Ko Nagar Kumaran Vazhipattu Kuzhu, Annual Function, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

31^st December 2017.

After the Vijayanagara kings, the temples in Tamil Nadu survived because of the thirupani (selfless service) by the Nattukottai Chettiars, otherwise called Nagarathars. All the Nagarathars come under 9 Shiva temples, and they also worship Lord Muruga/ Subramaniyar. During the Thai Poosam festival, they used to walk without a chappal to the Murugan Temples of Palani, Thiruthani, and Thiruchendur from their residence.

In addition to this, they used to worship Lord Murugan at a Common place where they are presently residing for a day or two. One of my friend of Konapet (Ko Nagar), invited me to their 18th annual function of Swamy & Ambal thirukalyanam and Arupadai Murugan alangara pooja at a Sri Krishna Swamy Kalyana Mandapam, on South Boag Road, Chennai.

Though the function was scheduled from early morning, 04.00 hrs with homam, I was able to attend around 11.30 hrs. Had the darshan of Thiruthani, Swamimalai, and Pazhamudir Cholai Sri Valli Devasena Murugan with beautiful sandal paste alankaram.

 

 Thiruthani- see the expression of Sri Valli 

Throughout the day, the bhajan was performed by the children. Enjoyed the hospitality of Ko Nagar (Konapet) Nagarathars and the darshan of Sri Valli Devasena Murugan.  Here are some pictures taken during my visit...

 Thiruthani- see the expression of Sri Valli 

 Swamimalai _ Muruga as Guru to Lord Shiva 

Pazhamudir Cholai 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

YMCA, King George Statue, SICAL Building, A Heritage Walk from Chennakesava Perumal Temple to Nattukottai Nagarathar's Chatram.

 24^th December 2016.

After visiting the YMCA, we crossed many Heritage Buildings to reach Nattukottai, Nagarathars Chatram. Mumbai-based Ebrahim Currim & Sons started making umbrellas under the brand name "Stag" in 1860 (for further reading, the article published in THE HINDU may be referred to). Initially, the machines and clothes were imported from London. The Lakshmi Bai, the lady in the showcase, was named after the goddess Lakshmi, who brings wealth.

LOCATION OF EBRAHIM CURRIM & SONS:    CLICK HERE

KING GEORGE STATUE

King George's Statue was erected in memory of King George V when he was crowned Emperor of India. The so-called black town was renamed as George Town, where the statue was erected.

LOCATION KING GEORGE STATUE:    CLICK HERE

CATHOLIC CENTER

Catholic center (this was built from the money received after selling the Gandhi Nagar Housing Plots), Oriental Insurance Building.

LOCATION OF THE CENTER: CLICK HERE

South India Corporation Agencies building

After MA Chidambaram separated from Raja Annamalai’s Bungalow, he started his own business of Trading construction materials like pipes, steel rods, etc., in this building. The business expanded and diversified in many fields like logistics, coal handling, Coffee plantation, Chemical manufacturing, hardware manufacturing, etc. After his demise, his grandson Ashwin C Muthiah took over the business. As a part of asset restructuring, the building was sold to the Cafe Coffee Day group.
  

LOCATION SICAL BUILDING:  CLICK HERE

KALIKAMBAL TEMPLE

Kalikambal Temple (It was said that Maratha King Shivaji worshiped Kalikambal of this temple). 

LOCATION KALIKAMBAL TEMPLE:    CLICK HERE 

Nagarathar's Chatram/Rangoon Nagara Viduthi

Nattukottai Nagarathar's Chatrams (Rangoon Chatram, Karaikudi Nagarathar's Chatram, and Devakottai Nagarathar's Chatram) on Coral Merchants Street. These Chatrams were constructed for the Chettiars and served as transit accommodation before going to Rangoon between 1870 CE and 1930. Their main business was to lend money (Kasu kadai). During the Second World War, the Nattukottai Nagarathars returned to India, leaving their properties and assets. Still, Chettiars hold the documents of their property on paper, which do not have any value now.

LOCATION CHETTIAR CHATRAM: CLICK HERE

 The Pillar Pothyal is all made of Burma teak wood

 The front door panel 

 The Burma teak wood ceiling in front of a Murugan Temple on the 1^st Floor of Chatram

 The Burma teak wood ceiling in front of a Murugan Temple on the 1^st Floor of Chatram

 The British emblem on the storage unit. 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Veera Sekarar Temple, Sakkottai, Devakottai in Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

  

27^th July 2016

When I talked about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr. Venkatesh, son’s marriage at Devakottai, one of my friends, Mr. Nachiappan, in turn, invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15-day festival, which is unique in nature, and lakhs of people used to attend from various parts of India. So I decided to attend the festival to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman. I stayed with his family and visited two Shiva temples and a Saibaba temple.

SRI VEERASEKARAR TEMPLE, SAKKOTTAI, SIVAGANGA DISTRICT

The temple is maintained by  130 Pulli Devakottai Nagarathars through former Chief Justice A R Lakshmanan and his family. They have their madam, which was renovated recently.

Moolavar    : Sri Veerasekarar

Consort      : Sri Umayambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple faces east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram and a temple pond in front with a mandapam. The temple was constructed in stages, like a mada temple. Constructed completely with stone. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Brahma, Durgai.

In the inner praharam 63var, Bhairavar Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi,  Perumal (This Vishnu statue was unearthed during renovation at Nandhavanam), Bairavar, Natarajar, Navagrahas, Veeramaram in stone with Nagars.

Ambal sannadhi is in the front mandapam with a separate Dwajasthambam, Palipedam, and Nandi.

There are about 4 statues of Nagarathars sculptured on the pillars (Might have done thirupani to this temple).

HISTORY

There is no inscription on the Moolavar sanctum, but available in the front mandapam, which is of the latter period. From the recent period inscription, it was learned that the Kumbhabhishekam was conducted during 1887, and from other inscriptions, the temple might have been constructed during the 15^th to 16^th century.

HOW TO REACH :

The temple is very near Karaikudi and can be reached by Taxi, and the frequency of the bus is limited.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Saibaba Temple, Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

 27^th July 2016

When I told my friend Mr. Venkatesh about the missed opportunity to attend his son’s wedding at Devakottai, one of my friends, Mr. Nachiappan, invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15-day festival. This festival is unique in nature, and lakhs of people attend from various parts of India. So, I decided to attend the festival to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman. I stayed with his family and visited two Shiva temples and a Saibaba temple.

SRI SAIBABA TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple was built by former Chief Justice AR Lakshmanan through his own funds and managed by his brothers. The temple faces east with an entrance arch on the south side. The Saibaba idol was sculptured from white marble and brought from northern India. A Vinayagar temple is by the side of the Saibaba temple. The architecture is of the North Indian style. It was said that Sri Sai Baba’s miracle Vibhuti appeared on the plate.

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 km from Karaikudi, and frequent buses are available from Karaikudi

The temple is on Gandhi Road near the Lions Club Hall.

Autos are available from the Bus stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---

Sri Kottai Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோட்டை அம்மன் கோவில், Devakottai, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu.

  27^th July 2016

When I told my friends about the missed opportunity of attending my friend Mr. Venkatesh's son’s marriage at Devakottai, one of my friends, Mr. Nachiappan, in turn, invited me to Devakottai to attend the Kottai Amman’s annual 15-day festival, which is unique in nature, and lakhs of people used to attend from various parts of India. So I decided to attend the festival to get the blessings of Sri Kottai Amman. I stayed with his family and visited the Two Shiva temples and a Saibaba temple.

SRI KOTTAI AMMAN TEMPLE, DEVAKOTTAI.

This temple also belongs to 40 sections, 130 pulligal of Devakottai Nagarathars with 5 trustees on board for  2-year periods. But as per the comment, - Devakottai Kottai Amman belongs to 40 clans of Nagarathar totaling around 5000 families (pulligal that we call) and not 230 pulligal as appearing in one of the comments. Please stand corrected on this data. Once every 16 years, a group gets a trustee of the temple. The 15-day annual festival will be conducted from 18^th July to 1^st August 2016. During the rest of the period, people used to worship through the grill. The temple is very simple, with a front mandapam constructed with Mangalore tile roofing.  In the sanctum, there is no moortham, but only a platform. During function days, a kumbh with coconut was placed on the platform and decorated like Amman.

Pooja was performed only to the Kumbh decorated like Amman. But abhishekam was conducted 2 times a day at the balipeedam installed in the mandapam. The abhishekam was done with Thiraviyam, Milk, Curd, honey, cut fruits, Panchamirtham, Sandalwood paste, Turmeric paste, Tender Coconut water, Panneer,  Lemon, etc. About 300 to 400 liters of milk were used for Abhishekam. After Abhishekam, the balipeedam was decorated with flowers.

Devakottai Nagarathars used to attend this festival every year, from where they are. Amman is very powerful, and people pray for all like, like diseases, buying property, getting visas for foreign countries, employment, getting married, Children, etc., etc.  After wishes are fulfilled, people used to offer to Amman, like Pongal, Sugar cane cradle (Children will be carried through this cradle), Ma Vilakku, etc.

  

 Sugarcane cradle – an offering by a devotee after the child is born 

People will not fry food items during the 15 days, and it is believed that this will increase the heat in Amman. After the function, Decorated Amman will be immersed in the temple pond to reduce the heat. It was learned that during the function days, no mutton shops will open for sale. Till 15 years back, goats and cocks were sacrificed to Amman. This practice is stopped now.

  

HOW TO REACH :

Devakottai is about 20 km from Karaikudi

The temple is on Oorani Street. Autos are available from the Devakottai Bus Stand.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE

Milk abhishekam 

Pushpa ( flower ) decoration 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA:---