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The impressive Indian temple architecture has always been a source of awe, mystery and inspiration to heritage lovers and architects world over. The Hindu temple has countless stone carved sculptures of various sizes and various images and beautifully decorative stone pillars, beams (that stand between the roof and top of pillars), temple entrances, etc . They bear testimony to the fascinating workmanship and the talents of ancient artisans, besides their proper planning, dressing of rocks and execution. Considering the antiquity of Hindu temples, it is an engineering marvel that these huge pillars numbering several 100s in many temples that support huge halls or mandaps with thick stone roof slabs are skillfully designed as per temple Sastras. They are so artistically installed you could see perfect symmetry and uniformity right from the top to the bottom all the way. If you stand near the huge pillar at one end of the hall and look at the rows of pillars on your side you will be amazed the way they are perfectly aligned. Mind you such pillars and sculptures are made of hard stone and imagine what kind of technology did they use to erect and set the long and heavy roof slabs atop the building - all along the prakara (circumlocutory path around the sanctum). A mind-boggling work that needs lots of men, elephants and horses.
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Invariably
such big ornate pillars are tall, solid, mute and commonly portray
dancing damsels or musicians playing their instruments. Seldom do such
silent pillars produce melodious musical sound when struck. In some Hindu temples
of Tamil Nadu, there are stone pillars that produce musical notes if
struck or gently tap on them. Our ancient sculptors /Shilpi's were aware
of those rocks that could produce a sort of metallic sound similar to
musical notes.
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Definitely, you will get excited if you run into such musical stone pillars that not only support the roof but also produce musical sound in a particular fashion. In the vast temple complex of Nellaiappar Kovil (temple), Tirunelveli city, dedicated to one of the trinity Gods - Shiva who is supposedly the protector of paddy fields here (nel meaning paddy), there stand unique stone pillars near the sanctum -
Definitely, you will get excited if you run into such musical stone pillars that not only support the roof but also produce musical sound in a particular fashion. In the vast temple complex of Nellaiappar Kovil (temple), Tirunelveli city, dedicated to one of the trinity Gods - Shiva who is supposedly the protector of paddy fields here (nel meaning paddy), there stand unique stone pillars near the sanctum -
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What is special about the musical pillars? They produce seven Indian classical key notes Saptha swarangal in a wave if gently struck. These musical pillars occur in cluster and are set in a manner vibrations are produced from the neighboring pillars, when one pillar is tapped. There is a central pillar having 48 small cylindrical pillars of varying girth around made from a single stone.. Each pillar made from one block of rock has a cluster of small cylindrical columns. Northern side of the hall has two clusters of 24 pillars while the southern side has a single cluster of 33 pillars. In total there are 161 musical pillars and when one is tapped, surrounding pillar also vibrate
The Nellaiappar temple chronicle, Thirukovil Varalaaru, says the nadaththai ezhuppum kal thoongal - stone pillars that produce music — were set in place in the 7th century during the reign of Pandyan king Nindraseer Nedumaran. ASI records point out that the temple was built before the 7th century and successive Pandya rulers of Madurai made valid contributions to the Hindu temples. The rulers after Nedumaran made some additions and modifications, but never touched the musical stone columns in the front part of the main temple.
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According to Shankar musical stone pillars are of three types: The first one called Shruti Thoongal (pillars) can produce the basic notes - the swaras - the Theavarm (collection of devotional hymns) and the Vedas are rendered using this type. The 2nd one Gana thoongal, produce basic tunes that make classical ragas like Harahara Priya. and the third one, the Laya thoongal produce taalam (beats) when tapped.
Structurally there are two kinds of musical pillars: 1.Tapping pillars- music is produced by tapping on the pillar by fingers like we tap fingers on a keyboard.
2) Blowing pillar - sound is produced by blowing into the holes as it is produced in case of conch or flute.
These musical stone pillars are one of a kind in India and there are no comparisons between this temple and others. Mind you, they are older than 1300 years and at that point of time, this part of India was in the pinnacle of civilization unlike other parts of the world. An architectural marvel, these amazing pillars are ''musical celebration in stone'' dedicated to lord Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer whose rhythmic dance keeps the universe going.
This temple, that is well-known for elegant and exotic sculptures that stands on a 15 acre land is in the prime location of Tirunelveli city which is on the way to Kanyakumari and is well- connected to major Indian cities by train. The temple represents Thamara (copper) sabha, one of the famous five halls God Shiva' performed the Cosmic Dance.
This temple is worth a visit and you need a minimum of a day to visit various parts of this amazing huge Shiva temple which is a treasure house of sculptures of artistic beauty and ingenuity.
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