> > And Dr. KB concluded his narrations! Peruvudayar went inside > Palliyarai! We were moving out of the big temple spell bounded! > > anbudan / sps
that was a moving scene. wasnt it?
temple lights being switched off. the sambrani smoke and the clanging of bells
god goes to sleep in his palli arai and reluctantly we left
and just before it when we all stood before nataraja waiting for kudavoil to explain the beauty of the sculpture a young boy from thiruvanaikoil sang a series of thevarams in a voice that mesmerised us.
and learning that we had come from madras he purposely sang the devaram of thirumullaivoil( he told us before saying bye)
i took that as a personal greeting from peruvudaiyar himself
Your description will definitely make a big difference when i see the paintings for myself. Makes me feel what an experience I/some of us missed in this trip. I was wondering if you were allowed to take photos. Hopefully not(something to be treasured)....
Will small photoprints be available for sale when the exhibition of ASI is commissioned ? something similar to the ISCKON prints of krsna would be a instant hit amongst our folks.
Now that the members are talking of a book for RRC and the BT , I think I must share my experience about buying a few books related to the topic.
The Cholas of KAN is not available in *any* bookshop in Coimbatore.Tried in Chennai too.
The two books on Big Temple , each costing 1500 bucks , are out of print and are no longer availble.
Sad that I could not lay my hands on these books.I had to abandon my idea of setting up a webpage for BT for lack of content.I had inititally planned to draw content from these books.All in vain !
About the young man who sang the Devarms - I really envied his simple life style and the innocent way in which he explained who he was and why he sang the songs. In the past 6 years of life in Chennai, I have never come across an individual like him. May god bless his soul.
The life of an IT guy( like me ) is unfortunately so complicated that there is no time for anything.
I have seen "Sivanadiyaar - Govindaraajar" (he himself calls as sivanadiyaar) in Thirumayaanam temple (1 km behind Thirukkadaiyur temple). His lifestyle is amazing. He has been associated with the temple since his age of 7 (presently he should be between 45-50) and he simply tells "En appan, en ayyan - sivan ennai paarthukkolvaan".
sivanadiyar govindarajan is the care taker of the kadavur mayanam temple. people flock in thousands to the adjacent thirukadaiyur.
but very few come here.
inspite of that this man has spent his entire life looking after this temple and its gods
sings devaram plucks flowers and decorates the gods without expecting anybody to visit the temple?
that is dedication
because of people like him it still rains
and because of people like dhiwaker tsunamis come.
>
> > I have seen "Sivanadiyaar - Govindaraajar" (he himself calls as > > sivanadiyaar) in Thirumayaanam temple (1 km behind Thirukkadaiyur > temple). > > His lifestyle is amazing. He has been associated with the temple > since his > > age of 7 (presently he should be between 45-50) and he simply > tells "En > > appan, en ayyan - sivan ennai paarthukkolvaan".
> that is dedication > > because of people like him it still rains
I have met two such amazing men : One was a temple watchman in thirukkoshtiyur temple. He was kind enough to take us to all the three tiers of the temple and showed us everything in great detail. I have not written my experience visiting this temple - but as he stood near the place where saint ramanuja stood several centuries ago and proclaimed the ashtakshara mantra to the masses - one and all - and said " My sons and daugters are telling me not to work at this age. They are kind and caring - but will I get this great opportunity of thirkkovil kaigaryam ?". For a moment I saw no difference between his face and that of ramanuja statue nearby
Another was introduced to us in Lalgudi by Dr.Kalaikkovan. This man is a very simple temple worker - he worked very hard during Dr.K's research in temple. He removed the thick tar in one place with hands to uncover inscriptions. His name is karunanidhi. He was holding the petromox lamp almost for 1.5 hours since it was too dark. I will never forget him and the polite refusal he made when he was offered some money.
And it was raining so heavily on that day - SPS, we will never forget that day !
think our search is limited only for Tanjore temple related books.. i think if we can also search in books related to other temples of tamilnadu / other states we can find some info or reference on tanjore and some pics of tanjore....
I would definitely love to give away everything I own. But unfortunately, I cant. Thats why I said that the life of an IT guy is very complicated. It is very difficult to get away from here. It is like holding a tiger's tail.
Besides, we dont just do the cut & paste business all the time :-) there are original work done. Next time we meet I will show you some!
Dear Gokul, that trip was a really excellent one.. you still remember the name.. When we all entered the temple dr. K.K. Introduced him to all.. If Iam not wrong, that inscription is there near to the entrance.