Perspective - Kanniks

 India is a such an amalgam of the ancient and the modern. It is not unusual for historical monuments to even go unnoticed in 21st century India. Here is an example in the form of the well known Kalilkambal temple in North Chennai.

I was raised in George Town, Chennai (formerly North Madras).

Just a couple of doors away from my grandmother’s house was a temple that was part of my childhood.

The Kalikambal temple.

As children growing up there, it was just a temple.

It was only much later that I realized that it was one of Chennai’s historic landmarks.

Yes. It was actually visited by the Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji in the year 1677, almost 300 years before I was even born.

So, this place where I was raised, in the hustle and bustle of Madras was actually visited by one of the towering figures in Indian history now more than 300 years ago?

Yes. Fort St. George dates  back to the 1st part of the 17th century. The Kalikambal temple was relocated to its current location in 1640 and then there was this historic visit in 1677, to be precise on Oct 3, 1677. This must have been after Chhatrapati Shivaji’s expedition to Gingee (Senji) and to Vellore.

I vaguely remember an occasion when a portrait of the Emperor was prominently displayed. I am guessing it must have been in 1977, celeberating the 300th anniversary of the Emperor’s worship at this temple.

It is said that the emperor camped in the adjoining Armenian Street, which was also part of our childhood.

Historical tidbits  such as these make you wonder what these places must have been like 300 years ago. Today, these are bustling centers of activity, one way traffic, lorries (trucks), hardware, business and more. The entire Parrys Corner, George Town area is a center of commerce.

Buried in this hustle and bustle are historic places such as the Kalikambal temple. For more information visit www.templenet.com