Exquisite Treasures of Ritual Art
Hindu temples, especially in Karnataka, are repositories of Indian culture, a mosaic of architecture, sculpture, spirituality and social religious lifestyle. Defining all these by binding together functions, form and ideas are the prescribed rituals of Hindu worship.
These 48,000 temples of Karnataka are rich storehouses of crafted objects, utensils which are used to perform rituals - be it bathing the gods with an exquisite silver udharane or adorning them.
The exotic gem-studded jewels and utensils are functional and fashioned out of gold, silver and copper. They date back to timeless antiquity and are of classic design, shape and marked by craftsmanship of the highest order.
Often encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds, these artefacts were gifted by various Raja's, Nawabs and lay people. Both Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan offered priceless necklaces to the Ranganatha temple in Srirangapatnam. The Nizam of Hyderabad's votive offering to the Sringeri Math was a dazzling ruby and diamond encrusted crown.
The many turban pins which adorn the utsava murtis of temples bear witness to the inherent secularism of attitude in a bygone era. Another dazzling piece of art is a diamond and emerald encrusted ghata donated by Krishnaraya Wodeyar. A magnificent 829 total heavy silver 'jaladrona' or water jug in posession of the Parakkala Math is another compelling ritual utensil.A lovely gem encrusted coonch and a silver kamandal at Sri Sarada Peetam in Sringeri are truly breathtaking as are the silver fans at Sri Sidhalingeshwar temple.
The Sri Sarada Peetham temple in Sringeri possesses an idol of Ganapathy crafted in gold with a large sized pearl forming the belly. This is indeed a magnu
This is not all, the temples have a gamut of jewellery - odiyanams, addigais, turban pins, crowns, mukuts and arm bands.
