'Koil' Means Temple. 'Olugu' temple traditions Methods, Practices, Festivals, Families, Administration, Tradition, History, inscriptions and Hagiography.
So far Historians did not venture into traditional accounts of temple management. They were content with archtectures styles, history of dynasties, some inscriptions, and all the while complained that Hindus were poor record keepers.
While Hindus were weaving their history inscribed on the walls.According to kudvayil Balsubraminam one of the greatest authorities on Hindu Temples, of the sarswathy mahal library, the records were extremely Truthful.'Sathya' as the core of Hindu beliefs.
Koil Olugu is an ancient traditional work available only in Tamil. "KOIL OLUGU"means simply temple practices, methods and administrative practices involved in administering one on the largest Hindu Temples, the HQ of Sri Vaishnavism.
Larger than Vatican
In many ways Srirangam is larger in than the Vatican by some four acres. Vatican has an approximate area of 108 acres while srirangam has total area of 112 acres. The city within the temple. The traditionally available Koil Olugu cover a vast time period from treta yuga till about 17 century.
This has been comipled by several generations of Temple recodrs keepers.The rise and fall of several dynasties and their fortunes affected the Temple. The temple was razed to ground be Muslim invasions.There was no puja for some 60 years.
The Koil olugu mentions about the sacrifices made to save the Temple and the main diety.
*During the invasion of ulugh khan 12000 residents Vashinavites were be headed near the vellai gopuram.
* Two jeers (religious heads) commited suicide from the white gopuram in order to save the Temple. *One jeer was killed on the banks of kollidam, by a Muslim when he went to the Camp to recover the Murthy stolen from the Temple.
*The temple had been perhaps the most rich in the world.A pandya king gave thula bharam of Gold the weight of his tallest elephant.
* The koil olugu tells on how a Temple dancer went all the way to Delhi to recover the Uthsav murthy, is still remembered as the greatest sacrifice of the lady to uphold Dharma is still remembered and honoured in the Temple festivals.
* A Solid Golden Dwajstahmbam, was removed and taken away during the invasion, has been replaced by Bronze ans later by Copper. During the recent renovation, when the temple authorities removed the covering of the dwajasthamabam, in order to replece with a special Teak wood brought from Kerala, to the surprise it was found to be made of Copper. This must be of interst to Meatturgists.
* This large collection of mansucripts were lost and many parts were destroyed during the wars.
*Assembled by generations of the Temple sri pandaram, record keepers, who maintained their accounts in palm leaves upto 2003s,is now made available in easy to read Tamil.
MADE AVILABLE FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS,PALM LEAVES, INSCRIPTIONS,COPPER PLATES,TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS ACCOUNTS THAT BRIDGES THE BARRIER BETWEEN THE ACADEMICS,HISTORIANS,AND THE SAMPRADHYA SCHOLARS.
A BOOK ON TRADITION, Starting from the Vibhishan's visit to the Region after the Ramayana war,KALVETTU, till 2003 contains details of wars,Festivals,HAGIOGRAPHY,ORAL TRADITIONS AND EPIGRAPHY OF SRIRANGAM TEMPLE.
NOTE: Purchased one set of koil olugu get one copy of Nalayar Divya Prabhandham free till 05.06.2009 on only, and below address only this offer.
Sri Vaushnava Sri Chennai New No & old.No.29.Ellai Amman Koil Street, No.8/C 3rd Floor, C.Block Mangadu Apartments, West Mambalam,Chennai -33. Ph No.044-24715120/cell No.09941793151. Web:http//:www.srivaishnavasrichennai.com Email:[email protected]