Peruntaccan (പെരുന്തച്ചൻ பெருந்தச்சன் पेरुन्तच्चन्)

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Radhakrishna Warrier

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Dec 30, 2021, 12:49:22 AM12/30/21
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According to this article, a temple engraving mentions that the chief architect of the Brihadīśvara temple of Tanjavur is “Peruntaccan”:

Dakshina Meru : The Brihadeswara Temple | INDIAN CULTURE 

“Situated near the banks of Kaveri, the Brihadeswara Temple dominates the then capital of the Cholas, Tanjavur. Standing on the highest point in the area, this architectural marvel was built without the use of mortar or any other adhesive. The inscriptions record that the chief architect who executed the plan envisaged by the ruler was Raja Raja Perunthachan (perum meaning big and thachan meaning carpenter). He is said to have built some of the greatest temples of the time which shows that Rajaraja employed the best architects, artisans and sculptors to create this great temple.” 

There is a legendary Peruntaccan (പെരുന്തച്ചൻ பெருந்தச்சன் पेरुन्तच्चन्), a master craftsman who is the hero of many folktales of Kerala (perum = great, taccan = carpenter, sculptur, architect etc., from Sanskrit takṣaka).  Included in the Aitihyamāla are a few of these stories of Peruntaccan.   

Could it be that the Kerala legends are woven around the real Peruntaccan, the chief architect of the Brihadīśvara temple of Tañjāvūr?  

There is an interesting story of Pāṅkuḷam, a temple pond built by Peruntaccan.  This pond appears as a square, an octagon, and a circle depending on where the pond is viewed from.  This video presents a virtual reality of the pond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO1ERUbTdws . 

Here are a few stories about Peruntaccan:   

https://pinklungi.com/uliyannoor-perumthachan-5-things-to-know-about-keralas-master-craftsman/ 

 

Regards,
Radhakrishna Warrier

L Srinivas

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Jan 15, 2022, 12:31:00 AM1/15/22
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Radha,

The video was very good.

You did not mention the very good Malayalam movie 'Perumthachan' which came in the early 90s. If you could point to a sub titled version of the movie, people here could watch it.

Srini

Radhakrishna Warrier

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Jan 15, 2022, 9:48:02 PM1/15/22
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Perunthachan was a very good movie released in 1991 or 1992.  It had such an impact that whenever I hear about the legendary Perunthachan now, it is the face of the late actor Tilakan that comes up in my mind.

Searched for a version with English subtitles but couldn't find one. For those who can at least partly understand Malayalam (those who speak Tamil or Kannada) might be able to enjoy this:
Name : Perumthachan Director : Ajayan Actor : Thilakan Actress : Monisha Unni Story : M. T. Vasudevan Nair Producer : G. Jayakumar Music : Johnson Banner : Bhavachithra Year : 1991 Copy Right : Wilson Audios & Videos ☟ REACH US ON Website : www.wilsonaudios.com Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/wilsonvideos/ Facebook Groups : https://www ...

From: bvpar...@googlegroups.com <bvpar...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of L Srinivas <lns2...@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2022 9:31 PM
To: भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत् <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} Re: Peruntaccan (പെരുന്തച്ചൻ பெருந்தச்சன் पेरुन्तच्चन्)
 
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Radhakrishna Warrier

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Jan 15, 2022, 9:51:17 PM1/15/22
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Here is a Wikipedia article on the movie:
Perumthachan (transl. The Master Carpenter) is a 1991 Indian Malayalam-language Period drama film directed by Ajayan and written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair.It is based on Perumthachan of the Parayi Petta Panthirukulam, a legend in the Kerala folklore. The problems caused by the generation gap are explored through the relationship between a skilled carpenter and his tradition-breaking son.

From: Radhakrishna Warrier <radwa...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 6:47 PM

To: भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत् <bvpar...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {भारतीयविद्वत्परिषत्} Re: Peruntaccan (പെരുന്തച്ചൻ பெருந்தச்சன் पेरुन्तच्चन्)
 
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