Gandhi Museum

Gandhi Museum Madurai stands as the living monument of the “Father of the Nation” Mahatma Gandhi. The Gandhi Memorial Trust came into existence after the assassination of Gandhi in the year 1948, through funds raised by public contribution. The trust allocated a huge amount to set up Gandhi Memorial Museums in seven places in the country associated with the life of Gandhi.

Madurai was selected as one among the seven places for setting up the memorial as several important decisions were made by Gandhi during his visit to Madurai. It was during his visit to Madurai in the year 1921, he made up his mind to wear a small towel like dhothi around the waist as his dress after seeing the poor people dressed in scarce clothes. He was mentally agitated and took up a firm decision to give up his rich dressing pattern. Still, one can find a firm proof at the residence where Gandhi started his simple mode of dressing. Also Gandhi visited Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in the year 1946 when Harijans were allowed for the first time into the temple.

The palace of Rani Mangammal of Nayak dynasty with about 13 acres of land which was later occupied by the Nawabs and East Indian Company was gifted by the State Government for the construction of Gandhi Memorial Museum in the year 1955. Gandhi Memorial Museum stands as a living legend exhibiting the value of life, work and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

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Chennai Corporation

Chennai Corporation (also known as the Municipal Corporation of Chennai) is the civic body that governs the city of Chennai, India.The Chennai Corporation is the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth of Nations outside the United Kingdom[2] and the oldest corporation India. It is headed by a mayor, who presides over 155 councillors each of whom represents one of the 155 wards of the city.
Contents
1 History
2 Gallery
3 See also
4 External links
5 References
History

The Chennai Corporation is the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth of Nations outside the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1688 to control the powers of the then Governor of Madras, Elihu Yale.[3] The Corporation was created by a Royal Charter issued on December 30, 1687 by King James II on the advice of the chairman of the British East India Company, Josiah Child.
Prior to the establishment of the corporation, the Governor of Madras or the Company's agent managed the affairs of the Fort St. George and its residents with the assistance of a headman, an accountant, and the head of watch and ward. The Governor sat as Madraspatnam's Justice of Peace. Taxes were introduced by Governor Streynsham Master (1678 - 81). Complications arising out of these cesses and the growing expenses of a growing town led to Sir Josiah drawing up plans for a more formal body of civic administration.
The corporation was inaugurated on September 29, 1688, when the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses took their oaths. The first representatives of the corporation were from diverse ethnicities. Nathaniel Higginson was the first Mayor and he appointed representatives from British, French, Portuguese, as well as Indian mercantile communities as Aldermen. The post of the Mayor was for one year and he was elected by the Aldermen. The tenure of the Aldermen was for life.
By 1856, the duties of the Corporation became more clearly defined. By 1919, the Aldermen were re-named as Councillors. The name 'Mayor' had been replaced by 'President'. P. Theagaraya Chetty was nominated as President, the first Indian to be nominated so. The office of Mayor was however re-created in 1933 and Kumararajah M.A. Muthiah Chettiar made the transition from last President to first new Mayor - and the mayoralty has remained thereafter.
In 1913, the Corporation moved to the newly constructed Ripon Building, which was built on parts of People's Park. The building was named after Lord Ripon who, as Viceroy (1880-84), had introduced local government reforms. He is remembered in a statue in the Corporation precincts.The first native Indian to both govern the Madras Presidency and later serve as Mayor of erstwhile Madras was the Hon'ble L. Sriramulu Naidu. He served during the 1930s and 40s.

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maruthamalai temple

Maruthamalai Temple, situated on a hillock, about 12 kms from Coimbatore, is an important temple dedicated to Lord Muruga.

The temple gets its name from the Marutha trees in the forests on the hill. The hills also have many medicinal herbs in their forests.


The story behind the temple is that a thirsty Sanyasi was walking through the forest and took refuge under a Marutha tree. To quench his thirst, he prayed to Lord Muruga, who answered his prayers and water sprang from Marutha trees. Hence Lord Muruga has been hailed the Lord of Marutha.

This temple was built about 800 years ago. The temple was renovated recently and Kumbabishekam (renovation) performed. The temple and its surroundings are abuzz with devotees who can be seen trekking the 700-odd steps to the top of the temple, as penance. There are frequent buses from Coimbatore city to Maruthamalai. From the base of the temple local buses ply to the temple.

The word "Marudhachalapathy" or "Maruthamalai Andavar" means Master of Hills, abounding in Marudha trees. The name has also a legendary origin. A Siddha, overcome by excessive thirst and tiredness, sought shelter under the shade of a Marudha tree and prayed to the mercy of the Lord Muruga for a shower of water, which sprang at once as though by a miracle from beneath the tree! As water gushed out from the roots of the marudha tree, the Siddha leaped in joy, glorifying Muruga as the Lord of "Marudha" and "Jalam" (water) with the passage of time, "Marudhajalapathi" became "Marudhachalapathy.

The "Marudha Thirtam" and the"Pambatti Sunai" are springs on the hills with holy waters for ablution and a dip in them cures a number of diseases for they contain Medicinal Properties.

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Karpaka Vinayakar Temple Pillayarpatti

This image of Ganesha is bound to be familiar to anyone of Tamil origin; however, little is known to many about the fact that this is an image of the rock cut Karpaka Vinayakar Shrine at Pillayarpatti near Karaikkudi at one of the oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) temples of Tamilnadu. Pillayarpatti is situated between Pudukkottai and Karaikkudi. The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli. Chennai Rameswaram Express and Kamban Express travel to these two railheads.

The town of Pillaiyarpatti is named after 'Pillayar' - the tamil name for Ganesha, and this ancient temple houses rock cut images of Shiva, Lingodbhavar and others as well as several other shrines. Steeped in the tradition of Agamic textsthe temple bears testimony to the vibrant temple culture of the Tamil people, passed down through centuries.

Deities: Karpaka Vinayakar or Desi Vinayaka Pillaiyar is the presiding deity here, and he is portrayed with two arms and a trunk curled towards his right in the valampuri mode. This 6 feet tall mammoth image of Ganesha is a bas relief in an excavated cave, off of a hill in the precincts of the temple. Tiruveesar is a Shiva Lingam carved in a similar manner. Other deities in the temple include Marudankudi Eesar and his consort Vaadaamalar Mangai.

Antiquity: Over 15 inscriptions are found within the temple, that help establish the age of the temple. The Stalapuranam published by the temple classifies the growth of this temple into three distinct stages.
The first stage goes back in time by about 1600 years. During this period, the innermost rock cut shrines housing Karpaka Vinayakar and Tiruveesar came into being. The uniqueness of the image of Ganesha is one factor testifying this date; the characters used in the temple inscriptions also help establish this date. The pillars within the shrine are of pre-Pallava origin.

The Pallavas were prolific builders of rock cut temples (Mahabalipuram, Mahendravadi, Mamandur, Mandakapattu, Seeyamangalam, Namakkal, Tiruchi, Nartamalai, Kudumiyanmalai, Tirukkokarnam, Tirumeyyam, Peraiyur, Malayadipatti, Tirukolakkudi, Kunrakkudi etc.). A number of these can be traced to Mahendravarman I (615 - 630 AD) and Narasimhavarman I (630 - 668 AD). However, the inscriptions at Pillayarpatti date further back to the 4th century AD. Also, given the location of the temple in the Pandya kingdom it would only be logical to associate Pandya patronage to this temple, especially in the light of Pandya patronage at the Kazhugumalai temple not too far from here.

There are several inscriptions within this temple that date back to the period between 1091 AD and 1238 AD, making it apparent that the Pillayarpatti Nagarattar became the custodians of the temple during the 13th century AD during the second growth phase of this temple, when Vimanams and Rajagopurams were built.

The third phase of growth is much more recent and it involved the repair, rebuilding and refurbishment of the entire temple complex, including the renovation of the temple tank. The tank and the two Raja Gopurams provide an attractive approach to the temple, in this rather remote town of Pillayarpatti.

It is with great pride that the Pillayarpatti Nagarathar community which has been traditionally involved with the temple - patronizes maintenance of this temple and the scrupulous conduct of worship services.

Worship Protocol: Each day, five worship services are offered to the presiding deity, commencing at 6 AM , and closing down at 9 PM. During the fourth phase of each lunar half month, Pillayar is taken in procession around the temple. Hundreds of pilgrims patronize the temple on these days.

Festivals: The grandest of festivals is Ganesh Chaturti in the month of Aug - September, where a ten day celebration brings much gaiety to this temple town. Each day's celebration is marked by much splendor as Pillayar is taken in procession around town on several of his mounts, as are the other Pancha Murthys. The ninth day of the festival is marked by a chariot procession. In addition, the ten day festival in the month of Vaikasi (May - June) is held in honor of Kongu Nachiyamman, a village deity whose processional image is also housed here. The Margazhi Tiruvadirai festival is celebrated in honor of Nataraja and Sivakami (Dec - Jan).

Nearby Attractions: Pudukkottai houses the Gokarneswarar Temple, and Kunnakkudi houses the hill temple of Shanmukhanathar.

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