Hindu temple sculptures:

Unique creations

By Subashini Pathmanathan

Most Sri Lankan sculptures can be divided into different categories. Some are stone-made sculptures and others are metal-made including copper, gold, silver and five mixed metal sculptures which are known as iyempon sculptures in Tamil. Even the stone sculptures are further divided into granite stone sculptures, modern cement made sculptures and marble sculptures. Hindu temples are famous for tower sculptures referred to as temple Kopuram sculptures in Tamil.

The Hindu temple towers could be identified at a long distance. The height of the Hindu temples is determined by the number of bases which is referred to in Tamil as Thalams.

Some Hindu temples have three or five Thalams. Some have seven and the highest Thalams number is nine. When the number of Thalams increases the height of Kopurams also increases.

The sculptures are long lasting. However, there are ivory, wooden and clay sculptures available at ancient archaeological sites and temples.These temple sculptures could be divided into different categories.

One is worshipping temple sculptures and the other is the temple decorative sculptures which could be seen on the temple pillars, rooftops, temple towers, temple walls and pillars. The Hindu temples are famous for tower sculptures referred to as temple Kopuram sculptures in Tamil.

The tall Kopurams (towers) of the temples are full of sculptures. Within the temples, on temple pillars, walls and rooftops there are plenty of sculptures around the Mandapams and Madams. Most temple tower sculptures and temple Vimana (building structure over Gadpagraha) depict numerous puranic stories and epics related to the main presiding deity of the temple.

The sculptures in the temples mainly depict the dance poses of various gods as well as humans.

Among all the temple sculptures, the most famous sculptures depict the female dancing figures.

Among all these decorative temple sculptures different poses of animals reptiles, creepers and lotus flowers are often seen.

Almost every Hindu temple structure all over the world follows the South Indian Dravidian temple structural architecture and style.

For instance, in Kaali temples Kaali sculptural figures and paintings decorate the inner temples.

Kopurams

Similarly, at Shivan temples 108 Thandava Karans and Shiva Purana related sculptures decorate the inside and outside Kopurams of the temples. In Vaishnava temples Vishnu Puranic sculptures and stories 31 related to Lord Krishna decorate the temples.

Even the Hindu temple architecture of Sri Lanka more or less follows the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Hindu temple structure. According to Hinduism, the temple architectural pattern and structure should follow certain Hindu Sastras and Agamas.

Even the Bharatha Natyam repertoire should also follow the same architectural structural order of Hindu temples.

The Indian Hindu temples as compared with those in Sri Lanka are quite large. The Indian Hindu temples have large corridors and fairly big art galleries.

And the sculptures have different body and neck positions, glances, hand positions, hand gestures and stands and foot positions.

Among all the temple sculptures Nallur Kaillasa Pillaiyar temple at Jaffna, temple sculptures are quite different from other Hindu temple sculptures.

Generally the Hindu temple sculptures have a typical Dravidian influence. But at Nallur Kaillasa Pillaiyar temple is much influenced by western art.

It is an amazing fact that at this temple the female sculptures resemble the fairies and angels. Some of the female sculptures are seen with frocks.

Vimanams

The figures are seen over the Vimanams. These sculptures might have been built during the British regime or when the country was under foreign rule. So far there is not much trace of foreign influence in any other Hindu temple Kopuram sculptures or Hindu Vimanams.

According to historical facts, king Singai Pararagasekaran who ruled Jaffna in 1478 built four important temples in his kingdom. Originally four temples were built by him in his kingdom for protection.

The Nallur Kailas Pillaiyar temple was built on the Southern direction; on the Northern side Nallur Satanathar temple was built by the king and the Veiulukanda Pillaiyar Kovil was constructed on the eastern side and on the West Veera Maha Kaalai temple was built up.

During the Portuguese period many Hindu temples in the peninsula were destroyed.

Yet all the temples were rebuilt during different periods. During the alien rule their alien customs and cultural influences would have been penetrated into exceptional temple sculptures.

As compared to the other Hindu temple sculptures Nallur Kailas Pillaiyar Hindu temple Vimana sculptures are quite different.

It could be considered exceptional and it is very much influenced by alien factors among the Hindu temples of Sri Lanka.So far nobody has mentioned this fact in Sri Lanka.