Who were the Kalabhras, and why is their rule called a “Dark Age”? Where did they come from, how did they rise to power in Tamilakam, and what became of them? Read my article to explore their story. krishnants.substack.com/p/th…

A historic medal for India at #AsianGames2026 as Baranica Elangovan wins a bronze medal in Pole Vault, the first-ever Asian Games medal for India in Pole Vault. Baranica comes from a farmer’s family from Kuthalam, near Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu. A proud and historic moment for India and Tamil Nadu! 🇮🇳

Today we observe the birth anniversary of Kothandarama Aditya Chola, whose conquest of Pallava territory helped lay the foundations of the Chola Empire. A devoted worshipper of Shiva, he gave powerful impetus to Chola temple building, raising Shiva temples along both banks of the Kaveri.

The Thanjavur Maratha king Raja Serfoji II, whose birth anniversary is celebrated today, was a multi-faceted personality. I had earlier written about his immense contribution to the restoration and renovation of the Thanjavur Rajarajeswaram Temple. Here is another fascinating aspect of his life. The Modi records preserved in the Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur reveal his deep interest in medicine, particularly Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani systems. He established the Dhanvantari Mahal, where medicines based on Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani traditions were prepared. He also maintained herbal gardens. Several works dealing with diseases and their treatment were compiled during his period, an important one being the “Sarabhendra Vaidhya Muraigal,” which deals with various ailments and their treatment. His interest in ophthalmology is particularly fascinating. Documentary evidence survives showing the treatment of cataract, corneal ulcers, eye infections and other ophthalmic conditions. Cataract operations were also performed. What is remarkable is the integration of Indian and European systems of medicine. The records mention treatments such as castor oil, rhubarb powder, an indigenous “blue pill” and leech therapy, while European medicines included silver nitrate, belladonna solution and other preparations. The records were remarkably systematic: diagnosis, medicines administered, surgical procedures and even the patient’s post-treatment vision were carefully documented. The contributions of Maharaja Serfoji II constitute an extraordinary chapter in the medical history of India.

Inspiring success stories from the PM MUDRA Yojana, which continues to create opportunities, support entrepreneurship and empower many across the country. Tamil Nadu has been one of the leading beneficiaries of this transformative scheme.

எஸ். வையாபுரிப் பிள்ளையவர்களும் பெரியசாமித் தூரனும் தமிழுக்குச் செய்த பணிகள் அளப்பரியன. ஆனால் அரசியல் காரணங்களுக்காக தமிழ்நாட்டில் ஆட்சி செய்தவர்களால் மறைக்கப்பட்டனர். ஜெமொவின் கருத்து முற்றிலும் சரி !

An important inscription at Thiruvarur records a fascinating case of encroachment on temple property and the administrative process through which it was eventually rectified. During the reign of Vikrama Chola, around 1127 CE, residential houses were allotted by the king to the servants of the Thiruvarur temple. Over time, however, these houses were illegally occupied by others, forcing the temple servants to vacate them. For reasons that are not clear, the matter does not appear to have been brought to the king’s notice at that time. Vikrama Chola was succeeded by Kulothunga II and then Rajaraja II. Nearly forty years later, during the reign of Rajadhiraja II, his chief minister, Vedavanamudaiyan Ammayappan Pallavarayan, conducted an inspection and discovered the illegal appropriation of these houses. He brought the matter to the attention of the king. Rajadhiraja II then issued a Sri Mukham, a royal order, directing that the houses be restored to their original occupants. The encroachers were also ordered to pay compensation to those who had been dispossessed. This serves as an interesting example of an old grievance being investigated decades later, unlawful occupation being reversed, and compensation being ordered by the Chola administration.

தமிழகத்தின் பெருமையை உலகெங்கிலும் பரவச் செய்து கடல் கடந்து புலிக்கொடியை உயர்த்திப் பிடித்த சோழர்களின் வீர வரலாறு. விலை: ₹350/- ஆன்லைனில் வாங்க: Amazon: amazon.in/dp/B0GFDRHJ9L Dial for Books: dialforbooks.in/products/978… WhatsApp: 9500045609 #kizhakkupathippagam #kizhakku #tamilbooks #books #bookreview #tamilbooks #bookfair #history #Chozhargal #சோழர்கள்

Swami and Amman come out in procession, adorned with the newly donated gemstone studded ‘Hasta’ and ‘Tiger Claw’ medallions for the Mahakumbhabhisheksm, along with the historic crown donated by Thirumalai Nayakar. #Madurai

மதுரை மீனாட்சி அம்மன் கோவிலை மீண்டும் கட்டியெழுப்பிய மதுரை நாயக்கர்களின் வெற்றிச் சரித்திரம். அடியேனின் எழுத்தில். 📚 மதுரை நாயக்கர்கள் ✍️ ஆசிரியர்: எஸ். கிருஷ்ணன் 💰 விலை: ₹275/- 🛒 ஆன்லைனில் வாங்க: 🔸 Amazon: amazon.in/dp/B0DQGNZQX8 🔸 Dial for Books: dialforbooks.in/products/978… 📲 WhatsApp: 9500045609 #kizhakkupathippagam #kizhakku #tamilbooks #books #bookreview #tamilbooks #bookfair #Madurainayakargal #madurai

The Ashtabandhana Mahakumbhabhishekam of the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple was performed this morning with great devotion and grandeur. All twelve gopurams and the two principal vimanas of the temple were consecrated in accordance with traditional Agamic rituals by the Sivacharyas.

கொடையளி செங்கோல் குடியோம்பல் நான்கும் உடையானாம் வேந்தர்க் கொளி. “A ruler who embodies generosity, compassion, justice and care for the people shines as a light among rulers.” Wishing our beloved Prime Minister @narendramodi ji a very Happy Birthday. On this sacred day of the Mahakumbhabhishekam, may Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar shower their divine blessings upon him, granting him good health, strength and many more years of service to the nation.

The North Gopuram built by Krishna Veerappa Nayakar (1564 CE)

The South Gopuram built by Siramalai Sevvanthi Chetty (1559 CE)

The West Gopuram built by Parakrama Pandyan (1320 CE)

All four magnificent Rajagopurams at Madurai Meenakshi Temple are ready for the Kumbhabhishekam. East Rajagopuram, started by Maravarman Sundara Pandyan and completed by Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1256 CE) 🧵

Ahead of the Mahakumbhabhishekam tomorrow, the Kumbhabhishekam of the Parivara Alayas was performed today at Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai. Watch the splendour of the temple’s magnificent architecture and the exquisite sculptures of Urdhva Tandava Murthy, Bhadrakali and Agni Veerabhadra in the video.

Arulmigu Subramanya Swami from Tirupparankundram reaches Madurai for the Mahakumbhabhishekam

The Nagara Mandapam was built by Achcharayan. Like this there are so many contributions by ordinary citizens towards the rebuilding of the temple. 7/7

The Ashta Sakthi Mandapam was built by Rudrapathi Ammal - Tholiammal 6/7

The south side of Potramarai Kulam was built by Appan Pillai 5/7

The Adi Veethi Mathil (the wall) was built by ThirunOkkazhagiyar 4/7

The Mandapam of Potramarai Kulam (Golden lotus pond) by Kuppai Aandi 3/7

Sevvanthi Chetti also gold plated the Amman Shrine Vimana. 2/7

The great temples of India are often remembered through the names of the kings and queens who built, and renovated them. But the story of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, which will witness its Kumbhabhishekam tomorrow, is also the story of its people. The temple suffered heavily during the sultanate invasions that struck Madurai, and several parts of the sacred complex had to be rebuilt, restored and expanded in the centuries that followed. Royal patronage undoubtedly played a major role in this revival. Yet what makes Madurai extraordinary is the remarkable participation of ordinary citizens as well. Here is the thread of some of the contributions. The majestic South Gopuram was built by Siramalai Sevvanthi Chetti , who was a merchant from Tiruchirappalli. Not only him, his family including his sons and grandsons contributed to the rebuilding the temple. 1/7

போஸ்டர்கள் எல்லாம் அட்டகாசமா இருக்கும். ரதன் சந்தாவத் சலூம்ராவாக கணேசன்.

தமிழகத்தில் பல குடைவரைக் கோவில்களைக் கட்டிய பாண்டிய மன்னர்கள் அங்கெல்லாம் விநாயகரைப் பிரதிஷ்டை செய்து வழிபட்டார்கள். Full Video Link : piped.video/CkDKt7509wM

12000 per elai a ?

தமிழகத்தில் நீண்ட நெடுங்காலமாக இருந்து வரும் விநாயகப் பெருமானின் வழிபாட்டைப் பற்றிய ஒரு உரை. இலக்கியச் சான்றுகள், கல்வெட்டுகள், குடைவரைக் கோவில்கள் போன்ற பல வரலாற்றுக் குறிப்புகளோடு. Video Link : piped.video/CkDKt7509wM

ஓரானைக் கன்றை உமையாள் திருமகனை பேரானைக் கற்பகத்தைப் பேணினால் - வாராத புத்தி வரும் வித்தை வரும் புத்திர சம்பத்து வரும் சத்தி தரும் சித்தி தருந்தான். அனைவருக்கும் விநாயகர் சதுர்த்தி வாழ்த்துகள் !

The plates are coming home! 🇮🇳 The historic Anaimangalam Copper Plates, both the larger set issued by the great Rajendra Chola I and the smaller set issued by Kulothunga Chola I, have now been formally handed over to the Indian Embassy in the Netherlands. After centuries away from their land, these priceless records of our history are finally on their journey back to India. A truly joyous homecoming for Chola heritage! Pic courtesy : Embassy of India, Netherlands

Agni Karshanam, the sacred ceremony in which the Yagasala fire is kindled using the rays of the Sun, marks one of the important opening rituals of the Mahakumbhabhishekam #MaduraiMeenakshiTemple

saar...neenga vera !

Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji welcoming Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the majestic Third Prakara of the iconic Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram forming the backdrop. The magnificent corridors of Rameswaram, among the great architectural achievements associated with the Sethupathi rulers of Ramanathapuram, have stood for centuries as a symbol of Tamil Nadu’s extraordinary temple heritage. The pride of the Sethupathis, once built as an enduring expression of devotion and royal patronage, now commands worldwide attention and admiration.

On Mahakavi Subramania Bharati’s remembrance day, it is worth recalling one of his stirring poems on Chhatrapati Shivaji. Bharati imagines Shivaji addressing his soldiers, not merely as a king preparing for battle, but as a defender of a civilisation, its dharma, its learning and its honour. வேதநூல் பழிக்கும் வெளித்திசை மிலேச்சர் பாதமும் பொறுப்பளோ பாரத தேவி? வீரரும் அவரிசை விரித்திடு புலவரும் பாரெலாம் பெரும்புகழ் பரப்பிய நாடு! தர்மமே உருவமாத் தழைத்த பேரரசரும் நிர்மல முனிவரும் நிறைந்த நன்னாடு! Through Shivaji’s voice, Bharati evokes an India celebrated for its Vedas, its warriors, its poets, its great rulers who upheld Dharma, and its sages. The poem turns Shivaji into a symbol of resistance, a leader calling upon his men to defend not merely territory, but the civilisational inheritance of Bharat itself. That was Bharati’s genius. He could take a great figure from India’s past and make his voice speak directly to the spirit of national awakening. Remembering Mahakavi Bharati today.

Prime Minister @narendramodi ji continues to take the timeless greatness of Tamil to the world. In yet another significant gesture of cultural diplomacy, PM Modi presented President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural , carrying the universal wisdom of Thiruvalluvar and Tamil civilisation to a global audience. From Tamil Nadu to the world, the voice of Thiruvalluvar continues to travel across languages and borders. #BRICSSummit2026

The Mahakumbhabhishekam rituals have commenced at the historic Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple at Madurai with the Yagasala Poojas and Acharya Poojas, marking the beginning of the grand consecration ceremonies.

Goddess Meenakshi comes to our mind, whenever the name Madurai temple and Sundareswarar is mentioned. However, the Devi who resides in the sanctum of Sundareswarar is Manonmani, who is subtle and largely unseen form of the Divine Mother Theologically, she represents Shakti, the divine feminine power that remains inseparably united with Shiva. Manonmani assumes particular importance during the Kumbabhishekam rituals. According to the Shaiva Agamic tradition, the ceremonies performed in the Yagasala invoke divine energy into the sacred fire and the ritual kalasas. Manonmani is invoked as the Parashakti united with Shiva, particularly in rituals connected with Sadashiva. Through these rituals, divine energy is believed to be infused into the water contained in the kalasas. This consecrated water is subsequently poured over the temple’s kalasas and the principal deity, completing the Kumbabhishekam.

Today is the birthday of the great Chola emperor Vira Rajendra, Avani Ayilyam (Aslesha). He remained undefeated in battles, victoriously carried the Chola navy once again to South East Asia, and ruled with Dharma at its core.

More than 1,000 years later, Rajaraja Chola continues to speak to us through stone. A previously undocumented inscription of the great Chola emperor has now been discovered at the Vedapureeswarar Temple at Therazhundur, Mayiladuthurai. Dated to Rajaraja’s 18th regnal year (c. 1003 CE), it records an endowment of 21 kalanju of gold to the Mahasabha of Tiruvazhundur (Therazhundur), a Brahmadeya in Uyyakondar Valanadu. The Mahasabha was to invest the gold and use the interest earned from the endowment to provide food offerings (amudu) to the deity Tirukkadavudai Nayanar. What looks like a simple temple donation actually tells us much more, about Chola territorial administration, the functioning of village Mahasabhas, management of permanent endowments and the economic role of temples. Pic courtesy: Dinamalar

This is a very important inscription recording a grant made to the Narasinga Perumal Temple at Yanaimalai, near Madurai, by Parakrama Pandya, who ruled during one of the most turbulent periods in Pandya history. The significance of the record lies in its historical setting. In the early 14th century, the Pandya kingdom had been severely destabilised by invasions from the north, particularly the campaign of Malik Kafur. Madurai and the surrounding regions had suffered enormously, and Parakrama Pandya was compelled to rule under extremely difficult circumstances, apparently from a makeshift centre near Madurai. Yet, even amid this political and military turmoil, the traditional functions of kingship did not cease. Parakrama Pandya continued to support temples and religious institutions, and this inscription records one such grant to the Narasinga Perumal Temple at Yanaimalai. It is equally significant that Parakrama Pandya is credited with the construction of the imposing western gopura of the Madurai Meenakshi Temple during this troubled period. Even while the kingdom was struggling for survival, resources and royal patronage continued to be directed towards temples. Seen in this context, the Yanaimalai inscription provides a remarkable glimpse into the resilience of the Pandya state. Political authority might have been weakened and Madurai itself subjected to repeated upheavals, but the responsibility of the ruler to protect, patronise and rebuild the sacred institutions of the kingdom continued.

அந்த மாயோனின் எதிரியான நரகாசுரனையும் எப்படிக் கும்பிடறாங்க. ஒண்ணுமே புரியலை

கைநோவக் கல் நோவக் கல்லுடைத்துச் செக்கிழுத்து மெய் சோர்ந்தும் ஊக்கம் விடாத நின்ற – ஐயன் சிதம்பரம் அன்றுசிறை சென்றிலனேல் இன்று சுதந்திரம் காண்போமோ சொல்! #கவிமணி செக்கிழுத்த செம்மல் வ உ சிதம்பரம் பிள்ளையவர்களின் பிறந்த தினம் இன்று!

The Tamil Sangam text Kaliththogai praises Krishna for slaying the demon Keśi in these words: காயாம்பூங் கண்ணிப் பொதுவன் தகை கண்டை மேவார் விடுத்தந்த கூந்தற் குதிரையை வாய் பகுத்து இட்டு, புடைத்த ஞான்று இன்னன்கொல் மாயோன் Behold Māyōn, the radiant cowherd, his eyes dark as the kāyām blossom! When his foes unleashed upon him the wild, flowing-maned steed, he tore its gaping jaws apart and struck it down. What wondrous valour was his that day! Happy Janmashtami !

This is the sculpture of one of the most revered Shaiva Acharyas and the Rajaguru of Kulothunga III, Eswara Shiva, also known as Someswara. Kulothunga III praises him in a number of inscriptions. Eswara Shiva was the Acharya who performed the Prathishta of Shiva and the consecration of the Tribhuvanam temple. He is also credited with building the temple at Achyutamangalam and establishing a large library at Chidambaram. Unfortunately, both hands of the sculpture are broken. This rare representation of the great Shaiva Acharya can be seen on the eastern Gopura of the Thiruvarur temple.

Today is the birthday of Puli Thevar, the great warrior who raised the flag of revolt against British rule. Here is the story of one of his remarkable victories, the Battle of Vasudevanallur.

மதுரை மீனாட்சி அம்மன் கோவில் கும்பாபிஷேக நிகழ்வை முன்னிட்டு, அந்தக் கோவிலின் தொன்மையான வரலாறு, கோவில் மீது நிகழ்த்தப்பட்ட தாக்குதல்கள், அவற்றிலிருந்து மீண்டெழுந்த விதம் ஆகியவற்றைப் பற்றிய உரையாடல். @guru_chanakyaa சானலுக்காக. piped.video/fZ2dSHNnRBY