Winning Entry by Ms. Prapanja Anandkumar
About the Photograph:
Thillai Nataraja Temple, also referred as the Chidambaram Nataraja temple, is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja is one of the forms of Lord Shiva as the lord of dance and his consort Parvati as Shivakama Sundari. This temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. The present temple was built in the 10th century when Chidambaram was the capital of the Chola dynasty, making it one of the oldest surviving active temple complexes in South India. The temple as it stands had a pre-Chola existence and the architecture is Dravidian with the Sanctum Sanctorum closely resembling Kerala or Malabar style structures. Indeed, the royal charters mention the rebuilding of the Sanctum using architects from Kerala.
The stone carvings, the strategic construction of the temple where the idol is placed is on the earth’s magnetic equator and grandeur of architecture remarks the excellence of skill set of Chola dynasty. To construct the temple at Earth’s magnetic equator in the 10th century is really a credible work and modern scientists, architects and historians are yet to discover many hidden facts of the temple.
The picture taken is the sacred pool of water located at the center of the temple. This pool is also known as sivaganga locally in tamil. The time of photo capturing was at 6:30 pm when the sun sets and the earth is going towards winter solastis. The dusky sky with today’s temple lights at the premise covering a landscape view of the sacred pool with towers called Gopuram stands magnanimous and I am proud to belong to that land whose science and technology is very advanced than today’s science.
From the Artist:
My name is Prapanja Anandkumar, 22 years, from
Chennai, holding a bachelor’s degree in B.Des Communication Design from Nirma
University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Currently I am pursuing my Post graduate
course on User interface design and development UI UX from Icat College of
media and design from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. I had a strong inclination
towards art and my aunt was my first teacher who guided me into the world of
art. I participated in many art competitions, went to every summer camp class
on art and art lessons classes from childhood. In grade 8, I got selected by
‘The Hindu’s Young world painting competition to the city level round. This is
my first achievement in art. In the same year I completed the Level Grade
examination for Arts. Traveling to different cities and exposure to
different cultures from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat; this
expanded my visual spectrum of things around me and observing skills. I capture
things around me with my camera and help my father take photographs of our dogs
we have at home for his facebook page. I also play the musical instrument
keyboard and now I am learning piano. I have completed 2 grade examinations
from Trinity College of Music, London. I also did well in academics and had
equal passion & interest for the creative side, I decided to study design
as it needs problem solving skills for physical visual challenges. My design
education from Nirma university has evolved my understanding of art into the
sphere of design and how I can use my creative intelligence for better human
society.
Other Clicks by Ms. Prapanja Anandkumar
Follow her on Instagram:
@archiena_photos
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