VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT

Wednesday 23 November 2016

“THIS BRIDGE” – A British period monument at Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

19^th November 2016

This protected monument inscription starts with “This Bridge” is between Saidapet and Nandanam separately fenced in the PWD vehicles repair shop ( Arasu Pannai Gramam ). This was originally built with obelisk, which is missing now. This was built on the surplus water channel from a large tank, which once existed along the western edge of Mount Road, starting at Saidapet and curving along the Nungambakkam High Road. The water in the channel flows between the present Tod Hunter Nagar and Pern Pet. This memorial pillar is under the control of Tamil Nadu Archaeological Department as protected monument.

This monument was erected in the year 1786 CE, by a merchant called Adrin Fourbeck ( 1712 to 1783 CE ). As per his will, Chief Engineer of Madras ( Government ) Let. Col. Patrick Ross built this bridge for the benefit of the general public under the guidance of his secretaries Thomas Pelling, John de Fries and Peter Bodin. The four sides of the pillar has the same message inscribed in Tamil, English, Latin and Persian.

The inscription in English reads as...

This Bridge
Erected as a Public Benefit
From a Legacy
By Bestowed
Mr. Adrian Four Beck
A Merchant of Madras
Is a monument
Useful as lasting
Of the Good citizen's
Munificent – liberality
It was erected
By his executors
T. Pulling I Defries & P. Bodkin
From the plan
and under the direction
Lieut:t col:L Pat:K Ross
Chief Engineer
In the year of our lord
1786
Maj:r Gen:1 Sir Arch:d Campbell
Knight of the most Honble
Being then order of the batch
Governor of Fort St. George

For further reading, a post by Mr Venkatesh, writer and the Historian on the face book click here. Thanks for the Details.

The "other bridge" we may have to miss on the walk. As early as 1772, citizens led by free merchant Andrew Ross offered to build “a Bridge over the Brook at Mamelon”. This, in fact, was the Surplus Channel of the Long Tank which once existed all along the western edge of Mount Road, starting at Saidapet and curving along Nungambakkam High Road.

The Bridge was eventually built in 1786 according to the instructions left in Adrian Fourbeck’s will. Fourbeck, who was born “in the East” in 1712, became a member of the Gunroom Crew in Fort St George as soon as he was old enough. He was discharged on a disability pension of Pagodas 1-14-0 in 1740. He then teamed with Samuel Troutback and became a success in business.

He died in 1783 and his Executors Thomas Pelling, John de Fries and Peter Bodin ensured that the terms of his will were honoured. The bridge was built under the direction of Lt. Col. Patrick Ross, the Chief (Government) Engineer of Madras at the time a four-sided pedestal with the remains of an obelisk atop it. The panels on the four sides bear the same message, English, Latin, Persian and Tamil versions each occupying a side and stating, among much else, “This bridge, erected as a public benefit from a legacy bestowed by Adrian Fourbeck, a merchant of Madras, is a monument … (to) the good citizen’s munificent liberality.” The memorial, is one of the few dating to the British period that is on the list of protected monuments of the Tamil Nadu Government’s Department of Archaeology.

LOCATION: CLICK HERE

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Monday 21 November 2016

Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

20^th November 2016

The temple is in Velachery, previously called as Vedhasreni. The story is very much associated to Sri Dhandeeswarar Shiva temple Temple ( 4 Vedas relieved from dosham after worshiping Lord Shiva ).

Moolavar : Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy

Thayar : Sri Amirthabalavalli

Some of the important features are..

The temple is facing west with a 3 tier Rajagopuram and balipeedam and Dwajasthambam are immediately after the Rajagopuram. In the maha mandapam, sannadhi for alwars. Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of the maha mandapam and Artha mandapam. In the artha mandapam, Urchavars Bhaktavatsala Perumal with Bhoodevi and Sridevi, and Vedanarayana Swamy is with prayoga chakra. In Sanctum moolavar is Sri Narasimha Swamy in sitting yoga posture.

In koshtam moorthams of Perumals avataras.and below reliefs of Narasimhar’s various postures like Jwala, Sathra vada, Paravana, etc.. Prakalath sannadhi is on the opposite of moolavar instead of Garudalwar.

Thayar Amirtha Balavalli is in a separate sannidhi on the right side facing east and Chakkarathalwar and Kothandaramar with Anjaneyar sannadhi are on the left side near the Rajagopuram also facing east. Bodhi tree with Nagars are on the right side of the dwajasthambam.

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam and maha mandapam. The original temple was built with simple pada banda adhishtanam. The Adhistanam is on a raised Upanam. The new temple was built with granite from adhistanam to prastaram. The super structure 2 talas above prastaram was built with brick. The Sanctum walls has the bas-reliefs of Maha Vishnu's various avatars. A exquisitely carved jala is also on the wall.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple is believed to be of 1300 years old and constructed during the same period of Sri Dhandeeswarar and Sri Selliamman. The temple has the contributions of Rajaraja Chozha, Dhandi varma the Pallava King in terms of land and money for performing regular Poojas and functions.

The temple was rebuilt recently by the Prahlada Kainkarya trust through public money and Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 2016. The temple was rebuilt completely with granite stone. The original temple’s base – Kumudam- is installed separately, which has inscriptions.

The old base of the original temple with inscriptions

THE TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 Hrs to 10.30 Hrs and 17.00 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS:

The Battar Sri Ramanujar wants the devotees to come directly instead of contacting him over his phone.

HOW TO REACH:

The Temple is on the way from Gurunanak College and Vijayanagara Bus stop in Velachery immediately after Selliamman Temple and Sri Dhandeeswarar Shiva temple.

All the Town buses to Velachery passes through this temple and Bus stop is called as Dhandeeswaram.

LOCATION :CLICK HERE

The west side 3 tier Rajagopuram

Thayar : Sri Amirthabalavalli Sannadhi

Kothandaramar sannadhi

East side entrance

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sunday 20 November 2016

Sri Ardhanareeswarar Temple, Tiruchengode, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu - In Search of History – Kongu Nadu – A Heritage Walk.

13^th November 2016.

We, six history enthusiasts M/s Srinivasan. Raja, Nandhakumar, Santhosh and Vijay trekked the Tiruchengode hill through steps, in which the 7^th century poet and one of the Nayanmar Thirugnanasambandar trekked the hill to have the darshan of Sri Ardhanareeswarar. Even though the hill temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Chengottu Velavar, Sri Subramanya Swamy is given more importance.

The Tiruchengode hill was called as Kodimadachengundram during 7^th century and Nayanmars also mentioned in their hymns. Even though I had been to Sri Ardhanareeswarar temple number of times, this time we had seen the temple and the hill in a different perspective. From start of the steps to the Sanctum we had seen Chozha, Kongu Chozha, Pandya, Vijayanagars, Kettimudali, Udayars, Nayaks and Britishers contributions. Yes Britishers too contributed to this temple.

HISTORY & INSCRIPTIONS:
We have inscriptions from 10^th century on the hill by the side of the steps. The Kings and individuals who contributed to this temple are Chozha King 1^st Rajendran ( 1032 CE), Chozha King Rajakesari Varman ( 10^th century), Chozha King ( Kongu - 13^th Century), Chozha King 3^rd Rajendran ( may be Kongu Chozha )( 13^th century ), Pandya king 2^nd Sadaiyavarma Sundaran ( 13^th century), Kongu Chozhan Veera Rajendran ( 13^th century ), Vijayanagar ( 16^th century), Veerapradhaba Krishnaraya Maharayar, Krishnadeva Maharayar, Sadasiva Maharayar, Nallathambi Kangeyan, Athappa Nallathambi Kangeyan, Athappa Irumudi Nallathambi Kangeyan ( 17^th century ) Kumaraswamy kangeyan, Nayakkar Viswanatha Chokkalingan, Vijayanagara ( 17^th century ) Nayakar Chokkanathan, Narashima Udayar, Nayakkar Boththu 9 18^th Century ). Of the above Chozha King 3^rd Rajendran has the maximum number of contributions. ( for the copy of the inscriptions …. Please CLICK HERE ).

The inscriptions mainly speaks about gold, land, coins, mandapas, ponds to store water donated to Lord Shiva for the naivedyam, poojas, Thirumanjanam, Annathanam, Burning of perpetual lamp, celebrating functions and chanting of Vedas & hymns. Now it is very sad to note these inscriptions are being destroyed by cutting of snake reliefs in the name of pariharam.

Inscriptions - Near the Nagar Temple

Inscriptions between 325 to 365 steps

Inscriptions between 325 to 365 steps - see how do the people destroyed the inscriptions by cutting Nagars

Inscriptions near 60 steps

There is no separate inscription of the Britishers. Davis W D ( 19^th century ) an acting collector of Salem renovated the Vigneswarar Mandapam and his relief is on one of the pillar and also on the rock near the Sanctum. ( He also constructed a mandapam and a marriage hall for Sri Sukavaneswarar temple in Salem Town ).

DAVIS, W D ( 19th century )The Salem collector since 1923 to 1926. He constructed the Vigneswarar sannadhi mandapam, whose relief is also on one of the pillar