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Some Pictures of Ullavur and Kundratthur
Grant of the Jaghire: Shah Alam II handing over the Firmauns granting the Jaghire of Chengalpattu, the Diwani of Bengal and the Enam of Northern Circars to Robert Clive, August 12, 1765 at Benaras. (Picture from Wiki Commons)
A page from the Archival Registers of Barnard Survey of 1767-1774
Palm-leaf accounts corresponding to the Barnard Survey
The Thirumukkudal: The sacred confluence of Palar, Cheyyar and Vegavathi. In the background is seen the Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple on the hill on the north bank of Palar. The picture is taken from the bridge on the Palar immediately below its confluence. There is a Mandapam on top of the Hill, where the Utsava Murthi of Sri Varadharaja Perumal of Kancheepuram is placed, when He comes to visit Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar in these picturesque surroundings on the occasion of Mattu Pongal, the day following the Makara Sankranti. On the confluence stands Sri Appan Venkatesha Perumal temple. In the evening, Sri Varadaraja Swami comes down from his high Mandapam and along with Sri Lakshmi Narsimhar visit Sri Appan Venkatesha at the Thirumukkdal. The three Perumals then sit on Unjals, swings, enjoying he beauty of the confluence and blessing the gathered devotees from far and near.
Thenneri: Lying on the north of Ullavur, this vast tank (Eri), with a bund stretching over several kilometres, waters the fields of many localities, including Ullavur. The Eri is named after Thondaiman Ilanthiraiyan, the legendary founder of the Pallava dynasty. The cultural region in which the Chengalpattu Jaghire is situated is called Thondaimandalam.
Periya Eri (Above) and Sittheri: Two of the larger waterbodies of Ullavur.
Periya Eri (Above) and Sittheri: Two of the larger waterbodies of Ullavur.
Ullavur Amman: Amman Temple at the entrance as you come from Pazhayaseevram.
Amman Kulam: The lotus pond associated with Amman Temple. There are several such pools and ponds in and around Ullavur.
Sri Venkatesha Perumal Temple of Ullavur: This very impressive and ancient temple, in a nearly ruined condition, stands in the centre of the locality. The inhabitants continue to arrange for regular worship of the Perumal.
The Theeppanjal Temple of Ullavur: The temple is dedicated to the Satis, the women who chose to die with their husbands, of the locality. The inhabitants are very proud of their Satis.
Agstheesvarar: The Shiva temple of Ullavur. The temple remains a very active place where the young of the locality often come together to arrange for various rituals and festivals.
Three major temples of Kundratthur seen in a row: In the foreground is the Kandaleesvarar, in the middle is the imposing gopuram of the Ooraga Perumal, and in the background stands the Kundratthur Murugan on the hill. The name of the town is associated with the Murugan on the hill. Kundram in Tamil means is the word for hill.
Three major temples of Kundratthur seen in a row: In the foreground is the Kandaleesvarar, in the middle is the imposing gopuram of the Ooraga Perumal, and in the background stands the Kundratthur Murugan on the hill. The name of the town is associated with the Murugan on the hill. Kundram in Tamil means is the word for hill.
Kundratthur Murugan: The temple of Subrahmanya, commonly called Murugan, on the hill overlooking the town on the south. Kundratthur Murugan is the reason for the existence of the locality.
Thirunagesvarar of Kundratthur: The temple was built by Sekkizhar as a replica of the Thirunagesvarar near Kumbakkonam who was his ishta devata when he resided in Chidambaram to compose the Periya Puranam.
Chembarambakkam: The great Eri in the west of Kundratthur that serves as a major source of drinking water for the city of Chennai.
The Nayanmars: The 63 Nayanmars, saint poets, of the Tamil Shaiva tradition, with Sekkizhar, the 64 the Nayanmar, standing at the head of the row, in the Kandaleesvarar Temple of Kundratthur. Sekkizhar was born in Kundratthur. He composed the life-stories of the 63 Nayanmars in his Periya Puranam and in the process acquired the semi-divine status of a Nayanmar himself. Kundratthur is the city of Murugan, but it is also the city that gave birth to the great Sekkizhar.
Sekkizhar: An enlarged image of Sekkizhar standing at the head of the row of Nayanmars that is found in many Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.