St.Mary Magdalene Church, CSI, Wesley Church, & St. John Baptist's Church, Churches of Poonamallee, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

… a continuation Post of Exploring Poonamallee

15^th April 2018.

During our Exploring Poonamallee heritage walk, we covered 19^th Century  Churches constructed by the Britishers for their officers and Soldiers. The structures are constructed with brick and lime mortar. A Cemetery was also shared between St Mary Magdalene Church and CSI Wesley Church.

St. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH

The earliest 1796 CE Chaplain was there at Fort St. George. After Converting the Mohammedan Fort of Poonamallee in to a Garrison, it was felt a need of  a Church to cater the British Officers and Solders.  1806 CE Rev Hough  belonging to Christian Missionary Movement laid down the foundation stone in 1815 CE and W Sawyer started the construction of this Church for Poonamallee and St Thomas Mount. The Church has the Simple alter, Two chairs, teak wood windows for ventilation, Belgium glasses in alter and the floors are paved with cuddapah stone slabs. The bronze bell was brought from London. Bishop Middleton consecrated the Church on 13^th April 1819 CE.

To cater more no of people the Church was expanded on sides in the form of cross to a size of 2142 sq foot in the year 1845 AD and started function a full time Church exclusively for Poonamallee alone. It was happy to note that the old Church was not pulled down after constructing a new Church with modern amenities. This Church is being used to conduct Bible classes for children on Sundays.

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH     :CLICK HERE

Bell tower and the Bell was imported from UK

CSI WESLEY CHURCH

There are  two old Churches stands east and west side of the new Wesley Church. These churches are part of Methodist Mission. Both Churches might have been built during 19th Century and exact dates are known. Compared to the St Mary Magdalene Church, it is believed that these two Churches catered for the Soldiers. From the records of the Mission in 1823 CE, Elijah Hoole visited this Church for prayers and preached in Tamil to the congregation. At present the Churches are being used for conducting Bible classes to the Children.

    

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH     :CLICK HERE

St. JOHN THE BAPTIST’S CHURCH.

This Church comes under RC and this parish existed from 1818 CE. This Church was constructed in the year 1840 CE by Rev Doctor Carew on a burial ground of Mohammedan Fort of Poonamallee to cater  British Soldiers. Latter from the year 1912 CE the Church was used by the pensioners and the Native of Poonamallee Catholics. It was built in the shape of a cross of 59 feet length with a separate Bell tower.

 

The old Church was pulled down and a new Church was built. The new Church was consecrated  on 24^th April 1990, by the Dr Casimir Gnanadickam, Arch Bishop of Madras – Mylapore. The 19^th century, original Bell tower was retained and stand tall to reminds the past.

A memory stone is also found at the entrance of the Church with inscription on all four sides erected from the public fund. The inscriptions states that this was erected in recognition  of  Rev Fr. J P Fitzpatrick, who served nearly 40 years as an Ex-Officio member of the Cantonment Committee & R C Military Chaplain of Poonamallee. He was born in Roscommon Ireland on 28^th May 1848 CE and died at St Patrick Monastery – Adyar on 17^th September 1927 CE.

On the back side it was inscribed that the Lighting was inaugurated by Dewan Bahadur R N Arogyaswami Mudaliar, Ex- Minister, Govt Of Madras on 9^th June 1920.

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH    :CLICK HERE

St. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH CEMETERY

This cemetery was consecrated on 13^th April 1819 CE. Those who deceased  in the Poonamallee garrison was laid to rest in this cemetery. Initially this cemetery was used for both officers and Soldiers of the Garrison – St Mary Magdalene Church & CSI Wesly Church  and now the Cemetery is under the control of  St Mary Magdalene Church. 

Some historically important and oldest  graves are….

• The earliest grave was for a Captain Ambrose Russel belongs to 1795 CE., the elder brother of Irish Radical Thomas Russel ( Who was executed in Ireland )
• Major Donald Mc Donald – 1799 CE, who headed the 2^nd Battalion in charge of the siege of Seringapatnam. Belongs to 34^th Battalion of Madras Native Infantry in Vellore in 1794 CE which became 84^th Punjabis in 1903 CE, and the regiment was absorbed in Pakistan Army.  He died in the year 1799. CE.
• Lieutenant Patrick heron Newall in 1809 CE, who served in Madras European Regiment.
• Ensign Ingleby – 1818 CE from St Helena where Napolean was held captive.

LOCATION OF THE CHURCH     :CLICK HERE

THE CEMETRY 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Sri Panayathamman Temple / Pidari Panayathamman Kovil / பிடாரி பணயதம்மன் கோவில், Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

... A continuation post to Kottai Veeran Muneeswarar Temple - Exploring Poonamaallee - A Heritage Walk

15^th April 2018.

Our next visit before Poonamallee big mosque was to Sri Pidari Panayathamman Temple, which has the history connected with Queen Victoria. Though the temple is small but it has the heritage value.

Main deity : Sri Pidari Panayathamman

Some of the important features of this temple are…

This Amman temple is facing North on the left side of Main road before Poonamallee. The main sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, artha mandapam and a shed as mukha mandapam. The sanctum does not have any Vimana. In the sanctum ceiling we could found the supporting granite slabs has the Chozha period inscriptions ( might have been brought from a nearby Chozha Period temple ).

In the outer prakaram statues of amman ( might be a Pothyal of  pillars), a Kanthu, an 18^th century memory stone / a village small deity  and head less Ayyanar with poorna and pushkala. 

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The temple is a Ellai kaaval theivam and once this place was with full of Palmyrah ( Panai maram in Tamil language )  groves, hence Amman got this name.

On 16^th February 1887, Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated in Poonamallee. All the streets were decorated with thoranams, arches and flags inscribed as “Long Live Empress Victoria”, “May the British Empire Prosper”, “May the British Empire Lost Long”, “God save the Empress”, etc,. As a part of celebration, about 1000 people were  fed with non vegetarian food in this Pidari Panayathamman temple. In the evening Urchavars are taken out for procession.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs 

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on the main road before Poonamallee from Guindy.

20 to 30 meters from Poonamallee big Mosque

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Chozha Period inscription slab kept to support the ceiling 

 Kanthu ( The earliest form of Shiva Linga Worship )

 A panel of small deity / or memory stone of 18^th century

Head less Ayyanar with poorna and pushkala.

…….To be continued Big Mosque - Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Big Mosque / Poonamalle Mosque/ Jummah Masjid / ஜும்மா மஸ்ஜித், Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

…. A Continuation post to  Sri Panayathamman Temple  - Exploring Poonamallee – A Heritage Walk 

15^th April 2018.

During our walk we had covered this  Mosque also, apart from Hindu Temples and Churches. The Mosque follows the principles of Ahle Sunnath-wal-Jama’th.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

This inscription was estampaged and recorded by Pulavar Se. Raju, when he was worked with Thanjavur Tamil University.  This inscription is recorded in Indo-moslemica, 1938 and Annual report on Epigraphy (B) 303 & 304 of 1939. This is the first Mosque built in Indo – Saracenic  Style in Tamil Nadu. After renovations it is not looking like Indo Saracenic style and also it was learnt this has been converted as Dargah. In the inscription plaque, they thanked Se. Raju  for identifying the details of this mosque. Now the inscription was completely covered with tiles. 

As per the inscription this Mosque was built and completed on 3^rd August 1653 AD by one Rustam and his father Asthirabath Dhul-fikr, who worked under Nawab Janablath-Ul-Mulki Mir Muhammed,  the representative of Golconda,  during this period Madras was under the rule of Golconda King, Hajrat Alampanna Sultan Abdullah Syed. Sujayitha was the  Hawaldar of the fort Poonamallee at that time. 

LOCATION OF THE MOSQUE :CLICK HERE 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

To be Continued ….. Exploring Poonamallee – A Heritage Walk

Kottai veeran Muneeswarar Temple/ கோட்டை வீரன் முனீஸ்வரன் கோயில், Buckingham Street, Karayanchavadi, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

 … a continuation post to Victory Memorial Blind School  –Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk 

15^th April 2018.

This is one of the Hindu temples visited during our Poonamallee Heritage walk. It was believed that This temple might be within or a Guarding deity of the Mohammedan Fort built by the Nawab of Carnatic in 18^th century.

The temple is facing east with sannadhis for Vinayagar, Shiva Lingam and the main Sanctum. At the entrance of the main sanctum on the left Bommi Amman and on the right Sri Veerabhadra in sitting posture with a mazhu on his right hand  ( as per the details of the sculpture this Veerabhadra may belongs to Chozha period, might have been brought from an abandoned Shiva temple).

In the Sanctum, on the left is again a Veerabhadra, sitting in sukhasana with a mazhu in left hand, A lady the Kottai Muneeswarar ( Probably a sati stone – could not be identified due to 75% was covered with vasthiram ) at the centre and on the right is the Pal Muneeswarar in standing posture. 

   

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 06.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs on Fridays & Sundays and on the other days temple will be closed an hour earlier.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Poojari L Boopathi may be contacted on his Mobile 7824025654 and 8610459157 for further details.

HOW TO REACH:

This temple is on the Buckingham Street in Karayanchavadi.

About 500 meters from Karayanchavadi signal and about 20 meters before St John The Baptist Church.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Veerabhadra

Bommi Amman

…….To be continued Sri Panayathamman Temple - Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk.

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

Victory Memorial Blind School / விக்டரி மெமோரியல் பார்வையற்றோர் பள்ளி - A Poonamallee Heritage Walk

15^th April 2018.

The much awaited Poonamallee heritage walk came to true  on 15^th April 2018 with 20+ history enthusiastic participants. Our original plan was to start 16.00  hrs,  from the blind school was changed to 07.00 hrs and aimed to complete by 10.00 hrs, to avoid to visit  the places after  sun set.  Out of 13 places planned, we could able to cover 12  historical places with new findings and Thirukachi Nambigal & Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple was dropped for want of time ( 13 Cut short to 12, since 13 may not be lucky number.. ha..ha.. ). This post and continuation posts of my  blog  will cover the important details of our Poonamallee heritage visit,  of course with some photographs.

VICTORY MEMORIAL BLIND  SCHOOL

Initially there was a fort measuring 175 yards by 42 yards called Mohammedan fort, built by Nawab of carnatic with 18 feet high rampart, bastions, moats and fortification which divides  the Poonamallee in to two parts. Muhammad Ali gave this fort to British with 330 sq miles, (which had 231 Villages) in 1749 CE and  again 2284 sq miles(which had 2000 villages)  in 1763 CE,  to ascend to throne of Arcot with British armed support.  During 1780 CE to 1800 CE, struggle between Mysore, French, British and Nawab,  this fort got military importance and  Garrison was constructed to house barracks, Stables, retirement recluse and Hospital. 

The construction of the barracks was started in 1888 CE and completed in March 1893 CE. Some of the streets of the Villages are named by the Britishers ( Buckingham Street, Queen Victoria Road, Sepoy Line., etc.. ). Quarters, kitchens, prison for petty thieves  prison for the war soldiers ( French ) were also added. The floors of the Barracks was laid with cuddapah stones. ( the available stones at that time are used for flooring of the stables which includes  dismantled more than 1000 years old Hindu temples with  Chozha period inscriptions )   The stable could house 500 horses and famed Poonamallee Arab horses were bred here. 

Albert HA Hervy, a young Captain served in the 40^th regiment of Madras Native infantry in 1830s in his book ‘Ten Years in India” describes the poor condition of the barracks. The European soldiers are accommodated in a poor condition. Fort walls of Poonamallee fort was knocked down. The Hospital and part  of barracks, the ramparts running along these buildings keep out of any healthy circulation of air. The officers quarters are wretched, little bits of pigeon holes and so hot that any one residing within them ought to be grilled to death. The French Barracks housed prisoners are the ‘best in the place’. The pensioners residing within the limit of depot, in cottages neatly laid out, with small gardens in front.

Later in 1931CE, Asia’s first high school was started  in this barracks as per Eric Conran Smith’s idea and named as Victory Memorial Blind School to commemorate the victory of British in world war –I. Rayappa Joseph was the first Indian Principal. 950 students once on roll was now with only 250 students. Vocational training classes also conducted for the women. Regional Braille Press, Govt rehabilitation center for blind women, blind teachers training institute are function here.

Now the area has shrunk to 36 acres of which 10 acres are with CRPF, Hospital and a Sacred Heart Seminary.  At present there is no trace of Fort or the fort walls and the present Sri Kottai veeran Muneeswarar temple may remind the fort once existed ( details will be in next post ).

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 A Panoramic View of the Victory memorial school 

 Blind school view from road side 

 Stairs to first floor

 Barracks corridor 

 Kitchen 

 Hospital ward 

 Horse Stable corridor

 The inscription stone of the Barracks building 

 Chozha inscription (May be Rajaraja-II or III )

Vikrama Chozha ( 1118 - 1136 CE) inscription

To be continued ...Kottai Veeran Muneeswaran Temple - Exploring Poonamallee - A Heritage Walk 

                                   --- OM  SHIVAYA NAMA---