PM Modi to release coin in honour of Rajendra Chola, share stage with 25 Tamil Shaivite mutt heads on July 27

Modi will also release a commemorative coin in honour of Rajendra Chola to mark the 1,000th anniversary of his conquest of the Gangetic Plains.

Chennai: Heads of about 25 Shaivite mutts from Tamil Nadu will share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27 at the Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, where he will release a commemorative coin in honour of Rajendra Chola to mark the 1,000th anniversary of his conquest of the Gangetic Plains.

This is the second time in two years that Modi will roll out the red carpet for the adheenams (heads) of Tamil Shaivite mutts. Nineteen participated when the Sengol was installed at the inauguration of the new Parliament building in New Delhi in 2023, in yet another attempt by the BJP to reach out to OBCs and other castes.

Although the monasteries do not enjoy cult status among their followers as they do in Karnataka -- the only southern state where the BJP's brand of politics has found success -- the saffron party believes that continuous outreach with the mutts will help bring people closer to the party. This latest attempt comes less than a year before Tamil Nadu goes to the polls; the state government is also organizing a slew of events to mark Rajendra Chola’s birthday.

Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal has written to the heads of 33 Shaivite mutts in Tamil Nadu, seeking their presence at the Thiruvathirai Adra festival on July 27, commemorating Rajendra Chola’s birth anniversary and honouring the Shaiva Siddhanta and Bhakti movements.

“About 25 adheenams have confirmed their participation, while the heads of the remaining eight mutts are either out of the state for spiritual activities or have prior engagements,” a source aware of the developments told DH.

“Modi is fascinated by the Cholas, their seafaring activities, and the kingdom’s unmatched naval supremacy. He has read translations of many Tamil books written on the Chola dynasty. Likewise, he takes a keen interest in the Tamil Shaivite movement and that’s the reason he wanted all mutt heads to be present at this event,” the source added.

Behind Modi’s open display of affection for Tamil, the Cholas, and the Shaivite Movement is also a political calculation for the BJP, which still has little base in Tamil Nadu.

Though most of the adheenams belong to the upper-caste Vellalars, their followers come from several communities, including OBCs—who also head four monasteries in the state. It was only during the Sengol installation event in 2023 that the adheenams, who had always kept a distance from the BJP primarily due to its Brahminical image, began to warm up to the saffron party.

“The participation of adheenams in another event hosted by the PM in just two years is an indication that they have begun to trust the BJP. Our primary aim is to engage the adheenams to restore the monasteries to their past glory. We believe such efforts will help us politically, though it may take a long time to reap those benefits,” another source added.

The commemorative coin will honour Rajendra Chola, the great emperor of the Chola dynasty who unfurled the Tamil flag in faraway countries through sea trade, marking the 1,000th anniversary of his conquest of the Gangetic Plains.

At the event, legendary music composer Ilaiyaraja, who in 2005 composed a Symphony on Thiruvasagam, a collection of hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, will perform for about 20 minutes.

Rajendra Chola built Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Brihadisvara Temple in honour of his father, Raja Raja Chola, who was behind the engineering marvel of Thanjavur’s Brihadeeswara Temple.

The Brihadisvara Temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram is an ASI-protected monument; locals have been demanding the restoration of a compound wall around the centuries-old structure and the installation of a sound and light show to attract more tourists.

After conquering much of Southern India, Rajendra Chola aspired to build a new capital with sacred water from River Ganga. His army defeated many kingdoms en route, and brought back water from the holy river Ganga which was used to build the new city known as Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

One of the largest temples in India, the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple has Shiva as the principal deity with the main temple tower standing 55 metres tall and the imposing building is covered in rich art and sculptures that adorn the premises in absolute grandeur.

The mutts also control a host of temples and run educational institutions, besides possessing vast tracts of land. For instance, the Perur Mutt on the outskirts of Coimbatore enjoys a massive following among people from several communities, as do other mutts. Adheenams in Tamil Nadu have a rich tradition and are involved in spiritual activities, including bringing out hymns in Tamil in praise of Lord Shiva.

While the Madurai Adheenam, the oldest, was revived by Thirugnana Sambandhar, one of the most prominent of 63 Nayanmars who are believed to have lived between sixth and 10th centuries BC, the Dharumapuram mutt, which was established by Guru Gnanasambandar in the 16th century.