TAMILNADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION CHENNAI - 600005 MINI PROJECT SCHEME STUDENT MINI PROJECT OF GOVERNMENT ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGES Submitted by P.SUGANYA 2017 - 2018 (D.O.RC.NO.745/2017A) PROJECT TITLE HISTORY AND ART OF RAMASAMY TEMPLE AT KUMBAKONAM A STUDY GUIDE BY Dr.A.KARKHUZHALI ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY KUNTHAVAI NACCHIYAR GOVT ARTS COLLEGE FOR WOMEN THANJAVUR - 7. UTILIZATION CERTIFICATE This is to certify that Rs.15.000/ - (Fifteen Thousands only) has been spent toward s the implementation of the student mini Research project for Tamil Nadu state council Government Arts and Science Colleges (D.O.RC.NO.745/2017A) entitled History and Art of Ramasamy temple at Kumbakonam approved by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Educations. STUDENT GUIDE HOD PRINCIPAL TAMIL NADU STATE COUNCIL FOR HIGHER EDUCATION CHENNAI – 600005. 1 Reference No. and Date (D.O.RC.NO.745/2017A) 2 Name of the principal P.Suganya investigator Dr.A.KARKHUZHALI 3 Guide Assistant Professor of History East Street, yusaf 4 Communication Address Colony, Papanasam (Po), Thanjavur – 614205. Cell .No. 9080601894 9600464266 PG& Research Department of History, 5 Institution Address Kunthavai Naachiyar Govt Arts College for Women (Autonomous) Thanjavur – 613007. “ History and Art of 6 Title of the Project Ramasamy temple at Kumbakonam ” 7 Sector HISTORY 8 Date of Implementation 18.2.2017 9 Tenure of the Project 18.2.2017 to 30.2.2018 10 Project Submit 02.04.2018 To: Student Mini Project: D.O.RC.NO.745/2017A Date of Starting Project: 18.12.2017 Date of Completion of Project: 02.04.2018 Name of the Students Mini Project: History of art of Ramasamy temple at Kumbakonam a study . EXPENDITURE: SANCTION AMOUNT: 15,000/ S.No. Heads Amount Total 1 Book’s 2000 2000 2 Travel/Field Work 4000 4000 3 Photos 2000 2000 4 DTP Work 5000 5000 5 Accomantation 3000 3000 Total 15,000/ CONTENT PAGE NO S.NO. 1 INTRODUCTION 1 – 5 2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 6 – 10 3 VAISHNAVISM OF DASHAVATAR 11 – 28 4 LAYOUT AND ARCHITECTURAL FORMAT 29 – 39 5 SCULPTURES IN STONE 40 – 51 6 WOOD CARVINGS 52 – 56 7 PAINTINGS 57 – 66 8 CONCLUSION 67 – 70 BIBLIOGRAPHY 71 – 77 APPENDIX - 1 ILLUSTRATIONS INTRODUCTION Ramasamy temple is situated in Kumbakonam. The one of the best architecture is in Ramasamy temple. It contains Art, Sculpture of wooden carves of many more things in it. but it is described in brief. It contains five chapters, Noorpatiyal of diagrammatic representation. LOCATION Kumbakonam is a town in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu. Kumbakonam is located 273km south of Chennai, 90 km east of Tiruchirappalli and about 40 km north - east of Thanjavur. The town is bounded by two rivers, the Kaveri River on the north and Arasalar river on the south. There is gentle slope from north of the town to south. Located in the southern region of India in Tamil Nadu, at 10.97N, 79.38E. 273 km South of Chennai, 96 km East of Tiruchirappalli, 40 km North east of Thanjavur. 313 km East of Ciombatore, 385 km South west of Banglore, 18 km. WEATHER IN KUMBAKONAM Kumbakonam experiences both hot and pleasant climate in different seasons. Sum mers (March to May) are dry and hot with temperature in the range of 320cto 380c, Tourist prefer to a void hot daysb in April and May. Monsoons (June to September) are accompanied with medium rainfalls. The place is beauti ful in rains and offers some relief from the hot atmosphere. Winters (December to February) are pleasant with moderate temperatures in a range of 20 ˚ C to 26 ˚ C. 1 Best Season to visit Kumbakonam is October to March. June to September is humid but pleasant with moderate temperature and suitable for temple visits. October to March is perfectly ideal for religious visits and all kinds of tourist activities. There is retrieving rain Kumbakonam in December also. Thus make necessary arrangements for the weather. One should carry umbrellas and raincoats. Summers are quite harsh thus preparations must be done according to that. It is very important to book AC rooms during this weather. Kumbakonam, known as the kasha on Cauvery, is a picturesque temple town located in the Cauvery river basin. It occupies a unique position in H i ndu Myth and legend, because of the invaluable inscription, iconography and religious architecture. The city of kumbakonam is a traditionally rich city, where the modern globalization has not yet affected the culture of the people. People here are still in touch to the traditions their ancestors followed many thousands of years ago. Located in the Southern region of Tamil Nadu, one can reach Kumbakonam easily from Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli or Chennai. Kumbakonam is known for its temple architecture and epigraphy. The city origin ated as a religious city, with areas like Kumbeshwara Temple and Mahamaham Tank in the core of the city. Kumbakonam was also the capital of the historically import ant Chola dynasty who ruled the region during the medieval period. They built many important temples in and around the city. Kumbakonam is known for its temple architecture and epigraphy. The city originated as a religious city, with areas like Kumbes hwara and Mahamaham 2 Tank in the core of the city. The town occupies a unique position in the Hindu Myth and legend, because of the invaluable inscription, iconography and religious architecture. This is the place where Lord Shiva broke the pot of creatio n preserved by Brahma. Thus it has a very important place in Hindu mythology. Also it is the centre for the Navagraha temples pilgrim. The city celebrates the great Mahamaham festival, once in 12 years which is an equivalent to the Kumbha festival of north . It attracts large number of crowd and is a very important festival for people in South India. During the time of british rule, it became the prominent centre of European education and Hindu culture; and thus was commonly referred to as the Cambridge of south India. It has been an established economic centre for trade and commerce and arts and crafts. Bronze tradition is one of the oldest living tradition here. Last wax technique is still used to create master pieces which is a unique piece of beautiful art and heritage. Silk is another important trade of the people in Kumbakonam. They are very famous in whole of South India and are called Thanjavur silk sarees. Brassware, specially p uja utensils, lamps etc, are all produced here, and Kumbakonam supplies it to the entire South Indian region. Kumbakonam is also the birth place of the great mathematician Srinivas Ramanuja. His house is now converted into a museum. Raja Veda Pathsthala in Kumbakonam is 400 yrs old in which 1000s of scholar get their knowledge based on Sanskrit. Today Kumbakonam is a special grade municipality of the Thanjavur dis trict. The temples in the town are all living except for few. Manu are under the heritage foundation and are bring conserved, where as many are maintained 3 by the locals. These temples are the soul of the city and because there are so many the city is called the temple town. THE STHALA PURANAM Making of the city Kumbakonam is associated with the cosmognic myth of Shiva as “Adikumbeshwara” or “Lord of the Pot” As per the myth,” the creator (Brahma) seeks to preserve the most precious things from destruction, which completes a cosmic cyc le. So, he places the Hindu scriptures and the seed of creation in a golden pot, which floats south on the cosmic flood, till it is shattered by Shiva’s arrow who disguished as a hunter. There by, releasing the embroyonic amrita (nectar), which flows and congests to form Kumbakonam’s tanks and temples, marking the start of a new creation. The Banupurishvara temple, for example, marks the spot where Shiva launched his arrow, while the place where the pot was ruptured is celebrated today as Adikumbeshwara Temple. The two holy tanks of Kumbakonam, Mahamaham tank and Pottramarai tank, are considered the most sacred and beautiful, as the tie up with the legend – “they are the pools of nectar that fell from Shiva’s pot of creation. The Tamils were tradition ally noted for their belief in God. The ancient Tamilagam was classified into five regions viz., Kurinji, Marudam, Mullai, Neydal and Palai. Murugan, Tirumal, Indiran were the presiding deities of ancient Tamil people. The idea of God began to emerge when man realized that there is a supreme power. The Upanishads emerged when the people came to know about God. The Kaviyas were the explanation of Vedhas. The smaller deities 4 mentioned in Vedas were raised on the Peeda and became as supreme God. The co - exist ence of Bagavan and Tirumal together emerged into Vaishnavism. Alvars and Nayanmars. It was divided into six sects namely Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktham, Kanapadhtyam, Kowmaram and Souram. Vaisnavism is one of the divisions of Hinduism. In one Yugam or Kal pa all Anukkal came from him only and ends with him by the end of the Yugam. He only protect the world. So he os called as Jaganathan or head of the world. He is called by various names like, Kannan, Perumal, Govindan, Kesavan, Narayanan, Madavan, Madhusud hanan, Dhamodharan, Padhbanabhan, Thurivikramman, Greedharan, Vamanan . The Vaisnavist worshipped Visnu as their supreme God. They also worshipped Laxmi, wife of Visnu and Hanuman. The meaning for ‘Vaisnavism’ is one who have mercy heart and could not toler ate other’s sorrows. Kumbakonam a leading Municipal town of the present Thanjavur district, occupies a significant place in the history of Tamilnadu and it is known for its name and fame for Hinduism.