ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF VADAKKUNATHAN TEMPLE FROM TRICHUR, KERALA

Abstract

From time immemorial, the people of India have felt that the universe is actuated by a supreme power. They have therefore, wanted to consider its immanence or presence in everything that is seen and felt. They have also been endeavouring to realize its reality and in their final analysis they have come to the conclusion that the physical existence is only temporary summon bonum of life being the realization of supreme power. This is the path of devotion.

In the propagation of the popular form of worship as a means of the realization of the ultimate, temples, therefore, became the most important centres of activity of the people. Although all the three major religions of India vied with each other in using this medium for the furtherance of their principles, the Hindus built temples, since nineth century seem to soar high, a development which reached its zenith in the eleventh century all over India as exemplified by the Lingaraja as Raja Rani temple of Bhuvaneshwar in Orissa and Natraja Temple of Chidambaram, the temple of Tiruvannamalai, and Ramaswami Temple of Hampi. One such temple is Vadakkunathan Temple, an important cultural edifice of Trichur, Kerala. It has considerable sculptural wealth in stone, terracotta wood and different architectural form.