A Thread on the Brihadishwara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram,a Shiva temple built during the absolute zenith of Chola sovereignty, when they ruled over everything from the plains of the Ganga to lands far across the ocean in modern day Lanka,Thailand,Indonesia,Cambodia,Malaysia
Built in the year 1025 CE by Rajendra Chola I,son of Raja Raja Chola, the temple was meant to showcase the might of the Cholas after they had established their sovereignty over vast territories. The name Gangaikonda translates to the one who conquered the kingdoms along the Ganga
The Vimana which stands at 182 feet makes it the 5th tallest in Bharat.When it was originally constructed in 1025,it was the 2nd tallest. Rajendra purposefully built it shorter than the one built by his father.Yet gives an illusion of great width & height
The reconstruction of our temple has been on the family's agenda for a long long time. Multiple representations were made to the govt of karnataka in the 90's with no response from the govt. Here's the agenda plan we had. Its in Kannada & its English translation.
Project lay inabeyance for so many years due to many reasons, a non-responsive & hostile govt, general lack of enthusiasm within the extended family, lack of funds. We had no internet in those days & such networking like today wasn't possible, for a lower middle family especially
Building a brand new temple is one thing, restoring a 900 yr old temple in ruins ,where pieces lay scattered around like a jigsaw puzzle obviously needed expert intervention. The family consulted many temple associations for help, some responded positively, others did not.
A rare & highly ornate Murthi of Lakshmi Ganapathi belonging to the times of the great Narasimha Deva of the Eastern Ganga empire (Present day Odisha). It was smuggled & auctioned off in the year 1830 at Christie's. Now stashed away at the british museum artsandculture.google.com/asset/stone-sc…
Another marvel from Kalinga desha at brit museum. Murthi of Uma Maheshwara belonging to approximately the same times of Narsimhadeva. While some of the Murthis are catalogued by brit museum website, some like these I am cross referencing from other sources sites.google.com/site/100object…
A rare bronze Vighraham of a specific form of Lord Shiva known as Nandikeshwara belonging to the Chola era. Notice the galloping deer on the left hand. The brit museum aren't even aware of this specific attribute of Lord Shiva.For them its just a showpiece britishmuseum.org/research/colle…
On this very day 707 years ago in 1311 CE, one of the most glorious cities in Bharat, Dwarasamudra, the capital city of the Hoysala empire was besieged by eunuch islamic barbarian malik kafur under the orders of murderous islamic tyrant khilji. The city was reduced to dust.
The Hoysala king at the time, Veera Ballala III was given 2 choices by islamic barbarian malik kafur in return to spare the lives of the people of the Hoysala kingdom. Choices being 1) convert to islam or die 2) pay an annual zimmah(tribute) to khilji.
After the fall of the Yadavas of Maharashtra & the Kakatiyas of Andhra to kafur's islamic sword, Ballala Deva had little choice but to accept one of the offers given to him. He refused to convert to islam. He chose to pay a zimmah. Gave away everything except his Yagnopaveetam.
Ancient Madhya Pradesh was truly the pinnacle of Hindu Architecture. Unbelievable this 1500 yr Varaha lay in ruins for over 600 years before being rediscovered in the early 18th century. The kind of treasures Bharat lost due to invasions is unquantifiable
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For benefit of those asking, this is from the 5th century Vishnu temple at Eran in Madhya Pradesh, one of the most glorious ancient cities of the Gupta Empire. Totally destroyed by islamic barbarians.
Badly ravaged by islamic barbarians. Mutilated murthis of Narasimha & Vishnu 😞. Notice how barbarically the foot has been separated from the rest of the body.