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Sculptural Heritage Of Shivaripatna

4/20/2022

23 Comments

 
Picture
After savouring the rich architectural heritage of the Ramalingeshwara temple at Avani, we made our way to Shivaripatna. The google map guided us through agricultural lands where slushy and deeply rutted mud roads were a test for driving. The sounds of chisels working on stones greeted us as we reached the outskirts of the village.

Shivaripatna is a small village in Malur taluk of Kolar district. This nondescript hamlet is a well-known place for intricate carvings on granite.  Majority of people in the village are Vishwakarmas. The Vishwakarmas, also known as Vishwabrahmins are descendants of the Hindu deity, Vishwakarma. He was considered as the divine architect and deemed to have emerged out of Samudra Manthan. According to another account, Lord Brahma had a son named Dharma and his son Vaastu married Angirasi, and from them, Vishwakarma was born. However, according to the Vishwakarma Purana, he is considered to be a Swayambhu. The legend states that he was the creator of many holy cities like Dwaraka and also crafted numerous weapons for the gods. He had five children, Manu, Maya, Tvastar, Shilpi, and Vishwajna, each one of them specializing in a particular craft. Hence the community comprises five sub-groups:  blacksmiths, carpenters, bronzesmiths, stonemasons and goldsmiths.

How did this village have such a concentration of Vishwakarma artisans? It is said that during the period of the Ganga Dynasty a ‘shilpi’ named Basulinga Acharya was traveling and spent a night in a dharmashala in Shivarapatna. After cooking food for the night, he took some pieces of charcoal and drew an idol on the wall, which was strikingly beautiful. Next morning when the villagers saw the drawing they were astounded by his skill. The news spread like wild fire and the king got to know about this. He came to the village to meet him, offered a piece of land and asked him to stay in the place and practice the craft. The craftmanship flourished in the village thereafter!

Almost every dwelling in the village has a workshop.  We slowly made our way from one workshop to another, each one a treasure trove full of exquisite sculptures. In one of the workshops we watched with awe as a middle aged person carefully worked on sculpting an idol. Aware of our interest, he took us around the place and explained the process of making the sculptures in detail. In the process we got to know that he was a Muslim and had been making idols for decades. His father was also in the same profession. He said that he had carved thousands of idols until now, many of them in worship in temples. Although Islam doesn’t propagate idol worship no one from his community questioned him and he has been accepted and continues to be a part of the Vishwakarmas in the village.

This was a truly inspiring story in these deeply polarized times and is an enduring testimony to the long cherished syncretic tradition of our country.

There has always been a syncretism of religions in India.

No couplet I know captures this more succinctly than one by Kabir that I learned as a child and have never forgotten:
Moko kahaan dhoondhate bande, Mai to tere paas me;
                 Na Mai Mandir, na Mai Masjid, naa Kaaba Kailash me.

(Where dost thou seek me oh devotee, for I am right beside thee;
Not in a temple, nor in a mosque, not at the Qaaba, nor on Mount Kailash, shalt thou find me
)
A few glimpse of our visit at: 
photos.app.goo.gl/apuMSCPHNEMinnRF7

Feel free to pen your thoughts here…
23 Comments
Anita Reddy link
4/29/2022 07:11:35 pm

How wonderful to learn the history, in such depth ,of the beautiful village of shivaripatna that I too visited couple of decades ago. Infact the deities worshipped in many of the community temples such as in vyalikaval, mrs palya, sudhamanagar are all from this village. I remeber meeting the muslim family who stand out as a beacon of light to our nation. Infact this whole village is.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:08:48 am

So true Anita...it is the true spirit of our wonderful country

Reply
Satish kumar sofat
4/29/2022 07:26:26 pm

Really glad to know the history of this village. Kabir's couplet sums it all as far as faith in god is concerned. Let me see when can I visit this village.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:09:04 am

Thanks Satish

Reply
Mohan link
4/29/2022 07:52:37 pm

Dear Sir,
Excellent post, as always
Amazed by the difference in style of the scriptures here and those made at Mamallapuram.
Please continue posting.
I see the posts as the early drafts of your many books on heritage and birds!

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:10:03 am

True Mohan. These sculptures are crafted primarily for worship and hence differ aesthetically from those in Mamallapuram

Reply
Akila keshav
4/29/2022 08:26:20 pm

Wwhat a beautiful story Sir! Truly enspirng and enlightening att he same time. The sculpture has been brought to life with your storytelling! Amazing read.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:10:17 am

Thanks Akila

Reply
Gautam Moorthy
4/29/2022 10:08:19 pm

Another beautiful piece from Prof Raguram. This village is indeed a treasure trove of sculptors and sculptures. Truly an eye opener. Besides, heartening to know that the Muslim sculptor can do what’s he loves without any interference.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:11:11 am

Thanks Gautam. We have to strive to keep the spirit of syncretism alive in our country...especially in these times

Reply
A Lakshmi link
4/29/2022 10:28:58 pm

Dear raguram, it is a beautiful and proficient narration of shivaripura.thank you for taking me for a tour
.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:11:27 am

Thanks Lakshmi

Reply
Senthil
4/30/2022 12:22:33 am

Excellent narration Sir! Thanks for enlightening us with lots of details. 🙏🙏🙏 as always.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:11:40 am

Thanks Senthil

Reply
Arun Kishore
4/30/2022 01:04:27 am

I must join you in your travels to experience these unique places. It just amazes me, the diversity of our country. Long may it remain so. And long may you continue to record and report it in your flowing prose and visuals.

Reply
Dr Raguram Ramanathan
4/30/2022 06:12:14 am

It is so enriching to travel and discover places like this Arun!

Reply
Geetha navale
4/30/2022 06:54:52 am

What a beautiful story . Thanks for sharing your wonderful experiences Dr. Raguram.
Regards

Reply
Nalini. N. R.
4/30/2022 09:50:18 am

Thanks yet again for the conducted tour Sir. Even a small mistake while chiseling can turn out to be costly but for the focus enhanced by divinity. Recently I had seen in public media when a person well educated, in a prominent position who objected to the idols to be installed in temples for puja, sculpted by someone from a different sect. Divine art cannot be reined in by caste, creed or religion!

Reply
Brunda
4/30/2022 09:58:56 am

Great learning. Wonderful to see this small little place through this narrative.

Reply
Lalitha Anand
4/30/2022 09:30:45 pm

Very interesting and informative article! Blessed are these people who are able to create divinity and poetry out of stone !

Reply
Dr Shripathy M Bhat
5/1/2022 07:48:40 am

Well written with convincing evidences. The information gleamed from word of mouth, which was enough as an evidence in our culture till script as an invincible evidence became the trend. Do 'they' know it/accept it is the moot question

Reply
Dr Madhava Rao K S ,Mangaluru
5/1/2022 10:39:36 pm

Jst opened de link & thought of going through it leisurely- little did I realise that I had come to end of de write up, reading Kabir’s poem !
There seemed to be a competition between ‘Exquisite Sculpture & The write up’- of course both are extensions of ‘’ Passionate Mind’’ - One through the Chisel & other through the Pen ‘’!
Both available for generations .

Reply
Sudhir Hebbar
5/1/2022 11:19:18 pm

I visited this place years back

Reply



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  • Home
  • Musings & Reflections
  • Glimpses Through The Lens
    • The Feathered Beauties
    • I Saw,I Clicked... >
      • Vishnupur
      • The Tantalizing Landscape Of Uttaranchal
      • Amidst The Sand Dunes Of Khuri
      • Chatris Of Shekawati
      • Havelis Of Shekawat
    • I Saw, I Clicked Part II >
      • Hosaholalu
      • Pristine Havelock
      • Pichavaram
      • Chidambaram
    • I Saw I Clicked Part III >
      • Yosemite
      • A Day At The Vatican Museum
      • Norcia
      • Moscow
    • Butterflies & Flowers
    • Close Encounters At Corbett
    • Bijapur & Beyond
    • Enchanting Athirapalli
    • Splendours of Seatlle
    • Monet's Garden
  • Glimpses Through The Lens: II
    • Poetry in stone >
      • Brihadeeswarar Koil
      • Gangaikondacholapuram
      • Dharasuram
      • Thanjavur Art Gallery
    • In The Land Of Enlightenment
    • Charming Chitrapu
    • Exploring Orissa >
      • Mesmerizing Mangalajodi
      • Bewitching Bhetnoi
      • Daksa Prajapati Temple
    • Birding Down Under >
      • Parrots Galore!
      • Lyrical Lyre Bird
      • Honey Eaters
      • Kingfishers, Wrens, Wagtails, Warblers...
      • Orioles, Golden Whistlers
      • Cockatoos, Kookaburras & Magpies
      • Pigeons, Doves
      • Birds Of Prey, Bower Birds
      • Water Birds & In Flight
      • Others
    • Murals of Pundarikapuram
  • Contact Me