The people of Tamil Country do possess a distinct individuality and yet they have not been averse to absorb the essental best from others. This is more apparent from the historical times onwards bringing out the Catholic and pan-Indian outlook of the Tamils, which is reflected in their literature, art impulses, aesthetic sense, socio-economic and religious conditions. In fact, there has always been two way traffic of give and take. This is evident in the field of religion, religious art, architecture, etc.; the social background for which are to be found in the Temple festivals predominating the everyday life the people. Dr. Nagaswami in his Art and culture of the Tamil Nadu has presented a cross section of the communites-king and commoner, aristocrat and the agriculturist-highlighting their life, customs, obligations etc. He has shown that the temple was the hub of the Society and the festivals were a unifying factor catering to the social obligations of the people. His erudite distinction between the folk-temple and the agamic temple built according to vastu sastras is thought provoking. The exclusive worship ofa pitha in the sanctun of a temple would indicate the presence of a particular sect and tradition. The apex of the art of the lapidary and the jeweler is very well borne out by the many jeweled crowns and ornaments in the Temples of Tamil Nadu. The book written in a lucid style is well-illustrated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR R. Nagaswami
Vidyavacaspati, Dr. R. Nagaswamy (1930): Master of Arts in Sanskrit Language and Literature from the University of Madras, Dr. Nagaswamy obtained doctorate degree from the Deccan College, Poona under Dr. H.D. Sankalia. He joined the Government Museum, Madras as the Curator for Art and Archaeology in 1959 and became the first Director of Archaeology of Tamil Nadu in 1966, in which capacity he served for 23 years, till his retirement in 1998. He also served as the first Vice-Chancellor of the Kanchipuram University. Later he became the National Consultant for Multimedia Documentation of Cultural Property under UNESCO programme of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. A multifaceted personality, Dr. Nagaswamy has specialized in Art, History, Archaeology, Epigraphy, Conservation, Agamic and Religious History, Ancient Law and Society, Numismatics, Classical Music and Dance. Along with Dr. Kapila Vatsyayana, he started the now world famous Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival. He has also produced several dance dramas, some of which were televised and broadcast several times. On behalf of the Government of India, Dr. Nagaswamy appeared in the London High Court as an Expert Witness in the London Nataraja case, and was mainly responsible for winning the case. Dr. Nagaswamy has conducted excavations at places like the Chola capital of Gangaikondacholapuram, Karur, Alagankulam and Korkai. He was the first to initiate under-water archaeological exploration at Pumpuhar in Tamil Nadu in collaboration with Oceanographic Survey of Goa. He is the leading authority today on South Indian Bronzes and has published over twenty-five books including Masterpieces of South Indian Bronzes, Siva Bhakti, Tamil Coins, Tantric Cult in Tamil Nadu, Ancient Tamil Law and Society, and others. A recipient of several public honours, Dr. Nagaswamy was conferred the title of “Kalaimamani†by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his contribution to Art and Culture.
There are no reviews yet.