The sacred landscape of Kālañjar Fort
type: CreativeWork
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320126545
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320127773
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320128914
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320128982
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320128984
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320129238
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320130985
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/320131768
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/330135222
about: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/330137606
about: DefinedTerm
  alternate name: Architecture--India
about: DefinedTerm
  alternate name: Hindu sculpture--India
about: DefinedTerm
  alternate name: Paleography--India--Kalanjar
about: DefinedTerm
  alternate name: Inscriptions, Indic--India
about: DefinedTerm
  alternate name: Hindu art--India
abstract: "Reputed to be one of the most sacred landscapes, an abode of Siva—where Siva ‘conquered kala, the force of decay and destruction’—Kalanjara hill persists as one of the strongest forts in the country. It faced a number of crucial battles for possession, but it was more than a fort and a political centre. The hill has been a sacred tirtha distinguished as a symbol of cultural and religious majesty. Its composition was the result of two diverse religious faiths—the ‘elite’, if one may address the Brahmanical pantheons adapted by the progressing societies, and the magico-religious practices of the Adivasis. The ruling king also honoured the faith of the Adivasis (mainly Pulindas) and carved out colossal images of Lord Siva and other deities associated with local and tribal beliefs. The pleasant location of the Kalanjara hill in the midst of the Vindhyan forest attracted ancient sages for religious practices. The most favoured deity of this hill-fort is the ageless Nilakantha installed in a cave shrine, which exemplifies the exclusive progression from cave to structural addition, and it is one of the oldest living temples in the country and the world. Being a complex of many religious spots, it attracts both the royal and common worshippers, and even at present a huge mass of people come here during festivals. Scholars of historical and cultural studies admit that religious landscape studies need to be attempted at a large scale if the rich heritage of our country is to be projected in its totality. Kalanjara forms the nucleus of such a sacred landscape, which crosses multiple cultural boundaries, both in time and space, and has great potential for a meaningful study of the past as well as the present culture of Bundelkhand-Vindhyan region in particular, and Central India in general. The historical growth of material expressions of religious meanings and artistic generosity, acculturation of styles of carvings, fusion of mythology, and institutionalization of a Saiva-pi…
author: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/310218044
author: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/310218045
author: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/310218046
creator: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/310218044
language: eng
subject of: Statement
  additional type: lang
  text: Text in English.
work example: https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/301323466

PropertyValue
property ID: NL-AmRIJ
value: 323466