International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
www.ijahs.com Volume 3 Issue 2, (Mar-April 2016), PP. 42-50
The art and architectures along the Tamil Nadu
coast
R. Sasi Mary Priya and V. Radhakrishnan
Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli.
[email protected] and [email protected]
Abstract:
This study focuses on coastal regions of Tamil Nadu art and architecture. Architectural related
pilgrim centres, ancient monuments, ancient fort, ancient port in the Tamil Nadu coastal districts
are discussed. The rulers of Tamil Nadu viz., Pallavas, Cheras, Cholas and Pandiyas architectures
adorn the coastal Tamil Nadu. Heritage lovers or domestic and foreign countries visit these spots.
As the natural and manmade activities destroy these historical sites, necessary action is warranted to
protect and conserve the same.
Keywords: coastal regions, tourists, art, architecture, heritage, protection and conservation
Introduction:
“The mother art is architecture. Without architecture of our own
We have no soul of our own civilization”
-Frank Lloyd Wright
Tamil Nadu (TN) is one of the states of Indian union comprising 60.60 million Tamil language
speaking people (Linguistic Diversity in India). Out of 1.3 lakh sq km (Theenadhayalan et al 2010),
63000 sq.km (48.5%) is agrarian (Agriculture in Tamil Nadu); and of which 13000 sq km(10%) is
coastal fisheries in the 13 districts along the 1058 km long coast of Tamil Nadu. It experiences
semiarid climate. The state records temperature as high as 40°C in April to May. In summer, during
the day, even the coastal regions are warm and humid. In night time, some respite is in the form of
the cool sea breeze.
5000-year (Tamil Literature) old Tamil literature provides evidence to the existence of
princely states ruled by different kingdoms, prior to the independence. Geographically Tamil Nadu
is divided into Kurinchi, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal and Palai. Tamil literature classifies land, in
general: hill region as Kurinchi, forest region as Mullai, Crop land as Marutham, seashore as
Neithal and desert as Palai.
Erstwhile rulers of Tamil Nadu left several contributions of different sort that speak of their
culture and traditions. In the following sections are description of art and architecture of coastal
Tamil Nadu. It is the art and architecture that attracts touring people globally
Tamil Nadu has cherished a long history of art and architecture which is evident from its
enormous temples with colossal structures. The ancient dynasties viz., Chera, Chola, Pandiya and
Pallava had shown a great passion for art and architecture and they had recorded architectural styles
in their buildings. For example, the Pallava Kings (upto AD 900) were great builder of temples in
stone. The Pallava style manifested in carvings of rocks (Priya, 2013). The Cholas (900-1250 AD)
erected a number of monuments and many ornate mandapams or halls and large gopurams (towers).
The Pandiya style (upto 1350 AD) triggered the emergence of huge towers, high walls and tower
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
www.ijahs.com Volume 3 Issue 2, (Mar-April 2016), PP. 42-50
gates. The Vijayanagar style (1350AD-1560AD) comprises large
prakarams (circumambulator paths) and pillared halls. Temple
architecture of Tamil Nadu has been classified into Indo Aryan
and Dravidian style. Most of these temples were constructed by
using stone and mortar composition.
While sandstones
predominate in the constructions of Indo Aryan styles granites
predominated in Dravidian style (Priya, 2013). In Dravidian
temple architecture the typical architectural unit is gopuram
(tower) (Tamil Nadu Tourism 2013-14).
Muttamil, denotes the three divisions of Tamil viz., Iyal
(prose), Isai (music) and Nadagam (drama). These three
divisions manifest into different forms of arts of Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu is one of the cultural heritage places in India. The
state has numerous enticing of monuments and temples that are
ancient and having its own story of religious, artistic and cultural
accomplishments, which made the state to be nicknamed as
“Divine Tamil Nadu”. Further, 30,000 temples of the state, have
earned Tamil Nadu the title ‘Land of Temples' (Kumar et al., 2014).
Fig.1 Study Area Map
Study area
Study area is limited to 10 km wide corridor adjoining Tamil Nadu coast (fig.1). The Tamil Nadu
coast sprawls between 13°08’ North and 80°27’ East and 8°07’ North and 77°54’ East(Fig.1).
Within this boundary there are lots of items related to art and architecture. Table 1 lists the
important schemes in different coastal districts in chronological order. It also mentions the builder
of such monuments. The Fig. 2, 3,4 and 5 to clearly located the ancient port and architectures.
Table. 1. Coastal Monuments of Tamil Nadu
Coastal
District Name
Chennai
Monuments
Chronology
Built by
Architecture
style
Classical
European
1516
Portuguese
Portuguese
Fort. St. George
16th Century
1640
St. Mary's Church
1680
Big Mosque
1765
Thousand Light
Mosque
Vivekanandhar
Illam
1810 A.D.
1842
Ice King Frederic
Tudo
Government
Museum Buildings
Senate house
1862
Namberumal
Chetty
Indo-Saracenic
1873
Robert Fellowes
Indo-Saracenic
Luz Church of
Chennai
San Thome basilica
British East India
Company
Chaplain Rev.
Richard Portman
Muhammed Ali
Khan Wallajah
Arcot Nawab
Neo-Gothic
Western
European
Mughal
Medieval
architectural
Victorian
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
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Ripon building
1913
Valluvar Kottam
(Public concert Hall)
1976
MGR Memorial
1990
Kancheepuram Nityakalyanaswami
Temple (or)
Tiruvidandhai
Mamallapuram
Cuddalore
Thanjavur
Nagapattinam
Rameshwaram
Thoothukudi
Alamparai Fort
Padaleeswarar
Temple
Devanatha Swami
Temple
Chisholm
Loganatha
Mudaliar
Tamil Nadu
Government
Tamil Nadu
Government
Indo-Saracenic
Modern
Modern
1000 Years
Old
Pallavas
Dravidian
7th century
AD
17th century
7th Century
Narasimhavarman
I
Mughals
During Cholas
and Pallavas times
Medieval Cholas
Dravidian
6th–9th
centuries AD
Mughal
South Indian
Dravidian
Manora
1814 CE
Maratha king
Serfoji II
Sundararaja
Perumal Temple
Masilamaninathar
Temple
8th century
AD
1306 AD
Medieval Cholas
Nagore Dargah
Mother of Good
Health
1579
16th century
CE
Maravarma
Kulasekara
Pandiyan
Pratap Sing
Portuguese
sailors
Danish Fort
1620 AD
Ove Gjedde
Vaitheeswaran Koil
1689 CE
Kulothunga Chola
I
Dravidian
Ramanathaswamy
Temple
Pamban Bridge
12th century
King
Parakramabahu
Mistri Manji
Daya Wegad
Dravidian
The Church of Holy
Cross
Panimaya Matha
Church
1581
Thiruchendur Sri
Senthil Murugan
Temple
Thirunelveli
St. Xavier church
Kappal Matha
Church
Kannyakumari Thanumalayan
1887-1912
1582
17th century
AD
Fr. Dom
Henrique de
Tavora
Viswakarma
Dravidian
Dravidian
architecture
Chinese with
Tamil
Typical Islamic
Gothic
Danish
Imperial
Gothic
Dravidian
1603
1974
Pucchario
-
Gothic
Modern
17th Century
Nayakars
Dravidian
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
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Temple
Vattakottai Fort
Vivekanandha Rock
Memorial
Thiruvalluvar Statue
18th century
1970
1990-2000
Travancore King
Marthandavarma
Vivekanandha
mission
Tamil Nadu
Government
Dravidian
Modern
Modern
Fig. 2, 3,4 and 5 shows the location of Monuments and Ancient port with 10km study corridor. The
Tamil Nadu coastal Zone divided into four groups. There is Zone I (Coromandal Coast), Zone II
(Palk Bay), Zone III (Gulf of Mannar) and Zone IV (Kanniyakumari). Coromandal Coast is from
Pulicut to Kodiakarai, this coast also known as straight coast. Palk Bay extent from Muthupet to
Mandabam (Natesan et al 2015; Kumaraguru et al 2008) and this coast know as curved coast. Gulf
of Mannar is from Mandabam to Kayalpattinam (UNESCO 2001: Venkataraman et al 2004).
Finally Zone IV is Indian Ocean. It extends from Kayalpattinam to Kollencode.
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
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Fig. 3 Location of Monuments and Ancient Port in Palk Bay
Fig.4 Location of Monuments and Ancient Port in Gulf of Mannar Region
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
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Fig. 5 Location of Monuments and Ancient port in Indian Ocean Zone
Architecture:
Styles of architecture in coastal Tamil Nadu have been noticeable varying chronologically since
sixth century AD. It is learnt that it includes from Dravidian style to modern through rulers of
ancient, medieval and modern India.
Architecture in Tamil Nadu has been evolving in structure and ornamentation since last fourteen
centuries (Priya 2013). There are five stages in Tamil Nadu architectural style. They are 1. The
Pallavar and Pandiyar cave temples of the seventh century. 2. The Pallavar and Pandiyar structural
Temple. 3. The single central towered Chola type. 4. The Pandiyar massive-entrance tower type. 5.
Modern style incorporating the Vijayanagar invasions. Tamil Nadu is famous for rock-cut
architecture. It is seen widely in Tamil Nadu, especially, the Shore Temple Mamallapuram of
Kancheepuram district (Fig. 2).
Especially, Thanumalayan Temple in Suchindram located 11 km from kannyakumari
northward (Fig. 5). This temple is one of the greatest examples for ancient Dravidian architecture.
The “Alankara Mandapam” adjacent to the north corridor there are four large pillars each pillars
formed by a group of smaller pillar carved from a single stone. The one large pillars have 33
smaller pillars and the other two 25 each (Prasad et al 2013). This is famous musical pillar each of
these smaller pillars produces a different musical note (octaves) when tapped. Nowadays these
pillars are surrounding by iron grills to prevent vandalism.
Architecture – an over view
Description
The architecture of the medieval period can be divided into two main categories: 1. Delhi or the
Imperial and 2. Mughal. It was followed by a new style of architecture that developed due to the
western rulers, the Indo-Saracenic. This style combined the features of Hindu, Islamic and western
elements.
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
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Ancient port activities along Tamil Nadu coast
Ancient Tamil literature, including ‘Akananuru’ of the Sangam era, suggests that some 20 to 25
ports had existed in the region (The Hindu 2013). The Sangam literature mentions about the ancient
ports for colonies and foreign traders. Tamil Nadu, coastal region played an important role in the
transoceanic trades from the beginning of the Christian era and they had maritime relations with
Roman World during early centuries of Christian era (Sundaresh et al 2014). The ancient important
ports are 1. Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam), 2. Tranquebar (Tarangambadi), 3. Periyapattinam,
4. Korkai, 5. Puduke or Poduce (Arikamedu, Pondicherry), 6. Soptana (Marakanam), 7.
Kayalpattinam. Poompuhar was one of the important ancient port towns in Chola capital.
Mahabalipuram, 60km south from the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, was 7th century port city
built and ruled by the south Indian dynasty of the Pallavas (Fig. 2). It is believed to have been
named after the Pallava king Mamallan (Chandran, 2011). At the beginning of the 4th century AD
the Pallavas established their rule with Kanchipuram as their capital (Ramakrishnan 1984). Korkai
was the oldest port of Tamil country possibly since the beginning of the first millennium BC.
Ancient site was at the mouth of the Thamirabarani River when the shoreline was much interior
than that of present day. The Tamil literature of Sangam period mentions Korkai as an
important port for pearl diving. As the sea regressed, Korkai turned unsuitable for carrying out
maritime trade. Marakkanam was an ancient sea port on the coast of Bay of Bengal 110 km south
of Chennai, in the early Sangam period around 300 BC.
Artistic appraisal of Tamil Nadu coast
64 arts were list out in Sangam literature. They are singing, instrumental music, dancing,
painting, forehead adornments, making decorative floral and grain designs on the floor, home and
temple flower arranging, personal grooming, mosaic, tiling, bedroom arrangements, creating music
with water, splashing and squirting with water, secret mantras, making flower garlands, head
adornments, dressing, costume decorations, perfumery, jewellery making, magic and illusions,
ornaments for charm and virility, manual dexterity skills of cooking, eating and drinking, beverage
and dessert preparation, sewing (making and mending garments), embroidery. These arts illustrate
history and life style of ancient people. Sangam period of Dravidians life was mostly art oriented.
As art provides peace and health, it occupied an important place in the people’s life since
time immemorial. Nowadays, art related activities are improved due to government’s intervention.
The art is nothing but dance, drama, music, yoga and paintings. Everybody learns arts with passion.
Notable development in art is the establishment of Cholamandal Artist Village near Injambakkam 9
km south of Chennai by K.C.S. Paniker (1966). This is the largest artist’s commune and selfsupporting artist’s village in India and they are creditable for the Madras Movement of Art in 19501980 (The Hindu, 2009). This Cholamandal Artist village is one of the museums in Chennai. Other
museum like Chennai Art gallery and Dakshinachitra museum are there to collect and protect the
traditional and modern paintings and sculptures. These museums are located near the coastal region.
Now these museums are opened for public tourist’s visitation.
Gramiyakalaigal like Therukkoothu, Gramiya Isai and Gramiyanadanam are rendition art
items by rural folk. Nowadays these arts are slowly disappearing because of outbreak of arts of
modern forms, however educational institutions encourage and promoting these arts.
Deterioration
Over the time, these arts deteriorate due to natural and manmade causes.
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International Journal of Art & Humanity Science (IJAHS) e-ISSN: 2349-5235,
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Natural
Natural causes of destruction of art form are flood, biological factors, moisture, rainstorm,
ground salts and water, windstorm, air pollutant, soil erosion, solar radiation, temperature,
vibration. These are some of the main factors affecting the cultural heritage places. Especially,
Poompuhar and Thanuskodi church remain greatest examples of natural based destruction.
Anthropogenic
People damage sculptures by touch and hit. Wars of yesteryears not only killed people but also
damaged the treasure of art and architecture. Some people enjoy touching the sculptures while
others carve and scribble on paintings etc. These are samples of anthropogenic activities destroying
the cultural heritage places. Art forms have grown supported by kings and people with religious
affinity.
Protection and Conservation of art and architecture
Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu have promulgated acts to protect and
conserve the art forms. Central Government announced the Remains Act, 1958 (24/1958), Tamil
Nadu Remains Act, 1966 (25/1966). 88 monuments spread all over the state are under protection
and preservation by Tamil Nadu state government (Department of Archaeology). The coastal side
protected monuments in Tamil Nadu are 1. Alamparai Fort located in Kancheepuram, 2. Manora
located in Thanjavur and 3. Danish Fort located in Nagapattinam.
To protect the ancient heritage like art and architecture and to conserve heritage sites natural
and anthropogenic activities Tamil Nadu Government has taken necessary action by its various acts
and rules from conservation point of view. Some organizations provide the public awareness for art
and architectural conservation.
Conclusion
The art and architecture is the crown of Tamil Nadu, because it reflects the ancient
Dravidian history and their cultures. Especially, the coastal side monuments increase the aesthetics
of nature, so the government and local people should consider its ancient heritage sites. State
government conducts awareness programs of art related activities such as dance, music, drama,
sand art, paintings etc., to attract people’s attention and to make them carefully visit the heritage
sites. If the government and local people conserve the historical and heritage places and art it would
ensure tourists arrival increase and automatically economic development also increase.
Government’s financial support and educational development will directly and indirectly
improve the life of monuments which will also emphasize its importance.
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