Pallava period (Social and Cultural History)
by S. Krishnamurthy | 2017 | 143,765 words
This study examines the Social and Cultural History of the Pallava period (as gleaned through the Sculptural Art). The Pallavas (6th-9th century A.D.) mainly ruled over the Tondaimandalam (Tondai Nadu) region in the Northern part of Tamil Nadu (South-India). The Pallava dynasty ensured a golden age of architecture, arts, and spirituality and while ...
Head-dress of Women (Introduction)
Head-dress of women in this period can be grouped under four types as following:
- Karanda-makuta
- Cylindrica cap like makuta
- Tiara
- Kirita-makuta
The most commonly seen head-dress adorning the female sculptures is the karanda-makuta worn in majority by the goddesses, dvarapalikas and celestials, followed by the conical cap type worn especially by Gajalakshmi and a type of crown resembling kirita-makuta worn by the queens depicted in the historical panels of Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram. A few rare varieties like the short cylindrical cap type can also be seen adorning the head of celestials. The tiara as an elaborate forehead band, either individually or as part of a head-dress in the form of siro-mala is also seen. All the above mentioned types of head-dress are described infra with suitable examples.