Trichy -- Srirangam Temple, cont.


All the religious activites we saw took place in the fifth courtyard. There was the usual bustle of marriages and other ceremonies. We learned that some people shaved their heads and gave their hair as an offering. We saw at least one small child who had been thus barbered. It was a great site for people-watching.

Inside the temple Inside the temple
Worshippers in the Garuda Mandapa (pillared hall) His head was shaved and covered with sandal paste
Inside the temple Inside the temple
Happy women and girl Intense little boy

Elephant blessing
Receiving a blessing from the temple elephant

We then walked clockwise around the fifth courtyard.

Monkey temple Gopuram
Hanuman and Surgriva (monkey king) Gopuram
Detail Detail
We thought this looked vaguely Tibetan...
Wall paintings Courtyard
Wilder paintings Beautiful pillared hall, courtyard and gopuram

When we remarked that some of the decoration looked almost Tibetan, the somewhat incensed guide told us that Hinduism came first and that the Buddhists had copied the style from them!

Tank Cats
A rounded tank is unusual. We were told the cats eat the fish in the tank.


On the east side again, we passed out into the fourth courtyard, running very fast barefoot across the burning sand. It was burning so badly that I could hardly believe it when I had finally made it across to the shade on the other side of the courtyard. We will not forget this ordeal very soon. 

There, once the terrible crossing of the courtyard was over, was the Sheshagiriraya Mandapa, another pillared hall with beautifully sculptured rearing horses on the columns.

Carved horse The carved horses on pillars in the Sheshagiriraya Mandapa date from the Vijayanagar period, done by the same folks who built Gingee Fort                 


That evening we visited the Rock Fort.

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