| Krishna is sitting
on one of the branches of the tree with his flute. To carve out this scene with meticulous
details on merely a block of stone, and to recapture the episode, is a masterpiece of
Dravidian sculpture. The artistic beauty can be realised only when seen. There are
numerous idols of Vinayaka, the God of success. Maya Ganapati is an image where Ganapati
has got his legendary wife Maya, the illusion. Beyond the Navagraha Mandapam is the temple
of Maya Ganapati. Besides holding Maya by one
hand, he holds a water pot in his trunk. This Vinayaka has 10 hands holding
different insignias. There is yet another Vinayaka known as Sakshi Vinayaka, that
is, Vinayaka who witnessed the redemption of the curse on Indra. Vallabha Vinayaka is the
most peculiar, holding by his left arm his wife Vallabha. In certain legends, Vinayaka is
spoken of as having a wife. There is also Pali an inscription of Asoka on a stone. Their
Tamil translation is given on another side of the same stone.
The southern corridor is a very long one where mass feeding
used to be done in olden days. There are rectangular shaped vessels, made of stone, for
keeping different curries for serving the large number of people who used to assemble. In
the northern corner of the western prakaram there is a small temple made of wood
exquisitely carved out, containing Rama and His consort, Sita. The skilful carvings on
wood are worth seeing. |
