DAILY PHOTO: Temple Carved in a Hillside

Taken in October of 2014

Taken in October of 2014 at Ellora

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DAILY PHOTO: Big Tree at Chennakesava Temple

Taken in January of 2016 at Chennakesava Temple  in Somanathapura

Taken in January of 2016 at Chennakesava Temple in Somanathapura

DAILY PHOTO: Pushkar Ghat-side

Taken on November 28, 2015 in Pushkar

Taken on November 28, 2015 in Pushkar

DAILY PHOTO: Festive Comings & Goings

Taken in October of 2015 in Khajuraho

Taken in October of 2015 in Khajuraho

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This is a parade procession that we passed as we were walking out to a couple of the Eastern Group of Temples at Khajuraho.

It was pretty typical, a tractor with a squawky loudspeaker playing music at about 100db beyond the speaker’s rating, pulling a trailer with a figure. There was color throwing and garlands. The works.

DAILY PHOTO: Jagadambi Leogryph

Taken October 22, 2015 at Khajuraho.

Taken October 22, 2015 at Khajuraho

 

This mythical beast adorns the plinth at Jagadambi Temple in the Western Group of Temples at Khajuraho. I hope its breath was not foul.

DAILY PHOTO: Ganga Aarti

Taken October 23, 2015 at Varanasi

Taken October 23, 2015 at Varanasi

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DAILY PHOTO: Kandariya-Mahadeva Roof Details

Taken at the Khajuraho Western Group on October 22, 2015

Taken at the Khajuraho Western Group on October 22, 2015

 

I just got back from a trip to Khajuraho, Varanasi, and Sarnath, and I’ll be resuming posts–starting with pictures from this visit. Here is one of one of the details on the roof of one of the Western Group of temples. (The Western Group are the most well-preserved and extensive of the surviving temples.)

DAILY PHOTO: Temple in the Haze

Taken in November of 2013 at Hampi

Taken in November of 2013 at Hampi (Virupaksha Temple)

DAILY PHOTO: Shrine Amid Boulders

Taken in November of  2013 at Hampi

Taken in November of 2013 at Hampi

DAILY PHOTO: Shiva at Nrityagram

Taken on August 8, 2015 at Nrityagram.

Taken on August 8, 2015 at Nrityagram

I’m a neophyte with respect to Hindu iconography–plus I read no Indian languages, so I may be wrong about this being a Shiva. Shiva is usually depicted clean-shaven, but I’ve seen bearded images. I mostly based my conclusion on the tiger skin (or stylized representation thereof) that he’s sitting on, which is often associated with Shiva.

Shiva is part of the Hindu trinity, which also includes Brahma (the creator) and Vishnu (the sustainer.)  This leaves Shiva, the destroyer.

If you’re someone who actually knows about such things, and know I’m wrong, please drop me a comment to let me know.