Indian Columbus

Kundrathur  is situated at a distance of 13 km from Tambaram, the southern suburb of Chennai city. The locality is known for its numerous ancient temples.  Nagesvarar temple  is one of the main temples located here. The ancient temple, built during the Chola period, has more than 45 inscriptions. Besides providing the details on temple structure, icons, history and legends, this article briefly introduces all the inscriptions. Legend The famous Tamil scholar and poet Sekkizhar was from this village named Kundrathur. He lived in the 12th century C.E. during the period of Kulotunga Chola II. He was the author of Periya Puranam, which talks about the lives and greatness of 63 Nayanmars in detail.  It is said that Sekkizhar had once visited Tirunageswaram near Kumbakonam, and he wanted to get darshan of the same deity every day. Hence, he built this temple of Nagesvarar that looks similar to the other one in his native place. A few years ago, as the original Shiva Linga,...

Gangaikondan, a moderately bigger but quiet village located about 20 km from Tirunelveli, has one of the largest temples of Shiva in the region. The village named after the famous Chola emperor Rajendra I has lesser travelers' footfall. In a village where we can find hardly anyone visiting such a significant historic temple, it is unfair to expect visitors to the lesser-known rock-cut cave temple located in a remote location. Locally called Anticcipparai, near the Gangaikondan Railway station, the ancient unfinished marvel lies unknowingly, having none to appreciate or even acknowledge its presence. Scholars have named it differently as Anticcipparai, Patinalamperi, or Gangaikondan Cave in the past. Technically, it is situated at about 5 km from Gangaikondan village but lies very near Gangaikondan Railway Station.  It is a simple rock-cut temple with a sanctum having no frontside mandapa. The east side of the vertically standing small boulder is scooped out to make the cell.  ...