Type: Prelims Only

About the 3 temples mentioned:

Nambi Rayar Temple (Thirukoshtiyur Temple)

• It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Thirukoshtiyur, near Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu.
• It is one of the 108 Divya Desams (sacred Vishnu temples).
• It is known for its association with Ramanuja, one of the most important figures in Vaishnavism, who learned the sacred mantra “Ashtakshara” here.
• The temple has a five-tiered rajagopuram (temple tower) and is built in Dravidian style.

Thirumalai Nambi Temple (Thirumaliruncholai Temple)

• It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Thirumaliruncholai, also known as Azhagar Kovil, near Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• This temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams.
• Thirumalai Nambi, who was a saint and a scholar, was closely associated with this temple and served as a priest here.
• The temple is set in a hilly region and has intricate carvings and sculptures in traditional Dravidian architecture.

Aniliswarar Temple

• It is a Shaivite temple located in Anilivandhan Kottai, near Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
• The temple architecture is traditional with a smaller gopuram (temple tower) compared to the larger, more well-known temples.

• Gopuram (Entrance Gateway): The front wall has an elaborate gateway tower called Gopuram, which serves as the main entrance to the temple complex.
• Vimana (Main Tower): Vimana or temple tower has a stepped pyramid-like structure that rises geometrically, unlike the curving shikhara in North Indian temples.
• Temple Tank: It is common to have a large water reservoir or temple tank enclosed within the temple complex.

• Square (Kuta or Caturasra)
• Rectangular (Shala or Ayatasra)
• Elliptical (Gaja-prishta or Vrittayata)
• Circular (Vritta)
• Octagonal (Ashtasra)

• Mahabalipuram: Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla) initiated construction, and Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) built the Shore Temple.
• The Shore Temple houses three shrines for Shiva and Vishnu.

The Rajarajeswara or Brahadeeshwarar Temple at Thanjavur, built by Rajaraja Chola in 1009 CE, is the largest and tallest of Indian temples. It features large Gopurams with elaborate sculptures.

PYQ:

[2012] The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the:

(a) Three main racial groups of the Indian subcontinent

(b) Three main linguistic divisions into which the languages of India can be classified

(c) Three main styles of Indian temple architecture

(d) Three main musical Gharanas prevalent in India

1. High Antiquity over a thousand years.
2. A body of ancient literature valued by generations.
3. Original literary tradition, not borrowed.

2005 (when Sanskrit was declared a Classical Language):

1. High Antiquity over 1500-2000 years.
2. Ancient literature valued by generations.
3. Original literary tradition, not borrowed.
4. Distinct from modern forms, with possible discontinuity.

2024 (as recommended by the Linguistic Experts Committee):

1. High Antiquity over 1500-2000 years.
2. Ancient literature valued by generations.
3. Includes knowledge texts, prose, inscriptions.
4. Distinct from current forms or may show discontinuity.

• Lists 22 official languages, governed by Articles 344(1) and 351 of the Constitution.
• Includes Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu

PYQ:

[2015] Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

(a) Odia

(b) Konkani

(c) Bhojpuri

(d) Assamese

[2014] Consider the following languages :

1. Gujarati

2. Kannada

3. Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language / Languages’ by the Government?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3