VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Broken Bridge and Group Walk Photos, Theosophical Society A Heritage Walk

..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, Adyar, Chennai Tamil Nadu.

.... 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 kinds 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 arch 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 Tamil 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 Andhra mahila Sabha, C p Ramasamy Iyer's house at Eldams road. We had seen the tree in Egmore Museum, during our Koovam / 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 Photographs:CLICK HERE

.... to be continued

The Adyar Library – THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY – A Heritage Walk

....A Continuation post.

22^nd October 2016

During our Heritage walk, we had seen only the antique manuscripts and books and palm leaves displayed at ground floor and not to the first floor, where the variety of books kept for the reference.

ADYAR LIBRARY

In the display Bible in Hebrew language with gems on the four corners, an Indian chess, Valmiki Ramayana, the oldest book, miniature Bibles, Bhagavad Gita, Palm leaves manuscripts in Siamese, Mahabharata with Olcott’s signature, Tibetan manuscripts presented by His holiness XIV Dalai Lama and so on. We had spotted a 600 years old Quran also in the collection. It is a wonder that how could print a bible so..so..so.. small which can be read only through a magnifying glass!!!.

For More Photographs : CLICK HERE

..... to be continued

Heritage Buildings and Shrines , Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

22^nd October 2016.

As a part of THE ADYAR – a cultural mapping, walked from Theosophical Society west side main gate to the broken bridge on 22^nd October 2016. The Theosophical Society ( wisdom of the Gods ) was formed based on the principles of Karma ( whatever we sow, we will inevitably reap ), reincarnation, etc., stated in all religions. The Theosophical Society started with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, an Ukranian Jew and Colonal Henry Steel Olcott and spanned during Anne Besant’s period. During her period Theosophical Society spreads it’s wings in the field of religious, social, economic, political, etc,.

Arundale’s House

The TS spreads over an area of 270 acres and we walked through International headquarters building, Adyar Library and research center, Arundale house, River side bungalow, H P Blavatsky’s bungalow, H S Olcott’s bungalow, Raja’s house ( Jiddu Krishnamurti ), Radha S Burnier’s house constructed in Zoroastrian’s style, International Youth Federation, Garden of remembrance, where the leaders of TS laid rest. Also through Temples of Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Zoroastrian ( Parsee), Christianity and Buddhism. On the way we crossed the Olcott's coconut farm and many variety of trees, which includes the more than 500 years old banyan tree, under which historical events like Indian National Congress’s first meeting took place and African species Baobab tree. The Bungalows and houses are not occupied for long years and has a deserted look. We could spot very few people except permitted evening walkers in the premises mud roads during our walk.

LOCATION : CLICK HERE

THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE DETAILS:CLICK HERE

THE MEMORIAL BUILDINGS OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

The head quarters building of the Theosophical Society was with the statues of H. P. Blavatsky, Colonel H S Olcott, Annie Besant and many more and reliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrian, Sikhism, Christianity, Islam. Form the inscription on the wall Mr Hariharan G M – TS pointed out that India Joined as third member of this Society after US and England.

Arundale’s House with the cannon Ball tree in front

International Head quarters Hall

The list of Countries that joined with Theosophical society. India is third after Us and England

H P Blavatsky and H S Olcott’s - The first meeting with a cigarette last till their death

A river side Bungalow

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's bungalow in front is the great Banyan tree

Lead beater’s Bungalow

Radha Burnier’s House with a Zoroastrian image in front and she lived for about 50 years in this house

THE TEMPLES - OF THE THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

The Theosophical society’s premises has number of temples.. temple for Hindus - a Ponniamman in open to sky, Ganapathy temple, Church of St. Michael and All Angels for the Roman catholic Christians, A Buddhist temple with a missing gong- the Buddha was 1200 years old and the tree branch was brought from Bodh gaya and it was planted by Jinarajadasa and a memorial stone for the BodhiDharma who lived in 6th century, A temple for Sikhs, a temple for Muslims constructed like the pearl mosque at Agra , Zoroastrian, a Parsee / Parsi – flame of fire temple with unique feature of Pillars and Pothiyals and a Hanuman temple where Lord Hanuman keeping his leg on Sani Bhagavan. More than this the head quarters building was built like a temple. The temple s are maintained neat and clean.