Latest news with #Saivite
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
PM Modi to release commemorative coin of King Rajendra Chola, Ilaiyaraaja to perform at Gangaikonda Cholapuram on July 27
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in a function in Tamil Nadu on July 27, 2025 being organised to commemorate the 1000th anniversary (millenary) of the conquest of the Gangetic plains by King Rajendra Chola I, who established the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram and constructed the Brihadisvara Temple, in Ariyalur district. Mr. Modi will also release a commemorative coin on the occasion, accepting a request made by R. Komagan, Chairman of the Gangaikondacholapuram Development Council Trust. The temple town and its premises are being spruced up for the Prime Minister's visit. An exhibition showcasing the conquest, trophies and miniature sculptures of Saivite saints will be held at the temple premises between July 23 and 27. Music composer Ilaiyaraaja will perform a 20-minute concert in the presence of Mr. Modi. A capital of the Cholas for 250 years, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, located on the banks of the Kollidam River in Ariyalur district, lost its glory with the fall of the Chola dynasty. A report in the Gazetteer of South India in 1855 — later included in the book 'The Colas' by K.A. Nilakanta Sastri — compared Gangaikonda Cholapuram to ancient Babylon. 'Immediately in its vicinity is a pagoda of a very large size and costly workmanship; and close by, surrounded by jungle, are some remains of ancient buildings, now much resembling the mounds and heaps which indicate the site of ancient Babylon, but in which the village elders point out the various parts of an extensive and magnificent palace,' the report states. It also refers to the complete dismantling of the outer wall and the partial demolition of the inner wall by the British in 1832, during the construction of the Lower Kollidam Anaicut. 'When the Lower Kollidam Anaicut was built, the structure was dismantled of a large part of the splendid granite sculptures which adorned it, and the enclosing wall was almost wholly destroyed in order to obtain materials for the work,' the report points out. Although local people did their best to prevent the 'destruction and spoliation of a venerated edifice,' they were punished for contempt. 'A promise was made, indeed, that a wall of brick would be built in place of the stone wall that was pulled down, but unhappily it must be recorded that this promise has never been redeemed,' the report adds.
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC slams TN cops for closing 124 complaints against former minister Ponmudy
CHENNAI: Coming down heavily on the Tamil Nadu police for closing all the 124 complaints, at the preliminary stage itself, filed against former minister and senior DMK leader K Ponmudy for his alleged hate speech against women and Saivite and Vaishnavite denominations, the Madras High Court on Tuesday said the court cannot remain a mute spectator if politicians cross the limits. Hearing a suo motu case initiated against Ponmudy, Justice P Velmurugan said the contempt case would be kept open and he would 'vigilantly watch' what the police was going to do on the matter. 'Where do you derive the powers to close these complaints after preliminary inquiry? If you think you have the right to close the complaints, the court has the rights to proceed on them,' the judge said, responding to Advocate General PS Raman's submission that the complaints were closed after preliminary investigation under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The AG also said BNSS allows the complainants to make appeals with the Inspector General (IG) concerned and the DGP. The investigating officers have found that the former minister had only spoken what was said 60 years ago and such speech would not fall under hate speech, the AG said.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
A Siva temple with several interesting features
Thirupachur (Thirupasur), a village near Thiruvallur, is home to the Vachishwarar temple, one of the Padal Petra Sthalams or temples wherein the deities have been praised in the Tamil verses of the Nayanmars or sixty-three important Saivite devotees. The presiding deity of this temple is Vachishwarar, a Siva Linga worshipped by the famous Nayanmars Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) and Thirugnanasambandar in the 7th century AD. While Thirugnanasambandar calls this deity Pasurnathar, inscriptions mention the name as Thirupasur Udaiyar. This temple's Sthala Puranam or traditional story states that this Siva Linga was buried in a bamboo forest here. A cowherd saw one of his cows regularly pouring milk at a particular place in this forest and informed the king. When they dug the ground, the Linga was discovered and consecrated here. There is a bamboo tree inside this temple as it is the Sthala Vriksham (sacred tree). The Siva Linga is therefore worshipped as a Swayambhu (self-manifested).
