Context:
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches Registration Portal for Kashi Tamil Sangamam Phase 3
Kashi – Tamil Sangamam:
- Program to rediscover the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilisational linkage between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu.
- Organised by – Ministry of Education with various ministries and Government of Uttar Pradesh
- Aim – To bring to light deep academic, economic, social and cultural relationships between Varanasi and Tamil Nadu.
- Implementing agency as knowledge partner – Indian Institute of Technology (Madras) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
- Theme of KTS 3.0 – Sage Agasthyar
Cultural Significance:
- Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi (Tamil Nadu) is known as the Kasi of South.
- Built by Pandyan king Parakrama Pandyan for devotees who could not visit Kashi
- Style of architecture – Dravidian style
- Dedicated Lord Shiva in a self-incarnated form (swayambu)
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB):
- Aim – To promote national integration and cultural exchange between the different states and union territories of India.
- Launched on – October 31, 2015.
- Marks the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Sage Agasthya:
- Considered the father of traditional medicine
- Considered as one of the Saptarishis
- Agathiyam, the 1st Tamil grammar was compiled by him
- Other works – Agastya Samhita and Naadi Shastra, related to medicine and astronomy
- Associated with the Aryanization of South India, particularly the Yadavas.
- He crossed the Vindhya mountains to reach South India and there he propagated Vedic culture
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) capital cities
(b) ports
(c) centres of iron-and-steel making
(d) shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Answer: (b)