Articles The Splendour of Padmanabha Swami Temple by Dr.M.G.Sasibhooshan |
THE
Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple is not only one of the most sacred shrines
of India but also a veritable treasure-house of art and architecture.
Splendid stone sculptures and murals complement the majestic splendour
of the temple architecture which is a fusion of Dravidian and indigenous
styles. |
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In
spite of the temple's arhitectural exuberance there is nothing flamboyant
about the structural edifice but it is one which invokes awe and
humility in the beholder. The deity Sree Padmanabha reposes in yoga
nidra or yogic trance, eyes partially closed and the fingers
of the outstretched right hand forming a chinmudra.(Sri.Ranganathan,
the deity of Srirangam temple near Thiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu
is one that reposes in Bhoganidra.) The sight of this reposing
deity has the power of instilling in the devotee who comes before
him an indescribable peace of the Infinite.
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The
popular method of classifying the wealth of stone sculptures inside
the temple premises is to divide it into three broad categories as
pre-Marthanda Varma, Marthanda Varma and post-Marthanda Varma, taking
the extensive renovative activity during Maharaja Marthanda Varma's
reign as the standard. One of the important pre-Marthanda Varma structures
is the namaskara mandapa in front of the older shrine of Thiruvambadi
Krishnan. There are splendid carvings |
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on the stone pillars of the mandapa which support a highly decorative wooden roof. The sculptures in stone include those of Venugopala Krishnan, Sree Rama, Sree Hanuman as well as the characters of the Kiratarjunaneeyam story and the Vastrapaharana episode from the Bhagavatam. There is a striking similarity between these sculptures and those at the Mahadeva temple in Keralapuram near Thuckalay and the Adikesava temple at Thiruvattar. The stylistic features of both display attempts by the medieval sculptures to grow out of the deep-rooted influences of Pallava and Chola styles of sculptural art. The sculpture of Anusooyadevi, the consort of the Sage Athri is also a beautiful work that deserves mention. Incidently noted historian S. Sanku lyer had identified this sculpture mistakenly as that of a Yakshi, the mythical seductress that haunts over graves. An inscription on a pillar in the mandapa says that the sculptures were done by a Velayudha Perumal Adityan Asari, the son of Sevesha Perumal Sivaraman Asari in the 14 century. The Abhisravana Mandapa and the sculptures therein, particularly those of the Pandavas are a tribute to the glory of the reign of Marthanda Varma. These are remarkable specimens of the fusion of Dravidian sculptural styles with the later Venadu style. The Balikkal mandapa is a fairly large space which is again supported by huge pillars which have various splendid sculptures of Lord Siva, a warrior probably Arjuna, Rathi, the goddess of Love on a Swan, Kamadeva, the god of Love among others and the twelve foot high figure of Sree Hanuman which is also worshipped by devotees. Apart from these there are also the terrifying figures of the guardians of the temple. What is outstanding about these is that despite the lack of irises, the figures seem to gaze back at the onlooker. The Kulasekhara mandapa or Aayiramkal mandapam is indeed a museum of granite sculptures, a palpable visualisation of various dhyana mantras. The construction of this pavilion was initiated by Dharma Raja in 1758 AD for the conduct of elaborate royal rites like Hiranya Garba, etc. The stone roof has the whole Ramayana story carved on its outer edge and from the centre hangs a stone bell from a chain, the two carved from a single piece of granite. A cluster of musical columns support the four corners of the mandapa. The remaining twenty two pillars have carvings all around it with a main figure and lesser figures surrounding it. The most remarkable of these are surely that of four armed yoga Venugopala Krishnan and Ganesha. Smaller sculptures particularly that of Sree Rama entrusting Hanuman with his signet ring are also captivating. The deepakanyakas are also different from others found else where in the temple. These female figures seem to exude greater sensuous appeal. On the whole the Kulasekhara mandapa is a museum of beautiful and priceless icons. |
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Apart
from sculptural art, the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple is also a treasure-house
of murals. The wall paintings found here can also be classified as
belonging to the period of Marthanda Varma and after. The older paintings
can still be seen on the upper portions of the walls of the main shrine
and inside the shrine of Vishwaksenan. The other paintings have been
repainted twice in the last century. |
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