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The Brihadishvara temple in Gangaikondacholapuram, Tiruchirapalli (Trichi), Tamil Nadu, India

Gangaikondacholapuram (near Chidambaram) was the capital of the Chola empire (11^th cdentury CE), when King Rajendra I extended his realm to the banks of the Ganges. All that is left of the town is the Brihadishvara temple – a replica of the more famous temple of the same name in Thanjavur. Both are dedicated to Shiva. The Gangaikondacholapuram temple is away from mass tourism, and kept in an excellent state by the Archaeological Service. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy classic Chola architecture, and to witness the cult inside. This video offers a visual report on the temple, seeking to convey the serene beauty and contagious spirituality of this place

Hindu devotion at the Brihadishvara temple, Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu, India)

The Brihadishvara temple in Thanjavur (of which a replica is found at Gangaikondacholapuram) is one of the major monuments of Chola architecture, and deservedly features on the UNESCO heritage list.  It is dedicated to Shiva. It offers a unique opportunity to enjoy classic Chola architecture, and to witness the cult inside. The temple dome and the monolithic Nandi bull, and the interior decorations are among the temple’s main attractions. The main feature of this video meanwhile is that it offers glimpses of living Hindu spirituality (prayer, chanting, distribution of sacralised food, the tree / fertility cult) within the temple premises.

A visit to the Sri Jambukeshvara temple, Tiruvanaikka, near Tiruchirapalli (Trichi), Tamil Nadu, India

Situated away from main tourist flows, this temple dedicated to Shiva in his capacity of Lord of the Water Element, allowed us to get glimpses of the day following a major religious festival for women, and to participate in worship in the inner sanctum. The video captures the atmosphere of protective semi-darkness that despite the busy movement and talking of people makes the temple a womb-like place for retreat and redress

Kanchipuram: Three temples

In search of an encounter with common Hindu spirituality two Westerners with mainly an Africanist background pay a visit to three temples in the town of Kanchipuram, South India, and report, for whatever it is worth, on their impressions.

The Ranganatha temple, Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli – Tamil Nadu Temple Tour 5

This temple, dedicated to Vishnu in reclining form, is the most magnificent of the Trichi area. Its construction spans a period from the 10th c. CE  1987, and was once the centre of Ramanuja’s teachings, advocating personal spirituality (bhakti). Of the seven concentric ringwalls that constitute the temple area, the outer three are accessible to non-Hindus. The movie shows their brilliant sculpture and architecture, stunningly decorated pillars and pillared halls, and nicely brings out their atmosphere. However, contrary to some of the other Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu, the rule of access was strictly enforced here. We could not get to the inner sanctum where Vishnu is considered to lie in the coils of the cosmic snake.

Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India: A religious town dedicated to Shiva

In Tiruvannamalai Shiva descended as a pillar of fire. Therefore a lingam of the element fire is venerated in the main temple. The nearby Mt Arunachala is the scene of the annual Karthigai Deepam fire / light festival. Also because of the ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi (+ 1950) the town attracts many foreigners, and the atmosphere is cosmopolitan. Opposite the ashram is a remarkable Kali temple. We enter the town’s main temple and admire its beauty and serenity. All the way into the inner sanctum, where however we could not use our camera.