Aranthangi Fort
Aranthangi Fort, Aranthangi Fort travel, Aranthangi Fort
tourism, Aranthangi Fort Historical Place, travel to AranthangiLocation :
Aranthangi, Tamil Nadu
Built By : Tondaimans
Dates Back To : 15th And 16th Centuries
(Approximately)
Aranthangi is the second largest town in Pudukkottai district.
Aranthangi was the most populous locality in the south of the Thanjavur
district till it was added to Pudukkottai. The main centre of attraction of
Aranthangi is a ruined fort.
A Peculiar Feature
There is a unique feature about this fort; the walls are not
constructed of brick or stone. Large interstices are filled with mud. There are
no ruins of palaces or any other striking building inside.
No indications are found about the history of the fort, but a
line of 'Tondaimans' indicates that they built the fort. Little is known about
the time of the Tondaimans, a lineage of feudal chieftains who controlled this
Aranthangi region of India from the 15th to the 18th century AD.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air : The nearest airport is at
Tiruchirappalli, at a distance of about 60-km.
Rail : The nearest railway station is at
Pudukkottai, which lies on the Chennai Rameshwaram railway line and is
connected to places like Tiruchirappalli, Madurai, and Thanjavur.
Road : Tourists can access Aranthangi from
Pudukkottai, which is well connected by rail and road with the major cities and
towns of Tamil Nadu. Pudukkottai is connected to Rameshwaram, Madurai,
Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur and all other nearby towns by road. Local buses
cover all tourist centres in and around Pudukkottai.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is available at the moderate class hotels and
lodges in Pudukkottai.
Arjuna's Penance
Arjuna's Penance, Arjuna's Penance travel, Arjuna's Penance
tourism, Arjuna's Penance Historical Place, travel to Arjuna'sArjuna's Penance,
perhaps the world's largest bas-relief, is the universe itself in stone,
throbbing with a vastness of conception. Legend has it that King Bhagiratha had
to bring down to earth the celestial Ganga to sanctify and redeem the cursed
souls of his ancestors. But the river in its torrential spree would deluge the
earth, and so he had to undergo a penance to propitiate Shiva who finally
received the flood in his matted locks and let it flow down. This was a sight
for the world's creatures to see and they gathered round. The cleft in the rock
depicts the descent of Ganga, a theory supported by the ruins of a stone water
tank on the hill. There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of fauna,
just as they would appear in their habitat. Women clothed in an aura of amazing
grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The whole scene
has a dimension of humor too! Juxtapositioned against the ascetic is a cat
doing rigorous penance too, eyes firmly shut, even to the delectable mice
scampering around within easy reach.
The Theme
Critics are divided over the theme: one school believes that it
shows Arjuna undertaking a penance to obtain a rare weapon against his enemies.
The other believes that it depicts the legend of the River Ganges's descent to
earth. According to them, cleft appeared in the rock dividing the canvas in
two, when Shiva responded to Bhagirathas penance.
The Carvings On The
Rock
Arjuna's Penance, Arjuna's Penance travel, Arjuna's Penance
tourism, Arjuna's Penance Historical Place, travel to Arjuna'sArjuna's Penance,
the exquisitely sculpted scene, which presents mans view of the universe, has
over 100 figures of gods and semi divine creatures, birds and beasts, man and
saint. All these figures are carved either facing or approaching the fissure
and generally with hands folded in adoration.
The cleft in the rock depicts the descent of River Ganga (also
known as Ganges), brought to earth by King Bhagiratha to redeem the cursed
souls of his ancestors. On the left side of the fissure can be seen a simple
temple which contains a four-armed deity, probably Shiva. The fissure is
sculptured with Nagas. Above the fissure and on either side of it are flying
figures of Gods and below are some sculptures of animals of which giant
elephants are the most impressive and are considered to be the noblest
creations of the human mind.
Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers and a consummate archer, is
shown standing on one leg, doing penance to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva.
There is a forest with tribal people and all forms of animal life, just as they
would appear in their habitat. Women are clothed in an aura of indescribable
grace, a rich inner beauty transfiguring the plainest of them. The comic scene
in the relief will amuse visitors where a cat is standing doing penance, while
big and small rats are freely playing around the feline 'Tapaswi'.
A monkey family has also been depicted in a very exquisite and
appealing manner. In the liveliness of each figure, one can notice the intense
and naive love of life that characterizes the Buddhist art at Sanchi.
Arjuna's Penance, Arjuna's Penance travel, Arjuna's Penance
tourism, Arjuna's Penance Historical Place, travel to Arjuna'sLegend Connected
With Arjuna's Penance
What is depicted here in the great open-air sculpture has a
story behind it and has been the subject of difference of opinion among
historians. The older theory is that it represents the penance of Arjuna during
his exile in the Himalayas, in the hope that Shiva would part with his
favourite weapon, the "Pashupatashatra", a magic staff or arrow. All
generally accepts this popular interpretation.
Some historians like Ferguson, Burgess, Vogel, Touvean, Dubreine
and Langhurst have not accepted the above theory but put forward different
ones, which are given below:
The view held by Ferguson and Burgess is that this sculpture
represents "Serpent Worship" in ancient India and that "in the
center on a projecting ledge between the two great masses of rock once stood
the statue of the great Nagaraja who was the principal personage for whose
honour this great bas-relief was designed".
A later theory supported by Langhurst and Dr. Coomaraswamy (also
splet as Coomaraswami) is that it depicts the "Descent of the Ganges"
from the height of Kailasha (also spelt as Kailash). If this view is accepted,
then the personage who has been identified, as Arjuna should be called
"Bhagiratha" and this great sculpture as Bhagiratha's penance and not
Arjuna's. But no local tradition exists which can serve as a real clue to its
origin.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air : The nearest airport from
Mahabalipuram is Chennai, located around 60-km away. One can get flights for
almost all major destinations in India and abroad.
Rail : The nearest railway station is
Chengalpattu, around 29-km away from Mahabalipuram. Trains for Chennai and
several other major cities in South India are available from here.
Road : Mahabalipuram is connected by road
to Chennai, Tirukkalikundram (Pakshithirtham), Kanchipuram (65-km), and
Pondicherry.
Bharathiyar Illam
Bharathiyar Illam, Bharathiyar Illam travel, Bharathiyar Illam
tourism, Bharathiyar Illam Historical Place, travel The greatest Tamil poets,
Subramanya Bharathi (also spelt as Bharti) was born in Ettayapuram (around
600-km from Chennai), in 1882. He was skilled enough to write verse even at the
early age of seven.
The last years of his life were spent in a house in Triplicane,
Chennai. This house was bought and renovated by the Government of Tamil Nadu in
1993 and named 'Bharathiyar Illam' (Home of Bharathiyar). It is a must-see
place for those eager to know more about one of the greatest Indian poets
ever.It was opened to public on 2nd October 1993.
The house takes us back to the life and times of Mahakavi
Bharathi. Photographs of Bharathiyar, his family, and his friends are displayed
here. His hand written verses are framed and displayed. There is also a letter
from Mahatma Gandhi (in Tamil) to mark the occasion of the opening of
Bharathiyar Mani Mandapam in Ettayapuram, in 1947. Bharathiyar's letters to his
friend Nellaiappar are also displayed.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air : Chennai has an airport with both
domestic and international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the
major cities within the country and also with countries like USA, Singapore,
U.K, etc.
Rail : Chennai is well connected by rail
with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state.
Road : State transport buses and private buses
connect Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. For local
transportation local trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are
available.
WHERE TO STAY
Being the capital city of the state, Chennai is well equipped
with various kinds of accommodation options, varying from economic class to
luxurious ones.
Veerapagupathy,
Chothavilai Beach,
Thengamputhoor,
Kanyakumari.
+91-04652-221337
+91-8220099080
Email:aveholidayhome@gmail.com
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