Wednesday 16 August 2017

Hero Stone / Veerakallu / Nadukarkal / நடுகற்கள், Mookkaruppu war inscription / மூக்கறுப்பு போர் கல்வெட்டு and neolithic tools, in tribal Villages, of Kalrayan Hills, Salem District, Tamil Nadu.

14th August 2017.
Marayoor, Dolmens and Rock art  visit was planned on 13th Aug 2017, about two months before and booked the train ticket too. But the plan was changed last week, to visit Hero stones and Neolithic tools near Belur on Saturday,  12th Aug 2017 and proceed to Marayoor.  Travelled through bus from Perungalathur along with Raja, since we could not get the train tickets due short notice.  Found very difficult to get seat at Perungalathur due to heavy crowd. The reason was consecutively leave for 4 days  to many of the software industries and Offices. 

Boarded in a TNSTC,  Salem bus, Raja asked me to sit in the only one available seat  and he travelled sitting on floor till Valapady ( Sorry Raja ). Had our bath in a lodge at Valapady ( The Lodge charged us an exorbitant rate of Rs 200 for two hours stay that too only to take bath ). Dr Udhaya Shankar,  Srinivasan and Perumal joined with us  from Valapady. Hired a Maruti Omni and started our visit after breakfast, Our first stop was at Belur. Seen already these inscription stones during  Belur Heritage Walk organized by the Salem Historical Research Center. Most of the Hero stones and Neolithic stones are in the tribal Villages. Some of the Heroes were died due to hit of multiple arrows maximum of 5. 

I extend my sincere thanks to M/s Aaragalur Pon Venkatesan, Dr Ponnambalam, Kalai selvan, Srinivasan and Perumal of Salem Historical Research Center for providing me details and special thanks to Perumal for accompanying with us throughout our Heritage visit. 

MOOKKARUPPU INSCRIPTION STONE ( மூக்கறுப்பு நடுகல் ), AT BELUR.
This is the 17th century, Thirumalai Nayakar period  mookkaruppu inscription stone. The Kanthiruva Narasa of Mysore king under stood wrongly that Thirumalai Nayakar  was the key person for attacking Mysore  by Bijapur Sultan. So Mysore army under the leadership of Kembayya marched to Madurai. On the way to Madurai he cut the nose with upper lip of  those are found, including children. With the help of Ramanathapuram King Sethupathy, Thirumalai Nayaks chased Kembayya away from the territory. To take a revenge, of this  Thirumalai nayakar also send his brother Kumaramuthu Nayakar and he cut the nose with upper lips of those found on the way to Mysore. It was told that large amount of  gift was given for the upper lip with mustache.   
LOCATION:CLICK HERE



KOMARIKAL, AT BELUR
This inscription stone was erected for the cattle infected with disease After pooja to this inscription stone the cattle will made to circumambulate this stone to get cure from the disease. 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

CHOZHA INSCRIPTION STONE, AT SRI ANGALAMMAN TEMPLE BELUR
This is a 10th century Chozha King Parantaka-I's, 41st year rule inscription stone  ( partial ) unearthed during excavation. This has 8 lines  starts with ‘ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ மதிரையும் ஈழமுது கொண்ட கோப்பரகேசரி பன்மருக்கு”. This is the title of Parantaka Chozha-I and it is an evidence that Belur region was under the direct rule of Chozha’s.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE


MENHIR & CAIRN CIRCLES AT THUMBAL
Though Dr. Ponnambalam couldn’t come along with us, arranged a person to show the Menhir and the Cairn circles at Thumbal. The menhir is about 6 feet high erected at the center of the Cairn circle. It was noticed that the menhir is under worship. There is a stone contains the reliefs of Ladies. Since this is erected very near to the cairn Circle with menhir, this may to show some rituals followed.  There were about 20 cairn circles on foot hills of Thumbal. All of them are disturbed. We used to the iron slags near Cairn Circles at various places like, Kodumanal, Thiruporur, Aamoor etc. But we could not see any iron slags at Thumbal.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE ( Very near to the Hospital )




INSCRIPTION STONE, THURUGOOR, SRI VALLABHA GANAPATI TEMPLE.
The inscription stone belongs to Parantaka Chozha Period. The inscription contains 19 lines speaks about the gold given as a penalty  to the temple  for burning a perpetual lamp for the Kalaiyankali’s death due to clash between two villagers. The inscription starts with “ஸ்வத்ஸ்ரீ கோப்பரகேசரி பன்மற்கி யாண்டு நாலாவது துறவு நாட்டுதுருகூரும்…”
LOCATION:


HERO STONES, AATHU VALAVU
There are two hero stones erected under a tamarind tree. The third side inscription stone was fallen down. The inscription stone belongs to 10th Century Uthama Chozha Period. The inscription mentions the name of a person Chiruman who died during the process of recovering the cattle  from the  enemies and other persons name is not written. The inscription goes like this…ஸ்வஸ்திஸ்ரீ உத்தம சேழற்கு யாண்டெட்டாவது துறவி நாட்டு துருகூரிருந்து வாழும் முடாவச்சாத்தன் சிறுமன் நிரை மீட்டுப்பட்டான்…..

LOCATION:CLICK HERE




HERO STONE, AT YELUPULI ( ஏழுபுளி )
Based on the hair style and the relief projection, experts of the opinion that this hero stone may be belongs to Pallava Period. At the feet of the hero stone there are some Neolithic tools also. The Hero stone and the Neolithic tools are under worship.
LOCATION:CLICK HERE



HERO STONES, AT PUZHUTHI KUTTAI
These hero stones are in the midst of the beetle nut tree farm. Based on the style of inscriptions the experts of the opinion that these hero stones belongs to Chozha Period. The inscriptions are not readable and hence the details are not known. In the big Hero stone provision was chiseled for burning an oil lamp.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE



HERO STONE, CHINNAKUTTI MADUVU.
This hero stone is erected in the midst of the filed, and now in a slanting position due to age. Located in a beautiful location and seems awesome. The Photos,  details and Location will be up loaded after the article published.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE




NEOLITHIC TOOLS AT SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE AT, CHINNAKUTTI MADUVU.
Stone age tools are dumped at the Sri Mariamman Temple front mandapam. These tools includes stones used for sharpening the tools also. It was told that these tools are erected under the Vinayagar Statue. Reason for dumping here is not known.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE



SATI STONE, AT CHINNAKUTTI MADUVU.
This half buried Sati stone belongs to 18th or 19th century. Erected in a field little before the village under an athi tree at  Chinnakutti Maduvu.  In the image a Man is shooting a tiger with his rifle. His wife is shown on his left. This is clear with eyes and eyebrows and a rifle, hence it belongs to latter period.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE


HERO STONES AT PERIYAKUTTI MADUVU
These hero stones belongs to Chozha period erected in the midst of the field in Erikadu  of Periyakutti maduvu. The 11th century bigger hero stone has the inscription on the side. The hero died due to hitting of 5 arrows. The hero was shown with sword on right hand and bow on the left hand, which shows that he must be a master of both. The hero’s name is Senan and belongs to Chandrathitha kula. Experts of the opinion that a caste formed combining both Chandra and Surya Kulas.  The Smaller Hero stone belongs to 12th century with out any inscriptions.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE 



NEOLITHIC TOOLS AT PERIYAKUTTI MADUVU
These Neolithic tools are erected along with Vinayagar and worshiped as Vinayagar Swamy. We could find various types and sizes of tools used by the stone age peoples.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE



HERO STONE AT SIRUMALAI.
This hero stone is without any image and has only the inscriptions. The Hero stone belongs to Kulothunga Chozhan–I, period. This hero stone was erected for the Chirumalai  soldier Aranamudayan Puyilan Senthan kesan who was killed in the war. This now stands on the boundary of a field.  Also we had seen some Neolithic tools under a tamarind tree trunk along with sharpening stones.

சிறுமலையில் நடந்த பூசலில் இறந்த தோட்டப் படப்பையை சேர்ந்த அரணமுடையான் புயிலன் செந்தன் கேசன் என்பவனுக்காக எடுக்கப்பட்ட நடுகல். கல் வெட்டின் வாசகங்கள் இதோ…

(திரி) புவநச் சக்க(ரவத்திகள்) ஸ்ரீ குலோத்துங் (க சோழ) தேவற்கு இயா(ண்)டு இரு (பத்)து நாலாவ(தி)ல் மகதை(நா)-டா(ழ்) வார்  சேலஞ்(சூ)ற்றிய் (இ)-னாட்டைச் சிறுமலையில் (கா)-ணத்தில் தோட் பக்க (ப்)-டப்பில் இருக்கும் அரணமு-டையான் புயிலன் சேந்த—ந் நான கேசந் எந் மண்ண-ழிய வந்திடத்தில் படை  .னய் காத மாறு கெடுத்து எய்த புயிலன் கேச-நேந் பட்டேந்..

LOCATION:CLICK HERE



---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Monday 14 August 2017

Sri Sathyanarayana Temple / Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple Complex/ நங்கநல்லூர் சர்வமங்கள ராஜராஜேஸ்வரி கோயில், Nanganallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

06th August 207.
Nanganallur has  got name from  Sri Raja Rajeswari in the form of 16 years old young  girl – ( Nangai ) at 16th Street  Thillai Ganga Nagar, Nanganallur. Originally the place was called as Nangai-Nallur,  latter turned to  Nanganallur,  This Rajarajeswari temple with Sathyanarayana Temple is a Private temple of Sri Rajarajeswari Ashram ( AVR TRUST ) headed by Sri Rajagopala Swamigal.


This Sri Sathyanarayana Perumal temple is within the Sri Raja Rajeswari Temple complex. This temple was also constructed as per the direction of Sri Rajarajeswari. Sri Satyanarayana Perumal is installed on a 8 yantras inscribed with eight letters.   The temple is facing west with a small dwajasthambam and balipeedam, Garudan is on the opposite. The shrine consists only sanctum and Vimanam. Around this Veera Anjaneyar and Navagrahas ( Not in regular positions ). On the pillars stucco images of 8 directions Gods.  

LEGENDS
It is believed that by worshiping Lord Sri Sathya narayana Perumal, one will be relieved from Sarpa dosham.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 14.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.75 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
AVR Trust may be contacted 98406 65956.

HOW TO REACH:
The temple is on the 16th street, Thillai Ganga Nagar, Nanganallur.
Very close to the NangaNallur subway which connects Mount Road.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE




 ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---  

Sarvamangala Sri Rajarajeswari Temple / நங்கநல்லூர் சர்வமங்கள ராஜராஜேஸ்வரி கோயில் / அருள்மிகு ஸ்ரீ வித்யா ராஜராஜேஸ்வரி திருக்கோயில், நங்கநல்லூர் / Nanganallur / Nangai-Nallur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

06th August 207.
How the place Nanganallur has  got its name ?..Since Sri Raja Rajeswari as a 16 years old young  girl, blesses us  from her shrine on the16th Street  Thillai Ganga Nagar, Nanganallur. Originally the place was called as Nangai-Nallur,  latter changed to  Nanganallur,  This Rajarajeswari temple is a Private temple of Sri Rajarajeswari Ashram ( AVR TRUST ) headed by Sri Rajagopala Swamigal.


The temple is facing east with an entrance from North. The temple is constructed like a big house. Sannidhi for Thathathreyar, Bairavar are immediately after the entrance on the both sides. Main sanctum  is in an elevated level with 16 steps. To reach the main shrine we have to circumambulate from left to right after worshiping Ganesha and Durga. Since Ambal is installed on mahameru with yantars, gents are asked to remove shirt and banians to absorb the good waves emanating from the main sanctum. The special pooja in this temple is the Kungum pooja. It will be supplied along with archana and has to be deposit in the Box along with name, birth star, Thithi, Tithi Nithya. When Sri Rajagopala Swamigal touches the kungum packet, the person who had deposited wishes will come in the mind of Swamiji.

Dwajasthambam and Simha vahanam are  before the entrance of the main sanctum steps. At the start of the step sanga nidhi and Padmanidhi on both sides of the steps.  There are 16 steps on purva paksha ( climbing side ) and 16 steps on amara paksham ( climbing down side ) with Ambal’s incarnation statues  on each step with Agasthya Munivars hymn engraved below that.

LEGENDS AND HISTORY
As per the legend Ambal forced Sri Rajagopala Swamigal to built a temple after quitting the Bank job. The work was started with a donation of Rs 101 from Pournami mami followed by Sivasankari Ammaiyar, who donated Rs 1000.00. All the contributions came from his disciples. Ambal was shifted to this new place in 1970 ( Ambal temple was existed since ancient times on the same place where a new temple was constructed ). The temple was built not as per the agama. And poojas are conducted as per Sri Vidya procedure, hence the Sivachariyar cannot do pooja. Sri Rajagopala Swamigal trained his disciples to carryout the pooja. As per Ambal’s direction, the Ambal was installed on Pinathu place as per merupirastharam. 

The special pooja in this temple is the Kungum pooja. It will be supplied along with archana and the same has to be deposited in the Box ( Archana Kungum has to be purchased only in the temple ). 

It is believed that Agasthiyar and Thirumoolar worshiped Ambal of this temple ( as per hearsay that Amabl temple existed on the same place ) and Power will be there for another 1000 years.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 17.30 hrs to 20.45 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:
AVR Trust may be contacted 98406 65956 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:
The temple is on the 16th street, Thillai Ganga Nagar, Nanganallur.
Very near to the NangaNallur subway which connects Mount Road.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE



---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---  

Friday 11 August 2017

Sri Muneeswaran, at Konachi Amman Temple, Paduvanchery, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu.

After lunch we had planned to visit Kovilanchery Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneeswarar. Since we lost the route and landed Paduvanchery Konachi Amman Temple.


This Muneeswarar is not so tall and stout  like Kovilanchery Sri Thaanimaraththu Muneswarar. This Muneeswarar is in the midst of paddy fields and during cultivation one has to walk  along the periphery of the paddy fields. There is no direct access to the Konatchi Amman Temple. The Muneeswarar is made of Stucco and a small Muneeswarar sannadhi is at the base. The base is very simple with out any images. Muneeswarar hold a sickle in his right hand and sitting on a base with left leg folded and right leg is resting on a demon’s head. Looks like a Youth. During our visit Aadi month annual celebration was in progress.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE




                                          ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---    

Sri Tripura Sundari Sametha Sri Kailasanathar Temple at Paduvanchery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

This temple just before the Paduvanchery Muneeswarar Temple ( புதுவஞ்சேரி முனீஸ்வரர் கோவில் ). The Temple is small and was built in recent years. 


Moolavar    : Sri Kailasanathar
Consort      : Sri Tripura Sundari

Some of the important features are.
The temple is facing east with entrance from west. Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and Nandhi are in the prakaram.

Sannadhi for Ambal,  Navagrahas, Siva chandran, Suryan, Hanuman, Shiva Lingam, and bairavar.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The gate is kept open and Pooja is conducted once in a Day.

HOW TO REACH:
Paduvanchery is very near to Agaram then and Town buses are available from Tambaram.
About 5 KM from Medavakkam and about 10 KM from Tambaram.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE




M S Subbulakshmi Gallery and Mahaswami Gallery and sri Kanchi MahaSwami Vidya Mandir, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Our first visit after breakfast was to this MS Subbulakshmi Gallery. The Gallery is inside the Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir and the inside school atmosphere looked like a temple. This building was inaugurated on 04th June 2010 his holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

MAHASWAMI GALLERY
This Gallery is in the right side the same Gallery in the Ground and first floor. This has the portraits of Mahaswami and his wax images, photos of Sankaracharyar’s since 55 BC. An one lakhs  Rudraksha lingam is kept at the Ground floor.







  one lakhs  Rudraksha lingam 

MS SUBBULAKSHMI GALLERY
A permanent gallery was set up  for the contribution she had done to the Kanchi Mutt and the Music. The Photos of M S Subbulakshmi, with institutions and great personalities,  the Musical instrument in metal as gift She received and her portraits & the statue are on display. Instead of writing something I thought of reproducing the display of her life at the Gallery.
Bharat Ratna
Dr Smt M.S.Subbulakshmi
The singing legend lives on
1916-20014
As artist extraordinaire, MS had the unique ability to transform the singing experience from mundane to the divine. A rich resonant timbre, complete sruti arrangement, correct diction and raga bhava. It was a rare combination  that created the legend. Unlike today’s musicians trapped in external fineries. MS had an instinctive feel for the meaning of the text and each word so aptly selected, stood out like a gem.

Subbulakshmi or Kunjamma as she was fondly called, was the daughter of Madurai Shanmukhavadivu, a veena player, with a violinist sister, a brother who played the mridangam and the mellifluous environs of Madurai, singing came more naturally to her than talking. So her first performance  came at the age of ten and music became the habit of a lifetime, as did awards and adulation.

After her marriage in 1940, her husband and freedom fighter T Sadasivam, took charge of her career. In fact, when she was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1998, she said ‘on this occasion, I cannot, but think of loving care and guidance I received from my late husband, all through my life’

Despite her husband’s support, M S was a feminist. Having breached the bastion of male singers, She was happy to see an increasing number of women enrolling in music colleges and singing in temple festivals. In 1968 when the Music Academy honoured her with the Sangeetha Kalanidhi, she said, “In conferring  this honour, the Academy has sought to honour the momanhood of this country”.

While Sitar maestro Pt Ravi Shankar popularised Hindustani classical music abroad, MS introduced Carnatic music to the west. Her biggest Contribution  to Carnatic music  was the revival of kritis of the 15th century composer, Annammacharya. She also acted in four films : Sevasadanam, Sakuntalai, Savitiri and Meera.

After meera, Mahatma Gandhi picked her  to sing two of his  favourite bhajans, ‘ vaishnava janato and Hari turn haro jan ki bhir” After the film Meera, she decided to dedicate herself to classical and devotional  music. A Musician who bridged the regional gap. MS sang in ten languages, be it Marathi abhanga, Hindi bhajans, verses of Guru Nanak or Rabindra Sangeet.

MS was indeed an icon who could bring the world to its knees, her renderings moved violinist Yehudi Menuhin to tears. Ustad Bade Chulam Ali Khan called her Surswaralakshmi Subbulakshmi, while  Helen Keller once said “You sing like an angel”

MS Could captivate people with an occasional lift of an eyebrow and a beatific smile meant not for the audience, but for the divine. She once said, “Indian music is oriented  solely for divine communication. If I have done something in this respect, it is entirely due to the grace of the Almighty, who has chosen my humble self as a tool”.

MS is not dead. She is alive in the temples, Suprabhatham, kritis and bhajans.

She will remain in that divine Voice forever.