AMARUVI DEVANATHAN MAY 26, 2026 Dear Reader, Two Class 8 children wanted me to re-write my original review in a simpler form so that they could understand in full. Hence this. Who are the Vadakalais and Thenkalais? Where do they come from? Why do they fight in Indian courts on completely insignificant matters? From whenContinue reading “A tale of Two Cities = A tale of Two Sects— A simplified version of the original review”
Tag Archives: Sri Rangam temple
Ruins of the “Thanian War”: A Dialogue at Mahabalipuram”
Prologue Mahabalipuram is where the past becomes a touristic afterthought. The Pallava‑era rock cavities, the carved monoliths, the half‑ruined shrines—all stand serene under the coastal sky, admired for their stone, not their sacrament. Visitors pass by, take photographs, sip tea outside the temple, and move on. The devotion that once gave these stones life isContinue reading “Ruins of the “Thanian War”: A Dialogue at Mahabalipuram””
Tamil Iyengars’s Quixotic squabbles
A note on the 500 years old Thenkalai Vadakalai wars of Southern India A Substack blog post on “Amaruvi Aphorisms“ is copied here below ⬇️ Sudarshan Madabushi https://mylapore.substack.com/p/tamil-iyengarss-quixotic-squabbles AMARUVI DEVANATHAN MAY 23, 2026 Subscriber Note Let me begin with a personal note. I belong to the Vadakalai school of thought. When I had sought toContinue reading “Tamil Iyengars’s Quixotic squabbles “
Amaruvi Devanathan’s Book Review: “A Tale of Two Cities: the decline and fall of the ‘Ubaya-vedantins” – The History of the Sri Vaishnavas of Tamil Nadu that was never told”
Amaruvi Devanathan is an Indian author, public speaker, and professional banking technologist. He frequently describes himself with the catchphrase “a banker by day and blogger by night,” balancing a corporate career in data architecture with a prominent role in the Tamil and English literary circuits. Professional Background Literary & Public Work Published Books He has written several notable worksContinue reading “Amaruvi Devanathan’s Book Review: “A Tale of Two Cities: the decline and fall of the ‘Ubaya-vedantins” – The History of the Sri Vaishnavas of Tamil Nadu that was never told””
UNESCO, Ahobilam, and the Limits of International Recognition for Hindu Temples
In recent months, the Paruveta Utsavam of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Ahobilam has entered the national spotlight with a Parliamentary resolution seeking UNESCO recognition—either as an Intangible Cultural Heritage element or as part of a broader heritage‑conservation framework. The Ahobila Mutt, custodian of the Ahobilam temple for over 750 years, stands at the centreContinue reading “UNESCO, Ahobilam, and the Limits of International Recognition for Hindu Temples”
Bhakti’s triumph over plunder and mayhem: revisiting the legend of Sri Rangam “thulaka naachiyaar” with “Eepa”
This morning “Eepa” — a doyen of Tamil literature known for his Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novels and plays — Indira Parthasarathy sent me a sharp question as a WhatsApp message. It tested my familarity if not knowledge, as a Sri Vaishnava (albeit an “Unknown and Unusual” one!), of age-old temple customs and traditions in theContinue reading “Bhakti’s triumph over plunder and mayhem: revisiting the legend of Sri Rangam “thulaka naachiyaar” with “Eepa””
September 30, 2025: An Evening to remember forever at Kanchipuram, all due to “Sri Perundevi Thaayaar’s” Grace!
பச்சைமா மலை போல் மேனிபவளவாய் கமலச் செங்கண்அச்சுதா அமரரேறேஆயர்தம் கொழுந்தே என்னும்இச்சுவை தவிர யான் போய்இந்திரலோகம் ஆளும் அச்சுவை பெறினும் வேண்டேன்அரங்கமா நகருளானே O Achyuta! With a body like a great green mountain, a mouth like coral, with eyes shaped like a red lotus—O Lord of the celestials! O tender sprig of the cowherds! Apart from the pleasure of uttering theseContinue reading “September 30, 2025: An Evening to remember forever at Kanchipuram, all due to “Sri Perundevi Thaayaar’s” Grace!”
THE END of a memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Vilanagar Varadaraja Perumal Temple (Part-15) : CONCLUDED
This is the last and 15th instalment in this series of essays on my 3-day pilgrimage to 6 Divya Desam temples in and around the town of Mayiladuthurai in Tanjore and to the Tharangambadi-taluka village of Vilanagar where the grand Mahasamprokshanam of a c.900-year old temple of Sridevi Perundevi Thayar sametha Sri Varadaraja Perumal wasContinue reading “THE END of a memorable “yaathra’ : Six “divya-desams” and one “maha-samprokshanam” – Vilanagar Varadaraja Perumal Temple (Part-15) : CONCLUDED”
A conversation on “Kamban’s Ramayana” with Sri. Indira Parthasarathy – (Part 2 of 4)
After my initial exchange of views with Eepa on the question whether Kamba Ramayana was a “purely out and out literary work” — or a “literary work” laced with many elements of religion” which I for one was convinced that it was — and on why it also carried within its pages what Eepa callsContinue reading “A conversation on “Kamban’s Ramayana” with Sri. Indira Parthasarathy – (Part 2 of 4)”
An old article of mine on Sri Parashara Bhattar published in The Hindu dt. Dec.15, 2000
U.Ve. Sri. Mukkur Lakshminaraismha Chariar (1944-2000), outstanding Vedic scholar and exponent of Sri Ramanuja Siddhaanta and Sri Vaishnava Sampradaaya, in the course of his very popular and erudite public relgious discourses (“upannyaasam“), used to regale his audiences with one very grippingly narrated (“svaarasya“) anecdote from the life of the great Sri Vaishnava theologian of SriContinue reading “An old article of mine on Sri Parashara Bhattar published in The Hindu dt. Dec.15, 2000”