Pranam OLDEST TEMPLE
1 The history of India is very old and so is the history of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma with which temples are associated. The construction of temples started somewhere 2000 years ago. But the question of finding an answer to the oldest temple in India <https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/travel/top-10-temples-of-india> is bit difficult. Each temple that is considered to be the oldest is questioned by another set of people claiming their temple to be the oldest one. 2 Worship and temple patterns have also evolved with India and its communities. Earlier Hindus used to worship cave temples so there was no need to construct temples. People used to bury their dead in these caves, which they used to cover with huge round stones. With the process of cremation, Chaitya caves came into existence, which then were the places of worship. But there was an end to it with Manu Smriti on which most of the Hindu orthodoxy is based. This brought in the tradition of worshiping Gods like Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh in temples. *So the people started to worship these deities in the cave temples. The earliest example of this kind was a cave temple that was built in around 400 B.C. at Bhaje containing images of learned Parasurama with Indra and Surya.* 3 Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple located in Thiruvananthapuram is believed to be the first ever temple to have been built in Kerala. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is also one of the oldest Vishnu temples in the country. The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple was built in the 16th Century by the kings who ruled over the then kingdom of Travancore. Local legends say the Travancore kings sealed immense riches within the thick stone walls and vaults of the temple. 4 Hence Temples of Kerala were just 500 years old ONLY. Historically and puranically connected temples of India are more than 2000 year old. 5 Tamilnadu has many temples which are 2000 years old. CHENNAI: The remains of a brick temple, dating back to the late Tamil Sangam period [circa 1st century B.C. to 2nd century A.D.], have been discovered on the seafront near the Tiger Cave at Saluvankuppam, a few km ahead of the world-famous Mamallapuram monuments. The Archaeological Survey of India (Chennai Circle) during excavations in the area found the brick temple beneath a Pallava temple of circa 8th century A.D. *The Hindu* had published a report on the discovery of the Pallava temple, built of granite blocks, on July 13, 2005. 2000 years old "The brick temple is the most ancient temple discovered so far in Tamil Nadu. There is no doubt that it is about 2,000 years old," said T. Satyamurthy, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Chennai Circle. Twenty-seven courses of bricks with a square garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) that made the Sangam age temple form the centrepiece of the discovery. The temple is dedicated to Muruga, the presiding deity of "kurinji" [hill] tracts. The sanctum measures 2 metres by 2.2 metres. The bricks measure 40 cm x 20 cm x 7 cm. They are still sturdy. The big-sized bricks are typical of the period and are similar to those found at Kaveripoompattinam near Thanjavur; Uraiyur in Trichy district — Uraiyur was the capital of the Cholas of the Sangam age; Mangudi near Tirunelveli; and Arikkamedu in Pondicherry. They have been sent to the University of Manipur for thermo-luminescent dating. The results are awaited. 6 Kerala temples where the process of the worship of idols started, very later than other parts of the nation. KR IRS 22 5 22 On Sun, 22 May 2022 at 12:11, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > *Vettakkorumakan Temple, Nilambur Kovilakam, Malappuram- **Forward.* > > Respected friends, > > The marriage of my daughter was conducted at Trivandrum, and after > betrothal, the worship was done in Vettaikkorumakan temple near the > marriage hall. I just occasionally mentioned this to one of my colleagues > at Calicut from Nilambur palace while working there. Then he immediately > told me, about the Vettaillorumakan temple at Nilambur. Recently I could > read a good write up about the temple and I thought *I may forward the > same. * > > Vettakkorumakan Temple, located in Nilambur of Malappuram district is a > must-see temple for Hindu mythology enthusiasts and devotees alike. This > temple built *around 200 years ago, is managed by the Royal family of > Nilambur, the Nilambur Kovilakam. *This grand temple constructed in > traditional Kerala style architecture is very visually appealing and is > located in a serene landscape adjacent to the river Chaliyar. The six-day > festival called the 'Nilambur Pattu Utsavam' held here is very famous and > attracts many tourists for its unique and colourful rituals. > > *History:* > > Vettakkoru Makan is a Hindu deity worshipped in parts of North Kerala and > North-Western Tamil Nadu. This deity is alternately referred as > Kiratha-Sunu (son of Kirata) in Sanskrit. *Vettakkorumakan is believed to > be the son of Lord Shiva by his consort Parvathi, born when he assumed the > form of a Kirata (hunter) to deliver a weapon known as Pashupathasthra to > Arjuna*. > > It is believed that the words, *“Vettakkaran Makan” which means son of > the hunter became “Vettakkorumakan”.* He is mostly and exclusively > worshipped in Malabar region of Kerala. Traditionally, He was the deity of > hunting, in northern Kerala, people who went for hunting used to give > oblations (vazhipadu) at the shrines of Vettakkarumakan. *The most famous > temple of this deity is the Balussery Kotta Vettakkorumakan temple about 25 > km from Calicut*. This was once the fort of the Rajas of Kurumbranad. > Other prominent temples are at Nileshwar, Kottakkal, Nilambur, Karaparamba > and various places in Kannur district and Kasargod district. He is the > family deity of the Rajas of Chirakkal, Nileshwar, Kottakkal, Nilambur > Kovilakam, Kalathil Kartha's , Aluva, Amarambalam Kovilakam and Randu Illam > Vargam Nambiars. *Those families among the erstwhile nobility of Malabar > who have Vettakkorumakan as their family deity are connected in one way or > other* incidentally to either Balussery Fort or Kurumbranad. > > Legend: > > Vettakkorumakan is the son born to Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati, when > they took the "Kiratha" form. Arjuna underwent penance as per the guidance > of Lord Krishna to please Shiva. His aim was to get the magical weapons, > especially the “Pasupathasthra” from Shiva. Pleased with his devotion, Lord > Shiva and Parvathy appeared in front of him in disguise of tribal couple > who were on hunting and blessed Arjuna with Pasupatha Asthra after > thouroughly testing him.After blessing Arjuna, Shiva and Parvathy spent > many days inside the forest in disguise of tribal hunters. During this > period they had a son born of extraordinary effulgence and that is > Vettakkorumakan or 'son born during hunting', to put it roughly. *The boy > was very mischievous.* During his hunting he killed many asuras. But > making free use of his bow and arrows he also gave endless trouble to the > Devas and Rishis. > > Unable to bear his mischief they first approached Brahma who expressed his > helplessness as the boy was the son of Shiva. Then they besought the help > of Shiva Himself who however dismissed them by saying that he being a boy > would be naturally naughty and he would be all right when he grew up. > > As a last resort they approached Mahavishnu who took the form of an old > hunter and went to the boy. *Vishnu displayed before the boy a golden > "churika",(dagger-cum-sword) which was so beautiful that it attracted the > boy who begged him to make a present of it.* Vishnu agreed provided he > would behave in a responsible manner by giving up his bow and started > protecting the people instead of harming them. > > The boy accepted the condition and with the 'churika' took leave of his > parents from Kailasa and went to the land of Parasurama, Kerala. He crossed > several mountains and forests and rivers and *reached North Kerala where > he first entered the Balussery Fort*. Hence the importance of the > Balussery temple dedicated to Vettakkorumakan though the Lord later visited > other places where He was revered and worshipped. Thus Lord Vettakorumakan > reached Nilambur, befriended the King and promised to remain there to > protect the people from all evil fate > > Festivals: > > Pattu Uthsavam: > > Originally called 'Nilambur Valiya Kalam Pattu' now turns to Festival of > Nilambur called 'Pattulsav & Tourism Festival'. This is a 6 day festival is > held annually in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (January). *In this "Kalam > Patu”, the image of Vettakkorumakan will be drawn using five natural colors > and will be rubbed off with tender coconut leaves by dancing in tune with > songs that praise Vettakkorumakan*.Royal family members sing along with > the tribal people and in between the song they break 12,008 coconuts as an > offering to the Lord. > > *By Team Devaayanam at November 14, 2016* > > *My note- Vettaikkorumakan temple at Trivandrum is close to > Sreekanteswaram temple in Trivadrum in the west fort area.* > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1550728299.1011415.1653201649327%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1550728299.1011415.1653201649327%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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