With An Introduction And Notes By Krishnaswami Aiyangar.

The History Of TamilNadu Kings (Cholas,Nayakas) and accomplishments during their rule,with the Brief history of The Great Maratha warrior Chatrapathi Shivaji,his son Dharmaveer Sambhaji, their spiritual guru Samartha Ramdas and their visit to Tamilnadu has been included . Thanjavur was ruled by Maratha kings for 180 years and they had a vast accomplishments in many fields and were scholars themselves.History of Thanjavur Marathas has been included. King Serfoji II who was a Bibliophile developed arts,culture and literature and one of the present world largest library, SARASWATI MAHAL is named after him. Brief historical detail on Indian Classical art form-Bharatanatyam has also been written. The founder of Maratha rule in Thanjavur (TamilNadu) was King Venkoji alias Ekoji, founded in 1676 A.D. Details of all kings who ruled after him and their works and accomplishments in the field of arts,literature,culture,dance,drama, science,medicines,Engineering,ship building etc which they did in those days (300 years back) with a brief detail on Maratha Royal family of Thanjavur, Sadar Mahal Palace has been included. Thanjavur Maratha Kings were the patron of arts, learning and many scholars and artists were flourished during their reign. Trip to Thanjavur,TamilNadu (India) is incomplete without visiting Remarkable places of Raja Raja Chola’s Brihadeshwara temple and Thanjavur Maharaja’s Serfoji Saraswati Mahal Library (TMSSML).Brihadeshwara Temple and Saraswati Mahal Library are the imperishable and living monuments of Raja Raja Cholan and King Serfoji II. “The Tanjore Country is celebrated all over the world for its charities.It is called Dharma Raj-and I consider this reputation,which reverts upon me through all countries from this appellation as the most honorable distinction of my rank”- Raja Serfoji.

The book contains the cultural history of Thanjavur. Histories of the various rulers and of the Big Temple are woven into a rich tapestry of cultural heritage that is Thanjavur.

To scholars in the field, the need for an up-to-date overview of the art of South Asia has been apparent for decades. Although many regional and dynastic genres of Indic art are fairly well understood, the broad, overall representation of India's centuries of splendor has been lacking. The Art of Ancient India is the result of the author's aim to provide such a synthesis. Noted expert Sherman E. Lee has commented: –Not since Coomaraswamyês History of Indian and Indonesian Art (1927) has there been a survey of such completeness.” Indeed, this work restudies and reevaluates every frontier of ancient Indic art _ from its prehistoric roots up to the period of Muslim rule, from the Himalayan north to the tropical south, and from the earliest extant writing through the most modern scholarship on the subject. This dynamic survey-generously complemented with 775 illustrations, including 48 in full color and numerous architectural ground plans, and detailed maps and fine drawings, and further enhanced by its guide to Sanskrit, copious notes, extensive bibliography, and glossary of South Asian art terms-is the most comprehensive and most fully illustrated study of South Asian art available. The works and monuments included in this volume have been selected not only for their artistic merit but also in order to both provide general coverage and include transitional works that furnish the key to an all encompassing view of the art. An outstanding portrayal of ancient Indiaês highest intellectual and technical achievements, this volume is written for many audiences: scholars, for whom it provides an up-to-date background against which to examine their own areas of study; teachers and students of college level, for whom it supplies a complete summary of and a resource for their own deeper investigations into Indic art; and curious readers, for whom it gives a broad-based introduction to this fascinating area of world art.