Indian Columbus

On the border between two villages, Rajkilpakkam and Sembakkam, on the southern outskirts of Chennai city, Alavattamman Temple is located. Alavattam is considered as the Grama devta (village deity). The original temple must be at least 200 years old. The temple walls were built in 1932 as per an inscription. The tower and the front side mandap were added in the last 20-30 years. The sanctum enshrines Alavattamman. She has four arms and is found in a sitting posture. At the entrance, the idols of Ganesh and Kartikeya are found. The prakara is vast and has few holy trees. The stone representation of Sapta Matas is found in the prakara. There is a colossal tank located outside the temple. It is one of the biggest tanks in this neighborhood. Happy travelling.

Tirumalai  is an ancient Jain center near Arni in the Tamil Nadu state of India. There are a few other places called Tirumalai in South India. The famous Tirupati Tirumala temple and a Murugan hillock temple near Tenkasi are also named Tirumalai. This Jain center is not to be confused with them. This has no connection with other sites with a similar name. Tirumalai, also called  Arahanthagiri , is located in the Tiruvannamalai district. Today, we can hardly find Tamil-speaking Jains. The Jains in Tamil Nadu state are primarily from Rajasthan or Gujarat states. The marble temples of Jain Tirthankaras that are found all over Tamil Nadu were built by them in the last one or two centuries. However, in ancient times, Tamil Nadu was full of Jains. In fact, most of the oldest Tamil texts available today were directly or indirectly related to Jainism. Similar to the granite temples of the Hindus, the Jain temples were also built with grand towers, beautiful vimanas, attractive sculpt...

Why would a monument in  Arcot  town in South India be named  Delhi Gate ? What is the connection between Arcot and Delhi? What is the significance of this monument? To know everything, read on... In the 18th century CE, the Mughals were still in power in Delhi. However, their control over the entire country was shaky. The British East India Company and the French East India Company were competing with each other to dominate. The enmity between the British and the French governments fueled this quarrel in India. Hyderabad Nizams were originally the governors under the Mughal Empire. The Carnatic Nawabs, who had Arcot as their capital city, were under the control of the Nizams. Chanda Sahib  was the son-in-law of the Nawab of Carnatic Dost Ali Khan (he was the Nawab till 1740 CE). Sahib also served as a Diwan under the latter. After a few years, he conspired against the then Nawab of Carnatic,  Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan . At the same time (in 1748 CE), the Niz...

Tiruvallam  or Tiruvalam ,  is located near a few well-known towns, such as Ranipettai, Vellore and Katpadi, in the Tamil Nadu state of India. The ancient town has an important temple dedicated to Lord Shiva called  Vilwanatheswarar . It is considered the  10th among the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams  (276 most important temples of Lord Shiva) in the Thondai region. Highlights: Sambandhar  has revered the temple in his verses in Devaram. Arunagirinathar has sung on Kartikeya of this temple in his Tiruppugal verses. God  -  Vilwanatheswara or Vallanathar Goddess  -  Dhanur Madhyambal or Vallambikai or Villidai Nayaki or Theekkali Amman Teerth  (Holy water) -  Gowri Teerth and Neeva River Sthala Vruksha  (Holy tree) -  Bilva Considered as one of the Devara Paadal Petra Sthalams Believed to be the place of Vandiya Devan , the prime character of the most popular historical novel of Ponniyin Selvan writt...