a fantastic trip. though rain and small delay made us change our programme,and cut out a few places.
most of us thalai kulichchu thaan rajarajan koilikku sendrom
the rivers on the route were full and a few feet below the full mark
discussions on the bus greatly rivalled those that we have on the group and even more because many members who never open their mouths on the net were ferocious debaters here. especially the return trip when each female charecter of ps was analysed by the men and the male charecters by the women.
we came back with greatly enhanced knowledge and of course sore throats
but overall i think i talk for the first time visitors on what struck us most. The experts in the group and those at thanjai differed vastly on most issues. they could not even see eye to eye on even a small issue and perhaps the only thing they agreed on was that rajarajan commisioned the temple. many of us who wer " convinced of the sureness of fiction " were shaken by the ambiguity in fact.
but overall thanks to satish for the arrangements and sps for his immense support an excellent trip. an unforgettable one.
most places with any historical value were pointed out from the bus. stone age - british period all padal petra sthalams and places with inscriptions too were included.
on the way to tanjore we stopped at ennaayiram corner we also stopped in the western bank of the fast filling veeranam( the higher end)
in tanjore we saw the big temple, the mani mandapam, on the way back pullamangai (pasupathy koil), valanjuli, and panchavan madevi's palli padai.
and of course we had tea in an old palatial house at sundara vinnagaram( still functioning in feudal style with an antha puram too)
I enjoyed the trip very much and it was nice meeting some of the members of our group in person who were known to me only by their email addesses till now. I have seen the rajarajeeshwaram temple and paintings before, but eththanai murai paarththaalum alukkumaa enna?
Unfortunately I could not join on sunday. However, I got a detailed understand that the return trip was even more exciting than the onward journey to thanjavur. Oh I missed it:-(. Anyways I am sure there will be lot of such wonderful trips in future and we all will enjoy those trips together.
For the first-timers, it might look like the varalaaru team, (esp myself) and our periyaNNan SB sir cant even see eye to eye on many issues. But we actually enjoy doing this and we tend to pls devil's advocate of each other. Not for anything else but in the process what our periyaNNan calls as 'kachcha' could get purified. (Note: itz not just kachcha on one side and purity on the other. Itz both from both ends.) We debate openly as we know itz just a clash of thoughts and nothing personal.
In case, any of u were wondering what was going on...just wanted to clarify.
The same with Kudavoil also. Though it may look for the new people that we have lot of differences of opinions, all our questions and comments are for knowing the true history. We accept his views wherever he shows proper supporting evidences. He also knows that. Also we have high regards and respect for Dr.Balu being a hard working scholar. He deserves a great appreciation for his doctarate thesis 'Goburakkalai marabu' on temple architecture. Read this book if you have a chance.
Different schools of thought prevail and people are free to choose which ever they prefer/like/feel true. Its individual preference. Argueing/conter argueing is always healthy as long as its not taken personally. Healthy arguements surely will help to clear doubts on both the side.
But there is a LOC for this...not hurting others sentiment..not to disrespect others...as long as this is followed, nothing is wrong, and our group is mature enough on this(except in Suganya's case...yesterday total damage...Kovilpatti veeralakshmikku oru O podunga...I can hear diwakar singing Suganya's family song..)
Take it lightly, its all in part of fun, we all r matured enough to handle the situation, (including suganya) , in a long journey somebody will be caught like that its common, this time suganya caught , next time may be u and me, who knows, even in office we used pull some one legs particularly to change the hard times( i used keep pulling one of my service person always), nothing wrong , take it lightly, we know the limit, and we have keep the travel live thats also.
i am sure nobody will take this hard and even everybody will enjoy (including suganya)
Who said I took it seriously..I know its part of fun...I never took it seriously..anaa andha ponnu pavamya...hotel mattum varama erundha azhudhurppa..... koncham gap vittu kalasanum. oreadiya kalasittu azhuthutangana appuram time waste..otta aalu kidaikathu...
en kidaikathu...kidaikume..nethu suganya mattala...before tea break and after tea break focus shift....(I can visualise SPS bursting into laughter again like yesterday)
Dear All, It was nice to meet you all personally and It was fantastic trip for the first timers to thanjai with our group. Got a rare chance to view so many things for he first time in my life, Including peruvudaiyar. I visited thanjai temple few time. never get a chance. B'caz of SPS got a good & close dharshan. As kamal mentioned Dr. Balu Lecture was gr8. Scholars have diff. versions for everything. being a member in PS group, we all able to get more views. To know more about Dr. Balu's work on Thanjai Temple, please have a look on this 400+page mega book. Satish, thanks for the 2nd day visit update. oops few of us missed it.. lets wait for the next trip
30 members attended the trip some joined late some left early but it was a grand success
once again lots of new faces.
shoba ramakrishnan and spouse from coimbatore, selvam from thiruvannamalai participated from outstation
sites seen
marakkanam- rajaraja's meiykeerthi in several places identified. al hambra- the spectacular sea side fort parameshwari mangalam- the palar island temple vaayalur- fantastic temple from pallava times on palar bank sadras- dutch fort
pidari ratham and pallava quarry sangam age temple.
both lunch and breakfast were at A2B restuarant mahabalipuram
very enjoyable trip and i hope photos of the trip would surface soon
Lovely, please do share photos : Did you manage to see this inscription in vayalur
read about it in The Pallavas by G. Jouveau-Dubreuil.
The vayalur inscription of pallavas issued on the eve of coronation of Rajasimha(695.C.E-728.C.E),gives a lineage of 54 rulers through the epochs of kritam, dwaparam and kali up to emperor Rajasimha, this includes 47 kings after aswattaman, the great warrior ancestor of pallavas.
Studies in Pallava History by Heras.H, is available for download through the following link. This is a followup to the voyalur temple trip made on Sunday.