Valluvar Kottam
Praising the works of the famous Tamil philosopher Thallavur, a saint and poet whose verses left readers spellbound, the popular heritage site of Tamil Nadu, Valluvar Kottam was built. Standing strong in the city of Chennai, this monument is among the must-visit historical places here which were built by the tedious efforts of the then chief minister Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi in the year 1976. Nestled at the crossing of village road and Kodambakkam high road, while taking a heritage tour you will get to know that this monument was set up at the deepest point of a local lake which existed in the yester years.
Moreover, what might interest the architecture buffs is that all the 1330 verses of the 133 chapters of Tirukku?a?, the classic Tamil text by the Thallavur are carved on the granite pillars of the corridor of the front hall. Showcasing great cultural heritage, this monument is adorned with the architectural style of the famous South Indian architect V.Ganapati Sthapati who traditionally imitated the temple chariot in Thiruvarur. Remembering the famous artist, a life-size statue is also positioned in the chariot which is 39 m high.
About Thirukkurals (Small Poetry)
Thirukkual is derived from two words" Thiru " meaning revered and "Kural" which is a poem writing style. Thirukkurals are the most ancient works in the Tamil language. They work as a guide for human morals and betterment in life. It is divided into three sections, among which one deals with right conduct, another focuses on the right manners of conducting worldly affairs and the last one deals with love between men and women.
Each chapter of the section has 10 couplets, so a total of 1330 couplets form the final piece. Thus, Thiruvalluvar gives much more importance to righteous living in public life. They have been translated into other languages also.
History of Valluvar Kottam
Thiruvalluvar is hailed as one of the most important and proficient poets in the history of Tamil literature. Also known as the 'Divine Poet', Thiruvalluvar is said to be the greatest Tamil scholar. However, information about his life and times is very limited. Oe theory says that he belonged to a family of weavers, while another states that he belonged to a family of agriculturalists. What is known with surety is that he the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural (short poetry) which include 1330 verses. In order to commemorate the works of this gifted writer, M. Karunanidhi built the Valluvar Kottam in 1975-76 and it has been a modern landmark of Chennai ever since.
Architecture of Valluvar Kottam
A magnificent example of Tamilian architecture, Valluvar Kottam is a magnificent edifice that was built by a South Indian architect V. Ganapati Sthapati. As you enter the premises of Valluvar Kottam, you are welcomed by the statue of a lion which itself is embellished with interesting detail. It is seen as a replica of temple chariot in Thiruvarur, and a life-size idol of the Thiruvalluvar has been installed in the 39-metre high chariot at the top of an ancient vehicle called 'Thaer'.
It is believed that as many as 3000 blocks of stone were used to create the facade of this magnificent monument. All of the 1330 verses of the Tamil epic Thirukkural are carved out on the granite columns that have the main auditorium within its bounds. It also has an auditorium that can accommodate 4000 people in one sitting. An interesting detail about this architecture is that it stands as it is without a base and without the support of any pillars.
