Indian Columbus

Just 250 meters from Muruganateeswarar Temple, in the village of Mambakkam near Chennai, stands a small but charming temple dedicated to Kariya Manickam. This temple has existed for centuries, though no historical records are currently available. The temple, which had been in a dilapidated state for a long time, was recently fully rebuilt. What we see today is a newly constructed temple. The presiding deity is Kariya Manicka Perumal, depicted standing with a conch and discus in his upper arms. Bronze images of Perumal with his two consorts, along with Krishna and Ramanuja, are also enshrined here. Flanking the entrance are Visvaksena and Sudarshana, with Yoga Narasimha positioned behind Sudarshana. Facing the main deity is Garuda, and behind him is a tall flagstaff. A separate shrine in the prakara houses a beautiful image of Lakshmi, while Andal and Hanuman are enshrined in smaller sub-shrines. Lakshmi Narasimha, Varadaraja, and Lakshmi Hayagreeva are the Koshta deities. Next to the A

When I think of Coventry, two iconic things come to mind: Lady Godiva and Coventry Cathedral. Visiting the Cathedral is a must if you want to truly experience Coventry’s rich history. But it’s not just one Cathedral—there are actually three, each from a different era. The earliest dates back to the 11th century, the second was built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, and the third in the 20th century. Rather than covering all three in one article, I’ll explore each individually, along with a few related structures, in separate posts on my blog. Let’s begin with the first Cathedral. Coventry’s recorded history starts in 1016, when King Canute’s army destroyed the Saxon nunnery believed to have been founded by St. Osburg in the 700s CE. In 1043, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and his wife Lady Godiva rebuilt the nunnery into a Benedictine monastery dedicated to St. Mary, which housed an abbot and 24 monks. (I’ve written more about Lady Godiva in a previous article, which you can find h

Who’s that lady on horseback, with her long hair flowing down, covering her chest? If you’re in Coventry , you can’t miss the iconic statue in the city center. She’s none other than Lady Godiva , the city's beloved legend, remembered even after a thousand years for her incredible sacrifice. Everywhere you go in Coventry, from museums to art displays, you’ll find something about her. She’s celebrated like no other. This stunning statue, named "Self Sacrifice," stands as a testament to her story. But who was she? Let’s dive into her background. Lady Godiva, or Godgifu in Old English, was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman married to Leofric, the Earl of Mercia. She wasn’t just a woman of wealth; she was deeply religious, donating generously to churches and abbeys. In fact, she and her husband funded several religious institutions, including a church in Coventry that they helped rebuild in the 1040s. But what really set Lady Godiva apart was her compassion for the people. Her husban