The ancient Hindu Temples of Tamil Nadu are famous for their astonishing architecture and the Sangam literature is highly revered in Kerala also. PathuPāttu/पत्तपाट्ट meaning ten compositions of Sangam literature is a compendium of ten series of poems which mentions about a Chola King who had married a Naga Princess and had a son with her. Chola kings were Suryavanshi Kshatriyas of Kashyapa Gotra
The Pallavas were the kings of Kanchi about the middle of the third century A.D. The Pallavas belonged to the Bharadvaja gotra and their ancestry included Angiras, Brihaspati, and Bharadvaja. In the Velurpalaiyam plates of the ninth century, it is given that Veerakoorcha the first Pallava king attained the high status by marrying a Naga princess. The Naga clan of Kanchipuram also practiced cross-cousin marriage like the Nairs of today.
There are several founding myths about the Pallava dynasty but all of them agree that this dynasty began with the marriage to princess Naga or Serpent Clan from across the seas. A Pallava inscription clearly suggests that the dynasty derived its royal legitimacy from this alliance.
Goddess Kāmākshi
Shree Kamakshi Amman Temple is one of the most famous Temples of Kanchipuram district. In this Temple, Goddess is worshipped as Shree Tripura Sundari. One eye of the Goddess is called 'Ka' and another eye is called 'Ma'. 'Ka' is used for Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of literacy and arts. 'Ma' is for Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of money, wealth, fertility, courage, victory and knowledge. It is also believed that sincerely worshipping Goddess Lakshmi will bring back the lost wealth. Akshi means eyed. So, Kamakshi means 'Ka' and 'Ma' eyed or the Goddess whose one eye is Ka(Saraswati) and another eye is Ma(Lakshmi).
In the Malayalam language, there are sayings like "Ka-Ma ennoru aksharam mindi pokaruth(का-मा एन्नोरु अक्षरम् मिंडी पोकरुत्)" which means do not even say the word Ka-Ma" which actually means keep your mouth completely shut. And there is another saying that "Ka-Ma ennoru aksharam polum patthichittilla(का-मा एन्नोरु अक्षरम् पोलुम् पठिच्चिट्टिल्ला)" which means he/she has not even learned the word Ka-Ma.
As it is said that there was a Naga clan in Kanchipuram, I believe that the ancestors of Nairs were ardent devotees of Goddess Kamakshi. Sometimes I feel that the original name of Kanchipuram was Kamakshipuram, it gradually became Kamachipuram and then Kanchipuram.
Mahābalipuram
The Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram is the another famous Temple in Kanchipuram district. It is believed that this place, Mahabalipuram, was named after King Bāli who was the grandson of King Prahlada. But in my opinion Lord Shiva, the main the deity of this Temple might be in the form of Mahabali that is the Lord of great strength. This also could be the reason behind the name of this place.
Ancient Kerala was from Kanyakumari to Gokarna (of Udupi district). In Gokarna, there is a Temple of Lord Shiva and it is called Mahabaleshwar Temple. There too Lord Shiva might be in the form of Mahabali.
In Kerala, some people say that "Mahabali should be worshipped on the day of Onam." Last year there was a debate on whether Mahabali is the King Bāli or a deity. In my opinion, Mahabali is actually Lord Shiva. That is, in ancient Kerala Mahabali might have been the name of a form of Lord Shiva. For example, In Ujjain Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Mahakāl.
In ancient times, Nagavanshi Nairs might have worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of Mahabali to strengthen their rule. Once in a magazine article, I read that there is a secret underground tunnel from Gokarna to Kashi. Kashi was once ruled by Brahmadatta dynasty. About 9th century B. C. the Brahmadatta dynasty of Kashi was replaced by a Naga dynasty.
Shree Ulagalandha Perumal Temple
Shree Ulagalandha Perumal Temple of Kanchipuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In this Temple, Lord Vishnu is worshipped in the form of Shree Trivikrama or Lord Vamana. The Deity is also called Shree Lokanathan which means the Lord of the universe. The pond of this Temple is called Naga Teertha.
Lord Trivikrama was worshipped on the day of Onam in our Tharavadu. And my mother's eldest maternal uncle offered Pujas to Lord Shiva on the day of Pathinārām Makam.
Data were collected from Tamil Geographies: Cultural Constructions of Space and Place in South India by Martha Ann Selby, Indira Viswanathan Peterson, The Lord of Vendangam by S.R. Ramanujan, Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Varanasi, Wikipedia, The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History by Sanjeev Sanyal, Origin of Saivism and Its History in the Tamil Land by Subramanian K R, From Art and culture of Tamil Nadu (1980) and www.kanchikamakshi.com
The Pallavas were the kings of Kanchi about the middle of the third century A.D. The Pallavas belonged to the Bharadvaja gotra and their ancestry included Angiras, Brihaspati, and Bharadvaja. In the Velurpalaiyam plates of the ninth century, it is given that Veerakoorcha the first Pallava king attained the high status by marrying a Naga princess. The Naga clan of Kanchipuram also practiced cross-cousin marriage like the Nairs of today.
There are several founding myths about the Pallava dynasty but all of them agree that this dynasty began with the marriage to princess Naga or Serpent Clan from across the seas. A Pallava inscription clearly suggests that the dynasty derived its royal legitimacy from this alliance.
Goddess Kāmākshi
Shree Kamakshi Amman Temple is one of the most famous Temples of Kanchipuram district. In this Temple, Goddess is worshipped as Shree Tripura Sundari. One eye of the Goddess is called 'Ka' and another eye is called 'Ma'. 'Ka' is used for Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of literacy and arts. 'Ma' is for Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of money, wealth, fertility, courage, victory and knowledge. It is also believed that sincerely worshipping Goddess Lakshmi will bring back the lost wealth. Akshi means eyed. So, Kamakshi means 'Ka' and 'Ma' eyed or the Goddess whose one eye is Ka(Saraswati) and another eye is Ma(Lakshmi).
In the Malayalam language, there are sayings like "Ka-Ma ennoru aksharam mindi pokaruth(का-मा एन्नोरु अक्षरम् मिंडी पोकरुत्)" which means do not even say the word Ka-Ma" which actually means keep your mouth completely shut. And there is another saying that "Ka-Ma ennoru aksharam polum patthichittilla(का-मा एन्नोरु अक्षरम् पोलुम् पठिच्चिट्टिल्ला)" which means he/she has not even learned the word Ka-Ma.
As it is said that there was a Naga clan in Kanchipuram, I believe that the ancestors of Nairs were ardent devotees of Goddess Kamakshi. Sometimes I feel that the original name of Kanchipuram was Kamakshipuram, it gradually became Kamachipuram and then Kanchipuram.
Mahābalipuram
The Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram is the another famous Temple in Kanchipuram district. It is believed that this place, Mahabalipuram, was named after King Bāli who was the grandson of King Prahlada. But in my opinion Lord Shiva, the main the deity of this Temple might be in the form of Mahabali that is the Lord of great strength. This also could be the reason behind the name of this place.
Ancient Kerala was from Kanyakumari to Gokarna (of Udupi district). In Gokarna, there is a Temple of Lord Shiva and it is called Mahabaleshwar Temple. There too Lord Shiva might be in the form of Mahabali.
In Kerala, some people say that "Mahabali should be worshipped on the day of Onam." Last year there was a debate on whether Mahabali is the King Bāli or a deity. In my opinion, Mahabali is actually Lord Shiva. That is, in ancient Kerala Mahabali might have been the name of a form of Lord Shiva. For example, In Ujjain Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Mahakāl.
In ancient times, Nagavanshi Nairs might have worshipped Lord Shiva in the form of Mahabali to strengthen their rule. Once in a magazine article, I read that there is a secret underground tunnel from Gokarna to Kashi. Kashi was once ruled by Brahmadatta dynasty. About 9th century B. C. the Brahmadatta dynasty of Kashi was replaced by a Naga dynasty.
Shree Ulagalandha Perumal Temple
Shree Ulagalandha Perumal Temple of Kanchipuram is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In this Temple, Lord Vishnu is worshipped in the form of Shree Trivikrama or Lord Vamana. The Deity is also called Shree Lokanathan which means the Lord of the universe. The pond of this Temple is called Naga Teertha.
Lord Trivikrama was worshipped on the day of Onam in our Tharavadu. And my mother's eldest maternal uncle offered Pujas to Lord Shiva on the day of Pathinārām Makam.
Data were collected from Tamil Geographies: Cultural Constructions of Space and Place in South India by Martha Ann Selby, Indira Viswanathan Peterson, The Lord of Vendangam by S.R. Ramanujan, Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Varanasi, Wikipedia, The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History by Sanjeev Sanyal, Origin of Saivism and Its History in the Tamil Land by Subramanian K R, From Art and culture of Tamil Nadu (1980) and www.kanchikamakshi.com
