Arjuna's Penance

nobody@flickr.com (Pandiyan) — Mon, 02 May 2005 10:00:33 -0700

Pandiyan posted a photo:

A large stone relief, more than 1000 years old, in a small town called Mahabalipuram near Chennai in India.
It depicts Arjuna, a character from Mahabharath doing penance with Gods, angels and others all around him.
Most structures here are monolithic, carved out of a single rock.

Camera used: Canon Powershot A20

Hermaphroditism in Hindu Mythology

nobody@flickr.com (Pandiyan) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:11:07 -0700

Pandiyan posted a photo:

Ardhanarishwarar, an androgynous diety, made of Shiva and Shakti, half male and half female. Religious scholars split hairs over the significance of this form.

We spotted this when we went a temple town called Kumbakonam. The town is famous for their bronze work. The famous Chola bronzes and the unique metal work they employ are from this region and is hundreds of years old. Ancient tamils were pretty good metallurgists. The artisans we saw employed the same old methods and needed very little infrastructure. The method is called lost wax technique.

Chola bronze is becoming pretty famous and popular world over. Many Tamil Nadu temples and museums need special security measures these days. The artisans we saw were making mostly the traditional figures - dancing shiva, seated ganesh, flute playing krishna etc. But they said they have been commissioned to make new and modern forms as well.

Did you know that the Hutts (remember Jabba) were hermaphrodites?

Cloud Gate

nobody@flickr.com (Pandiyan) — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:03:48 -0700

Pandiyan posted a photo:

Uploads from Pandiyan, tagged sculpture

Arjuna's Penance

Hermaphroditism in Hindu Mythology

Cloud Gate