Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 " Shr " <reesh_99@.. .> wrote: > > Nice article, thought everyone should read it. Sorry if it has > already been posted -Shree > > In the corridor of royalty by Dhananjaya Bhat > Deccan Herald, Sept. 30, 2007 > > Dhananjaya Bhat goes back into history to take a look at 'Sethupatis' , > the royal family who guarded the Rama Sethu. Today when the description of Rama and creation of the Rama Sethu as a myth is creating a furore, it is interesting to note that for thousands of years, there was a royal family in South India with its headquarters at Ramanathapuram near Rameshwaram, known as the Sethupati Rajas or the guardians of the Sethu. Like the Maharajas of Kashi in North India, the specific task of these kings was to guard the sanctity of Rameshwaram temple and protect the Sethu - now so much under the limelight. > In fact even today, though the famous Rameshwaram temple (which technically belonged to the Sethupatis) is administered by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the head of the Sethupati dynasty, at present Rajeshwari Nachiar, is the hereditary head of the temple's board of trustees. > > Detailed information about the Sethupathis is available in the 'Ramnad Manual' maintained by Tamil Nadu archives. It states that, " The Sethupatis built several chattrams (dharmsalas) along the main roads of the pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. Roads were opened through the forests. Immense sums were spent on the restoration of the Rameshwaram temples, which were falling into ruins, and the splendid Chockattan Mantapam or the cloistered precincts of the temple at Rameshwaram being finally completed by the Sethupati representatives. . " Although the dynasty claims that they are mentioned in the 2000-year-old sagas of Tamil literature, as the brave Marava community guarding the Sethu since the times of Rama, the first historical reference comes only in the 11th century AD, when Chola king Rajaraja made the head of Marava community as Sethupati to protect the pilgrims to Rameshwaram temple and the Rama Sethu > The temple complex itself was built by Sethupati rulers in the 12th century, with Sethupathy Maravar beginning the construction of the grand Ramanathaswamy temple. Then again reference is made in A D1434 to the repair of the temple walls by the head of the Sethupati clan, known as Udayan Sethupati. Geologists state that till AD1480, when a tsunami damaged the present Rama Sethu, one could walk from India to Sri Lanka on the Sethu! > > But only from AD 1605, we find detailed history of these chiefs, who are described as masters of Sethu and their kingdom described as Sethu Nadu (Land of Sethu). After the destruction of the Vijayanagar empire in 1565, their viceroy in South India, the Nayak ruler of Madurai, re-appointed head of the same Marava community as the Sethupatis. > > The most important of these monarchs was the Raghunatha Sethupati II alias Kilavan Sethupati (1671 AD to 1710 AD), who ensured that Sethupatis with their fiefdom over the area known as Ramnad, remained all powerful. It was during his time, that the magnificent still existing palace of Ramlingavilasam was created as the residence of the Sethupatis. No other palace in Tamil Nadu has such extensive mural paintings. As soon as you enter the Mahamandapam, you are surrounded by murals that glint like gem-encrusted jewels on the walls. Some are dull and faded, while others flash forth their brilliance, even 300 years after they were executed. In 1978, the Sethupati family, unable to maintain the palace handed it over to the Government of Tamil Nadu. > But in the18th century, the British entered the politics of South India and as a measure to reduce the importance of the Sethupatis, they were demoted as mere zamindars under the British in1803. Of all the services this royal family has done to India, the most important was that of financing the visit of Swami Vivekananda in 1893 to Chicago, to address the World Religions Conference. Swami Vivekananda reached Ramnathapuram in 1892 and met the then scion, Bhaskara Sethupati at his palace, and stayed there as the official guest for eight days. > > Initially, it was Bhaskara Setupati as the Raja of Ramnad, who had earlier decided to go to US to attend the Parliament of Religions as the representative of Hinduism. But after conversing with Swami Vivekananda, he decided that Swamiji was the right person to attend the conference. > > Vivekananda decided to accept the Raja's offer. When Vivekananda returned from USA after his grand success, as he was about to land at Rameshwaram, the overjoyed Raja was waiting with his entourage to give him a royal welcome. Because of the achievement of Swamiji and as well as the regard, the Raja had for him, he bowed his head and offered it as step for Vivekananda to get down from the boat. But, Swamiji tactfully avoided this offer, by jumping from the boat to the land. Then the Raja unyoked the bullocks from Vivekananda' s ceremonial chariot and pulled the conveyance manually with his entourage, till it reached his palace. Later he erected a victory pillar of 25 feet height with the Upanishad expression Satyameva Jayate to commemorate the success of Swami Vivekananda at Chicago. > > After Indian Independence, the Sethupatis still retained their importance in the politics of Tamil Nadu. In fact Shanmuga Raja Sethupati won the elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly and held the seat thrice from 1951 to 1967, besides being a minister in the Rajagopalachari Ministry of 1952. He was well-known in horse racing circles and had a stable of over 50 horses in Calcutta and a huge garage of cars in Madras, including Rolls Royces and a Bentley. But the abolition of zamindaries by the Government of India, removed all sources of their wealth and today, the former Sethupatis are just well-known prominent magnates of Tamil Nadu. > << Kindly send this to your friends >> Pathi A.V.Pathi, care Dr. Sreenivasan, 5, Heath Road, Nettleham, Lincoln Ln2 2ZX U.K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 A good post indeed, but why wasting gems on people who do not have blood running in their veins, but only water. What have they of interest here in story of Ram setus Surakshaa, when their blood did not boil when a black spot in name of astrology " Sreenadh " uttered a heinous statement on Shri Ramas mother, that " she slept with a horse one full night " to give birth to Shri Rama ? How can such worthless people listen to these words of wisdom, when they have acted like robots with no emotions, on my call for a joint action on this Sreenadh. So far I have received only 3 calls of support from the real men here in this Group. What about the others ? How can these so called astrologers talk about Astrology when sages like Valmiki and Parashar are denigrated daily, with roadside utterances ? They dont have respect for their own Lord, how can they just sit here with their heads held high and discuss about astrology, and how will they sit in Diwali poojan, with what face will they do pooja of Lakshmiji (The consort of Vishnu a the Supreme head who incarnated as Shri Rama). I am fighting this battle alone now. I will win or not, God knows, but at least I will not be ashamed to sit and do pooja and face my Mother Lakshmiji and Rama while doing Diwali poojan or while visiting any temple, and how can such astrologers who are inactive, who have shed their manliness, now earn grace of Hanumanji, I am unable to understand. I have stopped writing here for this only reason, I want to be in an assembly where real men stand, who have the guts to face unrighteousness. if given all the wealth of the world, yet I will never stand with people like Sreenadh. Your inaction, silence is a support for this man, is understood. Due to Gods grace I can fight all my battles alone, and He has given me victory every time, whenever I have fought a war with, and For Dharma, but is this just My war ? Do I not have the option to keep quiet and remain silent like most of you here ? Is this not Our war ? I have nothing personal against Sreendah, I dont even know him, and some altercation I had with him in the past, I have had with many before him. I dont hold grudges for these, because these are part and parcel of life, so I always retaliate, forgive and then forget. But this case is not to be forgotten. It is to be remembered daily, reminding us what type of Hindus we are. Are we not commiting the same mistakes which our ancestors did at the time of partition ? They allowed it which is why we today face threats of terrorism all around everyday, and so many human deaths forced upon them . Let us not sleep once again on these grave errors commiited by the termites of a good society. If we sleep now, then we will never be able to wake again. And even if we do, we will not find a place in the bosom of our Lord Shri Rama. I ask all the men here to awake and live like men and die like men. Where are the great men of Mahabharat's time who fought on the side of Arjun and Yudhistar ,though they would not have any personal gain of any kingdom,on winning that battle. Where are the great men of Ramayans time, who trod on the Ramsetu built by Nala and Neela and those great Vanara warriors who would not have a wife to gain, on winning that battle, but who fought on the side of Shri Rama, only out of love and for Dharma sake ? Where are those avid book lovers of SwamiVivekananda who have lot of expositions to do on his teachings, but Kathan is seperate and Karni is different ? Where are the great Hindus, who pride themselves on being called so, on some one elses laurels ? This is the time to win your own earnt laurels, from the Lord himself, this not yours or mines fight, but our Fight, against a misguided member of our astrology fraternity. Awaken and face your own fears first, then deal with the perpetrator like real Bhakta should. Anyway, to each his own. Bhaskar. , venkatachala pathi <pathiav wrote: > > " Shr " <reesh_99@ .> wrote: > > > > Nice article, thought everyone should read it. Sorry if it has > > already been posted -Shree > > > > In the corridor of royalty by Dhananjaya Bhat > > Deccan Herald, Sept. 30, 2007 > > > > Dhananjaya Bhat goes back into history to take a look at 'Sethupatis' , > > the royal family who guarded the Rama Sethu. Today when the description of Rama and creation of the Rama Sethu as a myth is creating a furore, it is interesting to note that for thousands of years, there was a royal family in South India with its headquarters at Ramanathapuram near Rameshwaram, known as the Sethupati Rajas or the guardians of the Sethu. Like the Maharajas of Kashi in North India, the specific task of these kings was to guard the sanctity of Rameshwaram temple and protect the Sethu - now so much under the limelight. > > In fact even today, though the famous Rameshwaram temple (which technically belonged to the Sethupatis) is administered by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the head of the Sethupati dynasty, at present Rajeshwari Nachiar, is the hereditary head of the temple's board of trustees. > > > > Detailed information about the Sethupathis is available in the 'Ramnad Manual' maintained by Tamil Nadu archives. It states that, " The Sethupatis built several chattrams (dharmsalas) along the main roads of the pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. Roads were opened through the > forests. Immense sums were spent on the restoration of the Rameshwaram > temples, which were falling into ruins, and the splendid Chockattan Mantapam or the cloistered precincts of the temple at Rameshwaram being finally completed by the Sethupati representatives. . " Although the dynasty claims that they are mentioned in the 2000-year-old sagas of Tamil literature, as the brave Marava community guarding the Sethu since the times of Rama, the first historical reference comes only in the 11th century AD, when Chola king Rajaraja made the head of Marava community as Sethupati to protect the pilgrims to Rameshwaram temple and the Rama Sethu > > > The temple complex itself was built by Sethupati rulers in the 12th century, with Sethupathy Maravar beginning the construction of the grand Ramanathaswamy temple. Then again reference is made in A D1434 to the repair of the temple walls by the head of the Sethupati clan, known as Udayan Sethupati. Geologists state that till AD1480, when a tsunami damaged the present Rama Sethu, one could walk from India to Sri Lanka on the Sethu! > > > > But only from AD 1605, we find detailed history of these chiefs, who are described as masters of Sethu and their kingdom described as Sethu Nadu (Land of Sethu). After the destruction of the Vijayanagar empire in 1565, their viceroy in South India, the Nayak ruler of Madurai, re-appointed head of the same Marava community as the Sethupatis. > > > > The most important of these monarchs was the Raghunatha Sethupati II alias Kilavan Sethupati (1671 AD to 1710 AD), who ensured that Sethupatis with their fiefdom over the area known as Ramnad, remained all powerful. It was during his time, that the magnificent still existing palace of Ramlingavilasam was created as the residence of the Sethupatis. No other palace in Tamil Nadu has such extensive mural paintings. As soon as you enter the Mahamandapam, you are surrounded by murals that glint like gem-encrusted jewels on the walls. Some are dull and faded, while others flash forth their brilliance, even 300 > years after they were executed. In 1978, the Sethupati family, unable to maintain the palace handed it over to the Government of Tamil Nadu. > > > But in the18th century, the British entered the politics of South India and as a measure to reduce the importance of the Sethupatis, they were demoted as mere zamindars under the British in1803. Of all the services this royal family has done to India, the most important was that of financing the visit of Swami Vivekananda in 1893 to Chicago, to address the World Religions Conference. Swami Vivekananda reached Ramnathapuram in 1892 and met the then scion, Bhaskara Sethupati at his palace, and stayed there as the official guest for eight days. > > > > Initially, it was Bhaskara Setupati as the Raja of Ramnad, who had earlier decided to go to US to attend the Parliament of Religions as the representative of Hinduism. But after conversing with Swami Vivekananda, he decided that Swamiji was the right person to attend the conference. > > > > Vivekananda decided to accept the Raja's offer. When Vivekananda returned from USA after his grand success, as he was about to land at Rameshwaram, the overjoyed Raja was waiting with his entourage to give him a royal welcome. Because of the achievement of Swamiji and as well as the regard, the Raja had for him, he bowed his head and offered it as step for Vivekananda to get down from the boat. But, Swamiji tactfully avoided this offer, by jumping from the boat to the land. Then the Raja unyoked the bullocks from Vivekananda' s ceremonial chariot and pulled the conveyance manually with his entourage, till it reached his palace. Later he erected a victory pillar of 25 feet height with the > Upanishad expression Satyameva Jayate to commemorate the success of Swami Vivekananda at Chicago. > > > > After Indian Independence, the Sethupatis still retained their importance in the politics of Tamil Nadu. In fact Shanmuga Raja Sethupati won the elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly and held the seat thrice from 1951 to 1967, besides being a minister in the Rajagopalachari Ministry of 1952. He was well-known in horse racing circles and had a stable of over 50 horses in Calcutta and a huge garage of cars in Madras, including Rolls Royces and a Bentley. But the abolition of zamindaries by the Government of India, removed all sources of their wealth and today, the former Sethupatis are just well-known prominent magnates of Tamil Nadu. > > > > << Kindly send this to your friends >> Pathi > > > A.V.Pathi, > care Dr. Sreenivasan, > 5, Heath Road, > Nettleham, > Lincoln > Ln2 2ZX U.K. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 the posting of shreenadh is bullshit, as he is, bhaskar bhai there are few people who are not from their father. so they think like that. we are with you. rgds niket , " Bhaskar " <bhaskar_jyotish wrote: > > A good post indeed, but why wasting gems on people who do not have blood > running in their veins, but only water. What have they of interest > here in story of Ram > setus Surakshaa, when their blood did not boil when a black spot in > name of astrology > " Sreenadh " uttered a heinous statement on Shri Ramas mother, that " > she slept with > a horse one full night " to give birth to Shri Rama ? How can such > worthless people > listen to these words of wisdom, when they have acted like robots with > no emotions, on my call for a joint action on this Sreenadh. > So far I have received only 3 calls of support from the real men here > in this Group. > What about the others ? How can these so called astrologers talk > about Astrology when sages like Valmiki and Parashar are denigrated > daily, with > roadside utterances ? They dont have respect for their own Lord, > how can they just sit here with their heads held high and > discuss about astrology, and how will they sit in Diwali poojan, with > what face will > they do pooja of Lakshmiji (The consort of Vishnu a the Supreme head who > incarnated as Shri Rama). > I am fighting this battle alone now. I will win or not, God knows, but > at least I will not be ashamed to sit and do pooja and face my Mother > Lakshmiji > and Rama while doing Diwali poojan or while visiting any temple, and > how can such > astrologers who are inactive, who have shed their manliness, > now earn grace of Hanumanji, I am unable to understand. > I have stopped writing here for this only reason, I want to be in an > assembly > where real men stand, who have the guts to face unrighteousness. > if given all the wealth of the world, yet I will never stand with > people like > Sreenadh. Your inaction, silence is a support for this man, is understood. > > Due to Gods grace I can fight all my battles alone, and He has given me > victory every time, whenever I have fought a war with, and For Dharma, > but is this just My war ? Do I not have the option to keep quiet and > remain > silent like most of you here ? Is this not Our war ? I have nothing > personal > against Sreendah, I dont even know him, and some altercation I had > with him > in the past, I have had with many before him. I dont hold grudges for > these, because > these are part and parcel of life, so I always retaliate, forgive and > then forget. But > this case is not to be forgotten. It is to be remembered daily, > reminding us what type > of Hindus we are. Are we not commiting the same mistakes which our > ancestors did at the time of partition ? They allowed it which is why > we today face > threats of terrorism all around everyday, and so many human deaths > forced upon them . > Let us not sleep once again on these grave errors commiited by the > termites of > a good society. If we sleep now, then we will never be able to wake > again. And even if > we do, we will not find a place in the bosom of our Lord Shri Rama. I ask > all the men here to awake and live like men and die like men. > > Where are the great men of Mahabharat's time who fought on the side of > Arjun and Yudhistar ,though they would not have any personal gain of > any kingdom,on winning that battle. > Where are the great men of Ramayans time, who trod on the Ramsetu > built by Nala and Neela and those great Vanara warriors who would not > have a wife to gain, on winning that battle, but who fought on the > side of Shri Rama, only out of love and for Dharma sake ? > Where are those avid book lovers of SwamiVivekananda who have lot of > expositions to do on his teachings, but Kathan is seperate and Karni > is different ? > Where are the great Hindus, who pride themselves on being called so, > on some one elses laurels ? This is the time to win your own earnt > laurels, from the Lord himself, this not yours or mines fight, but our > Fight, against a misguided member of our astrology fraternity. > Awaken and face your own fears first, then deal with the perpetrator > like real Bhakta should. > > Anyway, to each his own. > > Bhaskar. > > > > > > > > > > > > , venkatachala pathi <pathiav@> > wrote: > > > > " Shr " <reesh_99@ .> wrote: > > > > > > Nice article, thought everyone should read it. Sorry if it has > > > already been posted -Shree > > > > > > In the corridor of royalty by Dhananjaya Bhat > > > Deccan Herald, Sept. 30, 2007 > > > > > > Dhananjaya Bhat goes back into history to take a look at > 'Sethupatis' , > > > the royal family who guarded the Rama Sethu. Today when the > description of Rama and creation of the Rama Sethu as a myth is > creating a furore, it is interesting to note that for thousands of > years, there was a royal family in South India with its headquarters > at Ramanathapuram near Rameshwaram, known as the Sethupati Rajas or > the guardians of the Sethu. Like the Maharajas of Kashi in North > India, the specific task of these kings was to guard the sanctity of > Rameshwaram temple and protect the Sethu - now so much under the > limelight. > > > In fact even today, though the famous Rameshwaram temple (which > technically belonged to the Sethupatis) is administered by the > Government of Tamil Nadu, the head of the Sethupati dynasty, at > present Rajeshwari Nachiar, is the hereditary head of the temple's > board of trustees. > > > > > > Detailed information about the Sethupathis is available in the > 'Ramnad Manual' maintained by Tamil Nadu archives. It states that, > " The Sethupatis built several chattrams (dharmsalas) along the main > roads of the pilgrimage to Rameshwaram. Roads were opened through the > > forests. Immense sums were spent on the restoration of the Rameshwaram > > temples, which were falling into ruins, and the splendid Chockattan > Mantapam or the cloistered precincts of the temple at Rameshwaram > being finally completed by the Sethupati representatives. . " Although > the dynasty claims that they are mentioned in the 2000-year-old sagas > of Tamil literature, as the brave Marava community guarding the Sethu > since the times of Rama, the first historical reference comes only > in the 11th century AD, when Chola king Rajaraja made the head of > Marava community as Sethupati to protect the pilgrims to Rameshwaram > temple and the Rama Sethu > > > > > The temple complex itself was built by Sethupati rulers in the 12th > century, with Sethupathy Maravar beginning the construction of the > grand Ramanathaswamy temple. Then again reference is made in A D1434 > to the repair of the temple walls by the head of the Sethupati clan, > known as Udayan Sethupati. Geologists state that till AD1480, when a > tsunami damaged the present Rama Sethu, one could walk from India to > Sri Lanka on the Sethu! > > > > > > But only from AD 1605, we find detailed history of these chiefs, > who are described as masters of Sethu and their kingdom described as > Sethu Nadu (Land of Sethu). After the destruction of the Vijayanagar > empire in 1565, their viceroy in South India, the Nayak ruler of > Madurai, re-appointed head of the same Marava community as the Sethupatis. > > > > > > The most important of these monarchs was the Raghunatha Sethupati > II alias Kilavan Sethupati (1671 AD to 1710 AD), who ensured that > Sethupatis with their fiefdom over the area known as Ramnad, remained > all powerful. It was during his time, that the magnificent still > existing palace of Ramlingavilasam was created as the residence of the > Sethupatis. No other palace in Tamil Nadu has such extensive mural > paintings. As soon as you enter the Mahamandapam, you are surrounded > by murals that glint like gem-encrusted jewels on the walls. Some are > dull and faded, while others flash forth their brilliance, even 300 > > years after they were executed. In 1978, the Sethupati family, > unable to maintain the palace handed it over to the Government of > Tamil Nadu. > > > > > But in the18th century, the British entered the politics of South > India and as a measure to reduce the importance of the Sethupatis, > they were demoted as mere zamindars under the British in1803. Of all > the services this royal family has done to India, the most important > was that of financing the visit of Swami Vivekananda in 1893 to > Chicago, to address the World Religions Conference. Swami Vivekananda > reached Ramnathapuram in 1892 and met the then scion, Bhaskara > Sethupati at his palace, and stayed there as the official guest for > eight days. > > > > > > Initially, it was Bhaskara Setupati as the Raja of Ramnad, who had > earlier decided to go to US to attend the Parliament of Religions as > the representative of Hinduism. But after conversing with Swami > Vivekananda, he decided that Swamiji was the right person to attend > the conference. > > > > > > Vivekananda decided to accept the Raja's offer. When Vivekananda > returned from USA after his grand success, as he was about to land at > Rameshwaram, the overjoyed Raja was waiting with his entourage to > give him a royal welcome. Because of the achievement of Swamiji and as > well as the regard, the Raja had for him, he bowed his head and > offered it as step for Vivekananda to get down from the boat. But, > Swamiji tactfully avoided this offer, by jumping from the boat to the > land. Then the Raja unyoked the bullocks from Vivekananda' s > ceremonial chariot and pulled the conveyance manually with his > entourage, till it reached his palace. Later he erected a victory > pillar of 25 feet height with the > > Upanishad expression Satyameva Jayate to commemorate the success of > Swami Vivekananda at Chicago. > > > > > > After Indian Independence, the Sethupatis still retained their > importance in the politics of Tamil Nadu. In fact Shanmuga Raja > Sethupati won the elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly and held the > seat thrice from 1951 to 1967, besides being a minister in the > Rajagopalachari Ministry of 1952. He was well-known in horse racing > circles and had a stable of over 50 horses in Calcutta and a huge > garage of cars in Madras, including Rolls Royces and a Bentley. But > the abolition of zamindaries by the Government of India, removed all > sources of their wealth and today, the former Sethupatis are just > well-known prominent magnates of Tamil Nadu. > > > > > > > << Kindly send this to your friends >> Pathi > > > > > > A.V.Pathi, > > care Dr. Sreenivasan, > > 5, Heath Road, > > Nettleham, > > Lincoln > > Ln2 2ZX U.K. > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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