-Dear Dr.Sridhar, That was an excellent piece :: Like a Diamond in the sky!
Periyakoil for Vaishnavites is Srirangam; Saivites Chidambaram. For PS fans it is Thanjavur. The brahmendrakkal is made of 8 pieces .. Some of us have gone up and seen after Dr. KKvn confirmed in his Varalaru. Movement of heavy rocks rolled over wooden rollers pushed and dragged by elephants - experimented by National Geography people for their Documentary on Thanjai temple & shown. According to Kudavoil Balu, the lifting arrangement was like a Cone-icecream : Meaning around the Vimanam structure, soils filled slope was formed and hardened, over which elephants carried heavy stones. Left over soil mountains still seen in the South West Corner outside temple complex.
Kadigai was Military academy because of priority accorded by RR in 988 AD.
When one Uthsavar was in Tirupathy (mid 14th Century) another Uthsavar was worshipped in Srirangam (Ref. Thriuvarangan Ula) hence TWO.
Last week I was in Chidambaram and then visited Thiruvengadu (closer to Poompuhar - evidently well worshipped by early Cholas as well.. Sembian madevi, uthama, RR, Anirudh & co have offered a lot). Nataraj was undoubtedly Cholas' Kuladeyvam.. Then why Kerala Nambudiri type archakas are performing poojas all these Centuries? Udayarkudi (Near Veeranam - where Ravidasan & co had lands, which were confiscated) is just 20 KMs away from Chidambaram. Is there connection?
That also reminds us of the opening scene of PS., Vandiyathevan moving around on Aadi 18th on the banks of Veeranam ?!
> Kadigai was Military academy because of priority accorded by RR in > 988 AD.
Actually I'm reading some interesting material from an Aye vel belonging to 866 AD - Contemporary of Nirupathunga varman - much before RR. The copperplate grants talk about a "saalai" established in paarthivasekarapuram IN LINE WITH THE SALAI IN KANTHALOOR. These plates were discovered in trivandrum. The plates detail the rules and regulations of such a "salai" - it is not actually a military academy but martial arts is also taught. Will write a comprehensive article on this when time permits.
> When one Uthsavar was in Tirupathy (mid 14th Century) another > Uthsavar was worshipped in Srirangam (Ref. Thriuvarangan Ula) hence > TWO.
I know this :-) The purpose why I mentioned this was when the original idol returned to srirangam, there was a confusion in identifying the original. If the original had diamond eyes, it would have been pretty simple to identify - right ? The orloff story happens much later 17th cen... So the question is - when the original came back after muslim invasion - DID IT HAVE THE DIAMOND EYES OR NOT ?