Thursday 6 November 2008

Tower of Kalaiar koil and the Marudhu Brothers.

It was the beginning of nineteenth century and British Rule in India, Marudhu Brothers widely known as Marudhu Pandias, Rulers of Sivagangai were born to Mukkulam Mokka Palaniappan Udaiyar Servai and his wife. Sri Anandhayee alias Sri Ponnatthaal. The brothers became the right hand of Sri Muthuvaduga Nathar the King of Siva gangai Samasthanam and his queen Sri Velu Nachiar in their revolt and war against the British rule in India. They were confirmed with the right to rule the Sivagangai from 1780 to 1801 by the king Sri Muthuvaduga Nathar.

There was a war ensued between the Marudhu Pandiyas and the British army during the month May of the year 1801. On the 1st of October 1801 Mr. Sprey and Mr. Agniv, cihiefs of armed forces of the British army in South India were very happy because they could capture Thirupoovanam, Thirupachethi, Parthibanur, Kamudhi, Piranmalai, Siruvayal and Kalaiar koil of Sivagangai Samasthanam in the war. But at the same time they were unhappy because they could not arrest and punish the Marudhu Brothers. Their intension was not only to capture places but also they wanted to arrest the Marudhu Brothers and put an end to the revolt. While they were in deepl discussion about the ways and means to arrest the Brothers, they heard about the love of Marudhu Brothers for the Kalaiarkoil temple tower (Gopuram). This message gave them an idea to arrest the brothers. Then there was a public announcement by the British that the Brothers should come out of their hideout and surrender to them as otherwise the tower of the Kalaiar koil Temple would be blown out. On hearing this announcement the brothers surrendered themselves to the British. When they were about to be hanged by the British they informed the military court judge that their heads should be buried in the vicinity of the temple so that even after death they would be able to see the temple tower ever as their last desire. The Britih did the sameas desired by the Brothers. Such was their love for that Gopuram. Some say that some local man betrayed them and after regular process of the British military court they were hanged at Thirupathur.

, once they become rulers of Sivagangai, Marudhu Brothers started building a tower for The Sivan temple at Kalaiar koil, which was their dream since long. They decided that the height of the tower should be equal to that of Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. They developed the temple tower as they desired. The construction started in the year 1781 i.e. immediately they became rulers of Sivaganmgai and was completed in 1800. It is said that one cn see from the top of this tower the Southern tower of Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple at Madurai and the Kundrakudi Sri Murugan Temple. The distance between Madurai and kalaiar koil is about 66 km. The bricks required for the construction work was brought from Mnamadurai. The legend says that workers were made to stand side by side from Manamadurai to Kalaiarkoil and the bricks were Transported by changing hands of the standees from Manamadurai to Kalaiar koil. The Marudhubrothers were not satisfied with the building of the tower alone. After the completion of the construction of the tower they also wanted to make a car (Chariot) for the temple. For this purpose they selected one Sri Kuppa Muthu Achari, well versed in the building of temple cars. By the grace of Lord Shiva they completed the work of the temple chariot. An auspicious day was fixed for the ‘Therottam’. The People of Sivagangai and surrounding places gathered on that day to pull the temple car and to see its running on the street. Everything and everybody was ready. People were holding the big rope in their hands to pull the chariot of their Lord’s temple. But the car did not move an inch even after so many people were pulling. Marudhu Brothers were very much upset at this and were praying the Lord to allow the car to move from the place. At that time a spy of the Marudhu Pandyas brought a secret message that the Kuppamuthu Achari wanted to be king for one day only as it would help move the car from its original place. Without slightest murmur the Peria marudhu removed his official ring from his fingers and handed over to the Achari, who was also present there at that moment. The king also handedover his ‘Sengole’ as a sign of acceptance of Achari’s desire (or demand). Now the Achari became king and sat on the front portion of the chariot and signaled the people to pull the rope. At the same time The Marudhu Brothers were looking with anxious as what would happen. So far the car was immovable, now as a miracle the wheels of the car started rolling on the street nicely like a well lubricated vehicle without any sound like moving on abutter laid street very smoothly. Everyone including Marudhu Pandiyas were very happy to see the miracle. But it was only for a short time. After running for some distance a wheel struck on a big stone on the street and the temple car fell upside down and the Kuppa muthu Achari got under the big wheel of the heavy chariot. Everyone stunned at the sudden mishap and ran for the help of Achari and to those who got under the vehicle. But the Achari was found dead under the Chariot like many other people. There was a palm leaf on the hand of Achari which said, “ The king will die on the day the car run on the street” Who or what saved the king Peria Marudhu from the accident. Was his humbleness or the sacrifice of the Achari or the prayers of the people of Sivaganga?. Lord Shiva alone knows. But it is true that the life of Peria Marudhuwas saved miraculously.
There are some interesting stories about things happened white construction work of the tower was in progress. When the construction was started there was a water spring at the exact place where the tower is standing now obstructing the work. No one was able to stop the spring. The Marudhu brothers tried their level best to stop the water spring using all their technical knowledge. But could not so ao. Finally it was announced by the brothers that anyone who could stop the water spring to enable the construction work start would be prized superbly At that moment a Muslim youth came forward to stop the water spring. But he looked like beggar. None could believe him that he would do the job. But the Marudhu Brothers gave him a chance because of the fact that his ancestors were in experienced in that line. The name of the youth was Sulaiman. He wanted thousand baskets of sand and thousand baskets of Ayirai (a fish variety) fish for the purpose. When these materials were received, he stopped the water spring completely with his unusual technique enabling the construction of the tower. When the youth was offered with money and other prizes by the Pandiyas for his work, he gently refused stating that he wanted the love and support of the Pandiyas and nothing more. After the youth joined the army of he Maudhu Pandiyas and fought in the war against the British and sacrificed his life. The tower stands majestically with nine stages reminding the devotion and patriotism of the Marudhu Brothers forever.