THE BIG TEMPLE: CHAPTER 2

NOTE: This story is a spiritual sequel of my previous story The Big Temple: Chapter 1. It's based on Author's fiction and does not apply to any real-life incidents or Historical references. However, there's no link between Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 of this story although some mentions are told about Eugene and Subramaniya Sastri. There are seven narrative sequences in this story just like the Hollywood film "Pulp Fiction."

23 OCTOBER 2022

SAKTHI RESORTS, POLLACHI

3:15 PM

"Before going into the story, a question for all of you. What is that mean, in the previous story, our Tanjore Big Temple's architecture, sculpture, painting. Why that temple was built, and how that temple was built, like this. We have seen the specialties of that temple. After all these years, it has been indestructible." Adhithya said to his friends Janani, Harshini and Thalapathi Ram by sitting in the chair, surrounded by some of his friends. Since, they asked him to tell about a story, that he considered as his favorite works, Adhithya said about the story of "The Big Temple: Chapter 1" to his friends around 11:30 AM. It took maximum of one hour for him to complete the narration. At the end, many of his friends were glued and gripped to the story of the temple. Since, it's an important history of Tamil people, which many are eager to hear and know about till now.

As they hesitated to tell their opinion on the first chapter that he narrated, Adhithya said: "Ok. Let's go into the history of Tanjore Big temple friends."

PART 1: THE BIG TEMPLE

We all know that the great temple of Tanjore was built by Rajaraja Cholan to express his love for Lord Shiva. Similarly, each inscription at Great Temple in Tanjore, still make us remember the glory of Thanjavur and the history of Rajaraja Cholan. Since all the people of the world, need to know about it. They have turned Tanjore Great temple as a tourist place now. Thousands of people from many countries come to see the Tanjore Great Temple. Those who have come, learn many things about the temple. But they forgot to notice many secrets in it. This proverb is very famous in our village: "Where there is beauty, there is danger."

They didn't say just like that. Why because, that temple blind our eyes with it's features and beauty. But no one knows how many secrets are hidden in that temple. Because to build a temple during that period, there will be many secrets in it. Many treasures of the king will be hidden in there. Or secret passages like something will be hidden in that temple. So they have been using the temple as a place of protection. And a very important reign of our country is the reign of the Cholas.

PRESENT

"So this big temple of Tanjore built by Rajaraja Cholan will definitely contain secrets. So what is the other side of that temple? And what are the secrets of that temple?" Ram, who was glued with the narration of Adhithya, questioned him. He started to tell about the secrets of the temple to his friends.

PART 2: SECRETS OF THE TEMPLE

Though Rajaraja Cholan built this temple as a devotion to Lord Shiva, on the other hand, this temple was built to strengthen the country's needs and security. Though it was seen as a huge temple by the people from outside, all the secret treasure hideouts and protective charms, it was known only to the king and some members of the royal family.

In those days, the kings usually build a temple and create some secret rooms and tunnels which cannot be found out by others. Because, it will be their secret alliance place and they use it for many other things. Though people wished to know where these tunnels go, no one had the courage to go to that place and see it.

PART 3: THE SECRET TUNNELS

Hence, those places was believed to have many mysteries. That's how the tunnels around Tanjore's Great Temple remained a mystery for many years. However, a few people went inside the temple and found some tunnels. And only a few tunnels have been discovered and brought to public view. And there are still some mysterious tunnels in it. Also, some researchers Subramaniya Sastri and Eugene have said about the use of those tunnels of Tanjore Big Temple in their book: "The Mysterious Tunnels."

What is that is, "They say that the tunnel leading from the temple to the palace is the king's secret passage." Why because, since Rajaraja Cholan had many enemies. When he was going to receive Lord Shiva's blessings every day, these tunnels were built for him to come and go to the temple safely.

PART 4: MYSTERIOUS TUNNELS

Apart from that, they found many tunnels leading from this temple to some other temples. After finding only they came to know, "It's not only a tunnel for the king to go safely to other temples. But to meet the landlord of that country and talk about the current affairs of the country, economy, taxation, etc."

Many tunnels are designed to go to different places in the country. Why because, maybe if someone attack the country, or to escape from there in any other emergency situation. Though we discovered these types of tunnels now, some of the tunnels are so intricate that no one knows about them and Rajaraja Cholan also build some secret hiding places for those tunnels.

Not only that, those tunnels are the treasury of that country, that is, the entire wealth of that country was hid in it. And also used for the secret messengers to bring secret messages. Not only to protect the country, but Rajaraja Cholan used these tunnels as a weapon to wage war on many countries. Though the explorers found some tunnels, most of the tunnels are still existing with many mysteries. Not only that, the tunnels of that time were very complicated. So no one should get stuck in it. And all remaining tunnels were closed by the government.

PRESENT

At present, Janani asked Adhithya: "Did Rajaraja Cholan thought only of the tunnels, Adhithya? Didn't he think of nothing else?"

"It's not like that, Janani. No one should rob Tanjore and even if someone looted the government treasury in order to enhance the future generations."

PART 5: THE SECRET CHAMBER

And no problem should have arisen from that. Some jewels, diamonds, etc…Everything was hid in the secret chamber under Lord Shiva at the sanctum of the temple. When poverty came in the country, and when the economy hits downturn, he'll take all the hidden gold jewellery gold coins and diamonds, and will turn his country back to the old situation. He had thought ahead and did all these.

But some people may have some doubts. What's that mean, Did Rajaraja Cholan saved only gold coins and jewellery for his people? What will they do if a storm like a natural disaster comes? People need food to survive more than money.

PART 6: THE STRATEGY

No matter how many natural calamities come and even when the agriculture is destroyed because of it, to overcome and recover from it, he had came up with a good strategy to farm again. What is that mean, mostly all the temple towers will be long. Even natural calamities such as floods come, the tower of the temple will not be affected.

So he took a small amount of all the grains and seal them in the tower casket. The tower of the temple will not be affected. These tower casket will be at the top of the tower. Now if the natural calamity comes and if there is no food to eat, even if such a situation arises, the seeds in that tower can be farmed again and the people's hunger can be alleviated. Flood, storm, rain, whatever comes, nothing can affect the seeds at the top of the tower. All those caskets were made in that kind of structure. There is not only beauty, there are many amazing things in Tanjore's big temple.

PRESENT

"We have found some of them and to find others, it will take time." Adhithya said to his friends, who were amused upon hearing the golden days of Tanjore under Raja Raja Cholan. Harshini, Rohan and Janani felt proud upon hearing the proud Tamil culture and the regime of Raja Raja Cholan.

"Raja Raja Cholan lived his whole life for the people and died after four years since this temple was built." Looking at the information that he researched and collected from a Sastri of the Tanjore temple, he said about the death of Raja Raja Cholan and the consecration of temple in 1997.

PART 7: CONSECRATION

Some historians say that the body of Rajaraja Cholan was buried in that temple. But some people have an alternative opinion. The truth is still unknown. Since the great temple became very old, they thought of renovating it. So they completed all the work and in 1997, On June 7, the consecration festival of the temple was performed on a grand scale. For the consecration festival, not only the people of that town, but also people from many other towns had come to the temple very happily. And when the Shiva Acharyas of that temple were performing rituals for consecration. A thing that no one thought had happened.

What's that mean, the pavilion of that temple, suddenly started burning. Seeing this, all the people there started screaming and running.

At the same time, since the items they kept for conducting the rituals(ghee and other flammable materials) were there, the fire started to spread very quickly. When the people who were there were nervous and ran to see if they can escape somehow, 48 people died in the crowd unexpectedly. And many people suffered burns. The pavilion caught fire due to a spark from a firecracker that was burse next to the temple.

In the investigation, they found that the crackers spark was the reason that pavilion caught fire. But what some people said is, "By not leaving, the ancient and old features of the temple remain intact and since they thought of renovating it, Rajaraja Cholan who was buried there, got angry and these all had happened. But this is just a myth."

However, no matter how many years have passed. This incident remains in people's minds. Not only that, if a place is very famous, there are many myths like the truth. Similarly, this temple has many truths and many myths.

PRESENT

4:30 PM

"If we look this temple as a history it will remain as a miracle. Perhaps if we look at this temple as a mystery, then it always remain mystery. Why I am saying this means, this type of big temple can never be built by humans. This was built by aliens. Just like pyramids, they said that aliens only built this temple. There are so many rumours like this." Adhithya said to his friends, who were terribly shocked upon hearing the incident, that happened in 1997.

"It's said that the shadow of the big temple doesn't falls on the ground. But that's not true, if you go there in the morning, you can see the shadow of the tower. And when the time passes and when the sun reaches the mid-sky. The shadow size decreases. Many rumours like this are always talked about in Tanjore Great temple." Adhithya concluded his narration about the history of Tanjore Big temple and it's mystery with his friends.

Looking at his phone and the Azhiyar river, being surrounded by the shadow of sun, Adhithya said: "Ok friends. I think it's already 4:35 PM. I think, I have to go back to my house SITRA. Can anyone of you drop me in the Pollachi bus stand?"

Some felt hesitant. But, Anuvishnu agreed to drop him in the bus stand and takes him in his car, accompanied by Sachin.

EPILOGUE

"Do you know who built the World's first navy army? A hero who established the pride of Tamilians across the ocean. How did Rajendra Chola's fleet cross the sea and fought wars? What are their war tactics? To know fully about their navy, Hear the book called "Rajendra Cholan Kadarpadai[Rajendra Cholan Navy] in Kuku FM." They had said a lot of interesting thing in this. And not only that, at the time when there was no modern technology, they had built such a temple means, it is the wonder of the world."

QUESTIONS TO MY BELOVED READERS:

My beloved readers. Why people and UNESCO didn't add the Great Temple of Tanjore as one of the wonders of the world? Surely you all have this question. So I'm asking the same question to you. Why it is not added as one of the wonders of the world? If you know the reason, then tell me your opinions kindly.