Posts Tagged ‘Rock cut cave’

Aug

Have you been to Ajanta?

Having given you a birds eye view of Ellora, cant have ajanta pending. A study of ajanta would take a lifetime….immortalised by Author kalki in his famous work Sivagamiyin Sabhatham…the oldest paintings and stone craft of India is a visual spectacle unsurpassed. A vision so grand that everything else will pale in this splendor.

Before we step in and drink in the splendid sights, lets get a bird’s eye view. What tranquil surroudings chosen by the Buddhist monks to parade their skills. The pristine natural surroundings set off well against the carvings of man…loo behold…here comes ajanta..

A lasting effort in stone, yet forgotten in our hearts

Kalugu malai or vettuvan koil…where is this place. For those of you who have visited Ellora Kailasantha temple these pictures may seem vaguely familiar…this is a unique effort of early pandya rock cut temple…its in tuticorin district, in a small place near Kovilpatti….to the uninitiated …you may ask what’s so special..simple, it’s a monolith … carved out of the face of mountain side….Now see the pictures and the detailing once more.

Such a stupendous effort - carved top down, to the last detail….a superlative effort, but sadly few locals know of this monument. Such a great craft has been forgotten, so too are their amazing creations. Sadly no amount of crying is going to bring back this artform to life, at least lets learn to properly appreciate them. This is the only service we can do to the unknown sculptor…..