Where Gods sell Goods….

I had a chance to visit Thirupporur Murugan Temple recently. For those who don’t know, Thirupporur is the holy place where Lord Muruga waged a war against the demon king Soorapadhman and killed him.

In Thamizh, ‘Thiru’ means sacred, ‘Por’ means war and ‘Oor’ means a place and thus the name Thirupporur formed. It is a very holy place and one can see pilgrims visiting this place from all parts of the country.

This temple also has a very vast pond called ‘Saravana Poigai’ adjacent to it. This is a very huge and also an ancient temple. The temple is built on a very vast area with huge pillars and ancient sculptures and carvings all over. Lord Muruga gives dharshan and blesses the devotees here.

One will take at least 45 minutes to go around the temples to have dharshan of various deities and to admire the architectural brilliance completely.

There is a magnificent Mandapam which has about 16 pillars, in front of the temple. There are lot of sculptures and images of Gods carved on all sides of the pillars.

It is our tradition (!?) to have lots of petty shops selling flowers, coconuts and fruits for the devotees to buy and offer to the Gods. Abiding by the tradition, one can see many such shops near the temple.

Most importantly, in such tourism spots one can see lots of platform shops selling balloons, sticker bindhis, plastic cricket bats and cheap goggles for kids, junk jewels and many other plastic items. Many such shops are available in plenty near this temple.

Next time when you visit the temple, even if you forget to visit the God, please don’t forget to visit these shops where you get such wonderful goods.

Need to know where to locate them????

It’s all right in front of the temple, inside this 16 pillared stone Mandapam. I think no authorities have stopped them from putting up shops there.

You know why? The shopkeepers seem to be more powerful than any other authorities. They have even tied the Gods on pillars, punishing them by making them display stands for their goods.

Where else you can find such an historic market where Lord Muruga is being tied up (arrested rather) in front of His own temple.

They didn’t leave the parents of Lord Muruga. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi are seen arrested that too during their Godly wedding ceremony itself.

In one of the pillars, Lord Muruga appears with his peacock (His carrier) and 4 hands holding His Godly weapons. May be He thought they will stop their act on seeing Him with weapons. He was in no way powerful than those shopkeepers. He too was tied on the pillar along with his peacock.

Again, this time, Lord Muruga had appeared with 6 faces (Sri Shanmugar) and 12 hands with weapons in all of them, trying to stop them from arresting Gods and making Gods as their slaves to sell junk goods. And Sri Shanmugar got it from them. He had been made the main display stand there.

I had to request the shopkeepers to remove a few items so that I can take a photograph of the poor Lord Shanmugar. They removed a few which helped me take a snap after which the items were hung covering Lord Shanmugar immediately. I thanked them for allowing me to have a special dharshan for a moment.

Forget the religious importance of the place. Isn’t it a historic monument? In today’s scenario, having all these so called technological advancements, constructing even a small house for ourselves has become so difficult and tedious.

Can any of these temple authorities at least think as to how long it will take to construct such a huge temple or what kind of time; efforts and money are required for it?

We are not kings of those days to build number of temples and monuments. And we can't do that too. When we can’t build up such treasure houses, is it not our responsibility to at least preserve those monuments, which stand testimony to our culture, tradition and heritage?

I know by pointing this out I may even be called as religious fundamentalist by those so called secularists. Why because I am trying to spoil the business (??) of many petty shop keepers who are dependant on their small income.

But is it fair that what we see?? Will any one allow any other such monument to be spoiled like this? Do the temple authorities really justify allowing such shops there?? Or is there no other space in Thirupporur for allotting to the petty shops??

Or have they left it to Lord Muruga to protect His own self?

Kaakka Kaakka Kanagavel Kaakka !

Election Commission 750 A.D

Street Campaigns… Public meetings… Manifestos (Manipulatos rather!?), Rally… Hoardings… Crores of Rupees… Freebies, Goondas… Rivalry… Booth Capture… Biryani Potlams… Bit notice… Liquor supply…

If these are what you experienced in today’s election scenario, here’s a look at how election systems and rules were constituted and implemented as early as 1250 years ago. Not somewhere in Washington or New York or London, but here in Uthiramerur, a small village, just 85 kms from Chennai.

Uthiramerur, which was under Thondai Naadu territory, today stands testimony to our culture and heritage.

Many sculptures and stone inscriptions are seen here in this place on Sri Sundara Varadhar Temple as well as Lord Shiva temple which is situated near the Bus Stand.

Along the walls of this Shiva Temple, many inscriptions were found which belongs to early centuries. It is now preserved by Archeological Society of India.

According to historians and inscriptions the election (Ballot) system followed here is the fore-runner of today’s election systems in India. These inscriptions have been placed on stone as records, during the reign of Parantaka Chola 1 on the 14th year and 16th day of his tenure.

As per the inscriptions, a huge mud pot (Kudam) would be placed at an important location of the town or village, which will serve as the ballot box. The voters have to write the name of their desired candidate on the palm leaf (Panai Olai) and drop it in the pot. End of which, the leaves would be taken out from the pot and counted candidate wise. Whoever gets the highest number of votes would be selected as the member of village assembly.

This was called as Kudavolai (குடவோலை) system of elections by the people. Kudam means Pot and Olai means leaf in Tamil. The elections were held fair and free with strict terms conditions.

Uthiramerur inscriptions also reveal the conditions for eligibility to contest the elections. The conditions laid by them over 1200 years back (in the pic below) shows how transparent and fair the elections were held.

Contents of the above pic translated :

Eligibility criteria for Candidates:

• He should own at least Kaal Veli land (Kaal means Quarter and Veli is the unit measured for lands those days)


• He should live on his own land (means own house)


• Should be over 35 years of age and below 70


• Should have mastered in Vedhas and basic studies


• Shouldn’t have possessed the same position in the past 3 years

Disqualifications:

• He, who hasn’t shown his income to Government during his tenure


• If one has been proved corrupt during his tenure, he, his family members and even his blood relatives cannot contest elections for next 7 generations


• He, who hasn’t paid taxes


• Who has extra marital affairs with married women


• Murderers, Liars, Drunkards


• Who swindled other’s money in the past


• He who eats the uneatable by humans

It also says that the tenure is only of 360 days (1 year, those days), after which he will have to voluntarily withdraw from the capacity. If he is found guilty during the tenure, he will be removed by force.

These inscriptions not only showcase the brilliance of our ancestors in administration and politics but also show the world how a public servant should be in his personal and social life.

A 10th Century record also reveals how the fines imposed on the wrong doers of the village were administered. Those who were fined for wrong deeds were called “Dhushtargal” (means criminals). The fines were imposed on them by the village assembly and the sitting elected members.

The assembly also decides that the said fines imposed should be collected from the “Dhushtargal” and settled by the village administrators through the assembly, within the same financial year, failing which the assembly would interfere and get the matter settled.

Delayed payment of penalties also had late fees attached to them. What a judiciary? That too 1000 years back?

It also clearly states that, even the elected members of village assembly cannot escape fines or punishment, using their powers. They will be dealt severely if found guilty.

There are many more such inscriptions talking about testing of gold and its quality for trading. It seems there was a 10 member committee in every territory for gold testing and certifying for trading etc. Once in 3 months the members of gold committee have to appear in front of the assembly and swear in open that they did not commit any fraud while testing. They were ready to sacrifice their lives than breaking their sworn statements.

Similarly there were committees like Tank committee (for water storage and distribution), Field committee, Garden committee etc., under the governance of Annual Administrative committee.

Those who framed the above laws, weren’t from any college or they didn’t graduate in Sociology or Political administration.

Watch out beloved Vattams, Vattaaram, MLAs, MPs and Ministers of today!!!

Are you ready for such an election or administration????

(Sources: Uthiramerur inscriptions & The Hindu)