I was carried away by the breathtaking serene beauty of Tanjore as I
entered the sanctum sanctorum. It felt like being in a different world,
far from the maddening crowd – where for the first time, the burden of
daily trifles left my thoughts. I wasn’t worried about the minutes
ticking away, but was caught up in enjoying the moment, and capturing
that splendid beauty.
Thanjavur is the hub of South Indian art and architecture – a cradle of
civilization for many dynasties. It earned name and fame during reign of
the Chola dynasty. Most of the great Chola temples are recognised by
UNESCO under World Heritage Monuments.
Tanjore is the anglicised version of Thanjavur. There are different explanations for how the place got its name. ‘Thanjavur’ is either derived from the asura Tanjan, who is believed to have to have been killed by the Hindu God Vishnu.
Tanjore is known as the “rice bowl of Tamil Nadu” as the entire area is surrounded by rivers and green paddy fields. Some say the name is derived from ‘Than-sei-oor’ which actually denotes a place surrounded by rivers and paddy fields.
Thanjavur is home to over 90 temples, each for different deities. There is an exquisitely decorated shrine of Murugan which is visited by devotees across India as well as tourists from abroad.
The most prominent worshipping place is Brahadishwara Temple, which is believed to be built by Rajaraja Chola during the 11th century. Brahadishwara Temple comes under UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Tanjore is famous for its painting style known as Tanjore Painting which is popular around the world. Instead of the artificial paint, the artists use natural colours to work on glass or metal sheets, mainly depicting extracts from Hindu mythology.
The place is resonating with art and music. Tiruvaiyaru, the place where great musician Thyagaraja lived, is close to Tanjore. Musicians from all over the country visit this place to participate in the Thyagaraja Aradhana which is held annually.
Another specialty of Tanjore are the dolls. Whoever visits this place is
sure to buy these richly decked colourful bobble-headed dolls, which
are kept as souvenirs
The stone art inspired from mythology is another specialty of this place. We can find mythical characters etched in these ‘lifeless stones’, almost as if they’re about to come to life.
The Tanjore silk sarees are famous for gold embroidery all over, ‘zari’,
as it’s called in India. Their intricate designs and handiwork make
them unique and expensive.
As I walked through the inscribed walls, I saw a grey-haired destitute. I wonder for how long he has been there – may be long enough that he’ll leave behind his soul if he leaves those silent corridors.
Evening approached, and I realised it was time to leave. Though its
beauty was beyond what the lens could capture, I was satisfied that I
could cherish those moments forever.
I witnessed the beauty of the temple in the early hours, and was there till dusk. As darkness shrouded the place, there was a strange beauty about it.
I felt an unusual contentment, and I was glad for being there....
Tanjore is the anglicised version of Thanjavur. There are different explanations for how the place got its name. ‘Thanjavur’ is either derived from the asura Tanjan, who is believed to have to have been killed by the Hindu God Vishnu.
Tanjore is known as the “rice bowl of Tamil Nadu” as the entire area is surrounded by rivers and green paddy fields. Some say the name is derived from ‘Than-sei-oor’ which actually denotes a place surrounded by rivers and paddy fields.
Thanjavur is home to over 90 temples, each for different deities. There is an exquisitely decorated shrine of Murugan which is visited by devotees across India as well as tourists from abroad.
The most prominent worshipping place is Brahadishwara Temple, which is believed to be built by Rajaraja Chola during the 11th century. Brahadishwara Temple comes under UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Tanjore is famous for its painting style known as Tanjore Painting which is popular around the world. Instead of the artificial paint, the artists use natural colours to work on glass or metal sheets, mainly depicting extracts from Hindu mythology.
The place is resonating with art and music. Tiruvaiyaru, the place where great musician Thyagaraja lived, is close to Tanjore. Musicians from all over the country visit this place to participate in the Thyagaraja Aradhana which is held annually.
The stone art inspired from mythology is another specialty of this place. We can find mythical characters etched in these ‘lifeless stones’, almost as if they’re about to come to life.
As I walked through the inscribed walls, I saw a grey-haired destitute. I wonder for how long he has been there – may be long enough that he’ll leave behind his soul if he leaves those silent corridors.
I witnessed the beauty of the temple in the early hours, and was there till dusk. As darkness shrouded the place, there was a strange beauty about it.
I felt an unusual contentment, and I was glad for being there....
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