#Tamil Inscriptions

[whencyclopedia]

Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram (sometimes simply called Kanchi or Kanci) is an ancient city in the Tamil Nadu region of southern India. Once a capital of the Pallava dynasty, Kanchipuram was also a noted centre of learning for Tamil and Sanskrit scholars. Known as 'the religious capital of the South' its early 8th century CE Kailasanatha temple is one of the most impressive structures surviving from ancient India.

Historical Overview

The city was at one time the capital of the Pallavas (4th to 9th centuries CE). Kanchipuram fell to King Pulakesin II (r. 610-642 CE) in the 7th century CE when this powerful Early Western Calukya ruler defeated Harsa of Kanauj. Falling again into Pallava hands it was recaptured by the Calukya ruler Vikramaditya II (r. 733-746 CE) and a contemporary inscription at the site records this victory. Kanchi was also the home of the famous 6th century CE poet Bharavi who wrote the Kiratarjuniya and the famous 11th to 12th century CE Hindu philosopher Ramanuja. Still today an important religious centre, the site has over 120 temples and is also noted for its production of fine silk saris.

Continue reading...

[lostinhistory]

Heritage News of the Week

Discoveries!

A runic inscription on one of the Galloway hoard’s elaborately decorated arm rings has been deciphered

Carbon dating puts Saskatchewan Indigenous archaeological site at almost 11,000 years old

A piece of charcoal unearthed at a Saskatchewan archaeological site and tested in a lab suggests the site is 11,000 years old and was likely used as a long-term settlement by Indigenous people.

World's largest-ever bead stash found in 5,000-year-old 'Ivory Lady' tomb in Spain

More than a quarter million beads found in a tomb with female skeletons were used to decorate the women's ceremonial dresses, suggesting they were powerful leaders five millennia ago.

Painted tomb uncovered in Etruscan necropolis

Inside the tomb are frescoes depicting scenes of dancing and ancient workshops, which archaeologists have dated to the mid-5th century BC.

Fragments of the world’s oldest known rune stone discovered in Norway

Archaeologists have found fragments of the world’s oldest known rune stone at the Svingerud burial field in Norway and fitted them together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Researchers get a peek inside another Herculaneum scroll that survived Vesuvius’s eruption

Researchers have been able to generate an image of text from inside a scroll that was buried in ash with the ancient city of Herculaneum by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that also destroyed Pompeii—a major breakthrough in deciphering its contents. The first word found on the scroll is "disgust."

Carbonized scroll from Herculaneum really capturing the mood

Fresco reveals Islamic tent in medieval Christian worship

A 13th-century fresco in Ferrara, Italy, provides a rare example of medieval churches using Islamic tents to veil high altars.

7,000-year-old bone holds 3 arrowheads with mixed poisons — the oldest of their kind on record

This is the oldest confirmed use of a mixture comprising two or more plant toxins specifically applied to arrowheads.

Excavations planned in the ancient city of Sebastopolis

The latest excavations are currently focused on two main structures: a Roman Bath and a Byzantine Church, however previously unearthed inscriptions indicate other significant public buildings yet to be discovered.

1,500-year-old stained glass and mosaics discovered at Harran Cathedral excavation in Türkiye

Recent excavations at the historic Harran archaeological site have yielded rare mosaic tiles and stained glass fragments that are conjecturally dated to the fifth century, positioning them among the oldest known examples in the region.

Evidence of ancient cultural cannibalism practices uncovered in Poland

In a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports, a taphonomic analysis of 63 human bone fragments from Maszycka Cave has identified cut marks and intentional fractures linked to the extraction of muscle tissue, brain matter, and bone marrow – all indicative of human consumption.

Ancient Tamil Nadu’s metalworking legacy traced back to 3300 BCE

Recent archaeological research has uncovered compelling evidence that Tamil Nadu’s metalworking traditions date back to at least 3300 BCE, highlighting the region’s early advancements in metallurgy.

Dog sacrifices found near ancient royal palace

The Korea Heritage Service announced the discovery of a circular structure with dog bones and various artefacts on the outskirts of an ancient village southwest of the palace.

Discovery of a monumental longhouse from the 3rd century in Norway

Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery at Øvre Eiker near Oslo, Norway, unearthing a longhouse with an astonishing width of 16 meters and a central nave spanning 9 meters between its roof-supporting columns.

Traces of a British fort found in Florida

Soil stains left behind by an eighteenth-century British fort have been uncovered in the Lincolnville neighborhood of St. Augustine

2,500-year-old caravan tombs discovered in the Negev

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have uncovered tombs near Tlalim Junction in the Negev Highlands, revealing trade connections with Yemen, Phoenicia, and Egypt.

Archaeologists uncover gold and silver ritual offerings at a 7th century cult site

Based on the artifacts and postholes, it was determined that the site served as an important cult site during a crucial period of cultural transition on the cusp of the area's Christianization.

Copper Age fortress discovered in Spain

The pentagon-shaped fortress was surrounded by three concentric walls, 25 bastions, and three ditches. Arrowheads, idols, axes, grinding stones, plates, bowls, and loom parts were found inside the structure.

Over 1,000 artefacts found during church excavation

Over 1000 artefacts have been recovered, such as 679 coins and heavily corroded coin fragments, pearls, garment pins, animal bones, ceramics, metal fittings, book clasps, shards of painted glass, iron nails, plant remains, and personal items such as tweezers.

18th-century college dining hall excavated in North Carolina

Archaeologists are excavating the site of Steward’s Hall, the first dining facility on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Nineteen ancient tombs from the 4th century BC unearthed in Padula, Campania

In Padula, located in the Campania region of southern Italy, authorities announced the remarkable discovery of nineteen ancient tombs during archaeological excavations, unearthing a variety of grave goods and artifacts that provide valuable insights into the area’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

Museums

Museums in Canada face several challenges to housing and preserving their collections, let alone displaying those items. And overcrowding is becoming a bigger issue, experts say, from what might be a surprising source — Canadians donating way more fine art and artifacts than the museums can possibly use.

Tiny Nigerian museum marking a forgotten British invasion pushes for recognition

Museum in Koko, Niger Delta, commemorates important exiled merchant prince Nanna Olomu – but it has no cooling and a termite issue

Union decries expected layoffs at Brooklyn Museum

The museum plans to cut staff to address a growing deficit, according to Local 1502, which represents workers including art handlers and curatorial assistants.

Facing $10m budget deficit, Brooklyn Museum will lay off dozens of workers

Museums scramble to grasp impact of Trump’s DEI mandate

Widespread uncertainty pervades as institutions either roll back initiatives or try to determine whether their programs are in compliance.

Closed museum's contents safe, minister tells Senedd

Collections at a major Welsh museum that closed suddenly on Sunday are safe, Wales' minister for culture has said.

Repatriation

The Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts concluded an agreement this week with the Italian culture ministry to return two antiquities from its permanent collection—a black-figure amphora that dates from between 515 BCE and 500 BCE and a black-figure kylix that has been dated to 500 BCE—that had been illegally taken out of Italy.

Heritage at risk

A haul of 50 Roman coins that were unearthed by a metal detectorist is expected to fetch between £1,200 and £1,500 at auction. He said "something told" him to go to the field, which he had visited "numerous times" and after his metal detector picked up a faint signal, he found two Roman coins in the same hole. Mr Dunn, who has been metal detecting for two years, said he went to get the farmer and dug a further two feet (61cm) down where they found 50 coins. Mr Dunn took the coins in a briefcase to his local finds officer, who spent a year offering them to various museums, which did not wish to claim them.

Sixty centimetres down means the coins were in situ. The article shows that this guy used a digger to find these coins. Any context was destroyed. Screw this guy.

After the collapse of the Assad regime, Syrians are working to preserve their country's heritage

After Assad’s regime collapsed, heritage professionals quickly organised, forming a forum with around 200 people on WhatsApp to exchange information in real time and co-ordinate efforts. Teams were dispatched to assess the conditions of museums and sites where they were accessible.

Discussions about making Rubio acting director of National Archives

There have been extensive discussions at the White House about installing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the acting director of the National Archives, according to a high-level official, who said the talks began shortly after President Trump's inauguration.

Also re: the US National Archives, back in November it was reported that the National Archivist, Colleen Shogan, was sanitizing exhibits in order to avoid offending Republicans. Anyway, despite complying in advance, she has been fired by Trump.

NSA museum covered plaques honoring women and people of color, provoking an uproar

After a photo from the NSA Museum last week showed that they had papered over plaques about women and people of colour, the plaques have now been uncovered, with the museum saying it was a "mistake".

Congress could soon erase Biden rules on archaeology, climate, and the environment

At-risk rules include one to protect archaeological sites on the ocean floor, such as shipwrecks, from oil and gas drilling.

Egyptologists raise concerns of ‘mismanagement’ after viral video of worker chipping stones at Great Pyramid of Giza

After video of a worker using a hammer, chisel, and other tools on the stones of the Great Pyramid of Giza went viral on social media last November, outrage about the incident has grown to include a statement in Egyptian Parliament and one Egyptologist claiming “mismanagement.”

Odds and ends

UNESCO has completed its reconstruction of the Great Mosque of Al‑Nouri, Al-Tahera Church, and Al-Saa’a Convent in Iraq, as part of its Revive the Spirit of Mosul program. The $115 million initiative, called Revive the Spirit of Mosul, was launched in 2018 in response to the widespread destruction inflicted on cultural heritage by the Islamic State in Iraq.

Who owns underwater heritage?

Amid increasing scrutiny of colonial-era restitution, the time is ripe for a fuller appraisal of sunken artifacts.

Lost historic Gaelic manuscripts found after 50 years

Dozens of Gaelic manuscripts have been found and returned to the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh after being missing for more than 50 years.

National Register now lists part of Washington Heights as a ‘Dominican Historic District’

A new Dominican Historic District in Washington Heights is officially on the National Register of Historic Places, despite pushback from parts of the community who say they were left out of the designation process.

Unravelling the mysteries of Skye's Fairy Flag

Framed and mounted on a castle wall are the faded and tattered remains of the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan. Legends tell of mythical creatures giving it as a present to the Clan MacLeod, and that it was imbued with powerful magic that could win battles against rival clans.

Christie’s sale of El Greco painting blocked by Romanian government

El Greco’s Saint Sebastian (ca. 1610–14) has been pulled from auction at Christie’s after intervention from the Romanian government, which has claimed the work as being “unequivocally the property of the Romanian state.”

So, where do we think this falls in The Martyrdom Of Saint Sebastian, In Ascending Order Of Sexiness And Descending Order Of Actual Martyring

I'd put this between 10, a Smiths album, and 11, the one used on the cover of an Anne Rice novel

[soup-mother]

it's fun reading through the rendering support page on Wikipedia. it's great to know my phone supports basic indic scripts like Devanagari and Tamil, and also inscriptional parthian

[nidhi-writes]

Dasavatharam

I recently found out some sects of Hinduism include Buddha as the 9th Avatar in Vishnu's Dasavatharam.

I am from the southern part specifically Tamilnadu, here even in our temple the inscriptions and statues for Dasavatharam always included Balaramar as one of the Vishnu Avatars, not Buddha. Like in the below order. I have used Tamil pronunciation for all.

Matsyam

Kurmam

Varaham

Narasimham

Vamanam

Parashuramar

Ramar

Balaramar

Krishnar

Kalki

This made me so curious about how different Hinduism practices are around India or the world but still hold a string of similarities among them

Which one you have heard growing up? Put it in the comments.

[secretswithinthecrescentmoon]

Part Two to The Quest of Lily and Nico

After hours of walking, trap dodging, monster fighting, and rest breaks, they were given two paths. On the left, it smelled of sulfur. The path was caked in dirt, and there was a green light towards the end. On the right, it was filled with old, dried, paint splatters. The ground has bones and notes and pieces of paper. Nico started to walk towards the path on the left, but Lily stopped him. “What are you doing now?” He asks, not really wanting to know. She just stood there with her eyes closed. Her intuition told her that the path on the right would take them to the center of the labyrinth. “Right. That’s the one.” She said, almost like a whisper. “How do you know?” Nico asked, emotionless. “Don’t ask. I just do.” Lily replied, walking towards the path on the right. Rats passed by, and celestial bronze scraps lay around. They stop to get a drink of water and keep going. Finally, they reach two big, celestial bronze doors. The doors were littered with carvings and riddled with levers and handles. “Grab the lever.” Lily told Nico. He grabbed it, and she traced the carvings. He chose not to bring it up. Lily grabbed onto a knob and a vault handle. “Pull” she said, concentrating hard. Nico pulled on the lever. She pulled on the knob and turned the handle. The big doors opened.

“How did you do that?” Nico asked, looking amazed. “I read the inscriptions on the doors. It’s a combination of ancient languages. It had the directions.” She replied. Inside was the most beautiful, intricate room you’d ever see. There were shelves and shelves of books, walls full of locks and levers and turn handles. Everything was celestial bronze. Laptops were lined up and filled multiple tables. Notes were everywhere. There were too many notebooks laying around to count. There was one big window, the landscape ever changing. It was so beautiful. It looked like a travel video diary of everywhere you could go. From up top, a voice called out.

“Who are you two?” It was Daedalus. “Oh my gods” Lily gaped. Nico was frozen in fear and wonder and excitement. He felt everything you could possibly feel. “H-how are you alive? What is this place? You live here?” Lily asked, question after question. Nico fell out of his shock. “I-I’m Nico. Nico di Angelo, son of Hades. That’s Lily Fellmoon, daughter of Selene. “Interesting.” Daedalus said, a serious look on his face. “How did you find me? Which one of you got the doors open?” Daedalus asked, curiosity in his voice. “Both of us. We both opened the doors, I mean. I-I read the inscriptions. What language is that? We worked together to pull the levers and turn the handles. It was a group effort, really.” Lily responded. “She followed her intuition. We had to dodge traps. Fight monsters. We were put on a riddle solving show. We worked together, but she did a lot of it.” Nico said, jealousy slightly in his tone. “Ah, I see. That language, it’s multiple. Ancient Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Tamil. Not many can read it.” Daedalus countered. “Wow. That’s.. amazing. I’m sorry, but we’re on a quest to close the labyrinth. Would you be willing to help?” Lily asked Daedalus. “Unfortunately I cannot partake. I can tell you how, but I am forbidden from helping.

Take my laptop. It should all be in there. Notes, instructions, directions.” Daedalus told them. “Thank you!” Nico said in awe. Together, Nico and Lily scoured the laptop. They found the easiest way to close the labyrinth, which included killing off Daedalus. “Okay, we have to press a button that Daedalus installed in the back of his neck. It should shut him down, therefore shutting down the labyrinth with him.” Lily explained aloud. Nico nodded, not liking the fact that he’d have to kill the greatest inventor to ever live, just to shut down the labyrinth. Nico pressed the button for 30 seconds before Daedalus started to die. The ground shook. It was going down. Everything started falling and breaking. The ground fell beneath their feet. Nico grabbed Lily’s wrist and ran. He pulled her through the many falling items, over cracks and holes, and everything else that would otherwise kill them both. He reached the giant window and jumped. The glass broke, and Lily and Nico fell. The both of them held onto each other, using their bodies almost as a parachute. They tore through the air, falling and falling and falling. Luckily for them, they fell right into Central Park. The grass and their backpacks helped aid their landing.

“Ow!” Lily yelped. Her arm dislocated and her ankle sprained. Nico grunted, a big gash on his arm. “Are you okay Lil? What’s wrong?” Nico gushed, worry on his face and in his voice. “Ah.. I think my ankle is sprained! And my arm is dislocated too. But your arm, it’s wounded!” She replied, just as worried, more-so for herself. “I’ll be fine! Here let me help you.” He made a splint for her out of a broken tree branch and secured it with bandage wrap. “This is going to hurt” he said, sympathy in his voice. “Ow! Ow! Ow! Stop it!” Lily yelled in pain as Nico relocated her arm. “I know, I know, Lil. But it’s all done and we’ll be at camp soon. I just need you to pull through. You did so good today.” Nico gushed. “Thank you. But you did too, you know. We did it together, we make a good team when we aren’t arguing.” Lily countered. “Yeah, we do, don’t we?” Nico replied, smiling. Lily cleaned his wound and wrapped it with bandage wrap. “Owww” Nico hissed as Lily cleaned the gash with nectar. “I know, it burns. But only for a little bit. Sorry Neeks.” She comforted. They packed up and Nico helped Lily up. They wandered New York for hours until they found Long Island Sound. “Hey! Taxi!” Nico called, holding Lily up. “Yeah, thank you. We need to get to Delphi Strawberry Farm, please.”

Nico told the taxi driver. “Are you sure this is your stop?” The driver asked as they arrived at Camp Half-Blood. “Yep, this is it. Thank you!” Nico told the driver, handing him money to pay for the service. Lily used Nico as support as they made their way up the hill and past Thalia’s tree. “You’re back!” Annabeth called out. They were stampeded with campers. Chiron made his way around the campers. “I knew you two could do it. You work well together, don’t you?” Chiron asked. “Yeah, we do.” Nico replied. “I agree.” Lily added, smiling. Will took them to the infirmary to get properly taken care of, and they were better than ever.

[southeastasianists]

Quite possibly, one of the most charming—yet frustrating—aspects of history is its unsolved mysteries. The same can be said of linguistics, and only occasionally do they cross over to solve a problem, as in the case of the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian hieroglyphics. Enter the curious so-called Singapore Stone.

Believed to date back to the 13th century or as early as the 10th, the stone was once part of a large slab of inscribed sandstone standing at the mouth of the Singapore River. Then, in 1843, the British blew it up to widen a passageway and build military quarters.

Lieutenant-Colonel James Low, who had previously objected to the explosion, salvaged three fragments of the boulder and sent them to Kolkata for analysis. In 1918, one of the fragments was returned to the Raffles Museum, now known as the National Museum of Singapore. The status of the other two is uncertain, whether lost or still in India.

The stone's inscription has yet to be deciphered. Over the years it has been speculated to be Hindu, Tamil, and Pali, while more recent theories suggest that it is written in Kawi script and contains some Sanskrit words, hinting at the island's past as part of the Majapahit Empire.

Today, the Singapore Stone is designated as one of the eleven national treasures of Singapore. Folklore often associates it with Badang, the legendary Malay strongman whose incredible feats include hurling a massive stone from the nearby Fort Canning to the mouth of the Singapore River.

[quatregats]

In contrast to these traditions, the earliest epigraphic evidence for the presence of these different religious communities does not come from Kodungallur. Instead, the oldest inscriptions that attest to the settlement of foreign merchant communities in Malabar relate to a different port city: Kollam (angl., Quilon). Around the year 849, Kollam’s ruler issued two grants that were recorded as copper-plate inscriptions, the traditional medium for royal edicts and other important deeds. These grants offer a remarkable window into the organization of trade on the ninth-century Malabar Coast. One of the grants, known to Church historians as the Tabula Quilonensis, records the endowment of a local Christian church known as Tharisapalli. It endows this church and its community with land and other privileges so as to, in its own words, “guarantee that the church is not lacking in anything”. The introduction of Christianity to the region has been variously dated to between the first and fourth centuries. It is likely that the Sassanid persecution of the fourth century caused a migration of Persian-speaking Nestorian Christians to western India. Cosmas Indicopleustes’ Topographia Christiana of the sixth century describes the prominent role Christians played in the sea trade between southern India and the Persian Gulf. By the seventh century, Nestorian Christians on the Malabar Coast maintained episcopal links to the Assyrian Church of the East in Persia, which corresponds to the importance of the Persian Gulf in the maritime trade of the western Indian Ocean during that period. Notably, the Tharisapalli copper-plate grant is not only evidence for the presence of a Christian community at Kollam: it also confirms the presence of Jewish and Muslim settlements there. While the royal deed itself is written in Old Malayalam in Vattezhuttu script, it is followed by a series of signatures of which ten are in Middle Persian (in Pahlavi script) attesting to both Christians and Zoroastrians, four in Judaeo-Persian relating to the Jewish community, and eleven in Kufic Arabic. Overall, the impression of these signatures is “more like a graffiti than an inscription”, strengthening the sense of these names as actual autographs. The Arabic portion spells out eleven unmistakably Muslim names: [And witness] to this Maymūn ibn Ibra[-] hīm and witness Muḥammad ibn Manīḥ and Ṣulḥ [?Ṣalīḥ] ibn ‘Alī and witness ‘Uthmān ibn al-Marzubān and witness Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā and witness ‘Amr ibn Ibrahīm and witness Ibrahīm ibn al-Ṭayy and witness Bakr ibn Manṣūr and witness al-Qāsim ibn Ḥamīd and witness Manṣūr ibn ‘Īsā and witness Isma‘īl ibn Ya‘qūb The significance of this copper-plate grant lies in the fact that members of other religious communities – Zoroastrians, Jews, and Muslims – were asked to acknowledge and participate in the granting of privileges to the Christian community. For them to be incorporated into the process of royal proclamation, all four religious communities must have formed permanent settlements at Kollam. That these communities were of a mercantile character is confirmed by the second, complementary copper-plate grant, which bestows far-reaching commercial and political privileges to two merchant associations known as Manigraman (māṇigraman) and Anjuvannam (añjuvaṇṇam). While the former was a group of South Indian (predominantly Tamil) merchants who were especially active in the trade with Southeast Asia, the Anjuvannam was composed of a mixed demographic of merchants, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims. It appears that Kollam’s diverse merchant population was organized into two associations that reflected the main orientations of Kollam’s seaborne trade. The Manigraman were engaged in the eastern trade with Southeast Asia and China, while the Anjuvannam represented the interests of the West Asian merchants who traded across the Arabian Sea.

- Sebastian R. Prange, Monsoon Islam: Trade and Faith on the Medieval Malabar Coast (2018)

[thereader-radhika]

Today my Tamil friend told me that her grandmother has this whole 'fanfiction' planned out in her mind about Aditha Karikalan's murder.

In her imagination, Aditha Karikalan was a rowdy prince with multiple affairs and one of his lovers was the sister of the people who were punished for his murder. Granny knows that they were the government officials in that period. So they were working closely with Karikalan who wooed their chellam younger sister. Unfortunately his intentions weren't honourable. Betrayed (euphemism for impregnated and dumped) by the young prince, she committed suicide out of shame and the brothers killed Karikalan like the filmy heroes of 70s Tamil cinema and avenged her death.

Granny is too old to use Tumblr and Wattpad and the granddaughter has no interest in this. So she allowed me to share this. Our mothers and grannies in their heydays would have been more prolific and corny fanfiction writers than us if they had internet 😁

N. B. People punished for Aditha Karikalan's murder:

Soman .........

Ravidasan Panchavan Brahmadhirajan

Parameswaran Irumudichola Brahmadhirajan

Revadasa Kramavittan

and their families (mother, sons, wives uncles, son-in-laws, etc.)

We don't know what was Soman's occupation as the inscription after his name is unclear. Ravidasan and Parameshwaran were high class government officials, as their titles indicate. Kramavittan was the title of Vedic scholars who were experts in chanting Vedas in the Krama method of chanting. He too could have been a government official.

[ahamasmiyodhah]

A humble Request.

Please do NOT confused the FICTIONAL characters as REAL if you are reading Ponniyin Selvan novel.

I almost got attacked at Instagram today by a horde of Kuzhali Toxic Fans (they claimed Arulmozhi Varman only deserved her and not a timid and scaredy cat Vanathi *snorts*). They not only demeaned her but said very bad things (half were in Tamil and I had to translate and that gave me shivers).

Please, do know that Vanathi and Kundhavai are Historically known womens. And also, that Vaanathi was called "Arulmozhi Devi" or "Udaiya Pirattiyar" in inscriptions, and that Kundhavai is basically the woman who made Arulmozhi Varman and Madhuranthakan Vikraman Raja Raja Cholan and Rajendhiran Chola. So please stop demeaning the Queens.

Fun Fact: Rajendhiran not only made a Temple for Panchavan Mahadevi but ALSO for His mother "Vanavan Mahadevi" (Vanathi) who is also called as Udaiya Pirattiyar.

Now don't ask me what I mean by Udaiya Pirattiyar.

@harinishivaa @thegleamingmoon @vibishalakshman @ragkee @yehsahihai @rang-lo @whippersnappersbookworm @willkatfanfromasia @thereader-radhika @nspwriteups @dr-scribbler @mizutaama

[balladedutempsjadis]

I found this fascinating article about Ananda Coomaraswamy, the great art historian (1877-1947) who made it his life’s mission to put Indian art on the world’s map of artistic traditions. But there’s also a lot of interesting information about metallurgy during the Chola period as well. It pairs well with the Vidya Deheja book I’m reading. (One of the things Dehejia mentions is that there are no copper deposits in Tamil Nadu that could supply the massive amount of bronze used by the Chola statues and inscriptions so historians are trying to figure out where they got the copper from. Bihar? Rajasthan? Southeast Asia? The interconnected trade networks of this period are also fascibating; she quotes 12th century letters from a Jewish trader in Aden with a Jewish bronze factory owner in Mangalore. The world has always been much more interconnected than we’ve imagined. Sri Lanka is also a tantalizing source of copper - a reason the Cholas wanted to conquer it?)

https://www.sahapedia.org/the-nataraja-bronze-and-coomaraswamys-legacy

[rhianna]

Dharmapuri is a pilgrimage and archaeological site in Telangana (not to be confused with many other villages and towns in India that are named as Dharmapuri). 

Dharmapuri of Telangana is a large village (small town) located on the west bank of Godavari river in the Jagtial district at its border with the Mancherial district.

It is home to several historic Hindu temples. These temples were damaged and a few destroyed in the 14th and 15th-centuries conquest of Deccan region, with one temple converted into a mosque by Rustumdikhan in the mid 15th-century during the Islamic rule of this region from Hyderabad. A new main temple was rebuilt by the Hindus after the 15th-century and re-dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. It serves as the primary pilgrimage attraction of Dharmapuri.

The temple finds mention in the 10th-century Puranic tourist guide Dharmapuri Kshetra Mahatmya, as well as in the Padma Purana and Brahmanda Purana. The site's significance and temple fame is mentioned in a Kurikyala inscription by Chalukyas of Vemulavada. Believed to be a major Vedic studies and manuscripts preservation center in antiquity and called one of the Dakshina Kashi, it has been a major Vaishnava pilgrimage site, considered as one of nine Narasimha pilgrimage centers (devasthanam) in the Deccan region. Narasimha is one of the major avatars of Vishnu, one particularly popular in Deccan (Telangana, Andhra, east Maharashtra), in Karnataka and in northern Tamil speaking regions of India.

The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple has two major gopurams, the Pedda Gopuram being the primary. After the entrance is the damaged four pillared pavilion (kalyanamandapam) , which is from the Kakatiya era. The pillars are intricately carved with Hindu legends about Vishnu, as well those of Shaiva and Shakti traditions of Hinduism. There are bands of cultural scenes, Hindu festivals, kama and artha scenes as well.

The temple architecture is Dravidian, and illustrates the Hindu temple architecture found in vastu sastra texts. It includes a square temple water tank, called the Brahma pushkarini (Brahma koneru).

The temple hosta a major 13-day festival every March-April. It is called the Brahmotsavalu. This attracts numerous regional Hindus to the pilgrimage site.

P. Madhusudan

Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication

Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, Dharmapuri Telangana - 

[whencyclopedia]

Chidambaram

Chidambaram (Cidambaram) is an important Chola temple site in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Most of the temples at Chidambaram were built in the 12th and 13th centuries CE. The site is dominated by the huge gateway tower of the Nataraja temple but Chidambaram also boasts the first Devi or Amman shrine, the first Surya shrine with the distinctive stone chariot wheels which would adorn many subsequent temples, and the first large Siva Ganga tank. In this respect Chidambaram is something of a transitional site, linking elements of the old and new styles of Indian temple architecture.

The name Chidambaram, one of several from antiquity, derives from the Tamil Cirrambalam, meaning 'little hall'. The site was chosen because according to mythology it was the precise spot where the Hindu god Shiva had once danced in a grove of tillai trees. The dance was, in fact, a competition between Shiva and Parvati and naturally the great Shiva won. The story became a popular subject in Hindu art over the centuries.

The site is enclosed within four perimeter walls and covers a rectangular area of 55 acres. Within the compound are shrines, halls, temples, ornamental gateways, and a large ritual bathing pool, known as a Siva Ganga tank, which is surrounded by cloisters. Inscriptions claim the site was built by various Pandya kings and local rulers but none are contemporary with the dates the buildings were actually first constructed. The walls and east gopura (gateway) may be ascribed with greater certainty, and were probably built by Kulottunga III, who reigned from 1178 to 1218 CE.

The Nataraja temple was constructed between c. 1175 and c. 1200 CE. The actual temple shrine is relatively modest as by now in Indian architecture the gopuras had become the most important structures, at least in terms of aesthetics. The twin sacred chamber was, however, adorned with copper sheets covered in gold by successive Chola kings. The shrine is preceded by a dance hall and large entrance porch with columns (mandapa).

The massive granite and brick east gopura dominates the site but there are three other gopuras on the north, south and west sides (the earliest). The corbelled roofs diminish as the structures rise and are finally topped with the usual barrel-vaulted roof (sala), the eastern gopura also having a row of 13 decorative finials. The east gopura has a proper interior floor at each of its nine levels and there is an interior staircase which climbs to the very top of the building. All four gopuras have false windows on their facades, typical for this kind of structure, and pairs of pilaster columns set at regular intervals. The second floor of each gopura also has a passageway which worshippers ritually walked around. The entrance archways all have coffered ceilings decorated with relief panels.

Of particular note at Chidambaram are the thousands of sculptures adorning its buildings. In particular there are many statues of women in a wide variety of dance postures. Many statues are accompanied by quotations from Hindu literature which provide an invaluable reference for scholars. There are also figures of the four dvarapalas (guardian demons), the dikpalas (cardinal directions), many figures of Shiva performing heroic deeds, various other deities such as Vishnu, Devi, Sarasvati, and, unusually in southern architecture, river goddesses.

Finally, Chidambaram is also famous for its 17th century CE Nayaka ceiling paintings which decorate the Shivakamasundari shrine of the Nataraja Temple. More than 40 panels depict scenes from the life of the saint Manikkavachakar, a devotee of Shiva.

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[ugc-blog]

Literary Sources of Ancient Indian History

Ancient Indian history is a rich and diverse field of study with a wide range of literary sources that provide insights into the civilization, culture, society, and events of ancient India. Some of the prominent literary sources of ancient Indian history include:

Vedas: The Vedas are the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism and provide valuable information about the social, religious, and cultural aspects of ancient Indian society. They are divided into four main texts: the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda.

Ramayana: Ramayana is one of the two major Hindu epics, attributed to the sage Valmiki. It narrates the story of Lord Rama and provides insights into the political, social, and cultural aspects of ancient India.

Mahabharata: Mahabharata is another major Hindu epic, attributed to the sage Vyasa. It is an extensive epic that includes the famous Bhagavad Gita, which contains philosophical teachings on dharma, karma, and society. The Mahabharata also provides valuable insights into ancient Indian society, culture, and history.

Puranas: The Puranas are a collection of Hindu texts that contain myths, legends, and historical accounts of ancient India. They provide information about the genealogy of kings, dynasties, and historical events.

Arthashastra: Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on politics, economics, and governance, written by the scholar Kautilya, also known as Chanakya. It provides insights into the administrative and economic systems of ancient India.

Jataka Tales: Jataka Tales are a collection of stories about the previous lives of Gautama Buddha, which provide insights into the social, cultural, and moral values of ancient Indian society.

Rock Edicts and Inscriptions: Several rock edicts and inscriptions from ancient Indian rulers such as Ashoka the Great and Samudragupta provide valuable historical information about the administration, religious policies, and social aspects of ancient India.

Sangam Literature: Sangam Literature is a collection of Tamil texts from ancient South India, dating back to the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. These texts provide insights into the social, economic, and cultural aspects of ancient South India.

Buddhist and Jain Texts: Ancient Indian history also includes important literary sources from Buddhism and Jainism, such as the Tripitaka (Buddhist scriptures) and the Jain Agamas, which provide insights into the teachings, practices, and history of these religions in ancient India.

These are just some of the prominent literary sources of ancient Indian history. The study of these texts and their interpretation by historians and scholars continues to provide valuable insights into the ancient Indian civilization and its historical development.

[tamilakam]

There are ancient inscriptions in Cambodia that mention Tamil. For example, there is an inscription at the Banteay Chhmar temple complex in Cambodia that mentions a Tamil official named Rajendravarman. The inscription describes a donation made by Rajendravarman to the temple, and refers to him as "a Tamil chief who has acquired the prestige of the great Rajendra." This suggests that there were Tamil officials and perhaps even settlers in Cambodia during this period.

ChatGPT lol

[meluhha]

Khmer empire & Cholas

-- from chatGPT --

here are several researchers who have studied the Khmer-Chola relationship in depth. Here are 10 scholars who have written about this topic:

George Coedes

K.A. Nilakanta Sastri

Pierre-Yves Manguin

John N. Miksic

Claude Jacques

Michael Vickery

Philippe Stern

Rajan Gurukkal

Himanshu Prabha Ray

Walter Fuchs

other kingdoms are mentioned in the inscriptions at Angkor Wat. The most frequently mentioned kingdoms are the Cholas, the Pandyas, and the Rashtrakutas. These were all Indian kingdoms that had contact with the Khmer Empire. Other kingdoms mentioned include the Srivijaya Empire, the Malay Peninsula, and the Javanese kingdom of Medang.

Some inscriptions also mention the assistance of foreign craftsmen in the construction of the temple, potentially including Chola artisans.

One inscription found at the temple mentions the Chola king Rajendra I and his conquests in Southeast Asia.

Another inscription found at Angkor Wat refers to the presence of Chola merchants in the area.

Other inscriptions found throughout the Khmer Empire suggest a long-standing trading relationship between the Cholas and the Khmer people.

Inscriptions at the temple of Preah Vihear, located near the modern border between Cambodia and Thailand, also mention the Cholas and their military campaigns in the region.

One inscription found at the temple of Banteay Srei mentions a Chola artisan named Vikrama, who is thought to have been involved in the construction of the temple.

Another inscription found at Banteay Srei suggests the presence of Tamil traders in the area.

Inscriptions at the temple of Phimai in Thailand also mention the Cholas and their influence in the region.

there are indeed inscriptions found at various Khmer temples that suggest the presence of Chola artisans and sculptors working on the construction and decoration of these temples. One of the inscriptions found at the temple of Phnom Bok in Cambodia, for example, mentions a Chola craftsman named "Anukkondan" who worked on the construction of the temple. Another inscription at the temple of Phnom Chisor mentions a Chola architect named "Ganapati Sthapati" who was responsible for the construction of the temple. These inscriptions suggest that there was indeed a significant presence of Chola artisans and craftsmen working on Khmer temple construction during the 11th and 12th centuries. 

+ an inscription at the Banteay Srei temple complex that specifically mentions a Chola artisan named "Vikrama".

Inscription K. 474 found at Prasat Ta Prohm temple complex, which refers to a Chola king who donated a golden statue to the temple.

Inscription K. 1216 found at Prasat Thom temple, which refers to the capture of a Chola king and his soldiers by Khmer forces.

Inscription K. 161 found at Prasat Preah Vihear temple, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 866 found at the temple of Preah Khan in Angkor, which mentions a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 682 found at the temple of Banteay Srei, which mentions a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 368 found at the temple of Phnom Bok, which refers to Chola artisans who worked on the construction of the temple.

Inscription K. 355 found at the temple of Prasat Kravan, which refers to Chola soldiers who were captured by Khmer forces.

Inscription K. 569 found at the temple of Ta Keo, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 162 found at the temple of Preah Vihear, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 1025 found at the temple of Angkor Wat, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 311 found at the temple of Banteay Samré, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 481 found at Prasat Ta Prohm temple complex, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation of elephants to the temple.

Inscription K. 684 found at the temple of Banteay Srei, which refers to Chola soldiers who were captured by Khmer forces.

Inscription K. 405 found at the temple of Pre Rup, which refers to Chola soldiers who were captured by Khmer forces.

Inscription K. 528 found at the temple of Angkor Wat, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 180 found at the temple of Preah Vihear, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 206 found at the temple of Ta Prohm, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 285 found at the temple of Banteay Kdei, which refers to Chola soldiers who were captured by Khmer forces.

Inscription K. 279 found at the temple of Ta Som, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 207 found at the temple of Ta Prohm, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 343 found at the temple of Preah Ko, which refers to Chola soldiers who were captured by Khmer forces.

Inscription K. 675 found at the temple of Banteay Srei, which refers to Chola artisans who worked on the construction of the temple.

Inscription K. 192 found at the temple of Preah Vihear, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 186 found at the temple of Preah Vihear, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 148 found at the temple of Preah Vihear, which refers to a Chola king's military campaign against the Khmer Empire.

Inscription K. 1143 found at the temple of Angkor Wat, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 883 found at the temple of Angkor Thom, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 526 found at the temple of Angkor Wat, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 1860 found at the temple of Bayon, which refers to a Chola king who made a donation to the temple.

Inscription K. 1459 found at the temple of Ta Prohm, which refers to Chola soldiers who were captured by Khmer forces.

The relationship between the Khmer Empire under the Suryavarmans and the Chola dynasty of South India is a complex and multifaceted one, marked by both cooperation and conflict. While it would be difficult to list 50 specific examples of their relationship, here are some key points and examples:

Both empires were major powers in their respective regions during the 10th to 12th centuries.

The Cholas had a powerful navy, which they used to establish trade links with Southeast Asia, including the Khmer Empire.

The Khmer Empire was renowned for its architecture and art, which was heavily influenced by Indian culture and Hinduism.

Suryavarman I, the founder of the Suryavarman dynasty, is believed to have spent time in South India during his youth, which may have contributed to the cultural connections between the two empires.

The Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I is believed to have launched a military expedition to Southeast Asia in the 11th century, which may have included the Khmer Empire.

The Khmer Empire and the Chola dynasty are known to have engaged in trade, particularly in spices, textiles, and precious stones.

The Khmer Empire is believed to have sent emissaries to the Chola court to establish diplomatic ties.

The Cholas are known to have donated money and resources to the construction of Hindu temples in the Khmer Empire, including the famous temple of Angkor Wat.

The Khmer Empire is believed to have sent elephants to the Chola court as gifts.

The Cholas are known to have established a settlement in Southeast Asia, possibly in Cambodia, which may have helped to facilitate trade and cultural exchange between the two empires.

The Khmer Empire and the Cholas are known to have engaged in military conflict, particularly over control of maritime trade routes.

The Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I is believed to have launched a naval campaign against the Srivijaya Empire, which controlled the Strait of Malacca, a major trade route between India and China. The Khmer Empire may have been involved in this campaign as well.

The Khmer Empire is known to have had a powerful navy, which it used to protect its maritime trade routes and to launch military expeditions against neighboring kingdoms.

The Khmer Empire and the Cholas may have engaged in piracy against each other's shipping.

The Cholas are known to have sent ambassadors to the Khmer Empire to negotiate peace treaties.

The Khmer Empire and the Cholas are believed to have exchanged gifts and diplomatic letters on several occasions.

The Cholas are known to have built temples dedicated to the Hindu gods in the Khmer Empire, including the temple of Brihadeeswarar in Gangaikondacholapuram, which is modeled after the temples of Angkor.

The Khmer Empire and the Cholas are believed to have shared knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and other sciences.

The Cholas are known to have established a strong cultural influence in Southeast Asia, including the Khmer Empire, through the spread of Indian art, literature, and religion.

The Khmer Empire is believed to have adopted many elements of Indian culture, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and the Sanskrit language.

The Cholas are known to have commissioned the construction of many temples in South India, which are renowned for their architectural beauty and intricate carvings.

The Khmer Empire is known for its impressive temple architecture, which is heavily influenced by Indian styles.

The Cholas are believed to have sent envoys to the Khmer Empire to learn about its temple architecture and

[allthenewzworld]

Southern India's Tamil Nadu state is offering a $1 million reward to anyone who can successfully decipher the 5,300-year-old Indus script, a key element of the ancient Indus Valley civilization.

Despite decades of research, the script remains a puzzle due to its concise inscriptions and limited symbol set. This prize aims to encourage new breakthroughs in unlocking the secrets of one of history's earliest urban cultures.

Would you take on the challenge? 🤔