Thursday, December 24, 2015

'Broken sculpture (of Parvati?) circa 12th century A.D. at Government Museum, Chandigarh, India" - K.J.S.Chatrath

 Seated Devi, South India, Circa 12th century A.D. Government Museum, Chandigarh, India.

The sculpture probably of Parvati, is mutilated. The head and the arms are lost. It has elaborate ornaments, a sacred thread (yajnopavita). The lotus seat has multiple series of petals and floral patterns and designs. The folds of the lower garment of the figure are shown with beads. The frontal loop of the drapery has fan like disposition. 

The sculpture shows the stylistic type noticed in the metal sculptures of South India, particularly of the Chola period as per the details mentioned on a placard put near the statue by the Museum authorities.  

    . . . . .




Tuesday, December 22, 2015

'Visit Government Museum, Chandigarh' by K.J.S.Chatrath

I visited Government Museum in Sector-10, Chandigarh, yesterday. I found the above painting very fascinating. Sadly while taking this photo I could not handle the multiple reflections of the glass frame. Still I love it.

Do spend some time in this Museum Complex if you are visiting Chandigarh.

Here is some useful information:
 

Museum complex, Sector 10-C, Chandigarh
  • Government Museum and Art Gallery
  • Reference Library
  • Conservation Laboratory
  • Exhibition Hall
  • Auditorium
  • Chandigarh Architecture Museum
  • Natural History Museum
Timings: It opens for public daily between 10:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. except on Mondays and Gazetted holidays.
Guided tour
  • Daily at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Special guided tour for school children with prior appointments are arranged.
  • A research scholar of History of Art, an Art critic and Curator, volunteers as citizen of Chandigarh, to conduct a free guided tour of the Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh in three languages Hindi, English and French. Interested individuals and groups can contact the Museum for registering themselves, a week in advance, subject to her availability (For foreign nationals, atleast 2 weeks in advance) Registration can be done through email (museum@chd.nic.in), Phone No. +91 0172-2740261, Mobile No. +91 9464121077 (between 10 am to 4 pm except on Sundays and holidays)
Museum Shop
The museum has two shops for the sale of its various publications and models in its two wings namely, Government Museum and Art Gallery and Natural History Museum . The Museum has brought out general publications in the form of a handy guide, hand lists, monographs and books, sets of picture postcards and reproductions of the masterpieces of the Museum collection. These include the following major ones:

Entry Fee: Rs. 10/- (Rupees ten only). There is no entry fee for children below 12 years and senior citizens.
Camera Fee: Rs. 5/- (Rupees five only)




Saturday, December 19, 2015

'Two Khajuraho temples: 950-1050 A.D.' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Two Khajuraho temples: 950-1050 A.D.

 The Khajuraho Group of Monuments is a group of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India, about 175 kilometres southeast of Jhansi. They are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

  . . . . . 

'Bhool Bhulaiya, Bara Imambara, Lucknow, India', by K.J.S.Chatrath



 Bara Imambara in Lucknow, India, was built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh, in 1784. It is also called the Asafi Imambara. Bara means big, and an imambara is a shrine built by Shia Muslims for the purpose of Azadari. There is also a ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ or labyrinth it it.

  . . . . . 

Saturday, November 28, 2015

'Lord Ganesha in Hindu mythology' by K.J.S.Chatrath



Visiting a friend two days back, I was attracted towards this statue of Lord Ganesha on the very first sight. I found the colour of Lord's dhoti quite different from the way it is normally portrayed. I was informed that this impressive statue was procured from around Sidhi Vinayak Temple in Mumbai.

Then yesterday when I switched on the TV, I was in for a nice surprise. Yes, I have stopped viewing the so called news channels on the TV after they became too loud and their bias become too obvious.  So instead I watch my favourite show 'Devlok with Devdutt Pattnaik' on Epic TV channel. The discussion last evening was on Lord Ganesha. It was highly informative. And if you have not watched 'Devlok with Devdutt Pattnaik, I would strongly recommend it to you.

 A few words of introduction about Mr. Devdutt Pattnaik (born 1970) . He is from Odisha and is a man of many, many parts. He is a medical doctor by training and profession turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology, and also management. He has written over 600 articles and 30 books on the relevance of sacred stories, symbols and rituals in modern times, including Myth = Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata, Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana, Business Sutra: An Indian Approach to Management, Shikhandi: And Other Tales they Don't Tell You.

What really glues me to his show is the pleasant ease with which he explains the very difficult subject of mythology. He has a smiling face and is so very soft-spoken. And one last point- he makes interesting comparisons with other religions. Such comparisons are knowledgable and respectful.

Thank you Dr. Pattnaik for making an atheist like me get deeply interested in Hindu mythology.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

'Lalitgiri, Odisha, India' by K.J.S.Chatrath



Lalitgiri, locally known as Naltigiri (Lat. 20 35” N and Long. 86 15” E) in Birupa-Chitrotpala valley is one among the major centers of Buddhism in the Mahanga Tahsil of Cuttack district. It is 90 km. away from Odisha’s  capital, Bhubaneswar. The site is couched between hills of Parabhadi and Landa of the isolated Assian range....9th 10th century A.D.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

'9,000 year old rock shelter paintings in Bhimbetka, near Bhopal, India' - K.J.S.Chatrath

I visited Bhimbetka, about 35 kms from Bhopal, India, earlier this week. Some of these stunning paintings in natural stony rain shelters/caves are estimated to be around 9,000 years old....Photo article coming on my website www.fiftyplustravels.com soon....


…………………………………..
May I invite you to visit my blogs & websites?

Saturday, October 10, 2015

'Tunganath Temple, 12073 ft., Uttrakhand, India' by K.J.S.Chatrath





I had the privilege of trekking upto the holy Tunganath temple on October 5, 2015. Tungnath is the highest Shiva temple in the world and is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath in Rudraprayag district, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

The Tunganath (literal meaning: Lord of the peaks) mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys. Located at an altitude of 3,680 m (12,073 ft), and just below the peak of Chandrashila, Tungnath temple is the highest Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The temple is believed to be 1000 years old and is the third (Tritiya Kedar) in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. It has a rich legend linked to the Pandavas, heroes of the Mahabharata epic.

'This blog is getting subsumed into http://allochatrath.blogspot.in' - K J S Chatrath

Qutab Minar, New Delhi India -12th century AD. Photo by KJS Chatrath You are invited to subscribe to my new blog 'Allo Chatrat...