In researching about the Cholas, we learned about the bravery of the Cholas and their progressive thinking through the temples, inscriptions, sculptures, and sculptures built by them.But I would like to share with you about the plight of the burial place of Vodiyar Sri Irajaraja Cholathevar, who is the owner of the great fame who built the great miracle of Thanjai Periya Kovil, which can be a symbol of the pride of this Tamil land even after a thousand years.
The Mani Mandapam of this Rajaraja Chola is located in a village named Udialur, six kilometers from Darasuram. This temple is a pallipadai temple built for Sri Irajaraja Chola. This pallipadai temple may have been destroyed during the Pandyas invasion. Now only one Shiva Lingam remains.
This Palipadai temple has been traced to Kulothungan’s Sivapathasekara Mangalam through the udayalur inscriptions. Banners bearing this inscription are placed there. This inscription has been found from Amman temple located near Manimandapam of Rajaraja Chola.A few weeks before we went to the Mani Mandapam of Rajaraja Chola, we came to know that the anniversary ceremony of our great Rajaraja Chola was held there through the banners placed there by people of different socio-caste mindsets. We were disturbed to see that each of those banners within each caste’s narrow circle was trying to narrow down Rajaraja Chola and celebrate him as their own leader. I was heartbroken to see such political maneuvering around Rajarajan.
My brother and I searched for it with great eagerness, thinking that his Manimandapa could be very large. But we could not find the mausoleum of Rajaraja Chola.When we asked the people there about Mani Mandapam, we came to know that we passed Rajaraja Chola’s Samadhi. Later, when we came back the way we went, the way to Rajaraja Cholan’s pallipadai was mentioned. It was a very narrow road with barbed wire fences on both sides so that two vehicles could not pass at the same time.
That path is also not a private path leading to Rajaraja Chola’s pallipadai temple. It is a path leading to the surrounding gardens of villagers and beside it was the pallipadai. When I walked a short distance into the pallipadai and looked inside, there was a small Shiva lingam and the pallipadai was in the backyard of a house. Seeing that we both were stunned for a minute.No one can deny the tears and depression in our eyes when we see the samadhi of Sri rajaraja Cholatheva, who ruled not only India but also across the ocean and almost entire South East Asia, it was too simple.Our hearts were very sad to see the temple of Sri rajaraja Cholan, the proud guardian of our Tamils, standing in this condition even after a thousand years,forgotten by the masses and left to rot in someone’s backyard.
When we ask who is the best king in Tamilnadu, the only person who comes to mind is our Rajaraja Chola who built the great temple in Thanjavur. Rajendra Cholan is the only one that can be said to be parallel to him. Because it’s not a big deal to build something already established, it’s a big deal to create something new which RajaRaj did
In these days, why do the Tamils build temples worth crores to celebrate ordinary actors and actresses who make a living by speaking unnecessary lines on the screen and showing charms? It is heartbreaking to think that Rajaraja Cholan, the great man of our Tamil land, did not have a big monument in memory of him and his achievements.Not only that, but there was much vacant land around the pallipadai, why is the government not bothered to erect a monument for him ? Why not excavate here? And why not set up a museum of Rajaraja Chola? Many questions arose in me.
The government is carrying out the excavation work in several phases at many places in Tamil Nadu. The pallipadai temple of Rajaraja Chola in this Udayalur should also be brought to light through the excavation of the history of Rajaraja Chola buried in the soil here.
Although the materials found in the Keeladi research indicate our antiquity, it was our Rajaraja Cholan who carried our culture and valor across the ocean a thousand years ago. It is a great pity that such a man was not given due respect and a mani mandapam was not erected here.Apart from that, no information board about Rajaraja Chola’s pallipadai temple has been put up by the government. There is only a notice board lying on a rusted barbed wire fence. When you see it, it has been confirmed that no matter how great a king is, he will be thrown away in the cycle of time. There are only a few who stand the test of time.
When I saw this Mani Mandapam, I had this idea to buy the land around it and set up a museum of Rajaraja Chola. According to my calculations it will cost at least two crores to complete,but I don’t have that kind of financial strength. Therefore, after publishing my research-related website, I have decided to set up a foundation in its name and donate the proceeds to this charity.
As far as the Tamils are concerned, we can say that they are forgetful. They are also ignorant, who do not want to know the antiquity of their history. Everyone in Tamilnadu just has to pay one hundred rupees and Rajaraja Chola’s hall could have been built in such a way that the world could look back. But it is doubtful whether they will do it. This will not happen as long as the people of Tamil Nadu are addicted to alcohol and worship movie stars.I can say with certainty that the Tamils are currently in a very long deep sleep. Waking up from this alcohol and cinema craze is very difficult.
During the era of Rajaraja Cholan and Rajendra Cholan, we wereTamilians with progressive ideas were moving forward for many years in terms of civilization and valour. But now, on the contrary, we are hundreds of years behind other countries and are forgetting our way of life.
Only one thing comes to mind when looking at the current state of the burial place of a king who ruled South Asia. No matter how rich and famous he may be, in the end he gets only six feet of soil. A complete life is when a man lives without greed and without betraying anyone. If you understand it and live, life will be noble. We will see the continuation of Rajaraja Cholan Mani Mandapam in the next post.
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