stone – GOPS Creativ

Feb 11

by GOPAN NAIR in Wonders of Nature 4 comments tags: abstract, aluminium, art, bauxite, blog, creation, creativ, drop, elements, five, FRAMES, freedom, god, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops.org, iron, laterite, nature, ore, photography, soil, stone

THE PARADOX OF ABSTRACT REALITY

I search for that artistic essence in everything; in water, scattered clouds, the earth’s muck, on wood or leaves that have fallen. By chance, I discovered these laterite stone blocks while building my home. This type of soil is abundant in iron ore, aluminium (bauxite), and various other minerals, giving the material a rich palette of colors. Some of the stones’ cross-sections resembled stunning abstract art pieces, and I found myself unable to resist capturing those moments on camera. Here are a few examples:

Jan 27

GREAT INDIAN ARCHITECTURE SERIES :: SOMANATHPURA

The Chennakesava Temple was built in 1268 C.E by Soma, a Dandanayaka (commander) in the Hoysala Kingdom during the rule of King Narasimha III. The intricate and detailed carving style is commonly found in the Hoysala temples of Karnataka, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology, contemporary culture, art forms, and weaponry. Soapstone ((steatite or talc-schist)) is the material of choice for carving, providing a remarkable finish. The softness of soapstone allows for shaping even with finger nails, and instead of the traditional hammer and chiselling process, many pillars and sculptures were created using lathe turning or scraping motion of the tools. A touch of polishing with oil would bring out a lifelike appearance in them. The side walls are intricately carved with depictions of cavalry, elephants, and scenes from epics such as Mahabharat, Ramayan, and Bhagavat. The sculptures show extreme attention to detail, reflecting the culture, clothing, dances, jewelry, weaponry, and more of that era. Research students can gain valuable insights into the history of the period through these carvings. This Vaishnava temple faces east and is surrounded by a strong boundary wall (prakara). It features three shrines (trikuta) built on a star-shaped platform (jagati). The temple’s beauty rivals that of […]

Jan 24

by GOPAN NAIR in Indian architecture & Heritage 4 comments tags: bahubali, bangalore, Bhadrabahu, Brahmadeva, cave, chandragiri, chandragupta, Chikkabetta, Doddabetta, gomateshwara, gomateswara, gopan, gopan g nair, gops, gops.org, hill, india, Indragiri, jain, jainism, maurya, monolithic, mysore, photography, pillar, route, SHRAVANABELAGOLA, south, statue, stone, tour, Tyagada, vindyagiri

A TRIP TO SHRAVANABELAGOLA

“THERE IS NO ENEMY OUT OF YOUR SOUL. THE REAL ENEMIES LIVE INSIDE YOURSELF; THEY ARE ANGER, EGO, PRIDE, CURVEDNESS, GREED, ATTACHMENTS AND HATRED” :- Lord Mahavir Bahubali, according to Jainism, is revered as the epitome of a man who overcomes selfishness, jealousy, pride, and anger. The 57-foot monolithic statue of Gomateshvara (Bahubali) at Shravanabelagola holds great significance as a pilgrimage site for Jain followers. Shravanabelagola translates to “White pond of the ascetic” and is situated amidst two hills. The larger hill is known as Indragiri/Vindyagiri (Doddabetta) while the smaller one is called Chandragiri (Chikkabetta). One can observe over two millennia of Jain history at this location. Emperor Chandra Gupta Maurya (340 – 298 BC) chose to live out his last days as a Jain monk at Chandragiri. He had successfully expanded his empire to encompass various regions of the Indian subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Balochistan. The Maurya kingdom thrived under the wise counsel of the renowned philosopher Chanakya and also benefited from their alliance with Macedonian king Alexander and his descendants. Chandragupta Maurya, in his later years, made the decision to adopt Jainism under the guidance of his spiritual mentor Bhadrabahu. He then moved to Shravanbelgola in 298 BC […]

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THE PARADOX OF ABSTRACT REALITY

GREAT INDIAN ARCHITECTURE SERIES :: SOMANATHPURA

A TRIP TO SHRAVANABELAGOLA

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