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Rishi Agastya- stone carving, Hampi

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  Agastya was a respected Hindu sage. In Indian tradition, he is a notable recluse and an accomplished scholar in many languages of the Indian subcontinent, and he is credited with creating the Dravidian language, Tamil-the world's second oldest surviving language after Sanskrit. He also made significant developments to Ayurveda and Jyotish Vidya.

Chola architecture

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Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Thanjavur  

Ramayan through carvings (2)

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  Rama pierces seven tress through one arrow from Hoysaleswara temple, Halebidu The monkey king Vali could only be killed by the person who pierces 7 trees with one single arrow, so, when Lord Rama agreed to kill Vali, Sugriva challenged Rama to prove whether he truly was the one destined to end his brother's (Vali) life.

Ramayana through carvings

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  Hazara Rama temple, Hampi This magnificent carving in the Hazara Rama temple delineate's the wedding of Lord Rama to Goddess Sita and of his brothers, Bharata, Lakshmana, Shatrughan to Goddess Sita's sisters, Mandvi, Urmila and Shrutakirthi respectively. Such intricacy and attention to detail can only be seen in Hampi, which was the capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom.  The most magnificent and perplexing moment occurred when I closely examined the Yajñōpaviīa thread found on the carvings of the four brothers. The three younger brothers' threads are all oriented to the left, but Lord Rama's thread is directed to the right. Could this be explained by the fact that Lord Rama was Lord Vishnu's incarnation? Was it because he was the oldest child? Or was it just etched to distinguish between the brothers' identities? Only the carver could have answered this question, because  after all, it is his interpretation that causes the confusion. But sadly, this carver exis

Exquisite carvings from Mahabalipuram- 2

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  Descent of the Ganges This carving on 2 monolith rock boulders depicts the story of how King Bhagiratha requested goddess Ganga to flow on earth and liberate his ancestors. Vishnu temple, Mammallapuram  The interiors of this temple contains phenomenal carvings of Lord Krishna lifting mount Govardhan

Exquisite carvings from Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu - 1

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  Ananta Shayana pose of Lord Vishnu, Mamallapuram

Apsara sculpture, Beluru- Chennakeshava Temple

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  Closely notice the smaller gandharva* near the apsara's left foot as well as the lizard to the left side of the apsara. Gandharva:  member of a class of celestial beings Source: photo taken by myself while visiting  Chikmagalur,  Halebidu and Beluru
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  Vamana Avatara - Channakeshava temple,Beluru