MS Gurumurthy YSCA Somasundaram Ground

November 23, 2020, 10:53 am

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For over 60 years, the indefatigable ‘Cricketing Guru’ has run an ‘academy that has groomed and produced several top notch cricketers

The All India YSCA Tourney at the RKM ground was a big hit with both the cricketers and fans alike, in the 1980s

As a 14 year old RKM school boy, MS Gurumurthy, along with Srinivasan, launched, in 1956, an ‘academy’ that brought together boys in T Nagar to play ‘Tennis Ball five day Test Cricket’ at the Somasundaram Ground. Several of them went up the ranks and played for the state and one even for the country. He himself was a medium pacer and opening bat (a wicket keeper once in a while!!) and played U25 for the state. In 1970, he launched, at the RKM ground, an annual 30 over tournament that later gained national prominence and has now completed 50 summers. With over a 100 cricketers practicing in different divisions, almost a quarter of the Somasundaram ground was once occupied with Guru’s players!!! On many days, the members also played cricket under the lights at the nearby basketball court at the West end of the ground after the tennis ball test match.

Brothers K Bharathan and K Srinivasan rose from the Somasundaram ground to national heights. Bharathan played in the famous Ranji Final for Railways against TN in 1988, while Srinivasan is now a Top 10 Umpire in India. S Srinivasan played Ranji cricket for Bombay and TN.  S Ravi, who played both tennis ball and league cricket for Guru team in the 1970s, went on to become an Elite Panel Umpire. TN opener from the early 1990s ‘Sunny’ Ramesh was another who played the formative years of his cricket at the Somasundaram ground. S Suresh, who has just been appointed as the Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Committee and who captained TN to successive Ranji finals, learnt his cricket basics from Gurumuthy at the Somasundaram ground in the 1980s. Kalpathi Aghoram, former VP of TNCA and co founder of SSI / Kalpathi Investments too is a product of YSCA. TA Sekar, the biggest of them all having played for India in the 1980s, learnt how to bowl fast, at Guru’s Somasundaram ground nets.

Here is the story of the man who has provided a cricketing platform for upcoming cricketers for over 60 years. 

RKM School boy MS Gurumurthy (Guru) was just 14 when one evening in 1956 he discussed the launch of a formal cricket academy with his senior and friend Srinivasan, another cricket enthusiast. Thus was launched YSCA (Young Stars Cricket Association) 54 years ago. Till 1978, there were four divisions within Guru Team - Division A for office goers, B for collegians, C for High schoolers and D for lower classes.  Division A and B went to the ‘Nets’ on a matting wicket while players in Division C and D played Tennis Ball cricket (Tennis Ball Test cricket at YSCA continued till 2000 when it was discontinued after almost 45 years).

Every year on the occasion of the annual day, players would eagerly await the announcement of promotions into higher division based on the performance of the previous year. Each of the divisions comprised of at least 25players.

He bought the first mat from YMCA Nandanam for Rs. 100 and paid Rs. 15 as a full day rent for the RKM school ground. In 1962, aged just 20, he took charge of a league team (NSC B). Since then, for almost six decades he has been running at least one league team in the city every year. He also joined LIC that year (1962) and worked there for four decades, during which he was the Recreation Club and Union Secretary for over 15years.

Gurumurthy set in motion a disciplined process at the YSCA “Every player had to sign an attendance register. Those who turned late for (the tennis ball) matches would not bat that day!!! There were score sheets maintained for every match. Those who played well in tennis ball cricket graduated to league cricket. Youngsters from the team also doubled up as scorers and umpires.”

He would be there every evening at the Somasundaram ground with the noise of that distinctive Rajdoot that was heard far away alerting the wards that the ‘Cricketing Guru’ had arrived.

A referral for Tennis Ball cricket

Those who graduated from Gurumurthy’s YSCA were seen with a special regard within cricket and outside for he instilled a great sense of discipline and character in the young boys. Former Bombay and TN State cricketer S Srinivasan had the formative years of his cricket at the Somasundaram ground remembers how difficult it was to gain entry into the YSCA “One could not easily get into the Guru team even if it was for tennis ball matches. One had to get a credible referral to join his team. My uncle at LIC, a colleague of Gurumurthy, had to refer me to him for him to absorb me into his tennis ball team.”

Centuries flowed from Srinivasan’s bat in the tennis ball 5 day test matches and he credits those long duration matches for vetting his appetite for runs!!! An impressed Guru took him into Rising Stars, a team that he was managing at that time “The team for the league match would be written on a note pad one day in advance and we all gathered as a team at his house on Lakshmi Narasimhan Street and went to the ground as one team. Such was the spirit he developed among the team members.”

And the incentive every day for an outstanding performance was a Kulfi.

Never Monetised Cricket

60 year old Kalpathi Aghoram was in class VIII when he was first coached by Gurumurthy at RKM, a year they won the schools tournament. He is particularly pleased that Guru has remained passionate for this length of time “Even though cricket has evolved into a financially lucrative sport, Guru has not monetised his cricket experience. He continues to carry out the cricket activities for the love of the game and his passion clearly comes through in everything he does in cricket.”

In 1965, Gurumurthy began taking his students on cricketing tours and has done that for over five decades. His first tour with them was to Tirupathi. Last year,  he took them to Delhi. This gave them match exposure and also opened them up to play in different conditions and pitches.

Aghoram, whose firms SSI/ Kalpathi Investments also sponsored the YSCA league tourney for a few years recalls the humane side of Gurumurthy “The annual tours to Trichy and Coimbatore were memorable ones for the school boys for it gave them a rich experience at a young age. He did not charge anyone a fee either for the round the year cricket or these tours. It was a great gesture, for many of the boys were not from financially sound background and he constantly went out of the way to help them with Maths tuition, Education fees, in addition to providing them the cricket kit and whites.”

The annual YSCA Trophy

In 1969, as he was passing by the RKM ground (opp Jeeva Park), it struck him to use his ‘home’ ground (alumni of the school) to start a tournament that would also give his YSCA team to play in a knock out tournament. And thus began in 1970 an annual 30 over tourney. The players of his club served as volunteers.

Indian Railways Ranji finalist and former BCCI Umpire K Bharathan was in RKM North till class VI when Gurumurthy landed up at his house one day to meet his parents to convince them to move him to RKM Main where he was the coach. Bharathan remembers the disciplinarian Gurumurthy from the 1970s “Top teams participated in the YSCA Trophy. He would assign the volunteers for each of the 4 matches over the weekend and we had to report at the ground at sharp 7am, roll and nail the mat. One of us performed the role of a scorer and another one managed the score board. With the growing popularity of the tourney, there were also ball boys assigned to all sides of the small ground to pick the ball if it was hit out of the ground. We would be given breakfast and lunch.  We were delighted to watch the likes of V Krishnaswamy(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/krishnaswamy-v.html) and V Sivaramakrishnan bat and took inspiration from that.”

Free Maths Tuition

From 1970, for 25 years he also took free maths class for school students. His colleague at LIC, Siva, provided him free terrace space and he took classes in two batches – one for girls and another for boys. Many of the cricketers were his Maths students as well. Bharathan remembers the expert Maths teacher

“He would teach from class VIII to CA. Like how we would recite Slokas, he would roll out the sums that each one of us understood so easily. He wanted cricketers to do well in academics as well and hence ensured each of us did well in Maths, his area of expertise.”

Gurumurthy roped in the well respected AE Audi Chetty to coach his students during the summer and that made an impactful difference to the boys. Gurumurthy would himself go to the Kodambakkam station to pick up Audi Chetty and bring him to the Somasundaram ground. It was Audi Chetty who taught the cricketers of the YSCA the fundamentals of cricket.

Central Zone leggie’s magic ball to Gurumurthy

Central Zone leggie S Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/rbi-madhavan-leg-spinner.html) belonged to a middle class family. His father was far away from cricket and did not understand even the basics of the game. As was the case in those days, the ‘direction’ was to not spend too much time on the cricket field. A student of RKM North, Madhavan spent the evenings at Somasundaram ground watching the nets organized by ‘YSCA’ Gurumurthy. He was already playing for his school as a wicketkeeper batsman along with NP Sridhar (elder brother of NP Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/05/np-madhavan.html)).

Madhavan told this writer in 2018 as to how Gurumurthy inducted him straightaway into the ‘nets’ “Seeing my height and interest in cricket, Gurumurthy asked me to bowl in the ‘cricket ball nets’ alongside TA Sekar.”

One of those days, he struck Gurumurthy twice on the arm with fast paced balls leaving him furious at this school boy “He asked me to bowl a little slow and that’s when I just tried a leg break from a few steps. The ball pitched and turned square beating Gurumurthy all ends up leaving everyone stunned.”

A new leg spinner had been born that day, in rather accidental circumstances at the Somasundaram ground. So impressed was Gurumurthy that he included Madhavan in the Rising Stars league team within a few months. That was a big boost for the teenager and three years in a row he featured in the prestigious annual TNCA Colts team comprising of the best of league players. There was no looking back for Madhavan since and he went on to play for the Indian Railways and Central Zone before settling down in RBI.

YSCA's Biggest Name - TA Sekar

The biggest name to emerge out of Guru’s YSCA has been India fast bowler and architect of the MRF Pace Foundation TA Sekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/ta-sekar-fastest-indian-bowler-of-1980s.html), who began with tennis ball cricket in Division C and quickly moved up. He told this writer in 2013 about Gurumurthy’s role  in his emergence as a fast bowler “ Bowling as fast as I could with the tennis ball at the Somasundaram ground is what gave me the edge with pace, years later as I went up the ladder. That stint with the Guru team at the Somasundaram ground, where I used to also roll the mat and hit the mat nails, taught a lot of discipline in addition to teaching me to bowl fast.”

         RKM School Boy TA Sekar with the Best Bowler Cup

Possessiveness of his players

Throughout the six decades of the YSCA, Gurumurthy has been very possessive of his players. Bharathan recollects the punishment meted out to them when they watched the Basketball players in action at Somasundaram ground “After our practice, we used to stay back and watch the big stars in action in the basketball floodlit tourney. He was a bit wary that at that young age we would get a bit of a fancy for that game and hence did not like us staying back late to watch those matches. Those that did would be punished the next day by letting go of their batting or bowling.”

The YSCA tourney served as a platform for the youngsters to make an impression and catch the attention of the selectors. It was a prestigious summer tournament at that time. Soon the tournament became so popular that around 75 teams began participating including leading outstation teams from Karnataka, Kerala and Bombay. With support from Indian Bank, Gurumurthy launched a flood lit final at RKM in the 1990s with temporary stands and a third umpire.  

           SMH Kirmani at the YSCA Trophy at RKM Ground

The small RKM ground witnessed many great battles. In the 1980s, the residents often complained about broken glasses after SVPB Brijesh Patel’s lofted shots landed in their homes. And once the keeper stood almost at the boundary edge to Syndicate Bank’s Venkatesh Prasad in his youthful days!!! It was here that KN Ananthapadmanabhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/ananthapadmanabhan-kn.html) won a cycle for the Player of the Series and handed it to ‘Cycle freak’ S Mahesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/08/s-mahesh-tn-all-rounder.html).

It was also at the RKM ground that this writer first saw the aggressive and temperamental of VB Chandrasekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/06/old-cricket-memories-my-favourite-tamil.html )at his fiery ‘worst’. He had failed to make an impression for India on its tour to New Zealand and it was one of his first matches following that. The big crowd on the Eastern side of the ground was usually a talkative one and when one of them passed a comment on VBC’s international performance (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/01/vb-chandrasekar.html), he retorted in his typically angry style ‘Vetti Pasanga.  You do not have anything else to do. That is why you come and watch these matches.’ He was never forgiven for those comments. 

Srinivasan who played for TN and South Zone Schools while still in the Guru team dedicates his growing up in cricket to Gurumurthy“He stood up to his name as Guru to many cricketers in the city. It was from him that we learnt not to be afraid of the red cherry as he set an example for all of us to be gutsy with his close in fielding. If it was not for the strong foundation that he gave us, we would not be what we are today.”

Self Discipline at an early age

When a few years ago, Gurumurthy called Bharathan to ask if he could umpire a YSCA trophy match at NEST ground, he readily agreed “Guru gave me not just a cricketing foundation but taught me life’s valuable lessons. I would wake up at 5am and reach the summer nets well before 5.30am to get the extra 10minutes of batting that was given to those that arrived first. He asked me to wash my own clothes and four decades later that habit has stayed with me and I still wash my own clothes. Discipline, sincerity and perseverance are qualities I imbibed from Guru. If I went on to captain the Indian Railways and become a BCCI umpire, it was because of the strong foundation presented to me by Guru in the 1970s and early 80s.”

Last year, the YSCA tournament celebrated its golden jubilee with a star studded outstation team, Bank of Baroad, led by Krishnappa Gowtham beating India Cements in the final to lift the trophy on the special occasion.

At 78, Gurumurthy is still ‘cricket active’ and even this year, pre lockdown, handed his special fielding drills to his 40 plus wards. However, for the first time in almost 65years, Gurumurthy has been all alone these last nine months. His inspiration behind every cricketing step, his wife, for the last several decades passed away last year, and this combined with the Pandemic restrictions this year, has made him quite lonely at home. Watching every match of the IPL this year has been refreshing and evoked memories of the 30 over tournament he launched way back in 1970 that for a long time was seen by players as an important pre season tourney. Soon after the restrictions are lifted fully, he is looking to get back to the Somasundaram ground and to also organizing the annual day celebrations that every cricketer of YSCA has looked forward to with great expectation each year over the last six decades.

It requires true cricketing passion to run cricket for over 60 years without any financial benefit. And true to his name, this man is a Guru in the true sense of the word, one who has imparted cricketing knowledge and life lessons to his students without expecting anything in return longer than any other cricket academy in the city. 

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Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan Hereditary Trustee

November 25, 2020, 3:31 am

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Periya Nambi descendant seeks status of Hereditary Trustee

He has been donning multiple roles at the Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple over the last 15years including that of the lone Archaka

If he is officially anointed as the Trustee, he will have to relinquish the role of an archaka at the temple

Continuing his spate of cases in the high court, Mannar Koil’s PS Narasimha Gopalan, a descendent of Periya Nambi Acharya has filed a case pleading with the court to direct his nomination as the hereditary trustee of the Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple where his forefathers have performed the Srikaryam service for centuries till that was taken away just under a 100 years ago. In addition to this, he has also filed a case in the High Court restraining the HR & CE from appointing Politicians as trustees of the temples in TN. He has also asked for a board to be placed in each temple announcing the details of the trustees including their contact numbers so aggrieved devotees can contact them for solutions.

The three tiered Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannar Koil is located 5kms from Ambasamudram off the Tenkasi highway. The temple is named after Kulasekara Azhvaar who spent the last years of his life here performing service and attained Moksham here. There is a separate Flag Post for the Kulasekara Azhvaar Sannidhi. 

The Lord is seen in three forms - standing posture at the ground level, sitting posture in tier 1 and in a Sayana Kolam in Tier 2 under the Ashtanga Vimana. In recognition of Rajendra Chozha’s big contributions to this temple, this place was referred to as Rajendra Vinnagaram. Inscriptions refer to Rajasimhan donating several pieces of land and Jatavarma Chozha Pandya as well as Nayak kings making contributions to the temple.

Over the last decade, Narasimha Gopalan has filed several petitions in the Madurai High Court starting with the one on abusive depiction of the ‘Vaishnavite Thiruman’ in movies and public places.

Historical Inscriptions of their 'Srikaryam' appointment

In his latest petition, he has referred to the centuries old inscriptions dating back to the period when this region was referred to as Rajendra Vinnagaram. In the inscriptions, the then king has assigned the srikaryam rights to the Periya Nambi clan. He has also stated that over the last several centuries, he and his forefathers have not quit the services at the temple and have been taking care of the daily poojas and the utsavams. 

Doubles up as Priest at Rs. 250

With no priests in the region willing to take up the archaka role for a few hundred rupees, Narasimha Gopalan has also been doubling up as the archaka from 2005 at a salary of Rs. 250 which after a decade was increased to Rs. 750. His father had earlier served as an archaka for several decades at a salary of Rs. 55 that went up to Rs. 135 at the start of this century. 

In line with the teachings of his father, Narasimha Gopalan cites the verses of Kulasekara Azhvaar to reason out his logic for staying away from the lure of a more lucrative city life and being attached to the Lord at Mannar Koil.

Narasimha Gopalan performs the role of an archaka in the mornings and evenings, prepares the sacred food for the Lord donning the hat of a cook and turns into a gardener watering and plucking flowers from the huge garden that he himself had created from scratch and performs Samasrayanams as a Periya Nambi Acharya for his disciples.

Rejects a lucrative overseas offer

In times, when sthalathars, theerthakarars, priests have all moved out of hereditary temples over the last many decades seeking greener pastures elsewhere, this 29th descendent of Periya Nambi has not travelled past the Tirunelveli region in decades for he is too attached to the historic Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple. He does not know what a city life is like. He has neither worn a shirt nor a slipper in over a decade and continues to sport a tuft.

A few years ago, he had received a luring offer to perform services in a temple overseas. Had he accepted that and gone there just for a few years, his financial status would have seen a big positive upturn. But he resisted the temptation for he had long ago decided to commit himself to the Lord of Mannar Koil. When he was reminded again of this lucrative prospect with the suggestion that all temples are the same and that he would still be performing service to the Lord, he retorted to that person if 'Kulaseakar Azhvaar's Thiruvarasu would be present there in that overseas location'!!! And with that ended the discussion on that topic!!

He says in the petition that his forefathers have been taking care of the conduct of all the Utsavams and the daily poojas at the temple for several centuries and that it was only in the 20th century that the HR & CE took over the administration of the temple. Over the last decade or so, he has revived a few of the Utsavams including Theppotsavam and Pavitrotsavam that had been historically performed at the temple.

The High Court has directed the JC of the temple to arrive at a decision on the appointment of Periya Nambi clan as the hereditary trustees within 8 weeks. On the politicians as trustees, the Court has asked the HR & CE to provide details of the trustee in all the temples under its control.

If Narasimha Gopalan gets the order in his favour as the Hereditary Trustee, he would have to relinquish the role of archaka at the temple for he cannot don both the roles at the same time. However, it would be a big challenge for him to find a Vaishnavite Archaka who accepts to take charge of the daily poojas in such a remote location even if he is offered a lucrative remuneration.

Thiru Kurungudi Shiva Sannidhi Restoration Update

December 7, 2020, 2:07 am

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16 years after the demolition, 'Pakkam Ninraar' remains in ‘Balalayam’

After the High Court order directing the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi, an appeal  has been pending in the Supreme Court for many years

Out of Court reconciliation efforts in recent times have failed and it looks like the devotees will have to wait it out for the next Court verdict 

It has been a rather saddening story at Thiru Kurungkudi Divya Desam, the home to the Vaishnava tradition of ‘Kaisika Ekadesi’ and Araiyar Sevai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/kaisika-puranam-in-thirukurungudi.html) with a prolonged court battle over the Shiva Sannidhi that does not seem to have its end near.

The over 1000years old art of Araiyar Sevai originated at Thiru Kurungkudi and was first introduced by Natha Muni. Legend has it that Lord Nambi, hiding behind a wall in Bashyam Street (now South Mada Street), used to watch the young Araiyars practice for hours this difficult art form. Hence, the Lord here is also referred to as ‘Gaana Priyan’ (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/araiyar-srinivasachariyar-srivilliputhur.html). There are several exquisite sculptures and beautiful images inside the temple that date back to the Nayak period. 

Demolition in May 2004

It has been 16 long years since the demolition of the Shiva Sannidhi in Thiru Kurungudi Azhagiya Nambi Divya Desam(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/thiru-kurungudi-divya-desam.html) on that Vaikasi day (May 31) in 2004. Since then several court battles, interestingly initiated first by the now Pontiff of the Mutt (Sundararajan became Perarulala Ramanuja Jeer in 2009), have been fought but the end is not in sight, though the residents continue to feel that it is just around the corner!!! In more recent years, the Shiva Sannidhi in Thiru Koshtiyur too had been dug up as part of the renovation exercise at that Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/06/thiru-koshtiyur-renovation-issues.html).

From the local court in Valliyur and Tirunelveli to the Madurai and Madras High Courts and then to the Supreme Court, the battle has been long drawn. Thiru Koshtiyur Madhavan who has opposed, vehemently, the demolition of the Sannidhi right from the beginning has persistently been calling for the Sannidhi to be restored at its original location citing both Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Pakkam Ninraar reference in his verse in Periya Thirumozhi as well as the Dyana Slokam of the temple that refers to the Shiva Sannidhi being within the temple complex.

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's praise of Lord Shiva

When Thirumangai Azhvaar sought Moksham, Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam directed him to visit his ‘Southern Home’ at Thiru Kurungudi. Accordingly, Thirumangai Azhvaar came to this Vamana Kshetram and performed service invoking the blessings of Lord Azhagiya Nambi and attained moksham here. Hence, it is believed that ‘Vaikuntam’ (the ultimate destination for Vaishnavites) is in ‘calling distance’ from the Lord’s Southern Home at Thiru Kurungudi. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi verses refers to Peacocks dancing in the groves and Parrots speaking like the beautiful girls of Thiru Kurungudi, streams in full flow washing aside precious gems, Mullai Flowers seen in the groves with dripping nectar, swans playing in groups in the cool lakes that are abound with lotuses. He finds Kuravu trees all around Thiru Kurungudi. There were mansions so tall that they seemed to touch the moon. He makes a specific mention of ripe paddy fields where water birds play.

However, it is the opening verse of the sixth Decad of the ninth Canto of Periya Thirumozhi that has been the center of controversy at this ancient Divya Desam. In this verse, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to the Lord (Nambi) of Thiru Kurungudi as one in a standing Posture with the skull and tiger skin bearing Shiva by his side.

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும் உடையார் 

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க நின்ற பண்பர் ஊர்போலும் 

Seeking Lord Shiva's nod

Thiru Koshtiyur Madhavan says that historically the tradition has been for the Sri Karyam of the Mutt to stand in front of the Shiva Sannidhi and enquire if there have been any shortcomings on the day. It is only after confirming that there has been none that the Artha Jaama Pooja is performed and completed at the Azhagiya Nambi Sannidhi. Also, when Nambi goes on a procession, there is a Deepaam Aaradhanai for Shiva. Such is the Unity of Vaishnavites and Saivites in this Divya Desam.

Venu Srinivasan as a donor!!!

For Venu Srinivasan, who has been involved in the restoration of historical and dilapidated temples for 25 years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html)and prided on exercises of bringing down new and additional constructions within temple complexes, this one was an exercise that was characterized by the demolition of a historical sannidhi and the construction of a new Sannidhi for Shiva in the outer prakara, one that he has often referred to as having been done as a Kainkaryapaka under the directions and orders of the Mutt.

Flawed Balalayam

Thiru Koshiyur Madhavan, who has been a witness in the case and has photos of work undertaken in the Shiva Sannidhi in 2004, points out that the Balalayam itself was flawed "One does not perform a Balalayam for a Swayambu Idol. Hence it is flawed as per the agama. In addition, to demolish the Bimbam was an inappropriate act.”

How much longer?

89 year old Periya Nambi K Srinivasachariyar, the son of the 47th Jeer of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt performed Kainkaryam at Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam for almost 8 decades including initiating some of the ‘bats removal’ exercises in the early 1990s moves around now with a help of a walker at his home in Thiru Kurungudi. Typically, the tradition in many temples has been for Samprokshanam/ Kumbabhisekam to be performed every 12 years. In this case, the Lord has been in Balalayam for 16 years. He says that the positivity of a Balalayam will be lost with Lord Shiva having been ‘away’ for such a long time “16 years is really a long time for an idol to be in Balalayam and it (the Balalayam) would lose its sanctity if the Lord was away for almost close to two decades. For years, it has been the story of the case being in the court and most are clueless on when the restoration will happen. I do not know how much longer it will take before the Sannidhi is restored.”

The Mutt's view in 2017

In an interaction with this writer in 2017, Perarulala Ramanuja Jeer the 50th Pontiff of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt (who incidentally was the one who initiated the demolition case against the Mutt in 2004!!!) said that he had no 2nd thoughts on placing the Shiva idol back at a ‘suitable location’ in the inner prakara and that the Sannidhi would ‘soon’ be restored to its original location but status quo has remained in the three years that has passed since.

Conciliatory talks fail

Madhavan says that a conciliatory meeting was held earlier with Tridandi Jeer who recommended for the restoration of the Sannidhi to its original location but there are still no signs of the restoration even though a long time has elapsed since that meeting. Madhavan has also been vocal for long that the restoration of the idol has to be at the same location and the same historical stones that were removed have to be used to rebuild the Sannidhi.

Pulling back the appeal and acting as per 2012 HC order?

If the Mutt pulls back the appeal in the Supreme Court, it is possible to restore the Sannidhi sooner than later as per the earlier High Court order that directed the Sannidhi to be restored to its original location. Temple activist TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) who has fought many a temple battle in the court on his own had told this writer earlier that it is possible for the Mutt to pull back the appeal in the Supreme Court ‘They can tell the court that they are willing to implement the restoration order as per the previous direction and request for pulling back the appeal. The court can then decide based on the facts of the case and it is possible that the court would accept this pulling back of the appeal. That way the restoration of the Sannidhi can be done as per the previous court order without going through the process of a battle in the Supreme Court.” 

Maniyakarar Ramanujam, who also serves delicious homemade food for the visiting devotees says that he is hopeful of a final closure by January.

Perarulala Ramanuja Jeer had told this writer earlier that the temple as well as the Shiva Sannidhi is integral to the Village and that he is ready to execute as per the court orders. He had said that all the three Lords have the same Vishwaksenar. It is just that the ‘Prakshanam’ had pointed out that the Veetriruntha Perumal was being blocked by Shiva and there was the suggestion that it should not be blocked.

                       

Despite the consensus that the Shiva Sannidhi should be restored to its original location, for the moment it continues to remain an endless ‘wait and watch’ exercise for the devotee. One hopes that the Maniyakarar Ramanuja’s words will come true and that the Sannidhi will be restored by January. 

Surely, the devotees will not want this to be fought further in the court and would like to have darshan of Lord Shiva next to Nambi's Sannidhi.

Othuvar Sargurunathan Kapali Temple

December 7, 2020, 5:03 am

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From Karukadipatti to Mylapore's Kapali

He has carved a special place for himself in Thirumurai Presentation

Pradosham evening is an eagerly awaited event every fortnight with devotees lining up to listen to his devotional recital

A seemingly innocuous discussion at a tea shop with its owner transformed the life of B. Sargurunathan of Karukadipatti village. That morning, he decided that he wanted to be known to the ‘common man’ and that meetingt led him to focus on the Thevaram Songs with musical intonation. Two decades later, he is one of the few Othuvars actively presenting the verses of the Saivite Saint Poets in ancient temples and a popular one at that whose presentation is eagerly sought after everywhere. Here is the story.

Quits academics, Joins Thevaram Patshala

As a teenager studying in a school in a remote village near Thanjavur, Sargurunathan was not keen on pursuing academics for his mind was clearly devotionally attached. He was destined to present the sacred verses in front of the Lord in a historical Paadal Petra Sthalam and thus quit school at 12 to move into a Thevaram Patshala in Chidambaram, where his uncle D Somasundaram was the Guru. 

(with the dwindling of students, that patshala saw a natural death in the 2nd half of the 1990s. Recently another patshala has been launched in Chidambaram - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/02/thevaram-patshala-chidambaram.html)

The Patshala was started by AC Muthiah (SPIC Group) and with the corporate backing and the personal attention of Devaki Muthiah the students were taken care of well in that phase. Sargurunathan recounts the joyful five years he spent there “We woke up early in the morning, plucked flowers in the Nandavanam and presented it to Lord Natarajar at Thillai. Every evening, we presented the sacred verses that we learnt at the Patshala in front of the Naalvar Sannidhi at the temple. During the Utsavams, we went on the Lord’s street processions presenting the sacred verses of the Saint Poets.”

He learnt the Thirumurai by heart and that became an integral part of his life even as a teenager. He also took special interest in ‘Arbutham’ Pathigams. Sargurunathan took a special liking of Thirunavukarasar’s verses (Appar) for he found that to be simplistic and easy to grasp for a common man. Even during the fortnight’s break when he returned to his native village for Deepavali and Pongal, Sargurunathan focused on ‘home work’ that centered on excelling in the sacred verses. During that phase, he also accompanied his Guru Somasundaram on Kumbabhisekam trips and presented the sacred verses during the multiple sessions leading up to the Kumbabhisekam event. 

In 1990, as a student of the Patshala, he presented his first major Thirumurai programme at Tamil Isai Sangam and has been a regular there ever since.

His Future after Patshala Education

However, as he neared the end of his five years, there was anxiety at his home. His two elder brothers were on corporate duty while his father was an elementary school teacher. It was only this young boy who chose the Godly route to life. 

There were no Othuvars in most of the Paadal Petral Sthalams in Tamil Nadu and hence there was an opportunity that existed for a trained Othuvar to be hired in any of the popular temples in the state. He remembers that final year at the Patshala “I had discontinued school education after class VIII. So there was no question of getting into a corporate life. None of the ancient temples were hiring Othuvars at that time and my parents were anxious as to what would happen to me.”

The most disappointing aspect as a 17 year old was the fact that temples did not look at securing the services of the few trained Othuvars that were on offer in the early 1990s. As a young teenager, it was difficult for him to understand. It was a historical service dating back several centuries and there was a severe shortage of the trained personnel. And those that came out of Patshala were not absorbed by even the large temples in the state. 

Even as he was exploring options after completion of his Patshala in September 1991, AC Muthiah’s father the legendary cricket administrator MA Chidambaram noticed the insecurity that was creeping in and offered him an Othuvar role at the temple run by his group firm TN Petro in Manali. And thus he came into contact with the city life for the first time that year. For almost seven years, he spent his life in North Madras living in a ‘bachelor’s’ room.

Transformative Conversation at Tea Shop

Very early on, he had what was one of those innocuous tea shop discussions. He says that the meeting with the tea shop owner transformed him and made him what he is today. While he was practicing one of the Thevaram Verses there, moved by the devotional recital of Sargurunathan, the tea shop owner asked me if he knew Dharmapuram Swaminathan, a question that stunned him. He recounts that moment as his life changing one “I did not imagine that a tea shop man would know the verses of the Saint Poets. Even more, it just did not occur to me that he would know a man who recited the sacred verses of the Poets. I clearly underestimated the devotion of the common man and how the historical verses moved him.”

Swaminathan was part of the Dharmapuram Aatheenam and had been a prominent Thevaram personality in the 1970s and 80s.

That morning, Sargurunathan promised to himself that like Swaminathan he would endeavour to be ‘known’ among the common man on the street. He took to Swaminathan as his role model and as the first step, through his goldsmith friend Bhuvaneswar in Tondiarpet, he became a music disciple of B Achutha Raman and learnt the nuances of music for five years under his tutorship.

During this phase, he also got an opportunity to present a 25 minutes Thirumurai programme at the AIR, in 1993 as a 19 year old. It was the phase the word spread in the city that there was a next gen Othuvar with a devotional voice, one who seemed to have a mastery over the Thirumurai presentation. He visited over 200 Paadal Petra Sthalams along with Adiyars and presented the relevant verses in those temples on festive occasions.

Wedding and Kapali’s blessings!!!

The wedding bells also brought with it the greatest opportunity of his life. Within months of his marriage with the daughter of the renowned Vedaranyam Ganapathi Desikar in Feb 1998, by when he had completed his five year musical initiation under Guru Achutha Raman, he received a surprise call. The HR & CE decided to appoint Othuvars in the historical city temples. He had been stationed in North Madras in Thiruvottiyur for seven years and he applied there as well as at the Vadapalani temple. But his mind was clearly focused on Mylapore, the headquarters of music connoisseurs and the most traditional spiritual location in the city at that time.

Chidambaram Sirkazhi Siva Chidambaram was the Thakkar of the Kapaleeswarar temple at that time and he interviewed Sargurunathan and impressed with the knowledge and the devotional recital he offered him the Othuvar post at the temple. He also received offers from the other two temples but his mind lay with Lord Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal and thus he joined the temple as the Othuvar in June 1998 at a consolidated pay of Rs. 1200 for presenting the sacred verses six times a day, each day of the year!!!

For the last 22 years, he has been an Othuvar at the Kapali temple a phase when his popularity has shot up worldwide. Devotees look forward to his recital on Pradhosham evenings, among other festive occasions. IT entrepreneur R Shiv Kumar (of CSS fame), who runs multinational firm iOPEX engaged him to bring out Thirumurai cassettes and CDs. He has also been initiating the sacred verses to those that are interested.

He looks back at his over two decades at the Kapaleeswarar temple with great happiness “The Lord and Ambal have helped me reach out to the common man. Wherever I go, people recognize me and convey their appreciation of my recital. And that really is the greatest blessing I have had.”

However, things have not been all that rosy financially. Anyone who has been associated with a temple as popular as the historical Mylapore temple should be sound financially by now after over two decades of service. Unlike priests of the temple, the Othuvars do not receive Thattu Kaasu. Anyone who visited him in the 2000s are aware of the dilapidated condition of the house he lived in, one that had not been refurbished for several decades. 

However he is not unduly worried. Sargurunathan counts presenting in front of the Lord and Ambal as a divine God sent opportunity and his mind is focused on that. Over the last two decades, he has graduated to Grade A artiste at the AIR and presents the Thirumurai at least once a quarter. He is also a regular at Sabhas in the city when opportunities present itself for presentation of the sacred verses. During the lockdown, he has presented, online, the sacred verses at regular intervals. He has also been taking Thirumurai classes, online, over the last nine months.

Appar's Verses and the Devotee Connect

His greatest joy is when he presents the Appar’s verses at the Kapaleeswarar temple for he believes Appar has gained the acceptance of the devotee with his simplistic verses. Like Appar, Othuvar Sargurunathan too has captured the mind of the devotees at the Kapali Temple and elsewhere.

Three decades ago, he wanted to get into the hearts of the common man. He is now someone who is recognised by almost everyone in the temple space. Now as his next goal in life, he wants to create at least a few in the next gen to take up the role of Othuvars so this service continues into the future. It is likely that this divine soul will accomplish that as well. 

Other Othuvars in TN temples

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/thiruvanaikaval-othuvar-srinivasan.html

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/thiru-gnana-sambandhar-othuvar-sirkazhi.html

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/othuvar-muthu-kandaswamy-desikar.html

Sharath S TN Cricket's ATG

December 19, 2020, 1:05 pm

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The First TN cricketer to play a 100 Ranji matches was one of the most consistent batsmen for the state but his strong match winning performances in the Ranji, Duleep and Deodhar Trophy was not enough to break into the National team in the 1990s

It was the summer of 1988 and YMCA TSR CC hosted a 30overs match against a team from St Bedes/Santhome at the YMCA Pavilion ground (Nandanam). The talk that morning was all about two players from the opposition. One had just returned from his stint at U19 World Cup for India (though he had had a disastrous tourney) and the other was a young lean 15 year old rookie just getting into class XI who stole singles right through that innings with nudges and placements. He was not elegant in stroke play and did not seem naturally talented but it was difficult to get him out that day and he remained so throughout his cricket career, often fighting it out till the very end for his team’s cause. A major road accident 5 years later set his cricketing progress back by a year but came back strong from that career threatening injury and went on to play well over a 100 first class matches. Throughout his career, he contributed to victories  be it at the club level or the state or zone but the national call remained elusive all his cricketing life. Here is the story of the man who is popularly referred to as the 'ATG' in TN cricket.

S Sharath’s first knock at cricket was by accident. It was an inter class match at Montford School and Class V-B was short of a full XI. And the young boy was asked if he could join (to just fill the XI). He scored a half century against the strong A side and was immediately called for school practice. Ganesh, who repairs bats opposite St. Bedes ground secured for him an entry into the TNCA league when he was in class VI. In those early days, he would join the fielding practice of TS Mohan at St. Bedes, a group that included G Shyamsundar, CK Suresh and RI Palani. 

By the time he was in class XI, he had graduated to play in the 2nd division (Sridhar CC) where he scored 450 runs and those runs were enough to get him a place in the RBI team. 

The Formative Years at Chemplast

Bharath Reddy remembers picking up Sharath early from RBI when he was still a teenager "We roped him in early and he contributed significantly for us for almost a decade. He was a very dependable batsman. While he was not naturally talented like many other cricketers of the time, he made up for it with hard work, grit and determination. He always placed a high prize on his wicket."

Sharath had earlier told this writer that the period at Jolly Rovers was the best he had experienced in terms of professionalism. He recalls the contribution of Bharath Reddy from his early years at Jolly Rovers “Bharath was a no nonsense man, who pulled up those who did not measure up. He made me realise how professional cricket is to be played. It was a great learning experience for me early on to be guided by Bharath.”

After a fine first season with Jolly Rovers when won the first division trophy he had found a place in the Buchi Babu team.  Sharath credits Abdul Jabbar the legendary Southpaw from the 1970s and 80s as the reason for his growth in his emerging years at Jolly Rovers "Jabbar was the one who threw deep insights into batting that had a long standing impact on me especially on how to craft an innings and work your runs. The technical inputs that he shared with me in those early days at Chemplast was unmatched."

In those formative years, he also credits B Arun for a profound impact on him as a cricketer 'Arun handled the youngsters so well. He knew the way to handle the different 'characters' - the stars as well as the newcomers in the team and created that comfort factor for us. His man management skills were among the best and the dressing room atmosphere was lovely whenever he was there."

Century in U19 Test

The first signs of his long innings ability at the national level came in the U19 test where playing for India under the captaincy of Rahul Dravid, he scored 135 and 74 against Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand in Bangalore in the first test in 1992. He followed this with a half century in the 2nd test. He had already notched up a double century in the domestic U19 inter state matches and led TN to the (joint) national championship with a 75 in the final. Clearly at that time, he was matching Dravid run for run. 

Former India cricketer Sujith Somasundar, who played with Sharath for Chemplast as well as for South Zone in the late 1990s remembers Sharath from his teenage days “I watched him bat for the first time as a 17 year old in Tirupathi and was instantly impressed with his footwork. He stood out as a teenager. It was rare for someone to jump out to spinners at that age but he used his feet beautifully.”

The accident – a set back to his career

Shortly after his success in the U19 tests, he made his Ranji debut and had a solid first year for TN. And then all of a sudden on the evening of Dec 7, 1993, his cricketing life was pushed back by another accident – a tragic one on the road. The first match of the 1993-94 Ranji season at Chepauk was washed off due to rain. As was the practice in those days, the one dayer immediately followed the Ranji match. TN was bundled out by Azhar’s Hyderabad for just 69 in the 50overs match with Sharath scoring a duck. Disappointed with his performance and the failure in the first innings of the new season, he headed to PK Dharmalingam’s nets at Sishya soon after the early completion of the match.

At the Ayappan temple junction on Santhome High Road a speeding police jeep knocked him flat on the road that resulted in the flesh on his left ankle gushing out. It needed multiple surgeries and he was for sure to be out of action for the rest of the cricket season. But the doctor’s feedback at the Malar Hospital left him shell shocked “You can have a normal work life but you may have to forget cricket for the rest of your life” recalls Sharath of the first words of the doctor. At a time when doctors did not give him cricketing hope, he found strength from friends George John, DJ Gokulakrishnan and Shanmugham who kept his spirits up. He remembers the support from Chemplast in the first fortnight after the accident “Without support from Chemplast it is unlikely I would have recovered in cricket. It was Vijay Sankar’s initial encouragement when I was at Malar that boosted my confidence.”

A failed Surgery 

If the accident was bad, the initial surgery was worse. It did not go well. After a fortnight, he continued to experience excruciating pain on his left leg that led him to believe that something was not right. He reached out to his doctor aunt in Bangalore and his suspicion came true as she confirmed to him that the initial surgery had not gone well On January 1, 1994 (the week when a few kms from the hospital, he was hearing news of Karnataka scripting a great comeback Ranji win against TN thanks to the then upcoming Rahul Dravid) he underwent another surgery in Bangalore. He had been bed ridden through most of December, and January proved to be another painful month.

An Unlikely helping hand 

In Bangalore, he received support from an unexpected quarter. Sujit Somasundar, who had played U17 cricket with Sharath and who too had made his Ranji debut for Karnataka, came to know of his presence in the city and helped him with physiotherapy at a time when Sharath was not able to place his feet on the ground. Sharath says it was a most unexpected and timely support by a cricketer from another state at an important moment in his life. In those days, the relationship between TN and Karnataka cricketers was not particularly rosy but Sujith went out of his way to reach out to Sharath and help him that first quarter of 1994.

A Friendly Character

Also, Sujith, who is currently the Head of Education, NCA, saw Sharath as being very different from many of the other players from TN of that era “While he was very competitive on the field, he was very friendly off the field and moved well with us (Karnataka players). He was the kind of guy who would come on his own and talk to you. In fact, that is what helped him in the recuperation of the injury as well. Some times as one from another state you do not know if the other player would be receptive to your solution. But Sharath was with the physiotherapy that I suggested. While I may have helped him a bit with a solution, credit goes to him for being open to receiving support from someone like me. And that does not always happen.”

By May that year, Sharath was back on his feet contributing to a victory in a summer tourney in Kodaikanal. A month or so later, he came back with a bang in league cricket scoring a century at the start of the new season. After having missed the entire Ranji Season in 1993-94, he returned to the Ranji team and was never dropped in his career for runs flowed from his bat the following decade as he went on to become the first cricketer from Tamil Nadu to play 100 Ranji matches topping 8000 runs that remained a record for over a decade before Abhinav passed that recently.

Sujith says that while the injury did hamper him in the initial phase, he adapted himself like no other cricketer of the generation “Getting operated multiple times on an ankle is likely to have a very serious impact on the leg. Sheer determination and passion for the game helped him overcome such a major injury. He was fleet footed especially to the spinners when he was 17. Much later in the 1990s after the injury, I did not see him stepping out often. He adapted himself and created other favourite strokes.He was one of the most intelligent batsmen I have seen. He had this uncanny ability to play on the bowler’s psyche. To come out of such an injury and play well over 100 matches is creditable. I did not see any other player of my generation with such a major injury who came back as strongly as Sharath did in the 1990s.”

One of his favourite matches

95-96 was a big year for him when he scored close to 800 runs including a double century.  It was one of the matches that season that he counts among his most favourite. In the quarter final against Bombay in Tirunelveli in February 1996, Sharath top scored in both the innings on an underprepared wicket with knocks of 86 and 90 in a match when both the teams did not top 250 “If I had got another 24 runs ( 14+10), my career may have taken a different turn/ A century in both innings in a winning effort against Bombay may have caught national attention. Even though I played two match winning knocks, it did not get the  attention it deserved”points out Sharath, quite disappointed at not having scored those extra runs  to the century in both the innings. 

He followed this with another match winning 4^th innings partnership with WV Raman in the Semi Final against Delhi at Chepauk after TN had lost both openers early in what seemed to be a difficult chase. In two successive knock out matches against strong oppositions, he had recorded match winning knocks. The final that year turned out to be an anti climax after Karnataka scored over 600 runs in its first innings. 

Closest to National Selection - India A and against Touring teams

He began the next season in terrific form with centuries in his first match in all the three domestic tournaments – Ranji, Duleep and Deodhar including securing a big comeback win for South Zone with a double century stand with TN teammate S Ramesh as the team chased close to 400 in the 4th innings. 

These knocks earned him his first major national call at the senior level with him being included in the Board Presidents XI against the touring South Africans and then a couple of months later in February 1997 for the India A team for the SAARC tournament. His unbeaten half century helped India A crush Bangladesh to take the team to the final, where too he was taking India A to victory with a run chase against Pakistan when rain forced a wash out. But despite these two brilliant knocks, he went out of favour when India A toured Pakistan, with Rohan Gavaskar replacing him"That was one of my biggest shocks and disappointments. I was so confident of selection that I had even checked with WV Raman about the various grounds in Pakistan. I had also purchased formals ahead of the tour but I was not picked. It was one of the most shocking moments of my career."

He was in the 25member probables for the 1997 Asia Cup but was not in the final squad. Later that year, he played another tour match this time against the visiting Lankans but failed to score.

Failure to score against visiting International teams

Former middle order batsman from the 1980s, PC Prakash, who was the Head Coach of the TN U23 team last year and from whom Sharath learnt a lot, while endorsing the tag of ‘ATG’ points out to the missed opportunities “He was no doubt one of the most consistent performers in that period and got runs in tough situations. But in those decades, the performance against touring teams was often the clincher. Sharath did not perform in the two matches against SA and SL. May be unfortunate but it was those one or two matches that really counted in those times."

A couple of years later, he was in top form again across formats and tournaments. Once again he topped 800runs in the Ranji season and scored centuries in the Duleep and Deodhar Trophy as well. But he never came close to national selection again. A year later, in 2000, he resigned himself to the fact that he was unlikely to be considered again at the National level (even the A tours). But he continued on from those disappointments and played for a major part of the next decade for Tamil Nadu in the process becoming the first cricketer from the state to play 100 Ranji matches. 

In first division league cricket, he played a significant role in IOB bagging the Palayampatti Shield in the only year he played for them after he moved from Jolly Rovers. Much later, when he was well into his late 30s, he continued to score centuries at will in the first division playing for the 2nd team of India Cements with the 170 against his former club Jolly Rovers comprising of R Ashwin, L Balaji and Piyush Chawla being a particularly cherished knock.

Biggest Day of his Life - 100 Ranji Matches

He scored four centuries in Duleep Trophy, 2 each against North and West including match winning knocks. For long, he was not considered a one day player but his match winning record in Deodhar Trophy speaks for itself. In a period of three years in the late 90s, he had six knocks of over 75, three of which he converted to centuries. He is particularly proud that he averages 45 in one day cricket for TN even though the general perception in that phase had been that he was an average one day player. He scored a century in his 100th Ranji match at Rajkot and counts being honoured by the TNCA and his boss at India Cements, N Srinivasan, for his century of Ranji matches as the biggest day of his life. 

Throughout his 15year cricketing career, he placed a high value on his wicket. A majority of his big knocks were played under pressure when the team had lost early wickets. With his consistency, he created a 'presence' for himself in the team with the opponents always wanting to get his wicket. A match was never safe for the opposition till the time Sharath was there in the middle.

Two decades after his roller coaster performances in the late 1990s, there is disappointment writ large on his face when he is reminded of not playing for the country.  He points to the fact that he was not a ‘stats’ players and the unfair treatment meted out to him when he was in peak form.  “Out of the 23 centuries in Ranji Trophy, over 75% were match winning knocks. I was not one to score runs in dead matches. Those at the helm at that time just did not back me and my prowess with the bat.”

This story will leave the final word with former India Cricketer WV Raman, who Sharath looked up to as an icon when he grew up as a cricketer.

“He was always consistent and recorded a lot of big knocks on tough tracks. He played very long. In a way it was sort of unfortunate he could not break into the national side, even though he had done enough to get in. Sometimes it is very tough on a domestic cricketer to not get the right breaks but then his contribution or ability is no way less. One has to genuinely feel sorry for him. The 'levers in a lock' did not click together at the same time. But despite the disappointments and frustrations, the fact that he continued to play and perform creditably till the 2000s is testimony to his application, determination and perseverance. And that is admirable. In the annals of TN cricket, Sharath will definitely go down as an ATG (All Time Great).

After his retirement, he donned the role of Chairman of Selectors for five years and has been a match referee over the last many years. His next big goal is to become a National Selector. With the credibility he has had as a player, that day may not be far off. And may be, he will bring to the new age cricketers justice that he for long did not seem to get during his playing days!!!

Vayilar Nayanar Utsavam

December 23, 2020, 11:06 am

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The Utsavam on Margazhi Revathi marked the first occasion in 9 months that the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore permitted devotees to watch an Abhisekam 

Adiyars' sacred recital, Saidapet boys' beating of the drums, presence of young Vedic students, an Othuvar from Chidambaram, the Abhisekam organised by the Poonamallee Mudhaliar Community and a Pushpa Pallakku procession mark the celebrations

It is just after 9am on Wednesday (Dec 23) morning. One of the members of the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Velala Marabinar Sangam has arrived early and is anxiously making calls ahead of the big moment at 10am. The Mudhaliar community based Sangam was formed over seven decades ago in 1946 and now has over 750 people as its members mostly from 18 villages around Poonamallee. The Sangam has been organizing, for the last three decades, the Abhisekam every Margazhi Revathi on the occasion of the Guru Pooja of Mylapore’s only Saivite Saint Poet Vayilar Nayanar.

Given the significance of the day for Kapaleeswarar temple, given that Vayilar is the only Nayanar from Mylapore, the Sangam had placed a request to permit devotees to the abhisekam. And much to everyone’s delight, the HR & CE consented to the request. Hence this was to be the first abhisekam with devotee darshan after the lockdown was introduced in the second fortnight of March this year. 

The member of the Sangam was keen that all the abhisekam ingredients and the special flower garlands were in place by 10am. 

Adiyars presenting sacred verses

By 9.30am, Adiyars from across the state including from Madurai, Erode, Bhavani and Erode arrived in large numbers at the Vayilar Nayanar Sannidhi. Electrical Engineer Sivaraj, an Adiyar, who quit a high paying corporate job in Dubai and returned to Madurai has been present at the Mukthi Utsavam of all the 63 Nayanmars in recent years. He is currently working (from home) in Madurai as an audio editor of Saivam.org, an organization that provides the sacred verses of the Saivite Saint Poets over voice on the web. 

He says that it is Lord Kapaleeswarar’s blessings that provided the enlightenment to quit the corporate job and be involved in a sacred activity that has given him a great deal of happiness in recent years “We (Adiyars) belong to different locations in TN but about 30 of us congregate at the respective temple on the day of the Mukthi of every Nayanmar and present the sacred verses of the Saint Poet “As Vayilar Nayanar belongs to Mylapore, our group of around 30 Adiyars arrived here this morning to narrate the story of Vayilar Nayanar from the Periya Puranam.”

VK Shankar, Secretary of the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Velala Marabinar Sangam was delighted when he heard the HR & CE had cleared the Abhisekam for devotee darshan “It is great recognition for Vayilar Nayanar that the HR & CE chose this occasion to grant permission for the first abhisekam for devotee darshan after the lockdown was enforced. While there was interest from the entire Mudhaliar community to be present on this occasion, we decided due to the Covid restrictions that only the committee members of the Sangam would make to the utsavam this morning.”

Shankar says that their forefathers had been the trustees of the Kapaleeswarar temple over a 100 years ago and it was only after HR & CE took over the administration that they began managing the temple. But even today, one person from the Mudhaliar community continues to be on the board of the temple. There is a case in the court to make Mudhaliars the Trustee of the temple instead of the Thakkar appointment (made by the HR & CE) that is currently in vogue.

All the way trip from Chidambaram

OTHUVAR Ramanan, who has been at the Chidambaram temple for the last 12 years,  hails from Thiruvaiyaru.  He took VRS from Indian bank to devote his life for the cause of propagation of  Periya Puranam and helping the Adiyaars pursue a life to attain the feet of Lord Shiva. He made his way to Mylapore this morning to be present on this sacred occasion.  He was leading the group of devotees in the recital of the sacred verses.

During the hour long Abhisekam at the Vayilar Nayanar Sannidhi that started just after 10am, Kapaleeswarar Temple’s Sargurunathan Othuvar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/othuvar-sargunathan-kapali-temple.html) presented 20 verses from the Thiruvempaavai.

Gurukal's blessed feel

Arunachalam Gurukal, who has been serving for 28years, expressed delight at getting the opportunity to be the one this day to perform the Abhisekam for Vayilar Nayanar (Moolavar and Utsavar) in full public view for the first time in nine months. And the devotional fervour among the devotees reached its peak when he presented the Deepa Aradhanai just after 11am that brought to end the events in the morning. 

Mylapore’s Vayilar and his devotion

Vayilar Nayanar belonged to the Saiva Vellalar community. He was keen to make contributions to Saivite temples but hailing from a financially poor farming family, he did not have the financial wherewithal. Unmindful of the fact that his wishes were unlikely to be fulfilled in his current life, he decided to reach Lord Shiva through devotion. He did not express himself in the form of songs and hence he came to be referred to as Vayilar (the Voiceless). In the Periya Puranam, Seekizhyar describes the greatness of this devotion of Vayilar Nayanar. As part of this devotion, each day he visualized in his mind the construction of a temple for the Lord and the performance of Abhisekam. The (anandam) happiness in his mind amounted to Abhisekam, the devotion and love he had for the Lord turned out to be Neyvedyam. He lit the devotional lamp of self illumination and presented flowers for Thirumanjanam all in his mind. 

A Grand Alankaram

Just after 5pm, Balaji Gurukal, another hereditary archaka at the Kapaleeswarar temple began an hour long decoration of the Utsava deity of Vayilar Nayanar. Through the hour, the Adiyars were in great devotional mood presenting sacred verses in Unison. Around 10 boys, hailing from Saidapet and all in their teens brought out the traditional ‘Udal’ (the sacred drum) and began a devotional beating of the Udal. 

It was just past 7pm when the screen finally opened to the recital of Othuvar Sargurunathar’s recital and the Deepa Aradhanai to the loud devotional cries of the hundreds of devotees who had lined up both sides of the Vayilar Nayanar Sannidhi. Led by the beating of the drums and to the devotional sound of the conch, Vayilar Nayanar provided darshan seated inside the grand Pushpa Pallakku as he went around the temple complex thrice in a pradakshanam. 

Under normal circumstances, this would have been a grand procession around the four Mada streets of Mylapore. But this year with the restriction on street processions, the devotees had to do with having darshan of their Mylapore Nayanar within the temple. Nevertheless, it was a devotional couple of hours at the Kapaleeswarar temple with the Adiyars presenting the sacred verses in multiple groups, the boys joyfully beating the drums, several service personnel holding aloft the Ghee lit lamps ( Bandha Kaatchi) that led the procession and the devotees for the first time in many months witnessing a grandly decorated procession. 

Mylapore’s Nayanar had had his devotional day on Wednesday at the Kapaleeswarar temple. 

K Ravishankar Alwarpet TSM

December 26, 2020, 4:13 am

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A late bloomer, he rose to be in the TN probables in early 90s after match winning knocks against two top offies including Venkat but quit cricket at 23 following the death of his father

85 year old TSM has grown from Rs. 5cr to Rs. 100cr under his leadership - Targets to double this over the next five years

It was a hot Saturday afternoon in April 1988. This writer was asked by T Nagar Auditor Varadan (who promoted cricket actively in those days) to bowl to a promising cricketer in the nets ahead of his preparation for the YSCA Trophy match. It was also the season he was to sign up for Alwarpet to play in the first division for the first time. For well over two hours, he was full of concentration at the Vidya Mandir nets and gave a sense of ‘wanting to succeed’ in cricket much in contrast to the external public image that he portrayed of not being so serious about playing the game. That was one of those rare moments of outward display of his determination in cricket for throughout his cricket career including playing in lower division cricket years later, he gave the feeling of ‘enjoying’ his cricket and at most times allowing others to shine. After having started cricket very late, he had a riveting five years in the late 1980s and early 90s, a phase in which he captained his college to tournament victories, the Madras University to a final and contributed enough in the first division to warrant a place in the team for the then prestigious Buchi Babu tourney. But he quit a year later following the death of his father to focus on the family business one that he has taken to great heights. What shone through then and it has right through over the last three decades is that both in cricket and business, he remains as helpful as anyone can be in life always sporting a smile. Here is the story of one of the most pleasant cricketers the city has seen.

Like any youngster from the 1970s, K Ravishankar (Ravi) played tennis ball cricket every evening with the neighbourhood friends in Mylapore but much to his own surprise, he did not get into the more serious version as he did not find a place in the Vidya Mandir team till he was 14 such was the strength of school cricket in those days. Even after he managed to get into the squad in Class IX, he could not break through into the playing XI. One of his earliest inspirations right from those school days was the dashing opener VV Sankapani ‘It was quite an experience to watch him bat. His knocks for the school combined with my non selection drove me to work harder on my batting.’

Finally, he got into the playing XI when he was in class XI, not always the right time for academically inclined students. A year later, he was in the city team in U17 but he did not make much of a progress. But at 18, with a lot more confidence of league runs and his performances for Vidya Mandir in his final year behind him, he starred at the U19 level where he represented South Zone.

Left arm fast bowler Hemant Srivatsa, who was given a raw deal by Alwarpet in the late 1980s, was one year senior at Vidya Mandir. He remembers Ravi as a late bloomer “We were a strong side in the 80s. Ravi came in late into the school team but once he did, he performed really well. A stylish bat, non controversial and a sweet personality, he was the blue eyed boy of Vidya Mandir once he took charge and led the next bunch of cricketers there. ”

It was his performance in the third division league that got him into the strong Alwarpet team in the first division at 18. His father encouraged him to pursue cricket and stood by him through the teenage years. Hence, while his two brothers had professional degrees, Ravishankar focused on cricket at college. 

A Hero to us in the late 1980s- Gokulakrishnan

For former TN allrounder and State Coach, DJ Gokulakrishnan, Ravishankar was a hero at that time "He was my captain in Junior State. He has always been a nice person and was a good cricketer in those days. He also used to play as a guest for us in local tournaments. He was like a hero to us then." 

A Nervous entry into first division

As he looks back at those first six months at Alwarpet, he recalls the anxiety within him to prove in front of the stars of the TVS run team“As a teenager who had played his first ever cricket match just a few years earlier, here I was sitting next to Srikkanth who was at the peak of his India powers at that time. I was quite nervous watching Cheeka and Vidya Mandir icon Sanku give us those rollicking starts. It left me wondering if I really belonged to that stage. There was always this question of a lack of self belief in my abilities to muster big knocks.”

Despite this initial apprehension, the period from 1988 to 1992 was marked by some outstanding knocks almost to his disbelief against tough oppositions for Vivekananda College as well as for Alwarpet. In the practice matches for Vivekananda College against Jolly Rovers, he helped chase 300 runs including hitting B Arun out of the ground twice. Following this, he scored a half century against a SPIC attack comprising of TA Sekar and S Vasudevan. 

Fast bowler S Aravind played alongside Ravishankar at school, college and Alwarpet CC and watched him from the dressing room for close to a decade. He recalls Ravi from the 1980s and early 90s “He was a handsome (pun intended) left handed batsman who should have played for the state for long. Once when we had toured England to play a few matches, we played against a team called HULL CC. They had a few overseas players. I remember, vividly, we were 0 for 2. A tall, well built, strong West Indian who was really quick had bagged 2 wickets in the first few balls. Ravi, who opened the batting that day, scored a brilliant century to get us back into the game. As a person, Ravi is ever helpful and a very kind hearted person, who means good for others.”

The four years at college were quite intense and he peaked in cricket in that phase. Against Pachaiyappas College comprising SM Balaji and P Rajesh, he played a captain’s knock in the final to help win the trophy. His tourney winning knock of 90NO for Vivekananda College against a Karnataka XI in the Brijesh Patel Cricket Clinic’s Annual tourney in Bangalore earned him early praise from Brijesh himself “He called me and told me that I had the promise and had it in me to play higher. It was inspirational words that helped me belief a bit more in my abilities.”

He remembers the century against a strong MRF bowling attack comprising of Vivek Razdan and Robin Singh that gave him a lot of confidence that he belonged to that level. He was adjudged the Best Batsman in the prestigious annual tournament held in Tirupanuthura. In the four years he was at Alwarpet, he also managed once to put on a century stand with the then India captain Srikkanth at the University Union ground against SBI “Everyone ran on to the ground to get an autograph from Cheeka and then a few got my autograph too. It was an amazing feeling to be signing autographs alongside the Indian captain.”

Srikkanth, who was a great source of encouragement, helped him secure a cricket contract with a minor county in the UK league where he scored a lot of runs in swinging conditions.

Best Knocks against two offies

He remembers two knocks played against two top off spinners as the best of his career. Against IOB, he countered the wily M Santosh Kumar, who he calls as a top off spinner of the time. And then came the knock of 95 against India Pistons where he weathered the bowling of legendary off spinner S Venkataraghavan who was also a state selector at that time. Srikkanth had told him shortly after that Venkat was impressed with his batting and saw the potential in him to progress to the next level in cricket. Being a left hander, it was particularly pleasing for him at that time to come up with two big knocks against renowned off spinners.

Fails crucially in Buchi Babu Tourney

Ravishankar topped 700runs at the turn of the decade for Alwarpet and seemed to be going in the right direction. He was in the Buchi Babu team and the Ranji probable. He had heard stories of Gavaskar performing in the Buchi Babu tournament in the 1970s when he was growing up and he considered it an honour to be selected for that tournament. However, once again, self doubts lingered as he was surrounded by bigger stars in the team and he did not free himself enough to make a mark in that tournament that was then the stepping stone for entry into Ranji cricket.

Lack of Self Belief

Despite being a late bloomers, within a few years of his entry into first division, he had contributed enought to find a place in the prestigious Buchi Babu tourney but it was not until he played for MCC well over a decade later was he able to express himself freely “I just was not there mentally. I did not have the self belief to convert those starts in the Buchi Babu tournament into big knocks that would have helped me seal the Ranji Selection. Even though I knew I had a wide array of strokes, I imposed a lot of ‘self restrictions’ on my game and I just could not break the shackles. It was not until 2005 when I came back in cricket to play for MCC did I free myself and began playing like Sanku. I decided to hit a boundary in the first over of the innings, much like Sanku did and I enjoyed in that role but back in the late 80s and 90s, I was almost a nervous wreck playing alongside Srikkanth.”

Former Alwarpet team mate R Madhavan, who Ravi says treated him like a younger brother found Ravi to be graceful in his stroke play “He was extremely talented and a graceful batsman. He could also bowl a bit. I feel he did not concentrate enough as he had business commitments to shoulder.”

With the brothers having secured a professional degree and a family business to run, there was always a conflict between cricket and academics and a doubt as to how long he should continue with cricket. 

The death of his father in November 1992 led to Ravishankar quitting serious cricket and joining the then 60year old used cars business in April 1995 after completing his MBA  from Manipal University. Thus, by 23, he quit cricket after having been in the Ranji probables and the Buchi Babu squad the previous year. He has no regrets on quitting cricket early "23 was a threshold for me in terms of being in the TN squad. When I did not manage that and with a family business to take care of, I made that call to let go of cricket."

A new business model after 60years 

Soon after joining TSM, he dramatically changed the business model. After having been a pure used car broking firm for the best part of 60years, Ravishankar launched the ‘buy and sell’ model soon after taking over charge in the mid 1990s when the company’s turnover was just a few crores. This meant significant ongoing investment into the business. This new model initiated by Ravishankar now contributes around 50% to the overall business of TSM. 

Father’s message - Be Polite

His father, Krishnamurthy, persisted with a few key messages all through Ravishankar’s childhood – ‘Always be polite and nice to people, respect them irrespective of who they are and have your feet grounded regardless of the success you achieve’. He seems to be following his father’s message every single day in all walks of life as endorsed by a conversation about five years ago.

Ravishankar had been drained out with non-stop calls from his customers and colleagues. De-hydrated, he was in bed the whole of the afternoon. He was back the next morning at his cheerful best talking to his two decades old customer in the way that only Ravi can. In an hour long chat, the customer (who had not sold a car outside of TSM) was in negotiation to sell his old Accent. While it seemed to be a done deal, he kept coming back to the point of ‘what’s the best price’. Ravi gave enough reasons to convince his customer that this was seriously a great price for him. Almost every single time, he makes the customer leave the showroom with a sense of ‘I have got the best possible price in Madras’!!! 

Ravi recalls watching as a young school boy customers handing over the car key to his father and accepting the rate quoted by his father. Such was the trust reposed on them by the customers. It is kind of the same trust that a majority of his customers have in him.

Uncharted Territory

It all started in 1935. His grandfather the legendary TS Mahalingam was in Burma. Having worked there for a while (he was said to be a great auto mechanic who could solve any problem relating to cars - such was his expertise), he saw an opportunity to trade in cars, something that had not been done previously in a formal way in Madras and was of the firm belief that this would one day become a big business in the city. He came back from Burma and took the bold move to start this from a small shop near the Swagat Hotel on Royapettah High Road. During the first decade of the launch, he would charge Rs. 5-10 to bring together the buyer and seller and to broker the sale of a car!!!

Into the mid 1950s, three of TSM’s sons took this business into the next phase of growth. Those days, the fee had risen to around Rs. 100 per transaction. It was also the time that they bought out the property - now a landmark location - on Royapettah High Road. It surprised them that they had customers from Nagaland and Mizoram. There were many instances when customers from Andhra Pradesh camped at the Swagat Hotel for days and went back only after TSM helped them close the ‘car deal’. 

Soon after he joined, Ravi organised an exchange mela giving away cell phones free as part of the deal - this was the first time TSM had done a mela. The result - he sold 72 Maruti cars that weekend. 

Cricket and TSM

Cricket has played a big part in building a strong customer base for TSM. A good number of his customers are yester year cricketers who look up to Ravi for advice. There is a great comfort factor for the cricketers in entrusting their car ‘buy and sell’ to Ravi.

While broking – a business that they were in for the first 60years - was a stable model with fixed commission, the buying and selling of used cars that Ravi has forayed into is fraught with risk. There have been times that the cars he has bought have remained unsold for months but overall it has paid rich dividends. These days he is constantly on the look out to buy used cars. 

Ravi has also diversified TSM’s business into Insurance and car loans as part of a de-risking strategy. 

He says margins are low in the used cars business and it is important to drive volumes. He jokes that he would have earned lot more by letting out this prime premises in Royapettah but the joy of providing employment to a lot of people, a 100 of them now, seeing the happiness in them and the process of carrying on the legacy of a firm started by his grandfather 85years ago is very satisfying that no amount of money cannot compensate.

In between taking care of his business and his time at the cricket grounds playing inter club cricket for MCC, Ravi was lured into acting by his school mate (and son of KB) Prasanna. Ravi donned the role of a handsome ‘young boy’ in KB’s Premi. Despite receiving accolades for his acting skills, Ravi could not allocate time away from his business and hence it has thus far been restricted to just a couple of roles on TV.

A scene at the TSM office on a Tuesday morning, normally a lean day in the week says it all about Ravi and his pleasant personality. Two staffers at his office are engaged in a heated discussion on the price of a vehicle. As the two debate the sale price, the lady throws in the final winning punch. - Ravi Sir thought that Rs. 4.20L was a good deal leaving the man totally frustrated. This is a typical event at the TSM showroom every day with Ravi almost always seeming to give away a better deal to his customer. With Ravi, you have always felt that he has given more than he has taken. He has kind of never said ‘No’ to anything people have asked of him. 

Helpful Personality

In 1999, it was one of those close matches in a third division league match for Prithvi at the Pachaiyappas College ground. Ravi and this writer were playing for the same team that year. A young not so financially well to do 19year old boy from the outskirts of the city brought the back from what looked like a certain defeat. The clock had just ticked past 5pm that Sunday evening and it had been a long tiring day. While all the players were packing their bags to leave, Ravi took out his new pair of shoes and in an instant gesture of appreciation of helping the team win handed it to the young boy with a ‘well played, do well’ message that left the boy in tears.

His teammate from his Alwarpet days and my spin partner at YMCA TSR V Sakthivel is now a mid level manager at Sundaram Finance. He also played against Ravi’s Vivekananda when he captained Loyola college. He recently bought a second hand car that Ravishankar suggested with no second thoughts or options and with no bargaining. Sakthivel recalls the everlasting quality of Ravi as a personality “Two qualities have not changed in Ravi in the 30 years that I have known since our first match together for Alwarpet. He continues to be very jovial and is easily one of the most helpful persons that I have seen. Down to earth as a personality, he often goes out of his way to help others. During those cricketing days, while he did not externally show the burning desire to perform, once he went into bat, he always gave it his best, though he  always gave an impression to others that he was not all that serious on cricket.”

This buring desire to his batting was seen when in an inter club match a few years ago Ravi, then in his late 40s, almost refused to leave the wicket after getting out LBW to this writer. 

Today, he sells on an average around 250 cars every month from the three branches in the city. TSM has also moved digital with all info on the cars at TSM now available online. He is bullish on the used cars business especially with the market growing and the consumption levels on the rise. 

An upward spiral just before the lockdown

The used cars sales at the firm that he has been heading and managing for the last 25 years went on an upward spiral in the first fortnight of March this year. Just before the lockdown, he closed out a Rs. 50lakhs deal of a high end luxury car with a leading doctor in Chennai. That showed to him that business is there to be taken. “The first fortnight of March saw us post one of the best sales for March, in years. Used car sales were rocking. There seemed to be a buying frenzy. It looked like the sales would boom for the rest of the year. And suddenly with the lockdown, it felt like having fallen from a cliff” says Ravishankar looking back at the lockdown phase.

Business is back - Targets to double turnover

The Lockdown gave him many sleepless nights for he was worried about the uncertainty in business and the likely speed of recovery. However, with the lifting of restrictions, the business has seen a sharp climb up on the back of pent up demand and the social distancing apprehensions relating to Public transportation. His grand father had built the firm offering value to customers in terms of quality and range, a fair pricing in his deals and terrific after sales service. And Ravi has been continuing that legacy taking it forward at a much faster pace. When he took charge in 1995, TSM clocked turnover of just around Rs. 5crores. Today, he has driven that up to around Rs. 100crores. 

Ravishankar, who was not always ambitious in cricket, now aims to double TSM’s turnover to around Rs. 200crores over the next five years. It is likely he will do that with the cheerful smile that he has sported all his life and the message that the customer should always be the winner.

TNCA League Cricket returns after nine months

December 26, 2020, 10:39 pm

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Not willing to be tied down, a 65 year old takes the ground on the first weekend as league cricket returns to St Bedes 

Faulty temperature meters, no masks, breakfast from outside caterer, large number of footballers, archers and Silambattam trainees mark this Sunday morning at the St Bedes ground 

Central Zone leg spinner from the 1980s, S Madhavan has just completed 65years and will be in his 50th year in league cricket next season. He is a role model for all youngsters in the TNCA league. He had already taken close to 20 wickets in the season (2019-20) and has consistently taken over 25 wickets every season. At 8.30am this Sunday (Dec 27) morning at the St. Bedes ground, he is the only cricketer seen in full whites, one hour ahead of the scheduled start of the match. He has just had a temperature check and is ready for the round of exercises and fielding practice. It has easily been his longest period away from a cricket ground in almost half a century with him being tied inside his house for a large part of the last nine months. For a man well past 60, one would have expected him to be spending the Margazhi Sunday in other activities and not at a cricket ground but he is not a normal man, one whose hands cannot be kept away from the cricket ball, and offers a different perspective “The Sun is out this morning and shining brightly. A full day game under the hot sun is likely to increase your immunity. Bowling and Fielding is also likely to loosen up the different parts in the body. So overall, it could work towards better health.” 

Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/rbi-madhavan-leg-spinner.html) was quite surprised when his wife proactively wished him well and asked him to give his best and enjoy the match. She had seen how restricted he had been during the period of the lockdown and his hands had been itching to have the red cherry once again. And thus when the TNCA announced last week the resumption of lower division league matches, there was a positive feeling of getting back on the ground once again. His feelings are quite understandable for he has always taken a lot of delight in spinning batsmen out with his leggies and wrong-uns. 

With the outbreak of the pandemic early this year, the lower division matches relating to 2019-20 had to be put on hold in March this year. The TNCA has put in place a SOP document for the umpires and players to follow during the matches. The players will not be allowed to apply saliva on the ball or spit on the ground. The TNCA’s umpiring committee has said that the players shall not handover their caps/sweaters/sun glass or any other personal clothing or equipment during the match to any of the umpires. 

Chairman of TNCA Umpiring committee JR Madanagopal said that he was hopeful of some good games under the new 'SOP' for cricket “It has been a long wait but we are hopeful of seeing some cricket again. Like in other walks of life, the Pandemic will result in a new normal in cricket as well and this will call for a change in mindset of both the cricketers and the umpires. In line with this thinking, the umpiring committee of the TNCA has put in place safety precautions that will assist in the smooth conduct of the matches in these testing times. 

The scene elsewhere at St Bedes is one of varied sporting activity. There are hundreds of sportsmen at the two grounds. While there is a non TNCA match at the St Beds ‘A’ ground (one wonders as to why there is no TNCA league match slated for this weekend at the A ground as well!!!), the footballers in large numbers are seen playing a match at the B ground. At the South end of the B ground are young Silambattam trainees practicing under their trainer. There are also those training archery.

Umpiring after the Lockdown 

The two umpires too have arrived early well before 8.30am, both with interesting backgrounds and were the only ones to wear a mask. Earlier this decade, K Raghuram took the call to turn into a full time professional umpire and is now a BCCI umpire. It has been a long wait for him on the professional front in 2020 with no matches in the last nine months but at home he has seen ups and downs. His 66 year old mother had a stroke a few months back and he had to spend a lot of time in the hospital. He  also had to spend time at the hospital awaiting the birth of his first child. Given this background, the family was a little apprehensive of him officiating in a league match when the COVID is still in the air but he says he has no options “Once I have decided to take this up as my profession there is no choice but to officiate. There is certainly a fear. I have given them the confidence that I would wear mask through the day and maintain social distancing as well. It surely is a tough call to take at this time where everything is uncertain.” 

The other umpire this morning Manu Needhi Chozhan is in the entertainment industry involved in background music recording for movies. To him, there was clearly a message from home to postpone umpiring by a couple of weeks. He himself is not sure how it will be given the new normal in cricket “My family asked me to wait and watch for two weekends to see how the matches in the league unfold and also the overall COVID scenario. But I have taken the call to officiate. I have brought a hand sanitizer from home and will be wearing the mask throughout. At the same time, the players are not likely to wear masks.” 

Interestingly, a member of the TNCA umpires committee and BCCI umpire R Rajesh Kannan(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/06/rajesh-kannan-bcci-board-umpire.html) took a rather bold call earlier this month and informed the TNCA that he would not be able to officiate the first division matches (when the TNCA had announced the completion of the first division matches from Dec 7) citing the presence of his aged mother at home. 

There are no bio bubbles in the TNCA league like the ones in international cricket and most of the sportsmen are not wearing a mask. The temperature meter did not measure up well at the B ground with the gauge even showing 40degrees for one of the cricketers!!! The outside caterer brought breakfast for one of the teams. While there is still some amount of apprehension among a few cricketers, overall a large percentage of them seem to have unshackled themselves and were seen mingling freely with fellow cricketers. 

Aravind Srinivasan, who played first division cricket for SBI and Alwarpet in the 1990s, now captains a lower division team in the TNCA league. He has also been a cricket coach for many years now. His team comprises of many youngsters with most of them aged below 20 and sees the resumption of league matches as a positive development but is finding the parents still treading with caution “In the larger interest, it is important to start playing matches. At some point we have start. Over the last month, the Covid cases in Chennai have seen a downward trend, which is a good sign. We have to look forward to positive things in life. I am currently seeing some initial apprehension from parents in sending their wards for practice or to the ground. Lot of them are still tentative, more so because senior citizens are at home. We have not resumed team practice.”

He has taken an interesting view on how he sees the resumption of the league matches and offers an important message for the cricketing fraternity “If the parents decide not to send their children to play the league matches, that should be respected. We should not hold that against them later on. League restarting is a good sign but you have to respect the free will of the parent and the players and the league team captains and coaches should not blame cricketers for not turning up for an important match. Also, the team officials or the TNCA should not be blamed if any of the cricketers gets Covid after playing in these league matches. In such challenging times, it is really a fine line and parents have to take that decision.”

Official cricket has come back to Madras this weekend after nine months. And life too seems to have returned to normalcy as seen from the activities at the St Bedes ground this morning.

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Kapaleeswarar Temple Vellala Community

December 27, 2020, 12:10 am

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Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam has staked claim to a Board seat at the Kapaleeswarar Temple - has approached the Madras High Court to hand back their historical rights

The community had made several contributions to the development and improvement of the temple over the last few centuries and has been actively contributing to Utsavams and Kumbabhisekams at the temple

Over three Centuries ago, when the Kapaleeswarar temple was being built in its current location, the Thuluva Velalar community had a significant role to play in its development. 82 year old AC Kandaswamy, a Civil Engineer, is now the President of the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam that was officially registered in 1946 once the HR & CE took over the temple. He recounts the role of his forefathers in the development and improvement of the temple over the last few centuries “Mylai Naattu Muthaiappa Mudhaliar donated lands for the temple 380 years ago. Several members of the community made large donations in the form of jewels and house properties for the maintenance of the temple.” 

Role in Kumbabhisekams

The community has also been playing an integral role in the Kumbabhisekam of the temple including the consecration of the Koothaadum Vinayakar Sannidhi at the Eastern Entrance of the temple.

Golden Chariot

In 1999 when the Golden Chariot was completed and inaugurated, it was this association that undertook the inaugural run of the Chariot. Every year since then, the association has been organizing a Golden Chariot run on the inauguration date of the Sangam (May 9). 

A Temple property in North Madras

The community had donated several properties to the temple few centuries ago. It was with the rental income from these properties that Utsavams were organised. Not just here in Mylapore, they had also donated a house on Thirupalli Street in Georgetown in North Madras for the conduct of the Theppotsavam and Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple. 

Organising Utsavams

He points out that their contribution has been significant in the centuries gone by. Historically, the Community has been organizing the first day of the Theppotsavam in Thai every year and also the Yaanai Vahanam procession on the sixth day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam. In addition, they have also been organizing the Vayilar Nayanar Utsavam on Margazhi Revathi. Also, their forefathers were once the ‘Kanakkupillai’ at the temple. 

He says that till the middle of the 19th century, there were two trustees and one overseer (supervisor) on the board of the temple. In 1862, the Board Revenue took charge of the temple and then in 1946, the HR & CE took over the temple. Even after the HR & CE took over, three members of the Thulu Vellala community were appointed as trustees and this went on till 1976. And then all of a sudden, no members were appointed from the community. 

Kandaswamy says that the community then approached the court with concrete evidence of their contribution to the temple and their role on the board. Based on the documents presented to them the High Court directed in 1980 to appoint at least one representative from the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam to the Board of Trustees of the temple. For three decades, there continued to be this representative on the Board. Earlier in the decade, the trustee was done away with and ‘Thakkar’ was appointed by the HR & CE. 

Temple activist TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html?m=1) has filed a case for about 60 temples including Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple. He has asked for the temple to be handed over to the Trustees/their descendants from whose hands the temple was taken over. The High Court had issued notice to the government and the Commissioner.

Earlier this year, just prior to the lockdown, the Poonamalee Uyir Thuluva Vellalar Marabinar Sangam approached the High Court with historical facts of their contribution to the temple to plead with the court to direct the appointment of members from their community on the board of the temple. Based on the strength of the three centuries old data and their contribution to the initial development and later improvements of the temple, Kandaswamy is hoping for a decision in their favour some time in the first quarter of 2021.

Kapaleeswar First Street Procession 2020

December 28, 2020, 10:27 pm

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TN Govt approves Kapali Street Procession on Tuesday evening 

Natarajar Abhisekam at 11pm tonight, Natarajar- Sivakami Sundari Street Procession at 9am Wednesday

The TN Government has provided permission to the HR & CE for a Pancha Moorthy Procession around the four Mada Streets of Mylapore this Tuesday (Dec 29) evening as part of the Aruthra Utsavam Celebrations at the Kapaleeswarar temple. Confirming the news to this writer, Head Priest E Venkatasubramaniam Shivachariar said that this will be the first street procession of Lord Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal in 2020.

Leading up to the Natarajar Abhisekam at 11pm tonight, there is a three day Oonjal Utsavam that is currently being celebrated. There is no confirmation yet on allowing devotees to the Abhisekam tonight. The Deepa Aradhanai of Natarajar will take place at 5am on Wednesday morning. Following the aradhanai, Natarajar will go on a procession to the East Mada Street (near the Chariot). And then after Theerthavari at the sacred tank, Natarajar and Sivakami Sundari will go on a Mada Street procession at around 9am on Wednesday morning, Venkatasubramaniam Shivachariar told this writer.

The Pancha Moorthies have already made their way to the Navarathri Mandapam just after noon today

( Photo above of Lord Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal and below of Singaravelar with his consorts)

Oonjal at 7pm Tuesday

The three day Oonjal Utsavam of Lord Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal began on Sunday evening and will culminate at 7pm on Tuesday evening that will then be followed by the procession of Kapaleeswarar, Karpagambal, Singaravelar, Narthana Ganapathy and Chandikeswarar around the four Mada Streets. This first procession of the Pancha Moorthies in 2020 coming in the last week of the calendar year is is likely to start at around 7.30pm this evening.

T Srinivasachariar Raghava Simham Press

December 29, 2020, 2:20 am

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A Book at 94 on his favourite tech gadget - the Desktop Computer

From a remote village to the Chief Priest of a renowned temple in Mylapore

Anchored Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal Temple's biggest renovation exercise in the 1970s - His Devotional Commitment in the 1950s ensured that annual utsavams were conducted during the dark days at Ahobilam Divya Desam 

At 94, his devotional memory is still razor sharp as he recalls the early life in a remote village without quality educational facilities, the financially challenging times he had to endure when Sanskrit suddenly received a 2nd hand treatment after independence, the blessing of Veera Raghava Perumal, Thiruvallur Divya Desam and interactions with five Jeers of the Ahobila Mutt. As the Chief Priest of Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal Koil, he anchored the Samprokshanam in 1975 following the biggest renovation the temple had seen in the previous five decades. Later in the 1990s, he was actively involved in assisting the police help recover the lost jewels including staying late into the night at the Police Station. To many in the next generation, he is a role model on a devotional way of life and the one they look up to for temple pooja process related challenges. The books he has written and published serve as a guide book to archakas. Here is the story. 

Childhood - Financially Challenging Times 

T Srinivasachariar was born in Azhisoor, a village near the historical Sundara Raja Perumal temple in Uthira Merur. Driven by financial challenges, his father, C Thirumalachariar, a Sanskrit scholar, moved to Kanchipuram where the Parakala Mutt had launched a Vedic and Prabhandham school. He was an aradhakar at hte Kanchi Ahobila Mutt. Srinivasachariar discontinued academics after class III and went along with his father to Kanchipuram. There he was initiated into Sanskrit, the Vedas and Divya Prabhandham by his father. 

All alone to Madras - Sanskrit Initiation

Soon after, when he was not yet into his teens, his father packed him off to Madras to the Adi Kesava Chetty school, a Sanskrit Institution run by Narayana Mudali Chetty in North Madras. For four years, staying in a hostel, he embarked on Sanskrit education and cleared the advanced course (Sanskrit equivalent to SSLC). Following this, his interest was to join the Sanskrit College, Mylapore to improve his skills in the language. However, the college at that time focused on Mimamsa, an area that was not of interest to him as he was keen on Nyaya. 

Graduates from Sanskrit College, Madurantakam 

The launch of the Sanskrit College in Madurantakam by the 42nd Jeer of the Ahobila Mutt, Injimedu Azhagiya Singar in 1942 turned out to be a great blessing "It was a great period of initiation at the College that laid a strong foundation for me.” 

Unfortunately, soon after he graduated after a four year course, there was a sudden defocus on Sanskrit following India’s independence and quite unexpectedly those in this Sanskrit field had a tough time finding jobs. With a family to support, it was a financially challenging phase for Srinivasachariar and he turned his hope towards the Ahobila Mutt. Participation in Kalakshepams earned stipend for youngsters in those days. Once again, things went against plan. The Jeer was writing a book and he had put on hold the Kalakshepams till the completion of the book. 

By this time, he also had a family to run. As was the tradition in those days, he married young at 17 on the last day of Aani in 1943. 

Manager of Water Works and Catering 

With no job in sight, he returned to Madras to his uncle’s house in Villivakkam looking to explore some work opportunities. His uncle’s neighbour was a civil engineer and a building contractor who worked under the brand name of Modern Housing Construction. It was a phase when he was awarded the contract of the Villivakkam to Kilpauk Water Works. At Rs. 1.50 salary a day, Srinivasachariar was asked to manage the contract work on the ground. On completion of this work, the contractor took a catering engagement at the Stanley Medical College Hospital. Here too, Srinivasachariar was assigned the task of managing the activity. 

During that phase, he even drove a lorry. A Vasudevan, the personal assistant to the 46th Jeer of the Ahobila Mutt who performed archaka service for a decade at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore and later for a short period at the Ahobilam Divya Desam is not surprised “In over three decades of my close interactions with him, his character was symbolized by carrying out the assigned task as sincerely and responsibly as possible. He would do everything that was required to complete the job on time.” 

An unexpected assignment by the Jeer 

When the Jeer completed his book, he came to Thiruvallur for Kalakshepam. And Srinivasachariar spent two years in Kalakshepam. Much to his delight, a completely unexpected opportunity came up on its own to him. The book that was to be printed was proving to be expensive with the printers of the time demanding a rather large sum of Rs. 10000. 

Joblessness was rampant in the Vaishnavite community especially for Sanskrit scholars. The Jeer felt that the setting up of their own printing press would serve the twin purpose of printing the Mutt’s books as well as providing job opportunities. When the question arose as to who would manage the press, quite unexpectedly the Jeer pointed at Srinivasachariar and asked if he would take up the responsibility.Srinivasachariar recalls one of the most delightful days of his life ahead of the launch of the Malolan Press of the Ahobila Mutt “I had no clue of what printing was and no prior experience in the field but to be offered an opportunity from the Head of the Mutt was a God sent gift and I accepted it gleefully. It was to serve as an important source of income that was much needed at that time for my family.”

Srinivasachariar spent months training on the processes involved - binding, composing and printing. He considers it a great honour to have had the launch of the Jeer’s Book as his first engagement at the Malolan printing press in Thiruvallur.

Raghava Simham Press 

On July 10, 1966, he launched a Printing Press of his own and called it ‘Raghava Simham’ press as the idea of the press was generated in Thiruvallur and blessed by the Ahobila Mutt Jeer. For a large part he did marriage invitations and bill books.

Chief Priest at the Mylapore Temple 

In 1972, when the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple was short on archakas, they sought his services and he joined at a salary of Rs. 50. Thattu Kaasu was minimal in those days. The printing press ran well enough to pay the salary of the staffers but it was not a big revenue earner. Hence, the opportunity at the temple came in handy at that time to help him financially. 

His daughter, the 62 year old Mala Nandakumar recalls the early years of the Raghava Simham press that he ran out of Saidapet “Those early years in the 1970s is symbolic of the hard work he put in. Every morning, at 5am, he would board the first bus from Saidapet (Number 5B) to Mylapore Tank. From there, he would walk to the Srinivasa Perumal temple. After the morning service, he would return home to carry out the printing work. He would then be back once again boarding 5B for the evening pooja. On Utsavam days, he would work late into the night to ensure that the printing work is completed within the deadline and once again board the bus next morning at 5am. His commitment to Srinivasa Perumal and to the Raghava Simham press have been a great source of motivation to all of us. ”

"Till the time I was married, he did not give any indication to me on the financial situation at home. Only then, did I come to know of the challenges he had faced during the 1950 and 60s. As I look back now on those early years of my school, he simply did not express his hardships to me at anytime and allowed me to enjoy my teenage years." 

The Biggest Renovation in 50 years 

Soon after he took charge, the temple saw its biggest renovation in over half a century. Till the 1970s, the Perumal and Thaayar were close to each other separated only by a wall. It was a completely different scenario till the early 70s at the temple. The location where one now finds the Ramanuja Sannidhi had been the madapalli for several decades. The Azhvaars were seen just behind the Perumal/ Thaayar Sannidhi where one now finds the Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi. Ramar Sannidhi was North of the Perumal Sannidhi (Azhvaars sannidhi now). 

It was during that renovation that separate sannidhis were built for Rama, Ramanuja, Chakkarathazhavar with Madapalli being taken out to a different location east of the temple. It was Srinivasachariar who master minded the reconstruction of the temple and anchored the mega samprokshanam of the new look temple in 1975.That remains one of his most cherished accomplishments of his life. 

He has also undertaken Samprokshanam in temples across the country including in Bombay, Delhi, Pune and Hyderabad. He was also the one who anchored the Samprokshanam of the Dasavathara Sanndhi in Srirangam( https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/dasavatharam-temple-in-srirangam.html).

To Ahobilam Divya Desam for 16 years 

In the dark days for Ahobilam around 70 years ago, Srinivasachariar was instrumental in carrying pooja items for 16 long years to this Divya Desam for all the leading utsavams there, at a time when that Divya Desam was on the lines of the description in Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/10/singavel-kundram-ahobilam.html). It was forest like with no electricity. There were not too many facilities available there. Even to reach Ahobilam would take three days. In those difficult times, it was Srinivasachariar who ensured the celebrations of the annual utsavams. In recognition of his selfless efforts for well over a decade early 1950s, the 45th head of the Mutt handed him the responsibility for the Samprokshanam in 1998 when Srinivasachariar was well past 70. Currently, a restoration process is on at Ahobilam under the leadership of industrialist Venu Srinivasan ( https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/ahobilam-temple-restoration.html).

His books – A Ready Reckoner for Archakas

It was during his service as the priest of the Mylapore temple that he began writing books on temple related topics, especially those that would be relevant for the archakas. When the HR & CE planned to start an Agama school, Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple’s Rangaraja Bhattar called him for the meeting and it was he who brought out a comprehensive book on the agama processes in temples. This was directed by the Government to be circulated to all temples in Tamil Nadu. 

While the original version was in Sanskrit, the HR & CE also requested him for a Tamil version (it is another matter that the agama school did not materialize). The agama book has seen multiple reprints and is a handbook used by archakas across temples. He wrote books on core pooja related topics for archakas in temples that served as a ready reckoner. With the common man too, especially in the new gen, having a number of doubts on the processes to be followed at home, Srinivasachariar wrote a book detailing the pooja related formalities for those at home to be followed on occasions such as child birth, death and by overseas persons who are not physically present here.

Prabhandham acharya Natteri Srihari Parthasarthy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/11/srihari-parthasarathy-prabhandham.html), who has been initiating students into the sacred verses of the Saint poets for the last two decades and ST Sathyanarayanan (a senior member of the Prabhandham team) did their Sri Bashyam, Bhagavat Vishayam and Rahasyatraya Saaram under the guidance of Srinivasachariar. Navalpakkam Ranganathan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/02/navalpakkam-ranganathan.html), who is an integral and senior member of the Prabhandham team at the Srinivasa Perumal temple secured his Pancharatra Deekshai from Srinivasachariar.

Ahobila Mutt’s Vasudevan learnt the agamas from Srinivasachariar and dedicates all his achievements in life to his period of learning from the revered acharya which he says continues to this day “I have known him from the time I was a small boy in the 1980s. It was he who taught me all that is required for an archaka to perform his duty well. Throughout my childhood, I watched him perform service at the Srinivasa Perumal temple. He was disciplined and focused on carrying out his service on time. He never went after money. There were many devotees who were pleased with his service and handed money to him for his kainkaryam. Even if it was personal money given to him (not on the thattu), he would still share it with all the other archakas.”

He also feels blessed that his debut Samprokshanam in the late 1990s was under the leadership of Srinivasachariar. He was disciplined, worked with precision and always had a time sense to complete work within tough deadlines.

Recovery of lost Jewels 

By the mid 1990s, he was close to 70. When the jewels were stolen from the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple, he was the one who the Police personnel trusted the most. Whenever they required any information, it was Srinivasachariar that they looked up to. Vasudevan credits the recovery of all the jewels within a month to the efforts of Srinivasachariar “There were many occasions when he was called by the police late in the night. Unmindful of his old age, he would go to the police station and assist them in every way. There were nights when the meeting went up to as late as 2am. I was the one he would call at the end of the meeting to pick him up from the police station to take him home.”

Vasudevan remembers his decade long service at the Srinivasa Perumal temple and his association with Srinivasachariar "While he was not part of the Seva Kalam being an archaka, he would listen to the recital and initiate his archaka colleagues with deep insights into the inner meanings of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham. Also he would often ask us if we knew the significance of the Sahasranama archanai we did  and he would put each of the names into context."

He served as the Chief Priest of the temple and retired after almost three decades at a salary of Rs. 1200!!!

Tech Savvy after Sathabhisekam

Two decades ago, when technological improvements came into play, he made the move to offset printing. His two grandsons were growing up and were quick to grasp new technologies. He brought his first computer in 2000 and with the help of his grandsons learnt computers when he was close to 80!!! His record maintenance has always been perfect as can be seen from the beautifully chronicled books in his large library. In the process of writing topical books, he managed to collect rare historical books that now number over 400. Not only does he possess such a rare collection but he has also catalogued every single book in his library for easy reference by anyone. 

His decades of devotional service at the Srinivasa Perumal temple symbolized the way he lived – Total dedication to the cause that he took up, timely service and acting with precision. Even today, well into his 90s, he falls full length near the Dwajasthambam of the temple invoking the blessings of the Lord. He considers being asked to manage the printing press as a devotional gift from his acharya and continues to run Raghava Simham press with personal care, over half a century after its launch. He has initiated over 70 people into agamas and several students are continuing to take Vedantham lessons from him with kalakshepam each day in the morning and evening. He is the only one to have interacted with five Jeers starting with the 42^ndJeer. 

Azhisoor T Srinivasachariar was hailed on Sunday (December 27) by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme as a role model for the younger generation. Referring to Srinivasachariar’s learning computers and offset printing into his 80s, the Prime Minister said he was a prime example of how it is never too late to learn. 

It is an age when not too many are active. But Srinivasachariar is unique and his deeply disciplined devotional life sets him apart. He continues to engage everyday with his disciples on agamas, sukthas and the sacred verses. And of course, he puts his favourite gadget at 94-  The Desktop Computer to the benefit of the society!!!! This last week of December 2020, he is seen typing the content of his latest project - A new book on the processes to be followed in temples after a Pandemic of this magnitude decoding the features from the agamas. This latest addition to his glorious writing is expected to be launched over the next fortnight or so. 

Truly a remarkable devotional endeavour at 94.

Kapaleeswarar Brahmotsavam 2019 2020

January 6, 2021, 10:03 pm

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The Possibility of a Devotional Bonanza at the historical temple in Mylapore is real

The Devotees could witness this once in a life time occurance of two full fledged Brahmotsavams one after another, in the coming months

This year’s (Saarvari) Panguni Brahmotsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple is likely to take place in a couple of months time starting the third week of March. But before that, the devotees may be in for a real surprise. One could actually get to witness in the coming months (Thai or Maasi) the Brahmotsavam that had not been conducted last year (Vikari) in the Panguni of 2020 following the lockdown restrictions that were imposed in the middle of March 2020.

Prescription in the Agamas 

The Agamas have laid out clear processes for aradhana and conduct of utsavams during war times and emergencies “As per the Saivite Agama, a Brahmotsavam that could not be held as scheduled due to unforeseen circumstances and put off indefinitely should necessarily be conducted in the coming months (before the next Brahmotsavam) once normalcy returned”, says Kapali Vaidhyanathan Gurukal, a long serving priest at the Kapaleeswarar temple 

As early as the initial phase of the lockdown in 2020, the priests of the Kapaleeswarar temple had presented various options to the authorities for the conduct of the Brahmotsavam. However, the extension of the lockdown for well over six months and the restrictions on street processions meant these options could not be explored earlier. 

Last Year's Brahmotsavam likely in Thai or Maasi?

With the permission granted recently to the street procession around the four Mada Streets for the Nataraja Utsavam in Margazhi and the further easing of restrictions on temple processions across the city with Street Processions for Andal's Neerattam having begun this week in multiple temples and the Varadaraja Perumal Procession on the occasion of Hastham in Thiruvallikeni last evening, it is likely that the Kapaleeswarar temple would explore the possibility of conducting the Brahmotsavam relating to Vikari year (Panguni of 2020). If a decision is taken in that direction, it will have to be conducted before the start of this year’s Panguni Brahmotsavam ( the Utsavam is likely to start in the third week of March with Theerthavari on Panguni Pournami Sunday March 28). 

It may be recalled that the Kapaleeswarar temple had performed a one off Thiru Kalyana Utsavam in the first week of June last year without the physical presence of devotees. 

Brahmotsavam should be full fledged 

As per the Vaishnavite agama, a Brahmotsavam that could not be held on its original date if conducted later after normalcy returns should be done with the full and active participation of the people and not just as a formality for the records, says Agama expert Vasan Bhattar of the over 1000 years old Therazhundur Divya Desam near Mayiladuthurai. 

Devotional Bonanza -Two Brahmotsavams within a short period

If the discussion fructifies into performing last year’s Brahmotsavam in its full form with Vahana processions and the authorities grant permission to conduct the grand utsavam that had not been held last year, then it will be a once in a life time devotional bonanza for devotees of the Kapaleeswarar temple with them being able to witness two Brahmotsavams one after another probably within a month of each other. 

54 year old IT Enterpreneur TN Venkatanarayanan, who has been a resident of Nadu Street all his life, has been watching the Panguni Utsavam every year from the 1970s from a vantage point on the first floor with several devotees thronging his house for that exclusive view of Arubathu moovar and the Chariot Procession. 

He remembers the Utsavam creating a carnival atmosphere around the Mada Streets “The entire family was involved in the festivities. It was a great feeling to host several friends and relatives during the festival. We used to invite them, proactively. Our house was full of guests and visitors during this period.” 

Venkatanarayanan says that it was during such times that children listened to legendary temple tales relating to the Saint Poets “As families got together for the utsavam, the elderly used to narrate historical stories about the temple, the significance of the processions that kept the children engrossed. There was a charm attached to the festival. Those that were part of the utsavam always saw it as a spiritual and divine blessing. The utsavam always provided the people with positive vibration that energized them in their day to day activities” 

While the cancellation of the utsavam in the Panguni of 2020 was a big disappointment for him and many other Kapali devotees, the prospects of two Brahmotsavams in the coming months closely following each other may be pleasing to their ears. 

This section will track the developments over the next fortnight. 

Srirangam Saathatha Raghuram

January 12, 2021, 1:07 am

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Serving with a smiling face in the Moolavar Sannidhi of Ranganathaswamy Temple for five Decades

Even as a young boy, his mind was not attracted to academics. His father took him along as an eight year old to watch the performance of his service and taught him the devotional way of presentation. He was more inclined to be at the temple than in school and quit academics before he entered his teens to join the historical service that he has now been performing for fifty years. While there has been a devotional wave in the last 2-3 decades at the temple, it was not always so and service personnel who served at the temple went through severe financial challenges Here is the story of one such who has served at the temple for five decades without a break. 

Saathaatha Vaishnava S Raghuram belongs to the Saathatha Vaishnava clan, one that had been assigned certain specific services, each day of the year and during utsavams, by Ramanuja at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.  They are referred to as Saathaatha Vaishnavas as they signify their status as True Vaishnavas in all respects except wearing the sacred Poonal (referring to them as ‘Poonal Saathaatha’ Vaishnavas). In a number of temples, they are also referred to as Koil Vaishnavas or Dasa Nambis. 

Role of Saathaatha Vaishnavas

In the early stages, many centuries ago, the Saathaatha Vaishnavas were engaged in sharpening and cleaning out the palm leaves to be used by Ramanuja for his writings. They also used to clear his pathway to the temple every morning and would alert the devotees ahead of time all along the way. The devotees would then lay out beautiful kolams to welcome Ramanuja in front of their homes.

Safe Keep of Jewels, possession of Outer Keys, ensuring ‘quiet’ during sacred recitals, leading the procession with ‘Velli Thadi’ and Presenting ‘Kattiyam’ on special occasions were some of the key activities assigned to the Saathaanis 900years ago. During processions, the Saathaatha Vaishnavas have the rights to carry the torch, a service referred to as ‘Thiru Mooga Bandham’. It is also their responsibility to maintain silence around Namperumal during sacred recitals. 

At the Moolavar Sannidhi, Saathathas have the duty of presenting the Tulasi for Archanai and the flower garland each day for the deity as well as ‘Thirumeni Kaaval’. The responsibility to pick up and hand over the provisions from the stores is also on them.  

While in the few years at Srirangam Boys High School, he would go and sit at the nearby Singaperumal Koil during the breaks. His focus was away from academics and on the back of poor performances he quit school before he was into his teens and joined service at the Moolavar Sannidhi. Others in the Saathatha clan (4 different families) chose performance of service at street processions and utsavams but when his father took him one day to the Moolavar Sannidhi, Saaathaatha Raghuram felt blessed to be performing service at the Lord’s feet each day of the year and has stayed there performing the service of ‘Thirumeni Kaaval’ and the services at the Moolavar Sannidhi for the last five decades.

Father’s Devotional message

His father Saathaatha AK Srinivasan served at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam temple for over six decades  till he was into his 80s ( he passed away last month at the age of 97) handed out a clear message to him as a young boy “There are many options to make money in life but very few get to serve at the feet of Lord Ranganatha through one’s lifetime. Ensure you create a devotional experience for the devotees who come there with different problems and for who those few seconds before the Lord are the most important moments of the day.”

To this day, he follows that strong piece of advice from his father as he describes through each moment of his daily service that stretches from 5am in the morning to noon. To those devotees, who have seen him perform service inside the moolavar sannidhi, his voice is unmistakable ‘Look at the Lord’s feet and invoke his blessings. Watch his face and the Adhiseshan above and pray well’ is a nonstop message that a devotee hears when he is at the Sannidhi.

5 paise as income in his initial phase

While he enjoyed the presence at the Lord’s feet, it was a financially challenging time. He recalls the first decade of his service at the temple “In the late 1960s and early 70s, there was no crowd at the temple. I would get 5 paise a day for my service. We would get pongal in the morning and plain rice in the afternoon and night from the temple. We were contended with that. I would get some bit of sambar and rasam from the neighbours and have my meal.”

Till about the early 1980s, when breaking of coconuts was allowed near the Dwajasthambam, he would get half a coconut once in a while from the archakas that he would take back home for chutney.

He recalls the long wait for the devotees “It would be difficult for many to visualize but there was minimal thattu kaasu in those days. There were not many outstation devotees who made regular trips to Srirangam. I would sit just outside the Moolavar Sannidhi and hope that a few devotees would turn up that day so I could take back home 25/50 paise. I would wash and wear the same Veshti each day of the year.”

Once when several blind school children made a trip to the temple, it was Saathatha Raghuram who provided them the devotional experience as he described the sleeping posture of Ranganathaswamy “The happiness that I saw in the faces of those children remains fresh in my memory. Those sorts of experiences made up for the financial shortcomings.” 

Saathaathas into the corporate world

For many, the financial challenge was too much to take. With very little income from the temple and turnaround not in sight, many in the Saathaatha Vaishnava clan moved on to corporate jobs from the 1980s and away from temple service. But Saathatha Raghuram held on at the Lord’s feet. During that phase, he also made trips to Jeeyapuram and Uraiyur for the long processions of Namperumal crossing the Cauvery in Panguni as part of the Brahmotsavam.

Tragedy at home

In additional to the financial challenges, there were other hurdles he had to face and overcome early on in life. Tragedy struck him one after another when the dearest of his sisters, who had been married off to an auditor in Azhvaar Tirunagari, died of snake bite at a young age and his own child died prematurely in the 1990s. Unmindful of the setbacks, he continued to perform service with devotion.

Saathaatha Raghuram recollects the day when his father took him a second time to the Moolavar Sannidhi “Like he did in the early 1970s, my father took me along to the Moolavar Sannidhi just under 15 years ago and standing in front of Ranganathaswamy invoked the blessings of the Lord to provide me with children so this service that the Saathaathas have been performing for over 900 years could be continued.”

Answering his father’s prayers and much to his delight, 14 years after his marriage, he was blessed with a son who is now already being initiated into temple service. He is hoping to initiate his second son too into service at the feet of Ranganathaswamy.

 

2000s - The Devotional Revival and Huge Crowds

In recent decades, in a complete turnaround crowds have swelled and devotees now do not have more than few seconds. While he encountered financial challenges in the first part of his service waiting hours for those few devotees who would place some thattu kaasu, finding the right words to make devotees happy in the few seconds in front of the Lord was a completely new challenge he has come to terms with in the last 10-15 years. During this period, his finances have grown significantly and his focus in recent times has been to make those few moments devotionally memorable for the devotees

Tthe big financial turnaround in fortunes also led to other challenges, this time physical. Decades of standing in front of the Lord for long hours, eating at odd hours every day and the high stress of shouting out hour after hour in an effort to keep the devotees happy led to physical health related issues when he was into his 50s. A couple of years ago, he had to undergo a serious heart operation and was in bed for a few months. But he has come back now into the Moolavar Sannidhi with a new found devotional vibrancy.

The first decade or two of his service at the temple was financially very challenging and God posted a serious test to his devotional powers. While he did not come through the exams at School and exited early, this examination though a lot more severe has been enjoyable. It is one where he had to capture the hearts of both the Lord and the devotees and he realised very early on that one could not do that without devotion. He considers it a great blessing that God has given him the strength to stay through the course despite all the challenges, financial and otherwise, he had to encounter in life. 

It is possible to make a lot of money in life but the emotions of a presence for 50 years in the Moksham Sthalam on earth is truly a different experience. Providing a happy darshan to every single devotee and seeing their delightful faces every day of the life is an unmatched feeling. Saathaatha Vaishnava Raghuram has experienced that and is looking to spend the rest of his life at the feet of the Moolavar Lord at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. 

Uyyakondan Thirumalai Ujjevanathar

January 13, 2021, 4:53 am

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Saint Poets praised the Rock Temple as Thiru Karkudi

Located 7kms West of Uchi Pillayar Koil in Tiruchirapalli on the banks of Uyyakondan Canal is the Saint Poets praised Ujjevanathar Rock temple in Uyyakondan, one of the 27 temples administered by Dharmapuram Atheenam. The temple is built atop 30 feet rock. Around the rock is an equally tall square stone wall. Further away in the outer prakaram is another stone wall just as high as the other two. There are five prakarams in the temple. A new five tier Raja Gopuram was built about a decade ago as part of the renovation exercise undertaken by the Atheenam. 

Greenary all around in Sundarar’s Praise

Sundara Moorthy Nayanar who reached here from Venjamaa Koodal praised the location as on being full of greenery

கடியார் பூம் பொழில் சூழ்ந்து  திரு கற்குடி 

கரையார் சோலைகள் கந்தார் சோலைகள் காரார் பூம் பொழில் சூழ்

While high rise buildings have taken over around the temple, in the not so distant past one could get a glimpse of the greenery around Trichy and the over flowing Cauvery from atop the hill. 

Historical Name

Inscriptions dating back to the Chozha period refer to the Lord as Uchinathar, Uyyakondan nathar, Vizhumiyaar and Vizhumiya Devar and the location as Nandi Varma Mangalam. Sembian Maha Devi donated lands for Koil Pooja and refers to the canal as Vairamega Canal. 

It is from the well in the third prakara that water is brought for Abhisekams. Inscriptions dating back to the rule of Rajendra Chozha refer to donation of paddy made specifically for the conduct of Abhisekam on his birthday on Thiruvathirai. 

Karan Invoked Aalvadayar

At the foot of the rock temple is the Karan (Karan Dooshan of Ramayana period) invoked Aalvadayar temple while in the North East of the hill temple is the Idai Theerthavar Sannidhi.

In memory of Markandeya’s pooja at Uyyakondan invoking the blessings of Ujjevanathar to free him from the timing of his early death, there is a stone sculpture in front of Nataraja Sannidhi at this temple.

Thiru Gnana Sambandhar reached here from Thiru Mazhapaadi and sung praise of the Lord. Thirunavukarasar (Appar) came here after visiting Thiru Painjali and says that he found the Ambal here

காற்குடி கற்பகத்தை கண்ணார கண்டேன்  

Thai Poosam- Congregation of Lords

On the occasion of Thai Poosam, Ujjevanathar and Ambal make a trip to Somarasampettai with Vayalur’s Kumarar too joining them there for a grand celebration.

Uyyakonda Nayanar donated lands for the conducted of 12 day Utsavam in Vaikasi while Chaturvedi Mangalam Maha Sabha handed 10 kalam Paddy and lands for the conduct of the 4 day Vasantha Utsavam. Raja Raja Chozha donated lands for the conduct of daily pooja and jewels in Gold for festivals.

Panguni Brahmotsavam

There was also a donation of tax free land in Nerkundram for conduct of the pooja and the Panguni Utsavam. There is a specific reference to three Veli land given for the conduct of Uchi Kaala Pooja and celebration of one day during the Panguni Utsavam. South of the temple in the fourth prakaram is  Muthi Theertham, opposite which is the Vasantha Mandapam from where the Ujjevanathar departs on his vahana processions during the Brahmotsavam in Panguni. 

Land was also donated for the conduct of the Artha Jaama Pooja. 

Tunnel for War Times

The Trichy Gazette points to this temple being a Haven during war times in the 18th Century when war broke out between the French, English and the Mysore Kings. Some damage was caused to the huge walls in the shooting that took place from here. During that period, there was also a secret tunnel from the temple that served both as a hideout as well as an escape route. 

The temple is open from 8am to 12noon and from 5pm to 8pm. Contact Rajaram Gurukal @ 9790092887.

Thuvariman Rangaraja Perumal Temple

January 16, 2021, 8:40 pm

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Brindavanam of 40th Jeer of the Ahobilam Mutt at Thuvariman highlights his achievements

Street Procession of the Lord, Bhajanai in the Vibrant Agraharam and Thathiyaradhanai to several hundreds on Puratasi Saturday were special features at the temple on the banks of the once famous Kiruthumal River

Located just under 10kms West of Madurai enroute Sholavandan Janaka Narayana Perumal temple  and Kuruvi Thurai Ratha Vallabha Perumal (Guru) temple is the Rangaraja Perumal temple in Thuvariman at the foot of Nagamalai on the banks of Kiruthamal River. In the not so distant past, there was a vibrant agraharam with street processions of the Lord.

The construction of the temple

80 year old S Venkatraman says that his forefathers were original inhabitants of this historical agraharam “Our forefathers came from Dwaraka and settled down here several centuries ago.  When famine struck, God appeared in their dreams and asked them to build a Perumal temple.”

Street Procession

He recollects the years when the Lord used to go on a procession on the occasion of Sri Jayanthi “Following Homam and Thirumanjanam, the Lord used to go till the end of the agraharam that was full of traditionalists. On the occasion of Rama Navami, Homam was conducted at the temple with a Vedic Scholar reciting the Ramayana.”

Thathiyaradhanai on Puratasi Saturday

Till the 2nd half of the century gone by, Puratasi Saturdays witnessed big celebrations at the temple with the residents presenting Bhajanai carrying their own Harmonium presenting devotional songs through the long agraharam with lot of greenary around and one could see tall trees, some of which have survived the infrastructure developments around this region. On the 5th Saturday, Thathiyaradhanai was presented to several hundreds of devotees who gathered near the temple.

Margazhi Utsavam too is celebrated with Pongal distributed to residents every morning after the recital of Thiruppavai.

Kiruthumal- A once Famous River

It is in Thuvariman that one finds Naga Malai, one of the three historical hills of Madurai – the other two being Yaanai Malai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/yoga-narasimha-narasingam-madurai.html) and Pasu Malai. Venkatraman remembers the overflowing Kiruthumal River from his childhood days“The river originated from Thuvariman and used to flow wide and long through the city winding its way around Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam. Its legend dates back to the Matsya Avatharam.” (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/12/koodal-azhagar-pallandu-utsavam.html)

It is difficult to visualize that in the decades gone by, the river was so pure and clean that devotees had bath in the river “The 43rd Jeer of the Ahobilam Mutt had bath in the Kiruthumal River when he visited Thuvariman.”

However, with the rapid development of the city over the last couple of decades, the river has been polluted and contaminated and the possibility of a sacred bath before a visit to the temple and the Brindavanam has become a thing of the past. 

                                               

Brindavanam of 40th Jeer

Just adjacent to the temple on the banks of the Kiruthumal River is the Brindavanam of the 40th Jeer of the Ahobilam Mutt Sri Ranganatha Satakopa Yateendra Maha Desika who attained Paramapatham this week 98 years ago. 

The highlights of his achievements have been engraved on a stone plaque inside the Brindavanam at Thuvariman. These include driving away the ‘Brahmma Rakshasha at Ahobilam. Venkataraman says that not too many dared to visit the historical divya desam fearing the Rakshasha. It was the 40th Jeer who drove away the Brahmma Rakshasha and paved the way for devotees to visit Singavel Kundram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/ahobilam-temple-restoration.html). The Thiru Nakshatram of the 40th Jeer is celebrated in Thuvariman.

A Devotional Influence

Retired HOD (Sanskrit) of Madras University Professor Padmanabhan recalls the impact on a lady devotee who had visited the Thuvariman temple on her way from Dindigul to Madurai. She felt a sudden devotional wave had struck her after her presence at the temple and Brindavanam and in a trance scribbled something on a paper in Sanskrit. Interestingly, she did not know the language at all. Unable to fathom what she herself had written, she was directed to the Professor who much to his delight found that to be the Dhaniyan of the 40th Jeer of the Ahobilam Mutt. Such is the devotional influence of the Thuvariman temple on devotees.

Like with many other historical towns, the original inhabitants left Thuvariman and the agraharam about 50 years ago seeking greener pastures in bigger cities and very few traditionalists are left now. In recent decades, it is Venkaraman who has anchored improvements both at the temple as well as the Brindavanam. In the margazhi that has just gone by, residents from Thuvariman and nearby visited the temple early in the morning in good numbers listening to the Thiruppavai verse of the day. They also enjoyed the akkara vadisal that was presented on the 27th day of Margazhi. 

It is hoped that one day in the near future some of the original inhabitants will return to the once vibrant agraharam at Thuvariman and may be have bath in the cleaner and purer Kiruthumal River.

When in Thuvariman, visit Sholavandan https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/08/sholavandan-janaka-narayana-perumal.html and Kuruvi Thurai https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/08/chitra-ratha-vallabha-perumal-kuruvi.html

How to Reach

Thuvariman is just under 10kms from Madurai on the Arappalayam-Sholavandan road. Buses every 10 minutes from Periyar Bus Stand towards Thiru Vedagam/ Sholavandan. Auto from Madurai Junction  (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/01/madurai-junction-executive-lounge.html) will cost Rs.150.

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Musiri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple

January 23, 2021, 5:47 pm

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Devotional Revival at the Musukunda Chozha Period Temple with the arrival of a new priest 

Paravakottai Andavan spent the Pre Acharya years in the agraharam in Musiri

Chakkarathazhvaar consecrated today as part of his Centenary Celebrations

Located 35kms West of Srirangam Divya Desam on the Gunaseelam - Thottiyam highway is the Musukunda Chozhan period East Facing Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple in Musiri on the banks of Cauvery.

Chozha King's Presence here

On a return trip after his victory in one of the battles, Musukunda Chozha is believed to have stayed in Musiri during the month  of Aipasi and invoked the blessings of Lakshmi Narayana Perumal after having ‘Tula Snanam’ in Akanda Cauvery. In memory of his visit, this place came to be referred to as Musukunda Puri which over time has become ‘Musiri’.

Pre Acharya days of renouned Poundarikapuram Ashramam Head

It was here in the agraharam that Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Mahadesikan of the Poundarika Puram Ashramam spent the early decades of his pre acharya life as a Sanskrit Pundit and a librarian in the Govt Boys School in Musuri.

The current Trustee of the temple remembers the days when he was classmates at school with the current  Acharya of the ashramam.

It was from his house in the agraharam that Paravakottai Andavan walked away East towards Srirangam leaving his family behind.

The current trustee Ananda Theertham remembers his classmate letting out a huge cry on his father going away from the family but as is the process of those getting into Sainthood, he did not turn back that day and took the long 35kms walk to Srirangam.

It was Paravakottai Andavan who chalked out a clear set of aradhana krama for Lakshmi Narayana Perumal and the Utsavams to be conducted by presenting sacred verses in Sanskrit on the Perumal of Musiri. He also organised and presented a number of Kalakshepams here in Musiri.

An Exempted Temple

In 1929, the Rayar Family (another set of them manage the Koviladi Appa Kudathan Divya Desam) secured an official order for this temple to be categorized as an ‘Exempted’ Temple and to run the temple based on the hereditary rights of the Rayars (Gunaseelam Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple secured an order in 1932, following the order given to this temple) - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/02/gunaseelam-prasanna-venkatesa-perumal.html.

It was Pichumani’s (the well know Sthalathar of Gunaseelam) grandfather who performed aradhana at the Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple in Musiri all those decades ago.

From Corporate life to a remote temple archaka

Balaji Bhattar, with a MBA from St. Josephs Trichy had worked with WIPRO in the IT industry for a few years before the initiation from the current Head Paravakotyao Chinna Andavan (son of Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Maha Desikan) of the Poundarikapuram Ashramam to quit the high paying corporate job and to dedicate the rest of his life in service of the Lord. His wife and children too have been taking their lives in the direction of the Lord. His wife has a Masters in Prabhandham and is currently pursuing a PHD in Prabhandham while his two young sons are looking to assist their father in his day to day temple activities.

Festivals

Since the arrival of Balaji Bhattar, a number of the utsavams have been revived to its full glory. Thiruppavadai Sevai is being performed thrice a year – Laddu Thiruppavadai Sevai on the 16th day of Margazhi, Periya Thiruppavadai Sevai on Aani Moolam and Puliyodharai Thiruppavadai Sevai on the third Saturday of Puratsasi.

On each of the ten days of the Navarathri Utsavam, there is a special ‘dasavatharam’ alankaram with a Horse Vahana procession through the agraharam on the Vijayadasami day. There are historical stone carvings of Dasavatharam idols atop the Vimanam at this temple.

Lakshmi Narayana Perumal is adorned with Sandhana Kaapu on the Pongal day, while Laksha Archanai is performed through Margazhi with Parivettai Utsavam on Kanu.

On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, the Lord goes out on a procession through the agraharam on the Garuda Vahana.

Another day when he goes on a procession on the horse vahana is  the occasion of Panguni Uthiram.

Within three months of the temple performing a homam every Shravanam as directed by the current pontiff of the ashramam, a devotee from Madras offered an utsava Chakkrathazhvaar idol, the consecration of which is taking place today Sunday (January 24, 2021) in the presence of the current Head of the Ashramam as part of the Centenary celebrations of Paravakottai Andavan.

The Rayars are now building a Bhajanai Mandapam just next to the temple. There are plans to convert the huge area behind the temple into a mandapam where Kalyana Utsavam can be conducted in the future.

As has been the case with  a large number of temples under the HR & CE administration, the administration here too have found it difficult to secure income from the lessees of the 110 acre land that is under the temple’s possession. It is an ongoing battle that is likely to continue in the years to come.

Contact Balaji Bhattar @ 89035 54426

When here, visit 

Thottiyam Veda Narayana Perumal Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/01/thottiyam-veda-narayana-perumal-koil.html) - a few kms west of Musiri

and 

Arasalur Navaneetha Krishnan Perumal Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/09/navaneetha-krishnan-temple-arasalur.html) where too the priest quit a corporate banking job to dedicate his life to service to the Lord

Musiri Chandra Mouleeswarar Temple

January 23, 2021, 11:24 pm

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The financial plight of a long serving hereditary priest in a remote  HR & CE temple

He started with a monthly salary of Rs. 15 in 1975 that has now gone up to Rs. 750 after 45 years

Hereditary priest 63 year old Manicka Sundara Gurukal has been with the several centuries old Chandra Mouleeswarar temple in Musiri for 45 years. The temple comes under the control of HR & CE. After being initiated into the agamas at the Patshala in Thiruvayaru, he joined the temple in 1975 at a salary of Rs. 15. In the coming decades, the salary increased to Rs. 25 per month and then to Rs. 50 and Rs. 100. In the decades gone by there were several service personnel at the temple. But as with many remote temples in the state under the HR & CE, the low salary proved to be a deterrent and others made their way out seeking greener pastures elsewhere and he has been serving almost alone at the temple.

The temple has 14 acres of Nanjai land but the income is not accruing into the temple resulting in the priest remaining to be grossly underpaid after several decades. Despite the abysmally low salary, he has not explored other financially lucrative options for this has been a temple historically served by his forefather and he has seen it as his duty to continue to serve Chandra Mouleeswarar and Karpoora Valli Ambal till the end of his life.

A different tale at the Trustees run Perumal Temple

Half a Kilometer South of this temple is Musukonda Chozha period Laksmi Narayana Perumal Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/01/musiri-lakshmi-narayana-perumal-temple.html), one where the hereditary Trustees, the Rayar, secured an order in 1929 to run it as an 'Exempted' temple. The trustees there are paying a salary to the priest there that is several multiples to the one paid at this Saivite HR & CE run temple.

With the financial challenges at the temple, his son Parameshwaran has now taken up a job as a Sanskrit teacher in Trichy while the father continues to be at the temple everyday of the year.

                    Current State of the AMBAL SANNIDHI

Mid Way halt to the Restoration Exercise

In addition to the financial challenges, there are other issues he has to encounter. With a few sannidhis in dilapidated condition and a mandapam having collapsed, the temple has been undertaking restoration of these. But after the district committee cleared the restoration the state committee has put the repair  works of the sannidhis and the damaged Vahana mandapam on hold half way into the exercise and the priest has had to face the wrath of the devotee donors for no fault of his. There are not many to take up his cause and find justice for the over four decades of his dedicate service at the temple.

This section had featured a story on the restoration issues that remote temples have been facing in the last few years following the direction by the Madras High Court to route all restoration cases through a six member panel. The panel has faced many issues and that has resulted in the number of restoration cases falling drastically (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/02/renovation-issues-in-tn-temples.html)  in remote temples with restoration applications pending clearance for many years.

After 45 years, he is now paid a salary of Rs. 750 per month.

The temple where Chandran performed pooja to liberate himself from Dakshan’s curse is now in bad shape with restoration work in multiple sannidhis having come to a halt and questions raised by the donors.

The priest continues to perform his service in as sincere a way as possible with Thai Poosam and Shasti Utsavams being two celebratory occasions at the temple. Devotees born on Mrigaseesha star visit the temple and invoke the blessings of Ambal Karpoora Valli. 

The Temple was improved upon by Vijayanagar and Nayak Kings. One finds several inscriptions inside the temple, many of which in bad condition.A stone sculpture just outside the Swami Sannidhi of a service personnel indicates the contribution of the Nayaks to this temple.

Manicka Sundara Gurukal's case is a reflection of the stark reality of long serving priests in historical remote temples. It is on behalf of such priests that Periya Nambi Narasimha Gopalan of Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannar Koil, near Ambasamudram filed a case in 2018 for fair wages for priests in remote temples in Tamil Nadu (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/04/mannar-koil-bhattar-priest-salary-case.html). The High Court verdict is still awaited in that case.

It is hoped that one day the unflinching devotional service of Manicka Sundara Gurukal will be rewarded.

The temple is open from 7am to 12noon and 5pm to 8.30pm. Contact Gurukal @ 94435 15974.

Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal Temple Mylapore

January 24, 2021, 11:06 pm

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Trustees, Patrons, Archakas, Vedic & Prabhandham Scholars and Devotees have contributed to the development of the temple that will soon celebrate the Centenary of the Consecration of the Perumal and Thayar Idols

In the summer of 1924, brothers Srinivasan Iyengar and Gopalan Iyengar (the grandfather of former Ranji Cricketer and MD of The Hindu K Balaji - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-blossoming-cricket-career-was-cut.html) made a generous financial contribution to the consecration of the Perumal and Thayar Idols at the Vedantha Desikar temple in Mylapore that was acknowledged in the speech by A Rangaswamy, the then Editor of the Swadesha Mitran on the Mandalabhisekam day end of July of that year. As an initial contribution made in memory of their father Kasturi Ranga Iyengar, the first Chairman of the Electoral Board, they donated Rs. 1000 towards the consecration. Over the following decades, The Hindu’s family members have been closely associated with the temple and the conduct of the utsavams. Till the middle of the 20th century, The Hindu family would bring bullock cart loads of Homam items and provisions for Thathiyaaraathanai for the utsavams at the temple including for the Pavitrotsavam which has been one of the grandest utsavams at the temple. It originally began as a three day Utsavam, expanded to five days and then for the last several decades has been a seven day utsavam with a Maha Poornahati on the final evening.

The Hindu family’s early contribution

The Mandalabhisekam on July 27 1924 was attended in the morning by large number of devotees. Anchored by Rajam Bhattar of Devaraja Perumal Temple, Kanchipuram (Conjeevaram), the ceremony was conducted as per the Pancharatra agama,  reported The Hindu in a city page story that week.

That afternoon, Rangaswamy emphasised, in a short and lucid speech, the importance of the shrine in satisfying the legitimate religious requirements (of having a Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi at the Vedantha Desikar Temple) of a large section of the people in Madras and prayed for the young people in the locality to live up to the high Hindu ideals of devotion to one’s deity and religious tolerance.

While the consecration of Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi took place in 1924, the Vedantha Desikar Temple itself is said to be over 300 years old.

On that Mandalabhisekam day, special reference was made to the contributions of the members of the Vembakkam community including the late V Bashyam Iyengar’s family, VC Seshachariar, members of the late V Desikachariar’s family and Justice VV Srinivasa Iyengar, who was also the President of the Electoral Board that year.

In that speech, Rangaswamy thanked the generous contribution made by Srinivasan and Gopalan Iyengar of The Hindu. This speech was followed by a lecture by Ananthachariar of Pachaiappas College who extolled the greatness of Srinivasa Perumal.

An announcement was made that day that an Endowment fund of Rs. 4000 was being planned for the  maintainence of the temple and contributions from the general public was sought for this purpose. 

Grand Procession of Perumal, Pey Azhvaar and Desikar

The Hindu reported that on the evening of July 27, there was a grand procession of Srinivasa Perumal, Pey Azhvaar and Vedantha Desikar around the four Mada Streets. Late in the evening, Araiyar Srinivasarangachariar of Srivilliputhur presented Abhinaya of Krishna Leela, one that went on well into the night (the grand father of Srinivasarangachariar who this writer had featured earlier this decade in The Hindu Friday Review and on this blog - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/araiyar-srinivasachariyar-srivilliputhur.html).

A Swamyam Vyaktha Perumal Idol!!!

N Sowmyan, who retired a couple of decades ago as AGM of United India Insurance, was a trustee for three years in the late 1990s. Born in 1901, his father Nelvoy Narasimhachar was in his late 20s when he was roped in as a priest within years of consecration of the Srinivasa Perumal and Alarmel Mangai Thayar sannidhi and served at the temple for over three decades till the 1960s. Sowmyan recalls the story narrated to him by his appa almost 70 years ago ‘When the devotees of the Vedantha Desikar temple were keen on the installation of idols of Perumal and Thayar, the then trustees sought the services of the sculptor on Kallukaran street (that was behind the Thanithurai market and the now Mundakanni Amman MRTS station). Much to his delight when he dug up a pit to start his work he heard the noise of strong stone and found the idol in perfect condition. In that sense, I would say our Srinivasa Perumal is a Swayam Vyaktha idol.”

A Scheme Temple from 1908

In April 1908, the Madras High Court promulgated a scheme to govern this temple (with the dominance of the Thenkalayars at that time, it is likely that a dispute between the two sects led to a battle in the court that resulted in the regulation as a Scheme temple) with a board of trustees and that is how it has been for well over a century.

Sowmyan says that the entire zone around the Vedantha Desikar temple was a Betal Nut field owned by the Naidus who were predominantly Thenkalayars.

Electoral Board and the First Trustees

A Vadakalai association was formed where any Vadakalai could become a member. Through a democratic voting system, these members elect a board of 11 members referred to as the Electoral Board which then selects three members as trustees of the temple for a period of five years. In the meeting convened on May 18, 1908, Kasturi Ranga Iyengar of The Hindu was elected as the Chairman of the Electoral Board. T Srinivasa Iyenga was appointed as the Secretary to the Board. C Sesha Iyengar, V Sesha Chariar and L Narayanaswamy Mudaliar were appointed as the Trustees to the temple with A Varadarajan Iyengar as Auditor of the accounts of the temple.

Veda Parayana Sabha-1905

Set up in 1905. the Veda Parayana Sabha has been organizing Thathiyaaraadhanai and Sambavanai during the big utsavams over the last century. The complete Vedas are recited thrice in a year while the Divya Prabhandham is presented in full a dozen times every year.

The initial decades after the consecration

94 year old K Raman, former MD of Best & Crompton, was born 2 years after the consecration of the Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi. His father KS Krishnaswamy, who was a Judge in the Madras High Court, later became the Chief Justice of the Cochin High Court. He served as the President of the Electoral Board and also as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Raman recalls the first decade after the consecration “In that initial phase of development, Justice VV Srinivasa Iyengar, The Hindu's Kasturi Gopalan and my appa were the three who took great interest in the development of the temple.”

He remembers the efforts taken by Kasturi Gopalan when there were issues regarding securing the sacred water from the tank “When another temple refused water from ‘their’ tank, Kasturi Gopalan, who always wore a traditional attire and was an ardent devotee of this temple, went to the extent of building an exclusive sacred tank in his own property.”

K Balaji, grandson of Gopalan Iyengar, remembers the tank from his childhood days in the 1950s and 60s"It was a 65ftx75ft tank and for a long time, in those decades, the tank was brimming with water that sometimes went up to the steps especially in years when there was a bountiful monsoon."

Traditional way of Aradhanam

Way back in the 1920s, Gopalan Iyengar offered a large hearted instant solution when the temple found it a challenge to secure sacred water. Almost nine decades later, well water continues to be used for Thiru Aradhanam at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple while in many of the historical temples in the state, taps have been set up near the Moolavar Sannidhi. A few years ago, when there was severe water shortage, the archakas brought well water from Andavan Ashramam for Thiru Aradhanam. 

Sowmyan’s father had told him that Kasturi Gopalan Iyengar had played a crucial role in the consecration, both in terms of active participation in the celebration as well as making a significant contribution financially "While a formal corpus was not created, it was Gopalan Iyengar who was instrumental in creating adequate finances for the daily Thiru Aradhanam and providing rice and milk everyday to the temple." 

In that first decade, Kasturi Gopalan presented a Thirumangalyam for Moolavar Thayar, a Swarna sacred thread for Perumal with a Pavitram Knot and Vattil for Perumal and Vedantha Desikar. Right from that period, The Hindu family have been presenting Oil and Ghee Tins to light the lamp at the temple, a process that has continued till today.  Later S Rangarajan, son of Kasturi Srinivsan, presented a Velli Padmam for Moolavar Thayar.

Priest for three decades

Nelvoy Narasimhachariar was a Vedic scholar who studied in Madurantakam. Thiru Kosthiyur Sowmya Narayanan was a teacher there. Impressed with the commitment of the young boy, he handed his daughter in marriage to him. Interestingly, he continued the initiation of his now ‘son in law’ in the Vedas. 

Soon after, Narasimhachariar became an archaka at the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi of Poundarakipuram Ashramam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/01/musiri-lakshmi-narayana-perumal-temple.html) on the East Uthira Street in Srirangam. He was not particularly keen to move out of Srirangam and into a city based environment. However, his father in law who spoke to the then trustee VV Srinivasa Iyengar pushed him into making the move to Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore.

Two decades later, his salary at the temple was Rs. 8 and the entire amount was taken away as rent for the quarters given by the temple. Sowmyan recalls with great delight that despite this, there were no financial constraints at any point in his childhood in the 1940s and 50s “Prasadam was handed out in large quantities to the archakas as part of their daily share. In addition, devotees who were pleased with the devotional rendering of archakas placed good amount of money in the Thattu.”

90 year old Vimala Rangaswamy, mother of TT Srinivasaraghavan (Sundaram Finance's MD who last week announced his retirement from the company), spent her childhood years in Nadu Street in Mylapore (opposite the Kapaleeswarar temple). Her father ANS Raghavan too had made contributions to the temple in the early years.

She recalls the temple as being very small in those years in the late 1930s "My appa was a traditionalist and a disciple of Vedantha Desikar. The temple in Mylapore was the only one dedicated to our acharya and hence this was particularly close to his heart. He would take me to the temple frequently in my school days (National Girls High School). He used to contribute to the development of the temple and the conduct of the utsavams but would not share the specifics of these even to the family members as he always believed that one should not publicise such contributions to temples.”

"As a school girl, I remember the committed service of Nelvoy Narasimhachar. He was a very sincere archaka and devotees used to like the way he performed the archaka service at the temple.”

75 years of Sripadham

In 1946, Sripadham Kainkarya Association was formed as an exclusive group of Sri Vaishnavas engaged in the service of carrying the Lord during processions in all festivals of the Temple. This year will mark the completion of 75 years of their selfless service. During the big utsavams, the Sripadham and the Madapalli personnel slept within the temple complex so as to begin their service early the next morning such has been their commitment at the temple.

The fire that damaged the dwarapalakas

Around 70 years ago on the Deepavali day, the temple was gutted by a fire arising out of the bursting of crackers. A huge pandal had been put up for three utsavams - Desikar Utsavam, Pavitrotsavam and the Adyayana Utsavam. The Pandal that was put up ahead of the Desikar Utsavam would stay on till the end of the Adayayana Utsavam. 

Fire service personnel doused the fire but in the heat that had been generated the dwarapalakas had been completely damaged. It was the archakas who slogged over the next month to collect enough ammunition to rebuild the dwarapalakas. Sowmyan was physically present on the day of the fire and distinctly remembers the period that followed the fire “After the closure of the temple at 11am, my appa would carry a large gunny bag (sack) and visit every house in Mylapore asking if they had any old brass vessels to hand out. Soon there was a heap of vessels. It was from the collection of these old vessels that the idols were rebuilt.”

A Heavy Horse Vahana from Malabar Teak Wood

It was in the 1950s under the trusteeship of Advocate NR Raghavachar that Vahanas were built and Brahmotsavam launched. The key differentiator in that period was that the archakas saw this as their own temple and that reflected in the way they performed aradhana and almost lured the residents into devotion.

It was Krishnaswamy who handed the Horse Vahana to the temple in the 1950s. K Raman recalls the quality of the Vahana “It was my appa who presented the first Horse Vahana that was so heavy it required over 20 Sri Patham personnel to carry it in processions. He sourced the teak from Kerala and the Vahana was built with Cochin Malabar Teak. Kasturi Gopalan presented a number of Vahanas during that period.”

A Great Moment – Raksha Bandanam for the first Brahmotsavam

Soolai Srinivasachar (Rajamani Bhattar) passed away end of last month at the age of 89. His wife Pankaja, who had moved to the temple’s quarters in the agraharam soon after her marriage in the mid 1950s, recalls with devotional tears the first Brahmotsavam at the temple within years of her wedding “My father in law (Soolai Raghavachar) had returned from Pushkaram and had been serving at this temple over the previous decade when the trustee of the time asked him to lead the first Brahmotsavam at the temple with Raksha Bandanam. It was also the time my husband joined the temple as an archaka at the age of 25.”

Over the next four decades, Rajamani Bhattar worked with five different sets of priests at the temple before he retired 15 years ago. The decades starting the 1960s saw the commencement of something new at the temple and devotees specifically came to the temple seeking that. It was a phase that saw the special devotional presentation of Sahasranama Archanai with a Raagam that captured the devotional attention of the visitors.

While his archanai style was unique, he also drew devotees with his Thiru Aradhanam and Alankaram something that Vimala Rangaswamy vividly remembers “He was one of a kind archaka. His alankaram of Perumal and Thayar was very special. Devotees would gather at the temple specifically to see the alankaram of the day, especially during the big utsavams. He would pay attention to minute details in the entire alankaram process. And it was always a delight for the devotees to have darshan of the Lord once the screen opened for devotees.”

 

His son Navalapakkam Ranganathan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/02/navalpakkam-ranganathan.html) is proud to have received feedback from devotees belonging to different generations that such a sweet recital had not been experienced before his father’s entry and not in the last 15years after his retirement.

Voyali during Desikar Satrumurai

A distinguishing feature at the temple has been the Voyali on the final day of the Desikar Utsavam that continues to this day. There have been times when Thiru Kudanthai Andavan has made a trip to specifically enjoy the Voyali of the Sri Patham.  Devotees gather in large numbers to watch the Voyali along the agraharam.

Thaligai in large quantities

Another special feature at the temple in those decades was the presentation, in large quantities, of Puliyodharai on Vedanta Desikar Satru Murai night. Devotees would bring big boxes to carry home the prasadam. Similarly Kadambam and Dhadhyonam in large quantities was a feature in Anna Kooda utsavam that followed immediately after Deepavali.

The Devotee Connect 

By the 1960s the temple had become well established with huge tracts of lands firmly in its control. Almost the entire Venkatesa Agraharam and Alamelu Mangapuram belonged to the temple, donated in centuries gone by, by well wishers of the Vedantha Desikar Temple. The focus then turned to Abaranams and Vessels for Perumal and Thayar and improving the Madapalli

TS Santhanam's Family - Presence at temple 

81 year old S Ram, Chairman, Wheels India Ltd., and Director at Sundaram Finance Ltd., (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/tvs-ram-s-cricketer.html) recalls his father TS Santhanam being an ardent devotee of the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal Temple “My father was a regular at the temple from the 1950s and he used to take me along when I was a school boy. From those early years, all of us in the family would visit the temple on the occasion of our birthdays and thus we made several visits to the temple each year from the 50s. This tradition continued for several decades.” 

“It was my appa’s view that the utsavams should continue to be conducted uninterrupted through the succeeding generations and he was particular that the dedicated archakas of the temple and the Vedic and Prabhandham Scholars should be taken care of, financially.” 

“We have been actively participating and contributing to the Pavitrotsavam, Vedantha Desikar Utsavam, Sankranthi Utsavam and the fourth day of the Brahmotsavam.” 

In recent years, the larger Sundaram Group companies have made substantial contribution to the renovation exercises.

60 years ago, there was a discussion about the requirement of an baranam for the Lord. When Madabhushi Sudharshan’s wife overheard the conversation as she made her way down the steps, in an instant moment she handed the Oddiyanam around her hip. It was with the proceeds from that that a new Kreedam was made for Srinivasa Perumal.

Over three decades later, when all the jewels were stolen in the Pongal week in the late 1990s, Gomathi (now a sub collector) a long time devotee, who saw Alarmel Mangai Thayar without a single Abaranam, burst into tears and immediately returned with an earring and nose ring after purchasing these from the North Mada Street. By the time the old jewels were recovered, the archakas had secured three times the lost jewels from the devotees within a fortnight with archaka Devanathan playing an important part in this process. Such has been the connect with the devotees at this temple.

87 year old Kamala Kasturi, wife of legendary Editor of The Hindu, G Kasturi, recalls her mother in law Ranganayaki (wife of Gopalan Iyengar) presenting adornments to Alarmel Mangai Thayar.

Principal revokes the suspension order

An event at the Loyola College while he was in the intermediate led K Raman to the Srinivasa Perumal Sannidhi in 1944. That turned into a weekly devotional visit and continued for well over the next six decades “While I was trying out an experiment in the Chemistry lab, ‘elements’ tried to turn Father Murphy against me and I was rusticated for three years. I was directed by my appa to visit Srinivasa Perumal and invoke his blessings. And the order was revoked. And I turned into a full time devotee of this temple.”

84 year old Natteri Parthasarathy has been associated with the temple for six decades. A Vedic Scholar, who underwent Vedic education in Madurantakam, he has been presenting Vedic Recital at the temple since 1960. He has been the head of the Veda Parayana Sabha and on the Electoral Board during this period. He fondly remembers the generous contributions of leading industrialists and corporate personalities of the time “Over five decades ago, Padma Santhanam, wife of legendary automan TS Santhanam handed to the sannidhi a number of silver vessels.  Later, TT Rangaswamy (father of TTS) presented several pithalai vessels to the Madapalli of the temple.” 

Great Archaka Partnership in the 70s and 80s

Rajamani Bhattar forged a great partnership with Azhisoor Srinivasachariar (he joined the temple in the early 70s) through the 1970s and 80s. Throughout the decades of his service at the temple, he was clean with his food habits that came into public focus on the Poornahathi day in one of the Pavitrotsavams few decades ago. 

Pankaja remembers the day when she saw the real devotion of her husband and his attachment to Srinivasa Perumal “After he fell down near the Madapalli, everyone at the temple tried to convince him to eat, but he refused to drink even a glass of milk till the Utsavam concluded the next morning at 4am and had his first food 7 hours later at around 11am after Thirumanjanam.” 

Samprokshanam in the 1970s- The Biggest renovation in 50 years

Soon after Azhisoor Srinivasachariar took charge, the temple saw its biggest renovation in over half a century, led by Trustee Varadarajan. Till the 1970s, the Perumal and Thaayar were close to each other separated only by a wall. It was a completely different scenario till the early 70s at the temple. The location where one now finds the Ramanuja Sannidhi had been the madapalli for several decades. The Azhvaars were seen just behind the Perumal/ Thaayar Sannidhi where one now finds the Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi. Ramar Sannidhi was North of the Perumal Sannidhi (Azhvaars sannidhi now). 

It was during that renovation that separate sannidhis were built for Rama (contributed by VD Ramaswamy Iyengar (Bashyam Iyengar’s family)), Ramanuja, Chakkarathazhavar with Madapalli being taken out to a different location east of the temple.  It was Azhisoor Srinivasachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/t-srinivasachariar-raghava-simham-press.html) who anchored the mega samprokshanam of the new look temple in 1975. He told this writer last month that the conduct of the Samprokshanam remains one of the most cherished accomplishments of his life.  

Originally the temple’s main entrance was further West in front of Vedantha Desikar Sanndhi. It was only later did the current entrance come up. Earlier the Veda Parayanam team comprised of only Vaishnavites. It is only in the recent past that Smarthas too been added to the Veda Parayanam team.

Computerisation in the late 1990s

It was during the trusteeship of Sowmyan that Computerisation was introduced at the temple for the first time. When he made a point to GK Raman the then MD of Sundaram Finance Ltd., he sent three desktops and two printers before Sowmyan returned to the temple that evening. It was also GKR who Sowmyan met when the temple was planning to construct a new chariot. Instantly he called the senior Wodeyar (Ramachandra Medical College) and asked Sowmyan to meet him. And this resulted in Wodeyar signing off a big cheque towards the construction of the chariot. GKR too made a sizeable contribution from Sundaram Finance for the construction of the chariot that now runs during the Brahmotsavam.

The development has been huge in the last few decades. From just one hundi and a couple of service personnel to multiple hundis and a battalion of service personnel, the temple has really grown on the back of the huge devotional wave that has struck temples in recent years. Descendants of The Hindu family such as K Balaji, Nalini Krishnan, Nirmala Lakshman and Vijaya Arun (Vaikunta Ekadasi Muthangi as well as Rathnangi) and those in the Sundaram Group have been continuing to support the temple financially and otherwise in recent decades.

Jayaakya Samhita

In the Pancharatra Agama, this temple follows Jayaakya Samhita, one of the rare karmas out of the 100. In most temples, ‘Padmam’ system is followed while this is one of the few temples in the country to follow this Samhita.  It has been such devotional commitment of the priests for several decades from the 1920s that has helped create a positive vibration at the temple

Delighted at the Transformation 

Vimala Rangaswamy is delighted at the transformation the temple has seen “In my childhood years in the 1930s, this was a small temple with Desikar Utsavam as the main festival of the year. The Samprokshanam that took place a few years back and the grand celebrations of utsavams round the year are symbolic of the great development the temple has seen over the decades. It is almost unrecognizable from what I had seen eight decades ago except for the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi.”

Former trustee Sathyanarayanan passed away a few years ago. But before his sudden demise, he played a stellar role as a trustee in recovering many of the properties that had gone out of temple’s decades in earlier decades. In recent times, a residential quarters has been built for the service personnel and last month Venkatesa Theertham was opened on a property belonging to the temple overcoming pressure from the powers that be who were keen on the property being handed over to them with the intention of providing such services to the mid and lower income people.

Srihari - Creating the next gen of Prabhandham members

The transformation at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple is symbolised in the way the Prabhandham Ghosti has been presenting the sacred verses during the utsavams over the last decade or so. Pankaja Srinivasachar recalls the long row of Vedic Scholars that would go into the East Street in the 1960s “In those years the Vedic Scholars clearly outnumbered the adyapakas. There were over 50 Vedic Scholars presenting the four Vedas during the Pavitrotsavam, Brahmotsavam, Desikar Utsavam and Adyayana Utsavams.”

Natteri Parthasarathy’s son Srihari (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/11/srihari-parthasarathy-prabhandham.html) has been instrumental in creating the next generation of Divya Prabhandham members in large numbers over the last 25 years. A Deputy Editor at the Sports Desk of The Hindu, he would return home well after 1am after ‘making’ the sports pages but for over two decades he has been at the temple at 6am in the morning to initiate the young students into the sacred verses. If there is a vibrant Prabhandham Ghosti today at the temple that easily outnumbers the Veda Parayanam members, almost the entire credit goes to the tireless effort of Srihari.  He is now into the third batch of Prabhandm students, an initiative started way back in 1996. He has ensured that for the next several decades, there are enough Prabhandham experts at the temple to take forward the presentation especially during the large utsavams when the entire 4000 verses are recited.

Kalli B Kalyanasundaram Selector Match Referee Director Advisor

January 25, 2021, 11:04 am

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A Glorious Second Innings in Cricket 

A non confrontational personality, he has been a role model as a fast bowler and set benchmarks as a Match Referee 

The un-fancied Temple town ‘boy’ from Kumbakonam found glory for himself as a star fast bowler amidst two spin legends of TN cricket in the late 60s and 70s, and in his second innings in cricket has been a Selector, Match Referee, Director and Advisor

                                            This 'little' young Kalli

(Just under a decade ago, this section featured a story on Kalli the Cricketer. This one looks at his 2nd innings in cricket- https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/08/kalli-b-kalyanasundaram.html)

In the second half of the 2000s, two major events unfolded in the TNCA relating to two former Ranji cricketers - One from the 1980s, Southpaw R Madhavan, who returned to Madras after almost 15 years in Dubai and another from the 1960s and 70s, ‘hat trick’ man B Kalyanasundaram, who had just retired after almost two decades at N Sankar’s Sanmar Group. Both had been away from cricket for a large part of their professional career and were handed the post of a Selector almost immediately after they ‘announced’ their availability to be re-associated with TN cricket. The two have had very contrasting mix of fortunes with the TNCA. While the former quit very early (interference in his role being one of the reasons and non- payment of a fee for the professional role and time being another) and has had minimal association with cricket since, the latter understood the internal complexities of the TNCA and hung on just as he had during his playing days. It’s been a glorious second innings in cricket. Here’s the story of Kalyanasundaram’s model of breaking through the shackles and achieving success against all odds.

Fighting against Personal Tragedy 

Right from his childhood, Kalyanasundaram has been one who has had to fight against the tide, quite literally in his teenage days. As a school boy, he spent a lot of his free time swimming in the then over flowing Cauvery of the 1950s and 60s in Kumbakonam. But tragedy struck early in his life as he lost his parents by the time he was into his teens (his mother Savithri when he was just nine and his father, Balasubramanyam, a lawyer who was practising in Kumbakonam, when he was sixteen). These sudden turn of events led him to focus entirely on academics, far away from cricket (sometime in the future, this section will explore a feature on another successful personality who too lost his parents by the time he was 16). 

Amma Savithri with Kumbakonam Lawyer Appa Balasubramanyam

After a short stint at St. Joseph’s college, Trichy, he moved to the reputed REC Calicut for his Engineering (an indication of his outstanding performance in academics). Despite being short in structure, his pace (strength gathered from his swimming years in Kumbakonam), was overwhelming for the Keralites and he found his way into the Kerala Ranji Team during his college days, within a few years of his entry into serious cricket driven by strong performances including in the then popular Tripanathura Pooja tournament. His performances were so overwhelming that 55 years later, the Keralites invited him last month to share his Calicut success story which he did to the who's who of Kerala cricket. He performed exceedingly well in his first year in first class cricket. 

Kerala U25 Team 1965-66 under the captaincy of SK Nair

Soon after his graduation, he came to Madras and experienced real city life for the first time in his life when he reached State Capital in the summer of 1967, the period when N Sankar (later Sanmar Group) returned to the city after his Masters in the US and began his active stint in running cricket that has now lasted over five decades. 

Experiencing Cricket in a Metro 

Kalyanasundaram joined Jai Hind in the second division for a year (he was a bit disappointed at a Ranji player being asked to play 2nd division) as per the instructions of N Sankar before playing for a decade for Jolly Rovers, a period when he worked under KS Narayanan at India Cements. It was also a period when he enjoyed huge success with the TN Ranji team despite being in the shadows of the legendary spin twins S Venkataraghavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/venkataraghavan75.html) and VV Kumar. He had to showcase himself as a fast bowler in the few overs he got with the new ball and a bit later with the old ball when Venkat and VVK took a short break. Tales of Kalli itching to grab the ball in Ranji matches when there was no breakthrough for a long time is legendary but he or his teammates went to Venkat to suggest handing the ball to the fast bowler. Almost 50 years after the event ( Kalli took a Hat Trick in the Ranji Final but TN was bundled out in the fourth innings by Bombay), Sunil Gavaskar still refers to him as ‘The Hat Trick’ man, such was the impact of his bowling in that period in the late 1960s and early 70s. 

                        Rakesh Tandon-  One of the Hat trick victims TN v Bombay Final 72-73

In the second half of the 70s, as he moved towards the end of his first class career and with the possibility of a place in the Indian team becoming remote (had he been handed more overs at his peak for TN, he may have bettered his chances of making his way into the Indian team, but Venkat and VV Kumar dominated the bowling. Despite this, he was on the verge of Indian selection but did not get the break and made his way to Coimbatore to join LMW (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/04/domesticindia-cricket-matches-1979-1983.html) where he worked for a decade. Well into his 30s, playing for LMW in the first division league, he gave Ranji Cricketers of the day such as NP Madhavan and S Srinivasan a run for their money. Health reasons as well as his sons’ education led him to return to Madras and surprisingly once again he worked with Sankar this time professionally at the Sanmar Group. By the time he moved to Chemplast in the 2nd half of the 1980s, he had already donned the role of a district representative in the Ranji Panel. But soon after he returned to Madras, he was out of the State Panel with the tag of district representative no more applicable to him.

Decades away from Cricket 

For a large part of two decades, after he joined Chemplast, Kalyanasundaram stayed out of TN cricket surprising including within Jolly Rovers for whom he had played an important role in the success in the 60s and 70s. His only connect with cricket was when he went with Sankar to watch matches in the city especially when VB Chandrasekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/01/vb-chandrasekar.html)  was batting (VBC was a special favourite of Sankar in the few years that he played for Chemplast). Through this period, Kalyanasundaram’s focus was on professional work, where he rose to the position of VP at the time of his retirement in 2006. 

Role Model for youngsters - Ever Motivating 

Former Ranji cricketer and a match referee for the last decade, S Sharath ( https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/sharath-s-tn-crickets-atg.html ) remembers the teenaged days of his cricket at Chemplast in the early 1990s “On many days, when I climbed the stairs of the Chemplast office, he would wish me with a motivational talk which would be on the lines of ‘you should score a big hundred in the next match. You have the potential and should capitalize and go on to get big runs.’ I was in college then and these words coming from such a legend were very inspiring for me. And I remembered it every time I went to bat..” 

Interestingly, almost two decades later, when Kalli was a state selector, he came and watched Sharath bat in a first division league match when ATG of TN cricket was on the wrong side of the 30s and had retired from first class cricket. Sharath remembers the words that day from Kalli that was just as inspiring as the one in the early 90s “I scored a century that day. He came up to me at the end of the day and said “Even now, the best of attacks in the state cannot get your wicket. It was a priceless comment and I cherish it to this day. He is a great motivator for all cricketers and his communication is crystal clear.” 

His boss at the Sanmar Group, N Sankar, who turned 75 in November last,(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/jolly-rovers-n-sankar-75.html) has high words of praise for Kalli “I can certainly certify that when he worked for our company, he was a dedicated, loyal employee. He was primarily with the Purchase Department, and worked on many of our projects and regular purchases.”

Back to cricket after two decades 

Much like R Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/10/r-madhavan-tn-cricketer-1980s.html), Kalyanasundaram came back after a longish break from cricket. In fact, over the last decade, in his interactions with this writer, he has often reiterated his ‘ignorance’ of the happenings in TN cricket in the 1990s and the early 2000s for he was completely focused on carrying out his duties at the work place. 

Soon after his retirement at the Sanmar Group, he was roped in by the TNCA as a Selector in the U17/ U19 segment. Another player with his cricketing credentials may have been hurt to be given an age group post but Kalli is philosophical looking back at being handed the post in the U17 category “I had not been involved with TNCA cricket for almost two decades. Hence, it was logical that I start from scratch.” 

And that is exactly what he did. For a couple of years, he went and watched every round of matches in the U17 and U19 segments to get a feel of the talent that was coming up at that time in TN. In the years that followed, he also went around the State to watch cricketers in the age group category across almost all cricket playing districts in Tamil Nadu in an exhaustive talent hunting exercise. 

Over the last decade, he has repeatedly stated his view to this writer that being chosen as an official of the TNCA is something one has to see with pride, almost an equivalent of wearing the state cap (from his playing days). He did not get paid much for playing for the State in the 60s and 70s and his entire stint of 7years as a Selector was honorary without any remuneration “When there were hundreds of top notch cricketers available at their disposal, TNCA in its wisdom thought it fit to hand me a particular responsibility (a Selector’s post). Should I not consider it a matter of pride that they reposed their faith in me of doing a (bloody) good job of discharging my duty to the best of my ability?” 

And then following the sudden resignation of Madhavan as the Chairman of the TN Selection committee, Kalyanasundaram made the leap into the State (Ranji) panel from the age group category. Shortly after, he became the Chairman of the TN Selection Committee. 

Deft Handling of the TNCA 

The processes in the TNCA have always been complex and would be difficult for the common cricket fan to understand. For example, way back in 1987, when S Vasudevan (the current Chairman of TN Selection Committee) - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/vasudevan-tn-ranji-trophy-retirement.html - took over the captaincy of Tamil Nadu (the team went on to win the Ranji Trophy that season), he was simply handed the playing XI by the Selectors of the time on the morning of the first match he captained. Such was the scenario prevailing at the time (it is another matter that he did not agree on that XI handed out to him and made a change). For long, there has been a debate on the role of the selectors in the playing XI. 

Over the last decade or so, coaches have become an integral part of the selection process and they have had their say in the players that they would like in the squad (prior to the selection meeting). Similarly, it has been a given that the TNCA too has had its say in selection matters and that is not new either. In addition to all of these, it is well known in the cricketing circles that the individual clubs in the TNCA and former cricketers too have wielded their influence on the selection committee in various ways. 

Jolly Rovers, Madras - That great Master KR Rajagopal bottom righ

 Through the entire period of his regime as the Chairman, he deftly managed these complexities of the TNCA. To Kalyanasundaram’s credit, right from the days as a selector in the age group category, he has been one who has been present in the grounds to watch the league (and the age group) matches. In those years, one often heard the remark in the cricketing circles - ‘this man really does justice to his role’. Even when a strong personality such as the late VB Chandrasekar became the coach of the TN team (he was sacked within the first year by a ‘player revolt’) and by when the state coach had begun to have a larger say in selection matters, Kalyanasundaram held his ground as the Chairman. 

Of course, many decisions and non decisions during his time were questionable. The Selection committee led by Kalyanasundaram was not bold enough in taking some tough calls that was the need of the day but that has been his style all along. He understood the system as a player in the 1970s and when he came back in the 2nd half of the 2000s, one of the very first things he did was to ‘understand’ the constraints of the system. 

During his time as a player, a period that was dominated by Venkataraghavan and VV Kumar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/07/cricket-tales-exclusive-with-vv-kumar.html), he tried to perform to the best of his ability in the 3-4overs he was given in between their long spells. He understood that he was never going to be the spearhead of the attack when the country was dominated by spin bowling. But even in the most difficult of scenarios, of the spin twins bowling a large majority of the overs, he held his own and managed to pick well over a 100 wickets for TN. 

Safe Calls as a Selector 

Similarly, over the last 15 years, he has been one who has understood the system well – the players, the administrators, the coaches and the clubs and its members. He did not try to be revolutionary and was not the one to create ripples and shake the system with his team selection. He took safe calls as a selector. It was clear to everyone at that time he was not one who would change the system with big decisions. There was also no ‘visionary’ selection in that phase but the meetings itself were professionally organised. Clearly, he brought all his corporate experience from Chemplast into the meetings and that was reflected in the way every single meeting was organised over the five years.

Former Central Zone leg spinner S Madhavan is now well into his sixties. With the unlocking of the COVID restrictions, he was back on field late last month and  continues to pick up wickets in the TNCA league. He was part of the State Selection panel under the Chairmanship of Kalyansundaram and says that the communication was clear "His English language skills combined with the ability to communicate in clear terms was outstanding. The meetings were well planned under his chairmanship. Prior to the meeting, we would sit together and discuss informally. Once inside the meeting room, I spoke my mind on the suggestions I had and he would listen to me and each one of us patiently and hear out our views. The meetings were conducted professionally."

Another member of that selection panel, former TN Ranji Captain S Suresh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/sweety-s-suresh-tn-ranji-finals-captain.html), who has just succeeded Kalyanasundaram as the Chairman of the CAC, too was part of the state selection committee that he (Kalli) had headed. Suresh remembers the ease with which the meetings were chaired “While he was a real senior to us having played in the 60s and 70s, we were never overwhelmed with his presence. None of us were restricted in any way from expressing our views. He adopted a consensus approach in the meetings and gave utmost importance to the points shared by the panel.” 

The Chairman turns SILENT for five years 

Interestingly, in that phase, all of a sudden the Chairman of Selectors stopped talking with the media (including to this writer) on selection decisions. When this writer called Kalli very early on in his stint, his response was that he had been asked by the TNCA to not talk to the media on selection matters. How odd – the only time in recent decades that Chairman has been asked to be silent!!! Just prior to him, R Madhavan spoke to this writer as a Selector on his vision for TN cricket and also on the selection matters. Immediately, after Kalli’s tenure, Sharath spoke on the big selection decisions he had made within the first six months of his stint and he continued to speak throughout his five year period including to this writer. Nationally it has been a practice for the chairman of selectors to talk to the media on the team selection. It was only during Kalli’s tenure that the TNCA ‘chose’ to take away the ‘spokesperson’ status from the then chairman of selectors. He did not speak to this writer anytime during those five years on selection matters citing TNCA’s mandate to him to not talk on selection matters in the public domain. 

While clear cut communication in classy English has been his strength, this decision was a reflection of his personality of playing it safe at all times. In his mind, he was clear and saw as his role the selection of the team that was best according to him for that season as against justifying that team and the thought process to the media. TNCA handled that part through the five years of Kalli’s tenure. 

Given the cricketing scenario in the country, it is likely that there will be pressure on each of the selectors. These would come not just from the governing body of the time but from club secretaries, friends of the selectors, former cricketers (there are many instances of how former cricketers have got their relatives into cricket), the political class and many others. Given the short term and immediate requirement of each of these classes, it requires great ‘staying power’ to survive in this environment. And Kalli just had that – the knack of survival while at the same time carrying out his duties with great integrity.

Match Referee- The Glory Days in the 2nd Innings

With match referees coming into play at every first class match, there was a new found opportunity for Kalyanasundaram (this of course was a well paid for engagement). Within a couple of years of his retirement from his professional career, in addition to his role as a selector, he had also become a match referee on the back of his first class record and a solid understanding of the laws of cricket and the strong communication skills. He went on to don that role for five years, a period that he considers as one of the most enjoyable of his life “There is a misconception that a match referee is one who books players and downgrades umpires. I always saw it as one of proactive match management, communicating clearly the expectations ahead of the match and allowing it to flow without ‘incidents’.” 

As with his life’s journey, this one too was not a path without thorns. In the early phase, not knowing his cricketing credentials from his days as a star performer in the 1960s and 70s, he was posted for matches that did not do justice to his track record as a player. But as soon as the powers that be of the time noticed the respect he garnered from the players and the umpires and the credibility he brought to the engagement, he was assigned top Ranji and Zonal matches. In October 2011, he was the match referee in the Quadrangular U19 tournament featuring the WI, Australia, SL and India at Vizag. 

The Big Year 

2013 was a big year for Match Referee Kalyanasundaram. In January, he officiated in a six day Ranji Trophy Semi Final between Mumbai and Services after day 3 and 4 were washed out by rain. His high point as a Match Referee came a month later when, aged 67, he officiated in the international tour match involving the Australians at the Guru Nanak College ground in Chennai. Later that year, he was the match referee in an international tour match involving the West Indians in Calcutta. 

IPL eludes him

At that time, his hopes of officiating in the IPL may have been high but as with his playing career, the big call eluded him. As is his way, he invokes the gracious large hearted blessings of Sabanayakar of Chidambaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/chidambaram-thillai-thiru-chitrakoodam.html) and reminds himself of being blessed with a life full of contentment (something that he has made repeatedly to this writer over the last many years) “Please remember I am not a Kapil Dev. To play for a decade alongside legends such as Venkat and VVK and to bowl to batting legends such as MAK Pataudi and ML Jaisimha,  a man from Kumbakonam could not have asked for more.” 

Another point he has repeatedly made over the last decade to this writer has been the opportunities provided to him by the TNCA "When there are hundreds of well established cricketers who have made TN proud over the last several decades,should I not consider it a great blessing that the TNCA reposed their trust in me as a Selector, referred me as a Match Referee and believed that I could play the role of the Advisor in cricket development." 

He set the Benchmark

Like in his cricketing days, he landed up in several challenging situations as a match referee too but handled it with finesse. He was the official when Murali Kartik (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/12/murali-kartik-railways-ranji-turnaround.html) initated the 'Mankad' out in a first class match.There were other tough matches involving Rohit Sharma, S Sriram and many others but in each of the scenarios, his proactive communication skills came to the fore.

S Sharath, who played over a 100 first class matches and has officiated as a match referee in close to 50 matches says that Kalyanasundaram set the benchmark for match referees from TN “All of us looked up to him as a match referee. He was easily among the best in the country at that time and we learned a lot from him on how to conduct a match and the qualities that make for a successful match referee.” 

Identifying and Initiating former cricketers 

Not only did he perform his role well, he also encouraged other cricketers in the state, who spent the earlier decades as players, to look at match referee as an option to further their cricketing interests. TN fast bowler from the 1990s and a State Bowling Coach for 6 years J Gokulakrishnan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/gokulakrishnan-j.html), who has officiated in over 25 BCCI matches, credits Kalyanasundaram for initiating him into match referee “I had had a stint with the state as the coach but did not have any cricketing engagements with the TNCA for a few years. When I was wondering what next on the cricketing front, it was he who seeded the thought in me to explore match referee as an option. In the last couple of years, this has worked well for me. He is ever willing to help cricketers grow in this field and we all look at him as a genuine well wisher.” 

Bubbling with youthful enthusiasm 

Gokulakrishnan’s younger brother and BCCI umpire for the last 15years, J Madanagopal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/madanagopal-j.html), has pleasant memories of BCCI and TNPL matches when Kalyanasundaram was the match referee “I found him to be a fantastic referee, who always participates actively in all the discussions and chats/banter among the officials and players. He has superb knowledge of the game and combined with great communication skills, he made for a top referee.” 

But what fascinated Madan the most was Kalli’s bubbling enthusiasm “We always felt he was so young, such is his enthusiasm and passion for the game. He gave us the feeling that he was one amongst us.” 

Absolute Team Man 

Former Kerala Ranji Captain and now ICC Panel umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/08/ananthapadmanabhan-international-umpire.html) who has been an umpire in many matches when Kalli was the Match referee, recalls the motivational talks and the incisive feedback that was part of every conversation with Kalyanasundaram which gave the on-field umpires a lot of confidence in carrying out their duty “He was just outstanding as a referee and never missed a single ball. Foremost quality was the fact that he was an absolute team man, one who always wanted to be thorough with LAWS / Playing Conditions and how it should be interpreted. Every time we (the umpires) returned to the dressing room from the field, he would come out to receive us with lot of encouragement and enthusiasm. I have seen innumerable number of times Kalli getting excited (even more than us) and happy when we got a tough decision correct. He would describe in detail his observations of our performance and come up with truly valuable suggestions.” 

Roping in Former Cricketers to play a more active role

Over the last decade, Kalyanasundaram has also come on board the IPL franchise team CSK as its director. A couple of years ago, he was appointed as the head of the Cricket Advisory Committee that had as its role the appointment of the TN Selection Committee. It was he who suggested the names of S Vasudevan (originally for talent hunting and later for the selection committee) and NP Madhavan (as a selector in the age group category)- https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/05/np-madhavan.html - to come back into the cricketing fray and for the TNCA to use their cricketing experience. 

NP Madhavan had touched 60 but his employer was keen for him to continue his role as the VP. He had just got an extension at his work place at GVG, Udumalpet (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/06/svpb-udumalpet-soundararajan.html), a place where he had resided for over three decades. One evening, in 2019, he received a call from an unlikely person, one who had rejected him as a cricketer almost four decades earlier at LMW. It was Kalyanasundaram, the Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Committee.  While Madhavan had played some role in districts cricket in the 1990s, he had stayed away from any official connection with the cricket associations in the state in the last couple of decades. Kalli felt credible names were required to be associated with TN cricket and he was keen to rope him in. Madhavan had told this writer in 2019 about the persuasive powers of Kalli "I was not too interested to get back into a cricketing role but Kalli gave some very convincing reasons for me to get back into Selection and almost 'forced' me to agree."

Madhavan was appointed as a U19 Selector. It was yet another example of Kalli going out of the way in search of credible former cricketers and putting forth a convincing argument to get them to make a re-entry into cricket. Vasudevan too had been out of the TNCA for a long time. It was Kalyanasundaram who had repeatedly 'pitched' to get him to play an active developmental role in TN cricket. 

Man of Integrity

TN Ranji cricketer from the 1990s Arjan Kripal Singh has now been a regular in the referee panel. While he has not interacted much with Kalli as a match referee, he counts his integrity as a top quality "I have heard him to be a very intelligent person and one with a lot of integrity."

High on Philosophy and Ethics

LMW cricketer from the 1970s, NS Ramesh, who played for RBI through the 1980s, knows Kalli best from that decade for he was the one who gave him company for many months in Coimbatore (both stayed on/off Alagesan Road) when his wife had been away for the birth of their second son “Right from those days in the 70s, Kalli has been one who has wanted to be philosophically correct and above board in everything he did. He was always a God fearing person and would not venture into doing anything that would be seen as not ethical.” 

Kalyanasundaram has been non confrontational all his life. As a cricketer, he showcased that he was up there with the best having held his own for a decade despite the dominating presence of Venkat and VVK in the bowling unit. And in his second innings, he has managed to hold his own once again for over a decade as a Selector, Match Referee, a Cricket Advisor and a Director. In an association like TNCA, with multiple forces at play, to come so clean is a significant achievement. The fact that he was not a spokesperson of the TNCA during his five year tenure as the Chairman of the Selection Committee was a one of its kind event but that really defines Kalli as a personality – He stays away from controversial situations. 

He will turn 75 next year and one wonders as to what more he has in his cricketing cabinet for he has always sprung a cricketing surprise.  For long, Talent Spotting has been his favourite. He has always been willing to spend time travelling around, especially to remote districts to look at the cricketing talent in unexplored territories. That probably is the closest to his heart. Hopefully, there will be some positive updates on that front. This section will track his cricketing developments. 

BCCI Umpire Madanagopal Bio Bubble Quarantine

January 29, 2021, 10:45 pm

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Locked inside a room for six days without a face to face meeting

Top BCCI 20 Umpire recounts life in a bio bubble and the Quarantine Challenges

In March last year, former South Zone middle order batsman JR Madanagapopal received an email announcing his appointment as a fourth umpire in the 2020 IPL (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/03/umpire-madanagopal-ipl-call.html) that was to be held in India. However, the joy was short lived as the COVID restrictions that came into force a fortnight later meant that only limited number of officials made the trip to Dubai and he lost out on the opportunity. Since then, as with most other umpires in the BCCI Panel, it has been a long wait for him to get back on to the ground. And when the call came for him to leave for Bombay for the Syed Mushtaq Ali one day tournament, he was excited and looking forward to officiating in a cricket match again.

Locked in a room for six days

However, little did he realise the 'lonely' challenges that lay in store for him in the first week of this new calendar year. After testing negative in Madras, he left for Bombay on January 3. For the first time in his life, he was locked inside a room for 6days and did not physically meet a single human being through till January 9 as part of the quarantine ahead of the tournament.  Even food was placed outside the door and he had to pick the food from there. There was no face to face interaction for 6 days even with his umpiring colleagues and the match referees, let alone the players.

Madanagopal narrates the challenging experience in the initial days of being quarantined and locked in the bio bubble “It was a very challenging experience because usually the BCCI scheduling of matches for umpires is hectic and we are on the field doing what we know best. But here I was locked inside a room and not able to meet a single individual for many days. I never came out of my room for six days. The first three days were really stressful and there was dullness within. We had to do something on our own through the day and night. It was not easy to manage but I constanly gave myself the positive reinforcement on the (umpiring) job that was coming up the next week.”

“Getting an opportunity to umpire after almost a year was paramount in my mind and I did everything possible to overcome that initial stress of being away from human beings.”

Yoga and its positive impact

Over the last many years, Madan has been known to travel light and does not carry stuff that are not considered essential for an umpiring trip. But this time he had with him multiple gadgets including the Tablet, Laptop and the Kindle. While he did use the gadgets extensively, what gave him positive energy was something else “Through that week, I was fully into Yoga and that gave a sense of peace and helped me feel better.”

And then in the second week of January, the mind switched to cricket on the ground. He recounts the experience on the field “After having been away from people for almost a week, for us to see human faces next to you and to be able to talk to them was a refreshing experience. All of us got a positive feel and energy once we were on the field. Of course, everytime the ball went into the stands, we had to 'sanitise' the ball, a totally new experience for us.”

A difficult phase

As a full time professional, one is expected to undergo these. But only after one experiences the bubble, does one get a feel of challenging life can be "It was only after I spent the week all alone inside the room and without a human in sight, could I relate to the difficulties of players being locked in a bio bubble, away from their families. Looking back, I would say that I did reasonably well facing up to the challenges of a quarantine."

And then a Second Quarantine

His umpiring performances in the domestic circuit over the last year (the period before COVID) led him to officiating in the quarter finals and Semi Final. After the round of league matches, he moved to Ahmedabad for the knock outs and he was back in quarantine again, this time for four days “Having experienced Quarantine once in Bombay, I was better equipped the second time and adapted to it better in Ahmedabad for I knew what was comign and how my life was going to be for a few days."

More Quarantines in February??

For the first time in his cricketing career, Madanagopal has been away from his family for the entire month. He is still is in Ahmedabad and will be returning to Madras only after the final that takes place tomorrow evening. However, it will not be a long time together with the family for it is likely he will be required to get back into another long quarantine ahead of Vijay Hazare or Ranji Trophy tournament that will come up in February and could be away in another bio bubble or two for the entire length of the tournament (a full month if its the one day tournament). And that will not be easy on the body and mind.