Kushan period (ca. 1-2nd cent AD) statue of Karttikeya (14197 bytes)
Kushan period sculpture of Karttikeya. Sandstone, dated Samvat 11, (ca. 1-2nd c. AD) Mathura Museum, height 33". After Rosenfield, John M., 1967, The Dynastic Art of the Kushans, Berkeley, Los Angeles, University of California Press, fig. 49

Murugan giving upadesam to Agastya Muni (15536 bytes)
Sculpture of Agastya Muni receiving upadesam from Murugan as seen at Tirupporur.
Sri Saktidharar (7897 bytes) from Gallery I of Kaumara Iconography
S'ri S'aktidhara
Kaumara Bharata Natyam
Standing Karttikeya with peacock on copper coin of Raghunatha Nayak, Tanjavur 17th cent.

Symposium on Kaumara Iconography & Temple Architecture

(dates in mid-2001 to be fixed)

The Department of Sculpture and Art History of the Tamil University, Thanjavur, and Clasic International Pvt. Ltd. of Chennai propose to hold an international symposium on Kaumara Iconography and Temple Architecture in Chennai in mid-2001.

The cult of Skanda-Murukan, technically called Kaumara, is one among the sanmatas or six theistic avenues of orthodox Hinduism. Deeply rooted in Indian tradition, its origins lie hidden in the mist of early Indian history. Although literary sources may be traced to the Vedic age, archaeologists have established a case for Murukan even in the Harappan culture of the Indus Valley as well. Archaeological evidences of temples and images of the pre-Christian era are reported fom Nagarjunakonda and elsewhere.

Although there are several published works, books and scholarly articles in national and international journals, a scientific work with special bearing on temple architecture and iconography is still a desideration and hence the present symposium.

Scope:
The Symposium will accept scientific papers on Skanda-Murukan under the following criteria and topics:

  1. Kaumara temple architecture with plans, sections, elevations, etc.;
  2. Systematic analysis of iconographic data from puranas, agamas, classical plays, regional and sub-regional sources with examples from the plastic and pictoral arts;
  3. Systematic analysis of performing arts, folk and classical dance and stage plays;
  4. Studies of iconographical elements of the folk arts and evidence from their oral historical traditions;
  5. Regional castings of the pan-Indian Kaumara tradition; and
  6. Systematic analysis of numismatic evidence from ancient coinage.

Participation in the symposium is open to any ardent lover of Skanda-Murukan. But the total number of papers for presentation is limited to twenty-five. Proposals with synopsis should be sent to the Secretary. On acceptance the full text with all visual illustrations should be sent to the Convenor. The language of papers and presentations is English. All selected papers will be published and the book released at the plenary session.

The symposium will be hosted by the organisers. There is no registration fee. All participants will be provided with accommodation and meals free of charge.
Raju Kalidos, Convenor
Dean, Faculty of the Arts
Tamil University
Thanjavur - 613 005
Tel: (091) 04362 41450 		Patrick Harrigan, Secretary
E-mail: harrigan@angelfire.com

Use the Symposium registration form.

Note: Synopses will appear on this website as they are accepted:

  1. "Kinetic Art Forms" synopsis by Prof. (Smt.) Malati Agniswaran

See also these pages related to Kaumara iconography:

  1. "Iconography of Skanda-Murukan: Flashes of Insight" by Raju Kalidos
  2. Other papers from the First International Conference Seminar on Skanda-Murukan
  3. The Iconography of Skanda-Murukan: Image Gallery One
  4. The Iconography of Skanda-Murukan: Image Gallery Two
  5. Second International Conference Seminar on Skanda-Murukan home page
  6. Murugan Bhakti home page