On the way to Kulithalai, I went to Allur Sivan temple. Its an ancient Chola temple with lots of Kalvettu. it looks like abandonned. I loved these two Dwarapalakas. They show that they have been made during early Chola period since it has a Pallava touch in it.
Thanks for your email. How I started comparing the statues of Pallavas with that of Cholas is that:
1. Dwarapalakas of Pallavas are thin whereas Cholas are broad. 2. The faces will be in oval shape with pallava sculptures. In cholas it will be round and broad.
I think these are the major differences in Pallava & Chola scupltures.
Kathie would love this discussion. Anyways she can catch up when she is back home.
Pallava temples can be easily distinguished by the trademark somaskanda panel ( sou - with , uma and skanda)in the rear of the sanctum.
In terms of door guradians and not restricting to door guardians alone, pallava sculpture had a lazy elegance, can't find the right words ...maybe can quote from cricket.... Like viv richards walking in with his arrogant exaggerated swagger. The postures are not in anyway threatening but more like mocking, they are almost certainly on side profile ( which by itself is an achivement for that time. To be able to sculpt the feet like that..hmm how to explain, take khmer angkorian sculpture for instance, u will find even later sculptures with both feet pointing at a awkward angle). The best feature of pallava door guradians is the way they seem to hold their massive weapons... With the least effort ( check my post on mangadapttu on www.poetryinstone.in what a mace post) you would mostly find them with minimal clothing, jewellery and using playing with snakes.
Compared to this, chola door guardians are using the same yardstick, like mathew hayden ..m massive, imposing, rigid. Creating a sense of awe and fear with their bulging eyes. They are more like gripping their weapons ready to strike. Plus they seem to have a myriad of creatures under them incl snake, rat, lizard, owl etc in sri's current selection. Ornamentation is more profound with crowns gaining prominence along with elaborate waist cloth, arm bands etc.
Later pandya the ornamentation takes more precedence than style with elaborate crowns etc
Maybe I will try and feature them all shortly. But my vote on anything related to stone sculpture is always with the pallavas.
Hi Vijay i have seen from some of your forwards that the pallava edifices often resemble huts did the transformation occur from the pallavas
could you give a list of a few existing pre pallava structures?
venketesh
> Hi venkat > > Kathie would love this discussion. Anyways she can catch up when she is back home. > > Pallava temples can be easily distinguished by the trademark somaskanda panel ( sou - with , uma and skanda)in the rear of the sanctum. > > In terms of door guradians and not restricting to door guardians alone, pallava sculpture had a lazy elegance, can't find the right words ...maybe can quote from cricket.... Like viv richards walking in with his arrogant exaggerated swagger. The postures are not in anyway threatening but more like mocking, they are almost certainly on side profile ( which by itself is an achivement for that time. To be able to sculpt the feet like that..hmm how to explain, take khmer angkorian sculpture for instance, u will find even later sculptures with both feet pointing at a awkward angle). The best feature of pallava door guradians is the way they seem to hold their massive weapons... With the least effort ( check my post on mangadapttu on www.poetryinstone.in what a mace post) you would mostly find them with minimal clothing, jewellery and using playing with snakes. > > Compared to this, chola door guardians are using the same yardstick, like mathew hayden ..m massive, imposing, rigid. Creating a sense of awe and fear with their bulging eyes. They are more like gripping their weapons ready to strike. Plus they seem to have a myriad of creatures under them incl snake, rat, lizard, owl etc in sri's current selection. Ornamentation is more profound with crowns gaining prominence along with elaborate waist cloth, arm bands etc. > > Later pandya the ornamentation takes more precedence than style with elaborate crowns etc > > Maybe I will try and feature them all shortly. But my vote on anything related to stone sculpture is always with the pallavas. > > Rgds > Vj >
You can also add the mockery of the Pallava lion pillars, which always makes me feel that we can never be able to get anyone to recreate them anymore. They laugh at our insolence and pride.
Dear Shriram, Thanks for those photos. The Allur Sivan door guardians are really great-- My favorite kind of thing. Hope someone will clean them so the details will be easier to see. What's Kalvettu? You know, even after looking at so much sculpture, I haven't taken the time to sort out Pallava, Chozha and Pandya styles. I really should think about it. About Pallava slimness : think of the slim -possibly portrait- sculptures on Nageshwar Kovil at Kumbakonam, they are Chozha aren't they ? Just 'thinking out loud. . .' Kathie
Keeping in mind we have Non-Tamil knowing - but Tamil History loving members amongst us, we will try to put English word also ( where necessary ) to enable them understand quickly and easily.