View allAll Photos Tagged India...
This is a 3D image. You will need your red/cyan 3D glasses to enjoy the 3Dness.
The step well in Abhaneri was amazing (and tough to shoot in 3D).
India. New Dellhi, a painting in the interiors of City Palace.
Postcard Indica. Sent from Spain.
Postcrossong ES-38978.
Brahmeswara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, erected at the end of the 9th century CE, is richly carved inside and out. This Hindu temple can be dated with fair accuracy by the use of inscriptions that were originally on the temple. They are now lost, but records of them preserve the information of around 1058 CE. The temple is built in the 18th regnal year of the Somavamsi king Udyotakesari by his mother Kolavati Devi, which corresponds to 1058 CE.
HISTORY
Historians place the temple to belong to the late 11th century as ascertained from an inscription carried to Calcutta from Bhubaneswar. The inscription indicates that the temple was built by Kolavatidevi, the mother of Somavamsi king Udyota Kesari. It was built with four Natyasalas at a place known as Siddhatirtha in Ekamra (modern day Bhubaneswar). The inscription was recorded during the 18th renal year of Udyotha Kesari, corresponding to 1060 CE. Since the inscription is not in its original place, historians indicate the possibility of the reference to another temple, but based on the location and other features specified, it is ascertained that the inscription belongs to the temple. Also, another issue raised by Panigrahi is that the four cardinal temples are Angasalas (associate temples) and not Natyasalas (dance halls) as indicated in the inscription.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple is classified as a panchatanaya temple where apart from the main shrine, there are four subsidiary shrines in the four corners around the temple. The temple on account of its later origin, has perfectly developed structure compared to its predecessors. The vimana of the temple is 18.96 m tall. The temple is built with traditional architectural methods of wood carving, but applied on stone building. The buildings were built in a shape of full volume pyramid, and then they would be carved inside and outside.The basic structure of the Orissan temple has two connecting buildings. The smaller is the Jagmohana, or assembly hall. Behind it is the Shikhara, the towering sanctuary. Later temples have two additional halls in front - one for dancing, and the other for banquets.
The Brahmeswara shows quite a bit of affinity with the much earlier Mukteswar Temple, including the carved interior of the Jagmohana, and in the sculptural iconography such as the lion head motif, which appeared for the first time in the Mukteswara, and is here evident in profusion. There are quite a number of innovations, however, including the introduction of a great number of musicians and dancers, some holding lutes, on the exterior walls. For the first time in temple architectural history iron beams find their first use.
On sandstone walls there are symbolic decorations and the notion of godlike figures that helps the believer in his meditation. The carvings over the door frame contain beautiful flower designs as well as flying figures. Like the Rajarani, there are images of the eight directional Guardian Deities. There are also quite a number of tantric-related images, and even Chamunda appears on the western facade, holding a trident and a human head, standing on a corpse. Shiva and other deities are also depicted in their horrific aspects.
One of the lost inscriptions stated that a Queen Kolavati presented 'many beautiful women' to the temple, and it has been suggested that this is an evidence of the 'Devadasi' tradition, which assumed such importance in later Orissan temple architecture and temple life.
WIKIPEDIA
I just got back from Beautiful India. It was aftre my last trip from India 6.5 years ago that I first opened my Flickr account to share some magical India shots :D Here are a few of my favourite shots from this trip.
UCMAS – India always had a special focus to offer Abacus Education to children from economically backward families, orphans and the have-nots and hence initiated action towards this objective to start training centres tying up with NGOs. World Vision, India was the first to come forward and through their program they had initiated Abacus Education to the children of Tsunami affected families in the Tamil Nadu Coastal towns post year-2004. UCMAS India understanding the role they needed to play in the yeomen service to benefit these children provided Licensed centres, training to Course Instructors, material such as Abacus, books, etc., all at concessional prices Children in these centres do not pay fees, World Vision and UCMAS – India support each other in this project. More such plans are in the offing.
Uttar Pradesh, India, Holi Eve, Holika Dahan, fire, bonfire, children, street, night, late, Canon 5D_MG_0574
Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, India
A somber memorial dedicated to victims of some horrible atrocities committed by the british government in India.
Gujarat violence: Communal riot: Arsonists take to the streets of Ahmedabad on Thursday in retaliation for the attack on the Sabarmati Express in Godhra on Wednesday. The issue of covering violence ... how much to show. *********************** Mobs burn materials in a street of Ahmadabad, India, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, a day after at least 58 people were killed in a train attack by a Muslim mob in the Indian state of Gujarat. The city of Ahmadabad was besieged by violence on Thursday to avengethe attack. (AP Photo/Siddharth Darshan Kumar)