ARISE AND AWAKE....TIME HAS COME. -- J.K SIVAN .
WE Repeatedly come to know of the damage caused to our ancient temples and holy places constructed very happily by the kings and our ancestors many centuries ago. These temples and holy places were meant mainly for our welfare and righteous way of life. Unfortunately we have neglected them and spend o
Everyday we hear, see and read about damages caused to our temples, theft of our invaluable vigrahams, and uncaredfor condition of our temples.Most of us do not even know which is our family deity and whch is the temple our ancestors regularly worshipped for our welfare.
Recently I wrote an article about our large temples titled
''பாரத பூமியில் நாம் பாக்கியசாலிகள்'. I referred in this article about these rare temples,which have withstood the test of time for many centuries still open for us to visit and worship and specially mentioned the need to protect the architecture and the skilful art work of our ancestors and artisans which are evident in these temples.
''பாரத பூமியில் நாம் பாக்கியசாலிகள்'. I referred in this article about these rare temples,which have withstood the test of time for many centuries still open for us to visit and worship and specially mentioned the need to protect the architecture and the skilful art work of our ancestors and artisans which are evident in these temples.
Let us make it a practice and habit in a way, to visit temples with all our family members, particularly children to make them know the value of our heritage and imbibe in them the need and interest to know more and more about our traditional Sanathana way of life.
I thank on behalf of all of you, offer our pranams to the two great internationally reputed scholars and stalwarts in Hindu Sanathana Dharma, who have dedicated most of their life in creating the awareness of our tradition and explained the intricacies of Agama system, method of worships of various Hindu deities followed by our ancestors in the past, It is all the more a great privilege for all of us in SREE KRISHNARPANAM SEVA SOCIETY that we have such elderly teachers and gurus for guiding us and the next generation for leading a proper righteous path And they are associated with our Group and today remarked on one of the articles about temples I posted for you all. Their remarks are given below:
DR RAMACHANDRAN NAGASWAMYDirector of Archaeology (Retired)
Former Vice chancellor, Kanchipuram University
Former Vice chancellor, Kanchipuram University
Ramachandran Nagaswamy, Dr. (b.1930) obtained Masters degree in Sanskrit language and literature (Madras) and Ph.D. in Indian Arts (Poona).
His Fields of specialization are: Art, Archaeology, Architecture, Literature, Epigraphy, Paleography, Numismatics, Temple rituals and philosophy, Ancient law and society, Music, Dance and South Asian Art.
His Fields of specialization are: Art, Archaeology, Architecture, Literature, Epigraphy, Paleography, Numismatics, Temple rituals and philosophy, Ancient law and society, Music, Dance and South Asian Art.
Dr.R.N. served as Curator for Art and Archaeology, Madras Museum (1959-63) and later joined the Tamilnadu State Department of Archaeology as Assistant Special Officer (1963-65) and became the First Director of Archaeology of the State and held that post till retirement (1966-88). After retirement he headed the Epigraphy Program, EFEO Pondichery, and as Consultant, Government of India, Documentation of Cultural property Tanjavur Brahadisvara Project (UNDP program), under the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts .
Dr.R.N made Archaeology a very popular subject in Tamilnadu, especially among Children through publication of Pocket book guides. He was also responsible for involving several thousand School and College students in cleaning and preserving near by historical places and monuments. He also popularized monuments by bringing out popular guides in the form of News-paper, priced at ten paise per copy.
He was responsible for protecting several historic monuments like the First cent. Chera inscriptions at Pugalur, the Palace site of the the Imperial Cholas at Gangai-konda-cholapuram, the famous 17th cent Thirumalai Nayak palace at Madurai, the 17th cent, Danish Fort at Tranquebar, and the birth place of Great National Poet Subramanya Bharati at Ettayyapuram besides excavating the palace site of Virapandya-kattabomman at Pancalamkurchi.
He was responsible for protecting several historic monuments like the First cent. Chera inscriptions at Pugalur, the Palace site of the the Imperial Cholas at Gangai-konda-cholapuram, the famous 17th cent Thirumalai Nayak palace at Madurai, the 17th cent, Danish Fort at Tranquebar, and the birth place of Great National Poet Subramanya Bharati at Ettayyapuram besides excavating the palace site of Virapandya-kattabomman at Pancalamkurchi.
Dr.R.N. piloted and directed the Sound and Light ("Son En Luminaire") program in the 17th cent. Thirumalai Nayak palace at Madurai. Nagaswamy was the first to carry out Under Sea Archaeological Survey off the Coast of Pumpuhar in Tamil nad.
An acknowledged International Expert on South Indian Bronzes, RN appeared as an Expert Witness in the London High Court, in the now famous London Nataraja case. The Judge of the London High Court, in his Judgement described Dr.Nagaswamy as an unequalled expert in his subject.
An acknowledged International Expert on South Indian Bronzes, RN appeared as an Expert Witness in the London High Court, in the now famous London Nataraja case. The Judge of the London High Court, in his Judgement described Dr.Nagaswamy as an unequalled expert in his subject.
He was mainly instrumental in developing the State department of archaeology in all aspects of Archaeological activity and started as many as 12 regional museums including a Prehistoric museum at Poondi, and Islamic museum at North Arcot besides a number of District museums and site museums. He started an Institute of Epigraphy under the Tamilnadu State Department of Archaeology to train students in post-graduate diploma in Epigraphy and Art.
Dr.R.N undertook to popularize Art and Archeology through Dance and Music at archaeological sites and monuments as at Gangai-konda-cholapuram, Madurai, Darasuram and so on. He composed several dance dramas on historic themes like the life of Rajaraja chola, Rajendra chola, Manimekhalai, Arunagirinathar, Appar and others, and presented them in different parts of India and also in foreign countries like Germany, Sweden, U.K, Canada and USA.
It was Dr.R.Nagaswamy who started and founded the now world famous Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival, 24 years ago with Kapila Vatsyayana and continues to serve as its Founder secretary.
He has organized several exhibitions including the one at Kualalampur during the first world Tamil Conference in 1965 and the special exhibition on South Indian Bronzes at the National Museum, New Delhi in 1983, during the Non-Aligned Summit meet.
RN has organized several District, State, National and International Seminars including the International Conference on Arts and Religion at Chidambaram in 2001. The proceedings of the last has been edited by RN and published under the title "Foundations of Indian Arts". He has published under the State Department, more than 120 books including monographs, texts of inscriptions, translations, and guides in Tamil and English.
RN has organized several District, State, National and International Seminars including the International Conference on Arts and Religion at Chidambaram in 2001. The proceedings of the last has been edited by RN and published under the title "Foundations of Indian Arts". He has published under the State Department, more than 120 books including monographs, texts of inscriptions, translations, and guides in Tamil and English.
Many important Excavations at places like Karur, Alagankulam, Korkai, Gangaikonda-cholapuram, were conducted by him.
Nagaswamy has been honoured by various organisation for his contribution to Tamil Archaeology, among which the award of Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamilnadu deserves special mention.
A keen researcher and an Internationally acknowledged Art Historian and scholar, RN has published several books including "Master pieces of South Indian Bronzes", "Siva Bhakti", Tantric Cult in Tamilnadu, "Uttaramerur" in French with Dr.Francoise Gros (1970) and "Facets of South Indian Art and Architecture".Dr.R.nagaswamy is an eloquent speaker and has given frequently talks in Radios and Television including in BBC.
Nagaswamy has been honoured by various organisation for his contribution to Tamil Archaeology, among which the award of Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamilnadu deserves special mention.
A keen researcher and an Internationally acknowledged Art Historian and scholar, RN has published several books including "Master pieces of South Indian Bronzes", "Siva Bhakti", Tantric Cult in Tamilnadu, "Uttaramerur" in French with Dr.Francoise Gros (1970) and "Facets of South Indian Art and Architecture".Dr.R.nagaswamy is an eloquent speaker and has given frequently talks in Radios and Television including in BBC.
Dr R Nagaswamy is pained at the decay and continued regular destruction of our ancient temples and has voiced his concern as below in our FB group.
'' Daily one or other ancient temple is getting destroyed in the hands of Department which has usurped all Hindu temples and are causing havoc. But our society is more interested in myth and legend and are supremely indifferent. Where is civilized life?
It is not just for reading but to take it seriously and do something to atleast prevent further damage and loss to our future generation.
Another great scholar Sri V.S. Krishnan, an elderly erudite and eminent thinker, speaker and writer on our Sanathana Dharma, residing at Coimbatore had voiced his concern as below IN OUR FB GROUP TODAY.
'' Our tradition, our art, our tradition, our adherence to principles of Dharma, our devotion all these make Tamil culture the greatest in the world. Every one of us should be proud of it and also take a pledge we will cherish this culture''..
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