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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Prime Minister Narendra Modi soaks in spiritual experience on his visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram
The spirit of bakthi hung in the air and Prime Minister Narendra Modi soaked in the spiritual experience during his more than two-hour visit to the Brihadisvara temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram on Sunday. Sporting a traditional Tamil attire of white dhoti (veshti) and half-sleeve shirt with an angavastram (upper cloth), Mr. Modi offered prayers at the Shiva temple built by Rajendra Chola I, which is famous for its imposing architecture and exquisite sculptures. He was received with poorna kumbam honours. He performed aarathi to the presiding deity. Devotional renderings by maestro Ilaiyaraaja and a group of Odhuvars were held. The Odhuvars rendered the Thevaram hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, Thodudaiya Seviyan, Pithaa Piraisoodi Perumaney, and Muthaitharu Pathith Thirunagai from the Thirupugazh in praise of Lord Murugan. This was followed by the performance of the troupe led by Mr. Ilaiyaraaja. Singer Madhu Balakrishnan rendered the Om Sivahom. The maestro with his mesmerising voice rendered the Namah Shivaya Vaazhga Naadhanthaal Vaazhga and Poovar Senni Mannan of Saint Manickavasagar. The performances drew standing ovations from the Prime Minister. Moved by the spiritual atmosphere, Mr. Modi acknowledged it while speaking at the valedictory of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at the temple complex. Greeting the audience with 'Vanakkam Cholamandalam' (salutations to the Chola region), Mr. Modi appreciated the performances of Mr. Ilaiyaraaja and the Odhuvars. He handed over a pot of Ganga water from Kasi to the Sivachariars at the temple. The celebration of Ganga in the land of the Cauvery is also a legacy of the Chola Empire, he observed, and expressed happiness that he had once again brought Ganga water to Tamil Nadu. He viewed a thematic photo exhibition on 'Saiva Siddhanta and Chola Temple Arts', put up by the Union Ministry of Culture. Impressed by the achievements of the Cholas, he urged the people to visit the exhibition without fail. Mr. Modi released a Tamil musical album on Bhagavad Gita brought out by Chinmaya Mission and a publication on Thevaram brought out by Sahitya Akademi. He also held a roadshow on the way to the temple.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu: Honours Rajendra Chola I at UNESCO heritage site; joins temple festivities
GANGAIKONDA CHOLAPURAM (ARIYALUR): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his second and final day of official visit to Tamil Nadu reached the Gangaikonda Cholapuram's Brihadisvara temple, an Unesco heritage site in Ariyalur district on Sunday. He participated in the birth anniversary celebrations of Rajendra Chola I, a Chola emperor who took a military maritime expedition 1,000 years ago to Ganges and South East Asia, modern day (Kedah) Malaysia, this earning titles Gangaikondan and Kedaramkondan. Before participating in the temple event organised by union ministry of culture, PM Modi conducted an informal road show in Trichy city, covering around 8 km stretch from the private hotel to Trichy airport. BJP and AIADMK cadres greeted the PM en route. He reached Gangaikonda Cholapuram in a chopper from Trichy airport, helipads were formed near the temple PM Modi toured the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, he was given Poorna Kumbha reception. Programmes including recitals of holy hymns (Thevaram) by Odhuvars and a spiritual concert by noted musician Ilayaraja were performed in the presence of PM. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai A commemorative coin of Rajendra Chola I and a booklet on Thevaram songs were released. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo PM Modi earlier landed at Trichy airport on Saturday night and stayed in a private hotel in the city. He was greeted by state ministers K N Nehru and Thangam Thennarasu. NDA's ally AIADMK represented by general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and former ministers S P Velumani, K P Munusamy, and Natham Viswanatham received him at the airport.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tiruchi, Ariyalur police get ready for PM's visit on July 27
The security agencies are gearing up for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district on July 27 to participate in a function to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the conquest of the Gangetic plains by King Rajendra Chola I. This will be Mr. Modi's first visit to Ariyalur district. A booklet on Thevaram songs published by the Sahitya Akademi is to be released on the occasion. A Bharatanatyam performance by a group of Kalakshetra artists, chanting of Thevaram by a team also forms part of the event which will culminate with a musical presentation by music composer Ilaiyaraaja and his troupe. Detailed security schemes have been drawn up by the Tiruchi City Police and the Ariyalur district police as the Prime Minister is to board a chopper from the Tiruchi international airport to Gangaikondacholapuram on Sunday morning. Mr. Modi is expected to arrive here from Thoothukudi by a special aircraft and stay in Tiruchi on Saturday night. Ahead of Mr. Modi's visit, an Advanced Security Liaison (ASL) meeting was conducted at the Tiruchi airport by the Special Protection Group on Wednesday in which Tiruchi City police officers, those from other security agencies, and airport authorities participated. Another meeting was held at the Circuit House here to ensure extensive security-related coordination along with local authorities, said police sources. A separate ASL meeting is to be held at Gangaikondacholapuram on Thursday which is to be attended by the Ariyalur district Collector, Inspector-General of Police, Central Zone, Superintendent of Police, Ariyalur and other officials. Arrangements have begun at the venue with a helipad established nearby for the Prime Minister's chopper to land from Tiruchi airport on Sunday morning. Mr. Modi will pray at the world famous Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikondacholapuram before attending the function. He will return to Tiruchi and then leave for New Delhi, the sources said. A multi-layer security arrangement is to be put in place at the Tiruchi airport and along the route on the eve of Mr. Modi's arrival. The Tiruchi City Police have planned to mobilise over 1,000 personnel for deployment at the airport and other places. Anti-sabotage teams are to be deployed at the airport. Gangaikondacholapuram will be brought under a heavy security on Saturday and Sunday. Around 2,000 police personnel from Ariyalur and other districts in the central zone are to be deployed for security and for regulation of vehicular movements, said the sources. The 'Aadi Thiruvadhirai' festival at Gangaikondaxcolapuram is to be held from July 23 to 27. The Union Ministry of Culture will celebrate the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I and commemorate the 1,000 years of his maritime expedition in South East Asia and the commencement of the construction of the Gangaikondacholapuram temple. The Archaeological Survey of India will host thematic exhibitions on Chola Shaivism and temple architecture and organise heritage walk and guided tours as part of the festival.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Arohara echoes as Thirupparankundram unites thousands in worship
Madurai: Thousands of devotees witnessed the consecration (Kumbabishekam) of the Arulmigu Subramaniaswamy Temple at Thirupparankundram, one of the six abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan, on Monday morning. The rituals began at 5 am, with sacred kalasams taken in procession from the yagasalai to the temple vimanas. By 5.31 am, priests poured sanctified water on nine golden kalasams — seven on the 125-ft Rajagopuram, and one each on the Vallabha Ganapathi and Govardhanambigai Ambal vimanas — marking the formal culmination of the consecration. Theertham was then sprayed on devotees using drones and mounted sprayers. More than 200 Shivaacharyars conducted the rituals, which commenced on July 10 and continued for five days. A total of 75 yaga kundams were set up at the Valli Devasena Mandapam, with Vedic chants and Tamil hymns, including Thevaram, Thiruppugazh, and Kandar Anuboothi, recited by over 85 odhuvars, including women, during the concluding rituals on Sunday. Twenty-seven LED screens were placed around the temple for live telecast. Drinking water booths, ambulances, fire service vehicles, and medical camps were stationed in the vicinity for the devotees. The Rajagopuram was refurbished at a cost of ₹70 lakh funded by donors, while the total renovation cost was estimated at ₹2.44 crore. As part of the works, seven new golden kalasams were installed on the Rajagopuram and one each on the Ambal and Vinayakar sannidhis. The towers were painted in panchavarnam (five traditional colours) and treated with kalkam, a mixture of 55 herbal ingredients. On Sunday night, the idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar from the Meenakshi Amman Temple were brought in procession and received at the 16-pillar mandapam in Thirupparankundram early Monday. Meenakshi Temple was closed for darshan on Monday as the presiding deities were away. Shops and businesses surrounding the temple marked the occasion with electric decorations. A new LED-lit 'Vel' (spear) was installed atop the gopuram, and laser lighting illuminated the temple towers during the celebrations. The event was held amid tight security and elaborate arrangements. Around 3,000 police personnel were deployed under the supervision of City Police Commissioner J Loganathan. Traffic diversions were enforced across Thirupparankundram Taluk to manage the crowd. Speaking to reporters, HR&CE minister P K Sekar Babu said the consecration was conducted in line with Tamil Agamic traditions and reflected the Dravidian model's commitment to temple revival and heritage preservation. "Under the leadership of chief minister M K Stalin, kumbabishekam has been performed at 3,347 temples across Tamil Nadu so far, including 124 Murugan temples since this government took office," he said. He urged devotees to be patient and make use of the ongoing 48-day mandala abhishekam period for darshan. "The spiritual merit extends far beyond today's event. We ask devotees to avoid unnecessary rush and plan visits accordingly," he said. He also emphasized that the event transcended politics and religion, sending a message of unity. "Thirupparankundram is a model of harmony where people of all castes and faiths coexist peacefully," he added. Commercial taxes minister P Moorthy, Thirupparankundram MLA Rajan Chellappa, state BJP president Nainar Nagenthiran, Madurai collector K J Praveen Kumar, and Madurai Corporation commissioner Chithra Vijayan also participated. MSID:: 122442068 413 |
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Reference to a Tamil book deciphered from a stone inscription
A team of historians, led by the Sarasvati Mahal Library Tamil Pandit, Mani Maran deciphered the name of a Chola period Tamil work – Thiruvadukoorpuranam – from the stone inscriptions found at the Thirukandeeswaramudaiyar temple in Cuddalore district. According to Mr. Mani Maran, he received information about the stone inscriptions found at Thirukandeeswaramudaiyar temple in Nellikuppam Municipal domain from councillor S. Selvakumar and subsequently inspected the same along with historians Thillai Govindarajan and G. Jayalakshmi. The reading of the inscriptions revealed that a person name 'Vanathiban' had coined the 'Vadukoorpuranam' – the 'sthalapuranam' of the Saivite temple at Vadukoor, which was mentioned in the 'Thevaram' hyms sung by Thirugnanasambandar. However, neither the palm manuscripts nor copper plates carrying the 'Vadukoorpuranam' were available now, he added.
