MASH Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, we will take a look at the Vesara temple’s architecture. The architectural style of the temple is not completely new but rather an interesting confluence, almost a consolidation of Nagara and Dravida styles.

The towers of Nagara temples in northern India are above the sacred innermost chamber. Independent in form, they dominate over any other structure throughout the temple; the only connection is through a vestibule to the rest of the temple. Typically this develops from the ardha mandapa joined by further chambers known as rangamandira, gudda mandapa and sabhamandap. Devotees circumambulate the garbha griha along a pradakshina patha which was later enclosed. The Nagara temple is situated on an elevated jagati and presents a more developed and complex version of the single-shrined Deogarh temple, for example, in the multi-shrined Kandariya Mahadeo temple, arranged in a panchayatana style with five shrines.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details) 
 
Image credits: Dinesh Kannambadi

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani. 
 

In this episode of the podcast, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of the Chola Dynasty — a formidable South Indian empire that flourished from the 9th to the 13th centuries CE. Originating in present-day Tamil Nadu, the Cholas expanded their influence far beyond their homeland, conquering the kingdoms of the Pallavas, Cheras, and Pandyas to establish a vast and significant empire in Southern India and beyond.

Vijayalaya Chola established the Chola empire in the 9th century. His successors, notably Rajaraja Chola I (reigned 985–1014 CE) and his son Rajendra Chola I (reigned 1014–1044 CE), took the empire to new heights and expanded it to previously uncharted territories — making it one of the vastest empires in the Southern region of the country. Rajaraja Chola I’s reign was marked by significant administrative and military reforms, laying the foundation for a well-organised and powerful empire. The Cholas reached their zenith in social, religious, and military spheres under his rule, before their gradual decline in the late 12th century — paving the way for the rise of successor states.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast. (Head to our website for more details) 
 
 Image credits: Mcasankar

Written by Urvi C; Hosted by: Hanima Nawaz; modified by Davangi Pathak and Final Revisions by Pranay Dewani.

The second episode focuses on the making of the temple, elaborating the plan of the temple, which is the Vastupurusamandala, as mentioned in the ancient textual sources.

We will further elaborate on the evolution of the temple architecture – From a temple with just a garbha griha and mandapa to the inclusion of antarla (vestibule) to several mandapas, eventually forming temple towns.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

Image Credits: Kalleshvara Temple, 10th century AD, Rashtrakuta period,
Bagli, Karnataka, Photo by Dinesh Kannambadi, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Urvi C, Modified by Davangi Pathak, and Final Revisions by Asmita Singh.

The Episode begins with contextualising the essence of being in the temple — how one feels or behaves in the temple and how the temple has been significant in India. We also dwell upon the Buddhist architecture that led to the foundation of a dedicated place for devotion followed by the philosophy of the “sacred”. Further, we focus on the prominent religions of India, viz Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, which became the ground for the construction of several sacred sites.

We also explore the concept of Tirtha, a sacred site, as explained by Stella Kramrisch. We discuss the symbolic meaning of each temple structure starting from the bottom which is the jagati to the kalasa, the top, attributing that transpires a devotee while experiencing higher consciousness.

Tune in to listen and expand your knowledge about the histories behind the temples in India and their architectural wonders. Streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcast.

Image Credits: Harvinder Chandigarh

Written by Urvi C, Modified by Davangi Pathak, and Final Revisions by Asmita Singh.

Shivani Aggarwal's works come from a process of continuously breaking herself to understand not just the world around her but the world within her. Her process is an emotional premonition of her own situation or condition. Over the past few years she has been involved with creating, enlarging , bending and twisting common everyday objects that she finds in her regular environment. Her art practice has evolved into a three-dimensional installation in wood, terracotta, fibreglass and thread. Her use of red thread in her previous body of works has been a significant emotion of expression. They are symbolic of functionality, whether personal, political or societal, which are being constantly challenged.

We have arrived at the end of the podcast series, Indian Art History. In this episode, our host Ayushi takes us to the complex comprehensions of contemporary Indian art. She takes a route via art practices of several contemporary artists through the value of threats, love and care while looking at the contemporary urge to make art. Image Credits: Art Limited/Sudhir Patwardhan; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

The Episode introduces you to the practice of different artists post independence. Through their varied narrative and abstract practices they shaped the modern art landscape in India. They exchanged ideas and techniques with the rest of the world and carved a niche for the South Asian artists. . Image Credits: Met Museum; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

Maksud Ali Mondal (1993, based in Santiniketan) was born in Bankura, West Bengal, India. His practice includes facilitating an experiential understanding of organisms in a durational, built microcosm, using sculpture, painting, drawing, installation and photography. His work deals with microbial contamination as a conversational expression, based on observation of growth, transformations and decomposition of organic matter by bacteria, fungi, creatures, fermentation, oxidation, rotting and with the organic, manmade found objects and everyday discarded materials. In this one of a kind podcast, learn in detail about the artist's fascination with the "real".

As India edged towards independence from the British, Indian artists also set free their aspirations, beliefs and conformities by experimenting and searching for visual idioms that made their work more of the subcontinent. Tune in as we discuss the art of prominent artists. Image Credits: National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA); Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia

A quick tour to 19th century Kolkata. We are particularly visiting the Kalighat temple where the Kalighat paintings are being sold as souvenirs to pilgrims. This resulted in an art style that spoke not just about religion and mythology but also urged its readers to think beyond through social satire. Image Credits: Christie's; Written and hosted by: Ayushi Chaurasia