- 1 year ago
During his visit to Tiruchirappalli, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome with a vibrant roadshow held in honour of Rajendra Chola I’s birth anniversary. He also visited the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur district to pay tribute to the Chola dynasty’s enduring legacy. The visit coincided with the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola I, one of the greatest emperors of the Chola empire, renowned for his military conquests and for extending the empire’s influence as far as Southeast Asia.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00If we look at this very event politically as well, it is quite important today with the Prime Minister being in Tamil Nadu
00:06and he is to in fact address the people there as well.
00:09But just quickly if we are to focus on how big of a cultural event this is for the people of Tamil Nadu as well.
00:15The Prime Minister visiting this very temple, celebrating the thousandth birth anniversary of the Chola Emperor that we have been speaking about.
00:24That itself also sends a big message for how the party in itself is preparing for 2026.
00:33In fact it is quite early for sure but then the stage is being set at this given point if we are to look at it that way.
00:44Well that is right, this is a soft push on part of the centre ahead of the elections.
00:49The fact that the centre is saying that they do recognise the civilisation and the culture of Tamil Nadu.
00:57This is a kind of a soft push ahead of election before things get a lot more heated up as the election date nears.
01:05This is a kind of soft push by the centre to show the people of Tamil Nadu that they do care about the culture, heritage of Tamil Nadu
01:15given the fact that there is also language issues simmering between the centre and the state.
01:20The centre here trying to send a strong message that they do recognise and respect the culture and tradition of Tamil Nadu.
01:27The fact that the centre believes that there should be a three language policy implemented here
01:32but the state says that a three language policy is only a backdoor entry for Hindi to make its way into Tamil Nadu
01:40and that the DMK says will not let it happen.
01:42The centre says that come what may, language issues are aside, we are here to respect and celebrate the rich history of Tamil and its civilisation.
01:52That's the kind of soft messaging that can be perceived through this commemoration, this momentous day for the entire state of Tamil Nadu.
02:01The fact that there is a temple that Tamil Nadu houses that's over a thousand years old.
02:05That in itself speaks volumes about the kind of heritage that Tamil Nadu carries within itself.
02:11It is a well known fact that Tamil rulers did rule vast parts of Asia and also went ahead and built some of the most advanced scientific temples here in Tamil Nadu.
02:21And this is one such magnificent temple, the Brihadiswara temple in Ganga Konda Chora Puram that's built by King Rajendra Chora,
02:30one who is the son of Raj Rajachoran, the Chora empire, the Chora dynasty.
02:34You know, the fact that Tamil Nadu houses this very temple in itself that's very advanced in its architecture just tells you about how imperative it is for every single Indian to come here to Tamil Nadu,
02:49to Trichara police, Ganga Konda Chora Puram and pay a visit to this magnificent temple over here.
02:55Tamil Nadu is known to be a temple state.
02:57The fact that it has some of the most richest architecture here in the entire country and this is one such temple, the oldest temple, it's about a thousand years old.
03:08The fact that Prime Minister Modi is here to commemorate the millinery anniversary since its inception just tells you about how much of a monumental day it is for the entire state and for the country at large.
03:21Absolutely. You know, we will circle back to the soft push in a little while, Anagar, but let's also quickly take some more, I would rather say focus a little more on the temple itself.
03:34Ganga Konda temple, the Ganga Konda Chora Puram temple, if we speak of, it is a UNESCO world heritage as well.
03:41It's been declared to be so.
03:42And, you know, you've been speaking of how important it is, not just, I wouldn't say just for Tamil Pride, but also nationally, it is definitely an important cultural heritage for the people of our country.
03:55If you could just take us through some details in terms of the legacy it carries with itself and also the symbol that it is for the Chola Empire as well as the ruler that we are speaking of and celebrating today, Rajendra Chola I.
04:12Well, in fact, if you take a look at the entrance point of the Brihadiswara temple, there is a beautiful nandi.
04:20So before you enter the temple, it's imperative that you also pay your respects to the nandi over there, you know, in front of Lord Shiva.
04:28So by crossing that nandi is how you enter this temple over here.
04:32And once you enter this temple, you know, once you enter this temple, there is a civiling inside, you know, that's, you know, that's known to be a thousand years old with architecture and heritage.
04:42Every single pillar in this temple just tells you about the kind of richness that this particular place carries.
04:49However, this district that we're speaking about is very low in human development index.
04:54So a lot of calls are also being given to sort of develop this particular village.
04:59In fact, even when we took a walk around this village, we could see that there could be a lot of areas for development and improvement in this village,
05:06given the fact that this has ranked, you know, as the lowest in human development index.
05:11There could be a lot of scope for improvement, but the fact that this village houses, you know, a temple of this stature, this temple of this grandeur that's over a thousand years old.
05:22In fact, Rajendra Cholan had built this temple after he conquered this, you know, this particular land in Gangaikonda Chodapuram.
05:31After he won his war, that was when in order to commemorate his victory, he has built this temple over here, the Brihadiswara Temple.
05:38There's another larger temple, but that's in, you know, that's in Tanjahur.
05:44It was the same Chola dynasty that had also built that temple, very rich in culture and history yet again.
05:51And now another smaller version of that is here near Trichy.
05:55That's the Gangaikonda Chodapuram temple.
05:57In fact, when Rajendra Cholan had won, had taken over Concord and won the Gangetic Plains,
06:03that was when he built this temple over here, some of the most ancient temple that this place houses.
06:10That's the significance that we are talking about.
06:12We also believe that it's very powerful for those who believe in the Hinduism faith.
06:18People, devotees from all across Tamil Nadu, they come here, they, you know, they just throng this place in large numbers annually.
06:26That's the kind of significance and spiritual significance that this place carries, a very, very, very important place for those who believe in the Hindu faith.
06:35But apart from that, it's also beautiful because of the kind of history, the architecture that this place carries.
06:42Every single pillar over here in this temple tells you a story.
06:45Every single pillar, you know, it just tells you tales and tales about the kind of things that had happened during the Chola Empire, the Chola dynasty.
06:56That's the kind of heritage that we are talking about, that the Prime Minister has come here to commemorate and to celebrate thousand years.
07:03In fact, it's also the Aadi Masam, as we call here in Tamil Nadu, it's called the Aadi Tiruviritha.
07:08We are also getting visuals of the Prime Minister, in fact, performing certain rites himself at this very temple that we have been speaking of since this morning.
07:18This is the Gangai Khandai temple, Chola Puram temple, where we see the Prime Minister himself also offering prayers.
07:26We have seen the Prime Minister participate in such religious occasions himself.
07:31He is also a part of the Puja that takes place, the prayers, the rituals, the rites that are conducted on such important days.
07:40And we can see such an example today as well from the very temple itself.
08:01The King of Chola Convention at the same time, the
08:15Puja Kristi He is a part of the Freddie, the元将 of the Virgin Elected, the Papu Grazné, the Holy Spirit of the Great Mother.
08:15The King of Chola Nevins at the same time, he comes to that, the Lord is a part of the land, through the land and through the land.
08:27I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you.
08:57Those are the rituals that
09:27that we are in fact seeing from the Gangai Khanda Temple, the Chola Purim Temple itself.
09:34Prime Minister also participating in the religious rites
09:39that is being performed at this very temple on the suspicious day,
09:43on this rather culturally important day,
09:46the 100,000th anniversary of Chola Rula Rajendra Chola I.
09:50And he is the one who had in fact given the push
09:55and began the construction and it was under his regime
09:58that one had seen the commencement of the construction of the Gangai Khanda Chola Purim Temple
10:03and this was during the grand finale of the Adi Tiruvaritirai festival.
10:12This anniversary has immense historical significance for Tamil culture,
10:16temple architecture and of course India's maritime legacy as well.
10:21But religiously speaking, these are the visuals that we are speaking,
10:25that we are picking up from Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu at this point
10:29where the Prime Minister is currently visiting.
10:31He has also previously participated in a mega road show
10:34right after he landed in this very district,
10:37post which he proceeded to the temple premises
10:41to participate in the day's religious and auspicious rites and rituals.
10:47The puja that was conducted.
10:54Lord Shiva that was worshipped and in fact Anagav was also telling us
10:57right at the temple entrance itself there is a big Nandi statue
11:03and as per the rule that goes around there
11:07one needs to first worship the Nandi statue
11:09then proceed towards the main temple premise.
11:14That is how the legacy goes, that is how the ritual goes
11:17in this very temple that we are speaking of.
11:20The Uttiraya festival at the historic temple.
11:45Prime Minister Modi who arrived just a little while back
11:52was received with a traditional Purna Kumbha welcome
11:55and then joined these key religious observances.
11:58Remember this temple and as you can see he has been greeted
12:02and he has also had an interaction with the priests at this very temple.
12:07It's a very special occasion let's also tell you viewers.
12:10It is the Aadi Tiruvaratirai festival that is taking place.
12:14And now you can see the Prime Minister exiting from the very temple
12:18after having participated in the very religious observances and rituals
12:23that were taking place.
12:24These are visuals of him taking a tour of the very temple premises.
12:28It is a huge temple ground if we are to speak of it.
12:32It is a big complex, big temple complex.
12:35Seeped in history, seeped in culture.
12:38As you can see the construction of it, thousand years old
12:42and yet it still remains to be full of grandiosity and also full of culture.
12:51Anaga joins us back on the broadcast to bring us more details.
12:56Anaga, we just saw the Prime Minister in fact participate in the very festival.
13:00You were also initially telling us about how this very month is very important
13:03for people in Tamil Nadu.
13:06Just take us through the festivities and the importance these very rituals hold
13:12for people in Tamil Nadu and why is it so crucial for their culture.
13:18Well, in fact, this particular temple, the Ganga Konda Chodapuram,
13:23the fact that it carries with itself the kind of ancient tradition.
13:27You know, the fact that Tamil Nadu is a temple state,
13:30it houses the maximum number of temples in the entire country.
13:34And the Prime Minister has come down here to commemorate
13:37thousand years since the inception of the temple.
13:40It was in the year 1025 by the Chodha Emperor Rajendra Chodha I that this temple was built.
13:48And this particular place that we are reporting from served as a capital for around,
13:53in fact, for more than 250 years, we believe.
13:56This is a Stephen Temple very, very close to, you know, very, very close to Siddhi.
14:02It has been recognized as the World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
14:07It's very important to note that King Rajendra I built this temple
14:11in order to commemorate his victory over the Pala dynasty.
14:15Remember, both of these dynasties were some of the most powerful
14:18and influential dynasties in that time.
14:21We're talking about thousand years back.
14:23The Chodha dynasty had defeated the Pala dynasty.
14:26And in order to commemorate that victory is why this particular temple was built
14:31near Tirichi in Aryalur district.
14:34It is, in fact, a very, very tiny village.
14:37In fact, it's short to fame and eminence ever since this temple was built.
14:42In fact, it's a well-known fact that a lot of Tamil rulers and Tamil kings,
14:47they had ruled vast parts of Asia.
14:50And they are more so known for the kind of advanced architecture that they had built in temples.
14:55And this grandiose temple that we are reporting from has the kind of architecture
15:02that's found nowhere else in this world.
15:04That's the kind of significance that we are talking about.
15:07In fact, right when you enter this temple, there is a Nandi.
15:11You know, it is mandatory.
15:12That's the custom.
15:13That you first pay your offerings to the Nandi.
15:16Nandi translates to a cow or a buffalo that is a devotee of Lord Shiva.
15:25You first pay your homage and your respect to the Nandi before you enter the temple.
15:31That's the custom that, you know, that is followed over here.
15:34In fact, if you do take a look at the history, you know, the history aspects of it,
15:40you have to dig up this port.
15:41You know, there's so far in time that this particular area goes.
15:47The kind of materials that was used in the construction of this temple, it's very, very rare.
15:53You know, there's not a chance that the same material can be used for the construction of buildings or any such temples in today's age.
16:01That's the kind of prominence that this temple carries along with itself.
16:06In fact, we're also learning that the Prime Minister will also be attending a lot of cultural programs.
16:13The culture that's rooted in Sardu.
16:15We are learning that there is a Sattakhali Bharatanatyam function that's also being organized,
16:20that the Prime Minister will be watching.
16:22There is also a musical function.
16:24The Prime Minister will be attending all that before he goes on the pedestal and delivers his, you know,
16:31delivers his public speech.
16:33That's the kind of, you know, itinerary that the Prime Minister is scheduled to follow today.
16:39In fact, the DMK leaders have also welcomed his arrival over here.
16:43Mr. Finance Minister, Mr. Sangam Tien Arasar.
16:47He was the one who welcomed him.
16:49Yesterday he was in Tutupuri to inaugurate a newly built terminal.
16:53Today he has come down over here for the commemoration of, you know,
16:59the millennial anniversary of the Gangaikonda Chorapuram temple.
Comments