All the way from TN

While engol remained the centre of attraction at the inauguration of the new parliament, it was the presence of pontiffs from 19 adheenams (mutts) of Tamilnadu at the ceremony that drew the spotlight. Six of the 19 adheenam heads – Dharmapuram, Madurai, Thiruvavadthurai, Kundrakudi, Perur and Velakurichi – were specifically asked to present the Sengol to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday at the ceremony that was replete with Ganpati homam and recitation of Tamil chants and Tamil hymns.The Sengol, a symbol of righteousness and self-rule, was then placed by Modi himself in the new parliament building, near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chair. Four of the six adheenams chosen to do the honours of presenting the Sengol to PM Modi were among the eight of the 19 Saivite mutts that are believed to have a history of existence of at least 400 years, or roots in ancient India.The pontiffs had come from different parts of Tamil Nadu, and three of the mutts – Thiruvavaduthurai, Dharmapuram and Madurai – are seen as among the oldest ones.