The monuments contain famous Jaina paintings and isncriptions in Tamil from 2nd century BCA Presentation by Prof. Subramanian Swaminathan on the paintings of Sittanavasal
The Bagh Caves are a group of nine rock-cut monuments, situated among the southern slopes of the Vindhyas in Bagh town of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. These monuments are located at a distance of 97 km from Dhar town. The presentation was prepared for the P.G. students of AIHC and Archaeology Department in the year 2018. The site was visited by me along with my batch during Institute Of Archaeology times in the year 2009.
This slide is all about Gupta art and culture that was flourished during these times. It includes cave architecture, stupa architecture and temple Architecture along with their culture that was preserved in their formations.
A Presentation by Prof. Subramanian Swaminathan on the paintings of Ajanta
Buddhist paintings on the walls and ceilings of the 29 caves in Ajanta are not only the ealiest in India but also the best the subcontinent produced. These are also the forerunniners of religious paintings of India and Indian Asia.
The Bagh Caves are a group of nine rock-cut monuments, situated among the southern slopes of the Vindhyas in Bagh town of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. These monuments are located at a distance of 97 km from Dhar town. The presentation was prepared for the P.G. students of AIHC and Archaeology Department in the year 2018. The site was visited by me along with my batch during Institute Of Archaeology times in the year 2009.
This slide is all about Gupta art and culture that was flourished during these times. It includes cave architecture, stupa architecture and temple Architecture along with their culture that was preserved in their formations.
A Presentation by Prof. Subramanian Swaminathan on the paintings of Ajanta
Buddhist paintings on the walls and ceilings of the 29 caves in Ajanta are not only the ealiest in India but also the best the subcontinent produced. These are also the forerunniners of religious paintings of India and Indian Asia.
History of Architecture- Indo-Aryan Temples of OrissaVyshnaviMajety
A presentation on Indo-Aryan Temples of Orissa. The architectural features, elements, planning, and the history of the temples. Plans, Sections and Elevations of Puri Jagannath Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Sun Temple Konark, Raja Rani Temple, Mukteshwara Temple, Parasurameshwara Temple, Anantha Vasudeva Temple.
The presentation is based on the monolithic free standing pillar architecture of India with special focus on the Mauryan pillars. This is not for personal academic benefits... this is for the students of UG and PG..
Lalitankura-Pallava-Griham is one of the two cave temples situated in the Rockfort complex in Tiruchirappalii, the other being a Pandya Cave shrine. Excavated in the early 7th century by Mahendra Pallava has a beautiful Gangadhara relief. The sculpture as well as the 8-stanza poetry has teasing double meaning, bringing out the multi-facetted personality of the king.
Jainism was a thriving religion in the Tamil coutry from 3rd century BCE till the resurgence of Hinduism following the Bhakti Movement of the 6th - 9th centuries CE. Pudukkottai district in Tamilnadu has the largest number of centrally protected Jaina monuments, which the presentation highlights.A presentation by prof. Subramanian Swaminathan
History of Architecture- Indo-Aryan Temples of OrissaVyshnaviMajety
A presentation on Indo-Aryan Temples of Orissa. The architectural features, elements, planning, and the history of the temples. Plans, Sections and Elevations of Puri Jagannath Temple, Lingaraj Temple, Sun Temple Konark, Raja Rani Temple, Mukteshwara Temple, Parasurameshwara Temple, Anantha Vasudeva Temple.
The presentation is based on the monolithic free standing pillar architecture of India with special focus on the Mauryan pillars. This is not for personal academic benefits... this is for the students of UG and PG..
Lalitankura-Pallava-Griham is one of the two cave temples situated in the Rockfort complex in Tiruchirappalii, the other being a Pandya Cave shrine. Excavated in the early 7th century by Mahendra Pallava has a beautiful Gangadhara relief. The sculpture as well as the 8-stanza poetry has teasing double meaning, bringing out the multi-facetted personality of the king.
Jainism was a thriving religion in the Tamil coutry from 3rd century BCE till the resurgence of Hinduism following the Bhakti Movement of the 6th - 9th centuries CE. Pudukkottai district in Tamilnadu has the largest number of centrally protected Jaina monuments, which the presentation highlights.A presentation by prof. Subramanian Swaminathan
Structural temples were the last executed by the Pallavas before their attention was shifted to their capital, Kanchipuram and its environs. However these temples in Mamallapuram were the earliest structural temples in the Tamil country. Even the four that were constructed here bring out the fanciful nature of the clan; the two Shore Temples are built on the very edge of the sea, the Olakkanesvara Temple on top of a hillock and the Mukundanayanar Temple on the ground. The Shore Temples, though highly eroded, have sculptures which would remind of the exceptional grace and beauty in the bygone era.
A presentation by Prof.Subramanian Swaminathan
The Pallavas contributions to temple architecture are many, of which conceiving temples sculpted out of single blocks of stone would remain the most important. There are as many as eight in Mamallapuram, each of which has certain special features. The Panch-pandava group is the most important, in which the Dharmaraja Ratha stands out as the best, containing some exquisite sculptures never found later in this part of India.
A presentation by Prof.Subramanian Swaminathan
The Great Penance is an achievement in relief sculpturing. This along with the Govardhana composition would rank among the best in the world. Not only the Pallavas were the pioneer in this genre of art, it is only in Mamallapuram one can see open-are bas-rieifs, and there are five them.
A presentation by Prof.Subramanian Swaminathan
Excellent Jain architecture and sculpture can be seen in their Stupas and rock-cut caves found in Mathura, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa cave temples. A number of rock-cut caves have been discovered in Udaigiri and Khandagiri, twin hills in Puri District of Orissa and in Ellora in Maharashtra.
The PPP is made for the students of PG not for my API.
Dont confuse with the Slide no. 08 picture is not the image of Prgyaparmita.... It is the image of Chunda. It is just for your understanding about similarities of an icons.
Hindu architecture ( Padmanabhaswamy Temple)Sarwar Azad
History of Dravida style temple architecture. introduction, sectional view, Gopuram of Padmanabhaswamy temple. The history, story and myths surrounding it and why it is the richest temple of the world.
Khamas is a very evocative raga, and all new comers use ‘sujana jeevana’ as their key to this raga. Sankarabharam, though a Telugu movie, became a big hit; who would not remember its ‘brocheva’?
Meso-American civilization; Meso-American writing; Proto-writing like Olmec heads, symbolinc images of Chalcatzingo, Humboldt celt; fifteen writing systems, rudimentary as well as developed; complex pictures as glyphs; Media used; engraving on stone, painting on ceramics and codex; Zapotec, Epi-olmec, Aztec and Mixtec scripts; La Mojarra inscription; Mayan civilization and script; deciphering Mayan script – syllabic and logographic charts; difficulties in deciphering; Mayan number system and Mayan calendar; Dresden Codex; Sarcophagus of Pacal at Palenque
Introduction; Hieroglyphic, Hieratic and Demotic scripts; Picture-signs of Hieroglyphic writing; Hieroglyphic signs, ideograms, phonetic symbols, syllabic signs; picture puzzles to solutions and determinatives; sign grouping; Rosetta Stone, Jean-Francois Champollion and deciphering Hieroglyphs; Sample page from the Book of Dead; Numerals in Hieroglyphs
Introduction; Decipehring and Rawlinson who deciphered Cuneiform; multi-lingual inscription on the Behustun hill; writing materials, picture to pictogram, to ideogram, to alphabet; Hammurabi’s Code.
An illiterate world; Achievement through Writing; beginnings in rock paintings; is writing necessary and achievement of non-writing culture like the Incas and the Vedic Indians; felt need for writing – record keeping, religious purposes and royal proclamations; stages of development of writing – pictogram, ideogram and phonetics; phonetic systems – alphabetic and syllabic; how materials used for writing influenced scripts; places of origin of writing – Samaria, Egypt, China, India and Meso-America
A presentation by Prof. Subramanain Swaminathan
Significance of the Pudukkottai district; Importance of preservation of Sittannavasal monuments; state of its paintings; aims od Project Sittannavasal – building a replica od cave shrine and designing pavilions to showcase development of paintings (Chitram), temple architecture (Mandiram) and Indian scripts (Aksharam) and Jaina contribution to Tamil culture. A presentation by Prof. Subramanian Swaminathan
Jataks stories are the common themes in Ajanta paintings. Mahajanak Jataka painted in Cave One is one of the important compositions.
A Presentation byf Prof. Subramanian Swaminathan on the paintings of Ajanta.
Ajanta paintings are a treasure house of information about the period, namely, 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE. The textiles shown are astonishingly varied in dyes, yarn manipulation and garment design. The presentation showcases all these
A Presentation by Prof. Subramanian Swaminathan on the paintings of Ajanta
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
Model Attribute Check Company Auto PropertyCeline George
In Odoo, the multi-company feature allows you to manage multiple companies within a single Odoo database instance. Each company can have its own configurations while still sharing common resources such as products, customers, and suppliers.
Honest Reviews of Tim Han LMA Course Program.pptxtimhan337
Personal development courses are widely available today, with each one promising life-changing outcomes. Tim Han’s Life Mastery Achievers (LMA) Course has drawn a lot of interest. In addition to offering my frank assessment of Success Insider’s LMA Course, this piece examines the course’s effects via a variety of Tim Han LMA course reviews and Success Insider comments.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
The Roman Empire A Historical Colossus.pdfkaushalkr1407
The Roman Empire, a vast and enduring power, stands as one of history's most remarkable civilizations, leaving an indelible imprint on the world. It emerged from the Roman Republic, transitioning into an imperial powerhouse under the leadership of Augustus Caesar in 27 BCE. This transformation marked the beginning of an era defined by unprecedented territorial expansion, architectural marvels, and profound cultural influence.
The empire's roots lie in the city of Rome, founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BCE. Over centuries, Rome evolved from a small settlement to a formidable republic, characterized by a complex political system with elected officials and checks on power. However, internal strife, class conflicts, and military ambitions paved the way for the end of the Republic. Julius Caesar’s dictatorship and subsequent assassination in 44 BCE created a power vacuum, leading to a civil war. Octavian, later Augustus, emerged victorious, heralding the Roman Empire’s birth.
Under Augustus, the empire experienced the Pax Romana, a 200-year period of relative peace and stability. Augustus reformed the military, established efficient administrative systems, and initiated grand construction projects. The empire's borders expanded, encompassing territories from Britain to Egypt and from Spain to the Euphrates. Roman legions, renowned for their discipline and engineering prowess, secured and maintained these vast territories, building roads, fortifications, and cities that facilitated control and integration.
The Roman Empire’s society was hierarchical, with a rigid class system. At the top were the patricians, wealthy elites who held significant political power. Below them were the plebeians, free citizens with limited political influence, and the vast numbers of slaves who formed the backbone of the economy. The family unit was central, governed by the paterfamilias, the male head who held absolute authority.
Culturally, the Romans were eclectic, absorbing and adapting elements from the civilizations they encountered, particularly the Greeks. Roman art, literature, and philosophy reflected this synthesis, creating a rich cultural tapestry. Latin, the Roman language, became the lingua franca of the Western world, influencing numerous modern languages.
Roman architecture and engineering achievements were monumental. They perfected the arch, vault, and dome, constructing enduring structures like the Colosseum, Pantheon, and aqueducts. These engineering marvels not only showcased Roman ingenuity but also served practical purposes, from public entertainment to water supply.
Palestine last event orientationfvgnh .pptxRaedMohamed3
An EFL lesson about the current events in Palestine. It is intended to be for intermediate students who wish to increase their listening skills through a short lesson in power point.
Operation “Blue Star” is the only event in the history of Independent India where the state went into war with its own people. Even after about 40 years it is not clear if it was culmination of states anger over people of the region, a political game of power or start of dictatorial chapter in the democratic setup.
The people of Punjab felt alienated from main stream due to denial of their just demands during a long democratic struggle since independence. As it happen all over the word, it led to militant struggle with great loss of lives of military, police and civilian personnel. Killing of Indira Gandhi and massacre of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and other India cities was also associated with this movement.
How to Make a Field invisible in Odoo 17Celine George
It is possible to hide or invisible some fields in odoo. Commonly using “invisible” attribute in the field definition to invisible the fields. This slide will show how to make a field invisible in odoo 17.
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
Biological screening of herbal drugs: Introduction and Need for
Phyto-Pharmacological Screening, New Strategies for evaluating
Natural Products, In vitro evaluation techniques for Antioxidants, Antimicrobial and Anticancer drugs. In vivo evaluation techniques
for Anti-inflammatory, Antiulcer, Anticancer, Wound healing, Antidiabetic, Hepatoprotective, Cardio protective, Diuretics and
Antifertility, Toxicity studies as per OECD guidelines
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France. It marked the decline of absolute monarchies, the rise of secular and democratic republics, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This revolutionary period is crucial in understanding the transition from feudalism to modernity in Europe.
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2. Location of Sittannavasal Trichy Thanjavur To Illupur Pudukkottai To Madurai Karaikkudi Sittannavasal, a small village in the Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu, is a world-famous archaeological site. It lies at 15 km from Pudukkottai on the road to Illuppur.
3. Sittannavasal monuments There are four interesting monuments on and around a large rocky hillock: Arivar-koil It is renowned for its mural paintings in the Jaina cave temple. These paintings are second only in importance after Ajanta paintings and have an important place in the Indian art history. It was a flourishing centre of Jaina influence where Jainism flourished for over 1200 years (3rd century BC to 10th century AD).
4. Sittannavasal monuments Ezhadippattam There are a number of natural caverns with polished stone- beds in this hillock where Jain ascetics performed austerities. One of such caverns, called Ezhadippattam, contains 17 stone-beds, with inscriptions in Tamil dating from 3rd century BC.
6. Sittannavasal monuments Burial sites This village was one of the oldest inhabited sites in this area. The megalithic burial sites here testify to this.
8. Arivar-koil This is a Jaina cave temple, excavated before the 9th century AD and has the famous mural paintings Originally thought of an excavation of Mahendra-varma Pallavan, this is now considered to be a Pandya contribution Still there is uncertainty regarding the origin of this temple
9. Arivar-koil The cave temple lies on the west face of the hillock, near the northern end. A walk of about 100 feet over the sloping rock takes the visitor to the cave temple.
11. The cave temple consists of a garbha-griham, an ardha-mandapam and a pillared veranda. Garbha-griham A mukha-mandapam that was added in 9th century AD has collapsed. Ardha-mandapam Pillared-veranda The pillared veranda is a later addition in the 20th century.
12. Originally the entire space, except the floor, had been plastered and painted. But only a part of the paintings on the ceiling and patches elsewhere remain.
14. Pillared Varenda This pillared veranda, in front, is a later construction, added in the 20th century by the Tondaiman-s of Pudukkottai. It provides much needed protection from rain and sun.
15. Pillared Varenda A 17-line Tamil inscription on the rock-face of the original cave can be seen from here. It mentions about the repair and extension of the cave temple by a Jaina Acharya called Ilan Gautaman, during the reign of the Pandya king, Srimaran-srivallabhan (9th century AD). It is from this inscription we find that the cave temple was excavated before the 9th century.
17. Ardha-mandapam From the front veranda one enters this ardha-mandapam which is 22½ feet by 7½ feet. On the side walls are two niches containing sculptures of a Tirthankara and an Acharya.
20. Garbha-griham Beyond the ardha-mandapam is this Garbha-griham. It is 10 feet by 10 feet. On the back wall are three images carved in relief. On the ceiling is carved a Dharma-chakra. The ceiling contains relics of paintings.
22. There are only five sculptures, all in relief, in this cave temple. Two of them are in the ardha-mandapam, on the side-walls. The garbha-griham contains three figures in a row, on the rear-wall. These sculptures are of Jaina Tirthankara-s and Acharya-s.
24. Ardha-mandapam The niche on the southern wall contains a figure of Parsvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara. He is seated cross-legged in the dhyana (meditative) pose. There is a five headed serpent spreading its hood over his head identifying him as Parsvanatha.
25. Ardha-mandapam The niche on the northern wall is a figure of a Jaina Acharya seated in the same pose. There is a single umbrella over the head of the image, which indicates that it is not a Tirthankara.
27. Garbha-griham On the back-wall of the garbha-griham are three images carved in relief in a row. All of them are in the same dhyana (meditative) posture. The northern and central figures have ‘mukkudai’ (‘triple umbrella’), indicating them to be Tirthankara-s. The southern figure has a single umbrella, and probably a Chakravarti or an Acharya.
29. Indian Paintings Ajanta, 200BC-600AD Sittannavasal paintings are an early example of post-Ajanta period painting and are of the classical Ajanta style with variation in the handling of the material by the artists.
30. Indian Paintings Kanchipuram 7th century AD The paintings in Kailasanatha Temple in Kanchi antedate the Sittannavasal paintings.
31. Indian Paintings Thanjavur 1100AD The paintings in Brihadiswara Temple in Thanjavur are the continuation of the Sittannavasal tradition.
32. Sittannavasal Paintings The technique used is known as fresco-secco, that is, painting done on dry wall. In this process, the surface is first covered with lime plaster,then coated with lime-wash and the painting done on it. Mineral colours of permanent nature were employed for the painting.
33. Sittannavasal Paintings The subjects of the Sittannavasal paintings include the Samava-sarana of the Jaina mythology, a few solo-pictures, that includes dancing damsels, birds, floral decorations, and various carpet canopy designs.
34. Sittannavasal Paintings Originally the entire cave temple, excluding the floor, including the sculptures was covered with plaster and painted. Only traces of these are now extant. All these paintings, which would rank among the great paintings of India, are barely visible now, mainly due to vandalism with in the last 50-60 years.
35. Sittannavasal Paintings This Jaina site and its paintings were first noticed by a local historian S. Radhakrishna Iyer in 1916. But Jouveau Dubreuil and T.A. Gopinatha Rao brought it before the archaeological world in 1920.
36. Sittannavasal Paintings In 1942, Dr. S. Paramasivan and K.R. Srinivasan found that there are two layers of paintings, an earlier and a later superimposed over the earlier one. The layer of painting, which we see today and admire, is probably the work of Ilan-Gautaman (9th century AD), mentioned in the inscription. These are some of theearliest frescos in South India and only example of early Jaina frescoes.
37. Ceiling of ardha-mandapam On the ceiling of ardha-mandapam, canopies of floral pattern are painted over the two relief images.
38. Ceiling of ardha-mandapam The samava-sarana composition In Jainism, where worship of great souls occupies an important place, Tirthankara-s are the most venerated religious prophets. One of the five important events in the life of a Tirthankara is the first sermon after attaining the kevala-jnana (realisation), in a specially designed complex called Samava-sarana. This Samava-sarana is a favourite motif for representation in the Jaina temples.
39. Ceiling of ardha-mandapam The samava-sarana composition The scene painted in the ardha-mandapam is a lotus tank which is a part of the Samava-sarana complex. It is the second region, called khatika-bhumi (region-of-the-tank). Here, we see, the bhavya-s (the good ones), rejoice while washing themselves, as they pass on from region to region in order to hear the discourse of the Lord in the heavenly pavilion of Samava-sarana.
40. Ceiling of ardha-mandapam The samava-sarana composition This painting shows bhavya-s enjoying themselves in a pool, full of flowering lotuses. Flowers with their stalks and leaves, various kinds of fishes frolicking, a makara (mythical fish), buffaloes, elephants and numerous birds are shown with simplicity, charm and naturalness.
41. The samava-sarana composition The pose and expression of the bhavya-s shown in the picture have a charm and beauty, which compel attention. Two of them are shown together in one part of the tank. One is picking lotus flowers with his right hand and has a basket of flowers slung on the other.
42. The samava-sarana composition His companion carries a lotus in one hand, the other is bent gracefully, the fingers forming the mrigi-mudra (‘deer-gesture’).
43. The samava-sarana composition The third bhavya, an extremely beautiful figure, carries a bunch of lotus over his left shoulder and lily over his right. The three figures are naked, except for their loin-cloths. The hair is neatly arranged and the lobes of the ears are distended.
44. The samava-sarana composition The three figures are naked, except for their loin-cloths. The hair is neatly arranged and the lobes of the ears are distended.
46. Pillars of ardha-mandapam There were some exquisite paintings of dancing girls on the pillars. These priceless treasures are now lost forever and only their outlines are traceable today. These animated figures, with their broad hips, slender waists, and elaborate ornaments, recall the beauty of the apsara-s of mythology; their pose and expression suggest rhythm and dynamic movement. These portraitures of dancers must rank as one among the best in the whole of India.
47. Pillars of ardha-mandapam One of them has her left arm stretched-out in lata-hasta pose and right arm bent at the elbow. Her ears are adorned with olai (patra-kundala), rings set with gems, and her arms decked with bracelets and bangles.
48. Pillars of ardha-mandapam The other is even more graceful. Her left arm stretched-in lata-hasta pose, while her right arm is bent at the elbow. The head-dress and the ornaments of this dancer are very distinct. The hair is decked with flower garlands.
49. Pillars of ardha-mandapam There is also remnant of a painting of a royal couple, on the southern pillar.
50. Cornice & beam of ardha-mandapam There are paintings on the corbels, beam and cornice. On the corbel are scroll designs with lotuses. Painted lotuses in different stages of flowering.
51. Cornice & beam of ardha-mandapam The painting on the cornice is made up of carpet designs with lotuses. In front of each of the two pillars are painted hamsa (mythical swan). On the northern wall are the figures of fruits and flowers in yellow and red.
52. Ceiling of garbha-griham The painting above the three relief sculptures suggests a carpet, with striped borders and irregular squares and circles interlinked. Within the squares are lotus flowers. Inside the circles is a cross, with two human figures on upper side andtwo lion figures on the lower side of the horizontal arm.
54. Ezhadippattam Ezhadipattam is the name given to a natural cavern where over more than a thousand years since 3rd century BC, Jaina ascetics practiced severest penance such as Kayot-sarga (meditation-till-salvation-in-standing-pose) and sallekhana (fasting-unto-death).
55. Ezhadippattam A few hundred meters south of the cave-temple is the beginning of the path that leads to Ezhadippattam.
56. Ezhadippattam The cavern is near the top of the centre of the hill, on the eastern side. But the approach is from the west. The Cavern Entry to the Cavern Originally this path to the cavern, along a narrow ledge was difficult and dangerous.
57. The stone-beds The cavern is roomy but low. The floor is marked out into spaces for seventeen beds, each with a sort of stone pillow. They are highly polished. Most of the beds are inscribed. But all these inscriptions are barely visible now, due to vandalism within last 50-60 years.
58. Inscriptions One of the beds, the largest, is the oldest It contains an inscription in Tamil in the Tamil Brahmi script of the 3rd century BC. This is one of the oldest lithic records of South India. It mentions that Ilaiyar of Tenku-ciru-posil made this seat for Kavutiborn at Kumizhurin erumi-naadu (probably in Karnataka).
59. Inscriptions Near other beds, names of other Jaina ascetics who practised penance are inscribed. There are a number of inscriptions belonging 7th to 10th centuries AD.
60. Ezhadippattam; stone beds & inscriptions nearby There are a number of stone-beds and inscriptions around Ezhadippattam. There is also a passage to reach the hill through a very narrow cavern, now under disuse.
62. Navach-chunai The pool takes its name from a naval-maram (Syzygium jambolanum) close by.
63. Jambunatha submerged cave temple The sunai contains a submerged Pandya rock-cut shrine inside. It contains a lingam in the centre and a narrow passage to walk around. The water is occasionally baled out, and the lingam is worshiped. However, there is no clue as to why such temples were excavated at all.
65. Megalithic Burials Certain typical modes of disposing the dead in the mega-lithic period (3rd century BC to 1st century AD) are preserved in the Pudukkottai tract.
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68. Megalithic Burials Loosely called ‘dolmans’, these are stone-capped burial monuments with chambers in stone. Mudu-makkal-thazhi (‘burial-pots-of-the-old-people’) is the most widely used local name. These are easily identifiable by the appearance of a circle of laterite or granite stones and small boulders on the surface of the spot.
70. Other places of interest At the foothills of the hillock, on the western side, are two temples in ruins. One is dedicated to Siva and another to a Goddess. There are a few loose sculptures near to these shrines. These two temples have not been studied in detail yet.
71. Other places of interest There are shrines for local deity, Ayyanar with the customary terracotta sculptures of horses, etc. nearby.
72. The Sittannavasal Complex offers an opportunity to travel in time from the 3rd century till modern times, and to savour certain unique features of our past.
74. A presentation by… Sudharsanam A centre for Arts and culture 2 Palace Nagar Pudukkottai 622005 Tamilnadu, India. www.pudukkottai.org www.sudharsanam.org sudharsanam@pudukkottai.org