our dear Kalinga Balu referred after attending the Tholliyal Conference that our PS GROUP is much referred to re Discussions on The Cholas !!
Now our dear Saurab is making us to discuss more on Guptas and other Golden Era of India.
Our most respected Venkat has always been observing rightly that atleast one line of discussion on PS and Literary aspects to be pursued - with which we are all in concurrence.
That is precisely the reason to create Pages for Such accomplished Writers.
Like - let us take worship of Sun God !! We can refer these things from ancient Literatures from Sangam / Thevaram / Thiruvasagam / Thiruvoymozhi etc., etc., and move towards contemporary !!
As our dear SN mentioned - we can draw several references from inscriptions / CPs too...on the subject.
What is more interesting is that Sankaranarayanan observes ::
The Pallava Kingdom on the Northern Tamilnadu and the Pandiya Kingdom on the Southern Tamilnadu were popular and power-wielding during 8th and 9th Centuries whereas the Cholas were not in comparable power - even though Legends like Karikalan glorified the Early Cholas.
When Vijayalaya was accorded his liberty to expand his Land by the Pallavas - he expanded from Pazhayarai to Thanjai. Yet the Presence of Pallavas remained in closeby Thirukkandiyur @ Nandhipuram !!
It has become important for the Cholas to trace their race from the SUN (Surya Vamsam) God .. through RAMA ... to Musukundha .. Karikala .. to Vijayalaya !!
Request SN to step in and elaborate re RAMA (post Vijayalaya !! - prior to Kulothunga).
Thus SUN entering in various Rasis ( Makaram / Mesham etc.,) has attained significance and Grahanas (eclipses) were accorded prominence and lavish Grants furnished by the Kings.. !!
Am sure, all of us would love to hear more from the Literature/s as well.
The Sun worship is an integral part of Indian life. A person may be Shaivaite or Vaishnavite but the Sun worship is a must for him. Both Saivaite and Vaishnavite have to start their day and continue with the 3 sandhya vandanams where he tells mantras glorifying Sun God as the Supreme.
e ( both Men and Women) offer water ( Argyam) during bath and especially while bathing in holy waters.
Only in TN/Kerala and Parts of Karnataka now this tradition remains only in a few communities. Jains ( especially Tamil jains) also do this sandhyavandan. Thevaaram refers to "Arusamayam" which includes Souram also.
Sambandar in Kolaru Thiruppadigam refers Sun in Astrology.
Thirumoolar refers worship of Sun and Gayatri mantra and severely warns Brahmins not to deviate from their path.
Pulavar Govindan of Dharmapuri while commenting on my compilation had a view that - The Cholasduring their resurgance after 400 years -Tn was ruled by eminent kings of Pallava and Pandya dynasty - Vijayalaya named his Son as both Aditya ( their linage) and Kothandaraman ( the most famous person who provided Ramarajya). They also highlighted scenes from Ramayana in the temples to tell people that they will give " Ramarajya".
There is also a speculation that every thing Pandya - Vatteluthu form, Chandramana Calender ( Since Pandyas were Chandra vamsis) were changed to Solar calender.