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Kamal Bharathi

@kamal_archives

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Uncovering the sacred soul of Tamil Nadu—temples, deities, sculptures & untold stories.
History in stone. Devotion in frame.

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NATARAJA

Provenance: Kunniyur, Thanjavur district.

Period : Circa 12th Century AD.

⚜️He wears a small jata makuta, which has the usual crescent moon, flower, skull etc. The third eye is prominent. The left ear has a patra kundala while the right has none.

⚜️The skandha-mala is present in the right shoulder whereas it is absent in the left shoulder. He wears the usual ornaments etc. There are no jatas, which usually adorn the headdress.

#nataraja #natesha #egmoremuseum #bharatanatyam #bharatham #madurai #bronze #sculpture #pandyas #pandya #natesa #kamal_archives #narthanam #shiva #natarajasana #dance #classicaldance #bharatanatyam #god #lordshiva #indianclassical #bliss #nature #chidambaram #dancersoninstagram #mahadev #danceofinstagram #dancemode #danclove taken in Egmore museum by @kamal_archives

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3 years ago

@kamal_archives Shiva and Umaiammai

⚜️Lord Shiva and Umaiammai are in lalitasana over the base relief on the right side of the rockcut temple.

⚜️The rock cut cave temple was built during 8th century by Nandhivarman. The front mandapam later extended by Pandyas.

📍Kunrandar Rock-cut Cave Temple near Pudukkottai, Pudukkottai

#rockcut #pallava #nandhivarman #kunrandavar #pudhukottai #puthukottai #pandya #shiva
#kamal_archives taken in Puthukottai by @kamal_archives

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2 years ago

Lord Murugan, Avani Gandarva Eshwaram Keezhaiyur -Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu

⚜️Murugan is majestically standing upon decorative pedestal adoring Sanna Veeram, Udharabandha, Karanda Makuta, Pathra Kundalam.

⚜️Rear hands in left Murugan holding Vajrayudham & in Right Sakthi Ayudham (Vel/Spear)

⚜️Keezhaiyur was part of the capital city of Pazhuvettaraiyar chieftains, subordinates to the Chola kings. In this Avanigandarva Eswara gruham complex, houses two temples with all sub shrines. According to the inscriptions, the temple in the north is called Vadavayil Srikoil -Chozheecharam and the one on the south Thenvayil Srikoyil-Agatheeswaram.

⚜️These temples were constructed by the Pazhuvettaraiyar chieftains, Kumaran Kandan and Kumaran Maravan (9th century CE). These temples are excellent examples of the Early Chola architecture

⚜️As per the inscriptions this place was called as Manni Perum Pazhuvur and Avani Kantharvapuram, in Kundra Kootrathu Avani Kantharvapuram. Avani Kantharvapuram was established for Merchants. The temple complex was called as Avanikantharva Eswaram, in the name of a Pazhuvettaraiyar with the title of Avani Kantharvan. He also holds the titles of Gangamarthandan, Kaliyuga Nirmoolan, Maravan Malathalan, Araiyarkal Araivuli.

Description @vijaybhat89

#kamal_archives #OurCultureOurPride #incredibleindia #discoverindia #tamilnadu #templephotography #templesofindia #ancienttemple #ancientcivilization #tamilnadutourism #findingtemples #indiantourism #templearchitecture #travelphotography #tamil #discovertamilnadu #mygovindia #culture #thamizh #travelindia #muruga #vel #velan #kandhan #ariyalur #tamilnadu #karthikeya #karthikeyan taken in Melapalur by @kamal_archives

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2 years ago

Vinayagar Sannadhi | Sengunam, Perambalur

A small Vinayagar shrine at the Arulmigu Thiruparameshwarar Temple, built with stone masonry at the lower level and brick with lime mortar above.

Loss of plaster, weathered brickwork, vegetation growth, open joints and fallen architectural elements indicate its fragile condition. The exposed layers also reveal the traditional materials and construction techniques hidden within the structure.

Though small in scale, such shrines are valuable records of traditional craftsmanship and deserve careful documentation and conservation.

#heritage #documentation #vaayil #travel #photography
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@knowtemples @indialostandfound @lost_temples @secret_temples @tntourismoffcl @ministryofculturegoi @tourismgoi taken in Perambalur by @kamal_archives

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22 days ago

What does a temple inscription reveal about the size of a medieval district?
ஒரு கோயில்… ஒரு அளவுகோல்… ஒரு வரலாறு!

📍 Thalapureeswarar Temple, Thirupanangadu (Thiru Vanparthan Panangattur), Thiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu

A quiet temple with a surprisingly rich stone archive. Here, an inscription records the length of the measuring rod used in the district—with a palmyra tree carved at either end. And that is only the beginning.

Highlights you should not miss:
✦ A Name in Stone — The inscription identifies the deity as Aludaiyar Tiruppanangavudaiya-Nayanar and the place as Tiruppanangadu.
✦ A District Measured in Stone — An inscription records the length of the district’s measuring rod, with a palmyra carved at each end.
✦ Cut the Palmyra, Face Punishment — A royal order warns that cutting a living palmyra tree was punishable.
✦ Dakshinamurti, But Not as You Expect — Look closely: the unusual folded-leg posture with Nandi below makes this sculpture stand apart.
✦ Twin Shrines • Gajaprishta • Thevaram — Thalapureeswarar & Krupanatheswarar, two Shiva shrines with Gajaprishta vimanas, form a Thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Thirupanangadu was known historically as Thiru Vanparthan Panangattur and is praised by Sundarar in the Thevaram tradition.

🚶‍♂️ Don’t Just Visit. Walk Into History.
📲 For details & bookings: Call / WhatsApp 79049 40981
Walk with us on our heritage walks, read the stories written in stone, and experience the history beyond the usual tourist trail.

Our next Kanchi Heritage Trip is on October 2 — and this historic temple is part of our trail. 🛕
Block your dates. Join Chithiram Pesuthada.

#ChithiramPesuthada #SureshPriyan #Thirupanangadu #Thalapureeswarar #Thiruvannamalai Chithiram Pesuthada, Suresh Priyan, Thirupanangadu, Thiruppanangadu, Thalapureeswarar Temple, Thalapuriswarar Temple, Krupanatheswarar Temple, Thiru Vanparthan Panangattur, Thiruvannamalai heritage, Tamil Nadu temples, Chola inscriptions, Vijayanagara inscriptions, temple architecture, Gajaprishta vimana, Dakshinamurthy, Thevaram temples, South Indian inscriptions, heritage walks, Sapthasthana heritage trip taken in Thalapureeswarar Temple by @kamal_archives

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a month ago

Isometric cut drawing of Amman shrine of Arulmigu Bhavaneshwarar Temple, Ponpethi, near Pudukkottai.

Drawing: @ragulravichandran

Built with stone, this small shrine shows the beauty of traditional Tamil temple architecture. The stone pillars, walls, and detailed corbelling work of vimana tell us about the skill of the craftsmen who built it.
Due to the root penetration and the vegetation growing in the temple, the external stones started moving and dislocating its position.

Today, the shrine is surrounded by plants and shows signs of neglect. But its beauty and history are still visible.

Every old stone has a story. Our responsibility is to document, understand, and protect these places for future generations.

📍 Ponpethi, near Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu

#vaayil #heritage #documentation #photograph #traveldiaries

@toffuco @tourismgoi @tn_archaeology @tntourismoffcl @tnmuseumsdept @asi.goi @intach_heritage @unescoindia @icomos_india @letsshowitbetter @savaniheritage taken in Avudaiyarkovil by @kamal_archives

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a month ago

Let the auspicious occasion of #ganeshchaturthi brings joy in everyone's life

Sharing the Lord Ganesha iconography on the 775 CE completed Sisireswara Temple in the Ekamra Kshetra of Bhubaneswar, Odisha

#lordganesh #ganpatibappa #odishatourism #odisha taken in Old Town Bhubaneswar by @kamal_archives

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a month ago

🙏 Vinayagar Chaturthi | A Ganesha carved in stone, a story carved in time.

At the Rock Fort, Tiruchirappalli, stands a remarkable rock-cut Ganesha (Vinayagar)—unique among the rock-cut caves of Tamil Nadu.

Carved in a standing posture, Vinayagar wears traditional ornaments including the Sarapalli and Yagnopavitha, with two attendants/devotees standing beside him. His broken tusk and distinctive proportions add to the sculpture’s individuality.

🏛️ The cave is attributed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to the Pandya period, around the 8th century CE. Yet its Pallava-like pillars and architectural features have led scholars, including Dr. R. Kalaikovan, to suggest a possible Pallava-period origin.

Nearly 1,300 years later, this enigmatic Ganesha continues to remind us that Tamil Nadu’s stones preserve histories that scholars are still uncovering.

🐘 On this Vinayagar Chaturthi, celebrating not just Ganesha—but the extraordinary heritage of Tamilakam.

#VinayagarChaturthi #Vinayagar #Ganesha #Pillayarpatti #RockCutTemple by @kamal_archives

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a month ago

1,500 years ago, Vinayagar looked like this!
1500 ஆண்டுகளைக் கடந்த மூத்த பிள்ளையார்!

Hidden in Alagramam, Villupuram, is the remarkable Mootha Pillaiyar of Yama Dhandeeswarar Temple.

Two arms.
A staff in one hand.
His broken tusk in the other.
And beneath him — three lines of ancient Tamil inscription.

Palaeographically dated to the 4th-6th centuries CE, this rare sculpture bears early Tamil Vattezhuthu and is described as the earliest known Vinayagar sculpture from Tamil Nadu.

A forgotten masterpiece that takes us back to the early history of Vinayagar worship in Tamil country.

🔥 The Mootha Pillaiyar — one of Tamil Nadu’s oldest known Vinayagars.

🙏 May this ancient Pillaiyar remove our obstacles, bring wisdom to our thoughts, and strength to every new beginning.

விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி நல்வாழ்த்துகள்!

#AlagramamVinayagar #VinayagarChaturthi #TamilHeritage #AncientTamilNadu #ChithiramPesuthada Vinayagar Chaturthi, Vinayagar Chaturthi 2026, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Vinayagar, Vinayaka, Lord Ganesha, Ganesha, Ganesha Chaturthi, Pillaiyar, Pillaiyar Chaturthi, Tamil Nadu Vinayagar, Ancient Vinayagar, Alagramam Vinayagar, Mootha Pillaiyar, Alagramam Mootha Pillaiyar, Yama Dhandeeswarar Temple, Tamil heritage, Ancient Tamil Nadu, Tamil temple, Tamil Nadu temples, Chithiram Pesuthada taken in Alagrammam by @kamal_archives

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a month ago

A Forgotten Shrine in Ponpethi.

This is the Amman shrine of Arulmigu Bhavaneshwarar Temple, Ponpethi, near Pudukkottai.

Built with stone, this small shrine shows the beauty of traditional Tamil temple architecture. The stone pillars, walls, and detailed corbelling work of vimana tell us about the skill of the craftsmen who built it.
Due to the root penetration and the vegetation growing in the temple, the external stones started moving and dislocating its position.

Today, the shrine is surrounded by plants and shows signs of neglect. But its beauty and history are still visible.

Every old stone has a story. Our responsibility is to document, understand, and protect these places for future generations.

📍 Ponpethi, near Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu

#vaayil #heritage #documentation #photograph #traveldiaries taken in Avudaiyarkovil by @kamal_archives

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a month ago

This photograph captures a finely detailed, monolithic stone statue of 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢—𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐥 and mount (vahana) of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva—seated inside a traditional stone temple mandapa (hall) of Virupaksha Temple at 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐤𝐤𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.

#pattadakal #aihole #karnatakatourism #chalukya #incredibleindia taken in Pattadakal Heritage Site(Temples) by @kamal_archives

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2 months ago

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 (also known as Changdeva Temple) is an ancient Shiva temple located in Saswad, near Pune, Maharashtra. Associated with the famous 13th-century Natha-yogi Saint Changdev Maharaj, it combines spiritual heritage with classic medieval stone architecture.

#saswad #templesofindia #maharashtra #maharashtratourism #incredibleindia taken in पुण्यभुमी सासवड by @kamal_archives

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2 months ago