The temple architecture of Kerala is unique - seemingly simple, it is structurally complex. It differs from the Dravida style of Southern and the Nagara style of the Northern India. Influenced by geological, geographical, environmental and ethnic characteristics, the construction of the temple is dominated by timber which is used, unlike stone in other parts of India, to create its art and architecture. Proportion and geometry of differently structured components like shrikovil, namaskaramandapam etc. of the temple complex, bring about a surprising harmony to the architecture. observance of keeping the old order intact and alive have kept Kerala temples in pristine condition. In her talk, 'Temple Architecture of Kerala: An Overview', Dr Preeta Nayar explores these unique features whose continuity has been maintained for over a 1000 years in pristine conditions. About the Speaker Dr Preeta Nayar heads the Department of Archaeology, University of Kerala. After graduating in Archaeology from M S University of Baroda, India, she received her Ph.D from the same University, specializing in Vaishnava Iconography. She has completed a comprehensive study on Ramayana in Sculptural Art of Kerala. She was the Antiquity Registrar and Co-Director for Pattanam archaeological excavations for six seasons. She has been studying the stone and glass beads excavated from Pattanam and Vizhinjam archaeological sites in Kerala, Mandiripattinam in Tamil Nadu and has made a comparative study of Pattanam and Sumhuram (Khor Rori in Oman) beads for Pisa University, Italy. She publishes regularly on Indian iconography and edits the Proceedings of Indian Art History Congress. She is one of the editors of the Archaeology Journal The Heritage. Please subscribe to this channel and click on the bell icon to receive notifications of future events. www.tamilheritage.in www.facebook.com/TamilHeritageTrust

Watercraft in Early Tamil Literature by Dr V Selvakumar, June 5, 2021

Tamil literature has references to several types of watercrafts. Kalam, vanji, ambi, navai are some of the watercrafts mentioned in early Tamil texts. Sangam literature presents the contexts in which these watercrafts are used such as long-distance navigation, inland navigation and for coastal transport. Medieval inscriptions too refer to the use of watercrafts for applications like maintaining irrigation tanks and long-distance trade. In his talk, Dr Selvakumar explores these references to watercraft in Tamil literature and inscriptions. Dr. Selvakumar is a faculty member in the Department of Maritime History and Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur. Earlier he was a faculty member in the Department of Epigraphy and Archaeology. He completed doctoral research and post-doctoral research from Deccan College, Pune. He was a faculty member at Centre for Heritage Studies, Tripunithura, Kerala and a NTICVAM (Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum) Visiting Researcher at the Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Southampton University. His research interests include archaeology of India, prehistory, heritage management, maritime history and archaeology, archaeological theory, heritage management, history of science and technology, Indian Ocean Cultural interactions, and ecocriticism.