Travel Dairies: Visit to Vellore Fort Temple - Jalakaladeshwarar Temple - Beautiful Shiva Temple - Visited on 18 April 2022

Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in heart of the Vellore city, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India built by Vijayanagara kings. 

The fort was at one time the headquarters of the Aravidu Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. 

The fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry.

Vellore Fort was built  by Channa Bommi Nayaka and Thimma Reddy Nayaka, the Chieftains under the Vijayanagara ruler Sadashiva Raya. This granite fort happens to be one of the best examples of military architecture in South India and among the unique forts in India.

Its history has been affected by two decisive political battles- the Battle of Talikota (1565) and the Battle of Toppur (1616-1617 CE).

The fort of Vellore is at once an architectural marvel, a historical legacy, a military stronghold and an important site for the articulation of the Indian freedom struggle. It represents the skills of our artisans as well as our composite culture. There is indeed no exaggeration in stating that it is one of the most important and fascinating forts in the Indian subcontinent.

Tamil Nadu is a state deeply held in religion, which can be seen through its culture, architecture, temples and rituals. The Jalakandeswarar Temple in the state is a living example of how faith in God ceases every hindrance that halts its union with the divine. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located inside the Vellore Fort, in heart of the Vellore city, and has an interesting story of restoration. The temple is known for its marvellous architecture of the Vijayanagara period, and today is maintained and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The temple also hosts the idol of Sri Akhilandeshwari Amma, the consort of Jalakandeswarar. The Temple is a highly regarded landmark that not only highlights the architectural skill of ancient times but also showcase the significance of special traditions upheld by the worshippers to invoke the feelings of peace and a connection to the divine.

According to folktales that circulate among the natives, the Jalakandeswarar Temple has initially been a prominent ant-hill. The ant-hill was was circumscribed by rainfall water. A Shiva Lingam (a symbol of Lord Shiva, a Hindu deity), was placed at this position and consequently worshipped by devotees. Soon a chieftain of the region, Chinna Bommi Nayaka, who was in charge of the fort, saw a dream where he claimed that Lord Shiva had asked him to construct a temple. As a result, Chinna Bommi Nayaka went ahead to follow the divine instructions he received and built a temple at the place in the sixteenth century. Since the Lingam was surrounded by water (Jalam), the deity was called as Jalakandeswarar (translated as "Lord Siva residing in the water").

The temple was fabricated during the reign of the Vijayanagaram king Sadasivadeva Maharaya. Unfortunately, during the Muslim invasion of the region, the temple was vandalised to a very poor state. The idol of the presiding deity was salvaged by devotees and shifted to the Jalakanda Vinayakar Temple in the meantime in Sathuvacheri, where it remained till the last quarters of the twentieth century.

The idol was then secretly returned to the fort in 1981, and the site was officially reinstated as a Hindu temple, open for public access. The temple is currently maintained and well-looked-after by the Archaeological Survey of India under the guidance of the Government of India.

The Jalakanteshwara Temple is a fine example of Vijayanagara Architecture. With exquisite carvings on its gopuram (tower) and richly carved stone pillars, large wooden gates and stunning monoliths and sculptures, the temple exhibits the capabilities of Indian architects to make the greatest of all temples.The Main Gopuram is tall enough over a hundred feet in height. The temple also consists of a Mandapam, with a hall elaborated by carved stone pillars of religious figures in the Hindu tradition.

The temple itself is built in middle of a water tank, which surrounds the temple like a garland. The water used for bathing the deity (abishekam) is drawn from an ancient well called the Ganga Gouri Thertam, within the temple complex.

Behind the Nandi statue, a feature seen in most of the South Indian temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, there houses an earthen lamp. The lamp is said to revolve when people place their hands over it. The revolving is a symbol to indicate that their wishes have been granted. The golden and silver lizard sculptures of the temple are also worshipped by devotees, while the snake sculptures are also prayed reverence in order to get relief from 'sarpa dosham'.

Previously the temple was managed by a private trust called Sri Jalakanteswarar Dharma Sthabanam. The takeover was opposed by the private trust every time by approaching the Madras High Court. However, after nearly ten years of legal proceedings, the court ruling favoured the Government of Tamil Nadu. Although the temple complex is owned and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, the administration is taken over by the government.

Chitra Poornima, Aadi Pooram, Vinayaka Chaturthi, and Navratri are all celebrated with full religious fervour at the temple. Other festivals of Mahashivratri and Diwali are also celebrated as major events of the temple, with decorations and cultural performances making them the ebst time to visit the temple.

Jalakandeswarar Temple Timings

The temple opens from 6:30 am to 1:00 pm and then reopens from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Contact information –

Phone: +91-9894682111, +91-416-2223412

How to reach Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Vellore is one of major town and district place of Tamil Nadu along with pilgrimage centre of South India and home to Golden Temple Temple and other sacred place. It is very well connected with all major cities of Tamil Nadu and India via Road, Air and Rail network. Vellore has airport and major railway terminal which are corrected with all major cities of India. Vellore is located at just 135 km from Chennai, 210 km from Bangalore, 125 km from Tirupati, 156 km from Pondicherry, 75 km from Kanchipuram, 84 km from Tiruvannamlai, 145 km from Srikalahasti, 120 km from Krishnagiri.

Additional Details of Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore

Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore Contact Number: 9894682111,

Best Time To Visit: Throughout the year and during festivals

Address: Jalakandeswarar Temple, Vellore, Tamil Nadu

Activity: Daily Darshan, Rituals, Festival Celebration

Health update : April 2022 - How post covid impacted my health and lifestyle. Miracles that happened as well

 #miraclesdohappen #healthcare #healthscare #LongPostAlert #faith #cerebralartery #rmdhospital #ApolloHospital #mystory

29 Mar 2022, Tuesday ...woke up early to start my day at 6.30 am SGT being conscious about the month end financial closing, steering co meeting and lot of deadlines to meet by 31st. A slight headache started and slowly got aggressive over the course of the day. 12 noon and I could no longer look at the excel spreadsheets jumbling up on the screen. Headache unbearable and dizziness overloaded as vision started to blur out...1.30, I asked my husband for dolo, informed my boss that I m unwell and tried an afternoon nap after a meal that didnt stay in for long!

Woke up after 3 hours with head hammered at the backside. Could not take the pain any more. It was getting worse and unbearable. Family took me to Arka Centre Adyar to my regular diabetologist who confirmed my vitals normal but suggested my clinical symptoms need observation and if need be a MRI to be taken. It was already 7 pm.

We thought of going to Apollo Perungudi, on the way I called my friend Dr Republica Sridhar of Rmd Specialities Hospital for her suggestion. She immediately asked me to rush to RMD Hospital T Nagar n called Dr Karthik to attend on me before she returns from Amaramedu. My pain was getting worse as I reached but Senior Staff Nurse Muniyammal embraced me with a comforting smile n both she and Dr Karthik administered quick meds n injections and put me in for observation. 9.30 pm, Dr Karthik arranged for immediate MRI at Gemini Scans amd by 10 pm, I was in MRI interrupting the scan twice unable to bear the sounds of MRI

11.45 pm...Dr Republica comes to see with a glass of buttermilk. She tells dr Karthik to sedate me for the night. I hugged her tightly and tears rolled down in pain amd comfort. She cheered me up and made me sleep. She was already aware of my MRI report ...but didnt say anything

Next day morning, RMD staff pampered me like my home, everyone came to greet and then Dr Republica with Dr Karthik and Dr Sophie comes in ....she jokes that I have fried my brain enough and it is time to sauce it up ....I could sense something from her witty way of conveying the dreadful thing I could here. She mentally prepared me to chin up to hear the MRI findings.

**Complete occulsion in the left central cerebral artery in the brain**, came the bad news.

She also mentioned that they see a Contra Flow which is rare way of the brain finding its back up artery to function when the dominant part of the brain is almost 100% blocked ...call it a miracle, good karma or destiny, for a moment I could only feel the train of thoughts running faster than ever.

After 30 years of believing that those who believe in Shirdi Sai, will be tested n troubled by him, calling him Fakir who could not save my dad, I never truly believed in his miracles after having been an ardent follower as a child. But a month ago, I was repeatedly getting this dream of an image whose face looked like my dad but in Shirdi Sai robes, asking me to come to Shirdi. I told Raghu about it. We immediately planned to visit Shirdi the weekend of 19 Mar 2022, and suddenly there I felt a awakening like never before. I got a small statue of Baba and placed it in my pooja room.

Just 10 days after I stepped into the Soil of Shirdi, 29 Mar, my life suddenly changes. Doctors were confused on how I could talk, not lost my speech, memory or right limbs and could walk to the hospital. Before even I could digest whats happening, doctors start mentioning that I m truly lucky that my mild stroke did not paralyse me...

That moment I could see Sai Baba in Dr Republica of Rmd Trust and Dr Karthik.

Within 2 hours, the neuro surgeon of Kaveri Hospital Dr Vigneswaran came to see me. He explained to me my critical condition which could have resulted in a haemorrhage or stroke if the first aid was not done during golden hours.

Post lunch, my family Padmini Sampath n friends start visiting me. Aishu with help of my elder sister Yamini reaches out to Dr Vijay Shankar of Apollo with MRI report. By that time, Dr Republica sits with me n my family and slowly explained to me the need to move to bigger hospital like Kaveri or Apollo. S Thilak Raj and Sudha Reddy stood rock support with Raghu and Aishu and family friends Rajans as we took the call to move to Apollo.

Rajan anna and anni gracefully promises to take care of my pet child Rumi as others rush me to Apollo.

5 hours in ER of Greams Road Apollo, attended by senior neurologist Dr Vijay Shankar, moving to room at 2.30 am and then a series of doctors right from optomologist confirming no loss of vision, diabetologist suggesting diet and insulin, CT reports confirming no internal bleeding, ENT surgeon helping me get sinus related headache subside, dermologist checking the dark blood clots in arms, a psychiatrist coming down to check my mental strength, physiotherapy to check my limbs functioning and doctors discussing the strange vascular block for an active female who is just 45

2 days of battery of tests, scans, injections, finally on Saturday morning Neuro Surgeon Dr Srinivasan Paramasivan did the angio DSA. The awareness of the angio flow on face and head as I kept chanting Gayathri Mantra is a story of its own. Its ugadi, our Telugu new year. Aishu does all cooking n puja as I used to do at home knowing that I m in safe hands inside the Cathlab.

After 6 hours of lying down still with the punctured thigh advised not to move, I requested Dr Muthukanni and Dr Hima Bindhu on next course of action. Dr Kanni explained to me that the block could not be bust or they could not place a stent and surgery also ruled out but I have to now focus on the nerves supporting the contra flow to be strengthened ....which means build immunity, diet control to reduce diabetic fluctuations post Covid in Jan, zero stress, meditation, exercise or walking, eating n sleeping right and staying calm no matter what

The road ahead needs lot of lifestyle changes, eating n working habits changes and resting well. Many years, I did not have the word Rest in my dictionary and I seem to be paying a heavy price. Sister Yamini Krishnan flew down from Mumbai, friends n family lobbied around Apollo, Aishu found overwhelming handling calls of few well-wishers who were aware of this and Raghu found himself totally bewildered. Younger Sister Jayanthi Vimal Jay n my brother in laws kept me motivating and supporting and lot many children and elders of homes we support sent prayers and greetings ....

Colleagues and bosses ensured my leave, work and insurance is duly taken care. They kept in constant touch with my family on daily basis. I felt truly blessed after working almost 14 to 15 hours a day last 4 months and managing its associated stress. Much needed break. A true eye opener to the kind of jet speed at which I was doing multiple things. Time to pause, reflect and relive my life.

Now back home, got all the strong advices needed from family n friends, doctors n caretakers, started a truly lifestyle changing routines and am on the road to recovery.

I may never be out of blood thinners or coplates n lot more drugs,. But truly this too shall pass. I m going to do what all it takes to stay strong, positive and focus on getting back my health before anything else cripples me. My brain is my asset to work and I need to do everything now to make it work post overhaul. I may not be able to respond to calls, requests for support or messages on time, but truly this is the time, I have to focus on my health.

Keep me in your prayers, go ahead and share your thoughts, gyan or whatever, miracles stories that can change belief systems, need for truly ALERT beings like Dr Republica n Dr karthik of Rmd Trust , saving lives, one at a time. and Apollo being a centre for great healthcare with best doctors and technology ...

Health is wealth. I have long journey in medical recovery, keeping my mental health in tact with so many changes, but truly I am grateful to everyone who made this journey safe and comforting so far. Special thanks to Idaya Vasal DrSurya CR and Child Home Pabitha Senthil ,Sevai Karangal Thilak, Sandhya Subramanian Sunitha Biju , Srividhya Siddharth Jayakumar Ambika Kavitha Suresh Dr Anand anna Kala Balasundaram Hemalatha Venugopal Siva PR, Tharani Sir, many more friends and thanks to my Inner Wheel Club of Madras South and Ewit friends, Udayan Care Chennai, RCC Spotlight for your heartwarming prayers and good wishes.

I m back home, resting well and feeling so humbled to this speed breaker that is teaching me lot more lessons in life.

Thank you