1. Why RRC scribed in his 2nd year in Udayarkudi proclaiming himself as CHAKRAVARTHY..
2. Why is it mentioned in Tiruvalangadu CP that the wives of 1000 headed Adhishesan were rejoiced when RRC is to bear the burden of the World - relieving such burden from their Husband ..
3. why is it mentioned that Kalisoozhndhadu - the period that followed after RRC put the crown over the heads of Madurantaka..
4. It is emerging clearer that there should have been CLAIM - COUNTER CLAIM which got settled in favour of RRC at the Trilokya-Courts in Kandhalur (appears to be Neutral Ground - like present Switzerland.@).
There have been several discussions that Kandhalurchalai was KADIGAI and that after EXPULSION - Ravidasan & co were provided asylum and that it was destroyed... by RRC in which war Rajendra was Commander !!
The theory that there was some deployment of Army / Naval forces to subdue the Institution existed at Kandhalur appears to whither away..
These also need to be revisited ... and the Original source for such mention need to be looked into.
5. Inscriptions related to Uthama's 15th & 16th years ( 985 - 86 CE) ( tiruvisaluar / thivuvarur - Sembian Madevi offering silver ware in WELFARE of her son Uthama ) need to be looked into.
6. Udyarkudi inscriptions need to be revisited and explained ..
As mentioned in one of the discussions a few years back, there should have been some prior agreement by which Uthama should have ruled for 15 years from 970 - 985 and co-ruled with RRC 985 - 986 and the CLAIMS - COUNTER CLAIMS/ DISPUTES got settled in Kandarlur Chalai in favour of RRC ... This need to be reinforced with appropriate evidences ..
When spoke to Gokul - he cited a recently-found inscription (RRC meykeerthi) related to Kandhalurchalai .. wherein a Keralite was beheaded ...
Let us hear it first hand from him soon - since he is travelling now.
If you define "recent times" as more than 30 years ago, and limit yourself back to maybe 100 years ago, then yes, it probably looked quite desolate...
There's a good reason for that too! After the fall of the Maratha state of Tanjore, and especially after Serfoji II died, there was very little money in the coffers to support the temple and keep it in good repair. Especially since it's such a huge edifice. And the temple administration had been with the palace until the fall of the kingdom.
Now, of course, there's a real administration in place, thanks to the ASI, and the Prince of Tanjore is the trustee.
Incidentally, does anyone think of the thousands of other temples that until recently looked quite desolate? My own village temple used to struggle for oil to light the lamps daily, until about 15 years ago, when fortunes changed. More recently, this group has discussed Kamarasavalli, which Shriram and I visited in February, and which REACH has taken up for preservation. When we went there, the gopuram looked like a brick mound, the mandapam was supported by the stump of a tree and the southern compound wall had fallen down. That wasn't even the full extent of the damage!
Rajarajeswaram was in no way unique in its poor upkeep and desolate appearance...
Shash
On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 8:16 PM, vancheeswaran gopal
Tanjore Royal family was maintaining temples well till 50s .
There is a Aranmanai dewasthanam that was maintaining many temples - Vada Kurangaduthurai, Thiruppazhanam etc. Post 50-60s temple lands did not give revenue and could not be maintained.
Shash - there is reference to an image of a Nayak ruler Sevappa in the big temple. Sevappa ruled from 1532 - 1563 CE. Let me search for more Nayak references to the Big temple
http://www.poetryinstone.in “*Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man*” – Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore
sevappa was betel bearer or adaiappan (thambul karandivan) of vijaynagar king achuda. a most trusted and high post. he married achuda's sister in law and possibly got tanjore as a dowry. achuthas descendant were destroyed by another branch of naiks from madurai
Thanjai Periya Koil was a sacred pilgrimage centre all around. Sri Arunagirinatha swamigal visited the temple. He did not find Subramanya Swami temple there. So he sang like this " Thanjai Rajagopurathil amarndha perumale ". The Subramanya Swami temple was built later by the Nayaks. And the Nandi too was added by them. Recently a Serfoji Biography was released. The review came up inthe Hindu recently were it is mentioned how he took the temple into the Royal familys folds.Marathas too added one gopuram.
According to the book *Arunachala: A short history of hill and temple in Tiruvannamalai* (pg 54-55), the "position of a ceremonial betel bearer or * adaiappan* (*thambul karandivan*) was a post given to a very trusted subordinate.. and Sevappa being a powerful and influential man of the locality was appointed the first nayak". The position of a betel bearer was usually not given to an outsider, as this position would make the man privy to all of the king's personal details. Therefore, the position was usually given to a trusted member within the family
http://www.poetryinstone.in “*Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man*” – Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore