Mahendravadi
Encyclopedia
Mahendravadi is a village in Arakonam taluk, Tamil Nadu
in India
.
Mahendra Varman I (AD 580–630). According to an inscription in Pallava grantha this cave temple was excavated by Gunabhara on the bund of a large tank called Mahendra thataka in the city of Mahendrapura. The cave temple is formed by completely scooping out a large free standing boulder. Now the [Garbagraha] has an image of Narasimha
."
The contribution of the Pallavas to the cultural development was significant. They encouraged the growth of Tamil
and Sanskrit literature. The Pallavas earned name and fame through their magnificent art and architecture. We know that
Mamallapuram finds a prominent place in the tourist map of the world. Even today, their temples and sculptures stand testimony to the cultural achievements of the Pallavas.
A very ancient cave temple (Monolithic rock cut temple) is under the control of ASI Dept. Maintenance is the major concern with Rock cut temples due to limited focus by ASI Dept.
This village was established by a Pallava King, Mahendra varman I, who was ruling the great Pallava kingdom. Later his son Narasimha Varman I came to power and he focused more on Mamallapuram.
The village has a history of 1700 years and evident of Mahendravarman sculptures and cave temple still looks as giant.
The brahmanan street is still evident of very old house system on culture and towards worship on Lakshmi Narayan and siva .
There are two old temple namely Siva Temple and Lakshmi Narayanan Temple which gives you the history of the village. It was believed that these temples were from the old Pallave History. Lakshmi Narayanan Temple have oldest Statue and every December will the feastvial. Enough evident was not available.
The temple on the lake is very attractive for devotees in and around villages/town where many people come and worship the Goddess called" Madhavathamman" or "Madhagu Kattha Amman" means-God of the Lake resorvoir.
Nearest town is Nemili. You can visit this town the famous Veerabhatra Swamy Temple, Lord Siva temple and Ponniamman temples.
Karate Class also available in this village.
For further education, the people have to go to nearby town, Nemili
, Panapakkam
or Arakonam. For college education, they have to go either Kancheepuram, Tirutani, Arcot or Vellore
.
and Arakonam.
There is a railway station called "Mahendravadi" 2.5 KM distance. However, usage is not great. However, Banavaram (Sholighur) railway station is the connecting point.
Farming is the major source of income for the people and they all dependent on Lake irrigation. However, the catchment area for the lake is very poor for rain water saving. There has been a direct canal from Palar to Mahendaravadi Village. this was not properly maintained, this leads to always dry condition of the village.
The lake is fully dependent on Palar water and the dark side is "palar itself a dry river"
The lake has capable of supplying water resources to 7 other villages
However, over a period of time, in the past two decades these representatives lost their image and originality due to selfish approach towards managing the common objectives. The pallava history had strong system of managing the village on its own and very surprise to knew that these system was existining still after 14 centuries.
There are quite lot of very old centuries temples exit. The village has historical Siva and Vishnu temple which has the heritage and culture. Siva temple was managed by non-Brahmins and Vishnu temple was managed by Brhramin community. Every year, Karthikai festival was the lime light in these two temples, how the way it was performed in Thiruvannamalai.
The village people has great respect and worship "Madhagukatha Amman" (The goddess takes care of the lake and Lake reservoir gate) which located on the lake crest. People believe that this goddess is very powerful and there is a grand festival yearly once for the goddess. This festival was celebrated for two days and during this period, all family members join together to pray goddess for their health and wealth.
Pongal is another grand festival in the village as like the entire Tamil Nadu celebrate. It was a four-day festival and people enjoy these period of Harvesting.
Nowadays diwali also getting colourful since it was not that much important as per Tamil culture. My heart jaya is live in this village i wish her long live.
Also, the vibrant Adi Thiruvizha during July -August is very notable around the areas.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
History
According to the site Indiaan Indians, the historical "village Mahendravadi owes its origin to PallavaPallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
Mahendra Varman I (AD 580–630). According to an inscription in Pallava grantha this cave temple was excavated by Gunabhara on the bund of a large tank called Mahendra thataka in the city of Mahendrapura. The cave temple is formed by completely scooping out a large free standing boulder. Now the [Garbagraha] has an image of Narasimha
Narasimha
Narasimha or Nrusimha , also spelt as Narasingh and Narasingha, whose name literally translates from Sanskrit as "Man-lion", is an avatar of Vishnu described in the Puranas, Upanishads and other ancient religious texts of Hinduism...
."
The contribution of the Pallavas to the cultural development was significant. They encouraged the growth of Tamil
and Sanskrit literature. The Pallavas earned name and fame through their magnificent art and architecture. We know that
Mamallapuram finds a prominent place in the tourist map of the world. Even today, their temples and sculptures stand testimony to the cultural achievements of the Pallavas.
A very ancient cave temple (Monolithic rock cut temple) is under the control of ASI Dept. Maintenance is the major concern with Rock cut temples due to limited focus by ASI Dept.
This village was established by a Pallava King, Mahendra varman I, who was ruling the great Pallava kingdom. Later his son Narasimha Varman I came to power and he focused more on Mamallapuram.
The village has a history of 1700 years and evident of Mahendravarman sculptures and cave temple still looks as giant.
The brahmanan street is still evident of very old house system on culture and towards worship on Lakshmi Narayan and siva .
There are two old temple namely Siva Temple and Lakshmi Narayanan Temple which gives you the history of the village. It was believed that these temples were from the old Pallave History. Lakshmi Narayanan Temple have oldest Statue and every December will the feastvial. Enough evident was not available.
The temple on the lake is very attractive for devotees in and around villages/town where many people come and worship the Goddess called" Madhavathamman" or "Madhagu Kattha Amman" means-God of the Lake resorvoir.
Nearest town is Nemili. You can visit this town the famous Veerabhatra Swamy Temple, Lord Siva temple and Ponniamman temples.
Language
People speak only Tamil and other language such as Telugu due to nearness of Andhra pradesh.Education
Mahendravadi has Primary and Higher secondary school.Karate Class also available in this village.
For further education, the people have to go to nearby town, Nemili
Nemili
Nemili is a panchayat town in Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Demographics: India census, Nemili had a population of 9382. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Nemili has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy...
, Panapakkam
Panapakkam
Panapakkam is a panchayat town in Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.This town is located in the Vellore District about 85 kilometres from the state capital of Chennai.Panapakkam is supposedly one of the hottest towns in India , where the temperature can exceed 43°C for several...
or Arakonam. For college education, they have to go either Kancheepuram, Tirutani, Arcot or Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
.
Transport
Mahendravadi well connected by bus to nearby towns Nemili, SholinghurSholinghur
Sholinghur is a town under Walajapet taluk in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Sholinghur is very famous for the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy...
and Arakonam.
There is a railway station called "Mahendravadi" 2.5 KM distance. However, usage is not great. However, Banavaram (Sholighur) railway station is the connecting point.
Agriculture
The lake is fully dependent on Palar water and the dark side is "palar itself a dry river"
The lake has capable of supplying water resources to 7 other villages
Gramha Panchayat
The Rich Grhama panchayat system has been followed in olden days thanks to the Pallava dynasty procedures. There was representatives from the group of similar family will be leading the leadersip role for the particular group. There are 5 representatives from major groups who decides goods to the village and decides common objectives, wealth systems, resolving any issues, general problems, organizing the festivals and taking care of public assets like lake, pond, temple and common places. They did not encourage police to enter and solve any family issues since they feel that all the village issues has to be resolved by the facts and reality within the village system.However, over a period of time, in the past two decades these representatives lost their image and originality due to selfish approach towards managing the common objectives. The pallava history had strong system of managing the village on its own and very surprise to knew that these system was existining still after 14 centuries.
Temples and Festivals
The village people has great respect and worship "Madhagukatha Amman" (The goddess takes care of the lake and Lake reservoir gate) which located on the lake crest. People believe that this goddess is very powerful and there is a grand festival yearly once for the goddess. This festival was celebrated for two days and during this period, all family members join together to pray goddess for their health and wealth.
Pongal is another grand festival in the village as like the entire Tamil Nadu celebrate. It was a four-day festival and people enjoy these period of Harvesting.
Nowadays diwali also getting colourful since it was not that much important as per Tamil culture. My heart jaya is live in this village i wish her long live.
Village tour
During Pongal festival, you can really enjoy the nativity of the Tamilnadu style pongal festival with colourfull events for 5 days in this village. it is worth spending time in this place with the people and enjoy joy of rich tamil culture for 5 days with events like pongal celebration, Mattu pomgal (festival for bull), Kanum Pongal etc.Also, the vibrant Adi Thiruvizha during July -August is very notable around the areas.