Skip to main content

A thousand years ago..

There lived a king. He was strong and he was loved.  So began many a tale that my grandmother told me before bed time growing up in erstwhile Bombay.

So this summer I decided to see what all the fuss was about the kings of yesteryear and the land they governed and the temples they built.

I suppose governance would get highest marks outside of lavish buildings and large armies.  King Rajaraja Chola (his son Rajendra Chola I also continued the tradition) fit the bill.  His attention to details in areas of city planning, logistics for large temple complexes, managing his human resources, farming, etc is detailed in the literature available at the temple complex and the many Tamil inscriptions along the granite walls and steps in the compound.

If you have a king make it like the ones they did a thousand years ago and not as show pieces to ogle over like the western world tends to do today.

Here are some vistas from the city of Thanjavur (or Tanjore) in Tamilnadu state that showcase the scale and might of the empire.

King Rajaraja Chola (who was Rajendras dad) built this granite behemoth below in 8 years - the 1,000 year celebrations took place in 2010.

It is called the Big Temple or Brihadeeshwara Temple, and is one of the largest temples in the world recognized by the UN as a heritage site.  The tower or the sikhara is very high and decorated with sculptures showing the great Lord Shiva in various dance poses.  Shiva's dance is famous in Indian mythology.  I was doing my own when taking these pictures since the stone below my feet was probably at 120 F.

View of the eastern faƧade with the Nandi standing guard - The Nandi was likely added by the Nayak rulers in the 16th century is the second largest in India
13 feet tall, Granite Nandi (2nd largest) was Shiva's vehicle of choice according to legend.  The largest such idol is in Lepakshi AP.
View of main temple from the rear with a smaller building in foreground hides its true height of 225 ft
Side view of Big Temple @ dusk.
One of the many deities or dancers adorn the side courtyards
Multi pillared hallways along the outer perimeter
Vegetable pigment based art from the 16th century remains intact

Lingam collection
One of many moods of the elephant - this one calming down after a riot (the detail of his ear, trunk and trot are significant markers to determine the artist's intention)
 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

 The Palmetto state.  One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back.  We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination.  Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old.  The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago.  The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

Cost of entrepreneurship

Last night I attended a guest lecture on the subject of disruptive technology and entrepreneurship.  Lecture was free but it was used as a pitch by the University that hosted it to attract new customers. The speaker was somewhat respectable fellow who happened to hail from India and spoke eloquently.   One of the key message was around how the professors in this university were ranked among the very best money can buy. Cost of the MBA program mere $110,000 and oh we also buy some dinner if you have late class.  So now the math is simple-  is learning to be entrepreneurial worth the cost of entry? That is assuming you end up being one.   What of those that do not?  or the ones that are not successful at being the entrepreneur?  Is that being a pessimist before even being handed the glass. What I found strange is that people will bet big money on the glimmer of hope that they might just make a entrepreneurial debut and hit it big.  The unive...