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...

The Whittle Arch is a striking modern monument located at the heart of Coventry, right in front of the Coventry Transport Museum. This impressive structure consists of two steel arches, each with spans of approximately 60 meters, leaning towards each other and converging at a point 15 meters above the ground. The arch is made of steel tubes and is covered with a mesh that has small holes in it. This mesh is shaped like an aerofoil—a design that mirrors the aerodynamic principles behind aircraft wings. The design mimics the way airplane wings are built to cut through the air smoothly, using the same idea that helps planes fly easily.This feature also allows an internal lighting system to illuminate the arch at night, giving it a distinctive and futuristic glow. The arch is named in honor of Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), a Coventry-born engineer who is widely credited with inventing the turbojet engine, revolutionizing aviation. Beneath the arch stands a bronze statue of Whittle, depict...

Sir Frank Whittle , often referred to as the Father of the Jet Engine , was born in Earlsdon, Coventry , in 1907. He began his career working at his father’s small engineering firm before joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) as an aircraft apprentice, eventually becoming a pilot. His fascination with flight led him to study engineering at Cambridge University, where he registered a patent for a revolutionary new aircraft engine in 1930. In 1936, he founded Power Jets Ltd, and his team, working at Brownsover Hall and utilizing the British Thomson-Houston factory in Rugby, successfully conducted the first engine test on April 12, 1937. In Coventry , a bronze statue of Sir Frank Whittle, created by sculptor Faith Winter , stands proudly beneath the Whittle Arches near the Transport Museum. The statue depicts Whittle in a military uniform, with one hand raised to his forehead as if shielding his eyes while gazing into the distance, symbolizing his visionary role in aviation. Behind him, the W...

I have been extensively documenting the Kantimati Sameta Nellaiyappar Temple in Tirunelveli, focusing on its intricate architecture, layout, iconography, deities, and other notable aspects. In this episode, I will provide a consolidated summary of the inscriptions found within this temple. While this is not a complete list, I have covered over 90% of the inscriptions from this inscription-rich site. The earliest inscription dates back to 962 CE during the reign of Cholan Thalai Konda Veera Pandya, and the latest is from the 1914 CE. The temple contains more than 140 inscriptions, and I have included 123 of them in this article. Some inscriptions from the later periods, which only mention the names of devotees, have been omitted. Most of the inscriptions are from the Pandya era, with a significant number from the 13th century. There are only a few inscriptions from the Chola kings. Here are a few highlights from some of the more interesting inscriptions: A 1190 CE inscription from the r...