Sri Ranganathar Thirukkovil Vimanam - Sowcarpet

 

Hidden inside the narrow  lanes and bylanes of Sowcarpet area - 

beautiful Sri Ranganathar Temple

 in Mulla Sahib street running parallel to Mint St at one place.

Thiruvallikkeni Sri Alawandhar sarrumurai 2026

 

Swami Aalavandhar Thiruvallikkeni

Sarrumurai purappadu 30.7.2026 – hazy cloudy view of gopuram after rains !

Thirumylai Sri Madhava Perumal Pavithrothsavam 2026

 

Pre-script:  though a long winding post starting with battlefield of 1746 – No war post this !! 

 

A war nearer home ! centuries ago – ramification of ‘War of Austrian Succession’  - stop Madras to Austria – crossing seas and multiple continents – approx 7000 km away .. and a war fought between British East India Company and French East India Company !!  

According to historians, French reinforcements from Pondicherry did not sail into Madras harbour. Instead they landed on the open coast near present-day Thiruvanmiyur/Besant Nagar, where the surf permitted boats to land troops. They numbered approximately: 300 French, 700 Indian sepoys commanded by Louis Paradis. From the beach the troops marched north-west.  There was no Marina Beach as we know it.  Instead there were – sand dunes, scrub vegetarion, marshes, tidal channels and a wider river (Adyaru). 

Their rivals the British with Nawab's Army blocked the crossing. The Nawab's son Mahfuz Khan understood the French had to cross the river. He therefore deployed nearly 10,000 cavalry and infantry on the north bank of the Adyar, stretching from San Thome toward what is now Quibble Island, with artillery covering likely crossing points. 

So a battle of Adyar occurring somewhere nearer Mylapore !!   The French did not build a bridge. They crossed the shallow estuary at low tide, wading through water while maintaining disciplined formations. Contemporary re-enactments place the crossing in the coastal strip between today's Adyar Estuary and Elliot's Beach.  History records that in  September 1746 the French fleet under La Bourdonnais captured Fort St. George from the British. 

The Nawab of Arcot, Anwar-ud-din Khan, objected because neither European company technically owned Madras outright; they held it under the Nawab's authority. He ordered the French to hand over Madras. The French refused. That refusal led directly to the Battle of Adyar.  French commander Louis Paradis marched from  mylapore area  toward Madras. Instead of remaining on the defensive, he crossed the Adyar River and attacked. The disciplined French infantry advanced in compact formations supported by well-drilled artillery. The Nawab's forces, although vastly superior in numbers, fought largely in traditional cavalry formations that proved ineffective against concentrated musket volleys and field artillery. Within a short time, the Nawab's army broke and retreated. French casualties were remarkably light, while the Nawab suffered much heavier losses.  

Many historians consider the Battle of Adyar one of the most significant military engagements in early colonial India.  It demonstrated European military superiority. The battle proved that disciplined infantry using coordinated musket fire and artillery could defeat armies many times their size. The French victory relied not only on Europeans but also on Indian soldiers trained in European tactics. The British quickly learned the same lesson and later developed their own large sepoy armies.  

Strangely the loss in war paved the way for British expansion as they invested on Indian sepoys to defeat their own Nation and keep parts of India unified under their control.  Much of the original battlefield has since been urbanised, and the river's course has changed somewhat over nearly three centuries.  

Today’s post is on this Thirumylai and an important uthsavam at this temple in the centre of Mylapore.

 

In the capital of Tamil Nadu is the pristine Temple of Sri Parthasarathi Swami at Thiruvallikkeni.   Though not the earliest British settlement in the Indian Peninsula, Madras possessed a peculiar interest as constituting, with the exception of the insignificant site at Armagon, the first territorial acquisition by the English in Hindustan.    It is a place that predates British rule by several centuries; it was occupied by the Portuguese in 1523, which  lasted until 1749, later falling  into the hands of the British East India Company.   It is “Mylapore” [Thiru Mayilai],  a cultural hub; one of the oldest residential parts of the city, also known as VEdapuri and Mayurapuri ~    Thirumayilai has the avathara sthalam of Sri Peyalwar at Arundale Street – nearer is Sri Madhava Perumal thirukovil.  Mylai is famous for Sri Kapaleeswarar temple which is connected with the S'aivite Nayanmars.   

Now is the time for Thirupavithrothsavam for Sri Madhava Perumal – this morning there was yaga salai and goshti of Thirupallandu, Thiruppavai and 5^th and 6^th decads of Swami Nammalwar’s Thiruvaimozhi. Here are some photos of most beautiful Sri Madhava Perumal at Thirumylai taken during His pavithrothsavam. 

adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathukmar
26^th July 2o26.

 

 

 

Sri Thelliya Singar Pushpa pallakku 2026

Both the Gopurams and many Vimanas also seen in the backdrop !!

 

Sri Azhagiya Singar Chandra Prabhai and Moon !!!

 

Alignment of Celestial and Symbolism of Moons.

Sri Thelliya Signar Chandra Prabhai purappadu

 

The waxing gibbous Moon present, perhaps watching from the sky – the  Chandra Prabhai Vahana purappadu, as Sri Azhagiya Sinar  blesses devotees beneath the night sky. 

A celestial moon above, and the symbolic Chandra Prabhai below—both celebrating the Lord's divine radiance.

 

Please note – this is a composite (collage) image. [ChatGPT edited] Chandra Prabhai was filmed as it aligned with Western gopuram; the  Moon was photographed separately, from the same location and on the same night, and has been artistically composited into the scene, placed exactly where it was seen when photographing the  purappadu. 

As usual look forward to your feedback / comments.

 
Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
28.6.2026

Sri Parthasarathi pushpa pallakku 2026

 

Sri Parthasarathi Perumal pushpa pallakku 2026

-         Front decoration of pallakku aligned with backside of Rajagopuram

Udayavar 2026 - Uthsavam started today

 

 

Swami Emperumanar Ramanujar uthsavam 2026 started art Thiruvallikkeni  today

Udayavar in pallakku with neerazhi mandapam & rajagopuram in background 

13.4.2026

Thirupputkuzhi - Gopuramum Thirukulamum - in lights

 

Thirupputkuzhi divyadesam – thirukkulam and Gopuram in lights - 2019

Kairavini Pushkarini, neerazhi mandapam, Theppam & Kovil Gopuram

 Thiruvallikkeni theppothsavam [7 days] starts from tomorrow – Masi Amavasai 17.2.2026

Looks surreal -  Kairavini Pushkarini, the holy tank of Sri Parthasarathi Thirukkovil nerazhi mandapam – theppam and Thirukkovil Gopuram. 

கைரவிணி  புஷ்கரிணி என்பது திருவல்லிக்கேணி ஸ்ரீபார்த்தசாரதி எம்பெருமான்  திருக்கோவிலின் புனித குளம்.    மிக புனிதமானது.  இப்பொய்கையை கண்டாலே ஆனந்தம் மிகுந்து, தீவினைகள் எல்லாம் அகலும். பருகிலினாலே மிக பேறு  கிட்டும்; குடைந்தாடுவோர்க்கு மறு பிறவியே கிடையாதாம் ! - அவ்வளவு சிறப்பு பெற்றது இந்த குளம்.  திருவல்லிக்கேணி என்ற பெயர்க்காரணம் ஆன  தடாகை.   

கைரவம் என்றால் செவ்வல்லி - ஆம்பல் வகை பூவினம். இந்த தடாகத்தில் செவ்வல்லி மண்டி நீரை மறைத்து இருந்து வந்தது.  திருவட்டாறு, திருச்சிற்றாறு (திருச்செங்குன்னூர்), பெருங்குளம், வெள்ளக்குளம் என பல திவ்யதேசங்கள் தடாகங்களின் கரையிலே அமைந்துள்ளது போல - இவ்வூர் செவ்வல்லி நிறைந்த கைரவிணி திருக்குளக்கரையினில் அமைந்தமையால் "திரு அல்லிக்கேணி" 

Taken with Samsung Galaxy S24 FE - 16.2.2026 

Mangalagiri Sri Narasimhar Gopuram

 

Raja gopuram of Mangalagiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha temple

as zoomed from Sri Panakala Narasimha swami gudi .. ..- Mangalagiri, Guntur.

file picture 

Sri Sankatahara Mangala Maruthi thirukkovil

 

Sri Sankatahara Mangala Maruthi Devasthanam

(Sri Mangala Maruthi Anjeneyar Temple)

Thiruvonamangalam, near Alangudi/Kumbakonam in the Tiruvarur district

சிந்தாமணியே திருவேங்கடம் மேய எந்தாய்! ~ Sri Lakshmi Balaji temple

 

This morning I had queried -  இந்த அழகான சிலை எங்குள்ளது !! யூகிக்க முடியுமா !!   – Clue : திவ்யதேசமல்ல, பிரபலமான கோவில் அல்ல, சென்னை மாநகரத்தில் !!

 

எம்பெருமான் உறையும் சிறப்பான இடங்கள் -  பரமபதம், திருப்பாற்கடல், திருவேங்கடம், ஏனைய திவ்யதேசங்கள். இத்தகைய  அஸாதாரண ஸ்தலங்களை தவிர பல இடங்களில் நாம் சேவிக்க ஸ்ரீனிவாசர்  திருக்கோவில்கள் அழகுற அமைந்துள்ளன.   இவ்வாறு  வந்த இடங்களிலும்  ஜ்ஞாநாநுஷ்டாநங்ளிற்சிறந்த யோகிகளின் மனத்தைத் தேடியோடாமல்  அடிநாய் ஆன நம் போன்ற பக்தர்களின் மனதிலும்   தேடிப்பிடித்து வந்து புகுந்து நம்மை ஆட்கொள்வதே அவன் சிறப்பு. 

In the concrete jungle of Chennai, the  Pallikaranai Marshland,   is a vital freshwater and brackish wetland designated as a Ramsar site, supporting rich biodiversity with numerous resident and migratory birds, reptiles, and fish, acting as a crucial natural flood buffer for the city despite threats from urban development, pollution, and waste, with ongoing efforts for its conservation and boundary demarcation.  Over the years it has become a crucial stopover for migratory birds and a natural flood buffer for the city, although it faces threats from urbanization. It's a major birdwatching spot, home to diverse species like flamingos, pelicans, ibis, and crocodiles, and supports various reptiles, fish, and butterflies.  

A Ramsar site is a wetland designated of "international importance" under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971). These sites are recognized for their ecological value, biodiversity, and critical habitats for species like waterfowl. They are managed through international cooperation to ensure "wise use" and sustainable conservation.  

And .. as we travel from Velachery crossing the marshlands cutting across the Pallavaram radial road leading to Thuraipakkam on one side, there is this long bridge at Kamakshi hospital junction / NIOT, we reach Pallikaranai, on way to Medavakkam, further to Tambaram.  One comes across -  Sree Balaji Dental College & Hospital, established in  1989,   now boasting a vast built-up area and  state-of-the-art clinical departments.  Here the road branches off to Kamakoti Nagar, another suburb, this time with neat row houses and villas. 

 

இதோ இங்கே கலியன் திருமங்கைமன்னனின் திருமொழி பாசுரம் - திருவேங்கடவன் விஷயமாக  : 

வந்தாயென்மனம் புகுந்தாய் மன்னிநின்றாய் *

நந்தாத கொழுஞ்சுடரே எங்கள் நம்பீ! *

சிந்தாமணியே திருவேங்கடம் மேய

எந்தாய்! * இனியான்  உன்னை என்றும் விடேனே.

 ஒருகாலும் அணையாத  சிறந்த தேஜஸ்ஸாயிருப்பவனே!;  எங்களுடைய குறையை நிரப்பவல்ல பூர்ணனே!; நினைத்த மாத்திரத்தில் எல்லாவற்றையும் கொடுத்தருள வல்லவனே! ; திருமலையிலெழுந்தருளியிருக்கும் பெருமானே!  நீர் என்னருகே வந்தீர், என் மனம் புகுந்தீர், மனதுக்குள்ளே பொருந்தி நின்றுள்ளீர்கள். இனிமேல் அடியேன் உம்மை ஒருநாளும் விடமாட்டேன்.உமக்கு பணி கைங்கர்யங்கள் செய்து, உம்மை அடைவதே பிறவி பெரும்பயன்.  

Kamakoti Nagar is  a residential area that has this beautiful temple of Lord Srinivasa – ‘Sri  Lakshmi Balaji temple”.  This is relatively new temple, of recent decades with Lord Srinivasa worshipped as ‘Lakshmi Balaji’ – uniquely Srinivasar having Lakshmi in the lower half of His body.   Just as Shiva and his consort appear in a single form as Ardhanareeswara, in this temple, Balaji and his consort appear in a single form like this.  

The moolavar vigraham is around seven foot high impressive and has Alarmelmangai thayar sannathi and Andal sannathi on either sides.  The temple also enshrines vigrahams of Lakshmi Narasimha, Anjaneya & Swami Emperumanar Ramanujar.  Garuda stands  facing towards the sanctum.   The flagstaff and bali peedam are inside the temple itself.

 
Here are some photos of this beautiful temple.
 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
24.1.2026

 

Gopura darsanam ~ where would you find this bommai !!

 

Our divine Temples showcase great architecture as well.  Our   temples are renowned for their massive, intricately carved gopurams (gateway towers)  with the tallest ones often rising over 200 feet. Key examples include the 239.5-ft Rajagopuram at Srirangam, the 249-ft tower at Murudeshwara, and the 217-ft eastern tower at Tiruvannamalai besides the beautiful gopuram at Sri Villiputhur.  

The gopurams are designed and constructed as per rules given in the texts of Vaastu Shastra.  It is usually a tapering oblong in form with ground-level wooden doors, often richly decorated, providing access. In Tamil language, gopuram is a derivation is from two words: கோ (kō) and புறம் (puram) meaning 'king' and 'exterior' respectively. During the Sangam period, it was known as ஓங்கு நிலை வாயில் (ōnggu nilai vāyil) meaning 'imperishable gateway'. 

No post on Gopuram – just as I am preparing a post on a lesser-known Temple, here is a teaser -  a bommai on its Gopuram .. .. ….. try and identify the place !!

 

‘கோபுர தரிசனம் கோடி புண்ணியம்’ - . காலையில் எழுந்ததும் முதல் தரிசனமாக   கோயில் கோபுரத்தைக் கண்டால் அந்த நாள் முழுவதும்  எல்லா வித நன்மைகளும் நடக்கும்.  பெரிய கோபுரங்களில், அழகாக செதுக்கப்பட்ட பற்பல சிற்பங்களை காணலாம்.  பொதுவாக, பெருமாளின் அவதாரங்கள், லீலா மஹிமைகள், ஆழ்வார் ஆசார்யர்கள்,   தேவதைகள், பக்தர்கள், யானை, பசு, முதலான விலங்குகள் என  அமைக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கும்.  இப்படி ஒவ்வொரு பொம்மைகளையும் செதுக்கும் பொழுது அதில் இலக்கண விதி உண்டு. இந்த விதிக்கு ‘பிரதிமாலட்சணம்’ என்பது பெயராகும்.  இதில் தெய்வ உருவங்கள் அமைக்கப்படும்பொழுது அதன் கண்கள் அனுகிரக பார்வையுடன் சாந்தமாக அமைக்கப்பட்டு இருக்க வேண்டும். தெய்வத்தின் திருமுகத்தை விட, உடல் பத்து மடங்கு பெரியதாக இருக்க வேண்டுமாம் 

இந்த அழகான சிலை எங்குள்ளது !!  யூகிக்க முடியுமா !! (பதில் மாலை பதிவில்) – Clue : திவ்யதேசமல்ல, பிரபலமான கோவில் அல்ல, சென்னை மாநகரத்தில் !!

 

S. Sampathkumar

24.1.2026

Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Rajagopuram …. Thiruvallikkeni 2026

 

Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Rajagopuram

Night view …. Thiruvallikkeni 2026

The illuminated Gopuram does look great but as I posted, I observed that there was another image of the gopuram appearing on the right side of the photo especially the Thenkalai Thiruman – was wondering how it could be and so had engrossing fruitful conversation with ChatGPT which gave some scholarly, technical inputs. 

This picture was taken with Google Pixel Pro from quite a distance, ie., from  the other side of the Temple tank (Kairavini pushkarini) with high mast lamp illuminating in front of the Gopuram standing in the path  in between  from where the photo was taken and the gopuram. 

The meta-details are :  date 18.1.2026 – time 18.28 pm, foggy atmosphere, no Son and fading dim lights. Focal length 18mm; Exp 1/25; Aperture 2.97; ISO 276, white balance – auto.  Here is what  Chat GPT analysed at length :   

The faint “duplicate” image of the gopuram on the right side is caused by lens flare / internal reflection inside the camera lens. 

Here’s why it shows up there specifically:

The hi-mast lamp in front is extremely bright compared to the rest of the scene.

That strong light enters the camera lens and bounces between lens elements (modern phone cameras have multiple glass layers).

Some of that reflected light forms a ghost image of bright objects in the scene — in this case, the illuminated gopuram. 

These ghost images usually appear:

·        Offset from the original

·        Often on the opposite side of the bright light source

·        Slightly blurred, faded, or stretched

·        That’s why you’re seeing a dim, shifted version of the gopuram floating on the right.

Extra clues that confirm lens flare:

·        It only shows up at night

·        It aligns roughly with the axis between the lamp and the gopuram

·        It looks translucent, not solid

·        Power lines and structures don’t “interact” with it physically

Here is the image of lens flare marked

Thj  temples + lights trigger this a lot because of :  Temple decorations = tons of point light sources;  Hi-mast lamps = overpowering brightness; Phone cameras = small lenses, more prone to flare 

Further the  ghost keeps the same orientation as the gopuram because it’s formed by specular reflections.  A phone camera lens is a stack of curved glass elements. When a very bright source ( hi-mast lamp here) hits them:

·        Light from the real gopuram image is already properly focused onto the sensor.

·        Some of that light reflects off the sensor surface (yes, sensors reflect too).

·        That reflected light then bounces off a lens element and comes back toward the sensor.

·        This second pass forms a secondary image — the ghost.

Crucially:

👉 The light follows almost the same optical path as the original image.  Here is  the reflection axis line as drawn by ChatGPT.  

The greenish “shade” or cast in parts of the photo is most likely coming from mixed artificial lighting and their reflections on nearby objects and haze, not from the temple itself.  The tall stadium-type mast lights at the top are a cool yellow‑white, while many of the decorative lights and street lights are different colors and temperatures; when these mix on surfaces (ground, buildings, haze), they create patches of unusual tint or shade in the frame.

I am really bowled over by the intelligence and technical snippets provided by ChatGPT.  Hats off to Technology !! 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

17.1.2026

Thanjaimaamanikovil Sri Narasimha perumal thirukkovil 2025

 

Thanjaimaamanikovil Sri Narasimha perumal kovil