Temple Arts and Sculptural Traditions in South India Explored Through Vidyashankar Sthapathi

Temples in South India have long been hubs for various art forms, including music, dance, and sculpture, with activities commencing at 4 AM each day. In Shiva temples, Odhuvaars perform the Tevaram, while Vaishnavite temples showcase the 4,000 Divya Prabandham. The phrase Sthapatya Shastra pertains to the sciences of sculpture and architecture. During a visit to the Darasuram temple in Thanjavur, the author encountered 78-year-old Vidyashankar Sthapathi, a traditional sculptor from a lineage dating back to the Chola period, who shared insights on the tantric mysticism inherent in South Indian sculpture. His son, Ravishankar, opted for a career in medicine due to economic challenges. The article also addresses issues in Tamil literature, mentioning La Sa Ramamirtham’s untranslated work and the historical oversight of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. This piece was published in Spring 2017 ArtReview Asia.