Kalpa Media House | Special Article | 
Smt. Uma Ranganathan presented the concept of Sangeetha Rachanaa – Confluence of music, architecture and design at the Marghazhi matram 6th Edition festival conducted by SciArtsRUs at Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, under the beautiful initiative science meets arts theme by Dr.Ranjini Ramachandra Koushik.
Smt. Uma Ranganathan is a distinguished Indian Vocalist, Educator, collaborator from Oslo, presently disciple of Vid. Gayathri Venkataraghavan, founder of Art to Heart Institute. She is engaged in thematic productions, teaches across global platforms, encourages students to explore music as an evolving art form and a medium that aids all round development.
Highlighting some of the interesting aspects of several temple architectures, Smt Uma presented very illustrative compositions.
In Tanjore district of Tamilnadu, close to Swamimalai, is the Kapardeeshwarar and Shwethaor Sri Suveda Valamsuzhi Vinayagar, swayambhu temple, known for a unique architectural beauty of its window, a monolithic lattice window of 12’×8′ detailed in granite, known as Palahani or jalandra, supported by four intricately carved pillars.
It is a celebrated master-piece reflecting the excellent craftsmanship of ancient Indian architecture from Chola period and is more than 1000 years old. The window is inside the sanctum-sanctorum where the lovely idol made of Sea-foam is worshipped in a separate shrine. Shivalingam here is Kapardeeswarar and his consort Brihannayagi. Intentional design of the lattice window. with symmetric perforations is to monitor ventilation , regulating dust, air, light that goes in.
She chose the devotional Shiva Suvarnamala Stuthi of AdiShankaracharya,
Suvedah Shwethambaradharah Shwethamalya Vibhushanah
Sada Shwetha Shivo Nityam-shwethakailasa-vasakah
Smt Uma presenteda rarely heard composition on Lord Ganesha, mooladhara murthy of Sri Papanasham Shivan, with a lovely swaraprastharam in Hamsadhwani.
Another unparalleled master-piece is the saptaprakara architecture at Sri Rangam, a pinnacle of Dravidian architecture featuring contributions from Chola down to Vijayanagar kingdom, with it’s thousand intricately carved pillars and gopurams showing mythological stories, is an award winning temple-town heritage centre.
The seven rectangular layered architecture with outermost layer of community life blurring through layers into the final sanctum sanctorum of divine bliss is a wonderful depiction of the souls journey to salvation. This is wonderfully described in the krithi by Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, Ranganayakam bhavaye in raga Nayaki.
Not only architecture, materials chosen in temple designs also have significance. As an example, the material of Shivalingam can be granite which is durable, crystal or spatikam, panchaloham consisting of gold, silver, copper, iron and lead. Choice of material is intentional.
Shivalingam is a cylindrical pillar with a rounded top, set into a disc shaped base. It represents the combination of pure consciousness or purusha with the primordial energy or prakruthi. It symbolises nirgunabrahman, formless, cosmic pillar of fire. Scientifically, the ellipsoidal shape holds the highest energy and is the source of all vibrations.
Krithi chosen wasakshayalinga vibho, by Muthuswamy Dikshithar in raga Shankarabharanam, Mishra chapu talam. This krithi is dedicated to Lord Shiva of Kezhvelur Akshayalingeswarar temple, near Thiruvarur, known as kediliyappar or one who has no decay, praying the undiminishing all-pervading Lord and Guru, who is the destroyer of time and protector of devotees.
Another architecturally rich divyadesam is the temple city of Kanchipuram, an epitome of the superior dravidian architecture. Kailasanathar temple built by Pallavas in 700 C.E. has beautiful carvings of Shiva and other Gods, majestic Vimana. Several designs at Kanchipuram were made of sandstone and have deteriorated due to weathering. Ekambareswarar, Vishnu, Ulaghanatha Temple, Kanchi Kamakshi amman temples are known for architectural beauty.
Dr. Uma concluded with the significant stotram on Godess Kamakshi, from Kamakshi vilasam, Sri swami pushkarini theertham.
Hope these great treasures depicting Indian rich cultural heritage are well-protected to stand the test of time.
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