Indian Temple Sculptures

Indian temple sculpture can be divided into two types: the Nagara (North India) and the Dravidian (South India). The primary difference between the two is the way in which the shikharas of the temples are carved out. As far as the architectural elements are concerned these include the garbhagrihas, vimanas, mandapas, miniature towers, lathe turned pillars and others.

The sculptures of the 2nd and 3rd century BC depict the episodes from the life of Lord Buddha, in the architectural setting of the Vedic period. The Hindu Temples are unique temples among the India's prehistoric monuments.

In east India in the state of Orissa the finest examples of exquisite sculpture are the Lingaraja temple and the Konarak temple. Each wheel of the chariot in the

 

Konarak temple has rich carvings. The poses of dancing apsaras depicted look lively. The Chandella rulers of central India built temples of Khajuraho that is adorned with sculptures. The style of the shikhara varies from that of the others. The Jain temples at Mount Abu are the finest monuments of the Solanki kings of Gujarat who were great patrons of art.

The south Indian temple sculpture received an added boost under the reign of the Cholas and Chalukyas. While the Vijayanagara Empire immortalised their art and sculpture on stone in Hampi, the former two kingdoms are also renowned for their massive temples.

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Indian Craft

Indian Crafts have evolved over thousands of years. Various Indian crafts are product of the skilled artisans and craftsmen of India.

Indian Crafts are known throughout the world for their artistic work and grandeur. The deeply entrenched tradition of Indian Craft echoes the true colour of India whilst impressing generation after generation amidst their varied forms and styles. For people around the world, India is synonymous to exotic arts and handicraft traditions.

Indian Craft tradition has no parallel in the world, in diversity as well as in technique and use of materials.

Origin of Indian Craft
Indian Craft thrive to be the amalgamation of socio-political via religious influences that mapped India with the onward march of time and space.

Development of Indian Craft
Prehistorically Indian handicrafts were basically made for day after day use, the yearning for aesthetic application soon saw development of flooding designs and motifs.

Indian textiles, permanent dyes had their far flung supremacy in ancient India; silk was exported from India to Europe in the 6th century A.D. Mughal era witnessed the patronage of brilliant artisans and craftsmen endowed with magical bliss and as a result Mughal carpets, ivory-bones-horns cravings and papier mache. Akbar, Shah Jahan, Jahangir invited he skilled artisans from all over the globe.

Forms of Indian Craft
Each states of India had its own tradition and legacy of handicrafts. Whether the fragile beauty of the Phulkari art of the North India or the dizzying artistry of the silver filigree work, famous in the eastern India, whether the colossal impact of the stone craft of South India or the artistry of the bidriware of the western India - all demonstrates the elegance and brilliance of Indian Craft.

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Folk Dances of Indian States

Folk Dances of Indian States reflect its cultural richness. They were originated among the common masses before 19th century.

Folk Dances of Indian States mark the intense platform encompassing creative extravaganza of different states of India. Each state of India has its own culture and tradition.

Folk dances of Indian States form an integral part of mass culture. Indian folk dances are performed in groups in villagesand remote regions of the countryside, as an essential part of the local rituals and customs.

Origin of Folk Dances in Indian States

Folk Dances of Indian States got originated among the ordinary common mass of rural areas before 19th century from various rural areas.

Folk Dances of North Indian States
Dumhal is a folk dance performed in Jammu and Kashmir by the Rauf tribe. Only the men folk of the Rauf are privileged to perform this dance. Generally, this dance is performed by wearing long, colourful robes and tall, conical caps, studded with beads and shells.

Folk Dances of East Indian States
Jat-Jatin is the most popular folk dance of Bihar. It is performed by a pair of man and woman. Santhal, Jhumur, Paika, Phagua, Chhau, Bheja and Sarhul are the famous folk dances of Jharkhand which are performed with great enthusiasm by the tribal people.

Folk Dances of South Indian States
Padayani is one of the most significant folk dances of Kerala which is associated with some regional temple festivals, particularly in Kottayam, Kollam, Pathanamthittaand Aleppey districts of Kerala.

Folk Dances of West Indian States
Dindi, Kala, Koli and Lavani are the prime folk dances of Maharashtra which present

different societies of Maharashtra. Talgadi, Goff, Tonya Mel, Kunbi dance, Suvari and Dasarawadan are the most popular folk dances of Goa.

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Indian Religious Festivals

Indian Religious Festivals are consisted of several festivals of all religions. Some of the most prominent festivals are Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas etc.

India is famous for celebrating several religious festivals of all religions including Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja, Navaratri, Raksha Bandhan, Eid, Christmas etc. Among them, Diwali is the most popular and celebrated festival of the country.

Diwali
Diwali, Indian Festival of lights, is one of the grandest festivals celebrated across the nation. It is celebrated between the months of October and November with great enthusiasm and zeal.

Durga Puja
Durga Puja is the most prominent and prime festival of West Bengal, which is celebrated between the months of September and November. The celebration is held for five days- 'Shashthi', 'Saptami', 'Ashtami', 'Navami' and 'Dashami'.

Holi
Holi is celebrated across the corners of
India and is one of the major festivals of India and also the most vibrant of all. It is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna between the months of February and March.

Christmas
Christmas celebrates the Nativity of Jesus Christ, founder of Christianity. The word Christmas comes from the words "Cristes Maesse", or "Christ's Mass."

Eid Ul Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr occurs at the end of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim year, on the first day of the new moon in Shawwal. Eid Ul-Fitr means the 'festival
of breaking the fast'.

Gurupurabs
Gurupurabs are the birthdays of the first and the last gurus of Sikh and these are celebrated with devotion and dedication.

Other Indian Religious Festivals
Apart from the above ones, there are numerous other festivals in India, which are also celebrated with great zeal and they are:
Hindu Festivals: Dussehra, Mahashivratri, Janmashtami, Pongal, Ramnavami, Hanuman Jayanti, Vat-Savitri,

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Forts in India

Forts in India were constructed to check the advance of enemy and save the people and place from outsiders. Now the dictatorship has ended after 1947, but these architectural marvels are now acting as the heritage hotels and the tourist’s point
Forts in India have been constructed to protect the settlements against hostile attack and marauding wild animals.

Early History of Forts in India
The ancient treatises on Indian architecture and fortification can be retrieved from the 'Shilpa Shastras' and in some of the ancient Indian literature like the Indian Puranas and epics.

Medieval History of Forts in India
After the invasion of the Muslims, construction of forts in India reflects many of the developments which took place in Europe.

Forts of Northern India
Forts of Northern India consists of numerous forts like Akhnoor Fort, Ramnagar Fort and Khurnak Fort in Jammu and Kashmir, Fort at Bathinda, Payal Fort, Keshgarh Fort
 and Quila Mubarak in Punjab, Agra Fort, Aligarh Fort, Sasni Fort, Hathras Fort in Uttar Pradesh and  are a few of the renowned forts of this portion of the country.

Forts of Western India
Rajasthan is a unique place which shelters some of the most spectacular forts in the country. Amber Fort, Chittorgarh Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Junagarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Kota Fort, Lohagarh Fort, Taragarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort and many more.


Forts of Central India
Gwalior Fort, Bandhavgarh Fort, Mandav Fort, Raja Nal Fort, Gohad Fort, Ahilya Fort, Madan Mahal Fort at Jabalpur are some of the beautiful forts which are based in Madhya Pradesh, Central India.

With the use of artillery in warfare, the entire nature of forts in India changed.     High, thick walls were replaced by broad, low, sunken ramparts, saved by ditches to provide a minimal target for cannon fire.

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Indian Sculptures

Indian Sculptures echo divinity, mysticism,
innovation and magnificence. A sculpture is a three dimensional image that is crafted of various materials either by hand or by using tools.

Indian Sculpture was the favoured medium of artistic expression on the Indian subcontinent. Indian buildings were profusely adorned with it and indeed are often inseparable from it.

History of Indian Sculptures
History of Indian sculpture dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of 2500 to 1800 BCE, during which time small terracotta figurines were produced.

Wooden Sculptures - Wooden Sculptures are made almost all over India. The southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have an exceptionally grand tradition of wood sculpting.

Bronze Sculptures - Bronze Sculptures have been discovered from many regions of India. These were used for ritual worship and are characterised by exquisite beauty and aesthetic appeal.

Marble Sculptures - Marble has been one of the most popular choices of material for crafting statues since ancient times. Marble sculptures are sturdy, durable, elegant and classy.

Stone Sculptures - The classical tradition of Stone Sculptures in India was closely linked with architecture. All major temples of India illustrate the rich tradition of Stone Sculptures.


Sand Sculptures - Sand Sculptures are popular among the booming tourist industry in Puri. The sculptures are created solely with sand, water and a small amount of glue.

Themes of Indian Sculptures
Indian craftsmen have always been fascinated by figures from mythology and religion. Sculptures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, of other Hindu figures, of Buddha, and figures from Christianity and other religions have hence dominated their work.

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Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries

Indian wildlife sanctuaries are famous worldwide for being the protectors and preservers of diverse wildlife present in the country. Some of these wildlife sanctuaries are Nargu Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary and Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.

Indian wildlife sanctuaries are homes to diverse wild species. In India, there are around 531 wildlife sanctuaries. These sanctuaries are scattered throughout the country.


Different Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries
Several Indian wildlife sanctuaries have earned recognition and reputation all over the world and some of them are also counted as the best in the world.

Significance of Indian Wildlife Sanctuaries
Being the seventh-largest country in the world by geographical region, India has quite a huge natural history and one of the richest wildlife heritages in the world. The Indian subcontinent is a home to many rare, endangered and exotic species of wildlife.

A lot of initiatives and measures have been taken to protect the Indian wildlife and to prevent them from extermination.
The Indian wildlife sanctuaries are playing an important role in this preservation mission. They keep mammals, animals, reptiles, birds, etc in their natural habitat.

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84 Classic Yoga Asanas

84 classic yoga asanas were taught by Lord Shiva,
some of which are known and have endured to the present day, although the names of all the 84 are not available.

Many classic yoga texts mention 84 classic yoga asanas taught by Lord Shiva, who forms the divine Hindu trinity (along with the gods Brahma and Vishnu).


Later yoga texts however, do mention the 84 Classic Asanas and associate them with Shiva.

The Goraksha Samhita, or Goraksha Paddhathi is considered the oldest extant Hatha Yogic text, and describes the origin of the 84 classic asanas.
Observing that there are as many postures as there are beings, and that there are 840000 species in all, the text states that Lord Shiva fashioned an asana for each 100000, thus giving us 84 in all, although it mentions and describes only two in detail: the Siddhasana and the Padmasana.

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Benefits of Yoga Asanas

Benefits of Yoga Asanas include an improved function of
body systems and better overall fitness, health and well-being. They also prepare practitioners for the higher stages of yoga
practice.

Regular practice of yoga asanas benefits the practitioner in various ways. Asana enables on to control mind; improves digestion; exercises spine; keeps nervous system in good condition and improves the working of several body systems.

Yoga Asanas also boost oxygen flow throughout the body. Supply of oxygen to the body is completely dependent on the respiratory system.
Practicing yoga asanas should also follow a proper procedure to attain best results. Yoga Asanas should be done in a quiet and well-ventilated place.

The best time for practicing asana is in the morning. It should be practiced before having breakfast as at this time the energy is at the highest and therefore, the movements can be done with ease and freshness. Further, mind is calm during this time.

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