The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c21.38

c21.38

The records of the Chola king of the tenth century, Parântaka I, in connection with the mode of election for village councils, have already been mentioned. The most powerful king of his line, Râjarâja the Great (A.D. 985–1018), conquered Ceylon and became suzerain of nearly the whole of Southern India. He built the stately Siva temple at Tanjore to commemorate his victories, but other temples of lesser note belonging to his or his son's reign are more interesting on account of their superb sculpture. Pls. LXXVIII–IX illustrate some of the wall shrines of a temple at Gangaikonda-cholapuram in the Trichinopoly district which show South Indian sculpture at its finest. The magnificent bronze images of this period, examples of which are preserved in the Madras Museum, are among the greatest achievements of Indian art.