சோழர்கால ஆடற் சிற்பங்கள்
Chola Period Dance Sculptures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22452/Keywords:
Chola Period, Dance Sculptures, Nataraja, Karanas,, Nāțyaśāstra, Bharatanatyam, Devadasi Tradition, Temple Art, Religious Iconography, Tamil CultureAbstract
century AD) is considered the pinnacle of Tamil art history. Specifically, dance sculptures stand as excellent symbols of Chola artistic wealth. These sculptures are not merely art objects but also documents reflecting religious devotion, literary tradition, drama-dance scriptures, and social life. The basic elements of Bharatanatyam (angas, karanas, anga shuddhi, facial expressions) are vividly designed in these sculptures. Dance forms like Nataraja, Sivakami, Karana Moorthies, and Devadasis hold a special place in Chola temples. The dance sculptures found in sacred places like Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Tiruvarur showcase the technical skill and aesthetic thinking of the Chola sculptors. This study examines the background of the creation of Chola period dance sculptures, literary sources, connection to dance grammar, religious significance, and social role. Furthermore, these sculptures are compared and studied with texts such as Silappatikaram, Tevaram, and Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra. Through this, the article explains that Chola period dance sculptures are an integrated expression of Tamil culture.
