Maratha links to Chennai temple?

Maratha links to Chennai temple?

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Maratha-links-to-Chennai-temple/articleshow/6141204.cms

 

B Sivakumar, TNN, Jul 8, 2010, 05.37am IST

 

CHENNAI: It was the collapse of the temple tower at Srikalahasti in

Andhra Pradesh that spurred experts to inspect the 'rajagopurams'

(towers) characteristic of Chennai's temples. What they discovered

were not cracks or fissures but rare sculptures including one of the

Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which embellish the intricate carvings on these

structures.

 

"While climbing up the tiers of different temple towers across the

city, we stumbled upon rare idols whose existence was unknown," said

an expert.

 

After the Srikalahasti temple tower collapsed in late May, it was

reported that the 236-feet-tall 'rajagopuram' in Srirangam, Tiruchi

too had a crack. A team from Chennai, consisting of officers from the

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) department, IIT

professors, highway department officials and sthapathis (sculptors),

then rushed to Srirangam to conduct an inspection. Soon afterwards,

the team also visited other temples across Chennai and its suburbs to

check the strength of these towers, which usually grace the entrance

to the shrines.

 

"We noticed a sculpture of Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar sitting

cross-legged, with some palm leaves in his hand, at the Kalikambal

temple in Broadway. Another sculpture depicting the marriage of Shiva

and Parvathi was found at the Karneeswarar temple in Saidapet," said

an official. "The Kalikambal temple also has a rare painting and a

sculpture showing Goddess Kali blessing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj." It is

said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited the temple in the year 1677 and offered

prayers to the deity.

 

Historical records indicate that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's army came down south up to

Kancheepuram, then under the sway of the Nawab of Arcot, who owed

allegiance to the British. Legend has it that he visited the temple

one night during a recce after he heard that the presiding deity was

Kali, his favourite goddess. A long line of Maratha kings, who were

descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, later controlled the Thanjavur region for

nearly two centuries.