6
Nov

The moat around the Tanjore Big temple

The recent headlines for renovation of the moat around the Big temple in tanjore,
ASI submits Rs.1-crore proposal to renovate moat around Big Temple , took me back some years ago - when i had chanced on a very interesting antique photograph from the archives of the British Library.

The archives are a real treasure trove for enthusiasts. Since we are talking of the Moat around the temple complex, take a look at these rare captures in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s ( photo courtesy - British Library Archives). Shows the moat still filled with water but the whole structure is in a bit of a mess.

tanjore antique 2
tanjore antique 5
tanjore antique 6
tanjore antique1
tanjore antique3
tanjore antique4

But are we just going to see some antique photos today. No, of course there has to be some twist. the twist is this capture.

the moat with a mystery idol

Dated to the year 1921, to be precise this is the description of the plate

Sawyer, Wilbur A. [Wall, moat, and outer gate tower of the Hindu temple at Thanjavur]. Photographic Print. 1 Image. [2 April 1921].

Look carefully, do you notice something.

There is a very very unusual object on the wall.

the mysteryidol

What is it, and where is it now !

Thanks to Rhoda for spotting one more ( adding now)

one-mo11

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Category: Sculpture

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17 Comments so far

vdhivakar
  1  

இப்படியெல்லாம் கூர்மையாகப் பார்த்தால் எப்படி விஜய்! ஆனாலும் சிலை என வரும்போது அது பாதுகாக்கவேண்டியதே.. அது எங்கிருந்தாலும்..

தஞ்சை சரித்திர ஆர்வலர்களை, அறிஞர்களைக் கேட்கவேண்டும்.. அல்லது மியூசியத்தில் எடுத்து வைத்துள்ளார்களா (சுவரோடு என்பதால் சந்தேகமே)..

திவாகர்

November 6th, 2009 at 12:38
Kathie B.
  2  

Answer : a Saiva Devi w damaru - Ishvari, perhaps?

November 6th, 2009 at 17:01
இரா. சதீஷ் குமார்
  3  

தேட வேண்டிய ஒன்று, எத்தனையோ முறை சென்றிருக்கிறேன் ஆனால் இந்த சிற்பம் கண்ணில் படவில்லை, மறுமுறை செல்லும் பொழுது தேடிப் பார்க்கிறேன்.

இறைவன் தங்களுக்கு கூர்மையான பார்வையை கொடுத்து அதன் மூலம் மற்றவர்களுக்கு பல விஷயங்களை உணர்த்த நினைக்கிறார் போலும்!

November 6th, 2009 at 17:59
vishwaksenan
  4  

Dear VJ. The sculpture onthe wall of moat is a guide mark to the underground path and a godown of weapons was underground. This was assumed from ’sirpakalai nunukkangal’ by ‘koil sithar’ of Thirunageswaram and I have read it many years ago. The renovation may bring it to light. Let us wait and see.

November 6th, 2009 at 18:36
rhoda alex
  5  

hi vj,

i am totally unequipped to find answers for this one…nevertheless i can add to the mystery. While looking carefully at the photo..i think i definitely spotted one more!!
click on link to view it marked by a rectangle
http://i83.servimg.com/u/f83/13/03/66/32/one-mo11.jpg

November 6th, 2009 at 19:05
Kathie B.
  6  

Wow! This is such fun! What great spotting.
Another female, with pot?

November 6th, 2009 at 19:13
rhoda alex
  7  

Yes Kathie!! it is such fun indeed… but i would want to believe that it is the bosom in profile!

VJ…it may be way of the mark but just want to try..a fort surrounded by water is called jala durga - can it have anything to do with that ??!!

November 6th, 2009 at 19:37
Subrahmanian S H
  8  

Well.
I’m not that gladdened at the news.
“SingaLathIvinukkkOr pAlamaippOm ….” EngE?
“rama sEthu demolition IngE …” pAtavA?
Money in plenty in such ‘civil projects’. @@@@@@ ‘did all’ and @@@@@@r ‘got all’ …
Myself an ordinary Thamizan planning for one or two books on our rich Thamiz heritage.
Sorry for the comments
Regards
–
SHS
===

November 7th, 2009 at 20:58
Subrahmanian S H
  9  

Could you kindly reply …? …

November 7th, 2009 at 21:00
Vijay
  10  

wow, Rhoda - wonderful spotting. Its a really amazing sculpture more beautiful in side profile. The proportions are truly wonderful. A reader has written to me saying these still exist and he would try to get some closeups shortly. Lets hope they are there.

November 8th, 2009 at 12:41
Vijay
  11  

Dear SHS sir,

Understand you feelings, but as a site we talk of constructive things but dont want to personally criticise anyone - so have taken the liberty of editing your comment. Its not out of fear, but more inline with our policy of not offending anyone.

Please do elaborate more on what you say by Planning for a few books on rich tamil heritage.

rgds
vj
rgds
vj

November 8th, 2009 at 12:43
Kathie B.
  12  

I stand corrected. & now can see, Rhoda, that it’s a breast.

November 9th, 2009 at 13:45
Neelima
  13  

WoW! that’s an interesting post now!
Keep posting more such articles.. :)

November 10th, 2009 at 21:31
திருநாவுக்கரசு
  14  

மீண்டும் ஒரு விடுகதையைப் பிடித்திருக்கிறீர்கள் … ஆனால் விடை ?

“இது என்ன சிற்பம்? அது இப்போது எங்கே போனது? யாரிடம் கேட்பது.. யார் பதில் சொல்வார்கள்? ”

அந்த சிலையை யார் குப்புறப் போட்டு துணி துவைக்கிறார்களோ அவர்களுக்கே வெளிச்சம். நம்ம ஊரில் கல் - சிலை-ன்னா என்ன சாமின்னா என்ன. நமக்கு எப்படி பயன்படும் என்று தான் பார்ப்பார்கள். நீங்க போயி photo-வுல இருக்கிற செலயத் தேடிக்கிட்டு .. ..

விடுங்க பாஸ் … இதெல்லாம் நமக்குப் பழக்கமானது தானே, இதுக்குப் போயி பொலம்பலாமா ?

November 12th, 2009 at 12:43
Vijay
  15  

இதுக்குப் போயி பொலம்பலாமா ?” My dear friend, if we don’t voice our concerns even now - at the blatant rape of our cultural assets and assault of our heritage - we are not fit to be sons of this soil

vj

November 16th, 2009 at 11:50
ரமேஷ்
  16  

Great find, Vj. Amazing pictures!

>>f we don’t voice our concerns even now - at the blatant rape of our cultural assets and assault of our heritage - we are not fit to be sons of this soil <<

Could not agree more.

November 18th, 2009 at 20:02
Vamsee
  17  

This feels like a chapter in a Dan Brown thriller. Enough with the mysteriousness, tell us what the answer is!!

November 21st, 2009 at 12:34

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