Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Mysterious Pavilion part 2; the wonder continues
.2.
After my discovery of the astronomical reliefs in a pavilion near Mahabalipuram (for more photos and information please read my article published on “Asian Art” (www.asianart.com/articles) I have been searching and researching this mysterious and little known astronomical symbols in Indian art. Below are photos from several different temples and pavilions from across South India showing further depictions of eclipse symbolism. Nagas or cobras chasing the sun and moon, many different fish, some normal, some strange, tigers, lizards, parrots or phoenixes, makaras, tortoises and much more. I am continuing my research and hope to publish more details soon.
These are photos of eclipse related astronomical symbols depicted in relief on ceilings, walls, and preserved slabs from pavilions no longer in existence from a temple. Especially significant are the naga dragons with the sun and moon, which are flanked by phoenix-like birds. Other ceilings in the same temple show a connection between these ferocious animals and eclipses. The ceiling of a Ganesha shrine within the complex depicts a lunar and solar eclipse flanking a simple circle-in-square mandala. Above the entrance a relief depicts the sphinx or purushamriga worshipping the Shiva Linga, while in pursuit of Bhima, one of the Pancha Pandavas (www.sphinxofindia.rajadeekshithar.com). On the walls and the ceiling of the gopuram again depictions of nagas, fish, a moray eel, tigers, a monkey, the sun and the moon.
The small isolated pavilion has many eclipse related symbols depicted on its ceiling.
Another pavilion by the side of a road next to a shrine of Ganesha has been fenced off by the ASI for its protection. But fish and other relief figures were visible from the distance. On its front a peculiar symbol, resembling in a more abstract way the birds by the side of the sun and moon depicted on the slab in the other temple (see above). And the grinning face with fangs and a pair of hands similar to such faces on the pavilion near Mahabalipuram.
The ceiling of the Ganesha shrine next to it also depicts nagas, lunar and solar eclipses, and pairs of fish. In this case the ceiling has been painting freshly to show clearly the gobes in front of the cobras or nagas are intended to represent solar and lunar eclipses. One pair of fish has also been painted; another is faintly visible under the whitewash. The pillars of this small shrine also had lunar and solar disks carved on them. This shows these reliefs are understood today as reflecting significant astronomical events in the living tradition. They are conscious documents of astronomical events and also understood as such in the living tradition.
Some of the photos below show the ceiling of a veranda or porch in a large and very ancient temple. Again we see strange fish and makaras.
More nagas and fish accompany lunar and solar disks on a ceiling of a small temple. The temple belongs to the Pallava dynasty, but the pavilion in front probably to the 17th century.
After my discovery of the astronomical reliefs in a pavilion near Mahabalipuram (for more photos and information please read my article published on “Asian Art” (www.asianart.com/articles) I have been searching and researching this mysterious and little known astronomical symbols in Indian art. Below are photos from several different temples and pavilions from across South India showing further depictions of eclipse symbolism. Nagas or cobras chasing the sun and moon, many different fish, some normal, some strange, tigers, lizards, parrots or phoenixes, makaras, tortoises and much more. I am continuing my research and hope to publish more details soon.
These are photos of eclipse related astronomical symbols depicted in relief on ceilings, walls, and preserved slabs from pavilions no longer in existence from a temple. Especially significant are the naga dragons with the sun and moon, which are flanked by phoenix-like birds. Other ceilings in the same temple show a connection between these ferocious animals and eclipses. The ceiling of a Ganesha shrine within the complex depicts a lunar and solar eclipse flanking a simple circle-in-square mandala. Above the entrance a relief depicts the sphinx or purushamriga worshipping the Shiva Linga, while in pursuit of Bhima, one of the Pancha Pandavas (www.sphinxofindia.rajadeekshithar.com). On the walls and the ceiling of the gopuram again depictions of nagas, fish, a moray eel, tigers, a monkey, the sun and the moon.
The small isolated pavilion has many eclipse related symbols depicted on its ceiling.
Another pavilion by the side of a road next to a shrine of Ganesha has been fenced off by the ASI for its protection. But fish and other relief figures were visible from the distance. On its front a peculiar symbol, resembling in a more abstract way the birds by the side of the sun and moon depicted on the slab in the other temple (see above). And the grinning face with fangs and a pair of hands similar to such faces on the pavilion near Mahabalipuram.
The ceiling of the Ganesha shrine next to it also depicts nagas, lunar and solar eclipses, and pairs of fish. In this case the ceiling has been painting freshly to show clearly the gobes in front of the cobras or nagas are intended to represent solar and lunar eclipses. One pair of fish has also been painted; another is faintly visible under the whitewash. The pillars of this small shrine also had lunar and solar disks carved on them. This shows these reliefs are understood today as reflecting significant astronomical events in the living tradition. They are conscious documents of astronomical events and also understood as such in the living tradition.
Some of the photos below show the ceiling of a veranda or porch in a large and very ancient temple. Again we see strange fish and makaras.
More nagas and fish accompany lunar and solar disks on a ceiling of a small temple. The temple belongs to the Pallava dynasty, but the pavilion in front probably to the 17th century.
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