Dancing Around Thillai Chidambaram-Sirgazhi-Srimushnam October 9th and 10th 2015
Chidambaram Vivamus et metus. Named after the mangroves or Thillai that dominated the surrounding area, Chidambaram is one of India s most sacred shaivite places of worship. Known to many simply as Kovil or temple, Chidambaram has been significant even before the 6 th century after which it was celebrated by the Nayanmars. Nataraja, or Adavallan became the tutelary deity of the Chola emperors and since then the temple and the town around it grew in size and magnificence. Be it religion, festivals, business or tourism, Life in Chidambaram revolves around the Natarajar Temple and the Govindaraja revered by Vaishnavaites. Enshrined in the Hall of Gold or Porchabai, the bronze sculpture representation of Shiva as the cosmic dancer, Nataraja here is not only the King of dancers but performs that dance that creates and sustains the cycle of the cosmos itself. He also embodies the spirit of Shiva as the master of space that cannot be discerned let alone measured. The rituals in the temple for both Nataraja and Govindaraja are complex, filled with music and celebrate the all- pervading essence of the divine spirit. The temple is managed by the ancient and unique community of Dikshitars. The "Ananda Thandalam or dance of eternal bliss has inspired the classical dance of Tamil Nadu Bharata Natyam. Today, Natyanjali is a festival that has the largest convergence of dancers from all around who perform in front of the Lord of Dance. The Phrase Chidambara Rahasya or Mystery of Chidambara is one that is quite commonly used in the south and refers to an abstract geometrical design which is supposed to signify the act of creation. Though we may not be able to assure you the revelation of this mystery, we, Embassy Travels and Historian Pradeep Chakravarthy, invite you to join us in the unraveling of this magnificent temple, its influence on art and culture and a glimpse of surrounding marvels in stone 2
Sirgazhi Sirgazhi is home to the Brahmapureeswarar Temple. The temple, though amongst the oldest in the region, has very few ancient historical records due to extensive renovations. Nevertheless, for what is lacks in records it more than makes up for in size and legacy. The temple is spread over 17 acres with courtyards and high wall enclosures - the tallest in the region no mean feat considering that the stone was not locally quarried! Suspendisse elementum rhoncus velit. Nulla turpis metus, faucibus nec, dignissim at, cursus in, tortor. The temple has a unique construction pattern. Shiva is worshipped in three different forms at three different levels of the shrine: The Shivalingam (Bhrammapureeswarar) at the ground level, Uma Maheswarar (Toniappar) at the middle level, and Bhairavar (Sattanathar) at the upper level. The temple is both mythologically as well as historically significant with Thoniappar believed to be the Hindu version of Noahs arc and Gnana Sambandar, a prominent shaivite poet and saint, whose miracle filled life was witnessed by many and documented as well. Though he lived for a mere 16 years, his contribution to Shaivism in Tamil Nadu is immense. His verses are important for their metaphors, devotion and a source of inspiration even for the non- devout. 3
Srimushnam Srimushnam has two of the most exquisite temples structures, one for Shiva and the other for Vishnu. The Bhuvaraha swamy temple has an architecture that is high on drama and an interesting climax, i.e., a temple of such massive proportions beautifully reveals the little secret of the primary deity in the garbagraha, which will make you smile! The 16 pillared Purushasukta mandapa built by the Nayakas in the 16 th /17 th Century is one of the finest and resonates the hymn recited everyday. Between the main gopura and the sixteen- pillared hall is the hundred- pillared mandapa belonging to the age of the Marata kings of Tanjavur. The Nayak kings, queens and their retinue bedecked in fine jewelry and elaborate hair- dos are seen surrounded by parrots, and other animals. The Varaha image has long been a favored political symbol for kings making this a good place to understand how religion and politics worked together for mutual benefit. The Tirumuttamudaiya Mahadeva Shivan Temple is smaller but set in a more serene surrounding. The two earlier Shrines were composite until divisions arose and were eventually separated. Inscriptions of the Cholas, Pandyas with Vijayanagara kings from the 10 th century on this unique architectural piece gives us a glimpse of the a fascinating water management in the region. 4
Day 1 0530 Depart by AC Coach 0800 Breakfast at Pudhucherry 1030 Reach Sirgazhi and Visit the Sattanathar Temple 1230 Leave for Chidambaram 1330 Arrive at Hotel. Check in and Lunch 1600 Leave for Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. 1645 Temple tour 1815 Odhuvar s concert 1845 Distribution of Prasadam 1915 Darshan and time to explore 2000 Return to Hotel 2045 Dinner and Rest Day 2 0830 Breakfast at Hotel 0900 Leave to Veeranam Lake and click time! 0930 Leave to Srimushnam 1030 Visit Nithileshwara Temple 1100 Visit Bhoovaraha Swamy Temple 1200 Leave for Pudhucherry 1400 Lunch at Pudhucherry 1600 Return to Chennai I t i n e r a r y 5
Included: - Travel By AC Coach - Accommodation in a heritage property and AC rooms accommodating upto 2 adults. Children will be accommodated depending on the age and hotel policy. In this Trip we will be staying at Lashmi Vilas - http://lakshmivilas.co.in - All meals 2 Breakfast, 2 lunch and 1 dinner. (Request you to specify your preference in advance) - 2 bottles of water per person will be provided on the coach every day - Reqular Entrance Tickets wherever required as per itinerary - Darshan at temples will be included if People wish to and ONLY if time permits. Not- Included: - Expenses of Personal nature - Room Service - Any other attraction/temple not mentioned in the itinerary Essential Pre Read - Several places we will be visiting are places of worship and therefore we request your special attention to the following: - Please dress conservatively and avoid wearing shorts and sleeveless wear. A dupatta or shawl will be much appreciated. Men, Kindly consider a dhoti and shawl for the Chidambaram Temple. - Comfortable shoes or slippers since monuments are footwear free zones - We strongly advice carrying sun block, sunglasses and cap - Photography may not be permitted in certain Places - Basic medication/ first aid will be available. Please carry your specific medication if any - Camera - certain places may charge anything between Rs. 10 and Rs.100 for the usage of camera. - We would like to iterate that this is not a religious trip and therefore we all need to respect the time and interest of those who are coming to enjoy the heritage aspect of the trip. Therefore PLEASE ENSURE TO RESPECT AND STICK TO TIME SCHEDULES. - Due to unforeseen circumstances, in case we need to make certain changes in the itinerary, we request you patience and understanding. We assure you that the alternative option provided will be just as exciting 6
1 2 Hailing from Tirunelveli and moving on to international exposure through KFI, MCC, JNU(Delhi) and LSE (London) in his academic years, Pradeep Chakravarthy has always had a passion for the history and Heritage of Tamilnadu with special focus on the role that it plays in society then and now. Having a background in HR/leadership development and coaching though his assignments in TVS, Cognizant, Infosys and McKinsey, he constantly explores methods of constructively employing out of the box techniques of exposure to fine elements practiced in ancient times to motivate and hone ones inherent skills. He pioneered temple walks in Madras. His deeply invested interest in the music, food, literature of Tamilnadu allows him to present succinctly and simply even the dreariest topic in history. He has authored several books and has over 300 articles in The Hindu, Marg magazine, India Express, Times of India etc., to his credit. He has lectured in several prestigious venues like IIC(Delhi), IC (London) and is an awardee from the Tag Foundation. Embassy Travel and Tours has been in the business of tailoring unique and memorable travel experiences for the past four decades. A part of the Airlift Group of Companies, we adhere in a personalized manner to all travel related services that one might require be it guidance, documentation, reservations, currency exchange etc. Customization and luxury travel is our forte, which ensures the utmost comfort for our clients whether it is outbound, inbound or domestic travel. Heritage is the vertical we take pride in adding to our existing array of experiences extended by us. We are proud to showcase some of the neglected treasures of a bygone rich era that are just around the corner. We assure you that the whole experience will be an absolute luxurious insight into our glorious past. 7 A b o u t U s
Our objective translates to experiences: - The musical notes of explanations and the soul embedded in them, indeed, held us in awe at your painstaking scholarship and sharing this with the uninitiated. An apparently disparate group whose individual notes merged into a fine melody, the role of every one present enriched the music of the moment and left an indelible impression J Krishnan, Trustee, Port Trust - The two day trip was really unique - a kind of ' money can't buy ' experience CEO, MNC - I had a great time & enjoyed myself which is naturally but a consequence of, most importantly the composition of the group, mixed with a superb schedule of places visited & unmatched service from the hosts Deepak Ramaswamy, MD, International Clearing & Shipping Agency (I) Pvt. Ltd., Chennai - Thanks Priya and Pradeep for a superbly planned and executed heritage trip. Still recovering form the last royal meal! Mrs. Nithya Balaji, Head of Communications, NGO - A window of opportunity to look into the glorious heritage of our nation and to rediscover our ancient culture. Our Historian and Host were excellent drawing me back to their trips - Saileshraj Vummidi, Jeweler and Entrepreneur - Heritage, art, comfort and delicious local cuisine. A relaxing and enjoyable tour with a lot of learning - Sriram Rajaram, Captain, Indigo Airline - Loved the group, the historian, the host, the places, and the food. Fascinating experience! It was an absolute revelation for me. That there was so little that we knew about our heritage and culture. Murali Vasudevan, Zonal Manager, HP T e s t i m o n i a l s 8
Contact: Sridharan Lakshmanan ; sridhar@embassy- travels.com ; +919282119040 Raji Kumar ; raji@embassy- travels.com ; +919840471127 Cheque in Favor of: Embassy Travel and Tours Pvt. Ltd. 23, Thanikachalam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai 600 017 Package Cost : INR 11,700 On Twin Sharing Basis INR 13,700 On Single occupancy Basis Confirmation and Payment : Before August 31 th 2015 For the online brochure and upcoming tour please visit: http://mysticalpalmyra.com/ Bank Details: ICICI BANK LTD, NO.1, Cenetoph Road, Teynampet, Chennai - 600018 Beneficiery : EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD A/C NO : 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 2 2 4 2 9 IFSC CODE - ICIC0000001 SWIFT CODE: "ICICINBBCTS" BANK OF BARODA:, S.I.E.T College Avenue Branch, Chennai 600018 Beneficiery : EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD A/C NO: 05310500000014 RTGS/NEFT,IFSC CODE : BARB0COLMAD STATE BANK OF MYSORE, NO.13(6), Plot No.3, Thanikachalam Road, T. Nagar, Chennai- 600 017. Beneficiery : EMBASSY TRAVEL & TOURS PVT LTD A/C NO: 6 4 0 9 3 7 7 0 3 6 1 IFSC CODE SBMY0040801
The Next Experience 10 of Tan javur December 10 th to 13 th 2015 Every aspect of South Indian art - painting, music, dance, food and craft have been influenced by Thanjavur from the 9th century to the 20th Century. Our trip will look at the Brihadeswara temple, the priceless bronzes and manuscripts in the Sarasvati Mahal Library and lesser- known architectural gems like the Shwartz church and the etheral Mahadevapatnam fort. Our highlight will be a visit and conversation with one of the districts oldest agrarian families. All of this with inputs from the author of the definitive book on Thanjavur culture. Tentative Itinerary : 10 th Depart from Madras to Tanjavur by Train 11 th Tanjavur Brihadeshwara Temple, Palace, Saraswathy Library and Art Gallery, Meeting with the Senior Prince of Tanjavur 12 th Mahadevapattinam, Mannargudi, Marata Temple and the Schwartz Church, Train to Chennai 13 th Arrive at Madras Since we need to Make Train Reservations Before the 12 th of August in order to assure seats, We request you to confirm before 11 th August 2015 with your full name and age as per ID. We shall soon send the Full details of the package. Incase You would prefer an alternate mode of transportation like by air or road, kindly let us know in order to tailor the package accordingly.