RATHAM

AP 1410, 31st Street, 6th Sector, K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 600078

“VANDIYATHEVAN VANDHA VAZHI”

Immortal. That’s the closest adjective one can think about when making a reference to the record
breaking novel, Ponniyin Selvan, which needs no special introduction. Though the novel is indeed titled
after Rajaraja Chozha I, the charismatic great emperor that India has ever seen, Amarar Sri Kalki’s pen
chiseled Vandhiyathevan, a close acquaintance of Rajaraja, to be the dominant hero all through. He
might be a sixty year old hero to the majority of the Tamil speaking older generation but is still a
fascinating youngster for his fourth generation friends. He has inspired many minds with his witty
actions, timely sense of humour, brilliance, youthfulness and more than all, his presence of mind. To
many, the entire novel is a recorded travelogue of this smart but impulsive warriors journey - cutting
across the Chozha territories including SriLanka.

RATHAM committed to inculcate heritage, historic and architectural interests in people of different
facultys’ has come up with an itinerary that will trace the route as taken by Vandiyathevan, almost along
the same trail. It has been conceptualized to introduce the participants to some well-known and many
not so well-known places that Vandiyathevan travels through, visualize the history that unfolds, engage
their minds in related discussions while at the same time retaining the essence of the novel.

It has been planned as a 5 day trip coinciding with the last and long weekend of July 2014. A tentative
itinerary has been drafted as below.

Chennai – Chidambaram – Veeranam Lake - Udayarkudi – Kattumannarkudi – Melakadambur –

Day 1 - 25th July, 2014, Friday:

 Leaving Chennai by 3 PM to reach Chidambaram by 7 30 PM. A guided tour of the temple with
specific reference to its architecture, unique tantric temple rituals, social history of the
deekshithars, contributions of the Chozhas to the temple and more. The day will end with
witnessing the unique late night ritual of this temple when the Lord is put to bed.

Day 2 - 26th July, 2014, Saturday:

 Leaving early from Chidambaram, our first stop will be the magnificent Veeranam
Lake(Veeranarayanam Lake), with a lecture on “Water Management Policies of the Chozhas”.
 We will move on to Kattumannarkudi (were Vandiyathevan first meets Azhwarkadiyan Nambi)
the Perumal temple and get to share some thoughts on Nathamunigal and his contribution to
Araiyar Sevai as one of the most ancient temple dance performances of South India.
 Our next stop will be Udayarkudi Anatheswarar temple that houses the inscriptions detailing
punishments given to the conspirators involved in the Mysterious Assassination of Aditha
Karikalan at Kadambur palace. A brief discussion on the views of different historians about the
incident is on the cards.
 A guided tour around the Melakadambur Shiva temple, a miniature wonder and later Chozha
contribution, shall follow next.
 We then get to walk around the archeological remains of the once magnificent Kadambur
Palace, where Aditha Karikala was assassinated.
 Crossing the mighty Cauvery we will time travel to Thirupurambiyam, the quite village that once
saw a gory war between the Pandyas and the Pallavas. Who can forget the poetic description of
Sri Kalki about this war, painting the valour of Arinjaya Chozha with his pen? This village also
houses the pallipadai koil of Ganga dynasty king Prithvipathi who supported the Pallavas in the
war. Though the structure is obsolete today, we will get to relive the secret meetings that were
conducted here by the conspirators, and over heard by the ever - smart Azhwarkadiyan Nambi.
 Our day will come to a close paying a visit to Nageshwaran Temple, a classic example of early
Chozha architecture housed right in the heart of Kumbakonam town.
 To commemorate the thoughts of Kudandhai Jodhidar, we will have a light discussion on
“Astrology’s Role in Today’s Society” over dinner.

Day 3 - 27th July, 2014, Sunday:

 Pazhayarai, the once beautiful capital town of the Chozhas will be our first stop for the day. A
visit to the Somanatheswara temple that once received great patronage is sure to set us in awe.
We will also pay a visit to Pazhayarai Vadathali, where the fictional character of Azhwarkadiyan
Nambis cousin served as the temple priest.
 Nandhipura Vinnagaram Vishnu temple finds a special reference in Kalkis words. Vandiyathevan
comes to the town on Sri Krishna Jayanthi day and manages a quite entry along with the Koothu
performers. We shall try and accommodate a simple “Krishna Jenanam” koothu over lunch at
this very place.
 Pazhuvetaraiyars, the sworn chief guardians of the Chozha Kingship hail from a village named
Pazhuvur. A well maintained temple complex that houses twin temples, a classic piece of early
Chozha architecture will be our evening visit.
 Thiruvaiyaru, a town synonymous not only with music but with religion, art and culture as well
for centuries together, finds a picturesque description by Sri Kalki a couple of times in his
magnum opus. The temple stands as a landmark in the architectural history of temple
construction.

Day 4 - 28th July, 2014, Monday:

 Our first stop for the day would be the Big Temple, Thanjavur. No verbal description of this
wonder that our beloved Rajarajan has left behind for us can ever be complete. A well organized
 guided tour of the temple and reading of inscriptions will give us a holistic view of its
magnificence and splendor.
 We will the travel to Anaimangalam, an otherwise quiet town that gave us the invaluable
copper plates, the treasure house that helped bridge a lot of gaps in Chozha history. Our heroes
Vandiyathevan and Arunmozhi, according to Sri Kalki, sought refuge in the travelers’ bungalow
that once existed here. A detailed discussion on “Anaimangalam Copper Plates” will help us
understand the importance of this town.
 Thiruvarur temple has always been on the list of favourites of the Chozha kings and received a
lot of patronage from Rajendhra, the illustrious son of Sri Rajaraja and his successors. The
evening rituals of this temple are a treat to one’s eyes and soul alike. We will also witness the
playing of the unique percussion instrument called the panchamukha vaadhyam as a part of the
rituals.

Day 5 - 29th July, 2014, Tuesday:

 Kodikkarai, nature’s gift to India will be our first stop of the day; we are to witness the poetic
sunrise at this quiet village on the shores of Bay of Bengal. Who can forget the bold and spirited
Poonguzhali and her family that served at the light house here? We will visit the remains of the
old lighthouse and the Kuzhagar Koil that was sanctified by the sacred Thevaram of Sundarar.
 One of the most important ports of the Chozhas existed at Nagapattinam where once the
massive Choolamani Viharam, a Buddhist monastery stood. One cannot but concede its role in
the twist of events in Ponniyin Selvan. The monastry was indeed a classic example of tolerance
that our kings had towards other religions. A lecture on “Chozha Contributions Towards Other
Faiths” will help us understand their secularism.
 After a packed trip cutting across the Kaveri delta, which drenched us in the essence of Ponniyin
Selvan, the one emotion that we his diehard fans bound together, will face is a teary farewell;
we will have a fitting finale at the very point where we started. What better venue for a
valedictory than the 1000 pillared hall of Sri Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, rightly called the
Raja sabai – witness to the courts and coronation of the Chozhas?
 After a long weekend in Chozha country, we propose to reach Chennai early that night, carrying
with us fond memories and a deep satisfaction at the chance to relive the journey having done
our 60-year-old, ever-young-friend, Vandiyathevan.

Please note:

 We will be accompanied by historians, archeologists and other experts to guide us through and
enrich our experience.
 We will be travelling in a 2x1 A/C tempo traveler throughout the trip.
 The charges will include travel, stay at decent hotels and food and water throughout the trip.
 A specially prepared information hand book will be provided along with a rare souvenir for all
participants.
 The trip is looked upon as a means to share our thoughts, views and memories of Ponniyin
Selvan as an iconic Tamil novel and hence participants are requested to come prepared to share
their knowledge whenever possible.
 Please contact Mr.Jayakarthikeyan @ +91-7401315645 to reserve your seats ASAP.