaw was indeed revealed and Jakanacharya kept his promise and cut off his right hand. Eventually, the two sculptors become aware of their relationship as father and son.
Subsequently, Jakanacharya received a vision to build the Chennakeshava temple in his native place Kridapura. After this was completed, legend has it that God restored his right hand. In celebration of this incident, Kridapura was henceforth called Kaidala. The term Kai in Kannada means "hand".
4. Jakkanachari is credited to many finest carvings and sculptures in Hasan and Halebidu, Karnataka.Each carving is known for its crystal clear detailing and grace.The government of Karnataka confers the Jakanachari Awards to talented sculptors and craftsmen from the state every year to celebrate the contributions of this great architect.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Navlakha Temple, Ghumli Jamnagar Gujrat


In the Barda Hills, you can visit Ghumli’s famous temples such as the magnificent Navlakha Temple from the Solanki dynasty and the Vikia Vav, perhaps one of the largest stepwells in Gujarat. You can trek in the Wildlife Sanctuary, though spotting wildlife is, as usual, often difficult. These hills are also home to the Maldhari, Bharvad, Rabari and Gadhvi tribal communities. The main entrance is from the Porbandar side of the hills, but there are also entries from Jamnagar District, either from Kapudi naka, taking a car up to Kileshwar Temple and hiking down, or from Abhapara Hill. There are no lodging facilities, but camping is possible with permission. Contact Conservator of Forests Office, Porbandar, Tel: 02862242551.

How to get there

By road: Dwarka is on the state highway from Jamnagar to Dwarka. Direct buses available from Jamnagar and Ahmedabad.
By rail: Dwarka is a station on the Ahmedabad-Okha broad gauge railway line, with trains connecting it to Jamnagar (137 km), Rajkot (217 km) and Ahmedabad (471 km), and some trains that continue all the way down the coast through Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, to the southern tip of India in Kerala.
By air: Nearest airport is Jamnagar (137 km).




 http://www.jamnagar.org/gopgumli.htm



Friday, September 9, 2016

Virateswar temple of Shahdol


Virateshwar temple is a famous temple of Lord Shiv which is situated in Sohagpur Vanganga., at Shahdol , Chattisgarh of Kalachuri's of Dakshin Koshala!! 

Virateshwar temple is a famous temple of Lord Shiv which is situated in Sohagpur Vanganga. Kalchuri Kings ruled Dakshina Koshala [ ttoday's chattisgarh] between 322 CE and 567 CE to present it to the Acharya of Golkaki Math. 

In the beautiful campus of this 70 feet high temple you will find this beautiful example of Kalchuri Age architecture. When you ascend the five steps of the terrace of this temple, you will find Nandi and Lion welcoming you. 

There is a beautiful bronze of Mahavir, Shiv and Parvati in dancing posture, the bronze of Saraswati, Ganesh, Vishnu, Nrisingh, Vyal, admirable adolescent woman taking out a thorn, fighting men, Lord Krishna playing flute, admirable amative postures accompanying to Kamsutra, Vinavadini, and Ardhnarishwar will absorb you during watching of temple.

Kiradu temple of gujrat- khajuraho of Rajasthan

The Kiradu temples are located at about 35 km from Barmer and 157 km from Jaisalmer in a town situated in Thar desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan.There are five temples in all and most remarkable of them is Someshvara Temple .These temples feature impressive sculpture and a Solanki style of architecture. The temples are called 'The Khajuraho of Rajasthan' due to its erotic architecture. The temples were built during 11-12 century.

Polo city of Gujrat built by Parihar Rajput

Polo monuments ,near idar .north Gujarat .vijaynagar ,Gujarat

The ancient Polo city was built around the river Harnav, an ancient water body spoken of in the Puranas. It is believed to have been established in the 10th century by the Parihar kings of Idar, and was then conquered in the 15th century by the Rathod Rajputs of Marwar.  The name is derived from pol, the Marwari word for "gate," signifying its status as a gateway between Gujarat and Rajasthan. It was built between Kalaliyo in the east, the highest peak in the area, and Mamrehchi in the west, considered sacred by the local adivasis.  Together they block sunlight for most of the day, which might provide an explanation for the otherwise mysterious abandonment of the ancient city.

The 400 square km area of dry mixed deciduous forest is most lush between September and December after the monsoon rains when the rivers are full, but at any time of the year it provides a rich wildlife experience. There are more than 450 species of medicinal plants, around 275 of birds, 30 of mammals, and 32 of reptiles. There are bears, panthers, leopards, hyenas, water fowl, raptors, passerines, and flying squirrels (mostly heard, rarely seen), all living under a canopy of diverse plants and trees. During winter, all manner of migratory birds occupy the forest; during the rainy season there are wetland birds.

Until recently, this area was not well-known, and saw very few visitors. The numbers have increased dramatically in the last few years, thanks to a few individuals working to promote its beauty. This increased flow comes with a price, however. It is important to remember, as visitors, to approach each destination and its inhabitants, human or otherwise, humbly, openly, and with the awareness that every interaction, no matter how slight, carries its own impact on the area whether we know it or not.
Jigna Shah