Sri Draupadi Amman Temple / ஸ்ரீ துரௌபதி அம்மன் கோயில், Velachery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

18^th November 2017.

This Draupadi Amman Temple  is little off from the Draupathi Amman Koil street, in Velachery. Draupathi Amman is one of the character in the Epic Mahabharat and wife of Pancha Pandavas. She was believed to be the incarnation of Kali. There are many  Draupathi Amman Temples  in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The annual festival is celebrated in and around Senji of Thiruvannamalai district.  People worship Draupathi Amman as Village deity and some people worship as their Kula Deivam.

Main deity : Sri Draupadi Amman.

Some of the important features of this temple are..

The temple is facing north with a open Mukha mandapam. In koshtam Brahmi,  Vaishnavi, Gowri,  Varagi and Vishnu Durgai. Reliefs of Pancha Pandavas, Radha Krishna, Anjaneyar are on the mandapa pillars.

In the sanctum Draupathi Amman is in standing posture with a parrot on her shoulder. On the back side of Draupathi  Amman Krishnar and and Pancha Pandavas. Urchava murtis are kept on the east side of the sanctum. In front of Amman  Mahameru is on a Sri Chakram. The thiruvasi was erected recently. It contains, flag, jwala, samaram and Suryan. In antarala balipeedam, a 1.5 feet high dwajasthambam and Pothuraju with his fathers head on his left hand in sitting posture. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The original temple was built with brick and it was told that the original temple was more 300 years old. The original brick temple was razed down and new temple was constructed and the second kumbhabhishekam was also performed during 2010.

The Draupathi Amman's Vigraham was unearthed on the same place where the sanctum exists. The name Draupadi was identified through Kudavolai. 

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Annual festival is being celebrated every year during Tamil Month Chithirai 1st (May ). It will be a 10 days festival and ends with a "theemithi" thiruvizha. The thimithi thiruvizha will be conducted after getting permission from Draupathi Amman. A sword was kept in a pot of water and the sword should stand straight, if Amman nods.  

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.30 hrs to 08.30 hrs and 18.00 hrs to 20.30 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on the Draupathi Amman  Koil Street at Velachery / Dhandeeswaram / Dhandeeswaram colony.

Draupathi Amman koil street is just opposite to Gandhi Road.

All the Town buses  to wards Velachery, Medavakkam, East Tambaram passes through Gandhi road bus stop and the temple is walk-able distance from the bus stop.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---  

Sri Ganda Mathappa Shiva Temple / ஸ்ரீ கண்ட மாதப்பா கோயில், நெய்தாளபுரம் / Neithalapuram, near Thalavadi, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

04^th November 2017.

Visit to this Ganda Mathappa Shiva  temple was a part of Thalavadi Heritage Visit and Thalavadi is on the way from Erode to Mysore via Bannari on the western Ghats. This temple is little off from the main road in the midst of forest. The approach to the temple is through mud road laid up to a check dam build to store water for the animals to drink. During our visit the road was washed away by the recent rain and at one point the driver refused to drive the vehicle beyond that. We got down and removed boulders which obstructs the path and continued up to the temple.  It was told that the wild animals used to roam in this area and drink water in the check dam and the pond behind the temple.

Finally reached the temple. The Shiva temple is facing east, with out a vimanam and Rishabam is sitting in front. Above Rishabam a pandal was erected. Observed that lot of Iron bells  were hanging from the roof. Mr John Peter, former archaeologist told that, this sort of bells unearthed near the temple in large numbers.  Hope this might have been offered to Shiva, to protect their cattle   from wild animals.  Happened to see deer on the way and near the check dam. Thanks to John for this wonderful heritage Visit.

 Iron bells offered to Lord Shiva hanging from the roof of the shed / pandal 

 Iron bells offered to Shiva are hanging from the roof of the shed / pandal 

 The mud road which leads to the temple from main road 

 Old damaged iron bells

 A Pond behind the temple

 Check dam 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Hero Stones / Veeragallu / நடுகற்கள் /புலிகுத்திசதிகற்கள் / Pulikuthi Nadukal , Thalavadi, Erode district, Tamil Nadu.

04^th November 2017.

This heritage visit on 04^th November 2017, was mainly focused on Hero stones and Sati Stones in and around Thalavadi, a part of western ghats. This place was once a dense forest and wild animals like lion, tiger, pigs, Boar,  Elephants lives in this area. ( even now the villages used to erect electric fences around their houses and the fields ).  These wild animals used to damage the fields, attack & eat  domestic animals and even human beings lives in the hamlets. To save the domestic animals the villagers used to fight with them and some times they die in the process. A hero stone used to be erected in remembrance of the person who died. These are called the Hero stones and Pulikuthi kal is that one erected  for the hero who died after killing a Tiger. During this Visit we had seen 3 Pulikuthi hero stones of 3 tiers of this two are Sati Hero stones.
  

Kumparakalankadu Pulikuthi Sati stone: This nadu kal is of three tiers. In the lower level the Hero shown with a spear killing a tiger with his wife on the left side ( The hero’s wife might have ends her life in the funeral fire. In the middle level both husband and wife are taken to the heaven by the angels, who are holding the samara. In the top level. Both husband wife are paring Lord Shiva. Chandran and Suyan are also shown in the top level. This is indicate this should be maintained till the Moon and Sun exists.

Madheswaran Temple Pulikuthi Sati Stone:  This Hero pulikuthi Sati stone is also of three levels. Similar to the previous  Kumparakalankadu Pulikuthi Sati stone, both husband and wife are shown in the first level. In the second level only the hero alone taken to the heaven by the angels. In the third level, only the Hero is shown worshiping Shiva Lingam with Rishabam.

The Madheswaran Temple. A Stucco Rishabam is on the entrance arch instead of  Gopuram

Thottapuram Pulikuthi Stone:  This Pulikuthi stone is installed inside a kalveedu ( stone house ). This is also of three levels. In the lower level the hero is shown with a spear killing a male tiger ( the testicles are shown distinctively ). In the Second level the hero is taken to the heaven by the two angels. In the top level  the hero is shown worshiping  Shiva Linga and nandhi in sitting posture. In addition to this there is also a person male/ female in standing position, which is not much clear.

   Stone houses – the outer two has the Hero stones of which one is a Pulikuthi Nadukal.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Hero Stones / Veeragallu / நடுகற்கள் - Neithalapuram, Thalavadi, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

04^th November 2017.

After the visit to Marur, Mr John Peter, former archaeologist took us to Neithalapuram and showed us the stone age burial sites and a Sati stone.

The sati stone is of three tiers. In the lower tier a war scene is shown. In that a lady is shown with her hand in raised position. The lady might have died due to hitting of two arrows and a sword or an arrow on her head.  She may belongs to a royal family since, a man is holding an umbrella. On her right  may be her husband with a sword on his right hand and a shield on his left hand. In the middle tier the lady is shown with angels, who are taking her to the heaven. In addition to this two men seated on  horse on both sides. In the third level the lady is seated with a man holds an umbrella above her head  and  her hands in worshipping posture. Shiva Linga & Nandhi and the hero in standing posture are also shown in the third level.    

As per Mr John Peter the sati stone may belongs to 16^th century Vijayanagara period. A three tier sati stone with a lady in sitting posture is a rare one as per archaeologists.

 ---OM SHIVAYA NAMA--- 

Hero Stone / நடுகற்கள் / Veeragallu / செக்கு / Chekku With Tamizhi / Stone Crusher at Marur, Thalavadi, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

04^th November 2017.

Planned to attend Kumbhabhishekam of Sri Veeramathi Amman, our Kula Deivam on 3^rd November 2017 and visit some of the heritage sites near Erode on 04^th November 2017. After boarding the Taxi, on 04th November 2017, suddenly the plan was changed to visit Hero stones at Thalavadi. It was one of my long time wish to visit  Thalavadi, a heritage treasure land. Due to traffic jam on the way we are able to reach Thalavadi around 10.00 hrs. Mr John Peter, an ex archaeologist took us to the unexplored areas to see the Hero stones and sati stones. One such place is  Merur, Erode dairy’s milk chilling plant complex at Thalavadi area.

On one side of the complex we had seen a two level Hero stone. In the first level 3 warriors with sword on the right hand & kedayam on the left and three  warriors  are shown for their support with sword and bow. In the second level these three warriors are taken to heaven by the angels ( Deva kanniyars with samaram ).  The top portion was found partially broken. In general these type of Hero stones will have the third level in which Shiva Linga with nandi are shown. This two level hero stone is a rare one with out Shiva Linga and Nandi.  This Hero stone does not have any inscription also. The hero stone may belongs to 16^th century as per the experts.

STONE CRUSHER WITH BRAHMI / TAMIZHI INSCRIPTIONS

In the same complex we had seen a Chekku ( to extract oil from seeds ) to a height of about 4 feet.  The complex also has the Cairn circles, iron slag and the sangam period mud pot pieces. These materials indicates that the ancient people lived in and around this place. The Chekku has the Tamzhili inscription "Kon" at the bottom written as a Mirror Image. This was confirmed by Pulavar Se. Raju, Thanjavur Tamil University,  of Erode. As, per Pulavar Se. Raju and Rajagopal, the Inscription belongs to 3rd Century, CE.  

Chekku 

Inscription

the paper cuttings of our Visit

Published in Avanam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Tippu Sultan's connection with Mosque, Thalavadi, Erode District, Tamil Nadu.

04^th November 2017.

In the ancient times the Egyptians   and Romans  traded with Tamil Nadu through  sea ports like Thondi, Musuri  and the  Palakkad Passage of Western Ghats. This route is called as Rajakesari Trading route.  The Trading route splits in to three from Palakkad passage. The east side route goes to Poombukar  through Chera’s Capital Karur and Chozhas Capital Uraiyur.  The second route goes to Madurai Via Pollachi and Palani.  The third route goes to Mysore via Mettupalayam, Bhavani Sagar, Thengumarada,  Thalavadi and Samraj nagar.

This third route was used by Tippu Sultan  after relaying from his capital Srirangapatna to Mettupalayam, hence called as Tippu Sultan road. It was also told that Tippu Sultan travelled from Srirangapatna to Sathyamangalam in half an hour time ( May not be possible ). Tippu constructed some Mosques on the route and one such mosque exists at Thalavadi till date. ( Will be written in a separate post ).

On both side of the roads banyan trees were planted. Now these trees covers the approximate width of 30 to 40 feet road. While relaying lot of villages were evacuated.  This route from Srirangapatna to Sathyamangalam passes through thick forest and part of the road is open to public  now and Display board as Sultan Road also erected.

There are many remains of of Tippu Sultan in Kongu Mandalam. In remembrance of Tippu Sultan, a road was named after Sultan Road at Punjai Puliampatti and  Two Villages are named as Tultan Pettai near Palladam and Mangalam Tiruppur. There is also a Mosque at Coimbatore where Tippu Sultan prayed.  

 

This Sathyamangalam forest is  also declared as Tiger reserve forest.  It is essential to get permission from the forest Department to venture in to the forest area.

It was told that a mosque exists at Thalavadi, built by Tippu Sultan and showed us a glass framed letter. We took a photo of the same and  verified with urdu language known experts. The letter was a thanks letter written to S M Muhammad Khan Allahuthalla by the Thalavadi muslims for the construction of the Mosque and not having connection with Tippu Sultan. The Photo says that,  Initially Janab Allahuthalla gave Rs 5000 before going to haj yatra for construction of this Mosque. The Locals of Thalavadi collected an amount of Rs 7848 and  found this amount many not be sufficient complete the Mosque. So the locals  gave the money collected to Allahuthalla and  asked him to take the responsibility of completing  the mosque.  The Mosque belongs to early 20^th century.

  

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---