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.  Tiru Uraga Perumal temple  is one of the main temples located here. Besides providing the details on temple structure, icons, history and legends, this article briefly introduces all the inscriptions. Legend As per the legend, Kulotunga Chola had a disease that no one could cure. Vishnu appeared in his dream and asked him to visit the Tiru Uraga Perumal temple in Kanchipuram. The King did accordingly and got his disease cured. As an act of gratitude, he built a temple for Tiru Uraga Perumal in Kundrathur. While constructing the temple, Vishnu appeared to him in the form of Tirupati Venkatachalapati, and hence the sculpture was made as the replica of Tirupati Balaji. History 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

Gangaikondan is a small town located near Tirunelveli. To commemorate the victory of Rajendra Chola over the region of Gangetic plains. There is a magnificent temple of  Kailasanatha  located here. Besides this historic temple, another ancient temple remains unknown to outsiders. This temple, known as Kallapiran, is dedicated to Vishnu. The moderately sized east-facing temple enshrines Vaikunthapati flanked by Perundevi and Kumudavalli. The four-armed Vishnu holding a discus and conch in his upper arms is in the standing posture. The bronze images of Kallapiran and his consorts, Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi, are enshrined in the same shrine. The temple is named after this processional (utsava) icon and not on the stone image. The temple consists of moolasthana (sanctum), antarala, ardha mandapa, maha mandapa and a wide mukha mandapa or mani mandapa. The images of Vishwaksena, Ramanuja and Nammalvar are found in mani mandapa. Garuda, flagstaff and bali peetha (offering pedestal) are located f

The Chola dynasty had many great kings. Among them,  Rajaraja Chola I  was perhaps the greatest. And his son  Rajendra Chola I  was greater than the greatest. He rose up to his father's name and went even beyond his legacy. Like his father, he, too, never tasted any defeat. He was successful in all his expeditions. His march towards the Ganges was well-known among so many invasions of Rajendra.  Rajendra brought the water of the sacred river to his Chola empire. He began constructing a new city named  Gangaikonda Cholapuram  and a new magnificent temple for Shiva known as  Gangaikonda Choleeswaram . From then on, he assumed the title of Gangaikondan (the one who won the Ganges).  Almost everyone who reads this article might know about the famous Gangaikonda Cholapuram. But not many would know about another temple sharing the same name as Gangaikonda Choleeswarar. It was built by  Isaana Pandita , the Royal Guru of Rajendra, at  Koozhampandal  near Kanchipuram.  And hardly anyone re