This long thread 🧵provides a partial list of architecturally great "ancient" temples in #TamilNadu.
Temples are listed in the format of "Place", "District" - "Temple Name"
(Photos are from the internet, source unknown)
Udayarpalayam, Ariyalur dt - Sri Payaraneeswarar Temple 1/n
Thirukkurungudi- - Five Nambis in this Temple- Thiruvattaparai Temple, Thirumangai Alwar Tiruvarasu Temple, Azhagiya Nambi Temple, Thirupaarkadal Nambi Temple and Malaimel Nambi Temple (Each has its own temple (Vishnu Temple)-Most underrated temple 130/n
Gingee Fort , Gingee, Villupuram Dt- Chenjiamman, Senji Singavaram Ranganatha Temple and Venkataramanaswami Temple (This 2720Acre Fort comples with many hillocks connected through walls scaling to 13km, the wonder of Tamil Nadu. Once capital of Shivaji Maharaj 142/n
Thirumazhisai, Tiruvallur dt - Jagannatha Perumal temple, Othandeeswarar temple and Sri Veetrirundha Perumal Temple (Vishnu and Shiva Temples) 143/n
Mandagapattu, Villupuram Dt - Tirumurti Temple rock cut (Hindu Trinity) , one of the earliest temple of Tamil nadu, the first Pallava monument 164/n
Moovar Koil & Kodumbalur ,Pudukkottai Dt - (9-10h Century ASI Monument) 165/n
Kudumiyanmalai,Pudukottai Dt - Shikanathar Temple and Melakkoil Cave Temple , are important temple for music and dance. It has inscription of them 166/n
Devadanam, Virudhunagar dt - Nachadai Thavirtharuliya Swamy Temple (Shiva), it has three lingam (Kann Keduthavar, Kaan koduthavar, Kolundheeswarar) in the hillocks in 179/n
Teppakulam-Madurai, Madurai Dt - Vinayagar temple (inside Teppakulam), Vandiyur Mariamman temple and Sri Muktheeswarar Temple located near Teppakulam 181/n
Tharamangalam, Salem Dt - Kailasanath temple (Shiva) 182/n
Salem, Salem Dt, Arulmigu Sugavaneswarar Swamy Temple(Shiva) 183/n
Thirunavalur , Kallakurichi district - Bhaktajaneswarar Temple (SHiva) 192/n
Pennadam, Cuddalore dt - Sudarkoluntheeswarar, Pralayakaleshwarar Temple (Shiva), It is a huge, beautiful temple 193/n
Thiruvamattur, Viluppuram dt - Sri Abirameshwarar Temple (Shiva) 194/n
Thirumanikuzi, Cuddalore dt - Sri Vamanapurieswarar Temple (Shiva) 195/n
Melakadambur, Cuddalore dt - Amirthakadeshwarar Temple (Shiva) known for its intricate carvings 196/n
Panamalai, Viluppuram dt - Thalagireeshwarar Temple (Shiva), an ancient Pallava temple, >1300 yrs old, a granite temple above the beautiful hill top. 197/n
Thirukkokarnam, Pudukottai dt- Shri Bragathambal Temple(Araikasu Amman), partly cave temple, the family deity of Pudukottai Kingdom. Pudukottai king named Bragathambal as the head of the state. She is considered a powerful goddess, those who lost something offer prayers 199/n
Koolampandal, Tiruvannamalai dt - Sri Gangai Konda Chozhiswarar Temple (Shiva), 1000yrs old Chola temple 200/n
Brahmadesam, Tiruvannamalai dt - Rajendra Chola Temple (Chandramouleeshwarar temple), an ancient Pallava and Chola temple with many inscriptions (~90) 201/n
Kodumudi, Erode dt - Magudeswarar Temple (Shiva) and Balathadayuthapani Kovil. Important Pilmigiage on the shore of mighty Cauvery. The river takes a sharp turn near this temple. 203/n
Belur, Salem dt - Sri Thanthondreeswarar Temple (Shiva) 247/n
Sholinghur(Thirukkadigai), Ranipet dt- It is a temple town with numerous temples. 1. Lakshmi Narasimha temple 2. Sozhapureeswarar temple 3. Bhaktavatchala Perumal temple 4. Yoga Narasimha temple 5. Yoga Anjenayar temple 6. Subramaniya Swami Temple 248/n
Tirumalai (Arihantagiri) , Tiruvannamalai dt - Thiru Neminatha Bhagawan Digambar Jain Hill Temple, it is large Jain temple complex on the hillock, one of the most important Jain monument in TN with 3 Jain caves & many temples. It has tallest statue of Tirthankara Neminathar 249/n
Thiruveezhimizhalai (திருவீழிமிழலை), Tiruvarur dt - Arulmigu Veezhinatheswarar (வீழிநாதேஸ்வரர்) also called Mapillaiswamy temple, one of the beautiful temple in Tamil nadu 250/n (we reached 250) still more to go
@VishnuUdt Sholingur is also known for conflict btw Saivaites and Vaishnavites. The town was believed to be under the spiritual control of Saivaite, later Vaishnavite flourished. You can see many unfinished Saivaite ruins in the town
Thukkachi, Thanjavur dt - Abatsahayesvar Temple(Shiva). Thukkachi temple is the best example of coming together for a cause. It was a dilapidated temple 3 yrs ago, IIT-Madras, TN-HRCE dept, & private funder (big one from Coimbatore) came together to give fresh lease of life 251/n
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The pillars of Madurai Madana Gopala Swamy Temple displayed at the Philadelphia museum of Art. In 1912, during her trip to Madurai, Adeline Pepper Gibson bought the pillars, transported to USA, it was gifted to Philadelphia museum on 1919, displayed there as temple hall 1/3
Many heritage structures of Madurai incl the fort walls, orchids..etc were demolished by British. Many temples were in ruins. The pillars of the front mandapam was sold to Adeline Gibson, now displayed in the world famous Philadelphia museums. Adeline died at young age 2/3
British were impressed by the ruins of Thirumalai naikar mahal, they renovated the palace, but didnot maintain the temples. In last 80yrs, many temples were renovated. Though not popular, Even today, Madana gopalsamy temple is worshipped by devotees of Madurai 3/3
Extending BMRCL upto Hosur is now a hot topic, hearing lot of angry voices. In 1973, TN govt setup Hosur SIPCOT due to proximity to Blre. Post 1991, Hosur saw decline. From 1998, KA started building, its largest Bommasandra industrial cluster using existing Hosur ecosystem 1/6
Hosur never competed with Bengaluru, it complimented it. Tamil Nadu/Hosur went through severe electricity crisis during 2009-13, political crisis btw 2014-17. During this time KA overtook TN in industrial investment. Built it's largest industrial ecosystem around Bangalore 2/6
Having, intra state industrial ecosystem is beneficial to both states. It will ensure bad policy of one state doesn't affect whole ecosystem. Hosur and Bengaluru benefited from each other. From 2017, TN govt been proactive, so Hosur industrial system is reviving 3/6
TN is No.1 in destroying beaches with waste. With illegal shop, irresponsible people, & failed govt.
Marina beach is gone, then we lost Besant Nagar beach, Ariyamaan beach is also down with waste. It is sad to see once clean Mahabalipuram beach is also occupied by illegal shop.
Most of these shops are controlled by local goons, these shop owners pay their rent to them. Regulating these shops by local bodies will fetch more revenue to them will help to keep it clean, but deprive mafia's their money. Shops went till beach water, getting worse in last 5yrs
I know, whatever I post in Twitter will have zero impact on the ground. It is a system run by the mafia, for the mafia. I request people to boycott beach shops, we can only do them.
My post on Vijayawada flood is misinterpreted by many. This post elaborate it.
Let us start with Vijayawada drainage basin. It is part of Krishna & Budameru basin part of Kolleru lake. Budameru basin has ~900sqkm of catchment basin till Vijayawada city with hills and lakes. 1/n
Vijayawada is not new to flood, In last 100 yrs, city went through 17+ floods driven by both Krishna & Budameru rivers. In 2005, Budameru created heavy flood in the northern part of the city, since it flows through the heart of the city. AP govt decided to divert the water 2/n
After 2005 flood, AP govt decided to prevent Budameru river from entering the core part of the city. So, it planned to divert the river into Polavaram canal (connects Polavaram to Prakasam). Budameru wonot enter city. Polavaram canal has ~37000cusec carrying capacity 3/n
All these floods are not due to Krishna river but because of small Budameru vagu, it has ~900 sqkm catchment till Vijayawada. After 2005 flood, AP govt diverted part of the river into Krishna by connecting it with 37500 cusec Polavaram canal, still it overflowed the canal 1/2
Due to heavy rainfall Budameru saw >60000 cusec, overflowing both the diversion canal & it's natural river course. It's natural path is illegally occupied, it can't even carry 10000 cusec flood. So water overflowed from the canal and the river, flooding the Vijayawada 2/2
Though it flows close to Krishna river, Budameru is not part of Krishna basin. It is part of Kolleru lake basin. Budameru meet the largest freshwater lake by area in India. Kolleru is an another ecological disaster. AP rivers are seeing man-made impact
Nagarathar migrated to Pandya Nadu, initially they settled in 9 villages, where they were granted 9 shiva temples. This 9 temples used as a primary classification of the community. Members within the each temple group are called Pangali's, they cannot marry within that group 1/10
Illayathangudi (இளையாத்தங்குடி) is the first Nagarathar settled village in Pandya nadu. It has the Kailasanathar Nithyakalyani Amman Temple and Kalanivasal Nagarathar Perumal Koil with two temple tanks 2/10
Illuppaikudi, Sri Thaanthondri Eswarar Temple (Illuppaikudi Vairavar) 3/10