THANJAVUR: A unique sculpture of a dancing girl bearing “Thalaikol” has been identified by Dr. Kudavayil Balasubramanian of Thanjavur, who is doing research pertaining to sculptures belonging to Chola period.
Thalaikkol is a reward presented to an expert female dancer by the king. This sculpture is seen in a pillar of Darasuram Iravateeswarar temple. According to Balasubramanian, in Silapathikaram, Ilago Adigal mentions the name “Thalaikkol Taanam” as the stage in which the dance is performed. The dancing girl, who has mastered the different dance forms received the honour in the form of Thalaikkol. The Thalaikkol is wrought of the wooden shaft of the royal umbrella abandoned by the enemy king during his withdrawal from the battlefield or from a bamboo cut from the enemy’s jungle. The Thalaikkol is covered by gold plate, embedded with gems. Holy water is applied to it. It is symbolic of Jayanthan, son of Indra. It is taken in procession on the back of a royal tusker. Eventually it is displayed in the dancing forum and rituals are made to it. After the arangetram of the dancer, if the experts approve her performance, the Thalaikkol will be awarded to her with the title "Thalaikkoli". In Silapathikaram, the event of awarding of Thalaikkol to Madhavi is described. “We can witness the sculpture of the da http://www.poetryinstone.in Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man