- Mahendravadi
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Mahendravadi — village — Single Rock Cut Temple by Pallava Varman
Coordinates 12°59′30″N 79°32′0″E / 12.99167°N 79.533333°ECoordinates: 12°59′30″N 79°32′0″E / 12.99167°N 79.533333°E Country India State Tamil Nadu District(s) Vellore Nearest city Kancheepuram Parliamentary constituency Arakonam Civic agency none Time zone IST (UTC+05:30) Codes-
• Pincode • 632502 • Vehicle • TN-23
Mahendravadi is a village in Arakonam taluk, Tamil Nadu in India.
Contents
History
According to the site Indiaan Indians, the historical "village Mahendravadi owes its origin to Pallava 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."[1]
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 High school. Recently the village has got Higher secondary school. 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.
Transport
Mahendravadi well connected by bus to nearby towns Nemili, Sholinghur 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
Historical Lake – view
Historical monumentsFarming 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
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
Madhagu Katha Amman Temple
Goddess
Temple and Lake view
Vinayagar Temple – MonumentsThere 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 periods 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.
References
1.http://www.textbooksonline.tn.nic.in/Books/06/SocSci-EM/History/Chapter-9.pdf 2.www.schools.tn.nic.in/DispSchools.asp?DCODE=29& 3.http://www.indiaandindians.com/tamilnadu/vellore/vellore_temple.php 4.http://ddws.nic.in/bnp_hab/school_detail.asp?scode=29&dcode=2929&bcode=2929002&pcode=020&vcode=020&hcode1=001&schcode=02 5.http://books.google.co.in/books?id=4eRx-d821rYC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=mahendravadi+history&source=web&ots=qJH4u_ZNfb&sig=8dkUb3bRJqFwxNXtp4vVGw9yX2M&hl=en#PPA61,M1
External links
Categories:- Villages in Vellore district
- Archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu
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