The present work has taken it as a mission to unravel the social life of the contemporary people as revealed from the sculptures and paintings of the Vijayanagara-Nayaka period. This work brings to limelight the technical deviation of the Nayaka artists from the earlier art tradition of the Tamil country. This study also traces out the development of sculptures and paintings from the earliest times to the Vijayanagara-Nayaka period. Besides, this work focuses the sociological factors such as pattern of dress, ornaments, coiffure, performance of dance and music, use of household articles, condition of army and war weapons, the mode of transports, social customs, festivals, and entertainment as depicted in the sculptures and paintings of this period.

About the Author

Dr A. Mahalingam did M.A. in History and pursued his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Art-History at the Madurai Kamaraj University. He has worked as research associate in the UPE project of the same institution for three years. At present, he is Assistant Professor in the Department of Medieval History, School of Historical Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University. He has more than 20 articles in the national and regional levels to his credit. He has also served as Editorial Committee Member in the Proceedings of South Indian History Congress for three annual volumes. He has been awarded the UGC major research project in 2011.