Latest news with #Maharshi
The Print
02-08-2025
- The Print
What connects Raja Raja Chola, Ramana Maharshi, and Hindu temples of North America
The first aspect of this connection was forged in the late 1930s. Chinnaswami, the manager of Sri Ramanasramam (Maharshi's home-turned-ashram in Tamil Nadu), had been nursing the dream of building a traditional temple on top of the samadhi of Maharshi's mother. But the ashram did not have the financial resources. On a train journey to Madurai, Chinnaswami found himself sitting opposite a temple architect-cum-builder Mahilavanam Sthapati. The meeting clearly had the hand of providence behind it, for Mahilavanam was the 35th generation in a long line of temple architects and a descendant of Kunjaramallan Rajaraja Perunthachan, the architect of 11th-century Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur. This article is, however, about Rajendra Chola's father Raja Raja Chola, sage Ramana Maharshi, and the Hindu temples of North America. What could conceivably connect these three disparate subjects? The summer of 1025 was, in many ways, the high–water mark of the Chola Empire, when Emperor Rajendra Chola led an audacious and successful naval invasion of the Srivijaya empire in modern-day Indonesia in response to its interference in trade and customs matters. In fact, August may well have been the month when he won the war, since the expedition would have set sail from Tamil Nadu after the start of the southwest monsoon in June. The genius of Perunthachan The fact that Perunthachan — meaning the great craftsman — was commissioned by Raja Raja is enough to indicate his stature. However, the Brihadeeswara Temple he sculpted had several firsts to its name: – Tamil temple towers have a stone base, but the tapering section of tall gopurams are made of stucco. The Brihadeeswara Temple is unique because the entire gopuram is made of stone, which must have been an incredible task. – The gopuram is hollow on the inside like a cone, and was built using an interlocking system of precisely cut granite blocks, not mortar. – The 216-feet tall gopuram has virtually no foundation. It is just a few feet deep and structured on sand, gravel, and loose stones in a manner that the entire structure can shift slightly during earthquakes. – The gopuram's weight is supported by two angled walls that meet at a height of about 70 feet. – The capstone on top of the gopuram famously weighs 86 tonnes. Contrary to popular belief, it is not a single piece of stone. Rather, it was ingeniously assembled, like the carpels of an orange, at the top. – For a long time, people assumed that elephants were used to drag the capstone to the top using an inclined plane several kilometres long. But a more recent theory suggests that as the gopuram rose, it was surrounded by progressively taller (albeit tapering, like the gopuram itself) mounds of earth, with a spiral pathway. This allowed workers to climb to successively higher levels to build the gopuram and eventually place the capstone, after which the earth was removed starting from ground level. – Finally, the entire gopuram and temple complex is designed in such a way that the shadow of the capstone never falls on the ground at noon. Mahilavanam had a rich family history. However, he was now old, and so offered the services of his son Vaidyanatha Sthapati to build the Ramanasramam temple. Vaidyanatha was a worthy descendent of Perunthachan. He was not merely a master of silpa, sculpture, the agamas and vastu, but also adept in astronomy, Vedas, Upanishads, and mantra shastra. Vaidyanatha received the National Award for Master Craftsmen in 1963 and helped restore many temples in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. But back in the 1930s, the state of affairs was dire. Vaidyanatha's family was in penury. Royal patronage of the art of sculpture had ended with the fall of Maratha rule in Thanjavur, and there were hardly any temples being built. Because of his reverence for Ramana Maharshi, Vaidyanatha did not see the mother's shrine as a commercial venture but as a spiritual assignment. He was therefore willing to work with Chinnaswami despite the ashram's own precarious financial situation. There were many weeks when Chinnaswami didn't have enough money to pay the workers' weekly wages. Also read: Do Chola kings represent a culturally united Hindu India? It's a modern fantasy Building a revival Belonging to the Vishwakarma community, Vaidyanatha was deeply orthodox. He would not bring his family to eat at the ashram, as accepting food from his employer violated his professional ethics. Chinnaswami would often send food to the family without the sthapati's knowledge. While the temple project sustained Vaidyanatha's family from 1939 to 1949, his son Ganapati was naturally discouraged from entering his hereditary profession, preferring instead to study engineering. The Maharashi took a keen interest in every detail of the temple project. During one of his near-daily walks through the construction site, he asked Vaidyanatha about his son's plans. The sthapati spoke of his poverty-stricken life and the lack of a future in temple building, expressing his desire for his son to become a modern engineer. A millennium-old tradition looked set to end. 'Let him study what he wants,' said the Maharshi, 'but make sure you also teach him to be a sthapati'. This was a critical moment in young Ganapati's life. One must know how scrupulously the Maharshi avoided telling anyone what to do in even the smallest matters of daily life, and how people hung onto every word spoken by this silent sage, to appreciate both the significance of such a comment and the impact that it would have undoubtedly had on Vaidyanatha sthapati. The Maharshi always took a keen interest in Ganapati's education. 'Sthapati's son has passed the examination with distinction. His future is going to be very bright', he said, referring to his high school examination. After completing his high school in 1947, Ganapati got admission into the College of Engineering in Guindy, which is now under Anna University. Founded in 1794, it's the oldest modern technical institution outside of Europe. However, Vaidyanatha could not afford the Rs 480 admission fee and Rs 300 per semester for hostel and other expenses. He also would not accept financial assistance from others. A few months later, the Maharshi called the sthapati and said, 'In your own native place, a new college has now been established and will start functioning from 15 August 1947. It feels that this college has been started late in the year only for Ganapati.' Taking the Maharshi's words as divine direction, Ganapati joined the newly established Alagappa Chettiar Government College of Engineering and Technology in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, and obtained a degree in mathematics. The college also offered courses in Shilpa Shastra. With the education he received there and the guidance of his savant father, Ganapati soon matured into a worthy successor of his lineage. 'Only after I became a professional sthapati did I realise the value of the Maharshi's advice. I am happy to say that it is because of his blessings that I am what I am today,' he said in later years. In 1957, C Rajagopalachari and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya persuaded and financially supported Vaidyanatha in establishing the Government College of Architecture and Sculpture in Mahabalipuram, near Chennai. This technical institution was, and still is, the only one of its kind in India. But Vaidyanatha served there for only three years, after which Ganapati took over in 1961 and ran the institution for 27 years. He nurtured it into a premier institution for all aspects of temple building, including painting, mural work, and the casting of Chola bronzes. The college has since graduated hundreds of sthapatis. Ganapati went on to lead major public projects such as the Thiruvalluvar statue near the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, and he renovated many temples in South India. Most importantly, he is responsible for innovations in applying the Agamas, Shilpa Shastras, and Vastu Shastra to build Tamil-style temples in the US, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, and Canada. He followed local construction codes and adapted his methods to different climates and the needs of diverse Hindu communities, many of whom wished to include worship traditions from various parts of India within a single temple. At one point in the early 2000s, Ganapati was simultaneously involved in more than a dozen temple projects across the US. Virtually every major metropolitan area in the country with a significant Indian population has a temple designed and built by him or his students. For someone who once wanted nothing to do with his hoary lineage, Ganapati brought about a veritable renaissance in temple architecture before his death in 2011. Beyond training sthapatis, he also published numerous books on sthapatya, Vastu Shastra, and traditional architecture. Due to the Maharshi's timely intervention, the tradition famously exemplified by Raja Raja Chola and Perunthachan continues to flourish today, and is directly responsible for the global spread of Tamil-style temples. Rajendra Chola's naval conquest of Indonesia was an amazing achievement for the 11th century and is rightly celebrated a thousand years later. But the preservation, adaptation, and globalisation of the temple arts, a thousand years from now, prove to be an even more influential development. Swaminathan Venkataraman is a graduate of IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta. He works as a financial analyst in New York and serves on the board of the Hindu American Foundation. Views are personal. (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
India Gazette
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Mahesh Babu says he's
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 31 (ANI): Actor Mahesh Babu has expressed his happiness after his films Srimanthudu, Maharshi, and Major were honoured at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards. These films, which were either led by or produced by the actor, received recognition for their impact on audiences and cinema. Mahesh Babu took to his Instagram Story to share his feelings, stating that he felt 'humbled and grateful' to see the films being celebrated. The actor also thanked the Telangana government for creating the platform and gave credit to the teams behind the movies. 'Humbled and grateful to see #Srimanthudu, #Maharshi, and #Major receive their place at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards... Special thanks to the Telangana Government for initiating this prestigious honour and celebrating cinema... Big love to my directors and everyone behind it...' wrote the actor. Srimanthudu, released in 2015, features Mahesh Babu as Harsha Vardhan, a wealthy man who adopts a village and works for its development. Maharshi, released in 2019, stars Mahesh Babu as Rishi, a rich businessman who returns to India and fights for the rights of farmers. The movie, directed by Vamsi Paidipally, was a commercial success and was praised for highlighting rural issues. Major, on the other hand, which hit theatres in 2022, was produced by the actor. It is a biographical film based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and starred Adivi Sesh. The Telangana government on Thursday announced the Gaddar Film Awards. Nivetha Thomas was chosen as the best leading actress for '35 Chinna Katha Kadu,' Allu Arjun as the best leading actor for 'Pushpa-2,' and 'Kalki 2898 AD' as the best feature film. Meanwhile, on the work front, Mahesh is currently preparing for his upcoming film, SSMB29, directed by SS Rajamouli and co-starring Priyanka Chopra. The film is expected to be a high-budget action adventure spanning multiple countries. (ANI)
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mahesh Babu and Sukumar thank Telangana Govt for honouring Telugu cinema with Gaddar Film Awards
Picture Credit: Instagram Superstar Mahesh Babu and 'Pushpa' director Sukumar have expressed their gratitude and happiness following the announcement of the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards by the Telangana government, aimed at promoting the Telugu film industry. Both stars took to social media to thank the government and share their appreciation for the recognition. Mahesh Babu, who received the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards for his performances in Srimanthudu, Maharshi, and Major, expressed his delight on X (formerly Twitter). He also took a moment to appreciate the directors behind these successful films, recognizing their crucial role in his achievements. He wrote, "I am very happy to receive the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards for the films 'Srimanthudu', 'Maharshi' and 'Major'. In addition to providing this prestigious honour, I would like to express my special gratitude to the Telangana government for taking the initiative to organize the film festival. I extend my love to my directors behind these films". On the other hand, director Sukumar shared his feelings on Instagram after being honoured with the BN Reddy Film Award at the prestigious Gaddar Film Awards. He described the award as a great honour, especially since it is named after BN Reddy, a legendary figure in Telugu cinema. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The director wrote, "I am very honoured to be awarded the BN Reddy Film Award at the prestigious Gaddar Film Awards. I am happy to be selected for such a great award. On this occasion, I would like to thank the Telangana State Government and the Gaddar Film Award jury. It is an even greater honour to receive an award named after BN Reddy, who is a pinnacle in the field of Telugu cinema. My heartfelt thanks to the actors, technicians, producers and the audience who support my films". Looking ahead, both Mahesh Babu and Sukumar have exciting projects lined up. Mahesh Babu is currently working with the legendary director SS Rajamouli on their upcoming mega film, tentatively titled 'SSMB29'. Meanwhile, Sukumar is gearing up for his next film with superstar Ram Charan , tentatively called 'RC17'. Following the massive success of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', this new venture is currently in the pre-production phase and is set to be their second collaboration after super hit 'Rangasthalam'. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Mint
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Mahesh Babu says hes 'humbled and grateful' as Srimanthudu, Maharshi, and Major win at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 31 (ANI): Actor Mahesh Babu has expressed his happiness after his films Srimanthudu, Maharshi, and Major were honoured at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards. These films, which were either led by or produced by the actor, received recognition for their impact on audiences and cinema. Mahesh Babu took to his Instagram Story to share his feelings, stating that he felt "humbled and grateful" to see the films being celebrated. The actor also thanked the Telangana government for creating the platform and gave credit to the teams behind the movies. "Humbled and grateful to see #Srimanthudu, #Maharshi, and #Major receive their place at the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards... Special thanks to the Telangana Government for initiating this prestigious honour and celebrating cinema... Big love to my directors and everyone behind it..." wrote the actor. Srimanthudu, released in 2015, features Mahesh Babu as Harsha Vardhan, a wealthy man who adopts a village and works for its development. Maharshi, released in 2019, stars Mahesh Babu as Rishi, a rich businessman who returns to India and fights for the rights of farmers. The movie, directed by Vamsi Paidipally, was a commercial success and was praised for highlighting rural issues. Major, on the other hand, which hit theatres in 2022, was produced by the actor. It is a biographical film based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and starred Adivi Sesh. The Telangana government on Thursday announced the Gaddar Film Awards. Nivetha Thomas was chosen as the best leading actress for '35 Chinna Katha Kadu,' Allu Arjun as the best leading actor for 'Pushpa-2,' and 'Kalki 2898 AD' as the best feature film. Meanwhile, on the work front, Mahesh is currently preparing for his upcoming film, SSMB29, directed by SS Rajamouli and co-starring Priyanka Chopra. The film is expected to be a high-budget action adventure spanning multiple countries. (ANI)
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Makers celebrate six years of Mahesh Babu starrer 'Maharshi'
On the sixth anniversary of the blockbuster Telugu film directed by Vamshi Paidipally starring Mahesh Babu , ' Maharshi ', the makers shared about the lasting impact of this movie. They expressed gratitude for the love the film continues to receive from audiences even six years later. Makers express gratitude On X (formerly Twitter), the makers wrote, "6 years ago, a journey of ambition & self-discovery, #Maharshi found its way into the hearts of millions! Grateful for the love it continues to receive. Operation Sindoor Op Sindoor: 'India won't give face-saving exit to Pak army chief Munir' 'Invoke emergency powers under civil defence rules': MHA to all states, UTs IPL 2025 suspended for one week with immediate effect, confirms BCCI #6YearsForMaharshi" The film, which also stars Pooja Hegde and Allari Naresh in key roles, quickly became a commercial success on its release in 2019. Movie's plot Maharshi tells a compelling story of ambition, friendship, and social responsibility. It follows the life of Rishi played by Mahesh Babu, a successful businessman who returns to his roots and becomes an advocate for rural empowerment and farmers' welfare. The story beautifully blends corporate drama with themes of social change. The film was a massive hit at the box office, grossing over Rs 176 crore worldwide and ranking as the third highest-grossing Telugu film of 2019. Its success was matched by critical appreciation, especially for the performances and technical finesse. The screenplay was co-written by Vamshi Paidipally along with Hari and Solomon, with lyrics by Shreemani. The music, composed by Devi Sri Prasad, and the action sequences choreographed by Ram-Lakshman, brought intensity to key moments. K. U. Mohanan was the man behind the camera. Filming took place across multiple locations including Hyderabad, Goa, Dehradun, New York, and Pollachi. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
