Part 16. Temples of Tamil Nadu

The state of Tamil Nadu is the stronghold of distinctive Dravidian culture. Although it has absorbed such Aryan innovations as caste system and Hinduism many centuries ago, it still significantly differs from anything you can see in the rest of the country. It also largely avoided Muslim invasions and influences, and hasn't been touched by Christianity like Kerala and Goa. Despite decades of disastrously inefficient rule by corrupt and incompetent movie stars-turned-polititians, it's one of the most colorful and friendly states. Tamil Nadu is also famous for its temples. Some of the best are in Mamallapuram, a small town not far from Chennai (formerly Madras).

Tamil women, Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.

Shivaite pilgrims, Madurai.

Shore Temple (c. 640-660 AD), Mamallapuram.

The wonderfully simple Shore Temple is one of the oldest in Asia, and served as a model for hundreds of Hindu temples worldwide.

Cave temple, Mamallapuram.

Shore Temple, Mamallapuram. Note numerous statues of Nandi (sacred bulls)

The Five Rathas temples (c. 630-670 AD), Mamallapuram.

Arjuna's Penance (c. 670-690) a carving in a cave temple.

Scattered around the town are many other ancient monuments, such as the famous Five Rathas, small temples carved from solid rock in the 7th century. They were covered by sand dunes until the British excavated them in 1810.

A statue near the Shore Temple.

Temple rock carvings (c. 600-800 AD), Mamallapuram.

Wall carvings in a cave temple (c. 670-690), Mamallapuram.

In addition to numerous cave temples and rock carvings, the town has many modern workshops, where sculptures of all possible sizes and designs are carved to be shipped all over Southern India. It also attracts plenty of "beach tourists".

Rock carving (c. 740-760), Mamallapuram.

Tiger Cave (probably c. 630-700 AD), Mamallapuram.

Stone carver's workshop, Mamallapuram.

One of temple towers, Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

The city of Madurai in the far southern Tamil Nadu was already a splendid metropolis when a Greek ambassador visited it in 302 BC. Rome also maintained trade with it. The city's famous Sri Meenakshi Temple was built in 1623-1655.

One of temple towers, Sri Meenakshi Temple.

Tower details, Sri Meenakshi Temple.

One of temple towers, Sri Meenakshi Temple, Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

It's one of the world's largest and most popular temples, visited by 10- 50 thousand people a day. Its twelve gopurams (towers), up to 50m/165' tall, with 32,000 sculptures, were re- painted in the 1950-s after a statewide referendum.

One of temple towers, Sri Meenakshi Temple.

One of temple towers, Sri Meenakshi Temple.

Inside Sri Meenakshi Temple.

The inside of the temple is very different - hot, dark, labyrinthine, overcrowded, Inside Sri Meenakshi Temple. dirty, ancient, partially closed to visitors, but lively and colorful - a bit like India itself.

Deity, Sri Meenakshi Temple.

One of temple towers, Sri Meenakshi Temple.

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