99 Thoughts on Ganesha by Pattanaik Devdutt

Author:Pattanaik, Devdutt [Pattanaik, Devdutt]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9788184951523
Publisher: Jaico Publishing House/Mumbai/India
Published: 2013-07-01T16:00:00+00:00

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Rock Fort

Perched atop one of the oldest rocks in the world (three billion years old according to geologists), 83 meters high, this temple in Tamil Nadu is also one of the oldest temples in India, dating back to a time as early as the 10th century AD, housing both Ganesha, locally known as Pillaiyar and his father, Shiva, locally known as Thayumana-swamy. From this temple one has a bird’s eye view of the city of Trichy, Srirangam and the rivers Kaveri and Kollidam. Ganesha is rooted to this spot as Vibhishana struck him on the head at this point atop the hill. Vibhishana, brother of Ravana, was furious because Ganesha had tricked him into placing the image of Ranganatha, given to him by Ram of Ayodhya, on the ground, at Srirangam, before he had reached Lanka. Ganesha had taken the form of a cowherd to dupe Vibhishana. On recognizing the true identity of the cowherd whom he had struck Vibhishana apologized, established the temple and offered prayers to Pillaiyar. The temple also houses Shiva who local legend says took the form of a midwife and came to the rescue of a woman in labor who was all alone at home, hence the name, Thayumana-swamy, he who acted as a mother. This temple was first patronized by the Pallavas and it reached its final form under the Nayakas of Madurai during the Vijaynagar era. Later the British, during the Carnatic wars, fortified the temple giving it the name Rock fort temple.

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