R nagaswamy

An archaeologist, historian, art historian, epigraphist and expert in both Sanskrit and Tamil classical literature, Dr Nagaswamy has contributed to those disciplines since the 1950s. He was the founder-Director of theTamil Nadu Archaeology Department and Vice chancellor, Kanchipuram University. He authored numerous books, among them Art and culture of Tamil Nadu, Tantric Cult in Tamil Nadu, The sensuous and the sacred: Chola bronzes from South India(co-authored), Art and religion of the Bhairavas, Mahabalipuram, Uttaramerur, Roman Karur, Vedic Roots of Hindu Iconography, Masterpieces of Chola Art, Thirukkural: An Abridgement of Sastras, Mirror of Tamil and Sanskrit, Tamil Nadu: the Land of Vedas. Dr Nagaswamy widely popularized archaeology, epigraphy and classical arts in Tamil Nadu, authoring in particular books for children, and founded the now famous Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival. He appeared as an expert witness in the famous London Nataraja case, in which he made a convincing case in the London High Court for the theft of the Nataraja statue, which was subsequently returned to India. Dr Nagaswamy is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Kalaimamani (awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu) and the Padma Bhushan (2018). Abstracts of the lectures: Interface of Sangam Literature and Sanskrit This first lecture will explore the earliest extant Tamil literature: the collection called Sangam poems. “Sangam” in Tamil refers to an assembly of scholars/poets who ga...

R Nagaswamy Biography: Eminent archaeologist and Padma Bhushan awardee R Nagaswamy breathed his last on 23 January 2022 at the age of 91 years due to age-related complications. He is survived by two sons and two daughters while his wife predeceased him. At a time when the world is mourning his death, let us take a look at his life. R Nagaswamy Biography Birth 10 August 1930 Full Name Ramachandran Nagaswamy Age 91 years Death 23 January 2022 Education B.A. and M.A. in Sanskrit from the University of Madras Ph.D in Indian Arts from Pune University Profession Archaeologist (Director of the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department from 1966-1988) Awards Padma Bhusan Kalaimamani award Books 1- Art and Culture of Tamil Nadu 2- Facets of South Indian Art and Architecture 3- Art and religion of the Bhairavas 4- Monumental Legacy Series: Mahabalipuram 5- Thirukkural An Abridgement Of Sastras 6- Senthamizh Naadum Pandbum Children Four (two sons and two daughters) R Nagaswamy: Birth, Age, and Education R Nagaswamy was born on 10 August 1930 at Kodumudi in Erode district to Ramachandran Sastrigal who was a Sanskrit Pundit. The 91-year-old was a postgraduate in Sanskrit from the University of Madras and held a Ph.D in Indian Arts from Pune University. R Nagaswamy Career Nagaswamy was trained under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and started his career as a curator of art and archaeology at the Government Museum in 1959. He served in various capacities at the Tamil Nadu Department of ...

Chennai, Jan 23 (PTI) Renowned archaeologist, art historian and Padma Bhushan awardee R Nagaswamy, who was the first director of Tamil Nadu government’s Department of Archaeology died here on Sunday. He was 91. He is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife had predeceased him. Nagaswamy passed away at 2.30 pm in his Chennai home briefly after he expressed uneasiness, his son-in-law Baskar Kailasam told PTI. Nagaswamy was an expert witness in a London court in the famous Pathur Nataraja case and played a key role in bringing back the Chola-era bronze Nataraja to Tamil Nadu. Former Director of Archaeology, Kerala and the Archaeological Survey of India, T Satyamurthy said, Nagaswamy’s death is an irreparable loss to the field of archaeology. A great scholar in Tamil and Sanskrit, he had published numerous research papers on art of ancient Tamil country. As an archaeologist, he had excavated many sites in Tamil Nadu, including Korkai, the ancient Pandyan port. Indian art lovers would forever remember him for his unmatched services and he had trained hundreds of Tamil enthusiasts in Tamil epigraphy. His contribution by way of filing an affidavit in the Ayodhya case is remarkable, Satyamurthi told PTI. Noted epigraphist and archaeologist S Ramachandran, condoling Nagaswamy’s death said: “Nagaswamy was such a dynamic archaeologist who led from the front. He inspired generations of aspiring epigraphists and archaeologists through his field work”. “Nagaswamy founded the In...

Studies in Ancient Tamil Law and Society ‘Padma Bhushan’ Dr. R. Nagaswamy This anthology is a revised edition of the author's 1978 classic. This series of essays, containing his original research in various fields, throws light on the socio-cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu spanning several centuries. These compelling episodes will appeal to scholars and laymen alike. “When superstitious mediaevalists mislead the country about its judicial past, we have to search for truth in stone and honesty in metal, and not in man and his lips. Dr. R. Nagaswamy unearthing the law in practice has patriotic relevance.” — Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer “...this book, profiting from the linguistic, historical, and epigraphical skill of its author, broadens our horizon...and adds to that much food for reflexion on the part of those who...yearn for a genuine Indian jurisprudence.” — Prof. J. Duncan M. Derrett Dr. R. Nagaswamy is an Indian historian, archaeologist and epigraphist who is known for his work on temple inscriptions and art history of Tamil Nadu. He served as the founder-Director of the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department. He was also instrumental in starting the annual Chidambaram Natyanjali festival in 1980. “Studies in Ancient Tamil Law and Society” is a research work of Dr R. Nagaswamy. He was awarded “Padma Bhushan” and he won many titles for his contribution to the field of Archaeology, Temples, cultures, etc. He is ninety plus years old and is still active and enthusiastic about h...

Himalayas to Kanyakumari, there was only one prominent cultural based upon Vedas: Dr. RNagaswamy. From the Himalayas to Kanyakumari, there was only one country (cultural nation) with strong Vedic traditions…. Early Tamil culture bears ‘extraordinary’ influence of Vedic traditions, says renowned scholar Dr. R Nagaswamy. Dr. R Nagaswamy. HENB | New Delhi | July 8, 2016:: Again it is proved the hollowness of the so called conflict between Aryan and Dravidian culture or any theory of Aryan invasion to the South. Rather a scholastic approach has been succeeded to establish an one principal culture from Himalaya to Kanyakumari. That was able to keep this ancient land united under one super-mingling spirit derived from Vedas in the flow of Sanskrit. The Tamil language attained classical status by adopting Vedic and Sanskrit traditions, even as the Vedic civilization, which flourished in northern India during 1500-500 BC, had an ‘absolute and extraordinary’ influence on the early Tamil Nadu’s literary works, society, polity and culture, a renowned art historian and archaeologist said today. This approach and analysis actually hold the concept of eternal (sanatana) Bharat with Vedic tradition mostly known as Hindu faith in the art of living and spreading wisdom, enlightenment, peace and harmony. The early Tamil culture (1st-2nd century AD) never grew in isolation; it, in fact, bore extraordinary influence of the Vedic culture that was evident in all its manifestations: literature, ...

It was twilight of an evening 18 years ago. We were at the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram, built by the Pallava king Rajasimha (regnal years 690 – 728 CE). Dr. R. Nagaswamy, dressed in white dhoti and shirt, pointed to an inscription on the temple’s front mantapa and broke into a story. “This is an inscription in Kannada issued by the Badami Chalukya king, Vikramaditya II,” he began. The Pallavas and the Chalukyas were at each other’s throats. To avenge the defeats of the Chalukyas at the hands of the Pallavas, Vikramaditya II invaded Pallava territory, defeated Mahendra III alias Paramesvara, and captured Kanchipuram. When the Chalukya army reached the doorstep of the Kailasanatha temple, Vikramaditya II stood stunned by its beautiful architecture. “The conqueror was conquered,” Dr. Nagaswamy exclaimed, adding “The Kannada inscription talks about Vikramaditya’s gifts, including gold, to the temple. He instructed his army not to take anything away from the temple as war trophies to Badami. However, he took back the team of architects to Pattadakkal. To fulfil his queen Lokamadevi’s wish, Vikramaditya II built the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakkal, for which the Kailasanatha temple was the inspiration.” Dr. Nagaswamy, 91, who passed away in Chennai on January 23, was a born raconteur. In September 2011, a Nataraja idol, stolen from a temple in Sripuranthan village in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu, had been brought back to Chennai from Australia. Dr. Nagaswamy went into...