What is Sengol?

 What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is Sengol?
• History of Sengol
• What isThiruvavaduthurai Adheenam?

Why in news?

• The upcoming inauguration of the new parliament building will also see PM Modi install a historic sceptre from Tamil Nadu next to the Lok Sabha Speaker’s seat.
• The sceptre is known as Sengol — derived from the Tamil word “Semmai”, meaning “Righteousness”.

What is Sengol?

• Known as Sengol, the sceptre is a “significant historical” symbol of Independence as it signifies the transfer of power from the British to the Indians.
• It was presented to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, as a symbol of the transfer of power from the British.

History of Sengol

• Question over nature of ceremony to symbolise the transfer of power from British to Indian hands
  • What is the ceremony that should be followed to symbolise the transfer of power from British to Indian hands?
  • This was the question posed by the then Viceroy Lord Mountbatten to the to-be Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
  • Nehru then consulted C. Rajagopalachari, commonly known as Rajaji, who went on to become the last Viceroy of India.
• Chola model was followed
  • Rajaji identified the Chola model where the transfer of power from one king to another was sanctified and blessed by a high ruler.
  • The symbol used was the handover of ‘sengol’ or sceptre from one king to his successor.
• Making of Sengol
  • The Sengol was constructed by two men — Vummidi Ethirajulu and Vummidi Sudhakar, both are still alive and remember making it.
    • A golden sceptre was crafted by Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a famous jeweller in the Madras Presidency.
  • The sceptre measures five feet in length and has a ‘Nandi’ bull on top, symbolising justice.
• The ‘handing over’ ceremony that happened on Independence Day eve
  • As per the official document, three people brought in the newly-made Sengol from Tamil Nadu.
  • These three people were:
    • the deputy high priest of Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam (a 500-year-old Saivaite monastery),
    • nagaswaram player Rajarathinam Pillai, and
    • an Odhuvar (a person who sings devotional songs in Tamil temples).
  • The ceremony was conducted as per Tamil traditions and the sengol was handed over to Nehru at his house.
    • During the ceremony, which took place on August 14, 1947, a priest gave the sceptre to Lord Mountbatten and then took it back.
    • It was then taken in procession to Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s house, where it was handed over to him.
    • A special song was rendered, as specified by the high priest.
• The song played during the ceremony was composed by the 7th-century Tamil saint Tirugnana Sambandar — a child prodigy who lived only 16 years.

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Image caption: Historial Importance of Sengol

What isThiruvavaduthurai Adheenam?

• About
  • Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam is a prominent Shaiva monastic organization or mutt (matha) based in Tamil Nadu, India.
    • The mutt is located in Dharmapuram, a town in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu.
  • It is one of the oldest and most revered Adheenams (monastic institutions) in the Shaiva tradition.
  • It was established in the 10th century by the sage Tirugnanasambandar, who was one of the four main Nayanars (saints) of Shaivism.
• Features
  • The Adheenam is primarily focused on promoting and preserving the teachings, rituals, and practices of Shaivism.
  • The Adheenam is involved in publishing Saivite literature, specifically Thevaram and Tiruvasakam and its translations.
• The head of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam holds the title of “Adheenakarthar” and is considered a spiritual leader and guide for the followers.

Q1) What is Thevaram?

Thevaram refers to a collection of hymns or devotional songs in the Tamil language, which form part of the religious scriptures of Shaivism. Shaivism is a major tradition within Hinduism that worships Lord Shiva as the supreme deity. The Thevaram hymns were composed by three prominent Tamil saint-poets known as the Nayanars: Appar (also called Thirugnana Sambandar), Sundarar (also known as Thirunavukkarasar), and Thirugnana Sambandar. These hymns were composed during the 7th to 9th centuries CE and are considered an important part of Tamil literature and religious heritage.

Q2) Who are Nayanars?

The Nayanars were a group of Tamil poet-saints who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries CE in South India. They were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and played a significant role in the development and propagation of Shaivism, a major Hindu tradition that venerates Lord Shiva as the supreme deity. The word “Nayanar” means “devotee” or “one who is immersed in devotion” in the Tamil language. The Nayanars composed devotional hymns known as Thevarams and Tiruvasagam, expressing their intense love, devotion, and experiences of spiritual communion with Lord Shiva.

Source: ‘Sengol’ to be installed in the new parliament: Significance of the sceptre, first given to Nehru | The Hindu | Hindustan Times