The Vidyaśankara Temple at Sringeri. By Dr Purnima Srikrishna. May 6, 2023


The Vidyaśankara Temple is an exceptionally interesting structure - an imaginative, blend of architecture, iconography, and symbolism. To the student of aesthetics, the temple is not just a place of worship but an extraordinary piece of art. Examining the records, narratives, iconography, and architecture, this presentation puts forth a holistic understanding of the temple. About the Speaker Dr. Purnima Srikrishna trained at Mysore University, qualifying M.A. in English literature in 1989. She was awarded a Ph.D. in History, for her work on the Vidyaśankara temple, Sringeri, by the University of Mumbai. She has been awarded: - Research grant by the Luigi and Laura Dallapiccola Foundation, - The Telang Memorial Scholarship for 2004-05 by the Asiatic society, Mumbai. - The Heras Tata Institutional Fellowship for post-doctoral work on “The Agraharas on the Tunga” Her main area of research is temple art, architecture and iconography. She has several presentations and publications to her credit, including John Faithful Fleet, A monograph co-authored with Leela B Jois. Published under the monograph series – Founders Guardians of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai by Indus Source Books for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, 2014.

பண்பாட்டுச் செல்வங்களின் பாதுகாப்பு -முனைவர் வே. ஜெயராஜ்


சென்னை எழும்பூரில் உள்ள அரசு அருங்காட்சியகத்தின் முன்னாள் காப்பாளர் டாக்டர் வே. ஜெயராஜ், "பண்பாட்டுச் செல்வங்களின் பாதுகாப்பில் மக்களின் பங்கு" என்ற தனது உரையில், பாரம்பரியப் பாதுகாப்பில் தனது முப்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலான அனுபவத்தின் படிப்பினைகளை வடித்து, ஆக்கபூர்வமான யோசனைகளை நமக்கு வழங்குவார். முனைவர் வே ஜெயராஜ் முப்பது ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக சென்னை அரசு அருங்காட்சியகத்தில் (எழும்பூர் அருங்காட்சியகம்) காப்பாளராகப் பணியாற்றினார். இவர் வேதியியலில் M Sc, வரலாற்றில் M.A. மற்றும் வரலாறு, வேதியியல் மற்றும் தொல்லியல் ஆகியவற்றை இணைக்கும் இன்டர்-டிசிப்ளினரி ஆய்வுகளில் Ph D பட்டம் பெற்றவர். ஈரோடு மற்றும் வேலூரில் உள்ள அருங்காட்சியகங்களில் காப்பாளராக, அவ்வருங்காட்சியகங்களுக்காக ஆயிரம் பொருட்களை சேகரித்த பெருமைக்குரியவர். எழும்பூர் அருங்காட்சியகத்தில் இரசாயன பாதுகாப்புத் துறை தலைவராகப் பணியாற்றியவர். அவர் ஏழு புத்தகங்கள், பல சிறு புத்தகங்கள், ஏராளமான ஆராய்ச்சி கட்டுரைகள் மற்றும் பத்திரிகை கட்டுரைகளை எழுதியுள்ளார். பல மாணவர்களுக்கு M Phil மற்றும் Ph D பட்டம் பெற வழிகாட்டியாக (Guide) இருந்துள்ளார். அவர் ஹெப்சிபா இன்ஸ்டிடியூட் ஆஃப் ஹெரிடேஜ் கன்சர்வேஷன் என்ற நிறுவனத்தை ஸ்தாபித்து அதன் கெளரவ இயக்குநராக தலைமை தாங்கி வருகிறார். தொல்பொருட்களின் பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் அருங்காட்சியக நிர்வாகம், தொல்பொருட்கள் மற்றும் கலைப் படைப்புகளை மதிப்பீடு செய்தல் போன்றவற்றில் பயிற்சி அளிப்பதிலும் ஆராய்ச்சிகள் நடத்துவதிலும் ஈடுபட்டு வருகிறார். சென்னை இலக்கியச் சங்கம், அரசு ஓரியண்டல் கையெழுத்துப் பிரதிகள் நூலகம், சென்னை அரசு கண் மருத்துவ மனை போன்றவற்றில் மட்டுமல்லாமல், கேரளாவில் உள்ள மாநிலக் காப்பகங்கள், ஆந்திராவில் உள்ள கடப்பா நூலகம் மற்றும் புனேவில் உள்ள இந்திய ரிசர்வ் வங்கியின் பண அருங்காட்சியகம், கோழிக்கோட்டில் உள்ள கிருஷ்ணமேனன் அருங்காட்சியகம் மற்றும் மைசூர் அரண்மனை போன்ற புகழ்பெற்ற நிறுவனங்களிலும் தொல்பொருட்களை மீட்டெடுத்த பெருமை டாக்டர் ஜெயராஜ்க்கு உண்டு.

Tamil Heritage Swaminathan Award 2023


The Tamil Heritage Trust-Prof S. Swaminathan Heritage Award (THT-SS Award) aims to recognize exceptional individual contributions toward the understanding, dissemination, and preservation of Indian Heritage. By rewarding outstanding work in this area, the Award aspires to encourage interest and involvement of the general public in Indian Heritage, thereby raising the awareness and appreciation of history, literature, arts, and culture which deserve our attention and care.

The award aims to recognize and reward the efforts and achievements of individuals. Thus, collective enterprises like societies, trusts and Section 8 companies, and other interest groups will not be eligible for the award.

 

The last date for receiving nominations is July 2nd, 2023.


The Award is based on a nomination and selection process.

The Award will consist of a citation and a prize of Rs.25000/-

 


Nomination Process

 

1.     Any individual can nominate any other individual whom they believe has done noteworthy work in the area of Indian heritage.

2.     Individuals can also nominate themselves.

3.     Nominee's age should be between 20 and 50 years.

4.     The individual must be a citizen of India and ordinarily resident in India.

6.     Please click to download the nomination form from here

7.     Nominations must be sent by email along with the nomination form to admin@tamilheritage.in to reach us before July 2nd, 2023.

      Nominations and accompanying details may be in English or Tamil only.

 

Selection of Winner

 

A jury comprising members of the THT Award Committee as well as experts from the field of Heritage will select the winner.

As a part of the selection process, the Judges may choose to have an interaction with the nominee in person or over phone.

 

Award Ceremony & Award Lecture

 

The THT-Prof. S Swaminathan Heritage Award will be presented at a formal award ceremony later this year.

The Winner will be invited to present the award lecture at the ceremony. The Winner may choose a topic of her/his choice. The Award Lecture may be in Tamil or English.

 

 

FAQs

 

Am I eligible to enter?

 

We welcome Nominations from any individual who is a citizen of India and is ordinarily resident in India. Organisations and institutions – like Societies, Trusts, Interest Groups etc – are not eligible.

 

What are the criteria for selection?

 

The work done must relate to the previous 5 years. The judges will look for, among other qualities and parameters:

 

·                New discoveries or insights

·                Thoroughness of knowledge in the chosen area

·                Scholarly rigour in the individual’s output

·                Demonstrable eagerness to share with the public and involve them in a dialog

·                Consistency and persistence of the effort

 

In what language should the Nomination be submitted?

Nominations can be sent in English or Tamil only.

 

Is it necessary for the Winner to deliver the Award Lecture?

Yes, the Winner will be expected to deliver the Award Lecture at the Ceremony, either in Tamil or English, on a topic of her/his choice.

 

What is the Last Date for Nomination?

The last date for entries to reach THT is July 2nd, 2023.

 

When will the winner be announced?

The winner will be announced shortly before the Award Ceremony and the Award Lecture.

 

When and Where is the Awards Ceremony?

The Ceremony will take place in Aug-Sept 2023. Details of the ceremony will be announced later. 

 

Is there an Entry Fee?

No, there is no fee involved.

 

Terms + Conditions of entry

The Award will be made solely at the discretion of the Jury. No feedback or correspondence will be entered into about the results and the Jury’s decision is final.

 

 

About Tamil Heritage Trust (THT)

Tamil Heritage Trust (THT) is a recognized trust (Reg.No. 379/2010) set up with a vision to promote, document and disseminate Indian heritage. The impetus for this came from Prof. S. Swaminathan, who retired as Professor of Mechanical Engineering, IIT-Delhi and Badri Seshadri, a well-known publisher, entrepreneur and heritage enthusiast.

THT’s events are conducted by volunteers with a common interest in Indian heritage and a passion to communicate its richness and beauty to as many people as possible. Aṣ a non-profit organization, the Trust is supported by sponsors and donations by heritage enthusiasts. There is no membership or subscription fees. THT’s Monthly Talks and Pechu Kacheri programs are free for all. The Site Seminars, Mamallapuram Study Tours and How to See a Temple sessions are run on an at-cost basis.


Our mission is to get everyone interested in Indian heritage and, if they are already attracted to this subject, provide them a community they can enjoy learning along with.

Towards this end, we conduct a range of events:

·      Monthly Talks on various aspects of heritage, conducted on the first Saturday of every month

·      Annual Pechu Kacheri (a lecture series) on heritage-related themes in December

·      Periodic Study Tours to Mamallapuram

·      Periodic Workshops on “How to See a Temple” and “How to See a Museum”

·      Annual Site Seminars – weeklong tours to heritage sites of importance in and outside Tamil Nadu

·      Presentations at schools to sensitize youngsters to our heritage

·      Heritage courses for teachers

·      Coordination with the TN Government’s culture/tourism agencies to support and supplement their efforts

 

You can follow THT on Facebook (/TamilHeritageTrust) and Twitter (@TamilHeritageTN)

 

About Prof. S Swaminathan

 

Prof. S Swaminathan is the inspiration behind the Tamil Heritage Trust. As a co-founder, he continues to guide the initiatives and activities of THT.
His interest in India’s rich heritage goes back to his days at IIT-Delhi where he engaged generations of his students in projects and conversations on India’s traditions in art, architecture, music, mathematics and science. After his retirement he made it his life’s mission to educate, inform and inspire interested audiences to discover more about their heritage.
A Professor in Mechanical Engineering in Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi for more than 30 years, Prof Swaminathan also worked in the Centre for Rural Development in IIT Madras, Bharath Gyan Vigyan Samithy, Delhi as the National Coordinator for watershed development and Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Palakkad, Kerala.
Fuelled by an infinite curiosity, his interests range far and wide. He has written a book on the Pallava art of Mamallapuram. His lectures on the paintings of Ajanta are legendary. His talks on an array of topics – 5000 years of Indian Art, The Story of Scripts, the Mathematics of Kolams, the Trees of India and so on - have served as wonderful introductions to awestruck audiences for many years. His erudition makes him equally at home with the fine nuances of Carnatic music, the complexities of Gandhian thought and the refined ideas of Nehru’s scientific temper.
His passion for education, especially of young minds, has led him to work pro-bono with schools and colleges – helping to redesign curriculum at one institution, assisting teachers to bring practical science to the class rooms at another, planting a Sangam-age orchard of tress in a third, and readily sharing his wisdom for the benefit of teachers and students everywhere.
He is the author Mamallapuram: Unfinished Poetry in Stone and monographs on the Paintings of Ajanta, and the Monuments of Pudukottai District.

 

Contact Us

For any clarifications, please contact us at:

Mail: admin@tamilheritage.in

Ashwin Prabhu, Ph: 98407-18533