As most of you are aware, our group commenced in 2002 and we nearing our 10th anniversary !!
For new members, click message 1 and go and read first 300 - 400 messages.. several interesting discussions will surface re PS - its characters etc.
We have moved our discussions further to Adithakarikalan Murder ( AK Murder) - Arumozhi @ Rajaraja - the Big temple.. Peruvudyar etc., etc.
We have also undertaken tours to the Big temple.. more than once..
Fortunately for all of us here..
after the Great Work by B. Venkataraman ( Historian SRB's son) in the last 3 - 4 years, SEVERAL SCHOLARS have written and Published detailed works on Brahadeswara ! Peruvudyar..
to cite a few ::
1. Brahadeswara - by Dr. Nagaswamy. This deals with the CONCEPT of various deities positioned, their significance with Agamas / Puranas / Siva Bakthi process .. published in English.. and considered the BEST in the subject..
2. Sivapathesarakan's Thanjai Kalvettukkal.. by Pulavar Mahadevan - compilation of the big temple inscriptions by RRC ..
3. Rajarajecharam by Dr. Kudavayil Balasubramananian.. Tamil. Desciptive of every Sculpture / painting/ thanjavur etc., First Edition already sold out. 2nd edition being put on sale.
4. Our respected member PS Sriraman's the CHOLA MURALS.. Published by ASI.. English. Pictorial descriptions.. wonderfully explained.
5. Tamil University - almost similar - Tamil. published coinciding Chemmozhi Conference last year.
6. The Big temple by Seshadri - State Archaelogy
We have be4en interacting with Dr. R. Nagaswamy almost for the past 7 - 8 years.
Our Group has been interacting with Historians like Dr. Kalaikkovan, Dr. Nalini, Dr. Rajavelu, Dr. Kudavayil and now with Dr. Padhmvathi and Scholar S. Ramachandran - whose research work is splendid and Pulavar Mahadevan.
We have discussed that the Peruvudayar concept in detail.. check for "concept of space " and find more details as provided by Dr. RN. How the Big temple - resembling MERU is established in Thanjai and denoted DAKSHINA MERU !! And also AKASALA LINGAM CONCEPT in Thanjai Big temple.
Dr. Sathyamurthy @ DR. TSM (Retd Suptt Archlgy / ASI / Chennai) has also been very supportive of our Group.
He recently shared some interesting details ::
In Chidambaram - Nataraja form of worship is being performed in accordance with Urdhuva saivas style - dancing while performing worship... and this form is described in Magutakama .. one part of which is published by Banaras Hindu University (English) and one more part by Saivacharyas Group, Chennai 10 - about 30 years back ...
Focus in Chidambaram is on Nataraja and not Sivalinga..
Whereas Rajaraja @ Sivapathasekara - HIGHLIGHTED the SIVA LINAGA to FOCUS in the Peruvudayar and also adopted the same Urdhuva Saiva form of worship in Dancing style in the Big Temple !!
RRC was instrumental in compiling Thiruppadhiyam to Thevaram.. and in merging Nataraja (space concept) with Sivalingam Concept... in the Big Temple.. !!
May be another reason why he was worshipped PERIYA PERUMAL !!
And we should also recall that the descriptions in PERIYAPURANAM ( Kulothunga II period ) are referred to from the Big Temple Paintings...
hardly there is reason believe that the Big Temple was deserted post RRC era !!