Indian Columbus

Penukonda Fort – An Overlooked Chapter of Vijayanagara Splendour After the catastrophic fall of Hampi in 1565 CE following the Battle of Talikota, the glorious Vijayanagara Empire reeled under crisis. Amidst the ashes of destruction, the empire attempted to revive itself, choosing Penukonda , a strategically located town in present-day Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, as its temporary capital. Penukonda Fort , sprawling across the Penukonda hill, became the epicentre of this renewed assertion of power. With multiple layers of fortification, secret water tanks, watch towers, temples, and a rich blend of architectural styles, it remains a lesser-visited gem. Among its many hidden structures is a humble, almost unassuming building tied to one of the most tragic episodes in Vijayanagara history, the imprisonment of Timmarusu . Who Was Timmarusu? Mahapratihara Timmarusu was the trusted minister and mentor of Krishnadevaraya , one of the most celebrated emperors of South India...

Nestled in the southern folds of Tamil Nadu, near the enchanting Tamraparani River, is the serene village of Arugankulam—a hidden treasure trove of temples steeped in the mystique of the Ramayana. This unassuming hamlet unfolds a tapestry of ancient legends and sacred sites that echo the tales of Rama and Sita. In the Ramayana legend, Jatayu, the Vulture King, courageously confronted Ravana during the abduction of Sita. Despite losing the battle and sustaining severe injuries, Jatayu fell to the ground. Rama and Lakshmana discovered the wounded bird while searching for Sita. Touched by Jatayu's sacrifice, Rama granted it Moksha, traditionally believed to have happened on the Godavari riverbanks but locally placed in the village of Arugankulam near Tirunelveli. According to legend, Jatayu, before passing away, desired to have darshan of Rama and Sita. As Sita was still in captivity, Rama appeared to Jatayu as Narayana, accompanied by Lakshmi. The Jatayu Moksham temple in Arugankula...

In the congested locality of Saidapet, Chennai, stands a remarkable temple that transports visitors to a distant sacred site. This magnificent temple, Prasanna Venkatesa Narasimha Perumal Temple, features a wooden chariot standing at an impressive height of thirty-six feet, adorned with exquisite wooden carvings. A splendid large pond and a colossal six-tiered Raja gopuram embellished with fascinating stucco images add to the allure of this place. The east-facing sanctum enshrines small images of Vishnu named Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, flanked by his consorts Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. In the same shrine, there is also a small Panchaloha icon of Narasimha, sporting a human face known as Azhagiya Singan. Consequently, the temple bears the name Prasanna Venkatesa Narasimha Perumal, paying homage to both deities. In a separate shrine within the Ardha mandapa, Rama is enshrined, flanked by Sita and Lakshmana. As the temple was originally dedicated to Rama, the place was known as Raghunathapu...

Tiruneermalai, having twin Vishnu temples, is a popular outskirt of Chennai. Its lesser-known neighboring locality Tirumudivakkam has an old Shiva temple, which remains unknown. Originally a fertile village that turned into an industrial area, the temple of Tiruveneeswarar is located in a lane near the Tirumudivakkam bus stop. Based on the iconography, the icons of the temple could be dated to the 17th or 18th century CE.  A four feet tall and broad Shiva Linga named Tiruveneeswarar is the presiding deity. Tripurasundari is the presiding Goddess.  Raja Ganapati and Subramanya, accompanied by his two consorts, are found in sub-shrines in the prakara. Vishnu Durga is the only Koshta deity. Except for this icon, all other sculptures were present in the original temple. The current structure was built entirely in 2006.  Nandi facing the Shiva Linga, Bhairava and Chandikeshwara are other murtis of the temple. Navagraha mandapa was constructed in 1938, as per the date inscribed...

Chennaites are familiar with Kovalam on East Coast Road (ECR) en route Mamallapuram, as a fishing village and as a destination of a few luxurious resorts. But, not many of them might know about the ancient Shiva temple located here. Dedicated to Kailasanatha , this beautiful lesser-known shrine stands as a testimony to our rich heritage. Importantly, it is a rare temple to have a Shiva Linga with an inscription on its Avudai (base) . (Note: I have covered this site in my blog already about ten years ago). As per the traditional belief, Kovalam was originally called Komalavallipuram , as it was the native of Komalavalli, the consort of Nitya Kalyana Perumal, the presiding deity of Tiruvidanthai, a popular neighboring locality. However, the site has the temple of Shiva and not Vishnu.  The presiding deity Kailasanatha is in the form of a Shiva Linga. As stated earlier, a single-line inscription is found on the Avudai (base) of Linga. It reads "Sri Satheruman Murthiper" (refers ...

Those who live in the high-rise apartments and ultra-luxurious villas of Thaiyur, the southern suburb of Chennai, may not know the village's old stories and heritage value. The development of IT industries and real estate sectors have totally changed the landscape of Thaiyur. Till the 1990s, the site was a calm and serene remote village with a few houses surrounded by paddy fields. Chenganmaleeswarar Temple, located right on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), was a major pilgrim center for the nearby villages. The annual float festival was extremely popular, which drew a massive crowd of devotees from the surrounding localities to this hamlet. Compared to other ancient temples of Thaiyur, Chenganmaleeswarar is popular even today, thanks to its prime location. However, the popularity of the temple does not help much. The heritage significance and the historical details remain unknown. This article is written to throw light on those aspects of the holy site. Introduction Chenkanmalees...