Indian Columbus

Manimangalam, a quaint locality nestled near Tambaram, itself a suburb of Chennai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, boasts a rich historical legacy. This unassuming place witnessed a significant event in history—the epic battle between Chalukya King Pulikesi and Pallava King Narasimha Pallava during the 7th century CE. Among its few ancient temples, Manimangalam holds a unique relic—an image of Jyestha Devi, lying unadorned in a field near Dhanalakshmi Engineering College. This enigmatic deity lacks the grandeur of a temple structure or the presence of dedicated priests, yet the local villagers revere her as the Mother Goddess. But who is Jyestha Devi? According to Hindu Puranas, she is the elder sister of Lakshmi, the deity of wealth worshipped in countless temples. Curiously, Jyestha Devi remains conspicuously absent from Vishnu temples and even her sister Lakshmi's abodes, save for a handful of temples in the Trichy-Tanjore region. Typically, Jyestha Devi finds her place out...

This article does not delve into the mythological tale of Shiva's gender transformation. Instead, it focuses on the transformation of a Shiva Linga into a female deity by the local community. The Chembarampakkam Reservoir, one of Chennai city's two river-fed reservoirs, is situated approximately 30 kilometers from Chennai Central. Prior to the reservoir's construction, it is likely that there stood a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva along the banks of Chembarampakkam Lake. Following the reservoir's completion, access to this small temple likely became more challenging. As the temple gradually fell into neglect and obscurity, it was the local villagers who continued to venerate it, now concealed within the reservoir's structure. These villagers appear to have reimagined the deity as a female figure, christening her Kanni Amman. But who exactly is Kanni Amman? In Tamil Nadu, village deities are often referred to as "Kanni," meaning "virgin." Ser...

If you're a resident of Chennai or its surrounding suburban areas, Chembarampakkam Lake is a name you're likely well-acquainted with. This lake holds a pivotal role in supplying your drinking water or may have left a lasting impact due to its overflow during the 2015 Chennai floods. Whether for better or worse, if you call this city home, Chembarampakkam Lake is etched into your memory. Situated in the village of Chembarampakkam, approximately 30 kilometers from Chennai, this lake stands as one of the two crucial river-fed water reservoirs serving Chennai, the other being Puzhal Lake. With a full capacity of 3,645 million cubic feet and a full tank capacity reaching 85.4 feet, it plays a vital role in the region's water management. For practical purposes, Chembarampakkam Lake can be regarded as the birthplace of the Adyar River. While technically Malaipattu Tank near Manimangalam village and Adanur Tank near Guduvanchery could also be considered sources of the Adyar, it...

Do you happen to call Chennai your home? If so, you're likely well-acquainted with Chembarampakkam Lake, the city's vital water source. However, in this article, I'll introduce you to a lesser-known gem, a temple nestled near Chembarampakkam. Sirukalathur village, a petite hamlet situated between Kundrathur and Chembarampakkam, just 3 kilometers from Kundrathur, was once known as Kaavanur. Within this village, a modest temple dedicated to Lord Shiva bears the name Ramanatheeswarar Temple. Interestingly, the local residents aren't familiar with the formal name of this temple; they simply refer to it as "Kaattu Koil," signifying a temple nestled in the forest. This temple, though currently in a state of disrepair, is believed to trace its origins back to the era of Sekkizhar, the 12th-century CE author of Periya Puranam, hailing from the nearby Kundrathur village. While the temple no longer exhibits signs of its Chola-period roots, historical records sugg...

How many of you are aware that the bridge spanning the Adyar River, connecting the Guindy and Saidapet areas of Chennai, carries a fascinating historical legacy? This article delves into the history of this bridge, known as Maraimalai Adigal Bridge. During the British colonial era in India, it's well-known that the British struggled to pronounce and transcribe many Indian names accurately. They transformed Tiruvallikkeni into Triplicane, Tiruvanathapuram into Trivandrum, and the list goes on. Similarly, when faced with the village name "Mambalam," their pronunciation and spelling adaptations ranged from Marmalong to Marmalon or Mamelon, but the original name, Mambalam, was seldom used. Before we delve further into the bridge's history, let's explore the background of Mambalam. Today, if you disembark at Mambalam suburban station, you find yourself in the bustling and upscale T. Nagar area, a thriving part of Chennai. However, historically, this area was an inte...

Durga Puja, an integral part of Navaratri celebrations, enjoys immense popularity in Bengal. Similarly, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Navaratri takes on a grand form with the elaborate display of dolls, meticulously arranged on stepped platforms. This captivating assembly of dolls, made from various materials and of varying sizes, in homes or temples is known as 'Kolu' (sometimes mis-pronounced as 'Golu'). Even in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Navaratri is celebrated with the exhibition of Kolu dolls. These dolls may encompass images of deities, representations of animals, humans, and even creatively depict various scenes. While other regions of India observe Navaratri in different ways, the display of Kolu dolls is a unique tradition primarily associated with South India. In Gujarat, for instance, Navaratri is celebrated with great fervor through Goddess worship, but the practice of displaying dolls during this festival is not a common tradition. How...