I do not know how this temple was missed by all the scholars around, discussing about Chola period, but this temple has the Moolavar by the name Arulmozhieswarar! I quoted in the reply to GNB article, about Swami Kavi Yogi Maharishi Shuddhanandha Bharathi and his ashram in the same place, which is just walkable distance from the said temple. His Keerthananjali with 1015 songs are available with me @Rs. 105/-. The raaga and the thala are already given along with each song, by the author himself! Any one interested can contact me for the same. He was coincidentially awarded the first Raja Rajan Virudhu for his magnum opus Bharatha Shakthi Maha Kavyam, which he wrote when he was under silent penance at Aurobindo Ashram for almost 20 years! Only when India attained independence, Swamiji went and gave his first lecture at Shivananda Ashram, before Swami Sivananda himself, from Rishi kesh!
Coming back to the temple, the irony is in today's paper, I was saddened to read that the temple's watchman was murdered and the temple money and jewels were stolen. People talking loud about bringing back glory to past temples and archeological riches, have they ever thought of a forum to address the present day needs? The Nagarathar community in large who have their anchestoral property around this temple are the ones who maintain the costs for the temple and its survival. IS any Chola lover or temple lover thinks about the temple maintenance and its present conditions? Many know that the Tanjore big temple also was uncared few years before, but for the efforts of recent scholars and the Pradosham poojas, which have caught fancy with one and all nowadays! More than the money value quoted in the Sholapuram temple, (by police estimation,of course) what we might have lost is the treasure which may be sold to antique dealers who will sell it for crores of rupees to outsiders. If the ploice dont act fast, we may losse many more such valuable treasures from such ancient temples. IS thee any forum which addresses about care of such temples in abig way, other than the Hindu Aranilaya Thurai, which always eyes on the Hundi collections of these temples??
SB sir had visited the ashram as well as the temple. He knows the best way to work out a solution. What say, SB sir?
Dear Chandra I too was stuck by co incidence of sola puram and arulmozhi nathar.
the solapuram temple I think belongs to the sivagangai samsthanam and is administered by them. cant blame the hr& ce for this.
I would like to define temple management in tamilnadu for those who are not familiar with it
1. the hindu endowments board runs almost 90 percent of temples. 2 the samasthanam temples(ex king doms) sivagangai, ramnad and pudukottai run their own temples.( kalayar koil, thirukoshtiyur and even rameshwaram tilla few years back)
3. the adhinams( dharmapuram, thiruvaavaduthurai each have their own temples) 4. asi runs a few major temples 5- private temples where no hundials are permitted( including chidambaram natarajar)
the best maintained I always felt were aadhinam temples( mainly dharmapuram- thirukadaiyur, vaithirswaran koil and thirunallar) forget cleaniliness. I am talking about proper prayers.
the samsthanam temples come next along with the private temples. the hr ce are the worst maintained except for major ones and city based temples.
but outside kaingaryam is a definitely needed impetus for all these temples.
dear SPS and other active members: With all your great contacts and connections, any action plans for saving the personnel working with such ancient temples? Any PF, Pension schemes for them- the watchman, the priests, the oduvaars- who can forget the mesmerising song sung by the young bright oduvar in Tanjore temple during our last trip? Any forum/ minister to whom we can propose the issue or an action plan? Edirpaarpudan, Chandrasekaran
Dear Venketesh, As a man involved in many temple trusts and maintenance, and being son of the soil, can u pls come out with some action plan? Many Ps members would agree with me if we take it to next stage to get protection and care to such temples. Thanks for your concern. Chandrasekaran