In the 18th century one of the Westerners who lived on the Coromandel coast of India and wrote about his experiences was Jacob Haafner. He lived in Sadras for some years where he worked as a bookkeeper. Here I bring … Continued
This year the Ani Thirumanjanam Festival (Utsavam) of the Shri Shiva Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram is scheduled to take place in the first eleven days of July. July 1st, Friday, Flaghoisting ceremony in the early morning. The official start of … Continued
Jacob Haafner was a Dutch VOC employee and traveller who lived and worked on the East coast of India for almost twenty years. After his return to Amsterdam he wrote a series of wonderful travelogues about his experiences. I am … Continued
After a previous post about the Chit Sabha in the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram I was asked what is actually in the Sabha. I am happy about the question, it is a good question, but not answered in a jiffy. … Continued
The Chit Sabha is the holiest structure within the Nataraja temple of Chidambaram. It is the sanctum where Lord Nataraja performs his Cosmic Dance. It is found within the Nataraja temple proper, at the centre of the inner courtyard. To … Continued
As always it makes me sad to note a sacred place has lost its living tradition. And has even lost its history. Besides I am really a bit surprised that with some 200 years of studies behind us there are … Continued
Jacob Haafner loved Indian dance and the dancers. This is how he describes enjoying a performance “How fast and free are all the movements of the quick nymphs, how their gestures correspond with their steps, how pleasing and enchanting are … Continued
Notes and thoughts on the sculptural program of the gopuram of the Shri Kailashanatha temple of Ellora. Now our attentions turns to the inner face of the gopuram of the Kailashanatha. One of the things that is noticeable is … Continued
Notes and thoughts on the sculptural program of the gopuram of the Shri Kailasha temple of Ellora. Although Christel has not posted photos, I expect that at numbers 5 and 6 there will also be some kind of guardian figure. … Continued
Notes and thoughts on the sculptural program of the gopuram of the Kailasha temple of Ellora. Numbers refer to accompanying ground plans, (not to scale) The river goddesses are framing the entrance at the outside face instead of gracing … Continued