Temple Series 3: What does it indicate that all the biggest Hindu temples in India are located in South India, more particularly in Tamil Nadu?

 Sounderrajan Balakrishnan:

To put it in bullet points:

1.Religious Rulers.

2.Technology (Dravidian Architect) following the agama rules.

3.Self sustaining economic power house through endowments

4.Sacrifices made during Persian and European invasions and finally

5.Untirely reconstructing and expanding, surpassing the earlier structure and protecting/ safeguarding it from the learning of invasions.

It applies to entire South India including Maharashtra, but I am limiting myself to TN due to my limited visits to few temples in other states.

If any one is interested in reading the case studies from History can read further:

Cosmic Power House:

Many across the globe wonder, how these big temples find a place in small villages. What type of technology they had used to build these temples and how the resources are generated to build such magnificient temples.

Significantly, all the major towering temples of Tamil country built over the centuries have been consecrated according to agama rules.A temple is a place where an intense Cosmic energy is available for everyone to experience. Kindly note that Agamas are pre vedic.

The kings ruled endowed heavily and made temples to act as a economic power house in addition to learning, interacting.

Distinguisher from History:

Unfortunately, we need to site the History, 13th to 17th century, (though many of the grand temples constructed earlier from 7th century and many existing over 3500 years) which distinguished the creation of Temples using Dravidian Architect in Tamil Country from other parts of India.

It may be possible that North might have had bigger temples, similar to Tamil Country but would have destroyed during invasions- Islamic invasions of the Indian subcontinent to create, thereafter expand the Muslim rule in the form of Sultanates and later the Mughal Empire.

Yes, Tamil country also witnessed few invasions.

Persian Invasions:

Lot of Temples, including Sri Rangam, Madurai Meenakshi were destroyed during the invasion of Malik Kafur in 14th Century. But Tamil Country reacted differently than the rest. All are reconstructed by the Hindu Kings of Vijaya Nagara Empire and their feudatories in Chandragiri, Madurai, Chenji, and Thanjavur Naickers. It took two hundred years to reconstruct the temple of Sri Rangam - the largest functioning Hindu Temple in the world as on today..

During 13th to 17th century, Hinduism has reached its peak in Tamil Country. With the new Temples built, Old Temples expanded using Dravidian Architect during 300 year rule of Hindu Vijayanagara and Naicker Empires in Tamil Country (13th to 17th Century). Conservative Hindus from Kannada, Telugu, Saurashtra and Maratha found it as a safe place.

The tradition is still continuing. Unlike other states, Hindus are over 87% in Tamil Nadu. They are more accommodative to others including atheists. Maintaining a Temple is not easy, unless there is a huge follow up.

It is the land, Tamil land, which houses towering temples where an intense Cosmic energy is available for everyone to experience and have been protecting our culture.

European Invasions:

I will give you below all accounts of Europeans, engaged war with Vijayanagara Empire and their Vassals.

Vijayanagara had powerful army of huge size in three layers-Empire had, their Kingdoms had, Vassals of Kingdom had. Vassals & Kingdoms managed Regional battles on their own. If they could not manage, then only requested the Empire. For big wars, all are called with necessary logistics by the Empire.

In addition, local forces are trained to defend the temples.

European looters, (Portugese, Dutch, French and British) had the habit of seizing treasures from temples, when there is internal conflict or King is engaged some where else.

Few examples,

1. Portuguese in 16th century planned to loot treasures in Tirupati Temple. When portuguese troup went to the temple, Aliya Rama Raya of Vijayanagara was there with his huge army. Portuguese flee from East coast(Chenna Mylopore) to Bengal. This has led to the attack by Vittala Raya in Goa. Portuguese surrendered.
2. In 17th century, Dutch and Portugese were based at Kayalpattinam, Tuticorin for the trading spices to Europe. Fortification of temples and looting of temples were a common thing with European traders and invaders when the king is engaged in war elsewhere. The temples recovered from them, once the king is back. Tiruchendur Senthil Andavar temple invasion by Dutch in 17th century is another example. Dutch fortified the temple, looted, set fire and had taken away the idol to Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and demanded money. When Thirumalai Naicker returned from the war victorious, he recovered the idol by warning and further plan with Kandy Naickers in ceylon, made Dutch to return the idol.
3. Naicker Kings of Chenji, Tanjore, Madurai created local forces to defend temples based on 14th century invasion memory of Malik Kafur. For example, Sri Rangam was well defended in 18th Century when Tipu Sultan tried to seize it.
4. Some polypats are created and their main duty is to safeguard the Temple, - one example is Sethu Patis of Rameswaram.
5. Temples along the Kaveri and Tamirabharani river basins, there are plenty, were well defended by Local Polygars. In 18th century, British and French fortified few temples at some point in time. Example: Aththi Varadhar rising in Kanchi.

Life after Vijayanagara Empire and Naicker Kingdoms:

During Yusuf Khan’s (a British General) time, there were plans to demolish Madurai Meenakshi Temple and build a dargah on it.

In 1756, an old fakir prepare to build a dargah (Islamic tomb) for himself atop the Madurai Meenakshi Temple with the support of Burkadullah (representing Hyder Ali, Mysore) and Yusuf Khan (representing the British).

This has angered the locals.

Unfortunately, there were no Naicker Kingdom at Madurai after the death of Madurai Regent Queen Minaxi in 1739 and there was no support from Vijayanagara empire which ended at Chandra Giri / Vellore in 1646.

This time the Goddess appeared in the form of mere 500 Kallar Polygar Soldiers.

Kallar Polygar soldiers, mere 500 in number, ravaged the Muslim King Burkadullah and the British commander Yusuf Khan and their forces.

Fakir expelled.

Burkadullah ran for cover to Sivagangai.

Yusuf Ali Khan was withdrawn by the British.

Disturbances continued to prevail in Madurai.

It is the Goddess in the form of Kallar Polygar’s fury saved the temple.

Otherwise Madurai could be another Madura, (Krishnas Birth place)

She and her aboard is still alive with holy vibrations.

Madurai Meenakshi had destroyed the plans to convert her abode to a darghah.

Ever wondered, can 500 Soldiers ravage two armies of Mysore Vassal and British forces.

Sacrifices

1. Today, in TN itself, there are over 30000 temple gopurams of 300 to 5000 years old pointing to the sky.
2. Because of sacrifices made by millions of our ancestors and their vision to safeguard these architectural marvels, the deities in these temples exist today.
3. These temples show a tip of the wealth, the abundance, culture, tradition, food habits, language India had in ancient times before these European and Persian Invasions.
1. Finally, I bow to the Temple Tower of Srivilliputtur Andal Temple, which is the Emblem of Tamil Nadu State Government. “Devotion Frees”. Penned by N R Mohan