We will take Chozha - Pandya exchanges in lighter vein.
Against Emperor Alexander the formidable trio of Chozha - Chera - Pandyas formed the first alliance. They also fought wars as per records in Mahabaratha. Ancient Tamil Civilisation.
They all were very much committed to culture & religion. Honoured the commitments of other sect of Rulers even. There are several instances. Sundra Pandya - inspite of destroying Chozha palaces after 400 yr long wait, gave grants to big temple!
Re Rajaraja - Big temple ill-luck etc., are individual's imaginary views.
For more than 20 yrs, though Madras based, I have been worshipping Brahadeeswarar almost for the 10 years minimum on alternative Sundays.
My English New year will be in some temple of significance -in south - mostly Annankoil / Nangur Divyadesam / Sorkazhi. Pongal, Tamil New Year, Diwali, Aadi 18 - THANJAVUR BIG TEMPLE. Vinayaka Chaturthi - Pillayar patti. Navarathri - South temples.
my past colleagues.
THIRUVIDAI MARUTHUR (Near Kumbakonam) Diety is Mahalingam. Inscriptions say AK granted a small garden; Sembian Madevi converted it as Shenbaga garden. Panchavan Madevi made it still larger. One looks at the Mahalingam - it is slightly bigger than usual ones. That is all. It has 9 parivara sthalas : Vinayagar : Tiruvalanchuzhi; Muruga : Swamimamali; durgai : Patteeswaram; Natarajar : Konerirajapuram; Dakshinamurthy : Alangudi; Somaskandar: Thiruvarur; Nandhi : Thiruvalangadu (near Aduthurai). Chandeeswarar : Thiruvaypadi ? Seyngalur. Navagrahas : Sooriyanarkoil. since surrounded by these it is known as Mahalingam!
Our RR was not impressed.So he chose to make DAKSHNIA VIDANGAR! The biggest. In two tier. One can go up and pour flowers from the top on this Vidangar! Sivalingam is made of 8 parts. He used to take 9 Golden flowers. Put one each on each of the parts. The last 9 the piece is put / thrown above the Vidangar, between the Kalasam bottom. This is a THREE DIMENTIONAL AKAASA LINGAM - when Chidambaram is two dimensional "Rahasyam".
RR's devotion to Chidambaram is well known. He created a real Kailasam - with Akasalingam - where dancers were dancing, musicians playing music with vedic chants, Thevara / thrivasaga hymns! Look at the grants to the temple. It should have been more a crowd puller than Palani / Sabarimala / Tirupathy - those years! Sekkizhar has written his Periapuranam after seeing the painings in the temple !
There is NOT A SINGLE SIVA TEMPLE Comparable to Big Temple .. Meenakshi temple is formidable because of Mother Meenakshi..
He granted Hiranyakarbam in Thiruvisalur Karkadageswarar temple (Nandankoil!). That is why the leprosy story ..
He ascended to Throne in Aadi (KARKADAGA) Punarvasu. This year it falls on Aadi 18th, 3rd August! Probably in 985 also it was Aadi 18th!? Anyhow, astronimcally he should have something to do with Karkadagam.
We are talking about him (majority in hightech Infotech !) even after 1000 years!
It is ill-luck only for those who do not have this knowledge!
Dear SPS Are we launching the Peravai on the 3rd August then? Sri
Mr Sridhar Rathinam FRCSEd Specialist Registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery University Hospitals of North Staffordshire Princes Road Hartshill Stoke on Trent Staffordshire ST4 7LN UK Phone :07779803446 Home 0161 9734113 email:[email protected]