stories of Ramayana at Hazara Rama Devastana

Further to the post dedicated to the sculptures of Sharavan Kumar at Hazara Rama Devastana, I revisited the pictures again and felt like sharing pictures of two more walls there. Being a temple dedicated to Sri Rama, the builders decorated the temple with sculptures depicting stories from the epic Ramayana.

The middle image in the bottom row is the scene of king Dasharatha giving the divine payasam to his three queens Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. The divine payasam was a product of a Yagna for progeny. After the rituals a bowl of payasam was gifted by the gods to Dasharatha who in turn distributed among his queens. We all know that later four sons were born- Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana & Shatrugna.

The bottom row leftmost image should be of Dasharatha, the four princes and Guru Vasishta, the princes teacher. The rightmost image must be the scene of Dasharatha performing the Yagna.

Moving up to the middle row, the three images are from Aranyakhand, the part of Ramayana where Rama is in exile for fourteen years. The leftmost image is the scene of Bharatha meeting Rama,  Sita & Lakshmana in the forest. The middle image shows Lakshmana leading the way for Rama & Sita in a forest path. The rightmost is the scene of Lakshmana defending Rama & Sita from Shurpanakhi the Rakshasa woman who was infatuated by Rama's charm.

On to the top row where the mages are smaller. The middle one seems like Rama meeting Hanuman, or Sugreeva. The rightmost seems like Vali & Tara.

In this picture, the bottom left image is the scene of Rama breaking Shiva's bow Pinaka while trying to string it. This incident happens at Sita's home. Anyone seeking to marry Sita had to string Pinaka was her father king Janaka's condition. So Rama while trying to string the bow breaks it which proved his strength and marries Sita.

The bottom-middle image seems like sage Vishwamitra asking Dasharatha to send Rama & Lakshmana along with him to protect his Yagna from Rakshasa attacks. Dasharatha unwillingly agrees fearing Vishwamitra's anger. Despite being young and inexperienced, Rama & Lakshmana fight bravely and successfully protect Vishwamitra's Yagna ceremony. The bottom-right image is the scene of the battle between the princes & rakshasas.

In the middle row, it's a couple of rakshasa soldiers. Unsure of the characters of the archery duel. On the right it seems like Rama, Sita & Lakshmana.

The top row are scenes from the Ashoka garden in Ravana's Lanka. In the left is the scene of Hanuman meeting Sita while in captivity at Ashoka Garden. The middle and right images are the scenes of Hanuman fighting rakshasa soldiers and destroying a huge part of Ravana's palace garden.

So much for this week.

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Shilpavana, Kannada University - part 4

The only visit to Kannada Vishwavidyalaya, Hampi was in December 2013. We had spent a couple of hours at the campus appreciating artworks, both ancient and contemporary. Most of the ancient art was displayed in the colonnades of at the library building Akshara. Contemporary art was spread around the natural settings of the campus. Though it was a memorable experience I somehow could not visit the university again despite going to Hampi / Anegundi several times. Anyway, here are a few pictures shot in 2013 which weren't published earlier.

As I know artworks did not have names displayed with them so I named as saw them. This is my uncle M S Patil looking at an assembly of stones which appears like one single unit. The sculpture stands on the road close to the campus university. In the background is the library building.

On my left hand side was a building housing the offices of Directorate of Distance Education. The structure is a fusion of ancient and present designs.

Our next stop was at the library. The building's central tower is an imitation of temple Gopura / Shikhara crown. The long staircase gives a nice look to the building. It's a great place for shooting pictures, individual or group.

An ancient idol of Nandi facing the northern direction adorns the first landing. Wondering if there's a Shivalinga in Nandi line of sight.

At the end of the staircase, at the library floor level is a pair of cannons placed on pedestals. As I know, these are the only two cannons in the entire campus.

Around the library is a colonnade in which ancient sculptures are exhibited. It's like an open air museum. Of the several dozen sculptures, I took shots of just a few which I regret now.

Here we have two Jaina sculptures and one LakshmiNarayana. These seem like sculptures of the Hoysala period.

Here's a standing form of Vishnu, a sitting Ganapati and a Thirtanara. These two seem like Hoysala time creations.

Another Thirtankara with an expression of bliss. Someone took the liberty of drawing Tripundraka - that's a symbolic merging of Jaina and Lingayath beliefs.

This one seems like a sculpture of Vijayanagara period. And it seems like a sculpture of Sri Krishnadevaraya astride a horse and accompanied by three men, bearers of the royal flag, umbrella and a fan. At the top is a Kirtimukha, the face to dispel evil eyes.

Here's another beautiful sculpture of a warrior defeating a soldier in a fight. The warrior, seemingly of royal blood is holding a spear and his assistant is holding an umbrella. The umbrella bearer seems out of place considering the situation but then it may not be appropriate to show a king without the regal paraphernalia. My guess is this sculpture was made in memory of victory in some battle.

On one end of the colonnade are a couple of inscription slabs. 

Then we have a wooden temple chariot called 'theru' in Kannada. The chariot must have been retrieved from one of the ancient temples at Hampi. This is an example of a small chariot. Major temples have really massive chariots with huge wheels which require hundreds of people to get them rolling. With this our tour of library museum ends.

From the library we went deeper into the campus. Here's one eye-catching painting. This is Shiva for sure. To be specific, it seems like a depiction of Veerabhadra, a form of Shiva.

Then we enter the garden of sculptures Shilpavana. That's Mama trying to understanding what the sculpture means.

Before I end this post I urge to take a look at the sculptures of Shilpavana, really creative stuff from budding artists.

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Monuments at Hampi

While touring historic places like Aihole, Badami or Hampi, where the monuments are spread around a wide area, it would be handy to have a map pin-pointing the locations of individual spots. At Hampi, boards with maps have been posted at most of the monuments. This is very helpful for tourists to plan their route and, make use of their limited time efficiently. Here's one such map, the one posted at Sri Pattabhirama Devastana. Following the image is the transcription of monuments' lists in Kannada, Hindi and English. Also, you can refer to an earlier post titled what to see in Hampae where you can read the spots' short description.

	ಸ್ಮಾರಕಗಳು		स्मारकों		Monuments
1	ಸಾಸಿವೆಕಾಳು ಗಣೇಶ	1	साशिवेकालु गणेश	1	Sasivekalu Ganesha
2	ವಿಷ್ಣುಪಾದ ದೇವಾಲಯ	2	विष्णुपाद मंदिर	2	Vishnupada Temple
3	ಕಡಲೆಕಾಳು ಗಣೇಶ	3	कहलेकालु गणेश	3	Kadalekalu Ganesha
4	ಹೇಮಕೂಟ ದೇಗುಲ ಸಮೂಹ	4	हेमकुब मंदिर समूह	4	Hemakuta Temples
5	ವಿರೂಪಾಕ್ಷ ದೇವಾಲಯ	5	विरूपाक्ष मंदिर	5	Virupaksha Temples
6	ಅಖಂಡಶಿಲೆ ಬಸವಣ್ಣ	6	एकशीला नंदि	6	Monolithic Bull
7	ವೀರಭದ್ರ ದೇವಾಲಯ	7	वीरभद्र मंदिर	7	Veerabhadra Temple
8	ಅಚ್ಯುತರಾಯ ದೇವಾಲಯ	8	अच्युतराया मंदिर	8	Achyuthaya Temple
9	ಗಣಿಕಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯರ ಬೀದಿ	9	गणिका स्त्री वीधि	9	Courtesans Street
10	ನೀರಿನ ಕೊಳ	10	पुष्करणि	10	Water Tank
11	ಯಂತ್ರೋದ್ಧಾರಕ ಆಂಜನೇಯ	11	यंतोधारक अंजनय मंदिर	11	Yanthodhara Anjaneya Temple
12	ಕೋದಂಡರಾಮ ದೇವಾಲಯ	12	केदंडराम मंदिर	12	Kodandarama Temple
13	ವರಾಹ ದೇವಾಲಯ	13	वराह मंदिर	13	Varaha Temple
14	ವಿಷ್ಣು ದೇವಾಲಯ 1	14	विष्णु मंदिर १	14	Vishnu Temple 1
15	ವಿಷ್ಣು ದೇವಾಲಯ 2	15	विष्णु मंदिर २	15	Vishnu Temple 2
16	ನರಸಿಂಹ ದೇವಾಲಯ	16	नरसिंह मंदिर	16	Narasimha Temple
17	ಎರಡಂತಸ್ತಿನ ದ್ವಾರ	17	दो मंजिल का द्वार	17	Two Storeyed Gateway
18	ತುಲಾಭಾರ ಮಂಟಪ	18	तराजु मंडप	18	King's Balance
19	ಭಗ್ನಗೊಂಡ ಮಹಾದ್ವಾರ	19	अपूर्ण महा द्वार	19	Ruined Gateway
20	ವಿಷ್ಣು ದೇವಾಲಯ 3	20	विष्णु मंदिर ३	20	Vishnu Temple 3
21	ಪುರಂದರ ಮಂಟಪ	21	पुरंदरा मंडप	21	Purandara Mandαρα
22	ಲೇಖಿತ ವಿಷ್ಣು ದೇವಾಲಯ	22	उत्कीर्णित विष्णु मंदिर	22	Inscribed Vishnu Temple
23	ವಿಠಲ ದೇವಾಲಯ	23	विठ्ठल मंदिर	23	Vitthala Temple
24	ಶಿವ ದೇವಾಲಯ	24	शिव मंदिर	24	Shiva Temple
25	ನೀರಿನ ಕೊಳ	25	पुष्करणि	25	Water Tank
26	ಕುದುರೆಗೊಂಬೆ ಮಂಟಪ	26	कुदुरेगोम्बे मंडप	26	Kuduregombe Mandapa
27	ಗೆಜ್ಜಲ ಮಂಟಪ	27	गेज्जल मंडप	27	Gejjala Mandapa
28	ತಳಾರಿಘಟ್ಟ ದ್ವಾರ	28	तलारिघट्टा द्वार	28	Talarigatta Gate
29	ಕೃಷ್ಣ ದೇವಾಲಯ	29	कृष्ण मंदिर	29	Krishna Temple
30	ಬಡವಿಲಿಂಗ ದೇವಾಲಯ	30	बडविलिंग मंदिर	30	Badavalinga Temple
31	ಲಕ್ಷ್ಮೀ ನರಸಿಂಹ	31	लक्ष्मी नरसिंह मंदिर	31	Lashmi Narasimha
32	ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ದೇವಾಲಯ	32	सरस्वति मंदिर	32	Sarsvati Temple
33	ಚಂಡಿಕೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಾಲಯ	33	चंडिकेश्वर मंदिर	33	Chandikeshvar Temple
34	ಉದ್ದಾನ ವೀರಭದ್ರ ದೇವಾಲಯ	34	उढाना वीरभद्र मंदिर	34	Uddhan Virabhadra Temple
35	ನೆಲಸ್ತರದ ಶಿವ ದೇವಾಲಯ	35	भूमि स्तर शिव मंदिर	35	Underground Siva Temple
36	ದಂಡನಾಯಕನ ಆವರಣ	36	दन्नायक कक्ष	36	Dannayaka Enclosure
37	ಮುಹಮಡನ್ ಕಾವಲು ಗೋಪುರ	37	मुहमदन निगरानी मीनार	37	Mohammadan Watch Tower
38	ಅರಮನೆಯ ಆವರಣ	38	महल का अधिष्ठान	38	Basement Of Palace
39	ಬ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಟವರ್	39	ब्यान्ड मीनार	39	Band Tower
40	ಮಸೀದಿ	40	मस्जिद	40	Mosque
41	ಟಂಕಸಾಲೆ	41	टंकसाल कक्ष	41	Mint Area
42	ವೀರ ಹರಿಹರನ ಅರಮನೆ	42	वीर हरिहरा का महल	42	Palace Of Vira Harihara
43	ರಾಜಮಾನ್ಯರ ವಸತಿ ಗೃಹಗಳು	43	ग य व्यक्ति के गृह	43	Noblemen's Quarters
44	ಪಾನ್ ಸುಪಾರಿ ಬಜಾರ್	44	पान सुपारि बजार	44	Pan-Supari Bazar
45	ಪಟ್ಟಣದ ಯಲ್ಲಮ್ಮ ದೇವಾಲಯ	45	नगर का यल्लम्मा मंदिर	45	Pattanada Yellamma Temple
46	ಅಂತಃಪುರ	46	अंतःपुर	46	Zanana Enclosure
47	ಜಲ ಮಹಲ್	47	जल महल	47	Water Pavilion
48	ಖಜಾನೆ	48	खजाना घर	48	Treasury Building
49	ಕಾವಲು ಗೋಪುರ, ಅಂತಃಪುರ	49	जनाना का निगरानी मीनार	49	Watch Tower-Zanana
50	ರಾಣಿ ಅರಮನೆಯ ಅಧಿಷ್ಠಾನ	50	राणी महल का अधिष्टान	50	Basement Of Queen's Palace
51	ಕಮಲ ಮಹಲ್	51	कमल महल	51	Lotus Mahal
52	ಕಾವಲು ಗೋಪುರ, ಅಂತಃಪುರ	52	जनानां का निगरानी मीनार	52	Watch Tower-Zanana
53	ರಂಗ ದೇವಾಲಯ	53	रंगा मंदिर	53	Ranga Temple
54	ಕಾವಲುಗಾರರ ವಸತಿ ಗೃಹಗಳು	54	चौकीदार का घर	54	Guard's Quarter
55	ಗಜ ಶಾಲ	55	हाथी शाला	55	Elephant's Stable
56	ಪಾರ್ಶ್ವನಾಥ ದೇವಾಲಯ	56	पार्श्वनाथ मंदिर	56	Parswanath Temple
57	ಜೈನ ದೇವಾಲಯ	57	जैन मंदिर	57	Jain Temple
58	ಶೃಂಗಾರದ ಹೆಬ್ಬಾಗಿಲು	58	शृंगारित बुलंद दरवाजा	58	Sringarada Hebbagilu
59	ಹಜಾರರಾಮ ದೇವಾಲಯ	59	हजारराम मंदिर	59	Hazararama Temple
60	ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಕಾಲುವೆ	60	पथ्थर की जल वाहिनी	60	Stone Aqueduct
61	ರಾಜದರ್ಬಾರಿನ ಸಭಾಂಗಣ	61	शाही कक्ष	61	Royal Enclosure
62	ಮಹಾನವಮಿ ದಿಬ್ಬ	62	महानवमी दिब्बा	62	Mahanavami Dibba
63	ಕಲ್ಲಿನ ಬಾಗಿಲು	63	पथ्थर का द्वार पाटक	63	Stone Door
64	ರಾಜ ಪ್ರಾಂಗಣ	64	दिवान-ए-आम	64	King's Audience Hall
65	ನೆಲಮಾಳಿಗೆ	65	भूमि स्तर कमरा	65	Underground Chamber
66	ಪಾವಟಿಗೆಯ ಕೊಳ	66	सीडीवाली पुष्करणि	66	Stepped Tank
67	ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಸ್ನಾನದಕೊಳ	67	सार्वजनिक स्नान घर	67	Public Bath
68	ರಾಣಿ ಸ್ನಾನದ ಗೃಹ	68	राणी का स्नान घर	68	Queen's Bath
69	ಭೋಜನ ಶಾಲೆ	69	भोजन शाला	69	Bhojana Shala
70	ಅಷ್ಟಭುಜ ನೀರಿನ ಕೊಳ	70	अष्टकोण जल गृह	70	Octagonal Water Pavilion
71	ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ ದೇವಾಲಯ	71	चंद्रशेखर मंदिर	71	Chandrashekar Temple
72	ಸರಸ್ವತಿ ದೇವಾಲಯ	72	सरस्वति मंदिर	72	Saraswati Temple
73	ಅಷ್ಟಭುಜ ಸ್ನಾನದ ಕೊಳ	73	अष्टकोण स्नान घर	73	Octagonal Bath
74	ಗಾಣಿಗಿತ್ತಿ ಜೈನ ದೇವಾಲಯ	74	गाणिगित्ती जैन मंदिर	74	Ganigitti Jain Temple
75	ಭೀಮನ ಮಹಾದ್ವಾರ	75	भीम द्वार	75	Bhima's Gateway
76	ಮಾಲ್ಯವಂತ ರಘುನಾಥ ದೇವಾಲಯ	76	माल्यवन्त रघुनाथ मंदिर	76	Malyavanta Raghunatha Temple
77	ಪಟ್ಟಾಭಿರಾಮ ದೇವಾಲಯ	77	पट्टाभीराम मंदिर	77	Pattabhiarama Temple
78	ಲೋಕಪಾವನಿ	78	पुष्करणि	78	Water Tank
79	ಗುಮ್ಮಟಾಕಾರದ ಮಹಾದ್ವಾರ	79	गुंबज द्वार	79	Domed Gateway
80	ಶಿವ ದೇವಾಲಯ	80	शिव मंदिर	80	Shiva Temple
81	ಮುಹಮಡನ್ ಗೋರಿ ಮತ್ತು ದರ್ಗಾಗಳು	81	मोहम्मद कबरिस्तान और दर्गा	81	Mohammadan Tomb & Darga
82	ಕೂಪಾರಾಮ ವಾಟಿಕ	82	कूप आराम वाटिका	82	Stepped Tank
83	ಅನಂತಶಯನ ದೇವಾಲಯ	83	अनंतशयन मंदिर	83	Anantashayana Temple

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