NAMAKKAL AND ANJANEYAR
Dear friends,
I was working in Namakkal as Asst. Engineer from 1985 to 1989. I was just knowing it was near Salem before I joined there. After working there only I knew it was one of the biggest poultry centre. One of the major centres of body building centre for Lorries is at Namakkal. I was knowing about Namakkal Anjaneyar earlier but not of Namakkal Narasimhar.
I could never imagine so much of water scarcity at Namakkal, though kaveri flowed just 20 KMs away through Mohanur. Throughout the period while at Namakkal, we used to get municipal water for about three hours on three days a week mostly in odd hours. This water had to be shared between three or four row houses.
On the way to Namakkal from Salem there is a junction called Kaval kinar. Here we can see from the road side a small temple with a very big idol of Anantha sayanam. When I pass through it my lips used to sing" Ananthathil sayikkunna Ananatha padmanabha swamiyutae…."
Rasipuram, famous for ghee is about 20 KM east of the junction is a Municipality Rasipuram is also special for good quality hand looms. While I was in Namakkal I could get quality sarees for my wife from there at low prices and we could gift to relatives also.
Many may be knowing late Namagiripettai krishnan the nadaswaram player who actually belong to Chendamangalam near Namakkal.
I was initially thinking Salem Malgova Mangos was from Salem and nearby, but later I could understand majority was from Namakkal, Mohanur and Paramathi Velur etc. Of course Malgova was equally costlier there also. I recollect a song scene acted byLate Nazir and sheela- Mampazhagalil vechhu Malgoa aanu nee. Film I am not able to recollect,
People from Chennai may be knowing the recently retired Chief General Manager of BSNL Sri MP Veluswamy. He was my Divisional Engineer at Salem and he belong to Paramathi velur.For about an year he was CGM of Trivandrum also during 2004's
My daughter had her SSLC while I was there and my son his +2 there both from Government High schools.
My wife was an ardent devotee of Namakkal Anjaneyar, and while my son's selection to engineering got delayed, she started the day only after worshipping Namakkal Anjaneyar till he got selected intimation received.
Though the place is not dry, and well water is available it was not good for drinking. But for the water scarcity the place was felt well.
Though the centre of the city there is a big hill, and round like egg in shape, how the place was called Namakkal I read from web only. (Probably I had no enthusiasm on those days)
Not far from Namakkal is Kolli malai. There is a temple in hill top and there are stories of Kollimalai siddars. About 90 hairpin bends have to be negotiated to reach the hill top.. My jeep driver used to feel it as just like any other trip. All are small bends.
A dip in Kaveri in the nearby Mohanur where the water is swift and not shallow is really enjoyable once a while. While I was there Namakkal was a municipality and Taluk Headquarters. Later it has changed to a district headquarters.
My introduction about Namakkal is not complete without the mention of the famous Astrologer Namakkal Sankara Iyer, Siddivinayagar sannidhanam there. He is/was astrologer for Deva gowda, MGR etc. Now Namakkal is the headquarters of Namakkal District. Railway line to Karur from Salem is newly built via Namakkal.
I will continue with Namakkal and its attributes
1. Namakkal- introduction
Namakkal is the headquarters of Namakkal district. It is the first ISO 14001-2004 certified municipality in Asia for environmental management, specifically the provision and maintenance of water supply, solid waste and sewage management, town planning, lighting and other social services. It is named as Educational city, Poultry city, and Transport city. (I think the project water supply scheme is implemented by 1995's)
It is a part of Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu which was hotly contested and coveted by both the ancient Pallavas and the Pandyas.
2. Namakkal History
Since, the present Namakkal District is a part of the old Salem District, the historical background of Salem and Namakkal remains the same. After the struggle between the Cheras, Cholas and Pandiyas, the Hoysalas rose to power and had control till the 14th Century followed by Vijayanagar Kings till 1565 A.D. Then the Madurai Nayakas came to power in 1623 A.D. Two of the Polygons of Thirumalai Nayak namely, Ramachandra Nayaka and Gatti Mudaliars ruled the Salem area. The Namakkal Fort is reported to have been built by Ramachandra Nayakas.
After about 1625 A.D., the area came successively under the rule of Muslim Sultans About the year 1750 A.D. Hyder Ali came to power. During this period, it was a history of power struggle between Hyder Ali and later Tippu, with the British.
2.1 Rock fort
The Rock Fort in Namakkal is a special feature of the Town. The Fort covers an area of one and half acres of flat surface and is accessible from South-West by a flight of narrow steps. Namakkal was held by Killdhar (Caption) on Hyder Ali until it was captured by British in 1768. It is believed that Tippu Sultan hid himself in this fort for some time to escape the British.
The landscape of Namakkal is such that it would not be affected by floods.
The name Namakkal derives from Namagiri, which is the name of the single rock formation at the center of the town. The rock is enormous - 65 meters high and more than a kilometre in circumference. Over this massive rock, is a fort.
(My note- I Have seen the fort from distance. I have not taken any tedious steps of climbing steps)
2.2 Gandhiji and Namakkal
Gandhiji held a public meeting in 1933 in Namakkal under the slope of the Namakkal rock. This place is now the Taxi stand of Namakkal.
3. Mohanur Siva temple
Mohanur is one of the small towns, near Namakkal, where the Kaveri River is running towards Tiruchirappalli. At Mohanur, on the bank of Kaveri River, one old and famous Sivan temple- Asala Deepeswarar with Madhukaraveni is there.
4. Namakkal Anjaneyar temple
Namakkal Anjaneyar temple has more than 1500 Years history. The fort of Namakkal is guarded by a giant Anamaya. The idol is so famous that it has been known as Namakkal Hanuman. Anjaneya temple has no roof (with sky as the roof) facing and worshiping Lord Lakshmi Nrusimha and the Salegramam.
The Anjaneya in this kshethra is eighteen feet tall and is having dharshan of the Lord Lakshmi Nrusimha about 250 feet away. The eye of Anjaneya is in straight line with the patha [lotus feet] of Lord Lakshmi Nrusimha. One can witness Anjaneya having the dharshan of Lord's Lotus feet from the Garudalwar sannathi even today. The imprint of the footsteps of Anjaneya Swami is seen in the Kamalalam tank steps.
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