Ecological Heritage and Sacred Sites of India

 by  Arun Ram   in  Chennai Talkies ,  India , TOI The Ram temple that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on January 22 is a magnificent structure. The three-storey 57,000sqft temple on 2.7 acres built in the nagara style stands at 161ft on 132 columns. Six smaller temples complete the complex that has 12 gates. I am not a regular temple-goer, but I look forward to visiting the Ayodhya temple as much for its religious grandeur as for its political history. But if I have to visit a temple for some inner peace, I would go to a quiet village temple. I believe we don’t need temples to be spiritual (though many get a spiritual boost in these environs). We build temples for broadly two reasons. One, for a sense of solace and security (the quaint ones in villages). Two, to make a statement (Raja Raja Chola got the awe-inspiring Big Temple built to proclaim his might, his son Rajendra Chola had the Gangaikondacholapuram temple done to show his love for architectural acumen). The Ram

    Source:  The Times of India Chennai, 15/01/2024, pg.8.

  Source:  The Statesman Bhubaneswar, 09/01/2024, pg.12.

  Cause for concern: Wild elephants eating waste, including plastic, from a dumping yard of the Munnar panchayat at Kallar. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals functionaries alerted panchayat officials and forest officials, who reached the spot and drove off the animals from the yard.   Source:  The Hindu Cochin, 12/01/2024, pg.1.

  Historians say Dindigul was on the border of regions occupied by ‘moovendars’ of ancient Tamil Nadu: the Pandyas, the Cheras and the Cholas. Being the outpost for Pandyas, Dindigul should be the first town to fall for the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pallavas to enter Madurai. Hence, this place frequently turned into a battleground. Source:  The Hindu Chennai, 05/01/2024, pg.7.

  CPREEC EIACP PC - RP, Chennai has brought out its EIACP Newsletter ‘ Eco-Heritage.com ’ for October to December, 2023, Vol. XXII, No. 3 Click on the below link to read: http://cpreecenvis.nic.in/WriteReadData/Publication/EIACP%20Newsletter_October%20to%20December%202023_Vol.XXII,No.3.pdf

  CPREEC EIACP PC–RP, Chennai conducted LiFE Mission Awareness Programme under the seven themes at Avvai Home TVR Girls Higher Secondary School, Adyar, Chennai - 600020 on 05/01/2024. 187 students and 6 teachers participated and took the pledge on Mission LiFE. #MissionLiFE #MeriLiFE #ChooseLiFE

  CPREEC EIACP PC–RP, Chennai conducted LiFE Mission Awareness Programme under the seven themes at Sri Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Vidyalaya Girls Higher Secondary School, Burkit Road, T Nagar, Chennai - 600017 on 05/01/2024. 168 students and 5 teachers participated and took the pledge on Mission LiFE. #MissionLiFE #MeriLiFE #ChooseLiFE