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Philanthropic Exploits of A.Thekkur Nagarathars

There is a legend eulogizing the philanthropic initiatives of A.Thekkur Nagarathars, who did a lot for renovating countless temples in their native and accelerated the growth of Hindu faith in their region. A standing example of their initiative is the on-going Shiva Temple project at A.Thekkur in Chettinadu.

Temple Project of A.Thekkur Nagarathars

There is a saying in Tamil beseeching citizens not to dwell in a place without temple. A.Thekkur is a standing monument of this old saying, having been endowed with an imposing tower being constructed now to house the Shiva Temple, with long fortified walls, surrounding palatial houses and tanks brimming with water.

History

A.Thekkur's date with destiny is a century old and is in public domain nagarathars from Sambu Island in Naga Kingdom, migrated to Kancheepuram centuries ago. Then they inhabited the fertile Kaveripoompattinam in Chola Kingdom and thereafter settled in Pandya Kingdom. They enriched this place with imposing temples always maintaining the tradition followed by their forefathers. Here they settled in Aathikadu later known as Vadakkur.

They perpetuated the memory of Chola Kingdom by planting Aathi saplings to perpetuate their fond memories of their origin as a mark of victory. Aathi saplings multiplied in to thick vegetation forcing the nagarathars to expand their habitation towards south thus giving birth to Thekkur! The first in line to enter Thekkur was Iranikovil Maduvan Chettiar family.

Lord Shiva Temple

Priority of a common man may be food, cloth and shelter in that order. But the priority of Nagarathar was always preceded by their faith in the Almighty. Nearly a century ago, nagarathars embarked on a co-operative effort to construct imposing edifice for Lord Shiva at A.Thekkur. The objective of constructing a Shiva Temple was so dear to their heart that they wanted to make it as evergreen as a breath of fresh air, as fresh as a bright flower and as permanent as a historical monument. The project took shape in 1924 to construct a Valasthana Temple. They sculpted the images of Goddess Meenakashi, Nandhi, Lord Vinayaga and Lord Dhandayuthapani, beautifully engraved with divine faces. They were installed in the Valasthana Temple on the northern bank of the Village Pond, simultaneously continuing their efforts tirelessly for constructing the Shiva Temple.

Setback

The project faced some setback for an interregnum of 30 years as if the tireless effort of nagarathars has stuck an evil eye, during which period Lord Shiva was housed in the Balalayam. Nevertheless, they are now determined to take Lord Shiva to a very high pedestal to make it taller than the abode of Lord Shiva in the neighbouring village/ town. They are now giving shape to their dream of making the temple a pride of place for A.Thekkur. Or may be they are goaded by the Himalayan abode of Lord Shiva. Anyway, all these obstacles have steeled their resolve to construct the temple of gigantic proportions as high as lord palaniandavar temple at palani hills.

The sculpted image of Lord Shiva brought from Kodumbalur was dwarfed in size by the image already got sculpted for Goddess Meenakshi and hence she was housed in a separate abode within the temple. They got another image of Goddess Meenakshi to pair that of Lord Shiva. They called the pair as Somasundara Peruman and Meenakshi Ammai.

Unique Distinction

The temple has got the unique distinction of having the tallest tower and having been constructed fully with carved stone and above all having a separate abode for Goddess Meenakshi within the Temple precincts.

Kumbabishekam

First Kumbabishekam	10-02-1941
Second Kumbabishekam	01-11-1971
Third Kumbabishekam	01-09-1982
Fourth Kumbabishekam	24-04-1996
Fifth Kumbabishekam	28-10-2012

The estimated cost for the ensuing Kumbabishekam is nearly 42 lacs. We request one and all to donate liberally for this noble cause and be blessed by the almighty Meenakshi Sundareswarar of A.Thekkur.

Pride of A.Thekkur
Kalaithanthai Karumuthu Thiagarajan Chettiar

Role in Religion and Philosophy

As a deeply religious devout of Saivism, he knew the whole of "Tiruvasagam" by heart and hundreds of "Pathikams" of "Tirumurais", and never missed fasting on Mondays. He strongly felt that religion should find a place in education, which is absolutely necessary for spiritual development. In the Founder's Day address in Annamalai University in 1960, he made a fervent plea for the provision of opportunities for prayers, meditations and moral instruction in the campus.

For several years Kalaithanthai went daily to Meenakshi Amman Temple and Thirupparankundram Murugan Temple. He used to have regular discussions with Tamil scholars and Saivaite saints. He has visited all the major Siva temples in Tamilnadu. He took the leading role in renovating Ainnutriswarar temple and the consecration was done in 1974, just the last before his Heavenly Abode.

Lesser known faces of Kalaithanthai

1. Was a labour leader for plantation workers in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
2. Owned a sugar mill in AP
3. When government controlled the prices of yarn, he started a company in Pudukkottai for selling the yarn at market prices. Pudukkottai was a separate state and not coming under the jurisdiction of Indian Government.
4. A staunch believer in vegetarianism and practiced it very strictly. He never served non-vegetarian foods to guests, hostels in his educational institutions, even to his foreign guests.
5. Strictly followed fasting on Mondays, starting at the age of 25.
6. Was a correspondent for the newspaper "The Morning Leader", which inspired him to start the Tamil daily "Tamilnadu"
7. In his lifetime Kalaithanthai filed 250 cases in court, mainly to uphold his principles. He won 200 of them, lost 40, and in 10 there was no final judgement.