Kanchanagiri – History
Lalapettai
was ruled by Chinna Thimma Reddy, the son-in-law of Sri Krishna Devaraya (1548
AD to 1592 AD) and then it was ruled by his son Linga Reddy from (1592 AD to
1604 AD). The Reddy community thrived throughout the different parts of Vellore
mainly because of the rule of the Reddy kings. After the Mughal invasion
Lalapettai among other parts of Vellore came under the rule of the Arcot Nawab,
Sathathulla khan and his minister Thakkama Raya Lala was in charge of
Lalapettai. During the British rule he was given land of 4000 acres. He
established a town after his name called Lalapettai.
He
donated the rest to the Brahmins and for the construction of the temples for
lord Shiva and Lord Perumal. As there were not good roads to reach Lalapettai,
people used to come on horseback till the lake and rest a while at the mandapam
in ‘Rajamalai’ near the lake and take a boat across the lake to reach
Lalapettai. Even today the mandapam and clock can be seen on Rajamalai. Under
the British rule Lalapettai came under the North Arcot District with Vellore as
the capital a rail road was laid between Lalapettai and Agraharam in 1911.
Sri
Shivagnana Swamigal was born in Trichy and grew up in Malaysia. He got to hear
the news about Kanjanagiri and wished to contribute to the enhancement of its
beauty. In 1910 he succeeded in laying down cobbled roads. In 1941 he
established an ashram in Kanjanagiri and worked on the further development of
the place. He also started the free-meals distribution which goes on even
today. After the demise of Sri Sivangnana Swamigal on December 8th, 1973, the
work was carried on by his disciple, Smt. Sengammal and later by his
granddaughter Smt. Gnammal.
From
1981 till 2006 many benefactors and bureaucrats helped the building of roads
and in the fixing of sodium vapour lamps, of course with the help of villagers.
Kanchanagiri is connected to Thiruvalam temple by legend. The Nandhi
of Thiruvalam temple had destroyed the demon Kanchan of this hill and his
flesh pieces around this hill had become Swayambu Lingas after the holy water
was sprinkled on them. Knowing this legend, some ashram people from Coimbatore
came here, researched and collected all the Swayambu lingams and arranged them
in one place. There are around 100 of them on a plateau on top of the hill.
