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Thirukkurungudi and Mahendra Giri - the mystic hills through the ages of Ramayana, Divya Prabhandam and ISRO

Thirukkurungudi, Thirumalai Nambi Temple - திருக்குறுஙஂகுடி ஸ்ரீ நின்ற​ நம்பி பெருமாள் ஆலயம் Source:  Wikimedia If you are looking for a place of immense spiritual significance that is perched on the green hills almost removed from the spoils of civilisation, Thirukkurungudi, one  of  108 DivyaDesams ,  should be on your list . Rustic roads lead up the hill past a stream that leads up to a small waterfall and its reservoir that is used by devotees for ablution. Pilgrims to the temple are known to walk their way up the hills from the foothills, especially on Saturdays. This temple is known for multiple specialities, right from references to the place in Ramayana and Varaha Puranam, to the many Siddhars who are still said to be performing penance in Mahendra Giri Hills. Thirukkurungidi is a small village that is located at Mahendra Giri hills in the Western Ghats on the banks of Nambiyaaru, a small river with water that is said to be pure and loade...

Tamil Grandfather U Ve Swaminatha Iyer / தமிழ்த்தாத்தா உ. வே. சாமிநாத​ ஐயர் - Work of a Lifetime!

U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer; Image: Wikipedia இவரின்றி த்  தமிழின்று ஒளிர்ந்திடுமோ சுவரின்றி ச்  சித்திரமும் மலர்ந்திடுமோ மொழியின்றி ச்  சரித்திரமும் நிலைத்திடுமோ பயனிலா வாள்போல ​ மழுங்கிடுமோ . . . காலத்தில் சுவடிகளும் தகர்ந்திடுமோ ஞாலத்தின் ஞானங்கள் மறைந்திடுமோ தமிழ்கூறும் வேதங்கள் மறந்திடுமோ தமிழ்த்தாத்தாவின் வேள்விகளும் அணைந்திடுமோ . . . U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer (Uthamadhanapuram Venkatasubbaiyer Swaminatha Iyer), popularly known as Tamil Thaatha or the Tamizh grandfather, was born this day, on the 19th of February, 1855, in Uthamadhanapuram near Papanasam, Thiruvaroor District, Tamil Nadu.  Uthamadhanapuram, Thiruvaroor District, birthplace of U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer The work of a lifetime Dr. U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer, also fondly known as U. Ve. Sa, and motivated by Salem Ramaswamy Mudaliar, built on his interest in medieval Tamil literature and embarked on the herculean pursuit of recovering lost paper and palm manu...

Lord Ganesh, the "Pillaiyar" of Tamil Nadu

The speciality of Tamil Nadu is the presence of innumerable Ganesh Temples (Pillaiyar Temples) virtually all over the state.  One could find Ganesh Temples, large and small, at every nook and corner of the state. In fact, Lord Ganesh does not even require a proper construction of a temple for Him to preside over - Arasamaram (அரசமரம்) or the Bodhisattva tree is His favourite spot, blessing devotees while resting in open space beneath the tree. Arasamaram Pillayar; Source: Wikimedia Virtually ubiquotous Ganesh Temples in every street, along the riverside and beneath sprawling trees are a speciality of the state of Tamil Nadu. Lord Ganesh is uniquely known as Pillaiyar (பிள்ளையார்) in Tamil Nadu. As the eldest son of the universal parents Parvati and Parameswaran (Lord Shiva), Lord Ganesh is generally called "The son" - the word Pillai (பிள்ளை) in Tamil means son. He is called Pillaiyar as a mark of respect (the suffix "ar" or "yar" is generally added to nam...