Rock of Ages : Ancient Wonders Set In Stone

The land of Tamils is never short of wonders (even if sans recognition). One such narrow yet amazing set of nonpareils comprises of - Rocks. Yes, just rocks. 

Ancient Tamils have been ingeniously carving rocks to create spectacular sculptures and towering  temples for a very long time. Here, we will see some of the more primal wonders - more concerned with rocky structures than sculptures. 

But in the first place, how did they even manage to cut out rocks from hillocks and boulders?

SPLIT THE STONE

One way is by utilizing water. Water, when it enters any crack or crevice and freezes, it expands and continuous freeze-thaw cycles lead to rock being cleaved. 

But if you have ever lived in Tamilnadu, you would know that freezing temperatures and leprechauns are equiprobable. So, they had to innovate. And boy, they were so good at it...

What you see in the image are holes carved out in a starkly straight line. Now, wooden wedges were fitted in them and it was followed by pouring hot water on them. This led to the wood to expand and voila! The rock parted...

BALANCING ACT...

 Popularly called Krishna's butterball, the giant rock (5m in diameter) was originally named Vaan Irai Kal meaning Sky God's Stone in Tamil. 

This rock is made up of granite and found in Mahabalipuram. Weighing over 250 tons, this rock marvelously perches atop a mere 4-feet slippery area of a hill making an angle of 45 degrees with the ground beneath, to which it is attached firmly. It is much larger than monoliths of Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu (Peru). The rock is believed to be naturally-formed then sculpted smooth.

Failed attempts to move it are said to have been made by Pallava king of 7th century Narasimhavarman I and definitely by Governor Arthur Havelock (with 7 elephants) in 1908.

HUMONGOUS HOLE

Another ancient wonder is also from Mahabalipuram, a bustling port since the times of Periplus and Ptolemy. 

An eight-feet wide giant hole carved out of Granite, 5 feet deep. The circumference is clear circle and the walls are too smooth to be made over 1300 years ago. It is locally called as Sita's Bathtub. 

Such chiseled spectacle would have required skilled labour of craftsmen for years.

ROCK MUSIC!

     

Then we have Thenkasi. The temple here houses a musical miracle - the Shruti Pillars (also found in a few other temples like in Tirunelveli,Madurai...). Seven pillars are clustered as close as a few centimeters together yet with intricate detailing in that gaps too. 

The catch? Each produces a swara upon hitting it.

 Double catch?? The entire cluster was carved out of a single rock! Mind==blown.

COULOUROCK...

      

Sittanavasal (meaning Abode of Saints) is a criminally underrated rock-cut complex of cave Jain monasteries. The name translates to abode of saints. It contains frescoes from the 6th century.

 The caves contain rock-cut beds and fresco-secco murals made up of mineral colours. 

The temple-cave, Arivar Koil, is dated to Pallava King Mahendravarman I prior to his reconversion from Jainism to Shaivism (570-630 CE).

These are a very few of the stony spectacles of the ancient world. There are an entire lot of such marvels, that when you would come to know, are sure to rock you...

Until then,

SSV