I met up Ravages this sunday at chennai. We were not keen to go to the beach again. Later we decided to goto kapaleeshwarar temple, and then karpagambaL mess 
I had never been to karpagambal mess before.
I went to kapaeehwarar temple after some 7 to 8 years. It was very interesting this time. Ravages seems to know many things about the temple architectures. He was pointing to me at various sculptures, mentioning which style it belonged to. Like whether it is pallava architecture, or chozha architecture or vijayangara architecture We spent some time at the temple, and ravages was ruing the fact that people just spoil the old architecture, by the name of renovating it 
And some people were looking strangely at us, since we were more interested in looking at the sculptures rather than worshipping.
After that we had a nice snack at Karpagambal mess. Nei Podi dosai and badam halwa. Wow. I have never tasted such tasty badam halwa before. Later we proceeded towards Parthasarathy Kovil, Triplicane. We went via TP Kovil street. It was very nostalgic for me, since I started my career at TP Kovil street working for a browsing centre some 7 years back
By the time we reached Parthasarathy Temple, it was pretty dark. And the temple was bit crowded. But that didnt stop us from dissecting the architecture of the temple. Like why the doors of the temples were built in such a way, and how the temple served as forts for the kings etc
Ravages told me something very interesting. There’ are only two statues of Pillayar in the world which show him with two arms. One in PillayarPatti and one in Afghanistan. Both were allegedly carved around the same time – 500-400 BC. The one in Pillayarpatti has the signature of the sculptor in Tamil Grantha script.
This i read on the Stala Puranam of the Pillayarpatti temple near Pudukottai.
I also asked JK about the afghanistan statue. he asked his sources and confirms the same.
Then we discussed about vellore fort, the subway between jalagandeshwarar temple and virinjupuram temple, shembakkam piLLayar temple, chidambaram temple, tiruvanaikaval temple, tiruvalidayam temple at padi etc.
He also told me ko(arasan)+ il(home) = kovil(kings home)
It was a very different and interesting evening.
wow thats interesting next time im down would love to hear the details on the architecture
love the shot uve taken where u can see the second gopuram through the temple doors
hi prabhu,
happy that you visited my hometown and ofcourse the famous karpagambal mess. even in this techie world, i have always been proud of my mylai, which still maintains its culture and traditions.
hope u visit many a times
karpagambal mess oru sorgam..:) and kapali kovil + karpagambal mess is an evening well spent..:)
why dont u write what u got to know about the architecture and stuff? would love to know the details..:)
and awesome fotos!:) the sepia shots are superb
Karpagambal Mess… ah that brings back memories! My friends and I used to go there for breakfast sometimes, after an early-morning walk on Marina Beach (not by the sea, though… you know why!).
The badam halwa absolutely OOOOZES ghee, doesnt it? Their dosas are also yummy!
I have not been to that mess. But the temple, yes. I have been. I never knew about KOIL being KO + IL. Also about a Ganesha in Afghanistan. Amazing!! BTW, varnam.org gives me a 403. Can you chk, pls?
(When the world famous Buddha statues were being destroyed in Banmiyan, Afghanistan – It was a revelation that Buddhism prevailed in the same land that is now riddled with bullets and mines!)
very interesting
enna ferrari…kabali koil poitu karpagambal mess la saapturkeenga….parathasarathy koil poitu rathnacafe la saapadlaya…;)
ada avial is my fav at that mess…
cha enna koduma da….koil pathi post pota ellarum saapadu pathiye comment podrum..:)
visithra,
That was taken by Ravages
rajesh,
nithya,
But am hooked to these things big time 
Next time la irundhu I will post with pictures
I know nothing. I just wrote what Ravages enlightened me
RC,
Check varnam.org/blog ?
shyam,
The nei podi dosa was very tasty
vijay,
Yes
Me,
Stomach full. Adhaan pogalai
Hey,lots of info I had never heard b4.i visit the Kapaleeshwarar koil everytime I go to Chennai.I was there last week&it was the first time I was visiting after the ‘kumbhabhishekam’.The temple tank was full(the Theppotsavam is being performed after more than a decade),a Athirudra yaga was going on,a group of women were singing-the whole temple was soaking in divinity.A very diff experience this time.
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