In recent times, an alarming narrative has emerged within the Malaysian blogosphere, suggesting a historical event that appears to be a misinterpretation or perhaps a deliberate misinformation campaign. The claim revolves around a so called Malay prince named Manabharana from Srivijaya, purportedly attacking and conquering the Chola kingdom. This misleading story has gained traction and is spreading like wildfire across various social media platforms. The need to address and rectify such inaccuracies is crucial not only for the sake of historical accuracy but also for fostering a responsible and informed online community. To delve into the matter, it is essential to clarify that historical records reveal the existence of multiple individuals named Manabharana throughout history. However, a nuanced understanding reveals that all these figures were Tamils (Damila) hailing from the Pandya kingdom, with references to their exploits documented in Tamil inscriptions and Sri Lankan chronicles...
A shrine for Saptha Kanni Devis. Click here for source. The worship of Saptamatha/Sapthakanni, Ayyanar (Sasta), Mudevi (Jyesta) is common in Tamil Nadu villages. For some reason, Mudevi worship became less popular. Presently Hindu Saktas pray to Dhumavati and the other Hindus usually pray to Sani Bhagawan. These three deities are connected by a common symbol, the Crow. The placement of shrines of certain deities in villages was mentioned in the following chapter of the Kamika Agama. Those who conduct archaeological studies in rural Tamil Nadu should also study the Agamas because the ancient people could have planned the settlement by following some basic rules of the Agama. If you know the Agamas, you may be able to make an educated guess on where to dig for answers. Chapter 26 (Kamika Agama) Directions for Allocation of Appropriate Places for the Deities in Villages and Other Settlements 26.7 varunyam nairrtavindre sastr sthanam prakirtitam varunyam vatha nairrtyam v...