Venkataramana Temple at Gingee

What we see of The Venkataramana Temple at Gingee in Tamil Nadu, is what is left after the French invaders plundered this temple during 1761 AD! Many statues and monolithic ornamental pillars from this temple were taken away by the French to Pondicherry. I am not sure if they are there in Pondicherry today! 

After the French onslaught, this temple slowly decayed and its old archaeological wealth was plundered by subsequent invaders. Sadly most of the Hindu temples in India have been vandalized by several invasions!

 

This magnificent temple was built by Muthyalu Nayaka between 1540 and 1550. There are many Tamil inscriptions in this temple.  This large temple is in ruins and it is under the care of the Archeological Society of India. The sanctum sanctorum of this temple is sadly empty! There is no God! No idea what happened to the God!

 

When we go around the temple we can see a beautiful Kalyana Mandapam (Place where marriages are held), a Yaga Sala (Place where worship with fire is done) and a Utsava Mandapam (Place where the deity is kept outside the sanctum sanctorum on important festival days)

 

The temple’s carvings & sculptures bear a testimony to the artistic skills of Nayakar Dynasty!

 

 

Gingee is 147 Kilometers from Chennai. 

Forgotten Fort of Gingee!

Gingee Fort - apart from being a unique architectural feat is one of the few forts in the State of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu is famous for its temple architecture and it has reached its peak during the times of Raja Raja Chozhan itself. Gingee town is surrounded by several hills made of barren volcanic rocks.

 

This fort has two main entrances to it, namely, the Arcot or Vellore gate and the Pondicherry gate. The fort of Gingee has existed for several hundred years. They say this fort was built during 15^th and 16^th century by Nayaks. 

 

 

Several dynasties are connected with the history of Gingee fort - Vijaynagar Maharajas, Shivaji Maharaj, Nawabs of Arcot, Tipu Sultan, the French and British. However, the legend of the fort is most popularly connected with the story of Raja De Singh, perhaps the only Rajput ruler to have ruled in Tamil Nadu. 

 

The fort at Gingee was declared a National Monument in 1921 and it came under the Archeological Survey of India. The Tourism Department of Tamil Nadu can popularize this remote and oft-forgotten fort. Gingee today, with its ruined forts, temples and granaries, presents a different picture from the glorious splendor of its golden days. But the remains of that glorious past speak volumes about the numerous invasions, warfare and bravery that it witnessed!