Prastara

Prastara Temples were designed as magnificent substitutes to the Enlightened Master's presence.

Prastara is a Chennai-based charitable trust created with an initiative to identify, document, preserve and share the sources of cultural information with special regard to the History and Heritage of India. While these awe-inspiring, time-worn structures stand as a symbol of our glorious, unparalleled heritage, they also serve to remind us about the legacy we have inherited from our venerable anc

estors. They kindle in us a tremendous sense of responsibility to look after these architectural masterpieces and preserve in them, and through them, the vibrant soul of our splendid past.

Namaste! Prastara is delighted to announce a three-day workshop on Indian Epigraphy and Palaeography conducted by Dr. T....
22/02/2026

Namaste! Prastara is delighted to announce a three-day workshop on Indian Epigraphy and Palaeography conducted by
Dr. T.S.Ravishankar, renowned epigraphist and former Director of ASI, (Epigraphy) Mysore. The medium of instruction will be in English. To register: http://www.prastara.in/epigraphyworkshop

Happy World Heritage Day Prastara, an NGO we founded in 2010, has been working on the preservation, and conservation of ...
18/04/2023

Happy World Heritage Day

Prastara, an NGO we founded in 2010, has been working on the preservation, and conservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of India. During the last decade we have been educating youngsters on the importance of preservation of our rich cultural heritage.

Keeping sustainability at the core of preservation, since 2020, we have been working on the revival and preservation of the musical traditions in the temples of Tamil Nadu. We have been appointing Nadaswaram, Tavil Artistes and Odhuvars in certain identified temples. These artistes perform everyday in the temple during the rituals. Their monthly remuneration is being provided by us.
During the COVID pandemic, we were able to support more than 100 Nadaswaram, Tavil artistes and Odhuvars financially, thanks to our supporters and patrons.

It is our mission to revive the many cultural aspects in Temples across TN in the coming years. There are more than 25000 temples that are in dire need of support for day to day functioning. We aspire to address each and every temple and their requirements.

Our request to people is to spread and also spearhead such initiatives in their respective village/town. Identify and talk to authorities in-charge and try to provide support. Hope we all come together to preserve our heritage.

If you would like to be part of reviving and preserving of our cultural heritage, contact us at https://www.prastara.in/contact

10/02/2023

:'ஸ்வஸ்திஶ்ரீ திருவாவடுதுறை உடையார் அடியான் அம்பலவன் திருவிசலூரான் திருநாவுக்கரையன்' says the inscription about the person who is seen worshipping Sri Masilamaninathar of Thiruvaavaduthurai.
This person could have assisted Thirukatralippichan in the building of this temple during the regin of Parantaka Chola I.


The image of திருக்கற்றபிச்சன் (Thirukatralippichan) who executed the building of Thiruvaavaduthurai temple during the r...
10/02/2023

The image of திருக்கற்றபிச்சன் (Thirukatralippichan) who executed the building of Thiruvaavaduthurai temple during the reign of Parantaka Chola I.
Next to him is Thirunaavukkaraya Thondan (திரு நாவுக்கரைய தொண்டன்) perhaps the brother of Katralippichan. Their images are carved on the southern wall of the main sanctum.

“ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ கண்டராதித்த தேவர் தேவியார் மாதேவடிகளார் ஸ்ரீ செம்பியன் மாதேவியார் தம்முடைய திருமகனார் ஸ்ரீ மதுராந்தக தேவரா...
10/02/2023

“ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீ கண்டராதித்த தேவர் தேவியார் மாதேவடிகளார் ஸ்ரீ செம்பியன் மாதேவியார் தம்முடைய திருமகனார் ஸ்ரீ மதுராந்தக தேவரான ஸ்ரீ உத்தம சோழன் திரு ராஜ்ஜியம் செய்தருளா நிற்கத் தம்முடையார் ஸ்ரீ கண்டராதித்த தேவர் திருநாமத்தால் திருநல்லம் உடையாற்கு திருக்கற்றளி எழுந்தருளுவித்து இத் திருக்கற்றளியிலேயே திருநல்லம் உடையாரை திருவடித் தொழுகின்றாராக எழுந்தருளுவித்த கண்டராதித்த தேவர் இவர்”

Reads the inscription on the southern wall of Thirunallam Umamaheswarar Temple.

The image here is Chola Emperor Gandaraditya worshippinhg the Sivalinga as mentioned in the inscription.

This image was created by the orders of Queen Sembiyan Mahadevi who converted this temple as a granite structure from brick structure.

'ஸ்வஸ்தி ஶ்ரீ ஶ்ரீ ஶ்ரீ மதுராந்தக தேவரான உத்தம சோழரைத் திருவயிறு வாய்த்த உடைய பிராட்டியார் திருக்கற்றளி எடுப்பித்த ஆலத்த...
10/02/2023

'ஸ்வஸ்தி ஶ்ரீ ஶ்ரீ ஶ்ரீ மதுராந்தக தேவரான உத்தம சோழரைத் திருவயிறு வாய்த்த உடைய பிராட்டியார் திருக்கற்றளி எடுப்பித்த ஆலத்தூருடையான் சாத்தன் குணபத்தனான ஹர சரண சேகரன் இவர். பட்டங் கட்டின ராஜகேசரி மூவேந்த வேளான் இவர். '

Reads the inscription at Thirunallam known as Konerirajapuram, Tamilnadu.
It is not very often that we come across the name of the Sthapathi (sculptor) along with the image of himself with the king who commisioned it.

Sembiyan Mahadevi, the Queen of Gandaraditya commissions this temple to be built in granite (from the earlier brick structure) and she places her beloved husbands image on the wall of the temple.
The master sculptor who beautifully executed the building, finds his image next to the sculpture of Lord Nataraja too.
It is indeed a delight as a researcher on the Sthapathi traditons to come across these.

Looking forward to another new year of building and reviving!
31/12/2022

Looking forward to another new year of building and reviving!

The Kaliyapatti Temple, a temple of antiquity dating back to the 9th century, also goes by the name of ஓட்டக்கோவில்/Ot...
08/02/2022

The Kaliyapatti Temple, a temple of antiquity dating back to the 9th century, also goes by the name of ஓட்டக்கோவில்/Ottakovil translating to to the temple that is damaged. Though the temple is under ASI protection, the state of the temple is quite disheartening.

The Shivan temple at Kaliyapatti has been an interesting subject of study for scholars since its identification in 1938. The then curator of Pudukottai Museum, KV Raju was on his official tours when he spotted the temple and soon submitted reports and articles on it. Great scholars like KA Nilakanta Sastri, Percy Brown, SR Balasubramanyam and many others have also studied the temple. Without any foundation inscription, these scholars were unable to arrive at a precise conclusion about the period or dynasty of this temple but cited the temple to date between the Cholas and the Pandyas around the 9th Century CE. There is only one inscription found on the southern wall of the sanctum which is partially undecipherable adding to the ambiguity of the temple.

Only the single story Shikara (tower) survives while we can just see the Adhistanam (base) of Ardhamandapam. The sanctum shelters a sculpture of a deity in seated figure, probably of Dakshinamurthy.

From the details of earlier reports, we know that restoration work happened. The historic sculptures that were lying in the grounds around this temple were restored as per the principles of temple architecture. Sadly, the temple has not been visited since. The remains are an immense value addition to our history and we hope to witness better care and restoration in the near future.

Located 5 km away from the heart of Thanjavur city, is the beautiful village of Karandhai replete with temples. A place ...
08/01/2022

Located 5 km away from the heart of Thanjavur city, is the beautiful village of Karandhai replete with temples. A place of historic importance, it is mentioned in the copper plates of the Cholas. From inscriptions found in the temples, it is evident that Karunaswamy (Vasisteswarar) Temple is the oldest functioning temple of the region, carrying architectural additions of the later rulers of Thanjavur, the Nayaks and the Marathas.
During the rule of Marathas, Karanthai became a thriving spiritual centre. Their patronage to temple architecture is evident through the breathtaking size of the Ramar Temple that was built around the year 1820 during the reign of Serfoji II.
In the main sanctum of the temple, Lord Kodhandarama graces his devotees along with Lakshmana, Seethadevi and Hanuman. The sculptures in the main sanctum are said to be made up of Shalagramas (precious stones believed to be an embodiment of Vishnu). There is a separate sanctum dedicated to Lord Hanuman located in the front of the temple. In the entrance of this sanctum, there is a Marathi inscription that talks about the construction of this temple and the donations made to serve food for Yathris and Bairagis (sect of religious saints)in this temple. This inscription also speaks of Dhanakadhari Ramadas Bairagi who worshiped this deity. To the south of the main sanctum of Lord Rama lies two Mandapams in which there are foot impressions made of stone. Scholars suggest that it could be the burial ground for the Bairagi Bawa’s family lineage.
The Maratha paintings found in the temple add to its historicity. The entrance of this temple is bordered by Chatri Mandapas on either side. Above the entrance there are beautiful sculptural depictions of Srirama Pattabhishekam and Samudra Manthan in stucco.
Sadly, over the years this temple has been forgotten. Today the temple is under private ownership. The priest comes once a day for conducting rituals and is being financially supported by the trust of Sri Muralidhara Swamiji. This temple has a legacy of magnificence and grandeur that awaits recognition.

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Chennai
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+91-9884013485

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