Dhanushkodi

Historic map of Dhanuskodi before 1964

Dhanushkodi (Tamil for the end of the arc) called today a place on the island in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu Pamban, about 4 km before the end of the sandy spit of land that runs from the island east to Adams Bridge.

Current location 

 
There are a few thatched fishermen's cottages, modest places of worship, a snack bar and various remains of walls, etc. a station, a church, a water tank and a post office. From the center of the island, a paved road to a post of the Indian Navy for about 4 1 / 2 miles from Dhanushkodi, and from then there is only a sand road.Religious significance 

 The place has spiritual significance for Hindus. Its name is derived from the bow of the god Rama, who was designated by its end of the place from which should be built from Ramasbrücke (Adam Bridge) to Sri Lanka. A pilgrimage to Rameswaram to connect with a swim in the sea near Dhanushkodi, the confluence of the waters of the Gulf of Bengal and Indian Ocean .
 
Place until 1964

By 1964, Dhanushkodi was next to the famous for its temple is the most important place of Rameswaram island. Dhanushkodi had all the necessary for a pilgrimage and tourist facilities. The Indo-Ceylon Express of the Southern Railway, then called Boat Mail, regularly drove the 675 km route from Madras Egmore Station (now Chennai) to Dhanushkodi pier. They drove for example in 1950 from Madras at 20:00 in clock, came the next day in Mandapam, the last place on the mainland, at 13:02 on where time was for a medical examination of passengers traveling abroad. After the ride opened in 1914 on the Pamban Bridge, the train stopped at 14:12 Pamban in town where you could switch to Rameswaram, and finally arrived at 15:05 am Dhanushkodi pier. There was up from the ferry shortly after 16:00, the need for the trip to Talaimannar in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) about 3 1 / 2 hours. On Sunday evening the ship but not wrong. From Talaimannar could be with the Northern Line proceed to Colombo. On the return journey the train was at the pier from Dhanuskodi at 12:05 and arrived the next morning at 7:25 in Madras.

Cyclone 1964

On the night of 22 to 23 December 1964 was Dhanushkodi (as well as the whole island) hit by a cyclone with extreme winds and several feet high waves.  The peninsula was flooded, a straight drive into the Zug train station destroyed and the city and the railroad literally washed into the sea. The number of victims, including about 115 people on the train was on more than 1,800 estimated.

The place has not been rebuilt. The ferry, which was also interrupted by the destroyed piers at both ends of the route was later replaced by a ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar, but it was also adjusted 1984/85. The railway line in Sri Lanka was abandoned by Madawachchiya after Talaimannar

The Theosophical Society

Banyon Tree

The Theosophical Society may be of interest for spiritual reasons or simply for its beautiful park, including a banyan incredible. This "ficus bengalensis" is one of the world's largest banyan tree, its roots extend over 22 square meters from north to south and 24 meters square from east to west. And the primary root continues to grow underground ...

The park includes the company headquarters of the Theosophical Society, based in Chennai since 1882, the temples of all faiths, a library with valuable manuscripts and trees from all countries. You'll find a most restful quiet, especially if you stop there after a day visiting the city. Be careful with the times, the park closes between noon and 2:00 p.m. and after 16 hours.

 

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875 by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and Colonel H. S. Olcott. Both wanted and set up chat rooms for men to defend the "universal brotherhood" over all religion, by accepting any interested person irrespective of caste, sex, color, etc.. The motto of this organization, derived from the Upanishads, "There is no religion beyond the truth," is inscribed on the main building. Since 1875, the "boxes" have emerged in 42 countries, including France. The headquarters are located in India at Chennai. The members of the world (about 30,000) can navigate all the years, the Christmas period, for a series of lectures and seminars.

Theosophical Society Head Quarters

A public relations office is located in the main building (brick red with elephant heads), and available to answer questions from the curious.

Pichavaram - Mangrove Forest

'Backwater Pichavaram near Chidambaram' 
 

This picture Pichavaram Backwater and mangrove forest near Chidambaram, 75 km from Pondicherry. It is located south of Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu India. It is considered the second largest mangrove forest in the world where you can find rare species of shellfish and fish.

It is a beautiful tourist place which is under the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. Its main objective is to strengthen the tourism sector. Installing Boating is available here and you go in you will enter another world that you can see in this video.

Fishing activity is also seen in this place. Tourists from various parts of the world visit this popular tourist destination.

The mangrove ecosystem is a grouping of plants including a main timber specific, do develop in the area of intertidal foreshore called low coasts of tropical regions. There are also mangrove swamps at the mouth of some rivers.

These particular settings provide substantial resources (forestry and fisheries) for people living on these shores. Mangroves are the most productive ecosystems in the biomass of our planet. Woody species are the most notable with their mangrove pneumatophores and stilt-roots.

The rapid degradation of some mangroves in the world, has become alarming because they are effective in stabilizing fragile coastal areas that are now threatened, and because they contribute to ecological resilience of ecosystems after cyclones and tsunamis and address the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels.

in this harsh environment, mangroves have evolved a mechanism to provide assistance to young seedlings. All mangroves have seeds floating that promote dispersal by water. Unlike most plants, whose seeds germinate in the soil, many mangrove trees (eg red mangrove) are viviparous, that is to say that their seeds germinate on the parent tree before falling. Once the seed has germinated, the seedling grows into the fruit (eg Aegialitis, Acanthus, Avicennia and Aegiceras), or out by using the fruit as a medium (eg Rhizophora, Ceriops, Bruguiera and Nypa) . We call the latter system a propagule (a plant ready to go), which can produce its own food through photosynthesis.  

When the propagule is mature it drops into the water where it can be transported over long distances. It can survive desiccation and remain dormant for weeks, months, or even a year until it reaches an appropriate environment. Once a propagule is ready to take root, it will change its density so that instead of a horizontal root system favoring the waterline, it produces a vertical root system. In this position, he is ready to take root in the mud. If a propagule is not rooted, it can change its density so that it floats farther in search of more favorable conditions.

Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram

Surrounded by wide streets (by the standards of the Middle Ages) to allow passage of trucks of procession, the shrine of Nataraja is surrounded by a wall dating from the twelfth century. It can be accessed by one of four gopuram ("towers" entry), gems of Chola art, and whose importance, both in terms of size and artistic treatment, is sometimes greater than the sanctuary itself (this being a constant in the Hindu religious architecture of South India).
Gopuram of the temple of Nataraja at Chidambaram

The interior of the sanctuary has five main rooms (Sabhas):

   1. Chitrambalam or Chit Sabha (the "Golden Hall"), which houses the sculpture of Nataraja.
   2. Ponnambalam, or Kanaka Sabha: The room where the Nataraja takes his ablutions.
   3. Perambalam or Deva Sabha, which contains the "five deities (Pancha Murtha).
   4. Nritya Sabha, where Nataraja danced the Tandava Oordhva.
   5. Raja Sabha (the "room with 1000 pillars"): Where the icon Mobile (utsavamūrti) of Nataraja is washed and walked to the 10th day of the festival and Ani Tirumanjanam Marghazi (December-January), before joining again the Chitrambalam (the "Golden Hall").

The bronze sculpture of Nataraja is exposed in the Chitrambalam, a rectangular room covered with gold and copper. This room (the "Golden Hall") is faithful to the center of the world where Shiva, under the representation of Nataraja performs his "cosmic dance". This sculpture of Nataraja, typical of Chola art, has a strong symbolic
Shiva Nataraja (British Museum)

    1. The Nataraja is held in a "ring of fire" (thiruvāsi) which symbolizes the vibrant nature, rhythmic, and cyclic life.
   2. It builds on his right foot, crushing the muyalagan (daemon), symbolizing the abolition of evil.
   3. His left leg lifted leads the way to salvation.
   4. His first right hand holds a drum (damaru) representing the vital rhythm.
   5. His second right hand is held palm forward, in the posture Pataka symbolizing protection, removal of fear.
   6. His first left hand holds the fire, which symbolizes the life force vital energy.
   7. His second left hand at the end of his outstretched arm to his body, adopts the posture hasta-kari, meaning "Here I am," Shiva refocuses him on everything.
    
8. To the left of his head, the crescent moon (Shandra) symbolizes the culmination of the knowledge and intellect.
   9. To the right of his head, the Ganges, in the form of fish, symbolizes the life-giving water.
  10. To the left of his body, the veil flying in the wind symbolizes the removal of illusion (Maya).
  11. On the right side of his body, the serpent, ancient symbol of fertility, is the breath and air.
 

On the other hand, the sculpture of Nataraja, which is carved by artisans of a particular type (the sthapati) who make icons for generations of Hindu temples, is subject to strict proportional rules: For example, an equilateral triangle upper vertex (om-ma-va) can be traced from the top of the head (om), the left foot (va), and the scarf when it crosses the thiruvāsi (Ring of Fire) (my) of Similarly, an equilateral triangle with lower vertex (if-ya-na) can be drawn between the right foot (if), the drum (there), and the hand holding the fire (na). The two overlapping triangles are the oldest known representation of the figure called "Star of David" symbol used in other religions (including Judaism). There, in the sanctuary, two types of idols: idols fixed (sthibera), which can not be displaced once the temple consecrated idols and mobile (utsavamūrti) that can be taken out of the temple, especially during ritual processions in the city.

Apart from the "Golden Hall", other parts of the sanctuary all have a symbolic own: thus, the 4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas, and all other Hindu canonical texts are identified by either party of this temple.

    * The temple of the goddess Sivakami:

Situated within the sanctuary of the Nataraja temple is dedicated to Sivakami, one of the representations of the goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva, in his role as "wife" of Nataraja. It dates from the Chola period and hosts numerous sculptures of Bharata Natyam dance postures.

    * The Temple Govindaraj:

Located near the shrine of Nataraja, the temple is dedicated to one of the representations of the god Vishnu.

Chidambaram - History

                                Located in Tamil Nadu, 50 km south of Cuddalore (and 60 km south of Pondicherry) on the Bay of Bengal, Chidambaram is a medium sized city with residential areas have no special attraction, is known throughout India for its sanctuary of Nataraja, the 'cosmic dancer', one of the most famous representations of the god Shiva doing his "happy dance" (called Ananda Tandava).  Chid * means "the conscience of mankind".    Ambaram means heaven. In philosophy Shiva, the consciousness of humanity is immeasurable, as the sky. The word represents Chidambaram, somehow, consciousness expanding permanent, supreme knowledge.

History
                      The Mecca of Hinduism, especially Shaivism of over 2000 years, the city of Chidambaram in history after the construction of the Nataraja shrine, commissioned by the Chola emperors who held their tutelary deity Nataraja. The shrine seen his birth at the end of the Chola empire in the twelfth century under the reign of Vikrama (d. 1135), and his son Kulottunga II (died 1150). Its construction will extend over several kingdoms, however, between 1130 and 1250, including the reigns of later emperors Cholas (Rajaraja II Rajadhiraja II, and the last emperor Chola: Kulottunga III), and those Emperors Pandyas. This first phase of construction will give rise to four "towers" of inputs (the gopuram), the wall, the central paved area, and the Hall with 1000 pillars "(Raja Sabha). This sanctuary will know the result of multiple improvements (including construction of four main rooms), but under the Delhi Sultanate, he nevertheless suffer the passage in 1311 of Muslim troops Khalji Malik Kafur, seconded by Hoysalas, at the "Muslim conquest of the south".  

                                 There was no destruction, even as the troops of Malik Kafur only stayed a month in Tamil Nadu, but the looting of idols made of solid gold and gold coins left as offerings to the temple by faithful had a strong impact on Shaivism. After seeing a period of calm settled rule of Vijayanagar in Tamil Nadu, the northern tower will be built around 1525 during the reign of Emperor Krishnadevaraya Vijayanagar, it is the representation, as well as the four architects who worked. Then there will be little change, except the combination of disparate inputs that gave sanctuary to a deeply confused Nataraja (eg it is still impossible to determine with certainty what was the original focus of the sanctuary. ..)

Mamallapuram

Mamallapuram is a small village near the sea which is very famous throughout India for the quality and delicacy of stone carvers.Often this village that are the most monumental Indian sculpture you can see in temples, houses and luxury hotels worldwide.

This is a great trip to make from Chennai to Pondicherry or both for the peace of his village and the quality of its craftsmanship! It is also a popular destination for Indian tourists and there is often a lot of people and colors! The monumental sculptures of the Pallava

Details of meditation Arjuna Les historic and artistic sites of Mamallapuram are among the oldest in Tamil Nadu, between the VII and VIII, it is under the Pallava dynasty, among the oldest in South India Mamallapuram that had its moment of glory.

You can start by exploring the extraordinary bas relief "Arjuna's meditation" or "the descent of the Ganges", carved directly into the wall of the hill behind the main temple of the village.

It is a wealth of detail, gods, ascetics, animals of all sizes and a succession of Hindu symbols that you can ask a local guide to explain! Several theories run, in fact, the significance of the relief.

 
The funniest of the frieze is also that you can watch the draft, realized there are more than 15 centuries by sculptors! Just a few meters upstream of the frieze now, you can see an outline of the frieze, but has not been completed due to lack of space.

The history and sculpture at Mamallapuram are everywhere and you find beautiful caves carved in the center of the city. so you can walk in the hills around the city center (particularly during the day, because there is no security or lighting at night).

The hills are covered with carved caves, small temples, roads, and a beautiful view over the village and sea from the headland on which the two lights are installed in the village.
  

Temple of shoreline along the merEnfin do not miss "the temple of the shore, which is one of the few temples of South India built near the sea and also one of the oldest (seventh century).
It was badly damaged by the spray and some sculptures are erased, but it remains a landmark temple, enchanting and quiet especially at sunrise and sunset.
 
The paradise of stone carvers

Sculptures MamallapuramIl still some treasures to discover in the village of Mamallapuram. First quarter sculptors, south of the city. Mamallapuram still has a college that trains young sculptors the ancestral techniques of the city. It's beautiful to walk between Ganesh, the Durga, representations of elephants, gigantic goddesses barely out of stone (usually granite) and shots of the sculptor chisels.

You can also find sculptures of green stone, the "marble", almost translucent, which changes color when it went underwater. two of the last five rathasEnfin gift that can offer Mamallapuram is the "five its rathas" or "5 tanks.

 
There are 5 monumental sculptures carved directly into huge blocks of granite from the sixth century. Each tank is a small temple dedicated to a great man or a deity of the Hindu pantheon.

Pandiyas

Pandya Empire was an empire of warriors who participated in the war of Kurukshetra, which were mentioned in the epic Mahabharata and the Ramayana epic.

Pandiya's Coin

A Pandya king called Sarangadwaja (alternatively Malayadwaja) is mentioned as participating in the war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas side with.

It is not clear whether Pandyas Pandavas were related to northern India, but it existed in the southern part of the modern state of Tamil Nadu day India to the south of the river Kaveri.

Their capital was Madhura on the banks of the river Tamraparni, which is now known as the River Vaigai.

Pandyas, Cholas and Keralas were also mentioned in Tamil literature (the Pandyan kingdom) supplementing their mention in the Sanskrit literature (incorporated by Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and Vedas).