VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Thursday 9 February 2017

Thambikalai Ayyan Kovil / ஸ்ரீ தம்பிகலை அய்யன் கோயில், Thanga medu, near Kavindapadi, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

07^th February 2017.

During my conversation with Fowzia it went around many subjects. In that she mentioned about Thambi Kalai Ayyan Kovil near Kavindapadi, where my brother resides. After night stay at my brothers home, before leaving I told my intention of visiting the temple. So he took me to the temple.

Thambi kalai Ayyan was a siddhar who lived in this place. It is a Raghu kethu sthalam. Amman is in the form of snake called Nageswari. Moolavar is Thambi kalai Ayyan and Rishabam and dwajasthambam are in front facing North. Holy water in a pot is given to the devotees who was bitten by snakes,scorpion and other poisonous creatures..

Moolavar: Thambikalai Ayyan

Some of the important features of this temple are...

At the entrance to the main temple, Rahu Ketu and Thambi Kalai Ayyan stucco images are installed. Rajagopuram is on the east side with 7 tier and has 300 stucco images.

The temple is facing North with balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Nandhi. The inner mandapam was built with 48 pillars. The reliefs of 12 rasis, 9 / Navagrahas and 27 Nakshatras are on the pillars. The pillars also has the reliefs of 18 siddhars, Naalvar, Ramalinga Vallalar, Ashta Lakshmi, Pattinathar.

The sanctum has a vimanam and over which another vimanam is also constructed on the roof.

In the inner prakaram sannadhi for Raghu, Asirvatha Vinayagar, Pamban Swamigal, Urchavars ( Kalyana Subramaniar, Nageswari, Thambi kalai Ayyan), Nava kanniyars, Kethu Bhairavar,

In the outer prakaram sannadhi for Selva Vinayagar, Nageswari over the ant hill where the snakes live, Holy water sannadhi , Nallayyan ( brother of Thambi Kalai Ayyan – stucco image of Nallayan, Cow milking milk to a snake), Vinayagar under a peepal / Bodhi tree, Rama eswarar Darshan Lingam, Kumara Parameswaran, Sankara Narayanan, Pambatti Siddhar, Karuppanna Swamy, Durgai, Thirumoolar, Muthu kumaraswamy.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

It was estimated that the temple must be 800 years old, but in actual the temple was constructed during recent years. To prove this they quote the references are the palm leaf manuscript ( Siddhar Pala Thirattu ) available at Thanjavur Saraswathi Mahal, The inscription on the top support of a swing and legends.

a latter period inscription on a swing to stone

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Important functions held here are Adi festival, Maha Shivaratri, Thaipoosam, Chitra pournami brahmotsavam and Rahu Ketu movement day.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple is kept open between 07.00 Hrs to 13.00 Hrs and 14.00 Hrs to 18.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The temple may be contacted on the land lines - 04294- 235053 and 235453.

HOW TO REACH:

The temple is located on 19^th KM from Erode to Sathyamangalam bus route.

The temple can be reached through Town bus No 7 available from, Erode and get dropped at Chetti Karadu Irattai Vaaikal, from there 2 KM.

From Erode, Town bus via Kanjikoil route no 8, get dropped at Ayyan valasu.

From Perundurai to Kavindapadi town bus route No 17, Get dropped at Iyyan Valasu.

Mini bus is also available from Kanchi Koil and Kavindapadi.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

Shiva Family on the ceiling of the Rajagopuram

North side Rajagopuram

Sanctum vimanam (Another vimanam also constructed over the roof )

Urchavars - (Kalyana Subramaniyar, Nageswari and Thambi Kalai Ayyan )

Devotees offerings

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Ooty / Udhagamandalam / Ootacamund / ஊட்டி / உதகமண்டலம் - Charing Cross, Municipal Office, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board office, Bridges - A Heritage Visit to Nilgiri Hills.

06^th February, 2017.

As per official note March 1821CE in Madras Gazette, Udhagamandalam was called as Wotokymund. In early times it was called as Ottkakalmandu and Mund means a Village in Toda language. The present name is the corruption of the local name. The local tribes Toda lived with Kota, Irula and Kurumba. The hill was referred in the 2^nd century tamil work Silapathikaram in which Chera King Senguttuvan, ruled this place. He also stayed here for some time on the way to Himalayas.

After 1117 CE this place comes under the rule of Hoysalas, Satavahanas, Cheras, Gangas, Kadambas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, Hoysalas, Vijayanagara empire and Rajas of Ummathur. Tipu sultan captured Nilgiris in the eighteenth century and handed over to East India Company by the treaty of Srirangapatna in 1799 CE. During 1819 CE, John Sullivan, the collector of Coimbatore Visited Kotagiri and described this place looks like Switzerland, in a letter to Thomas Munro. A Road was laid in 1823 from Sirumugai to the newly built Bungalow at Dimhatti, which was latter extended to Coonoor in the year 1830 to -32 CE.

Ooty served as a Summer Capital for the Britishers Madras Presidency. Wellington has become the home for the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army and after independence it was developed as a Hill resort and called Queen of Hills. The names of the Place and streets reminds the British rule. This post does not cover all the heritage buildings and structure, but the building I visited.

The Details of some of the places Visited are ..

CHARING CROSS.

It was told this fountain is very much similar to the one available in London. It will be very nice to see with water flowing and light.

MUNICIPAL OFFICE

Municipal office of Ootacamund ( OOTY ) was constituted in the year 1866 and this office was constructed in 1894. Then the building was extended in 1946. The building was constructed by the contractor M. Joghee Maistry. Commissioner, Engineer, Health officer, Town Planning, PA To Commissioner and Manager offices are functioning in this building. The first floor and steps are constructed with wood.

TAMIL NADU ELECTRICITY BOARD OFFICE.

The single floor office was constructed during 1923 CE with tiled roofing. ADE, DE and Bill collection offices are functioning here. Except the age of the building there is no special features.

BRIDGES:

On the way to Ooty we have to cross 3 iron bridges constructed during 1900 to 1923 with riveted joints by a contractor from Calcutta.

I will try to cover some more buildings during my next visit and post in this blog..

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sunday 5 February 2017

THE PUPIL – Saveetha Eco school, Senneerkuppam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

04^th February, 2017.

The visit to THE PUPIL - Saveetha eco School was organized by its architect Mr Mohan Hariharan, a product of AC college of technology. He had a vast experience in designing of Cinema theatres and Industries. He told us that this is the maiden project in the category of Schools. He jovially told that he had done this experiment in other’s cost. The School is being managed by Saveetha University under the leadership of Dr Saveetha.

I used to write the details of the temples I visit and latter added the Heritage structures also. But this is a new building, I am sure it will become a heritage monument structure in another 100 years. I am not sure of attending this visit when Mr Mohan Hariharan invited me to this visit and he guaranteed us for the worthiness of the visit. I would have missed if I could not make it. Mr. Venkatesh the Historian, Writer asked me to join with him Guindy, I readily accepted. It was 09.50 Hrs when we landed the School. Mr Mohan Hariharan explained us the different features of the School and the materials used for the construction etc. Learned some of the details. Here it is…

Planned to construct 4 acres and reduced to 3 acres. The estimated cost of the project was 14.5 Crores and constructed area is 1 lakh square foot. The School zone comprises of Knowledge zone, Recreation zone, Parking Zone, Educational Zone, Playing Zone , Utility etc., This in my language I may say that the School has Class rooms ( class rooms are called as Labs), Labs, hands on experience workshops, Music classes, Yoga Class rooms, world class Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Play ground, Auditorium etc. The present structures was constructed in there phases and inter linked together. The Class rooms are of octagonal shape to have more sun light and natural ventilation. The ceilings are not plastered and steels used for construction of recycled steels. The walls are constructed with clay hallow blocks called porotherm , manufactured at Bangalore. The walls are also not plastered to reduce the cost. The windows starts from ceiling to have maximum light and ventilation. The glasses used are of special glasses which restrict the sun’s unwanted rays and allows maximum light.

The floors are paved with slates brought from cuddapah of Andhra Pradesh and Athangudi tiles. Which costs less than the commercially available vitrified tiles in the market. Latter the ac units are installed in many class rooms with intelligent control to adjusts the temperature and load depends on the occupancy level. The electricity used are minimum and CFL lamps are installed where ever required. RO systems are installed with suitable filters to remove iron content for the drinking water system, since the ground water contains the more iron content ( That’s why the place is called as SeneerKuppam ).

The school is certified as Platinum under IGBC green projects, considering the atmosphere, Water, Materials used for construction, environment, fresh air circulation and health. It was under stood that the swimming and playing area is functioning under the guidance of Shiny Abraham Wilson, the National Champion for 14 years.

We are very fortunate, that the school authorities had taken care of us right from receiving at the main gate with school band, showed us the class rooms and allowed us to interact with the students and to do experiment at the labs till c off. The hospitality extended to us is commendable ( the lunch served was excellent ). We are very much thrilled to see the hand work of students in art & drawings, weaving, making of clay sculptures, Gymnasium, Cultural programs etc. I have no word to express my feelings. I extend my sincere thanks to Mr Mohan Hariharan, The management of The Pupil- Saveetha eco School, Principal Mrs Chitra, staff and Students.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

Since I had taken about 90+ photographs, which I could not upload in this Post. So, here is the link of my: Google+ Photos.