*Big Temple gears up for gala event * G.Srinivasan * Replicas of the 60-foot Vimana and Nandhi Mandapam in the making * . — Photo: M. SRINATH
* artistic touch:Clay models being made for millennium celebrations of the Big Temple *
THANJAVUR: Besides singing the glory of King Raja Raja Cholan and the Big Temple, Millennium celebrations of the Big Temple to be held here on September 25 and 26 will make people relive the Chola days .
Nearly 200 artists and skilled workers, mostly from cine field , are working day and night on the Armed Police grounds at Thanjavur to recreate the Big temple on stage. The stage will be set in the form of Big temple, complete with replicas of the 60 ft high Vimana, Nandhi Mandapam and Walls of the temple. While Vimana will form the centre stage, on either side will be works that will take people back to the Chola period. King Raja Raja Cholan will be riding on an elephant surrounded by his ministers and followed by soldiers on one side. Clay models of the elephant, King Raja Raja Cholan, ministers and warriors are in the making at the grounds. "After preparing the clay model, the soil will be removed, the mould will be cast with Plaster of Paris (POP) and will be painted later " said J.P.Krishna, art director who is in charge of creating the stage. Nearly 20 to 30 Nandhis in POP has been prepared. They will be put on the walls of the temple to be erected. "All these workers have rich experience. They worked for the World Classical Tamil conference at Coimbatore. So they can do the wok easily. But rain god has to help us. Time is up and we have to complete all the works by September 23" said Mr.Krishna. "The stage will give a look as if the Chief Minister is sitting in the Nandhi Mandapa of the temple" he said.
Palace grounds near Sangeetha Mahal is another hub of activity . Exhibition of rare objects will be held here. Mr.Krishna is involved in putting up fifteen huge stalls for the purpose and erecting a fort like entrance. Nearly 200 workers are working on it. Bronzes and stone sculptures from the Icon Centre at the Thyagarajaswamy temple at Tiruvarur, Museum at Chennai, Museum at Raja Rajan Mandimandapam at Thanjavur and Art gallery at Thanjavur sculptures-Gajasamharar-(Slaying of elephant demon by Lord Siva), Dwarabalakar will be displayed in the exhibition. Gajasambarar was brought from Darasuram to the gallery. It belongs to the period of Raja Raja two (1145 A.D.-1165 A.D.), Gajasamharar is a beautiful piece of art work in which Lord Siva comes out ferociously from the stomach of the Gajamuha demon with Parvathi watching the scene with horror. The face of the sculpture depicts ferocity on one side and smiling face on the other half to please and pacify Parvathi and free her from fear.
Besides these all stone temples built by the Chola kings will also be displayed in the exhibition. This includes the Big temple built by King Raja Raja Cholan at Thanjavur, Irawatheswaraswamy Temple at Darasuram built by King Raja Raja II, Gangaikondacholapuram temple built by Rajendra Cholan and Thirubuvanam temple built by Kulothunga Cholan. Six ft high photos of all these temples will be displayed in the exhibition.
http://www.poetryinstone.in “*Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man*” – Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore