NEWS

An International Conference on Arts and religion is being jointly organized by the Chidambaram Natyanjali Trust, Chidambaram, Sekkilar Manram, Annamalai University and the Tamil Arts Academy, from 22^nd to 27^th Feb, 2001 at Chidambaram. This will coincide with the 20^th Natyanjali festival to Lord Nataraja. Scholars from all parts of the world are expected to participate. Papers on religious rites as reflected in sculptural art and music and dance will receive special attention. Saiva, Vaishnava, Sakta, Buddhist and Jaina religious rites and their reltion to visual arts will form the subject matter of the conference. At the end of the conference visits are arranged to nearby Chola temple to witness some rare forms of rituals.. Those interested may contact

Dr.R.Nagaswamy,

11,22^nd Cross street,

Besantnagar, Madras, 600090, India

Ph.4916005,

Email nagaswa@xlweb.com

The International Centre for the Study of Bengal Arts, Bangladesh, Dhaka, establsihed and directed by Prof. Dr.Enamul Haque, is bringing out "the Journal Of Bengal Art", a very valuable, scholarly and well illustrated Journal of high academic value. The journal appears annually. Four issues have appeared so far and I congratulate Prof. Haque the Editor for bringing out the volumes promptly according to schedule. The articles are of very high academic standards and deserve immediate attention in the hands of academic community . The Volume 3 which appeared in 1998 carries 17 articles by eminent scholars. Prof. T.S.Maxwell writes on the Vaikuntha and Visvarupa in the later Kalachuri and Pala terracottas. B.N.Mulherjee contributes on Art in the Gold Coins of Gauda, Vanga and Samanta of the Post Gupta age. My article on Eastern Indian Contact with Tamilnad, traces the history of the Rajagurus of the Imperial Cholas who hailed mostly from Bengal (Gauda and Radha desa) and their contribution to temple buildings in Tamilnad. Dr.Jean Francois Salles contributes on North Bengal in the Mauryan and Post Mauryan period based on the ancient history of Mahasthan. Gaurishwar Bhattacharya throws important light on a dated Vishnu image of Mahipala (I). Najma Khan Majlis discusses stucco decoration on some historical buildings of Dhaka.

The Volume 4 of the Journal of Bengal Art is a sumptuous volume published as a tribute to Gaurishwar Bhattacharya, who was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh and noe lives in Berlin. He has contributed immensely to the study of Bengal art for the past five decades. It is appropriate that he is honoured by the International community on his 75^th birth day at Dhaka in the Conference. The volume carries mostly articles presented at the third International Conference of Bengal art held at Rajashahi, Bogra and Dakha in Feb.1999. This substantial volume running to 520 pages, has contributions from as many as 39 scholars and every one of the article is of great importance and deserve to be listed, but restrictions of space compel me to indicate a few as illustrations. The Journal opens with a scholarly Introduction on the issues in the art of Bengal by B.N.Mukherji. Dr J.F.Salles contributes on the Excavations conducted at Mahasthangarh. My article on Bengal and Chidambaram appears next. The Royal charters of King Madana pala and the Chronology of Pala kings of Bengal and Bihar is dealt with competently by S.C Mukherji. Hero-stones of Bengal that throws light on the cult of the dead is dealt with by Gautam Sengupta. There are rich contributions from Germany. Gerd J.R.Mewissen 's article on the images of Mahapratisara in Bengal, Professor A.J. .Gail's article on the mandalaic structure of the Paharpur temple, and Joachim K.Bautze on stucco decoration in Bengal, illustrate German interests in Bengal art.. Gaurishwar Bhattacharya himself has an article on Nalanda Vagsivari and Mandhuk Ganesa. Frederick Asher writes on Locating ancient slate quarry. Claudine Bautze-Picron has a detailed article on Buddhist painting during the reign of Harivarmadeva of the 11^th cent in the South Eastern Bengal. This article carries a good number of color illustrations. Dr.Zulekha Haque's article addresses itself to a specific aspect of the portrayals on the Terracotta monuments of Bengal. Pratapaditya pal has a contribution on Bhaishajya guru. An Outline history of the Mughal Mosque-plan in Bangladesh by M.A.Bari is important as it is illustrated with a large number of measured drawings to substantiate the discussions. Saifuddin Chaudry writes on Two recently acquired sculptures in the Varendra Research Museum. It is a very rich volume that deserves to be placed in every library interested in the Art of India and Bangladesh. Those interested may contact

Professor Enamul Haque,

Chairman and Director, International Centre for Study of Bengal Art,

House 32 E, Road 17-A, Banani, DAKHA, 1213, Bangladesh, email bengalart@pradeshta.net

Kolam The Electronic Journal KOLAM that has been appearing from Cologn, Germany has undergone some administrative changes and the current issue due in january, 2000 will now appear in July according to Dr. Ulrike Nicholas, the Editor who has taken a teaching assignment at the Singapore University. Dr.Ulrike also tells me that the Journal will hence forth appear from Singapore.

The Maha-kumbhabhisheka of the Siva temple of Thirumangalakkudi in Tanjore District was performed on the 9^th of April, 2000. His Holiness Sivaprakasa swamikal, the head of the Thiruvavaduturai mutt, His Holiness Shanmukha Desika Jnanasambanda paramacharya swamikal of Dharmapuram, His Holiness Kasivasi Muttukkumaraswamy tambiran swamikal of Thiruppanandal and other heads of Saiva mutts in Tamilnad were present on the ocassion.

As is known the áiva temple at Thiru-mangalak-kui is a sacred áiva-kÀ®tra sung by the Saiva saint Thiru-Jn¡na-Sambandar around 650 AD. The main deity is called Pr¡na-n¡th®¿vara and the Goddess Mnagal¡mbik¡. The temple is under the control of Thiruvavduturai adheenam mutt. The present structure goes back to the time of the Cholas and carries a number of Chola inscripitons. The inscription of Kulottunga III dated in his 20^th regnal year 1198 AD, refers to earlier transactions in the reign of Kulottunga I. It also refers to a number of temples built in the reign of Cholas in and around this place. The village is a fertile land originally having a vast area of cultivated lands and extended over four km on either side. It was included as a hamlet of Vembarrur another famous centre about 4 km from this village. On the other side there is Kancanur associated with Haradatta a famous saint. It would be interesting to study this Thiru-mangalk-kudi and its surrounding from its historical angle. As for example a temple was built towards the end of Kulottunga Chola I near this village by a Bengali Saivacarya who was the R¡jaguru of Kulottunga I and his son and successor Vikrama Chola. This new temple was called Kulottunga cholisvarm. There are sculptures of remarkable interest. We propose to carry an article on the temple and its surroundings in a later issue. An attractive Souvenir has been brought out to mark the festival. His Holiness, the Head of the Thiruvavaduturai Mutt has been dynamic and has brought out a number of valuable books. He is keenly interested in Agamic studies and wants special efforts to be undertaken to preserve agamic literature.

Snagili was a noble Vellala girl who vowed to serve Siva. Her parents wanted to get her married but she refused. She stayed in a Kanya madam at Thiruvorriyur where the Saiva saint Sundaramurti saw her and married her. Sangili's life is portrayed graphically by Sekkilar in his Periya-puranam in the 12^th cent. This noble girl was born in the village Jnayiru, about 40 km from. Madras. With green paddy fields spreading cool fragrance surrounding this village it has an ancient Siva temple still under worship.. There were more than one Siva temples in this village; two of them in ruins are found still with the Linga. The sculptural remains point to the existance of Pallava and Chola temples but now lost. The surviving temple is attractive but the structures are overgrown with vegetation damaging the fabric of the buildings in many places. This sacred temple requires immediate attention and renovations. A group of devoted persons belonging to ten villages nearby have formed themselves into an association (Jnayiru vazipattu kazhgam) who have undertaken the task of repairing the temple. They have already rebuilt the enclosure wall at a huge cost and are now looking forward for sponsors to repair the main vimana. Devotees and historians should come forward to extend a helping hand to this cause. They may contact

Jnayiru Vazhipattu kazagam,

Jnayiru post, via, Cholapuram, Chennai, 600067.