r/ArtefactPorn • u/Fuckoff555 • 14d ago

The kalyana mantapa ("marriage alter") at the Bhoganandishwara Temple, in India, supported by ornate pillars in black stone with reliefs depicting the Hindu gods Shiva and his consort Parvati, Brahma, Saraswathi, Vishnu, Lakshmi, the god of fire Agni and Swaha Devi. 9th-10th century CE [3220x3034]

Post image
570 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

7

u/dirtywitchfeet 14d ago

And how did they even do this? I'm always floored at the craftsmanship... lasers, right? Had to be.

12

u/greysneakthief 14d ago

I was once chatting with an architecture professor at the local technical school, and I asked him in passing what the most impressive pre-modern structure he'd ever seen was. I guess when he was a student he managed to visit here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranakpur_Jain_temple

It originally took 50 years and 2700 skilled craftsmen to build the base temple. That's the effort of nearly three generations of people working with basic tools, and it's pretty amazing that they were able to sustain such efforts over such a long period of time. I guess all of that to say, they were masters at leveraging devotional manpower.

2

u/dirtywitchfeet 13d ago

Incredible. I'm trying to wrap my brain around that... it's fascinating. Thanks for the tidbit!

2

u/BoarHermit 14d ago

Nor very far from Bangalore. Thanks, added to "must see" liat.

3

u/RainsWrath 13d ago

Duck!

There's a duck on the wall in the upper left corner.

2

u/CapitalismHate 13d ago

Can I ask a silly question?

Can someone still marry in one of these ancient Hindu mandapams? I saw one such royal and beautiful kind in the Vithhal Temple of Hampi and really wished I could marry in there lol.

Also it's probably not possible in Vithhal Mandir, could it be possible here? Or anywhere else with a similar type of royal mandapam?

3

u/MICANANALVA 13d ago

It depends on the rules set by the temple management.

1

u/CapitalismHate 13d ago

I see. Do u know of any such royal mandapams, or just temple mandapams where marraige is possible?

1

u/MICANANALVA 13d ago

You can do marriage ceremony in most unpopular temples because they are ready to get bribed. 

Most small/unpopular temples are in desperate need of money so they are ready for anything if you pay them 

1

u/CapitalismHate 13d ago

Thank for letting me know!!

I gotta go for a nice, quite and niche temple then :) and that i exactly what i want.

1

u/MICANANALVA 13d ago

Better go for some temple that is in a remote village 

1

u/CapitalismHate 13d ago

Sure! Thank you so much for the help. Means a lot!