Pranam
Q3 additional data on authenticated history as to how Hinduism was saved:
Only some extract: Book is 450 pages
SOUTH INDIA AND HER MUHAMMADAN INVADERS BY JB. KRISHNASWAMI AIYANGAR
This book reveals wrt the inscriptions Tirukkoyilur and IBN Bathudha
how Bellala and Hakka Buuka stopped the destruction of the HINDUISM.
AS THE OCCU PANT OF THE THRONE OF THE PATRIOTIC SOVEREIGN VIRA BALLALA
III WHO DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO THE CAUSE OF HINDUISM AND MADE IT POSSIBLE
FOR THE SOUTH INDIAN HINDUS TO BE THE HINDUS THEY ARE TO-DAY .
In the course of the Ceylon war of Parakrama Bahu, Lankapura the
general marched in pursuit of Kulasekhara from Madura along the road from
Madura to Tiruppattur and followed up the march along the same high road
from Tiruppattur to Pon-Amaravati. Here is a clear lead where to look for
the high road from Madura to Trichinopoly. We have already spoken of the
invasion of the Chola country by Maravarman Sundara Pandya I. His inscrip-
tions, and perhaps even restorations of various temples along the high
road are traceable from Tiruppattur by way
of Kandavarayanpatti to Velankudi and thence to Pon- Amaravati. At
Tiruppattur I was informed that an old road branching off from a point a
few furlongs from Tirup- pattur along the Tiruppattur-Tirumeyyam road took
one to Kandavarayanpatti, from which an old broad avenue road takes one
to Tirukkalakkudi (written Tirukkolakkudi in inscriptions) and thence to
Pulankurichi (Puvalankurichi) on the Pon-Amaravati way. The road continued
south- wards from Tiruppattur to Tirukkoshtiyur, and from there through
Madagupatti to Sivaganga. From Sivaganga there is the road proceeding to
Melur, and from there to Alagai - malai, from which Madura could be
reached. For our present purpose the high road from Madura came down to
Tiruppattur and the same high road apparently carried one to
Pon-Amaravati ; ' that is the point that has to be made. The bit of the
old road between Tiruppattur and Pon- Amaravati which is said to be about
six or seven miles long shows even old bridges. This confirms the
statement of the Mahavamsa that the high road went from Tiruppattur to
Pon-Amaravati. The road must have continued from Pon- Amaravati to
Trichinopoly either through Pudukotta or just outside of it. The present
day high road from Trichinopoly goes from Trichinopoly to Pudukotta, from
Pudukotta to
Tirumeyyam, and from Tirumeyyam to Tiruppattur, leaving Pon-Amaravati at
the centre of the arc from Pudukotta to Tiruppattur. As far as I have been
able to make out there is no road connecting Pon-Amaravati with
Tirumeyyam, and therefore it is inevitable that a road from Pon-
Amaravati must have led towards Trichinopoly. The present day road to
Pon-Amaravati from Pudukotta, branches off a little way from Pudukotta
along the Pudu- kotta- Kudumiyamalai road. That road continues almost
unbroken northwards to Annavasal, from which another place Narttamalai
(Nagarattarmalai) is reachable at a short distance cross country. I am
told that an old road, the road is in use even now, leads from Kodumbalur
to Kudumiyamalai, and thence to Pudukotta, the Pon-Amara- vati road
branching off from this.
This record refers itself to the thirty-first year of a
Maravarman Vira Pandya and gives astronomical details which, according to
Rao Bahadur Mr. Krishna Sastrigal, work out correctly to a.d. 1358. 1 The
next one is No. 18 of 1899 at Tirupputkuli of a.d. 1365, which states in
clear terms that Kampana conquered Raja Gambhira Rajya, and was pleased to
rule the earth permanently. This date A.D. 1358 is taken as a starting
point by Mr. Sastrigal, and calculating back from it he fixes the date of
Maravarman Vira Pandya's accession as A.D. 1326-27 on
the assumption of a forty-eight years' occupation by the Muhammadans
beginning with Malik Kafur. This point will come in for discussion in
connection with the dynasty of the Sultans of Madura. It is enough to
state here that the assumption of the official date for the Sultans of
Madura who ruled for forty-eight years in all is wrong, and hence
this date for Maravarman Vira Pandya is untenable if it depended upon that
assumption alone. For the present purpose this series of epigraphical
references makes it clear beyond doubt that the early Muhammadan invasions
reached certainly into the Pandya country, and raises a very strong
presumption that it did go farther south both to Madura and to Ramesvaram
as Amir Khusru claims, having regard to the character of the invasion as a
mere raid under- taken for the sole purpose of plunder.
It is just possible that he also fell in lighting against
the Sultans of Madura about that particular period, say about A.D. 1345,
that Muhammad bin Tughlak had involved himself in the greatest difficulties
in his empire, and there was a famine if the chronology of the Muhammadan
historians could be accepted without question. The Sultan, Muhammad,
perpetrated the double blunder of recalling the capable Katlagh Khan from
Deogir and appointing the incompetent and unpopular slave Aziz Himar,
Governor of Malva, whose perfidy to ' the foreign amirs ', at the instance
of the Sultan himself, created the rebellion in Gujarat which terminated
only after the death of the Sultan. Nasarat Khan broke out in rebellion in
Bidar and Einu-1-Mulk of Oudh followed near the imperial head-quarters at
SargDvvari. It is to this date that the Muhammadan historians refer the
rising in Telingana under Krishnappa Nayaka, 1 one of the sons of
Prataparudra II of Warangal. This series of rebellions all over the empire
would not have been lost upon the more distant south. There is an
inscription of date A.D. 1328 when a Machaya Dannayaka was ruling at
Penugonda as a subordinate of *VIra Ballala III*. Somewhat later *Ibn
Batuta *himself says that his friend at Honawar, Jamalu-d-din Muhammad was
the greatest Sultan in the West Coast. He was himself subordinate to ' an
infidel king whose name is Horaib/ This Horaib could be no other than
Hariappa Udaiyar or Hanhara, the eldest of the five brothers to whom is
given the credit of having founded the empire of Vijayanagar. This must
have been before a.d. 1344. The latest known date for this Harihara is a.d.
1346. l A record of date equal to A. D. 1352 (Saka 1274) 2 refers to ' VIra
Bukka Rayalu, ruling at Dhorasamudra and Penugonda.'
The same grant refers to Bukka as an ' elevator of the Hoysala
empire.' It would be difficult to regard this position of Bukka as having
been achieved in a very short time, and by a person unconnected with the
Hoysala administration. There is one other fact which exhibits a similar
tendency and which must be noted here. In the early wars of Alau-d-din
Bahmani when he marched south from Daulatabad after the death of Muhammad
bin Tughlak there figures on the southern frontier, and therefore the more
uncertain frontier of his, a Hindu chieftain by name Harib in the region of
the Konkan coast up to Jamkhandi. A little further to the east of it
between Bijapur and Gulbarga figures another Hindu chief by name Kapras ;
and further east another Hindu chieftain still of the name Kampraz. This
has reference to the year A.D. 1352.
These three Hindu chieftains are obviously no other than Hariappa i
Harib), Bukkappa Razu (Kapraz) and Kampa Razu (Kampana, Kamparazu), the
three elder of the five brothers to whom inscriptions of the time ascribe
the foundation of the empire of Vijayanagar ; the two other brothers
Muddappa and Marappa are found just behind this front line. One of them was
the Viceroy obviously under Hariappa of the Male and Tulu Rajya with his
capital at Araga in the Shimoga district of Mysore, and the other was in
charge of Mulbagal Maharajya in the south-eastern corner of Mysore, and
fronting the Tamil country- This series of facts that *emerge from a
scrutiny of the inscriptional records of* the period leads necessarily to
the inference that the wars were still going on, and the kingdom of the
Hoysala had to fight on the two sides, of which the northern side presented
this impenetrable wall of garrisons under the five brothers, about this
time, A.D. 1355-56, in Madura must be a comparatively faint effort, and
when even the nominal ride in Madura was put an end to sometime in a.d.
1375-6, the time had arrived for the Vijayanagar ruler Harihara II to
announce himself formally to the world as the ' Emperor of the South.
*There are two records found in the temple at Tiruppattur*, now in
the Ramnad district, which belong to the forty-fourth and forty-sixth years
of a Jatavarman Tribhuvana Chakravartin Vira Pandya Deva, which refer to
these Muhammadan invasions also, and throw a certain amount of light upon
the history of the period. The Jatavarman VTra Pandya of these records is
undoubtedly the VTra Pandya against whom Malik Kafur undertook his
invasions of the south. The Siva temple at Tiruppattur is said in one of
these records to have been in the ' occupation of the encamped Muhammadans
whose time it was ', and in consequence to have been ruined. In this
condition a certain Visaiyalaya Devar of Suraikkudi, otherwise Araiyan
Periyanayanar reconsecrated the temple. Out of gratitude for this pious act
of his, by which the people believed they were saved from some impending
calamity, they assigned to him a specified quantity of corn from the
harvest reaped by every individual each year, and conferred on him also
certain privileges in the temple. 1 All this took place in the forty-fourth
year of the Panctya referred to above. According to the calculations of the
late Professor Kielhorn, confirmed by those of Mr. Swamikannu Pillai, this
VIra Pandya ascended the throne in a.d. 1296-97 and the reconsecration of
the Tiruppattur temple must have taken place therefore in the year A.D.
1340, when apparently Vira Pandya was still alive, and his authority was
recognized in this part of the country.
*The other record referring to this event is of a date* two years
later, that is a.d. 1342. It will be well to remember that the years A.D.
1340-42 were the years in which the Hoysala VIra Ballala III made a serious
effort at hemming in the Muhammadans into Madura with a view ultimately to
turn them out of the place. It is an inscription of A.D. 1340, as was
pointed out already, that lays claim to his having erected a pillar of
victory at ' the root ' (SetumQla) of Adam's Bridge. It must also be noted
that it is about the end of the year a.d. 1342 that he died as the result
of a battle at Kannanur. The Tiruppattur records indicate that he was in
the main so successful in the effort that even restoration work could be
undertaken. *The statement of Ibn Batuta that this Hindu ruler* wanted to
take the whole of Ma'bar is thus justified. It was apparently after the
death of this VIra Ballala and possibly after that of his son, that the
chieftain brothers who took upon themselves the responsibility of clearing
South India of the Muhammadans should have continued the policy of the last
Hoysalas. It is worth remarking that the wars of Kumara Kampana, the son of
Bukka, detailed in the Kamparaya Charitam of Gangadevi may have to be
brought in into this interval A.D. 1343 to A.D. 1355-56. The two enemies
against whom Kamparaya won victories were the Sambuvarayans of the North
Arcot and Chingleput districts, and the Sultan of Madura. Without going
into the full details, this poem and several other works, Telugu and
Sanskrit, state that Kampa and his colleagues in the campaign overthrew one
Sambuvarayan, and restored the kingdom to another taking the title
Sambuvaraya (or Sans. Champuraya) Sthapanacharya (he that established
Sambuvaraya in his position). It must also be remembered that the kingdom
of these chieftains is called Raja Gambhlra Rajyam. 1 This Rajagambhlra
Rajyam was hitherto taken diately after the death of Sultan Muhammad in
a.d. 1351. By this time the five brothers who were the successors of the
Hoysalas in their campaigns against the Muhammadans of Madura, had achieved
all that is ascribed to the chief Bakan, who could be no other than the
Bukka of Hindu historical records. So in the early fifties of the
thirteenth century the Muhammadan power in South India suffered an eclipse
from which it emerged, for a period of about twenty years, only to suffer
extinction. When again that power was put an end to, the restoration of the
country to the Hindus is signalized by the restoration of Srlrangam to its
ancient glory and greatness in a.d. 1370-71. This brings us to the end of
the Muhammadan rule in the south ; and the assumption of imperial titles by
the Vijayangar ruler Harihara II comes in at a period when there was not
the faintest chance of any recovery by the Muhammadans of their position in
South India. It is the position of the Muhammadans in the South that
explains what appears the inexplicable delay in the assumption of imperial
titles by the first two rulers of Vijayanagar even when their possession of
the South did become an accomplished fact. Harihara II, assumed for the
first time, the full style of Vijayanagar Emperors, ' the illustrious king
of kings and the supreme lord of kings ; the lord of the eastern, southern,
western and northern oceans ; the unopposed ; a Vainateya (Garuda) to the
snakes (which are) wicked kings and princes ; an adamantine cage for
refugees ; the Dharma (Yudhistira) of the Kali age ; the ear ornament to
the goddess of the Karnataka (country) ; the supporter of the four castes
and
TIRUKKOYILUR INSCRIPTIONS TRANSLATED FROM TAMIL TO ENGLISH
TRANSLATION May prosperity ever attend, While the goddess of wealth whose
habitation is the lotus, and the goddess of earth rest upon his arms ;
while the goddess of learning whose habitation is the tongue, and the
goddess of victory flourish in all their glory ; while the destructive
tiger and the evil-inflicting bow become alike in their decadence ; while
the fishes twain with lines of beauty play upon the brilliant gold mountain
(Meru) ; while good (dharma) increases in this sea-girt earth ; while
righteous rule prevails beating down the evil-producing dark-age (Kali) ;
while the great earth is cool under the shadow of a single umbrella ; while
the three kinds °- of Tamil flourish in their order ; Avhile the four Vedas
continue to be chanted in the accustomed manner ; while the five sacrifices
are conducted according to the authorized rites ; while the six systems of
religion prosper in all their beauty ; while the seven kinds of music
flourished each in its mode ; while the wheel of authority rolls
unobstructed to the eight cardinal points ; while the Konkanas, Kalingas,
Kosalas, Malavas, the Cheras (Villavar), Magadhas, Chalukyas (Vikkalar ?),
Cholas (Sembiyar), Pallavas and all others, bringing each their tribute
make their obeisance, pressing each party their petition, one before the
other, where they are to live ; while the garland, which Indra of the
dazzling crown had put on his neck, shone over his breast ; he had himself
crowned in order that the path of Manu created by the cool-lotus-seated
Brahma may prosper on earth. Getting Tirukkolar Inscription of Mar.
Sundara I 213 the land of the Kaveri (Ponni) rid of the authority under the
tiger-seal, and making the orders under the fish-emblem of the land of
Kumari (Kanni) prevail, he spread round his army of angry steeds and
elephants, and gave over to red-fire the cities of Tanjore (Tanjai) and
Uraiyur (Urandai).
APPENDIX B IBN BATUTA IN SOUTH INDIA ]
God inspired me to have recourse to the tamarind which is very
plentiful in this place. I took about a pound of it and soaked it in water,
then drank this beverage which made me better in three days, and with God's
help I was cured. Being disgusted with the town of Madura, I asked the
Sultan's permission to go on my voyage. He said to me, ' How will you go ?
There is only one month for the Maldive expedition to be got ready. Stay
then until we give you all that the master of the world (the late Sultan)
ordered for you.' I refused and he wrote to Fattan giving me leave to sail
in any vessel I pleased. I found there were eight vessels sailing for Yaman
from Fattan and embarked on one of them. We met three war ships, which
fought with us for a time and then retired. After that we arrived at
Caoulem (Quilon). As I was free from all illness, I remained in this town
for three months and then set sail in order to find the Sultan Djemal-eddin
Alhinaoury (Jamalud-din of Honawar) but infidels attacked us between
Hinaour (Honawar) and Facanaour.
HOW WE WERE DESPOILED BY THE HINDUS When we reached the little island
situated between Hinaour (Honawar) and Facannaour, infidels attacked us
with ten menof-war, and after a lively engagement defeated us. They took
verything I possessed—the store I held in reserve for a rainy Ibn Batata in
the Maldives 243 day—pearls, precious stones given me by the king of
Ceylon, clothes and provisions given me by wealthy men and holy persons.
They left me no garment but a pair of drawers. They also seized all that
belonged to every passenger and sailor, and made us go ashore. I returned
to Calicut and entered one of the mosques.
SEPARETE NOTES:
Hakka and Bukka were incomparable warriors. They continued the freedom
struggle started by Veera Ballala and saved Hindu Dharma and culture when
they were in great danger.Hakka died in 1356. Bukkaraya succeeded him as
king.
When Hakka was fighting the enemies, and also later when he was the King of
Vijayanagar, Bukkaraya gave him all support and was his right-hand man. But
now he had to shoulder all the responsibilities himself. It was now his
work to remove all the obstacles in the path of his country's progress. His
achievements in this direction make as thrilling a history as the
establishment of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Of course, the Vijayanagar Empire had been placed on firm foundations. But
its enemies were always trying to undermine this foundation. Bukkaraya knew
that his first duty was to strengthen the borders of his kingdom and
protect them.
Most of the generals and officers of the Sultan of Delhi had been defeated
and driven away from the South. But some of them had remained behind and
they were trying to build for themselves independent kingdoms. One such
adventurer was Allauddin Hassan Bahamani. He founded a New Kingdom in 1346
at Kalburgi (Gulburga of today), north of the river Krishna. It became
famous as the Bahamani Kingdom.
The Bahamani kings were adventurous. Their ambition was to capture the
whole of South India. Particularly ambitious was Mohammed Shah, one of the
Bahamani kings. Bukkaraya was wise enough to understand the danger from
this king and developed friendship with the King of Warangal. Mohammed Shah
invaded Vijayanagar thrice and all the three times, ran away completely
defeated. But he and his successors put up a continuous struggle to capture
and land between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra.
KR IRS 23121
On Fri, 22 Jan 2021 at 05:10, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty <
[email protected]> wrote:
> *CULTURAL QA 01-2021-16*
>
> *Being a compilation there may be errors*
>
> *Q1 Is there any specific reason TN and Kerala buses are not
> allowed in Majestic Bus Station in Bengaluru?*
>
> A1 Goutham R January 15-2021-It is to decongest Kempegowda
> (Majestic) Bus stand.
>
> Not only TN and Kerala, even Mysore, Madikeri bound Karnataka buses are
> also not allowed in Majestic bus station.
>
> Bengaluru has 3 major bus stations for inter-city travel. Kempegowda
> (Majestic) Bus stand. Shantinagar Bus stand.Mysore Road Satellite Bus
> stand.
>
> Ordinary buses from TN and Kerala will make use of Mysore road satellite
> bus stand, where as, deluxe buses from TN and Kerala will use Shantinagar
> Bus stand.
>
> AP and Telangana ordinary buses will enter Majestic bus stand, whereas ,
> deluxe buses will go to Shantinagar bus stand.
>
> Goa and Maharashtra buses (all category) will go to Majestic only as these
> buses are very less.
>
> *Q2 How did Rishi Bhringi give birth with 3 legs?*
>
> A2 Akshay Mallikarjun October 13 -2020
>
> It is very interesting story-Story of Bhringi Rishi
>
> The story of Bhringi rishi is absolutely one of the most interesting ones
> in Hinduism. His devotion is ultimate and had been praised in several
> scriptures.His story explains the importance of Shakthi(Parvati) and also
> teaches Shiva and Shakthi are the same and never ever separable.
>
> Bhringi was so immersed in God Shiva’s devotion in such a way that, where
> he only offered prayers to God and ignored the Goddess Parvati who is a
> part and parcel of Shiva himself.
>
> One day when Bhringi along with several sages visited mount Kailash to pay
> their respects, All the sages paid their respects to both Shiva and
> Parvati. But, Bhringi had only paid his respects to Shiva by
> circumambulating (pradakshina) and bowing to him, leaving Goddess Parvati
> aside.
>
> The same situation continued whenever the sage visited Kailash.
>
> Annoyed by his acts, Goddess Parvati wished to teach him a lesson that,
> Shiva and Parvati are not different but one and the same.
>
> Next time when the rishi came to offer his prayers, Goddess Parvati sat on
> the left lap of the God Shiva to avoid him to circumambulate only around
> Shiva.
>
> *Seeing this, Bhringi took the form of a bee(some say it as a bird) and
> circumambulated only around Shiva’s head and left the Kailash*.
>
> Next time when he had visited both the god and goddess merged together as
> Ardhanarishvara (The form representing Shiva’s half as Shakti).
>
> *Goddess Parvati thought that he has no chance but to do the pradakshina
> around the*m. However, Bhringi transformed into a small bee and made a
> hole in between them and circumambulated only around Shiva.
>
> Angered by this incident and Bhringi’s steadfastness, lord shiva
> completely turned in to Goddess Parvati she said O Bhringi, your acts might
> be welcomed by your father(Shiva) but not me. I have tried to explain to
> you in several ways that we both are same, but you ignored it.
>
> If you think you only need your father, then why do you need Shakti in
> you? Hence, I am going to take away that part from you.
>
> Thus, the rishi had lost his blood and flesh and left with a bare skeletal
> form.
>
> Seeing Bhringi in such a difficult situation where he was unable to
> support himself, Shiva granted the third leg (some say even third hand
> too) to attain equilibrium and support himself at the same time not to
> revoke the parvati’s sayings and to make understand that they both are same.
>
> Bhringi then realized the fact that Shiva and Shakti are one and
> apologized to Goddess Parvati for his actions.
>
> Seeing the merciful nature of the God Shiva for granting a third leg,
> Bhringi danced out of joy and praised both the god and goddess
>
> *Q3 Which ancient Indian empire is highly underrated?*
>
> A3 Paras Tyagi December 8-2020
>
> The story of the battle at Tungabhadra, Karnataka, 14th Century AD :
>
> Not many are aware of this deadly battle fought with the unprecedented
> valour--the battle that saved India.
>
> India's heart had been getting pierced by the unceasing Arab swords, since
> the 7th century AD.
>
> The men died, women jumped into fire, Johar was at its peak in 13th
> century (Butchering by Khilji) and 14th century (Massacre by Tughlaq).
>
> Be it Mahmud of Ghazni or Mohammad Gauri, every invasion attempt could
> have been outmanoeuvred, had the Indians stood united.
>
> In the dawn of 14th century, the most powerful ruler, the Sultan of Delhi
> eyed the plundering and rape of South India.*But it was the Hoysala
> warriors which the Sultan had to face.*
>
> The battle broke out. The Hoysalas knew their number was no match for the
> Sultan. They asked other small rulers to unite.
>
> Dissent from the idea of unity was the norm.
>
> The men of Hoysala died and the Sultans established themselves.
>
> The Sultan's empire mushroomed like plague.
>
> Hoysala fell--except it didn't.
>
> Ballala, the king along with a clutch of men had managed to cheat death.
> He regrouped and attacked again.
>
> There was a small ruler Sangama, his sons displayed exemplary courage in
> the wars against Sultan under the leadership of Ballala.
>
> One of them two sons would earn the designation of Mahamandaleshwara (King
> of North Hoysala, though tentatively).
>
> Harihara and Bukkarya, sons of Sangama, aimed at it.
>
> Harihara, being the eldest became the crown head. This disturbed Bukkarya
> and that's where the battles are lost.
>
> For example : In future, the brothers of the greatest rajput rulers
> Chandrasen and Maharana Prarap would fight alongside Akbar against their
> own people.
>
> Tungabhadra was being defended by King Ballala. But a wave of terror had
> been unleashed in Madurai by Sultan's men. King Ballala had to leave for it.
>
> Tungabhadra stood unguarded, unmanned, unbounded.
>
> Harihara gathered all the men he could, united as many rulers as he could
> to protect Tungabhadra as a battalion of Sultan readied themselves to
> slaughter Harihara's men in a seemingly easy battle.
>
> The only way to win the battle was to do something that the Sultan's men
> would never see coming.
>
> Harihara donned the ‘element of surprise' and swore to carve the mark of
> death upon his enemies' flesh. The invading sultan expected him to defend
> but fueled with the horrors of imagined genocide and johar, Harihara
> charged to their camps and unleashed a relentless carnage--disseminating a
> message that ‘It wasn't Arabs who were only entitled to fanaticism’.
>
> Harirhara won the initial bouts but the battle changed its course. He had
> thought a major part of Sultan's force would have left for Madurai. But he
> had mis-calculated and wasn't able to unite more rulers.
>
> Harihara was staring at a certain death as the Sultan's men brutally
> outnumbering them, laid the final onslaught.
>
> But Harihara's brother Bukarrya had made his choice--the choice to free
> the motherland from the pouncing rabid wolves. Neither his brother, nor the
> nation, the only thing Bukarrya betrayed was submission.
>
> United with the remaining rulers, Bukarrya arrived and crushed Sultan's
> men to the last soul.
>
> Harihara and Bukarrya snatched this victory from the jaws of death.
>
> * Why this victory at Tungabhadra was important?*
>
> Because the two brothers Hukka and Bukka, as the people affectionately
> called them, never looked back after this and established the greatest
> empire in the toughest times — the Vijayanagara empire.
>
> That saffron spread symbolising the Vijayanagara empire, the most
> underrated today, didn't last for a year or two but for the centuries and
> centuries.
>
> *Q4 What are some mind-blowing facts about Lord Murugan Temple,
> Palani?*
>
> A4 Sunitha Parapatla· October 22-2020
>
> The temple in Palani is one of the six abodes of God Murugan, in the form
> of Lord Dandayudhapani, which means He holds a danda or stick in his hand
> to punish the evil.
>
> While the story of how God Murugan or Kartikey came to reside in Palani is
> a popular tale. As per Shiva Purana, one day Sage Narada visited the
> celestial abode of Shiva mount Khailash to present to him a fruit, the
> gnana_palam (the fruit of knowledge). Shiva decided to award it to
> whichever of His two sons, who encircle the world thrice. Accepting the
> challenge, Murugan started his journey around the globe on his mount
> peacock. However, Ganesha, who surmised that the world was no more than
> his parents Shiva and Shakthi combined, circumambulated them and won the
> fruit. Murugan was furious and felt the need to get matured from boyhood
> and hence chose to remain as a hermit in Palani.
>
> The main idol of God Subramanya in Palani is a very powerful one and has
> healing powers
>
> The idol of God is in the form of an young ascetic. Having renounced the
> world, Lord Dandayudhapani stands with a staff in his right hand and with a
> rudraksha bead necklace around his neck. Shunning away all worldly
> possessions, the only apparel he has chosen to retain is a lioncloth.
>
> The temple has been sanctified by the penance of numerous sages and
> siddhas. In one of his immortal songs, the great Saint *Arunagirināthar
> sang "My Lord, You sit on a Holy Hill which is superlative and exceeds even
> the spiritual glory of Kasi.*
>
> But it is Saint Bogar who played a pivotal role in the narratives
> associated with the Palani Murugan idol. Bogar, one of Hinduism’s 18
> greatest Siddhars, was a devotee of Murugan and founder of the Siddha
> alchemical practices. *He's also said to have created and sanctified the
> Palani Murugan idol himself.*
>
> Unlike other deities in Hindu temples, which are commonly sculpted out of
> granite, the idol in Palani is made of an amalgam known as navapāsanam.
> In Sanskrit, the word nava has two meanings. Nava means both 'new' and
> also 'nine'. Similarly, the word bhasana also has two meanings. Bhasana
> means 'poison' and may also mean 'mineral'.
>
> According to ancient literature, Bogar made the idol with a clever mixture
> of nine poisonous metals. He then harnessed the poisonous nature of all
> these metals, hardened it like granite and converted it into a beneficial
> amalgam with medicinal and curative values.
>
> *The exact calculation by Sage Bogar is still unknown, but substances that
> touch the idol are believed to acquire healing powers.*
>
> Abhishekam or the holy shower given to the Murugan idol normally using
> liquids such as milk, Panchamritham (a sweet jam-like mixture made from
> fresh and dried fruits, honey, jaggery, ghee, and other natural substances)
> among others, becomes a prasadam or offering with healing properties.
>
> And Sandalwood paste applied on the idol and left overnight, is considered
> to act like a wonder drug for many incurable and complex diseases.
>
> All devotees on a pilgrimage to Palani can visit the shrine dedicated to
> Bogar in the southwestern corridor of the temple. Legend has it that it
> is connected to the subterranean tunnel cave in the heart of Palani Hills,
> where Bogar continues to meditate and maintain his vigil with eight idols
> of Lord Murugan.
>
> I have visited Palani few years back, and heard about God Murugan's idol
> story here. They say when Abhishekam is performed to Kartikeya's idol *and
> when that was distributed as prasad to the devotees, the people used to go
> into a trans or eternal bliss (spiritual awakening) and many people
> couldn't handle the immense positive energy.* So they have stopped
> distributing the Abhishekham as Naivedyam to the devotees and they dilute
> it and give them , few say that's not the case.
>
> *Few even say because of continuous Abhishekam, God Murugan's idol started
> to deteriorate and it's* forbidden in Hinduism to do prayer for a broken
> Idol, so the temple authorities have replaced the Murugan idol. But after
> criticism from the devotees, they again installed the original idol only
> and started to do Abhishekam.
>
> *Q5 Why is the Shiva Linga placed in Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain
> facing the south direction?*
>
> A5 Priyanshu Upadhyay October 29-2020
>
> Before it, let me narrate a story first
>
> Once upon a time, 4 sons of god brahma became very arrogant of their
> knowledge, they thought only they know the supreme truth.
>
> In that arrogance, they challenged mahadev for a debate and mahadev
> offered them place to sit before starting the debate. They all sat facing
> towards east, while mahadev sat facing towards south
>
> Facing towards south is considered as bad because it brings bad luck to
> life
>
> So sons of god brahma said to mahadev , “you don't know even the simple
> rule that one should not sit facing south”
>
> Mahadev smiled and replied, “ all the misfortune turns in fortune by
> taking my name, i am beyond good and bad, you shouldn't be worried about me”
>
> Shivling of mahakaleshwar is known as mahakaal, means lord of time and
> death.
>
> And since south direction represent death, shivling in mahakaleshwar
> temple facing towards the direction of death indicating that he is the
> slayer of death itself and giver of eternal liberation, and his devotees
> shouldn't be afraid of death.
>
> *Q6 Why does India have a larger area than Pakistan?*
>
> A6 Balaji Viswanathan Updated June 30, 2014
>
> India was divided along religious lines *in 1947 to create the new nation
> of Pakistan that was again split in 1971 to create Bangladesh.*
>
> The Muslim population of India at the time of partition was around 20%.
> Thus, in a fair cut 20% of India should have gone to the Muslims. That's
> what happened: Pakistan + Bangladesh = 20% of land area of India before the
> partition.
>
> Now, which parts should go to the Muslims? That can be answered by this
> 1909 map. The dark red regions are the ones with an absolute Hindu
> majority. Does this map's outline remind you of anything?
>
> Yes. This is the current map of India that retained all the dark red
> regions from above.
>
> If you think the concept of partition as fair, then Pakistan could not
> have expected better than what they got. Almost half the Muslims of British
> India chose to stay back in India, while the majority of Hindus in
> Pakistan was forced to move to India. Thus, Pakistan got a 20 % land area
> while taking only 10% of the population.
>
> In my humble view, the whole exercise ended up equally unfair to both the
> Hindus and Muslims. About 14 million minorities were caught on the wrong
> side of the border and were forced to migrate - 7 million of them were
> Muslims and 7 million of them were Hindus. Millions of lives were lost for
> no reason.
>
> All the above QA are based on Quora digest to me on 21-1-2021. Quora
> answers need not be 100% correct answers
>
> *Compiled and posted by R. Gopala krishnan on 22-1-2021*
>
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