JAIN BEDS WITH BRAHMI INSCRIPTIONS – THE REMAINS OF JAINISM IN THONDAI NADU – A VELLORE HERITAGE WALK.

23^rd December 2018.

The visit to this Jain beds is a part of Bagavathy Hills heritage trekking organized by the History of Vellore Facebook group. The Bagavathy Hill is about 1100 feet with many Natural shelter. These caves are prehistoric habitation site and latter occupied by the Jains. It was told that Neolithic period ( 10000 BC )  tools are found from this shelters/ hill. From 2^nd Century these shelters are occupied by the Jains.

Above 800 feet there are no much trees or vegetation except lemon grass and shrubs. Steps are chiseled on the rocks to climb up for about 50 feet. On the top of the hill there are some cave shelters, an Amman Temple and remains of old temples.  One of the cave shelter has the 10^th century Rashtrakuda King Kannaradevan’s inscription and Kannada inscriptions. Just near to this Three Jain beds are chiseled in a shelter with Brahmi inscriptions. These inscriptions are heavily damaged and un readable due to vandalism by the miscreants. Perhaps the inscriptions are the name of the persons responsible for creating the beds for Jain monks.

In addition to this there are two pathams carved on a rock near dilapidated temple structures on the top of the hill. It was told these pathams are related to Jainism. The pathams are being worshiped by the locals who ventured to this hill to worship Sri Kalki Bagavathy Amman. Looking at the carvings, in my opinion it may not be connected with Jainism. 

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Jain beds

 Brahmi inscriptions are faintly visible

Brahmi inscriptions are faintly visible

Sripatham

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI PANNAPAEWARAR TEMPLE, BAGAVATHY HILLS - A VELLORE HERITAGE WALK

23^rd December 2018.

This visit to this temple was a part of Vellore Heritage walk organized by the History Of Vellore. This is one of the Heritage  structures  / Temples  exists on the Bagavathy Hills. The Hill is an abode for Jains and Hindus. The lesser known Kalki Bagavathy Amman and Bagavathy temple are on the top of the hill.  The Hill has natural cave / rock shelters which are once occupied by the pre historic  human beings and latter by the Jains. The Rock shelters bears the inscriptions in Tamil and Kannada. Rashtrakuda king Kannaradevan’s ( Krishna-III)  period 10th Century Tamil inscription is inscribed on the back a rock  inside a shelter.  The 11 line inscription reads as..

1. ஸ்வஸ்தி ஸ்ரீகன்னரதெவற்கு யாண்டு இருபத்தாறாவது
2. படுவூர்க் கொட்டத்துப் பங்கள நாட்டு வடக்கில் வகைச்சூ
3. தாடு பாறை மெல்ப் பன்னப்பை எடுப்பித்த
4. பன்னப்பெஸ்வரத்துக்கு பொகமாக இந்நாட்டு வெலூ
5. ர்பாடி எந்மகன் நுளம்பன் வீரசோழர் பக்கல்
6. சூதாடுபாறைமலை அகப்பட தாரை அட்டுவித்துக் கொ
7. ண்டு சந்தராதித்தருள்ளவும் உதகபூர்வஞ் செய்
8. து குடுத்தென் நுளம்பன் திரிபுவனதீரனென்
9. இதந்மம் ரஷித்தாரடி என் முடிமெலன் ஸ்ரீபல்ல
10. வமுராரி இத்ந்மம் இறக்வான் கங்கை குமரியிடைசெ
11. ய்தார் செய்த பாவங்கொள்வான்.

As per the inscription this Pannapeswarar Temple was built by a small Chieftain Pannapai under the Rashtrakuda King Kannaradevan’s ( Krishna-III)  26^th year rule. This temple is on the “Soothadu paarai” at Bangala Nadu in Paduvur Kottam. The Village Velurpadi was gifted to this Temple. It was told that Present Vellore is that  one mentioned in the inscription. But Some experts of the opinion that the present Velapadi at the base of the Hill, may be mentioned as Velurpadi and not the present Vellore. 

PRESENT STATUS

Since this inscription is inscribed on the rock, it survived, but the fate of the temple is not known. Old structures of the temple like pillar and stone fragments are strewn around the top of the hill.  Whether these fragments belongs to the temple  is also not known. Near to the inscription there is a Temple called Sri Kalki Bagavathy Temple. In front of Amman there is a Rishabam. The rishabam seems to be unique and beautiful. The Rishabam is like  molded from a metal. Looking at the design on the rishabam, it is awesome and may belongs to the old temple.  

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Beautiful rishabam

 Rashtrakuda king Kannaradevan's ( Krishna-III) 10th Century inscription

 Kalki Bagavathy Sannadhi- Is this is the original Shiva Temple, where the rishabam in front

 A Vinayagar bas-relief on the left side of the inscription

 The pillar may belongs to old temple

Sri Kalki Bagavathy temple in front is the rishabam

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI BAGAVATHY AMMAN TEMPLES & CAVE TEMPLE AT BAGAVATHY HILLS, VELLORE – AN ADVENTUROUS TREKKING – A PART OF VELLORE HERITAGE WALK.

23^rd December 2018.

The visit to this Sri Bagavathy Amman Temple on the Bagavathy  Hill was a part of Vellore heritage walk. After Amanan kuttai Sathukaramadam and Shiva temple visit, had been to this Hill. The Bagavathy Hill was used from the ancient periods to till date. Evidences are there on the hill to prove the same. The hill has many natural caves and served as a shelter to the pre historic human beings. Latter the same was used by the Jains, who are migrated from Saravabelagola.  A 10^th Century a Shiva Temple with inscriptions  is also on the top of the hill. The hill is about 1100 feet high and trekking  was not so hard. 

The Bagavathy Amman temple is about half way to the top, ie about 500 feet from the base. This temple was built in the year 1979 and kumbhabhishekam was conducted in 1981.  The temple is facing east  with a palipedam and simha vahanam.  Amman is in seated posture with four hands.

On the top of the hill there are Kalki Bhagavathy Temple, Kalki siddhar pedam and dilapidated  temple structures. The details will be posted separately.

  

When we descend on the other side through narrow gap between the rocks ( rolling, climbing through iron ladder and side walk ) we could see a Bagavathy Amman shrine in a small cave. It was told that the black magic is being done here.  Further descending  we had reached the open natural cave which can accommodate about 50 people. It was an awesome view of the green hills with Balamathi Murugan Temple.  

On the way to this Sri Bagavathy Amman Temple from the foothills, there are two resting mandapas without roof of which one is constructed with brick in indo-saracenic  style and  the other with stone slabs.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Bagavathy Amman Sculpture in a small cave.  

 Bagavathy Amman Temple  

 Kalki Siddhar Peedam 

This is the way to descend for the cave Bagavathy amman and the Shelter 

 A Natural cave  

 First Resting place 

Second Resting place 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---  

SRI KASI VISWANATHAR TEMPLE, AMANAN KUTTAI, VELLORE – A VELLORE HERITAGE WALK.

23^rd December 2018.

The visit to this temple was a part of our Vellore heritage walk held on 23^rd December 2018, organized by the History of Vellore Facebook Friends Group. This Temple is adjacent to the Sathukara Madam Sri Sathu Pichanoor Jeeva Samadhi at the foot hills of Gajendra Giri.

Iraivan : Sri Kasi Viswanathar

Iraivi    : Sri Visalakshi

Some of the important features of this temple are….

The temple is facing east ( Bagavathy Hills ) with Palipedam and Rishabam are in front.  Entrance to the Temple is from west. The sanctum sanctorum consists of Sanctum, antarala and arthamandapam/ mukamandapam.  In koshtam, Durgai, Brahma, Dhakshinamurthy and Lingothbavar. A more than 100 years old Iluppai tree as Sthala viruksham.

In the prakaram sannadhi for Visalakshi, Lakshmi Narasimhar, Mahalakshmi, Subramaniyar, navagrahas, Naalvar, Saraswathy, Agasthiyar, Bairavar, Inthiran, Suryan Vishnu with Sridevi & Bhoodevi, Valampuri Vinayagar and Saniswarar.

A little up there is an Anjaneyar bas-relief facing north on a boulder / rock believed to be carved during Viajaya Nagara period.  Little south from Anjaneyar bas-relief there is a 11 feet ant hill. Devotees offer Egg and Milk believing that a snake will come and drink. There is also a small cave and it was told that this cave passage leads in side the temple pond.

Though there is no particular legend about this temple, believed that Agasthiyar, Siddhars, Saints worshiped lord Shiva of this temple. As per Gurukkal the temple is more than 1000 years old. Going by the architecture the temple, the temple  may belongs to Nayak period.

Pray Lord Shiva of this temple to attain moksha.  In Aadi month People used to tie kangan in this temple  for Aanaikulaththamman.  The Kumbhabhishekam was performed  in 2002 after so many years.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 11.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

Salaven Pet,  Saidapet, Kosapet are close to this Temple.

8 KM from New Bus stand through Vellore Fort, Kosapet and Salaven pet.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

 Hanuman / Anjaneyar bas-relief  believed to be of Vijayanagara period

 The 11 feet high ant/ termite hill with nagars

 The 11 feet high ant/ termite hill

The offering - Egg and milk 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SRI KULASEKARA SWAMY SHIVA TEMPLE AT SHOLAMADEVI NEAR UDUMALPET – A PART OF KONGU TEMPLES.

07^th December 2018.

The visit to this temple happened accidentally. On the way to Vishnu Durgai ( Will be covered in a separate post ) at Sarkar Kannadiputhur, near Udumalpet, A Shiva Temple, Sholamadevi painted in bright brick colour on the banks of river Amaravathi attracted us through the paddy fields.

Iraivan : Sri Kulasekara Swamy Temple

Iraivi    : Sri Kunkumavalli

Some of the important features of this temple are…

The temple is facing east with Rishabam and  Palipedam. The temple complex does not have entrance arch, Rajagopuram and compound wall. The sanctum sanctorum consists of sanctum, antarala, arthamandapam and mahamandapam. The sanctum was built with a simple pathabandha adhistana, bootha ganas on the ceiling level and yazhivari on the parapet level. Brick and mortar two tier nagara vimana is above the sanctum. In koshtam Dhakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai installed at a latter date.

In the outer prakaram snnadhi for Sandikeswarar, Bairavar, Navagrahas and Ambal Temple. The Ambal temple also facing east might have been built/ renovated in the recent years.

The Adhistana and Temple walls has the 12^th to 13^th Century Kongu Chozhas Vikrama Chozha and Veera Rajendran’s inscriptions. The inscriptions speaks about donation of lands made to this temple for burning of perpetual lamp and poojas.

TEMPLE TIMINGS:

The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.

HOW TO REACH:

On the road from Udumalpet to Dharapuram turn right at Karatholuvu towards Madathukulam / Kozhumam to reach Sholamadevi and the temple is just before the Village.  

The temple is 5 KM from Karatholuvu, 21 KM from Udumalpet and 27 KM from Dharapuram.

LOCATION:CLICK HERE

Ambal Temple

 Bootha and Yzhi vari

 Koshtas

Vikrama Chozha inscriptions

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

SATHUKARA MADAM, AMANAN KUTTAI, VELLORE – A VELLORE HERITAGE WALK.

23^rd December 2018

This time thought of starting  in the  early morning  to Vellore Heritage Walk 2,  instead of staying in a Hotel.  Around 4.15 hrs started from Chennai and reached around 7.30 hrs and joined with the History of Vellore group, in front of Selli Amman Temple. Our first destination was to Sri Sathukaramadam, at Amanan kuttai  a part of old Vellore.

This Sathukaramadam, is at the foot hills of Bagavathy  Hills  houses  the  jeeva Samadhi of  Sri Sathu Pichanoor Swamikal and his disciple Sri Ramasamy Samikal ( who attained Samadhi in 1970 AD). The complex consists of a Tank, Two Jeeva samathis for 2 Siddhars lived in 20^th Century, an east facing big shrines for Lord Shiva  ( Lingam is missing ), two abandoned small shrines and Natural caves.  The First big Samadhi has two cells and at the entrance, has the bas-relief  of   Sri Sathu Pichanoor Swamy and his disciple in meditating posture.  One Cell a Shiva Linga is installed and the other one seems to be empty.  No poojas are conducted, even though it has property.

There is an interesting inscription stone fixed on the top of the big Jeeva Samadhi. The inscription stone speaks that  Annukutti Mudaliyar has donated two houses to this Jeeva Samadhi to conduct daily poojas,  Guru Pooja  and annadhanam in memory of Sri Sathu Pichanoor Swamy . The inscription was signed by Sri Ramaswamy Samikal, Madathipathi, may a disciple. The 1941 AD inscription in Tamil reads as…

“ஸ்ரீ சாது பிச்சனூர் சுவாமிகள் நித்திய கட்டளை பூஜை கைங்கர்யத்திற்காகவும் பிறதி வருஷ்ங்களில் நடக்கும் குரு பூஜை அன்னவினியோகக் கைங்கர்யத்திற்காகவும் வேலூர் அரசமர பெருமாள் கோவில் வீதி முனிசிபல் 6/1நெ வீடு 1ம், அரசமர பிள்ளையார் கோயில் வீதி முனிசிபல் 12நெ வீடு 1ம், ஆக இதுகளை ரொட்டிக்கார வீதி மிட்டாய்கடை அண்ணுக்குட்டி முதலியார் அவர்களால் 27-11-1941ல் எழுதி வைத்த உயில் சாசன முன்னிலைக்கி தானமாக சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டது”

இங்கணம்

இராமசாமி சாமிகள், மடாதிபதி

அம்மணாங்குட்டை

The status of these property is in question now..

 A dilapidated Shiva Temple

  Sri Sathu Pichanoor Swamy .Jeeva Samadhi 

 Sri Sathu Pichanoor Swamy .Jeeva Samadhi 

 Sri Ramaswamy Saamikal, Madathipathi. 

 Temple Pond 

A dilapidated sannadhi of  Sathukara madam   

A natural cave 

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---

REKLA RACE PATTAN KAL ( VEERAKALLU ) – எருது வண்டி ஓட்டிப்பட்டான் கல். – A PART OF KONGU NADUKARKAL

9^th December 2018.

This rekla race is an art and a heroic action of riding a bullock cart. This races are conducted in Tamil Nadu  ( Theni, Gudalore Pollachi, Madurai regions etc,. ) and Karnataka. The rekla races are conducted in connection with harvest festivals.  In Karnataka this type of races are called “kaarakaa” and same is now called as “Kambala”.  In olden days the race Kambala is conducted in fields with plough, from one end to the other end. Latter this was turned to be cart race. The bullock cart will be simple with two wheels and a seat for the Hero / driver, pulled by two bullocks. The bullocks will be tested before admitting for the race.  The bullocks only determines the win and loose. The races are banned for some period and now they are allowed to conduct.

The hero who wins the race will get gift money or articles like vessels and some races gold coins too. Unfortunately in some  races the hero may die accidentally. A Memory stone will be erected for that hero. Most of the hero stone books do not cover this type of Hero Stones. During our Heritage visits to Thalavadi and South Karnataka regions, we came across this rekla race  hero stones. Some of them are written in this post.

CHIKKA HALLI SCHOOL : This Rekla race Pattan kal is the collection of Chikka Halli School. Found highly eroded. The hero is in standing position and holding the rope of the bullocks in left hand and stick on the right hand. 

NARASAMANGALA: This hero stone is  found along with the hero stones near Narasamangala. The images are shown straight. Wheels are shown small compared to the cart.

KALIYUR: This is a three tier Hero Stone in which the hero is riding the cart. The bullocks horns and the trees on the side of the road are easily visible. In the second tier the hero is taken to the heaven by the Devakanniyars and in the third stage the hero is worshiping Lord Shiva  

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---