Pallava Temples: When Artwork was a God in India
THE HINDU
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INDIA - Paintings today are an important decorative element of any temple. In the re-consecration of a temple or building of a new one, the sponsors are keen to have an artist execute geometric figures or incidents from legends associated with the temple on its walls and ceilings. City temples have extra drawings on the walls, not to inspire religious devotion amongst the devotees but in the practical hope of dissuading rubbish from accumulating near the walls. In ancient temples, paintings went beyond the decorative purpose and were actually worshipped. Sadly none of these have survived today. However as temples became symbols of royal authority, mere paintings as deities were considered less sophisticated compared to idols of bronze, wood, stone or stucco. The Pallava dynasty has left us a few examples of their painting. But they are stunning in terms of the power of the line, shading, naturalness, accurate depictions and sheer creativity. [link]
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| The Muchukunda Murals in the Thiagarajaswami Temple, Tiruvarur. |