Nearly a century after Narasimhavarman Pallava’s victory at Vatapi, Chalukya Vikramaditya II marched towards Kanchipuram to avenge the defeat. With the Pallavas embroiled in a civil war, his conquest was made easier. But the splendour of Kanchi and the magnificent Kailasanathar temple left him awestruck. Instead of destroying the city, he ordered that it remain unharmed, as recorded in his inscription: “Kanchim avinasya pravisya.” There is an inscription about this in Kanchipuram Kailasanathar temple. To know about this and more, join me for a heritage walk in the sacred place. Registration link below : docs.google.com/forms/d/1o4x…

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Vijayadasami! May this Vijayadasami usher in wisdom, prosperity, and new beginnings.

ஏதோ ஒரு டுப்பாக்கூர் இஷ்டத்துக்கு எழுதிய நூல் ஆதாரமா ? 😁அப்போ தொல்காப்பியத்துக்கு முந்தைய எந்த நூலில் திணை வருகிறது ? அதற்கான ஆதாரம் என்ன ? வாரணன் என்பது திணை தெய்வம் என்பதற்கான ஆதாரம் என்ன? இந்த மாதிரி ஆயிரம் நூல்கள் எழுதிப் புளுகலாம். ஆதாரம் வேண்டும்.

சீர்தந்த வெள்ளிதழ்ப் பூங்கம லாசனத் தேவிசெஞ்சொல் தார்தந்த என்மனத் தாமரை யாட்டி சரோருகமேல் பார்தந்த நாதன் இசைதந்த வாரணப் பங்கயத்தாள் வார்தந்த சோதியும் போருகத் தாளை வணங்குதுமே ! Wishing you all on the auspicious occasion of Saraswathi Pooja / Mahanavami !

Wishing you all on the auspicious occasion of Durga Ashtami ! Here is the magnificent Shodashabhuja Mahishasuramardini from Gangai Konda Cholapuram. Devi is enshrined in a sanctum adjacent to the main shrine. It is one of the four original sub-shrines of the temple complex that survives to this day.

Deva will live as long as Azhagar comes to Madurai!

The Queen of Pandya Nadu, which is famous for pearls, wearing the dress made up of pearls ! #Navaratri #MaduraiMeenakshi

The tradition of singing the Thirumurais to the accompaniment of the Yazh, an ancient Tamil stringed instrument, has a history stretching back more than a thousand years. During the 7th century CE, Thiruneelakanta Yazhpanar and his wife, Mathanga Choolamaniyar, accompanied Thirugnanasambandar on his pilgrimages. While Yazhpanar set Sambandar’s divine Pathigams to music on his Yazh, his wife sang them, enriching the great tradition of Tamil devotional music. How heartening it is to see this ancient musical heritage being kept alive even today! Here is a beautiful rendition of a verse from the Mootha Thirupathigam of Karaikal Ammaiyar, one of the earliest and most revered Shaiva saints. A wonderful reminder of the remarkable continuity of our Tamil Shaiva devotional traditions! கொங்கை திரங்கி நரம்பெ ழுந்து குண்டுகண் வெண்பற் குழிவ யிற்றுப் பங்கி சிவந்திரு பற்கள் நீண்டு பரடுயர் நீள்கணைக் காலோர் பெண்பேய் தங்கி யலறி யுலறு காட்டில் தாழ்சடை எட்டுத் திசையும் வீசி அங்கங் குளிர்ந்தன லாடும் எங்கள் அப்ப னிடந்திரு ஆலங் காடே Hope the age old temple tradition is revived in the temples of Tamilakam. (Video received through WhatsApp.)

Goddess Kamalamba of Thiruvarur occupies a unique place in the Shakta tradition and Sri Vidya Upasana. Enshrined in a separate shrine within the magnificent Thyagaraja temple complex, Kamalamba is worshipped as the embodiment of Yoga Shakti. Kamalamba is seated in a distinctive yogic posture, with one leg placed over the other, symbolising her profound meditative state. During the medieval period, shrines dedicated to the Goddess were often referred to as “Thirukkamakottam” (திருக்காமக்கோட்டம்) in Tamil inscriptions. Interestingly, an inscription at the Thiruvarur temple refers to the shrine of Goddess Kamalamba as “Thirukkamakottamudaiya Periya Nachiyar Kovil” (திருக்காமக்கோட்டமுடைய பெரிய நாச்சியார் கோயில்). The inscription during the reign of Rajaraja II, made by his minister Vedavanamudaiyan Perumal Nambi Pallavarayan mentions the name of the goddess as “Paraloka Menmozhi Nachiyar”, signifying the Yoga Shakthi manifestation of the goddess Kamalamba.

Their idiocy never ceases to amaze us. They don’t even know how to hold the national flag properly, yet have the audacity to say they are ‘unfurling the flag’. 🤦🏻‍♂️ The protest began with allegations of “SIR manipulation” and demands for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Then came talk of regime change and the “Bangladesh model.” Now, amid the backlash, the national flag has entered the picture. They don’t know that a true nationalist can see through their game. Nationalism is demonstrated through conduct, not merely by waving a flag.