Page 8 - Jul-Sep 2017

SPLenDoUrS oF tHe SoUtH

MIGHTY MAHABALIPURAM OTHER MARVELS OF TAMIL NADU

The Shore Temple The airavatesvara Temple was built by raja raja Chola
at Mamallapuram ii in the 12th century Ce. it is dedicated to lord shiva.
was built during the The temple is located near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.
reign of the Pallava lord shiva is known as airavatesvara as airavata, the
King rajasimha (c. white elephant of lord indra worshiped him here.
700 – 728Ce). it is Illustration by: Royal Park Vinisha R., IXC, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matriculation Higher
School, Salem
one of the iconic Secondary School, Thiruvanmiyur; Vanshika Agarwal, XB, Global Indian
structural temples in southern india. its International School, Chinchwad
three sanctuaries are dedicated to deities Dedicated to the classical
Vishnu and shiva. The Pancha rathas of Tamil poet and saint
Mahabalipuram was built during the 7th Thiruvalluvar, valluvar
century Ce. Kottam is a popular
S. Gagan, VIIB, R. Lakshanaa, VIC, Sri Sankara Senior monument in Chennai.
Secondary School, Adyar; D. Sumedha, Veveaham Prime it was erected in 1976.
Academy, Dharapuram
all 133 chapters of the
BIG TEMPLE OF THANJAVUR Thiruvalluvar famous work
Thirukkuval are inscribed
locally known as the Big Temple, the in the front hall corridors.
brihadeeswarar Temple of Thanjavur is The construction of
dedicated to lord shiva. it is one of the finest Valluvar Kottam is similar
examples of Dravidian architecture of the to that of a temple chariot. Illustration by: Aarushi Ganguly, VIB, Sri
Chola period. it was built by raja raja Chola-i Aarushi Ganguly and S.B. Anaunya, Sankara Sr. Secondary School, Adayar,
and was completed in 1010 Ce. The temple VI B, Sri Sankara Senior Secondary Chennai
is part of the uNesCO world heritage site School, Adyar, Chennai
known as the “great living Chola Temples”. King Vangamuddi built the Kailashnathar Temple
N. Nandhini Shree, VIIIB, Sri Sarda Higher Secondary located in salem, Tamil Nadu. it is noteworthy to
School, Chennai mention the Yazhi, a mythological dragon depicted with
a stone ball that can be rotated freely within its mouth
MAGICAL MUSICAL PILLARS but cannot be taken out! another interesting fact about
Five musical stone pillars can be found in this temple is that, during the Tamil month of Masi, the
the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. when rays of the sun fall on the Nandi bull, which reflect upon
they are tapped or struck with stones, they lord shiva like a crescent moon.
emit different musical notes similar to Durga R. Mallya, VIA, Angappa Senior Secondary CBSE School,
musical instruments. Coimbatore

SCULPtUre: YALi
Yali is a mythical creature in many hindu AMAZING ARDHANARISHVARA
temples. it is often sculpted onto the entrance The ardhanarishvara sculpture is from the capital
walls and pillars. it is portrayed as part lion, of the erstwhile Vijaynagar Dynasty, now known as
part elephant and part horse. The graceful hampi, in Karnataka. it is made out of granite stone.
mythical lion is believed to protect and guard The sculpture is half shiva and half Parvati. in skanda
the temples. Purana, Parvati requests lord shiva to allow her to live
S Jai Navayan, XC, and G. Indra Anuraag, XG, Bharatiya with him, the ardhanarishvara sculpture is a symbolic
Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad representation of their union.
Illustration by: G. Muthu, IX, Royal Park School, Salem Noor Tarun Sawhney, Vasant Valley School, Delhi
Background Illustration by: S. Tharunika, IX, Royal Park School, Salem

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