Research & Arts
Research and the Tamil arts
Two of the Department’s five objectives concern this work: one asks it to promote research into Hindu religion and culture, the other to preserve the Tamil arts through the artists who practise them. In practice that means an award, a register of artists, support for exhibitions and for publishing, and a growing library of the material itself.
Researchers, artists, students and institutions are all served here. If what you need is not below, the Department would rather hear from you than have you guess.
Promote research on Hindu religion and culture, and sensitise the public about the noble character of Hindu culture and the magnificence of Hindu art and architecture.
Preserve and promote the Tamil arts through the contributions of Tamil artists, and transmit them to future generations.
For artists and researchers
Kalabushana Award
The Department’s award for distinguished contribution to Hindu arts and culture. Application form · PDF, 413 KB
Registration of Kalaiyar
Registration for artists working in Hindu religious and cultural forms. Application form · PDF, 232 KB
Exhibitions
Exhibitions presenting Hindu religious and cultural work. There is no form for one — write to the Department with what you propose.
Publication of Books
Support for publishing scholarly and devotional work. Published titles appear in the digital library.
The Tamil arts
The Department records and promotes the Tamil arts as they are practised — in temples, at festivals, and in the Aranery schools where they are taught to the next generation.
A showcase of recorded work — image, audio and video — together with profiles of registered artists, is being assembled and will appear here. Artists already on the Kalaiyar register do not need to register again to be included.
Where the material is today
The Department’s published documents and scanned texts are in the digital library. Its forms, circulars and papers — including Noolarivu Poddi 2020 and the draft bill to prevent animal sacrifices — are on the downloads page.
Both are being added to as the Department’s archive is digitised, so a title absent today may not be absent next month.
Submitting research
To offer a paper, propose an exhibition, or ask about the Kalabushana Award, write to the Department. An officer in the division concerned replies, and you are given a reference number to quote.