Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonde what you are! (chumma, quote)
I was very curious after hearing the news about the Aadhichchanalloor findings (hee, hee... I don't have the "good habit" of reading newspapers, saw it first in our group and then in blogs).
One of Maraththadi Yahoo Group friends, Mr. Prasanna recently got married. (He likes only Sivagaamiyin Sabadham. He opines Kalki's other works are just "stepping stones" and one should not brand Kalki's work in itself of much literary value, and one should not stop/surrogate Kalki himself as the Authority). Definitely not my piece of cake, nice-a escape aagittane indha topic-la irundhu. ;-)
And I had a chance to go to his place-Thirunelveli (heard "Aadhichchanalloor is very near to Thirunelveli").
Actually Aadhichchanalloor is near Shankarankovil (yen paerla paadhi irukkara ooru), which is a 2.5-hours long from the Town. As he is due to go back to Dubai in a week I was afraid I could not afford to take much of his time; I have to skip visiting there-to avoid 6/7 hours to be spent in journey itself.
Though, I visited some other interesting temples in Thirunelveli, in and around the place. There is an 800-year-old Varadharaaja Perumaal Temple (only with some bricks and the deity intact), where renovation is taking place to set everything in order. And there is the infamous "Then Thiruppathi" temple also. I could find only one liquor cutting (kal vettu?!) in this temple. Could not make out much. :-((
It is really worth visiting Krishnapuram (about 16-20 km from Thirunelveli). I guess it is related to the Nayak's period based on the sculptures/design found in this temple. Oh yes, the sculptures are amazing. All are made up of granite stones, single piece. The legs and hands of each of these sculptures are so real that I could not stop myself from checking mine and my friend's. ;-) As everywhere else, photography is banned here also.
Mr. Prasanna, a few days ago, went to this same temple and took a snap stealthily without the knowledge of the guards, only to be caught camera-handed (red-handed?). No problem-job done is done; and we now have an unofficial pic.
Anyone who get a chance to go to Thirunelveli, don't miss Krishnapuram (of course barring Halwaa)!