GINGEE

The place where i was born .......

Gingee Fort or Senji Fort (also known as Chenji, Jinji or Senchi) in Tamil Nadu, India.The Gingee Fort complex is on three hillocks: Krishnagiri to the north, Rajagiri to the west and Chandrayandurg to the southeast. The three hills together constitute a fort complex, each having a separate and self-contained citadel.The fort complex is called ‘Troy of the East’.

The complex has a seven-storeyed Kalyana Mahal (marriage hall), granaries, prison cells, and a temple dedicated to its presiding Hindu goddess called Chenjiamman. The fortifications contain a sacred pond known as Aanaikulam.As a group, the seven goddesses are still said to guard the fort, and each of the seven has a temple within the area. But three of the seven stand for the rest as the immediate recipients of the actual sacrifice: two of them, Kamalakkanniyamman and Kaliyamman (Kali), whose temples are within the fort, and one, Mariayamman, who represents the town.
Accordingly, one male buffalo (erumaik kata) is sacrificed beside an old and withered kattuvakai tree at a point near the fort granary and main gate at the base of the Anandagiri (or Rajagiri). This point is said to mark the fort's border (ellai). A second buffalo is then offered within minutes at a crossroads on the way to the Mariayamman temple. Moreover, once the two buffaloes are sacrificed, the icons (actually karakams) of Kamalakkanniyamman (who is the main goddess of the fort) and Mariayamman are brought together in a scene of great festivity so that the two "sisters" can meet, "kiss," and romp about together, and in effect ritually affirm an underlying identity that is repeatedly stressed by informants: that all seven virgins, sisters, and goddesses are one and the same.

There are important reasons as to why each of these three goddesses is evoked differentially: Mariayamman in connection with the town, Kaliyamman in connection with scenes of possession and blood-drinking, and Kamalakkanniyamman in connection with the fort. But so far it is essentially a buffalo sacrifice associated with the royal fort; it is centered primarily on Kamalakkanniyamman. It is her weapon: a silver culam, or trident that is brought down from her temple and made symbolically present for the actual sacrifices. In all this, it is clear that Kamalakkanni is linked primarily with Goddess Durga.
The buffalo sacrifices transpose into ritual Durga's feat of killing the Buffalo Demon. In fact Kamalakkanniyamman is a form of Durga as goddess of forts. And the festival, as a spring Navarathri, is itself ultimately a festival of Durga.

It is thus Kamalakkanniyamman as Durga who allows us to define the unity of the seven goddesses.
It can be no accident that in the myth of the origins of the Gingee Fort, the first sacrifice that takes place, the one which makes the construction of the fort possible, is one that provides the required human model.

It is the same goddess or goddesses now receiving the offerings of buffaloes, who originally instituted her own royal cult by the exemplary sacrifice of the sage Tatikkara Virappan.

It has a seven-storeyed Kalyana Mahal (marriage hall), granaries, prison cells, and a temple dedicated to its presiding Hindu goddess called Chenjiamman. The fortifications contain a sacred pond known as Aanaikulam. The walls of the fort are a mixture of the natural hilly terrain comprising the Krishnagiri, Chakkilidrug and Rajagiri hills, while the gaps were sealed with the main wall that measures 20 metres (66 ft) in thickness. On the top of the hillock, there are minor fortifications.

Water resources are usually sparse in South Indian forts, while it was well managed in the Citadel. There are two sweet water sources on the summit and below it there are three reservoirs for storage of rain water. Water for Kalyana Mahal was brought through earthenware pipes from reservoir located 500 m (1,600 ft) from it.

It has three defensive lines, all with powerful gateways, and two with triple arches. The route to the citadel is defended by seven gateways; three of the gates in the second and fourth walls have large courtyards between them. The first gate has a barbican and moat crossed by a drawbridge, but the courtyard walls are destroyed. Over the lintel of the second gate is a small circular carving of Kirtimukha - 'Mouth of Glory'-with a demonic head. The gateways in the curtain walls are staggered in the classic mediaeval pattern to enable the defence to delay an enemy advance.

The Kalyana Mahal is one of the most attractive ruins in the fort that is built in Indo-Islamic style. It consists of a square court, surrounded by rooms for the ladies of the Governors household. In the middle of this court, there is a 27-meter high square tower, built of stone. The tower has a pyramidal roof. The rooms in this tower are very similar to other Vijayanagar Nayaka buildings elsewhere.

Venkatramana Temple:
Located to the west of the inner gate of the lower citadel, the temple contains a remarkable sculpture depicting Lord Krishna playing on the flute with is two consorts. This is the largest temple in Gingee, which was built by Muthiah Nayaka in 1550 AD. Another interesting feature in this temple is a finely polished, broad smooth slab found in front of the temple.

Ranganatha Temple:
Built in typical Indo-Islamic style, the Audience hall is a damaged roof supported by a series of graceful little pointed arches. The Magazine building is also a noteworthy structure. Built in typical Vijayanagar style, is the famous Ranganatha Temple. To the south of the watchtower, big iron cannon is located, roughly 4 meters long, and 2 meters in circumference. In style and form, this cannon is very similar to the Malik-1-Maidan of Bijapur.

Barracks & Stables:
On the western side of the Kalyana Mahal one can see a series of low vaulted and arched cells that are referred to as the Barracks and Stables, but now it has been converted into Archaeological Conservation Training camp.

Gymnasium & Granary:
It is the largest granary built in stone with a spacious entrance passage and its walls are nearly 2 metres thick. A stone structure, with barrel-vaulted roof, found on the Northern-Eastern side of the granary is said to be the Gymnasium.

Sad-At-Ullam Khan Mosque:
This Mosque is located at the entrance of the inner fort of Rajagiri & was erected by Sad-at-Ullah Khan to commemorate his victory over De Singh and the capture of the fort in 1713 AD. According to a Persian inscription found here, the mosque is said to have been constructed in 1717-1718 AD.

Prisoner`s Well:
Situated behind the Chakkaraikulam on the Rajagiri hill, this low circulation brick well is said to be the place where prisoners were thrown and left to die of starvation. Bathtubs with continuous supply of water, huge cannon on the top of the fort near Chakrakulam-Kunda (reservoir) are a treasure for the tourists.

Culture
After the fort passed into British hands, it did not see any further action. The fort at Gingee was declared a National Monument in 1921 and was under the Archaeological Department. The Tourism Department of India has tried to popularize this remote and oft-forgotten fort. Gingee today, with its ruined forts, temples and granaries, presents a different picture from the glorious splendor of its bygone days.

But the remains of that glorious past speak volumes about the numerous invasions, warfare and bravery that it witnessed. The fort is maintained by the Archaeological Department. An entry charge of ₹5 is charged for Indian citizens and SAARC countries and US$2 or ₹100 for all monuments inside Krishnagiri and Rajagiri forts.

Useful Information
Visiting Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
Ticket Issuing Hours: 9 am to 4:30 pm
Entry Restricted After: 4:30 pm
Entry Fee:
For Citizen of India - Rs.5/-
For Foreigners: Rs.100/-
Entry free for Childrens below 15 years.

It was pleasure for me to write about my native place .........hope u find it useful.....and reach the place and experience the feel.......