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The First Birla Mandir of India

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"People from all castes should be allowed to enter the temple." With this condition, Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the iconic Birla Temple on 18th March 1939, also known as the Lakshmi Narayana Temple. Situated in Delhi, this temple holds significant historical and religious importance, representing the ethos of inclusivity. Spread across 7.5 acres, the Birla Temple is the very first temple among the series of temples constructed by the renowned Birla family across North India. Initiated by industrialist and philanthropist Baldeo Das Birla, along with his son Jugal Kishore Birla, the foundation stone was laid on 26th March 1933. The temple's architecture was guided by eminent scholar Pandit Vishwanath Shastri and architect Sri Chandra Chatterjee, a leading figure of the "Modern Indian Architecture Movement." Embracing the Nagara style of temple architecture, its towering shikhara of the sanctum sanctorum rises approximately 160 feet high. Facing eastward on a raise

San Thome Cathedral Basilica

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The San Thome Cathedral Basilica, also known as St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica and National Shrine of Saint Thomas, is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica located in Santhome, Chennai. This iconic basilica holds a significant place in history, being one of only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus. The other two such churches are St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain. The story of St. Thomas, the apostle of Jesus, in the region of Madras (now Chennai) is one of deep historical and religious significance. Roman Catholic tradition holds that St. Thomas arrived in this area soon after the crucifixion of Jesus and commenced his preaching in Mylapore. However, faced with resistance, he eventually moved to a hill south of the city, which later became known as St. Thomas Mount. Legend has it that as St. Thomas journeyed daily to Mylapore, he left behind a trail of churches wherever he rested. The magnificent San T

Sculpted Majesty: The Noble Warrior of Nellaiyappar Temple

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This article continues the exploration of the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli, focusing on the captivating sculptures gracing the pillars of the east-side frontside mandapa. Renowned for their artistic finesse and exquisite beauty, these sculptures offer a glimpse into the rich heritage of the temple. In the previous installment, we delved into the first larger-than-life sculpture at the eastern end, portraying a tall, graceful native lady (Kurathi) with distinctive features. Now, let us turn our attention to the second sculpture, positioned to the true left side of Kurathi's magnificent depiction. This striking sculpture represents a male warrior of noble stature. Adorned with a semi-circular ornamental crown atop his head, complemented by a bun of hair cascading down his back, he exudes an air of regality. Elongated earrings frame his face, which boasts a thick, distinguished moustache. In his left arm, he holds a bow, while his right arm is poised with an arr

Fort Museum - Chennai

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St. George's Fort in Chennai stands tall with its iconic Fort Museum , a captivating journey into history. Originally, this elegant colonial-era edifice was the residence of Peter Massey Cassin, a free Merchant whose legacy lingers in its walls. The Exchange House , a haven for merchants, partially opened its doors in 1790 after a lottery-funded endeavor, reaching completion by 1795. Grounded in history, its ground floor once buzzed with warehouses, offices, and the Madras Bank, while the Exchange hall on the first floor witnessed bustling trade. A fascinating historical nugget emerges from 1790 when the proposal for the first Circulating Library of Madras within the Exchange's premises stirred interest. Perched atop this hub of commerce, the first lighthouse in Madras illuminated the city's skyline from 1796 to 1837. In a shift of fortunes, Governor Edward Clive led the merchant community to the First Line Beach by 1801. Later, in 1861, a new chapter dawned as the buildi

Grace in Stone: The Stunning Lady Sculpture of Nellaiyappar Temple

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This article continues the exploration of the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli. In the preceding segments, I detailed the sanctum of Nellaiyappar and the two surrounding prakaras, along with the Raja gopuram, outside mandapas, and wooden sculptures. Now, let's delve into the section connecting the main entrance with the third prakara, where numerous sub-shrines, the Nandi mandapa, and other structures await exploration in subsequent posts. Here, the focus will be on the strikingly beautiful and monumental sculptures adorning the pillars, renowned for their artistic finesse and exquisite beauty. Crafted by Sivanthiappa Naicker in 1654 CE, a general under Tirumalai Naicker, this mandapa and its sculptures stand as remarkable artistic achievements.  The first larger-than-life sculpture to be discussed is positioned at the eastern end, facing north. It portrays a tall, graceful native lady (Kurathi) with distinct features: a sharp nose, large expressive eyes, defined

Ashta Lakshmis and Sahasra Lingam of Nellaiyappar Temple

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This article continues the series on the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli. In the previous segments, we explored the eastern, southern, and western sections of the second prakara surrounding the sanctum of Nellaiyappar. Now, let's delve into the northern side of the prakara encircling the Nellaiyappar shrine. An intriguing and exquisite image of Lakshmi flanked by two elephants, known as Gaja Lakshmi, greets visitors facing the south direction. On either side, facing east and west, are seven forms of Lakshmi - Adi Lakshmi, Dhana Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi, Santana Lakshmi, Dhariya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, and Vidya Lakshmi, collectively forming Ashta Lakshmi, the Eight Lakshmis. Adjacent to these forms of Lakshmi, Shaneeswara resides. Photo courtesy - Mr. Suresh Priyan Further ahead, there is an east-facing sub-shrine for Kubera Linga. A notable shrine beside the Kubera Linga is the Sahasra Linga, located along with a Mukha mandapa. This grand Linga is adorned with

Jeyachandran Nagar Lake (Water bodies of Chennai - 73)

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The 0.75-acre waterbody in Jeyachandran Nagar is not officially designated as a lake, yet locals refer to it as Jeyachandran Lake. This area, once an unknown extension of the Pallikkaranai village, has now transformed into a posh residential locality. Recently renovated, a park now surrounds the waterbody, making it a favored walking spot for residents. Happy travelling. Note:  As per a report, there were about 650+ waterbodies in the Chennai region till the 1980s. Today, only a fraction of them exist. Most of those surviving waterbodies hardly have water, and even some of them that have water had been poorly shrunk. In Chennai, there are tank roads without tanks nearby and lake-view roads without any lake in the vicinity. There is a high possibility that even the few water bodies we have today might vanish soon. I thought of visiting the currently surviving waterbodies of Chennai and its suburbs and write about them in my blog as a series.