TAMIL NADU STATE -CULTURE

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      Tamil Nadu represents the quintessence of Dravidian culture, and the chronicle of Dravidian maturation, except during the last 300 years, when the British added a "Continental tinge" to Tamil culture.

      Tamil Nadu is the state most famed for its temple architecture, thanks to the Chola supremacy, amounting to 1500 years (4th century BC to 6th century AD, and 9th century to 13th century AD)—the longest reign by any Dynasty in Indian history.

      The Cholas were great temple builders, as can be discerned by the architectural style of the Brahadeeshwar Temple at Thanjavur that pioneered a startling perspective to temple conception. They introduced Bharat Natyam as a temple dance, and several martial dances such as Simha Attam, Silambam, Marpor and Jalli Kattu.

      Wrestling matches and martial games were also common during the reign of Narasimhavarman, a Pallava king, during religious festivals, in front of temples. A lot of emphasis was given on physical fitness, and winners of these games received privileges from the king.

      Over the centuries, the Dravidian Dynasties nurtured temple music and art at Thanjavur, Tiruchirapalli and Madurai. Nataraja—the dancing Shiva—was conceived by Vira Chola Raja at Chidambaram (940 AD).

      Saint Thyagraja lived in the 17th century, and he initiated Carnatic Music, a new genre in music. He enriched the musical reservoir of Sama Veda with his own vision and aesthetics, thereby inaugurating a singularity of rhythm, note and scale that thrives even today. Silk weaving became a privileged livelihood as silk was considered to be a sacred offering to the royalty and to God. Kancheepuram flourished as a centre of silk. The Cholas also conceived temple paintings having an extraordinary finesse.

Art Gallery (Chennai)
      This art gallery is famous for its bronze.You can also find a few example of the Tanjore school of painting.

Museum (Chennai)
      The museum called the Temple Art Gallery, is located within the temple and contains beautiful stone and brass images, examples of South Indian scripts, friezes and attempts to explain the Hindu pantheon and many other legends associated with it.

Kalakhsetra
       Kalakhsetra or "The Abode of Arts", is an ornament to the city of Chennai. It was established by Smt. Rukmini Arundale who dedicated her entire life to the performing arts. Situated in the ancient.

The National Art Gallery
       Located in Egmore, the National Art Gallery is housed in a building built in 1906 in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The building itself is a work of art and was originally intended to be the Victoria Memorial and Technical Institute but was made the National Art Gallery in 1951. On display in this gallery are 10th and 13th century bronzes, 16th and 18th century Rajasthani and Mughal paintings, 17th century Deccani paintings and 11th and 12th century Indian handicrafts. (Timings : 8am to 5pm. Closed on Fridays and national holidays)

The Government Museum
       Established in 1857, the Madras museum is undoubtedly one of the country's best museums. It has sections devoted to geology, archeology, anthropology, numismatics, botany, zoology and sculpture besides which there is a good collection of arms and armour as well as several other specimens of anthropological interest. The museum's prize possessions however, are the relics from the 2nd century AD Buddhist site at Amaravati. Prehistoric exhibits from the Stone and Iron Ages, exquisite carvings and a fairly large collection of South Indian musical instruments and jewellery also add to the invaluable collection in the museum. The bronze gallery with it's ancient icons and modern bronzes is perhaps the best found anywhere in the world. (Timings : 8am to 5pm)  

Cholamandal Artists Village

       Located on the Mahabalipuram Road, 18 km from the city, this artists commune was started in 1966 and is perhaps, the first of it's kind. The artists and sculptors who live and work in this seaside colony in idyllic surroundings, exhibit and sell their work, which consists of contemporary art, sculpture, batik, terracotta and graphics. These are often exhibited and also sold. Cholamandal also has an open-air theatre in which dance performances and poetry reading competitions are held.


Kapaleeswarar
       A masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, this ancient Shiva temple is the biggest in Chennai. There are some fragmentary inscriptions dating back to 1250 AD. The magnificent 37 metre gopuram depicts intricate carvings of old legends.

Art Gallery(Thanjavur)
      A superb collection of bronze statues from the 9th to 12th centuries.

Art Gallery(Ooty)
Lalith kala Academy
It is situated about 2 kms., from Udhagamandalam in the main Mysore road. It has various collections of contemporary paintings and sculptures all over from India.

Saraswathi Mahal Library (Thanjavur)
      This library has one of the most important oriental manuscripts collections, in India. Established around 1700 AD, the library contains a collection of over 44,000 palm leaf, and paper manuscripts in Indian and European languages. Over eighty per cent of its manuscripts are in Sanskrit, many on palm leaves, some very rare or even unique. The Tamil works includes treatises on medicine, and commentaries on works from the Sangam period.

Annamalai University (Chidambaram)
It is a residential University founded by the Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar. It is a great centre of Tamil learning and carnatic music; now offers educational facilities in various disciplines including Medicine,Agriculture, Engineering, etc.

Flora & Fauna Museum (Kodaikanal)
      Also worth a visit is the Flora & Fauna Museum at the Sacred Heart College at nearby Shembaganur. It's a six-km hike and all uphill on the way back.

      The museum is open from 10 to 11.30 am and 3.30 to 5 pm, and is closed on Sundays. There are numerous waterfalls in the area - you'll pass the main one, Silver Cascade, on the road up to Kodai.