THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE –THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY- HERITAGE WALK, THE ADYAR – a cultural mapping

22^nd October 2016

The Theosophical Society remembers it’s  Founders, Presidents and Vice Presidents  &  it’s un-known members by erecting their statues in side the  Head quarters premises and creating a Garden of remembrance.  Colonel H S Olcott’s statute of  both life size and Burst size statues are erected at Headquarters building and in front of The Adyar Library. Blavatsky and colonel H S Olcott’s statute are in the Headquarters hall. The vice president S Subramanya Iyer’s statue is also erected in front of Head quarters building. 

H S Olcott, Anne Besant and N SriRam are cremated here and Lead Beater’s ash is also kept in the Garden of remembrance. The Garden of remembrance was constructed  in the form of TS emblem  an  interlocked triangles forming a star with lotus ponds to remember 125 years of past Presidents. 

In addition to this H S Olcott was fondly remembered outside T S premises too, by keeping his name to a School, a residential colony ( Olcott Kuppam ) created for the fishermen in Besant Nagar for his remarkable service to the Community. 

 N Sriram was cremated here 

 H S Olcott- the place where the body was given back to elements by fire 

Blavatsky and H S Olcott

 In memory of its un known members 

 In memory of its un-known members 

 S Subramanya Iyer – a past Vice President, Vice chancellor of Madras Universit and Judge of madras High Court.

--- THE GOD's WISDOM ---

SRI PONNIAMMAN TEMPLE, KOTTUR, CHENNAI

30^th October 2016

The presiding deity is Sri Ponniamman. The temple is estimated to be of 500 years old.  This temple is located on Ponniamman Koil street about 250 meters distance from Kotturpuram Signal in Avvai Nagar part of Kottur in Jamin Adyar jurisdiction, on the banks of River Adyar. The temple was built to protect the Village from Adyar river flood. During mid 17th century, the Kottur came under the control of Arcot Nawab and a Zamindar was appointed to Collect Taxes. Hence Adyar was called as Zamin Adyar. During this period the temple was reconstructed from mud walls and thatched roof to Brick walls and dome type roof ( similar to muslim mosques ). From 1937 the temple is being maintained by Nagalla Rajamannar's family. For further reading on the history Click here

Sri  Ellai Amman temple is about 200 meters distance from Sri Ponni Amman Temple.During 1940’s the Gandhi Mandapam road  and Kotturpuram Bridge across the river are not there.  The Nawab Bungalow was bought and the present Adyar House was constructed by the founder Chairman of M/s SPIC Limited. The remains of the Nawab bungalow was converted to garden in side the Adyar House. It was told that there was a Lake with Nawab’s horse stables exists in the present area. Now a street with Lake view Street reminds that there was a lake in Kottur. 

  

The TNSC tenements ( Kotturpuram )  and  the bridge was constructed  during DMK’s rule ( 1960- 70 ). The Kottur, Kottur Gardens and Kottur Puram are now called as Kotturpuram.  The singer MS Subbulakshsmi and T K Pattmaal lived in Kottur Garden and  Ms Nithya Sri, the Karnatic musician now lives at Kottur Gardens.

The temple was renovated during recent years and entrance was shifted from south side to East side. The temple is facing North with a neem tree at the entrance. The temple is small with out any sub shrines. It was  strongly believed that Sri Ponni Amman will remove all hurdles and there is no other deity's shrines are required.  Soolam, Vahanam and palipedam are at front. During Adi month festival and Fridays devotees will throng in this temple to get the blessings of Sri Ponni Amman. 

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 06.00 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Temple address Sri Ponni Amman, Ponni Amman Koil Street, Kottur, Chennai 60085.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is on the Ponniamman Koil  Street and is about 250 meters from Kottur Puram Signal.  Lot of Town buses are available from various parts of the city. 
About a KM distance from Kotturpuram MRTS station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI ELLAI AMMAN TEMPLE, KOTTUR, CHENNAI

30^th October 2016

The presiding deity is Sri Ellaiamm. The temple was built on the middle of the road in Kottur ( the roads on both sides may be formed at a latter stage) at an elevated level, on the banks of river Adyar.  Ellai ( எல்லை) means the end point of the Village periphery in Tamil. Sri Ellai Amman temple was once the end point of Kottur and due to urbanization it has become the centre point of Kotturpuram. Still we could spot some of the houses with handmade tiled roofs.  During 1940’s the Gandhi Mandapam road  and Kotturpuram Bridge across the river are not there. From mid 17th century, the Kottur Land was belonged to Arcot Nawab and portion of the land was bought by Dr MA Chidambaram, the founder Chairman of M/s SPIC Limited. The Nawab Bungalow was demolished and the present Adyar House was constructed. It was told that there was a lake with Nawab’s horse stables exists in the present  Kottur Garden area, where the Ponni Amman Temple exists. Now the lake view street reminds that there was a lake in that area.  

The TNSC tenements ( Kotturpuram )  and  the bridge was constructed  during DMK’s rule ( 1960 – 70 ). The Kottur, Kottur Garden and Kottur Puram are now called as Kotturpuram.  The singer MS Subbulakshsmi lived in Kottur Garden and  Nithya Sri, the Karnatic musician now lives at Kottur Gardens. The temple was renovated recently and Kumbhabhishekam was also performed recently.  During Adi months festival will be celebrated and during Fridays it will be difficult to pass through the temple.  The temple is estimated to be of 400 years old.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept open between 08.00 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Temple address Sri Ellai Amman, Ellai Amman Koil Street, Kottur, Chennai 60085.
The Poojari Mr Swaminathan may be contacted on his mobile +919444498118

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is on the ends  meeting point of Ponniamman Koil Street and Ellaiam Koil street and is about 500 meters from Kottur Puram Signal.  Lot of Town buses are available from various parts of the city. 
About a KM distance from Kottur MRTS railway station.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

THIRUPORUR, MAHAPALIPURAM - SHIVA, VISHNU AND OTHER TEMPLES

PLACE	GOD/ GODD'ESS NAME	REMARKS
Thiruporur	Sri Kailasanathar	CLICK HERE
Thiruporur	Sri Murugan	CLICK HERE
Siruthavur	Sri Boothagireswarar	CLICK HERE
Nellikuppam	Sri Vendavarasi Amman	CLICK HERE
Kattur	Sri Uthara Vaithiayalingeswarar	CLICK HERE
Thiruvidanthai	Sri Nithyakalyana Perumal	CLICK HERE
Mahapalipuram	Sri Sthalasayana Perumal	CLICK HERE

BROKEN BRIDGE & GROUP WALK PHOTOS - THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY - A HERITAGE WALK, as a part of THE ADYAR – a cultural mapping.

..A continuation Post

22^nd October 2016

BROKEN BRIDGE - THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY A HERITAGE WALK

Our Young curator Nandan Sankriti Kaushik explained about the bride. This was once connecting link between Urur Olcott kuppam and fishing hamlet, before construction of the bridge near Fortis the Malar Hospital ( Mr Hariharan, G M- TS told that the Hospital land was belongs to a member of the Theosophical Society and sold to Malar Hospital. A ward was named after that TS member ). The width is almost 6 feet. Mainly used by the fishermen built during the year 1967, when TN Congress was in rule. After a cyclone and flood in the year 1977, a portion of the bridge was washed away, hence called as broken bridge. The Bridge is now being used as a picnic spot and shooting of films.  This Bridge has access from Theosophical Society and Besant Nagar Beach. It was an awesome site to see the Adyar River joining with sea and the concrete monsters on the other bank of the river. 

  

Every one got exhausted finally after a long and enjoyable walk of about 7 km.. The experience we gained will be there in our mind to our life. Thanks Mr Venkatesh Ramakrishnan, Mrs Sreemathy Mohan the organiser who had taken much pain, Siddharth Chandrasekar, Nandan Sankriti Kaushik our young hero and curator, Rajagopalan Venkatraman for the live telecast with family, Rangarathnam Gopu, Padmapriya Baskaran, Jaishree C Iyer, for taking photos in different angle and perspective, Mohan Hariharan and his mam, Raja King the administrator and all the participants... thanks to you all once again for this wonderful and enjoyable walk.... 

For More Photographs: CLICK HERE

.. To be continued.

THE NATURAL FOREST, FLORA & FAUNA, THE GREAT BANYAN TREE AND BAOBAB TREE – THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY - A HERITAGE WALK - THE ADYAR – a cultural mapping.

.... a Continuation post. 

2^nd October 2016

Mr Hariharan, GM TS explained the varieties of plants, trees and herbs in side the Theosophical Society premises ( could not remember the numbers. But as per Nandan Sankriti Kaushik's recorded message of Mr Hariharan, GM - TS, 85 kinnds of insects, 200 kinds of birds, 40 to 50 types of fishes and 150 different types of plants and trees ). Liked the cannon ball trees with cannon balls hanging with a fragrant smell of flowers, that total atmosphere mas like heaven. 

THE FLORA & FAUNA - THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Mr Hariharan, G M – TS, led us through the foot paths covered with thick vegetation and no one behind or before. It was frightening to look at the back. Even at 16.30 Hrs the path was too dark and gets light through the tree branches. It was awesome. With out a known person to lead, there is every chance of getting lost in the Theosophical Society’s jungle..

The arches brought from Chandragiri fort – a Vijayanagara period

The Bodhi tree in front of the Buddhist shrine

Which path you will take..right or left..

See the light at the centre

The flower ‘Senganthal -  செங்காந்தள்’-  is the Tamila Nadu’s official flower. It is a wild and poisonous plant with very good medicinial value 

THE GREAT BANYAN TREE

The  tree was there when the piece of land of 25 acres of land bought at a cost of Rs 8900 ( as per Mr Hariharan, G M of TS). The tree is estimated to 450 years old and covers almost 40000 square feet. The main trunk was up rooted by a cyclone during 1989 and a portion of main trunk survived. Historical important events were held under the tree. The first meeting of Indian National Congress was held under the tree during 1914. The Atmosphere inducted an idea of Starting Shanthi Nikethan at Madras for Rabindranath Tagore, but could not materialised.

BAOBAB TREE – THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY,  

There are about species of trees inside the Theosophical society campus. Some of the trees or the saplings are brought from foreign countries with soil and planted. The Baobab tree is the origin of African continent and in Tamil it is called as பப்பாரப் புளி. This is called in different names as up side down tree (since the branches are like roots), dead-rat-tree and monkey bread- tree. This tree grows mainly in the dry countries. During rainy season it will store water in the big trunk and used during dry season to grow. There are about 5 verities of Baobab trees available in Africa. The fruits and seeds are nutritious and seeds are available in the form of powder. For further reading. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia

There are about 6 such trees in Madras including one at Theosophical Society. The other places are, Horticultural Society, Chepauk and Madras Museum, Museum Andra mahila Saba, C p Ramasamy Iyer's house at Eldams road. We had seen the tree in Egmore Museum, during our Cooum river walk.

There are many stories and myths about this Baobab tree. One such myth in India is, if one circumambulate this, their wishes will be fulfilled. 

For More Photographas:CLICK HERE

.... to be continued