Indian Columbus

Arani  is a historic town in the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu state in India. It is located at a distance of around 140 km from Chennai. The town, which is famous for its silk materials, has a lot of monuments and temples. In this article, let me talk about Robert Kelly's Memorial. Robert Kelly's Memorial  is located in the fort area at the heart of Arani Town. This monument is in the form of an obelisk and stands at a height of about 45 feet. It is located on a vast old parade ground and attracts many visitors. This is one of the major landmarks of Arani town. Before divulging more details about this monument, let me give some background about Robert Kelly. Robert Kelly  arrived in Chennai (Madras) in 1760 CE. He was a junior rank officer then. By 1778 CE, he became Major. He proposed a military survey of South India. He was apparently made as Geographer of the Company. He was surveying Arani when he was killed on  29th September 1790 CE . By then, he ...

Arani, a town steeped in history, graces the Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu, India. Nestled approximately 140 kilometers from Chennai and 40 kilometers from Vellore, Arani is renowned for its silk heritage and boasts a wealth of intriguing sites. In this article, we delve into the Kailasanathar temple, an architectural gem nestled within this town. The Kailasanathar temple stands proudly within the fortified precincts of Arani. While its origins trace back to the 13th century CE during the Chola dynasty, the present structure and its intricate sculptures bear the marks of later periods. This temple holds a significant place among the seventeen Shiva temples under the patronage of the Jagirs of Arani. (The Jagirs, Zamindars who held sway over Arani from 1640 CE until 1948 CE, wielded substantial influence within the region.) Facing eastward, the temple presents a striking five-tiered tower that beckons visitors. Within its sanctum lies the imposing Shiv Linga, known as Kailas...

Aminjikarai  is an old locality situated on the banks of the river Cooum in Chennai city. It was initially called Amaindakarai. Shenoy Nagar and the famous Anna Nagar were part of Aminjikarai once. In a lane near the Lakshmi bus stop in Aminjikarai, the twin temples of  Ekambareswarar and Prasanna Varadaraja Perumal  are located. There are many twin temples across Chennai, such as T Nagar, Koyambedu and Tambaram. Similarly, Aminjikarai also has twin temples, but they are less popular than the other twin temples of Chennai. As Ekambareswarar and Varadarajar temples are located in the same locality, like Kanchipuram, some call Aminjikarai North Kanchipuram. This article focuses only on Ekambareswarar temple among these two temples. As per historian Sri. Muthiah, this temple is hardly 150 years old. However, as per the temple authorities, this temple was built by  Sri. Sengalvarayar Mudaliar  from the Poonamallee Kondai Kati Vellalar family in the 1650s or 1660s...

Aminjikarai  is an old locality situated on the banks of the river Cooum in Chennai city. It was initially called Amaindakarai. Shenoy Nagar and the famous Anna Nagar were part of Aminjikarai once. In a lane near the Lakshmi bus stop in Aminjikarai, the twin temples of  Ekambareswarar and Prasanna Varadaraja Perumal  are located. There are many twin temples across Chennai, such as T Nagar, Koyambedu and Tambaram. Similarly, Aminjikarai also has twin temples, but they are less famous than the other twin temples of Chennai. As Ekambareswarar and Varadarajar temples are located in the same locality, like Kanchipuram, some call Aminjikarai North Kanchipuram. This article focuses only on Prasanna Varadaraja Perumal temple among these two temples. As per historian Sri. Muthiah, this temple is hardly 100 years old. However, as per the temple authorities of Ekambareswarar temple, it was built by  Sri Sengalvarayar Mudaliar , who belonged to the Poonamallee Kondai Kati Ve...

Kamakoti Nagar is a new locality in Velachery in Chennai city, which was developed as a residential area in the last 20+ years. In this area, there is a lesser-known temple of Lakshmi Balaji. Balaji is the name of Tirupati Venkatachalapati. In this temple, built around two decades ago, the deity is named Lakshmi Balaji. He is more than seven feet high and looks gigantic. The unique feature of the icon is that Balaji has the icon of Lakshmi in the lower half of his body. As Shiva and his consort appear in a single form as Ardhanareeswara, in this temple, Balaji and his consort appear in a single form like this. Alarmel Mangai a.k.a. Alamelu Manga, is found next to Balaji in the sanctum. The temple also enshrines the bronze icons of Ramanuja, Hanuman, Andal, Sudarshan and Lakshmi Narasimha. Garuda is found facing towards the sanctum. There is no tower for this temple. The flagstaff and bali peetha are there. There is a separate shrine for Hanuman. Happy travelling.

Amidst the lively ambiance of Chennai's bustling Velachery locality lies the serene haven of Malola Narasimha temple. Nestled on a tranquil street in Balaji Nagar, this temple stands in quiet contrast to the vivacity of Phoenix Mall, the congested lanes of Velachery, and the bustling By-pass Road that surround it. Unbeknownst to many of the city's denizens, this hidden gem beckons those in search of spiritual solace. Allow me to illuminate this sacred site in the following article. Malola Narasimha, one of the nine forms of Narasimha, finds residence here. It's essential to note that Velachery boasts an older Yoga Narasimha temple, which should not be confused with the one under discussion. The temple stands as a two-story structure, resembling a traditional independent house, devoid of the towering vimana typically associated with such shrines. In 1994 CE, Sri Narasimha Dasar established the Narasimha Peetam within these walls. In 2002 CE, this humble math attained temple...

Nestled inconspicuously amidst the vibrant streets of Chennai's Velachery, the Pidari Amman Temple may bear the appearance of a humble roadside shrine, but its history and significance tell a different tale. This unassuming temple is, in fact, one of the oldest Sapta Matrika temples in Tamil Nadu, a testament to the ancient tradition of Sapta Matas worship. In Tamil Nadu, numerous temples dedicated to Sapta Matas, often referred to as Pidari Amman or Chelli Amman, dot the landscape. However, the Velachery temple holds a unique distinction. It once bore stone inscriptions dating back to 966 CE, attributed to Parthivendra Varman, a historical figure believed to have been involved in significant events, including the beheading of Vira Pandya. There is also evidence connecting him to the ancient Pallava dynasty. Another inscription from 967 CE hails from the era of Aditya Karikalan. Sadly, during a recent renovation, these invaluable inscriptions seem to have been lost to time. Thi...

When Chennai was under the control of the East India Company, the Madras Club was formed in 1832 CE. In those days, it was the center of social activity in Chennai. However, the Club did not satisfy the social needs of the rich Indians, as only the Europeans were allowed to become members of the Club. In 1873 CE, the Cosmopolitan Club was set up mainly to enable affluent Indians to have social intercourse with the Europeans. Although the Cosmopolitan Club was set up on Moore's Road in the Thousand Lights area, it soon moved to Mount Road (Anna Salai). It still remains in the same location. However, the Club extended its operations beyond its complex. It acquired the Travancore Pavilion in the Nandanam area in 1938 CE. Travancore Pavilion is named after the Raja of Travancore, Padmanabha Dasa Bala Varma, who was one of the club's founding members. Today, this annex has many recreational facilities. Importantly, it has a prestigious 18-hole golf course. It is one such golf co...

What is the similarity between Perambur of North Chennai and Pallavaram of South Chennai? You can find Anglo Indians (though very few in number nowadays). Who are Anglo Indians? A child born to a European man and an Indian woman is considered an Anglo Indian. (Of course, the descendants of these original Anglo Indians are also Anglo Indians). Chennai is one of the earliest settlements of Anglo Indians. In fact, the Anglo Indians were there in Chennai even before the word "Anglo Indian" was officially recognized by the then Viceroy of India, Charles Hardinge, in 1911 CE. The Anglo-Indians migrated to European countries, and only a few people (mostly senior citizens) still live in India. Chennai is one major city where quite some Anglo Indians are still found. Besides Perambur and Pallavaram, they are also found in a few other areas, such as Madhavaram, St. Thomas Mount, Ayanavaram, Vepery and Purasawakkam. As mentioned earlier, the number of Anglo Indians living in Chenna...

Manimangalam, a quaint locality nestled near Tambaram, a suburb of Chennai in the Tamil Nadu state of India, bears the weight of history within its bounds. This serene village was the battleground for a significant clash in the 7th century CE between the Chalukya King Pulikesi and the Pallava King Narasimha Pallava. In its heyday, Manimangalam boasted three ancient Vishnu temples and two Shiva temples. Regrettably, one of the Vishnu temples has been lost to time. Amidst this historical tapestry, the Raja Gopala Swami Temple stands as a prominent Vishnu shrine, celebrated in my "Temples of Chennai" book and detailed in my blog. However, in this discourse, we delve into the lesser-known gem of the village, the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple. Unlike its grandiose counterpart, the Vaikuntha Perumal Temple is a modest abode. In fact, its exact location remains a mystery to many within the village. The temple's doors are rarely ajar, except for a brief five-minute window in th...

Counting all the Vedic and Puranic deities of Hinduism may be a feasible task, but attempting to enumerate the Grama devatas (village deities) proves an impossible endeavor. This age-old tradition of venerating ancestors as deities is deeply ingrained in the tapestry of Hindu culture. While it is commonly believed that village deities are exclusive to South India, this is a misconception. Village deities can be found throughout India, yet this tradition remains largely uncharted by scholars. In the realm of Tamil Nadu, alongside revered deities like Mari Amman and Ayyanar, Muneeswaran emerges as a prominent and widely worshiped Grama devata. If we were to designate Madurai Veeran as the guardian deity of Madurai and Mada Swami as the guardian of Tirunelveli, then Muneeswaran rightfully assumes the mantle of Grama devata for Chennai and its environs. While Muneeswaran's worship extends across Tamil Nadu and even transcends international borders, he stands alone as the sole male vil...