Tamil Nadu: Land of Temples by Benoy K Behl

Online Event, India Habitat Centre, 15th July, 2023
Talk and Screening of Film Produced for Doordarshan.
By Benoy K Behl
Introduction by Sujata Chatterji 00:05; Subject Intro 02:22; Film 07:39; Talk and Q&A 30:17
Tamil Nadu is on the East coast of Peninsular India. This state has been a great cradle of Indian culture and many ancient traditions of dance, music, architecture and life-style continue and flourish here till today.
Temples were made out of hard and lasting granite in Tamil Nadu. There is an amazing continuity seen in the styles of temple building here, from Pallava times in the 7th century, through the rule of the Cholas and the Nayakas up to the Maratha period in the 19th century. This makes this region unique in the country.
My deep relationship with the temples of Tamil Nadu began in 1991, when I documented and brought before the world the glorious previously-unphotographed 10th century Chola paintings of the Brhadiswara temple at Thanjavur. The photography made an international impact and changed forever the understanding of the history of Indian painting.
This began my long relationship with the temples of Tamil Nadu.

[@prasannay4ee022]

Thanks to Benoy k Behl, Indian habitat centre and Doordarshan for sharing rich knowledge on Art history of India. Also thanks to the team!! Around 30-40 mins journey to land of temples with its history and artichectural details - like briefings of styles . Thanks 🙏

[@artnbuddhism]

Thank you very much for your kind appreciation. It is very good of you. Please accept my best wishes.

[@yangchen2]

Dear Binoy I am delighted to see the film...over the sixty two years I have lived here in Tamil Nadu I have been blessed to visit some of the temples shown in the film....Meenakshi in Madurai. Brihadeswara in Thanjavur..and Dharasaram and Kumbakonam. Most impressive has been the warmth in which I have been made welcome ....despite the " myth" that only Hindus may enter. Born into a Christian culture , converted to Hinduism when marrying my South Indian husband..a Malayalee Nair...bringing up our children in the Hindu faith it has always been my experience that if one shows respect and makes an effort to learn the core of the customs and the reasoning behind them ,one will be accepted and welcomed . Many years after our marriage I "took refuge" at Drepung Buddhist monastery in Mundgod Karnataka.....after studying Mahayana Tibetan Buddhism, having interest in Tibet from a young age. My husband's initial concern that it might lead to conflict was completely unnecessary ..Avalokateswara and Tara share the same Puja space with Guruvayoorappan and Lord Ganesha in our home. All homage to Tamil Nadu and its people and heritage. The film is beautiful and once more I thank you for keeping me informed about the monthly events...and thanks to dear Uma for introducing us .....sincerely radha gopalakrishnan.

[@artnbuddhism]

Thank you very much for the warmth of your response. Thank you also for sharing with me your spiritual journey. Indeed, what matters is the peace and joy that we can find within ourselves. My best wishes to you in your continued journey.

[@yashu05]

Outstanding presentation, Mr. Behl. I have a question which has puzzled me a lot. Most Shiva temples I have seen, for example , at Lepakshi, at Kashi, have a seated Nandi . Yet all the temples of my hometown Mandi in HP, Nandi is standing. Why ? Is there any reason behind this ?

[@artnbuddhism]

Thank you very much for your warm appreciation. You are pointing out something very interesting about the temples of Mandi. There must be some story behind it. However, the essence of the depiction of Shiva’s vahana would be the same. My best wishes to you.

[@yashu05]

​@@WaddaACThat actually does make sense. Thank you