GURU PRASATH A

Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

MANAGEMENT OF HERITAGE RESOURCES CATERING THE
PROCESSIONAL ROUTE OF KALLAZHAGAR IN CHITTIRAI

Source: The Hindu

Kallazhagar Ezhuntharulal Meenakshi- Sundareshwarar Procession
in Masi Street
BRIEF:

Chitrai Festival: The ceremonial practices within the planned city of Nayaks takes places in the
form of processions in the concentric streets named after the tamil months. In Chitrai (April,May)
the ceremonial tradition not only reaches a high point within the city but also breaks the usual to
start beyond the bounds of the city.
The city is completely covered by well over a 25 lakh pilgrims, drawn from the surrounding
countryside. The 12day events involve two traditions, the celestial wedding of Meenakshi-
Sundareshwarar and Kallazhagar ezhuntharulal (Journey from Azhagar kovil- one of the sacred
Vaishnava Shrines). These over time have become ‘Chitrai Festival’, fused collectively as the
Wedding festival, follwed by the coronation of Meenakshi as the ruler of the city(Next
8months). It is a collective belief that Meenakshi’s brother, Kallazhagar was invited for the
wedding. Lord Kallazhagar meets his devotees on his way to attend the wedding. On reaching the
Northern bank of R. Vaigai, He comes to know that the wedding is over. Though he is late, he
refuses to meet the newlty wed couple but offers the wedding gifts and addresses the
devotees gathered there. After an overnight stay at Veeraraghava Perumal Temple at Vandiyur, he
begins his return journey to Azhagar kovil.

Transfer of Ritual: The ritual of the symbolic redemption of Mandooga Maharishi from his
curse on the Vaigai bank used to happen at Thenur village, The ritual was transferred transformed
into festival in Madurai by King Tirumalai Nayak. When the ritual shifted arrangements were made
for the visit of residents of Thenur to the city. Thenur Mandapam was constructed near Vandiyur
for the purpose.

1
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

Procession: The procession of Kallazhagar is decelerated by numerous settlements on

the way. The devotees beyond the constraints of religion and caste adorn the procession Each
community from the settlements falling along the processional route gets an opportunity to invite
into various physical manifestations and serve the deity in procession. Not only the city but the
ceremonial route beyond the city bounds transform the mundane functioning into a cultural
geography. The 23km long procession takes places only for 2-3 days in the month of Chitrai.

Physical Manifestations: Physical manifestations in the form of temples, mandhai(village

common ground) and Seva-Mandapas etc form the components of tangible heritage of this
procession. Most of them are in the form of Mandapas (116 nos approx.). These mandapas vary in
terms of size, spatial configuration, architectural elements and material. Most of these mandapas
are permanent structures lasting over 300 plus years built of stones elements; some are temporal
built only during the processions. As the procession takes places for 2-3 days,particularly during
Chitrai, they remain vacant and under utilized for the rest of the year.

Mandapas within the Azhagar Kovil Complex: Thermutti Mandapam(Charriot Mandpam) Mangulam Villagers Mandapam

2
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842
Mandapas and Temples on the procession. Identified and Geo-tagged on 17.July 2019

Source: author

3
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

Dilapidated Mandapam with

a Shrine

Bashyam Pillai- Yadhava Man-

dapam
(Common to two communities)

Pazhaniyaayi Mandapam
(Converted into a residence)

Source: www.americancollege.edu.in

4
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

Thirukkan(Sacredeye)
Mandapam
(Commercial activity)

Late. Alamelu Amma Naidu,

Family from coimbatore
(Standalone Mandapam)

Stone Columns of Thatch roof

Mandapa Close to a Village
Deity
(Standalone Mandapam)

5
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

Mandapam in the suburbs

(Locked down to mitigate
vandalism)

Mandapam in the suburbs

(Used as Storage space)

Venkatachalapathy Iyer &

Family
( Trust formed to run
ceremonial hall)

6
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

Mandapam in the urban fringe

(Open to public)

Mandapam in the City

(Used as Storage space for
commercial activity in the
vicinity)

Prasanna Venkatachalapathy
Temple Mandapam
accommodates both temple
activity and the procession
( Fenced to stop parking)

7
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

“the highest type of efficiency is that which can utilize existing material to the best advantage.”
Shri. Jawaharlal Nehru

Mandapas - Reflection of a settlement:

“Is a mandapa a structure or a building?”
It is quite debatable that a mandapam is habitable depending on a function user assigns to
it. The context of these mandapas with proximity to the settlement configures the tangibility of
the procession of Kallazhagar. The mandapams make for the collective memory of the community
and has the ability to influence the functioning of the settlement. The mandapas are often a
component of settlements landscape reflecting the strategies in locating them in building them.
Sometimes, these mandapas are reflections of a community’s or a settlement’s prosperity. Majority
of the mandapas still survive but have undergone modification and additions to suit the use
for the rest of the year, community’s association and potentials to take newer functions. These
transformations can be attributed to impact of globalisation, stagnation of beliefs, irrelevance
other than processions.
The intent is
• To conserve and reinstate the relevance of abandoned Mandapams
• To revitalize the underutilized mandapas and to provide for the needs of the community
• To re-establish Mandapams’ connection with the settlements and guide for efficient
utilization of the built heritage according to the contextual needs use

THESIS AGENDA:

• Pre-Site Visit Study:

• Influenceof Nayaks political supremacy over the cultural(religious) activities in Madurai.
• History and legend of ceremonial practices specific to Madurai.
• Legend and stories of cultural events contributing to the collective memory of people
• Time line of temporal events in the city throughout the year
• Site Study:
• Regional Level:
• Listing of Mandapams and inventorying based on spatial layout, community/settlement
influence , style, time of construction, mode of transformation values associated
• Settlement Level:
• Settlement mapping for relevant structures based on Inventory
• Stake Holder Identification
• Building Level:
• Documentation:
• Photographic, Graphical, Material, Construction technique, Comparision of
Architectural elements , Structural system
• Categorisation: Ownership survey, Use and nonuse value of mandapas,
• Transformations: Structural, non-structural

8
 GURU PRASATH A
Thesis synopsis: M.ARCH SPA/NS/AC/842

• Analysis & Issue Identification:

• Cemremonial Activity Mapping and Analysis
• Stake holder Inputs and community participation initiatives
• Building Level: Condition Mapping and NDT
• Proposals:
• Regional Level:
• Real time monitoring of Visitors influx
• Efficient Services and Amenities for the procession time only.
• Strategies for Stakeholder coordination
• Settlements Level:
• Feasibility Study for relevant use of Heritage resources in the vicinity
• Efficient Statkeholder: Community participation intiatives
• Building Level Proposal:
• Conservation, Adaptive Re-use, Feasibility for Alterations, Services to Abandoned mandapas
• Design Strategy for New Constructions(Temporary in nature) to be made available
during procession