Chithra Madhavan Profile
Chithra Madhavan

@ChithraMadhavan

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Joined May 2017
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
The attention to detail in some Nayak era sculptures is mind blowing.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
Of dedication and devotion 🙏🏼 on a hot and humid afternoon at the Kapaleeshwarar temple, Mylapore, Chennai
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
9 months
There is something surreal about standing in a 10th century Chola temple early in the morning, waiting for the doors to open. The magic of the lush Kaveri region is something else.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
My 300th article in the Temple Talk column in City Express. These short articles are not meant for scholars and academics but for those interested in learning about our heritage and culture, and wanting to visit temples.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Nothing can be more heartwarming than having about two hundred people join on a heritage walk at 7am on a Sunday morning
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
Kannapa Nayanar's footwear (Airavateshwara temple, Darasuram, Chola era 12th century)
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
8 months
Wherever one goes in Hampi (ancient Vijayanagara) which was the even more ancient Kishkinda of Ramayana fame, one can see a temple for Hanuman, whose place it was and where he met Rama and Lakshmana. This is one such on the banks of River Tungabhandra.,
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
9 months
The supremely beautiful Yoga Rama temple in Nedungunam (Thiruvannamalai Dist) TN
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A cute little post office near Chennai
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
5 years
One of the most beautiful structures ever- the south gopuram of the Minakshi-Sundareshwarar temple, Madurai. Nayak era.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
Appayya Dikshita, a great 16th century scholar was honoured by Chinna Bomma Nayaka, a ruler of Vellore by performing the kanakabhisheka (showering with gold coins). This money was used by Dikshita for building three temples in his village Adayapalam (Tamil Nadu).
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
A temple where Goddess Lakshmi rules Supreme
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
8 months
I love the way this tree has wrapped its roots around this old sculpture. So protective! Ramalingeshwara temple, Tadipatri, AP.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
Dancer Supreme!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
Sita giving the Choodamani to Hanuman. From the Hazara Rama temple, Hampi. Vijayanagara era, 15th century.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
My 250th article in the Temple Talk column, New Indian Express
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
Hard at work cleaning the temple premises Arpakam Valishwarar Temple (near Kanchipuram)
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
The beauty of a Chola bronze!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
5 months
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
8 months
The eternally beautiful Hampi, the erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara Empire
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
A gem of a temple
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
Such an enchanting place
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
Just this will do!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
9 months
Multi-armed Garudaaruda Vishnu 🙏🏼Ramaswami temple, Kumbakonam. Nayak era.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
All are welcome!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
10 months
A brimming temple tank is a joy to see 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Gangaikondacholapuram, also known as Gangapuri, was the new capital founded by Emperor Parakesari Rajendra Chola I around 1025 CE. It remained the capital of the Cholas for approximately two hundred and fifty years, for far longer than Thanjavur.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 months
The Ultimate Teacher 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
22 days
Vishnu on a majestic Garuda Vahanam. Of grandeur and glory 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 month
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Mylapore Festival’s Kolam competition in Chennai. Amazing talent.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A little-known Vishnu temple near Kanchipuram
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
5 years
Simply beautiful! Ramappa Temple, Palampet. Kakatiya dynasty. 13th century.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
Exquisite Chola sculptures on the east gopuram, Chidambaram.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
The beautiful karana sculptures in the Rajagopuram of the Thiruvannamalai temple. 16th century Vijayanagara/Nayak
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
5 months
Today is Pradosham 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
8 months
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
6 months
Rishi Vishvamitra teaching Rama. Hazara Rama temple, Hampi, Vijayanagara, 15th century.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
Rare shrine for the ten Incarnations of Vishnu
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
A Siva temple with a famous Skanda sanctum
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A lesser-known historical temple
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
An outstanding structural stone construction. The Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram constructed in the reign of Rajasimha Pallava, 8th century.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
5 months
Pranams to the sculptor who carved this. Sun temple, Konarak.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
22 days
A grand Garuda Vahanam 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
6 months
Even among the bronze masterpieces, this is outstanding!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 months
Nataraja, Chola era Government Museum, Chennai
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A beautiful sculpted wood panel on top of the doorway of the Kapaleeshwarar temple, Mylapore Chennai
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
God Siva’s immense compassion highlighted in this temple
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
10 months
Arudra in the month of Margazhi!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
This temple dazzles every time one sees it. I’m completely dazzled now, seeing it after a long time 🙏🏼 The Brihadishwara (Rajarajeshwaram) in Thanjavur (11th century). Rajaraja Chola I.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
7 months
On either side of a doorway in a small, ruined Vishnu temple in Hampi.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
A beautiful Natya Saraswati at Chennai airport
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
25 days
More often than not, we don’t pay attention to the beautiful vahanas during the temple utsavams as our attention is drawn to the deities they carry. But when stationed in the mandapams, before or after the festivals, their beauty is for all to admire.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
8 months
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
7 months
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
6 months
Isnt this interesting? A sculpture of a vimanam of a temple, with the Nandi, bali-pitham and dvajastambham in front, all minutely carved. On a pillar in the Bhaktavatsala temple, Thirukkazhukundram, Tamil Nadu
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 months
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
An ancient, historic temple for God Siva
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
People who keep our temple traditions alive 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 months
Overjoyed to see the response to my tour of the Stone Sculpture Gallery, Madras Museum, and heritage in general. I couldn’t take more than a given number of people on the walk today. I hope to repeat it several times more in the near future, for others who had wanted to join.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A lesser-known Siva temple in Kanchipuram 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 months
A row of cheerful Siva Ganas with Ganesha, their leader. Kailasanatha temple, Kanchipuram. 8th century. Pallava era.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 months
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 months
Happy birthday, Krishna 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
19 days
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
14 days
My humble tribute to my manasiga Guru Dr.C.Minakshi, an amazing Historian, on this auspicious day of Vijayadasami 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
6 months
All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
5 years
The beautiful Srivilliputtur Gopuram!
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Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Goddess Durga! Pallava era. 8th century, Kailasanatha temple, Kanchipuram
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
4 months
They left no stone uncarved
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A lovely little Vishnu temple 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
7 months
This carving is one among a series of miniature sculptures in the 12 century Airavateshwara temple in Darasuram, (a UNESCO World Heritage site) depicting a miracle by Sundaramurti Nayanar. He made a crocodile regurgitate a boy it had eaten, long after the incident happened.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
9 months
An ancient temple for Subramanya
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Chithra Madhavan
1 year
And how they carved! Chennakesava temple, Sompalem, A.P. Vijayanagara era. 16th century.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
And He Dances 🙏🏼 Arudra Darshanam.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
This temple has sanctums for Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, Lakshmi, Parvati & Sarasvati
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
9 months
Rare image of Rama with Shanka and Chakra. Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi. Vijayanagara era.
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 months
Ganesha, Prambanan museum, Indonesia
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
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Chithra Madhavan
2 years
With Shankha and Chakra in His palms.
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Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A lesser-known Shakti temple in Kanchipuram 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
A beautiful, ornate sub-shrine in the Chennakesava temple, Sompalem, A.P. 16th century, Vijayanagara era
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Chola!
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Temple walk in Mylapore. All are welcome 🙏🏼
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
This book on Srivilliputtur has articles on the Sthala Puranam, Perialwar and Andal, Amuktamalyada of Krishnadeva Raya, Architecture, Sculpture, a Yakshagana connected with Srivilliputtur, Andal’s parrot, Festivals, Arayar Sevai, Songs on Srivilliputtur, Inscriptions, Prasadams..
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
3 years
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
1 year
An anonymous sculptor of the Sesharayar Mandapam (‘100’ pillar hall) in the Ranganatha Swami temple, Srirangam has carved a hunting dog with a collar in the middle of warriors. Infinite talent! Nayak era 16th-17th century
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@ChithraMadhavan
Chithra Madhavan
2 years
Rama and Vishwamitra, Hazara Rama temple, Hampi, Vijayanagara, 15th century
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