There was a report in the Hindu News Paper of 20-11-2008, on the damages done to the Vyagrapurisvara temple at Tiruppulivanam - a news which is already known to many, including PS group members.
The section which deals with the ancient paintings in same is extracted and given below.
"......The Vyagrapurisvara temple at Tiruppulivanam, near Uttraramerur, 95 km from Chennai, was one of the three temples in Tamil Nadu where Chola paintings existed. The others where they still exist are the Brihadeesvara temple in Thanjavur and the Vijayalaya Cholisvara temple near Pudukottai.
What stood out were the Chola frescoes, painted perhaps during the rule of Rajendra I, on the northern prakara wall. There were murals of Raja Raja Chola's teacher Karuvur Thevar and of princes, princesses, dancing girls, ponds with lily and lotus flowers and wild animals. These frescoes do not exist today....."
Could you very kindly let me know if you are aware if any enthusiastic person have already photographed these paintings of the above mentioned, before Sand Blasting damage has been done - which if available could be archived in Ponniyin Selvan - Files section for those interested in the study of Chola Paintings to have a glimpse at them.
It will be a great service if any individual could compile the photographs of all the existing Chola period paintings in the Thanjavur Temple, Vijayalaya temple, and if avilable the Thirupullivanam Temple (and any other places ???)painting into a book with their critical study of same with introductory notes, for the benefit of Chola History lovers, and also archive these Photos also in the PS group File section.
Sri PS Sriram of our Group has taken the photographs. I think Plastics Chandra also has it.. I will get details.
regards / sps
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> Dear Sivapathasekaran, > > There was a report in the Hindu News Paper of 20-11-2008, on the > damages done to the Vyagrapurisvara temple at Tiruppulivanam - a news > which is already known to many, including PS group members. > > The section which deals with the ancient paintings in same is > extracted and given below. > > "......The Vyagrapurisvara temple at Tiruppulivanam, near > Uttraramerur, 95 km from Chennai, was one of the three temples in > Tamil Nadu where Chola paintings existed. The others where they still > exist are the Brihadeesvara temple in Thanjavur and the Vijayalaya > Cholisvara temple near Pudukottai. > > What stood out were the Chola frescoes, painted perhaps during the > rule of Rajendra I, on the northern prakara wall. There were murals of > Raja Raja Chola's teacher Karuvur Thevar and of princes, princesses, > dancing girls, ponds with lily and lotus flowers and wild animals. > These frescoes do not exist today....." > > Could you very kindly let me know if you are aware if any enthusiastic > person have already photographed these paintings of the above > mentioned, before Sand Blasting damage has been done - which if > available could be archived in Ponniyin Selvan - Files section for > those interested in the study of Chola Paintings to have a glimpse at > them. > > It will be a great service if any individual could compile the > photographs of all the existing Chola period paintings in the > Thanjavur Temple, Vijayalaya temple, and if avilable the > Thirupullivanam Temple (and any other places ???)painting into a book > with their critical study of same with introductory notes, for the > benefit of Chola History lovers, and also archive these Photos also in > the PS group File section. > > Anbudan - Virarajendra >
Thanking you very much - for your guidance to this section of PS Forum enabling m to see the photos on Chola Paintings. Any thing known of the paintings at Vijayalaya temple Narthamalai as per Hindu News Paper Report.?
I am not a history veteran, all I can do is archive the information posted by you and other history veterans and make it available for public. Sometime back I sent you an email on making some of your article online @ http://www.ponniyinselvan.in/articles-f6/
> > Dr.Kudavayil Balu sir has the photos of Patteeswaram temple > paintings, which again was lost due to Sand blasting. Probably we > can digitize all these treasures and archive it in ponnyinselvan.in >
Hi it reminds me of historian darymple who researched the last days of the mughal empire.
he goes to all parts of north india, searches the archives of pakistan( located in anarkali's tomb ) and searches in the libraries of england where records of the east india company are kept. but he says the best preserved was in burma where all files of bahadur shah's last days were carefully scanned and in pdf format after excellent cross referencing.
i must also add that he writes ' the east india company has records of every hanging in delhi after the mutiny is suppressed" - and adds "perhaps the british are the only community which will keep records of what today can be classified as war crimes"
You said below as "....Probably we can digitize all these treasures and archive it in ponnyinselvan.in...."
This is what exactly I too like to happen or some one to write a book on Chola Paintings (or Murals)with all these Photos incorporated for the benefit of many who are interested in the study of of Chola History.
Cannot a few get to gether from PS Group and insist on all Temple authorities in Tamil Nadu to abstain from sand blasting the old temples to give a new look, thereby damaging the ancient paintings and valuable inscriptions. Also this group should insist that the Granite temples should not be painted, destroying their aesthetic look and giving a cheap look. The Thiruvannaamalai Temple, the Kanchipuram Temple etc with their painted gopurams have destoyed their aesthtic value.
Hope we could work in this direction educating those who are looking afte these temples in this direction. Also Temples under the disguise of renovation - should not have the old manadapas and pillars pulled down to the vims and fancies of the people given authority to carry the renovation of these temples, like what happened at Pullivanam Temple. Even broken pillars during renovation with valuable inscriptions (like at Thanjai Rajarajaeswarem)during renovation should be repaired and preserved in the vicinity of these temples.
It is available in the photos section of our group. Log into the group groups.yahoo.com/ponniyinselvan and then go to pictures section. Plasticschandra
I was very very upset after reading Sriraman's email that the paintings were sand blasted. And now after looking at the photos in files section one more time my heart is bleeding.