A gala opening ceremony of the 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad took place at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on July 28, 2022.
The international event which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has attracted interest in Lord Shiva temple in the Tiruvarur district’s Thirupoovanur area, near to Needamangalam, considered to be related with the game of chess.
What gains people’s curiosity currently is that Chennai’s famed Napier bridge has been painted as a chess platform. It’s the deity of chess, ‘Sathuranga Vallabhanathar.’
Specifically, the Tamil word ‘Sathurangam’ refers to the game of chess. The presiding deity of this ancient Shiva temple is also known as ‘Sathuranga Vallabhanathar.’ According to mythology, Lord Shiva took the name ‘Sathuranga Vallabhanathar’ after winning the opportunity to marry the local king named vasusenan’s daughter in a chess match. The princess, Rajarajeswari, is said to be a manifestation of the goddess Parvathi.
Because his daughter was a chess genius, the king promised to marry his daughter to whoever defeated her in a game of chess. The concerned king prayed to Lord Shiva since no one could overcome her. According to mythology, Lord Shiva originally appeared as an elderly man or saint, mastered the challenge of defeating princess Rajarajeswari, and then discarded his mask to marry the ‘Goddess.’ The temple also houses a unique shrine for Chamundeeswari, who is said to have been born to serve Rajarajeswari in Tamil Nadu. Tirunavukkarasar, a Tamil poet-saint, has sung in honour of the shrine in Thevaram.
Furthermore, archaeological findings indicate that the primary deity’s Vimana may date back to the 13th or 14th century. The Department of Epigraphy in Mysuru copied eleven monuments from the temple between 1946 and 1947. They are thought to date from the 13th to 16th centuries and to have been made during the periods of the later Pandya and Vijayanayakar kings. According to R Kalaikkovan, head of the Dr. M Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy, the bulk of the partial or damaged monuments are concerning endowments.
According to temple archives, chess was played in Tamil Nadu 1,500 years ago. According to Thiruvadikudil Swamigal, founder of the forum of devotees Jothimalai Iraipani Thirukoottam, who recently did special pujas at the temple asking for the successful conduct of the Olympiad, chess originated in India and travelled to Europe, despite some slight adjustments. He stated that because the country is hosting the Chess Olympiad for the first time, it was a chance to showcase the temple’s past as well as Tamil Nadu’s historical links to the game.
TN is chess powerhouse of India: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says this is the first time the Chess Olympiad is being held in the place of origin of chess, India. It is coming to Asia for the first time in 3 decades. He adds, “Tamil Nadu has a strong historical connection with chess. This is why it is a chess powerhouse of India.”
PM Modi cites the temple of Sathuranga Vallabanathar, which has an interesting story that even God played a game of chess. Prime Minister Narendra Modi then declares the 44th Chess Olympiad open.
CM Stalin: Delivering his address during the inaugural of the 44th Chess Olympiad, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin says tourism and industry will thrive in the State because of Chess Olympiad. He also recalls PM Narendra Modi’s love for chess. Says, Modi, as Chief Minister of Gujarat, conducted a grand chess event with over 20,000 players. He added 36% of Indian Grandmasters are from Tamil Nadu. Chennai can be rightly called the ‘chess capital of India’
Written By Anil Kumar
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