Aysha Archaeologist

                          Kanchipuram and it is History  Kanchipuram is one of the ancient and proud cities of Tamil Nadu and is the center of the Thondai Mandala. Kanchipuram is not only a city with a proud history but also a spiritual city with many temples. Kanchipuram is the city with the most temples after Kumbakonam.  It was called "Kanchi" because of the abundance of Kanchi trees here. Kanchipuram has many names. "Kachchi" is an important name among them. The name "Kachchi" is used a lot in the Pallava and Chola inscriptions.  The city of Kanchipuram is fed by the Palaru and its tributaries. This Kanchipuram city is located at 12.50 North latitude and 79.42 East longitude. There are references to Kanchipuram in the Sangam literatures such as Perumbanatrupada and Manimekalai. Kanchipuram is also mentioned in the notes of the Chinese traveler Yuan Zhuang, who visited Kanchipuram during the Pallava ...

                Ornament and Vessels of Cholas to the                                                        Temples In Tamil Nadu, most of the temples were built during the Chola period, and many brick temples were converted into stone temples. The kings and queens donated gold, silver, pearls, and gold and silver vessels to build the temples. The inscriptions in the Thanjavur Great Temple mention that Rajaraja Chola I and his queens and officials donated ornaments and vessels. Not only the Thanjavur Great Temple inscriptions, but most of the Chola inscriptions mention this. Along with these ornaments, they also made idols of gods made of metals like copper, gold and silver. 1) திருப்பட்டம் 2) எக்காளம்- (it is a Musical Instrument) 3) பொன் கெண்டி 4) கிடாரம்  5) செப்புக் குடம் ( f...

                      Tamil Proverbs about Animals In this article, you will find proverbs about animals. Various proverbs have been created in Tamil using animals as metaphors. Such proverbs are mostly common in villages. Some of the village stories of Tamil Nadu are depicted on Indus Valley pottery. The story of a crow drinking water by putting pebbles in a pottery jar and the story of a fox cheating a crow to get a cake are also depicted. Indus Valley culture is similar to Tamil civilization in many ways. 1) அசைந்து தின்கிறது மாடு அசையாமல் தின்கிறது வீடு- The cow eats while moving, the house eats without moving. it means who living without any hard work. 2)  பால் சட்டிக்கு பூனை காவல்- Cat guarding the milk jug.  3)  சூடு கண்ட பூனை அடுப்பங்கரை சேராது-A cat that sees heat will not go near the stove. 4) மதில் மேல் பூனை-Cat on the wall- it denotes uncertainty. 5) ஆடு நனைகிறது என்று ஓநாய் அழுததாம்-The wolf cri...

                Ancient Architecture in TamilNadu  The history of architecture in Tamil Nadu dates back to the Megalithic Age, i.e. from the 1000 BC. Among these Megalithic monuments, stone mounds and stone cairns resemble building structures. A "stone cist" is a square structure made up of four large stones, covered with large stones. There are holes in it for placing objects. "Dolmens" is also of the same type but is buried in the ground. Such monuments were built for the dead. During the Sangam period, there were religious buildings such as temples and Buddhist and Jain monasteries. However, they were mostly built of bricks. According to Silappadhikaram and Manimekalai, temples were called "Kottam". Temples and other royal residences were called Kottam. The architectural structures of Tamil Nadu from the Sangam period to the historical period can be classified as follows. 1) Temples 2) Monasteries 3) Forts 4) Palaces 5) Boathouses 6) Wareh...

              Transports and security of Ancient Tamils                                         by the Animals The ancient Tamil people used animals for transportation according to the place and situation. They used mules, donkeys, camels and oxen for transportation. These were mostly used for trade. Kings used horses and elephants for city patrols and military forces. Women mostly used mule-drawn carts to move from one place to another. This is because mules are patient and can handle the conditions. Horse-drawn chariots were used by kings to move around the battlefield and in cities. Camels were used to carry the queens' robes and for trade. Salt merchants called Umanars used donkey-drawn carts and ox-drawn carts to carry salt packages.  The Salt selling women would drive the ox-drawn cart. Merchants would carry packages of pep...

            Paradhavas   A Fishing Clan in Tamil Nadu Various clans emerged in Tamil Nadu during the Sangam period. One of them was the paratavar clan. The main occupation of the paratavar clan, which lived in the Neithal region, was fishing and salt production. Although there is support from Sangam literature about them, there is little epigraphic evidence. The residences of Paradhavas The residences of these Paratavas are mostly located on the shores. Their houses are made of kanji and vanji trees. They are called "Chiru Kudi Paratavas". The young ones and the old ones stay at the main gate. The Paratavas give the fish they have caught and get rice. They go to the high tides to catch fish. When they go fishing, they use lamps with fish oil. Most of them live in huts. There are two types of Parathavas: Small-scale Parathavas and Large-scale Parathavas. The place where the Paradhavas lived was called Puracheri. The Sempadavas may have been a branc...

        The Historical Animals- Elephant and Horse  Horses and elephants have a special place in history. They are the animals used in the chariots of kings and play an important role in the Aswamedha Yagya. This Aswamedha Yagya is an important sacrifice performed by kings to conquer countries. According to Romila Thapar, the horse is an animal that came to India from West Asia, that is, an animal related to the Aryan culture. Horse bones have been found in a few excavation sites in the Indus Valley.  These may belong to the Rigvedic period. During the Sangam period, high-caste horses were imported from Arab countries as a gift from kings and merchants. Good horses were bought on the basis of their teeth, legs that indicated running speed, and thick mane. The place where horses were tied was called "tari".  In wars, horses were given a muzzle called "karazh". Other names for the horse 1) Kalima 2) Pari 3) Gundu Even the place where horses were tied was...

                  ARCOT SITE MUSEUM AND HISTORY The Archaeology Site museum, which was started in Arcot in 1980, exhibits various antiquities. It has been operating in Arcot for more than 40 years. The antiquities exhibited in this museum can be divided as follows: Pre-Islamic period artefacts and Islamic period artefacts Types of Antiquities 1) Stone Sculptures 2) Terracotta Sculptures 3) Wooden Sculptures 4) Iron Objects 5) Ceramic Pottery 6) Coins 7) Cannon Balls 8) Weights Stone Sculptures Thazhanur Vinayagar Sculpture The Vinayagar sculpture brought from the village of Thazhanur dates back to the 10th century AD. The figure wearing a crown with a crown on his head holds an angus in his right hand, a pasha in his left hand, a scythe around his neck, and a purinula on his chest. The tip of the rosary and the lower arms are broken. Esaiyanur Buddha Sculpture This sculpture is in the Chola style of the 11th century AD. The Buddha seated on t...

         Terracotta sculptures of animals and birds               discovered in excavations in Tamil Nadu Terracotta sculptures of various animals and birds have been found in excavations in Tamil Nadu. Most of these are religious. Lion sitting on a lion This sculpture was found in Panrutty, Cuddalore district. The lion is beautifully sculpted. The lion's tail is raised. Its tongue is also hanging out. The figure of the man sitting on it is broken. Bull sculpture with a hump A terracotta bull sculpture with hump was found in the Andipatti excavations. There is a bell on the bull's neck. Its mouth is open. Its date is from the 3rd century AD. Elephant head A terracotta elephant head with a small tusk was found in the Poluvampatti excavations. The elephant's teeth and tongue are clearly visible. Its date is the 16th century AD. Lion A terracotta sitting lion sculpture has been discovered in the Poluvampatti excavation. ...

    MELPADI AND ERUKKAMPATTU - A Historical                                                view Melpadi is a town of historical importance, located about 25 km from Vellore- Vallimalai. It was also a great city during the Chola period. Melpadi is located on the banks of the Nuva River, also known as Nuka. This Nuva River is a tributary of the Ponnai River. Etymology  Melpadi was originally called Melpadi. ​​It means the town located to the west. The word "padi" refers to the area where the shepherds lived. It was called "Rajasrayapuram", one of the honorary titles of Rajaraja Chola I. Historical Significance As we have already said, Melpadi was a prominent town during the Chola period. Rajaraja Chola I built a temple here called "Arinjaya Eeswaram" for his grandfather Arinjaya Chola. Arinjaya Chola was called "Atur Thunjiya Devar". Th...

      Epigraphical Words from Tamil Inscriptions This article explains the religious and administrative terms mentioned in Tamil inscriptions. Only specific terms found in Tamil inscriptions are selected and explained. There are many differences between the Tamil words of 1000 years ago and the words we use now. This is also explained in several parts. Words in Tamil Inscriptions 1) அக்க சாலை- நாணயங்கள் அச்சடிக்கும் சாலை ( Coin Mint) 2) அக்கவரி- நாணயங்கள் மீது விதிக்கப்படும் வரி ( Taxes on Coins) 3) அக்கன்- மூத்த சகோதரி தற்போது "அக்கா" என வழங்கபடுகிறது. (elder sister). முதலாம் ராஜராஜனின் தஞ்சை  பெரிய கோவில் கல்வெட்டில் "அக்கன்" என்னும் வார்த்தை வருகிறது. 4) அக்கார வடிசில்- சர்க்கரை பொங்கல் (SWEET rice) கோவில்களில் வழன்படும் பிரசாதத்தில் முக்கிய இடத்தை பெறும். 5) அகம்படி பெண்டுகள்- அரண்மனை அந்தபுரத்தில் பணிப்புரியும் பெண்கள் ( WHO WORKED இன் WOMEN QUARTERS IN royal PALACE) 6) அங்கார தேவதை- பரிவார தேவதை (ATTENDENT DEITY) 7) அங்க சாலை- நடன சாலை ( TODAY WE CALL DANCING ...

            Sangam period People named after animals The Tamil people of the Sangam period used animal names as nicknames and birth names. In these, nicknames were used as “cause names”. Most of them were poets. 1)   அஃதை- உயர்ந்த யானைகளை கொண்டு இருப்பவன் 2) ஆந்தையார்- ஆதன் தந்தை தான் “ஆந்தையார்”என மருவியது. 3) அண்டர்- ஆயர் குடியினரை குறிக்கும் 4) அணிலாடு முன்றிலார்- இவர் ஒரு புலவர் தன் வீட்டு முற்றத்தில் அணில் விளையாடுவதை பார்த்து அதனை பாடலாக வடித்தார். அதனால் இவர் “அணிலாடு முன்றிலார்”எனப்பட்டார். 5) ஆடு கோட்பாட்டு சேரலாதன்- எதிரிகள் கவர்ந்து சென்ற ஆடுகளை மீட்டவன் எனப்பொருள். 6) ஆதி மந்தி- குதிரை ஓட்ட ஒலியை குறிக்கும். குதிரை நடை போல் குதித்து ஆடும் ஆடற்கலையில் வல்லவள். 7) புலிகடி மால்- புலியை வென்றதால் இப்பெயர் ஏற்பட்டு இருக்கலாம். 8) இரும்பிடர்த்தலையார்- யானையின் பெரிய கழுத்தை போல் இவரது கழுத்து இருந்ததால் இப்பெயர் ஏற்பட்டது. 9) இளவெயினனார்- வேட்டுவ மரபினர் 10) எருமையூரன்- எருமை நாடு என்னும் குட நாட்டை ஆண்டவன் ...