Temple, Travel and Sport

Well into his 60s, this Gurukal's decades long devotional engagement with Neiyarappar continues at Thillaisthanam

In 1958, Kannaiah Gurukal secured the archaka service at the Neiyarappar temple in Thillaisthanam at a time when there was no proper path from Thiruvayaru, 2kms away and no lights at the temple or in this historical temple town. To coincide with what the Gurukal considered as a great blessing, his grandson Sankara Gurukal was born, one who would be devotionally attached to Neiyarappar throughout his life.

Even while he was at Srinivasa School, Thiruvayaru, Sankara Gurukal had begun learning the agamas at the Chettiar Patshala. Early into his teens, he began walking and cycling with his appa Somaskanda Gurukal from his ancestral home on West Mada Vilagam at Thiruvayaru to Thillasthanam to support him in daily pooja. It was this early initiation that led to his great devotional attachment with Neiyarappar.

Historical temple abound with inscriptions

Praised by Appar and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, the Kritha Pureeswarar temple in Thillaisthanam finds historical references dating back to the 9th century AD to the Pallava rule. Lighting a perpetual lamp was an important contribution that was made at this temple during the rule of the Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas.

Fraudulent acts were brought to book and the collections made through fines were repaid back to the temple in form of ornaments for the deities. Even the instrument players failing in their duties were punished and had to pay back to the temple. Allocations were made for Abhishekams.

Thatha keeps the family united

Sitting at his home a hundred yards away from the West Tower of the Airappar temple in Thiruvayaru, Sankara Gurukal, now 66, recounts those early days to this writer“We were a big joint family and every day 20 members would sit around to have food. I grew up in an environment where high premium was placed on family unity. Our grandparents kept the family together and seeded the thoughts of the importance of staying united.”

“My appa and Chithappa were so close that the entire Kainkaryaras at the temple referred to them as Periya anna and Chinna anna. I too called them in the same way as the other service personnel!!!”

Thatha Kannaiah Gurukal with his wife

“Our forefathers had 5 days of service at the Swami Sannidhi and 5 days at the Ambal Sannidhi at the Airappar temple every month. There was minimal Thattu Kaasu and almost no crowd in the 1970s. We have been performing hereditary archaka service at this temple for generations and were given patta satham every day of our service. It was with that food that we managed to run our life.”

Alankaram Specialist

From very early on, Sankara Gurukal developed interest in decorating Swami and Ambal and became the alankaram expert. He recalls the great early words of Thatha that he has followed to this day “Only after performing the morning pooja to Neiyarappar and presenting the Neivedyam to him should you have your food.”

Always Ghee Lit Lamps

During the rule of Nandi Varma Pallava III in the 2nd half of the 9th Century AD, there was a gift of 60 Kalanju of pure gold to light a perpetual lamp at the temple. A decade later during the rule of Varaguna Pandya II, there was a gift of 200 kasu by the Pandya Queen and then 100 kasu by the crown prince towards lamp service at the temple. The Sabha at Thillaisthanam received the cash and agreed to measure the ghee everyday for the lamp service.

The contributions to light the lamp for the Lord continued during the rule of Aditya Chola I, when there was initially a gift of 96 sheep and then of 100 sheep for supply of an olukku of ghee and a gift of 25 kalanju of gold for burning the perpetual lamp. The sabha undertook to distribute the sheep among the shepherds.

However, into the 1960s and 70s, there were no vastrams or even oil to light the lamp at the Thillasthanam temple“We would take a few vastrams from Airappar temple to drape Neiyarappar. It was only after my appa took charge at Thillaisthanam did the temple see electrical lighting.”

Appa Somaskanda Gurukal delights guests on Sapthasthanam day

Festivals such as Vaikasi Utsavam and the 10 day Maasi Utsavam with Thiru Kalyanam ceremony on the 7th day were celebrated in a grand manner at this temple. It is here at the Thillaisthanam temple that one can have darshan of all the 7 Lords during the Sapthasthana Festival in Chitrai.

Sankara Gurukal’s eyes light up as he recalls the day from his teenage years way back in the 1970s“At 4am, my appa would present coffee to all the Gurukals from other temples after they reached Thillaisthanam. He also organised food for them that day. It was the happiest day in the year for all of us as we took great delight in playing host to Lords from the other Sapthasthanam temples.”

Even though there was no income at the Neiyarappar temple with only a few select devotees making it to the temple and him being paid a salary of just Rs. 500 in the decades gone by, Sankara Gurukal has remained devotionally attached to the temple for the archaka service came the way of the family in the year he was born.

As per the rotation, he gets the rights to anchor the big annual utsavam in Chitrai at the Pancha Natheeswarar temple in Thiruvayaru once in five years. He recalls how his archaka colleagues there often pull his legs on his attachment to Neiyarappar “Even on my ten service days at Aiyarappar temple, I would make it to Thillaisthanam for an hour in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening for the daily pooja leading to other archakas pointing out jokingly that my mind was always with Neiyarappar.”

“Yes, there was no income at the temple and very minimal salary and thattu kaasu but in all these decades I have not failed to perform the daily pooja at the Neiyarappar temple.”

As the decades passed by, devotees from Chennai who had been associated with the temple in their early years began to present rice, oil and daily flower garland at Thillaisthanam much to Sankara Gurukal’s delight “There had been a time in my childhood when there was no oil, no vastram, no garland and no lights at the temple and it was dangerous to head to Thillaisthanam with liquor shops and dark streets around. Today, devotees are contributing to the temple.”

Temple Legend and 'Nei' Abhisekam

During the rule of Vikrama Chola, provisions for offerings such as ghee, milk, curd were made. Cows were distributed to the nearby villages and there were agreements made to provide for stipulated quantity of the above. In 967AD, there was a gift of paddy for offerings.

Legend has it that invoking the blessings of Saraswathi, Kamadhenu performed pooja here with Ghee instead of milk. In memory of this event, this temple is referred to as ‘Nei-Arappar’ temple. Nei Abhisekam is special at the Thillaisthanam temple for relief from heart ailments and devotees come together on Monday and Pradosham in good numbers for this. Those from the Agraharam present daily milk for abhisekam.

His salary has doubled to Rs. 1000 after two decades but there is no tinge of sadness at the low salary “There is very little income at the temple and with whatever hundi collections that the temple gets, they pay the salary to me and to the sweeper and mei kaval.”

But he is happy that devotees have played a role in the development of the temple in recent times. It is Sankara Gurukal who did new Vahanas for the street processions during the Maasi Utsavam and roped in devotees to the temple through his devotional engagement with Neiyarappar.

How sincere devotion pays off

After he performed a Nei Abhisekam, a long standing devotee, delighted at his devotional performance, presented Rs. 20000 to him for his daughter’s wedding “It was exactly the amount I had to pay the mandapam and Neiyarappar showed the way.”

Sankara Gurukal is now 66 and it has been a long five decades + association for him having joined his appa at this temple when he was a teenager. He is well past the retirement age but there are no replacements and he does not see a life for himself outside Neiyarappar. He says that whenever he is serving Neiyarappar he experiences a calmness and peace that is unmatched. His grandson has already joined the Patshala and Sankara Gurukal is hopeful that one day he would take over from him to continue the service to Neiyarappar with whom he has had such a long devotional engagement.

A newly built retiring room and dormitory complex on the first floor of platform 1 offers top notch staying facilities with neat beds and clean toilets

AC Waiting Hall @ Rs. 30, bathing and toilet facilities @ Rs. 25, cloak room @ Rs. 25

This section had earlier featured stories on the new retiring rooms at Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore and Madurai Railway Stations (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/04/madurai-junction-retiring-rooms.html). In recent times, the Thanjavur station has received a facelift with a modern top class retiring room that has come up on the first floor next to Platform 1.

The retiring rooms across the railway network in India have been outsourced to IRCTC. At the Thanjavur station, IRCTC has outsourced the running and daily maintenance of the rooms to Fresh Up Space, a private organisation.

Compared to a decade ago, the rates of the retiring rooms in TN railway stations have shot up quite a bit. Even by that count, the Thanjavur station is at a premium but the quality of the rooms and the beds ranks among the best in TN stations. The blankets are replaced every day with maintenance staff working round the clock. One of the concerns for long has been the quality of the bathrooms at railway stations. The ones at the retiring rooms and dormitories at the Thanjavur station are neat and clean,

There are double bed rooms, family rooms and dormitories with these available for 6/9/12/24 hours. All these are AC facilities.

How to book retiring room/dormitory

One can log into the IRCTC retiring room website using the PNR number to book the retiring room or dormitories. The rates for each of these can be found after logging in. Call for enquiries: 04362273102

Bathroom and Toilet Facilities on ground floor

Also, the passengers were put to hardship in the past with lack of quality bathrooms at railway stations. The Thanjavur station has taken care of this too leasing out a newly built bathroom and toilet facility on the ground floor outside platform 1. For Rs. 25, one can have bath and use the toilet including a western one. These too are best in class comparable to those available in good hotels.

AC Waiting Hall and Cloak Room

Opposite this is the newly built ac waiting hall where passengers can stay for an hour by paying Rs. 30.

Next to the waiting hall is a cloak room at the entrance of the railway station where one can place their baggage at Rs. 25 per day.

Coimbatore Railway Station: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/coimbatore-junction-retiring-rooms.html

Trichy Railway Station : https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/08/retiring-room-tiruchchirappalli.html

Srirangam Railway Station: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/09/srirangam-station-retiring-room.html

Temple Activist TR Ramesh throws an open offer to the Trustee to hand him the land documents for him to fight the case in the court and help recover the lands that had wrongfully changed hands decades ago

In September 2016, this section had featured a story on the Othanvaneswarar temple in Thiru Chotruthurai, one of the Sapthasthanam temples abound with historical inscriptions and praised by Sundarar, Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Thirunavurkarasar. The current trustee of the temple Kannan, holds a Masters degree in Computer Science and has been pursuing a P hd from Sastra University (he seems to have not completed 8 years after the story in 2016!!!). He has been anchoring most of the temple activities over the last decade or so. Aghoram Shivam had quit an IT job in Hyderabad and joined as a Gurukal. Both of them have been playing an active role in the revival of utsavams and the conduct of the daily poojas at the temple.

However, a larger issue has been hanging around the temple and its smooth functioning during this period.

Centuries ago, a trust had been formed where by the trustees who owned huge tracts of land were to perform certain mandagapadis, conduct utsavams and contribute to daily poojas from the income accruing from some of these lands. It is learned that one of the trustees of the temple, grandfather of the current trustee Kannan, sold off the lands several decades ago. Interestingly, the trust building (photo below) is housed on a huge land belonging to the temple where Kannan and his family have been residing for long.

The temple land- The Trust HQ- where the trustees have been residing

Trustee continues temple work through devotee donors

The HR & CE has been demanding that the trustee fulfil all the activities relating to the temple as detailed in the trust agreement. Since the lands belonging to the trust have changed hands, the current trustee Kannan has been organising the temple activities through donor contributions. He is currently anchoring the Thiruppani works at the temple through devotees and a lot of renovation works can be seen inside the temple complex. Last decade, the trustee had also organised the installation of a new Dwajasthambam at the temple.

Trustee Kannan - Feeling the heat from the HR & CE

Historical Inscriptions

Significant Contributions had been made from the 9th Century for the conduct of annual festivals, to burn a perpetual lamp and to feed Brahmanas in this historical temple town. In 890AD during the rule of Aditya I, there was a gift of two conches for blowing in connection with Thirupalli Sevai and other services. During the rule of Varaguna Pandya II, contributions were made by devotees to the burning of a perpetual lamp at the temple.

During the rule of Parantaka Chozha I, there was a gift to provide for Ghee, Milk and Curd for the sacred bath of the Lord on the Sankranthi day. There were also gifts of two separate lamp stands. In 954 AD, there was a land endowment for feeding Brahmanas. In the 10th Century AD, a huge quantity of oil was provided to light 50 lamps during the service in the night. The arrangement was such that 8 people engaged in the maintenance of cleanliness of the temple were assigned the task of lighting these 50 lamps along with four persons who were engaged in blowing the trumpet and one cook.

In 1000AD, there was a gift made to support the procession of the deity during the Vaikasi Visakam festival.

Saint Poets' Praise

At the end of each of the verses, Saint Poet Thiru Gnana Sambanthar concludes with ‘Chotruthurai Senru Adaiveney’ indicating that he had already started invoking the blessings of the Lord right from the beginning of his journey to this temple, such was his special devotion to this Lord.

Appar’s special praise in all his compositions

This is also the only temple in this region where Thirunavukarasar has sung praise in all his compositions – Nerisai, Virutham, Kurunthogai and Thandagam.

Temple Activist offers to secure back the trust lands

Temple activist TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) has spent a lot of time in recent years focusing on recovering of temple lands in Tamil Nadu and fighting for these in the courts. Hailing from Thillaisthanam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thillaisthanam-neiyarappar-sankara.html), one of the Sapthasthanam temples, the temple in Thiruchotruthurai, located just a few kms away, has always been very close to his heart. He has now thrown an open offer to Trustee Kannan to hand over a copy of the land documents for him to fight the case in the court and get back the lands that had been wrongfully sold in the past.

In recent years, he has had conversations with trustee Kannan on this subject. Ramesh told this writer on Friday that though he had asked for the land documents in the past, the trustee has not yet handed him a copy of the documents “The sale by his grandfather is not legally valid as one cannot sell the trust land. Thiru Chotruthurai has a great history with three Saivite Saint Poets having sung praise of the Lord. It is that legend that had led those in the past to write such huge tracts of land in favour of the trust in the hope that the trust would take care of the temple and its utsavams from the income from these lands. Since the lands have been sold in the past and it is now in the hands of those who do not have a legal right, I can fight this case in the court and secure back the lands if the current trustee hands me a copy of all the documents relating to these trust properties.”

As the sale by his thatha is not legally valid as per the Trust agreement, Kannan himself has filed a case to secure back all the lands that were purportedly sold decades ago and that is pending in the JC court. Following this case, he has had to face a backlash from the ‘encroachers’ who are holding the view that these lands had been sold by the current trustee’s thatha and hence he has no rights over those lands.

On its part, the HR & CE seems to have not taken action to recover the trust lands that had been wrongfully sold. While the trustee has been taking care of the maintenance of the temple and the conduct of the utsavams including building new vahanas for the annual processions, all these have been through donations to the trust from devotees and not out of income from the trust lands. The trust agreement dates back centuries and income from those lands have not been accruing to the temple, its utsavams and the daily maintenance.

If TR Ramesh does get a hold of the land documents, it is likely he will fight tooth and nail like he has in similar issues relating to several other TN temples to secure back the trust lands.

This section will track the developments.

Prince Babaji Bhonsle is renovating the centuries old now dilapidated Venugopalan temple on Southern Banks of Cauvery in Thiruvayaru

Once consecration takes place, this temple, located opp the Munsiff Court, is likely to attract devotees in good numbers

In June 2020, this section had featured a story on the challenging times the then new and young prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle had faced in the mid 1980s and how he was able to overcome those at the turn of the century in the 88 temples under his administration (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html). Just a few months earlier, in February 2020, a grand consecration had taken place at the Big temple after over two decades. Along with Punnai Nallur Mariamman Temple, this was one of the two big income generating temples under his administration. These two temples have seen a big financial turnaround and crowds are now thronging these temples after the Pandemic.

However, while these two and a few other temples including the likes of Thanjai Maa Mani Koil Divya Desam, Punnai Nallur Kothandaramar and Karunaswamy Koil, Karunthittakudi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/02/karunaswamy-koil-karunthittaikudi.html) had been restored to its old glory, there were still a few temples that had remained in a dilapidated state. One such temple is the Venugopalaswamy temple on the Southern Banks of Cauvery near Thiruvayaru and a km North of Kalyanapuram Srinivasa Perumal temple.

Over the years, encroachers had taken over and the temple has been surrounded by temporary residential constructions. Earlier this year, Rajah Babaji Bhonsle took a strong call to renovate the temple and bring back the old vibration that had been missing for quite sometime.

The temple is located opposite the Munsiff Court and hence could attract good devotee crowd once the reconstruction is completed and consecration takes place.

Work has begun in right earnest inside the temple complex. The path to the dilapidated temple had been thorny and no one could make their way to the temple in the past. However, over the last couple of months, a temporary path has been laid amid the encroached houses.

Encroachments abound around the temple complex

Encroachments to be removed

The challenge as with many other ancient temples is the issue of encroachment. The temple complex has a huge space but at the moment these are occupied by those who have made this their temporary home. Supervisor Ramesh who has been working at the Thanjavur Palace for well over two decades is waiting for the green signal from the Prince for him to go ahead and remove the encroachments. He has already alerted the residents that the plan is for a complete restoration of the Venugopalan temple under the instructions of the Rajah and hence the entire space belonging to the temple will be utilised for a fully functional temple.

Only last month, this section had featured a story on how new age shops that had come up in recent decades at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam had been sealed (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-temple-popular-shops-shut-down.html).

It is expected that the encroachments near the Venugopalan temple will be removed within the next three months after the first phase work around the Moolavar Sannidhi is complete. This will pave the way for the construction of the prakara walls, one that will help devotees perform pradakshinam around the temple. Once the encroachments are removed, a proper pathway can also be built from the main road to the temple.

In 2025, one can expect a fully restored temple, with the resumption of daily Thiru Aradhanam and the celebration of festivals at this centuries old temple under the administration of the Thanjavur Palace. And when that happens, it will be a real blessing to those residing south of the Cauvery, in Thiruvayaru.

This young bhattar, who let go lucrative opportunities, to settle down in Rayanallur has put together a four member team to present monthly Veda and Prabhandham Parayanam in 7 temples in the Thiruthuraipoondi region

He has also just revived the celebrations on Azhvaar and Acharya star days every month

It is just past 8am on the Moolam day in Avani (Sept 12) and 32 year old Yathulan (R Srinivasan) Bhattar, the archaka at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Rayanallur, has already started out on his two wheeler on a long 25km ride to Kadanthethi, near Thalai Gnayiru (the place where the idols of Vaduvur Ramar were found by the Thanjavur Prince) for the monthly parayanam he kick started in Chitrai this year. It is a mega initiative quietly launched with a great vision by this young Bhattar from a remote town.

The homam event that created the spark in Yathulan

It was at a homam event in Kamalapuram earlier this year that triggered this move. When Yathulan Bhattar heard the Chairman of a Brahmin Sangam from Chennai talking about a parayanam he has been organising at homes in the capital city, it created a spark in him and he wondered as to why a Parayanam could not be organised in remote temple towns to create a devotional vibrancy in those places. He spoke to a couple of other young archakas to see if they would be interested to join him in this endeavour.

Yathulan Bhattar identified 7 temples in the region – Varadaraja Perumal temple in Rayanallur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/03/rayanallur-varadaraja-perumal-yathulan.html), Kadanthethi and Ayyur, Kasthuri Ranganatha Perumal temple in Vilakkudi, Srinivasa Perumal in Kottur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/kottur-srinivasa-perumal.html, Ranganatha Perumal temple in Keezhayur and Kalyana Mahadevi temple and the specific days for parayanam in each of these temples.

Every Moolam, the star day of Kadanthethi Andavan, he has been doing this 50km ride to and fro from Rayanallur for Veda Parayanam and Prabhandham Seva Kalam at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kadanthethi, around 15kms east of Thiruthuraipoondai. He has roped in three other archakas for this initiative whereby they congregate at these seven remote temples in the region on select days every month to present Veda Parayanam, Nalayira Divya Prabhandham and Desikar Prabhandham.

There is an idol for Thiruthuraipoondi andavan at the Vilakkudi temple and hence his star day was chosen for the parayanam at the Kasturi Ranganatha Perumal temple. Similarly, he chose Moolam, the star day of Kadanthethi Andavan for the Parayanam at Kadanthethi, the idol installation date at Kottur, the star day of Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan at Vilakkudi and so on.

Sriram, the archaka at Panaiyur temple, Varadarajan, the archaka at Kottur temple and archaka by the same name at Kadanthethi temple have joined him on this initiative and the four of them have been presenting the parayanam at these 7 temples every month from Chitrai this year.

While Sriram presents Yajur Veda Parayanam - Yathulan's idea was to complete one entire recital of the KYV in a year and that is on track at the moment, the other three recite select verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham (Koil Tiruvoimozhi, Ramanuja Nootranthathi and the like) and Desikar Prabhandham.

Thaligai is also presented on these days following the Parayanam and distributed to the devotees.

Yathulan travels around 50kms on the Parayanam days to Keezhayur, Kadanthethi, Ayyur and Kalyan Mahadevi. That is a lot of distance to cover and can easily tire one out but he sees the positive side of it “I get an opportunity to visit different temples, interact with people in these temple towns and keeps me active. I see it as a small contribution from my side to revive the devotional vibrancy in these towns from where most of the original inhabitants have left”, he told this writer on Thursday on the Moolam day in Avani at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kadanthethi, where he performed a Thirumanjam for Perumal reciting from the Vedas as well as the sacred Neerattal verses of Periyazhvaar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/08/krishna-special-oil-bath.html) while the Varadaraja Bhattar performed the Moolam Thirumanjanam for Anjaneya.

Original Inhabitants supporting these temples

Interestingly, some of those original inhabitants are now reconnecting with their home town and getting to support these temples. For example, they came forward to rebuild the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kadanthethi and the subsequent consecration. He is hoping that a madapalli will be built at this temple soon on the land belonging to one of the Mutts.

Revival at Rayanallur

At Rayanallur, Vijaya Arun, one of the owners of The Hindu newspaper and her husband are fighting it out to recover the temple lands and are on the verge of achieving success. Yathulan Bhattar is hopeful that his dream of building a wall around the temple will become a reality soon once the encroachers are vacated from the temple land that they are currently occupying. He is also hopeful of reviving the Maasi Magam utsavam and a trip to the now dilapidated sacred tank for the Theerthavari. For this a proper path has to be created and is possible only after the encroachments are removed. This fortnight, following the court order, an ad has been released in a newspaper and a copy handed to the encroachers as a first step towards the eviction. Yathulan Bhattar can already visualise the tall walls around the temple and a procession on Maasi Magam.

Remembering and Celebrating Azhvaars and Acharyas

This month, Yathulan Bhattar has also taken another big step. Through support from like minded devotees, he has begun a Thirumanjanam for Azhvaars and Acharyas on their monthly star days. On the pooram day in Avani, doubling up as a cook at the madapalli, he presented Kesari to Andal following the Thirumanjanam. This Sunday (Sept 15), on the sacred occasion of 'Thiru Onam', he is planning to revive the Thirumanjanam and Thaligai for Vedantha Desikar.

The devotional quotient among the local residents especially the kids in Rayanallur has certainly gone up in the last year or two with Yathulan Bhattar presenting Thirumanjan, Thaligai and organising a procession on the occasion of Ekadasi. Now he is expanding this to celebrate the Azhvaars and Acharyas in the process also educating young kids on the contributions of these Saints.

He had also kick started an initiative to teach Prabhandham to kids in this town to get them more closely attached to Varadaraja Perumal.

Yathulan Bhattar has also been taking Prabhandham classes for the Kadanthethi archaka, who quit his corporate job at Accenture in Chennai ahead of Covid and moved to this village from where his wife hailed.

Yathulan Bhattar spoke with Dasarathi, the devotee who had anchored the restoration of the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Ayyur and the latter offered a Sambhavanai for this four member team for their presentation there (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/08/ayyur-varadaraja-perumal-samprokshanam.html).

Deserve more Sambhavanai

At the moment, the Sambhavanai for the Seven Temples Parayanam is very minimal with Yathulan Bhattar not having reached out to anyone for contributions. It is hoped that given the long distances this young team of archakas have to cover every month, more devotees will come forward to support this initiative, but that is not in the mind of this Bhattar at the moment.

He has a vision of spreading Bhakthi and the messages from the scriptures deep into remote towns in the Thiruvarur region and these are just baby steps he is taking towards this endeavour. He is solely focused on creating that Bhakthi among the local residents in each of these towns. Already, he is seeing increased participation with devotees coming to these temples on select days in the month. Through this Parayanam, the Vedic and Prabhandham verses are reverberating once again, albeit in a small way, in these temple towns like it once did centuries ago.

Given the low devotee turnout and fading fortunes at this temple in the later half of the previous century, this Gurukal grabbed the overseas opportunities that came his way and served as an archaka in South and East Africa, Singapore and Australia for close to 15 years

With an overflowing crowd now, he has returned to the Navaneetheswarar temple following his appa's retirement to continue the service as the 7th Generation archaka

This section has, in the past, featured many stories on priests letting go of lucrative overseas opportunities to stay back in their hereditary location to continue pooja in the temple where their forefathers had served as archaka. Only last week this section one such story of a priest not too far away from Sikkal, who following the orders of his acharya went to a remote temple in Rayanallur and has been serving there for the last many years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/yathulan-bhattar-rayanallur-parayanam.html).

There have also been those who have opted to take the overseas route to archaka service like the one at the Aabathsahayeswarar temple in Thiru Pazhanam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-pazhanam-devotees-neglect.html). This story is about one such priest who took up an overseas opportunity that came his way through his Patshala Guru soon after the completion of his agama education and went on to perform archaka service in multiple countries for over a decade. During his overseas stint, he also undertook a research in Saiva Agama and received a Doctorate from the Durban University. After the retirement of his appa last decade, he has returned and taken over as archaka at the Navaneetheswarar temple in Sikkal(now popularly known as Sikkal Singaravelar temple) where 7generations of his family have performed service.

Overseas temple stints in his 20s

After completing class X exam, Ramanathan Gurukal underwent Agama initiation at the Patshala in Tippirajapuram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/thippirajapuram-vikrama-choleswarar.html). At the turn of the century, after his agama education, he received an offer from Durban, South Africa to perform pooja at the Emperumal temple. After four years, he moved to Singapore to perform pooja at the Shiva temple there. From there he moved to another continent and to Australia for three years. He then went back to Africa and the Eastern part of the country and performed pooja for four years at the Navasakthi Vinayakar temple in Seychelles Island.

In 2013, when his appa, Senapathi Gurukal, retired from service at the Singaravelar temple in Sikkal after over four decades as an archaka (he too had served in a temple in Singapore for 2years in the late 1990s), Ramanathan Gurukal returned from East Africa to take over charge at this temple.

Financial challenges led him into overseas temples

Ramanathan Gurukal looks back at the challenging days during his appa’s service that prompted them to go overseas “The patta satham that we got as 'Uchi Kaala' prasadam from the temple served as our lunch during my schooling days in the 1980s. My appa had to take a loan from the temple to even pay my school fees. Kandha Sashti Utsavam was the only one where devotees came in big numbers. For the rest of the year, there were hardly any devotees in the first two decades of my appa’s service. Thattu Kaasi was minimal and the salary of just over Rs. 200 that my appa received in the 1980s made life financially challenging. Into the 1990s, many of the other priests had made their way to cities with my appa taking care of the temple all alone for a few years”, he told this writer sitting in front of the Singaravelar Sannidhi last Thursday morning.

A doctorate in Saiva Agama

It was against this backdrop he grabbed his first overseas opportunity in the Durban temple when his Patshala Acharya offered this overseas stint. Interestingly, during that phase, he also completed a doctorate in Shiva Agama from the Durban University!!!

Ambal hands Murugan the Vel with her blessings

Legend has it that Vel Nedung Kanni Ambal presented Singaravelar with the Vel ahead of his Soora Samhara battle. On the Shukla Panchami in Aipasi, there is an abhisekam for Ambal with the Vel. It was after Swami returns from the Chariot Procession that she presents the Vel to Murugan blessing him for the battle with the asuras. Till the previous century, the Vel used to go from Sikkal to Tiruchendur for the Soora Samharam event. The ancient Vel is still here and is seen in his hand during the Abhisekam.

Singaravelar sweats

A special annual feature at this temple, one that now sees devotees thronging in thousands, is that one can see Singaravelar sweating on this day. It is a unique occurrence that devotees queue to take a look at the mandapam.

Prarthana Sthalam to get rid of one's enemies

At this temple, there is only the utsavar idol for Singaravelar praised as ‘Seppu Thirumeni’ in the Thirupugazh. Arunagirinathar also refers to Singaravelar of Sikkal as the Samhara Moorthy. The Shatru Samhara Neethi was written here. It is in the belief that all your enemies will go away are devotees now flocking this temple to have darshan and invoke the blessings of Singaravelar.

On the first four morning of the Kandha Sashti utsavam, Singaravelar is decorated as Perumal including presenting himself in the Sesha Vahanam and in Venugopalan Thirukolam. Ramanathan Gurukal points to the Perumal Sannidhi in the 2nd prakara as indication of the Saivite Vaishnavite unity at this temple. There was a Vathula Agama Pooja performed by Shivachariar for Perumal till the 1950s. He says that the Bhattar from the Perumal Sannidhi supports the Shivachariars during the crowded days at the Murugan Sannidhi.

Turnaround in fortunes

This is a historical temple with Lord Shiva praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Appar. However, as with many other temples in Tamil Nadu, this temple dedicated to Navaneetheswarar has come to be renowned for Singarvaler and most devotees refers to this as the Sikkal Singara temple similar to the Thirunallur temple now being referred to as Saneeswarar temple. Also, the bhakthi towards Murugan has increased manifold as can be seen from the devotee crowd here at Sikkal in recent years as well as at the Ettukudi temple, not too far away from here (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/ettukudi-pachakshara-shivachariar.html).

Back to Glory Days at Sikkal

Things have turned around quite remarkably over the last decade or so at this Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/thiruvanaikaval-jambukeswarar.html) on the back of the devotional wave dedicated to Singaravelar. From the time when the priests had to look elsewhere for opportunities including overseas, they now have reached a stage where they have to appoint support priests to help them manage the crowd that is thronging the temple including on Karthigai and Shashti days every month. Like at the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur, another temple built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan, where devotees are thronging the Kal Garudan Sannidhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/12/kal-garuda-utsavam-nachiyar-koil.html), here too a majority of the devotee crowd is seen seeking the blessings of Singaravelar, such has been the revival in temples this century.

From a salary in the 100s during his appa’s four decade service, Ramanathan Gurukal is happy that the archaka salary has grown manifold and has now topped Rs. 20000 at this Grade 1 temple with the complete turnaround in fortunes for the priests.

Ramanathan Gurukal has archaka service through the month in different sannidhis at this temple and is quite enjoying the current phase of a devotional wave that has set in Tamil Nadu. While his appa would often sit at the temple entrance waiting for the next set of devotees, there is not too much of rest for Ramanathan Gurukal on days dedicated to Murugan with devotees lining up in long queues to offer their prayers to Singaravelar. Devotees visiting Thirunallaru and Velankanni/Vedaranyam have made Sikkal an integral part of their temple trip and that has also been bringing in sizeable crowd to this temple.

For the 44 year old Ramananthan Gurukal, it is back to glory days at the Navaneetheswarar temple and he is confident that for the next decade and a half of his service, it is likely that this trend of devotional wave directed at parikara and prarthana sthalams will not be reversed.

At a young age, this doctor from Kumbakonam has carved out a niche for himself in the ‘Spiritual Lectures’ world

A Debut on Kal Garuda Sevai day, an unexpected 30 days Thiruppavai upanyasam at Sarangapani Koil and a chance meeting with Karunakaraswamy transforms his life

As a young student of ARR Matriculation school, Thiru Kudanthai N Venkatesh showed his devotional flavour by reciting and presenting the meaning of the verses from the Bhagavath Gita at the prayer every morning from his early teens. When he was 15, he won the first prize in an oratorical competition organised in Kumbakonam. By this time, he had also begun writing poems. Following a district rank in class XII, he joined Medicine at the Government College in Erode. Seeing his spiritual interest, his professor motivated and spurred him to purse that interest. Over the last few years, he has captured the minds of the devotees with his style of presentation and a down to earth way of life. Here’s the story.

Like all boys his age, Venkatesh spent his childhood playing cricket on the streets and at school. But by the time he was into his teens, he had begun to probe within as to how he wanted to live his life and what he wanted to do with it. When a professor at college asked all the students as to what their vision was in life, Venkatesh began thinking about his talent and found that his biggest was his ability to express and present.

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய்

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே

From a young age, he was a regular at Nachiyar Koil in the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Thiru Naraiyur Divya Desam and was devotionally inclined. While there was no big family background in spirituality and lectures, he began reading devotional texts extensively. In the internal assessment exams at Erode, he taught students abstract subjects and they went back and succeeded in the final exam. He found great insights from this and the idea struck him to extend this teaching exercise to the spirituality space.

The Debut Upanyasam

Seeing his spiritual interest, his amma spoke to the Bhattars at Nachiyar Koil and secured him an opportunity to present an upanyasam at the now popular for Kal Garuda Sevai in 2011. It turned out to be a great experience. The Kal Garuda Sevai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/12/kal-garuda-utsavam-nachiyar-koil.html) had by then become a very popular event and huge crowd thronged the temple on that evening. After Kal Garuda had made his way to the mandapam at the entrance of the temple and ahead of the street procession of Perumal and Garuda, Venkatesh presented an one hour upanyasam that turned out to be a hit. He had not yet completed college but he saw a new life for him in this spiritual space and this journey of spreading dharmic messages from the historical scriptures began that evening.

The Thiruppavai Opportunity - A surprise call from HRCE EO!!!

In 2013, he had his Pancha Samskaram from Sirupuliyur Swami at Srirangam. Later that year, during his visit to the Sarangapani Koil as a devotee on the first day of Margazhi, the EO of the temple made a surprise invitation to Venkatesh to present Thiruppavai Upanyasam at the temple during the entire Margazhi. He had no prior experience in daily upanyasams but he went back home immediately, prepared through the day and began his upanyasam that very same day.

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம் நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய் அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே

A special feature of the Adyayana Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil is that the 21 day utsavam starts every year on the first day of Margazhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/sarangapani-koil-pagal-pathu-utsavam.html). He decided to stick to presenting only that day’s verse during each of the days of Margazhi and has followed that model ever since in the Thiruppavai Upanyasams over the last decade.

A year after he became a house surgeon and joined night casualty duty which he particularly enjoyed, he had a transformational meeting with Karunakaran Swamy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html). It was a meeting out of the blue and quite unexpected and it changed his life completely. Karunakaran Swamy offered to initiate him into ‘Sri Bashyam/ Geetha Bashyam and Vishnu Puranam and Venkatesh has engaged himself in close spiritual discussions over the last decade. He has also reached out to his mentor whenever he has faced challenges in life during this period.

In 2015, he secured a Government job and joined the Government Hospital in Kumbakonam where he continued to perform the professional role of a doctor.

Facing New and Unexpected Challenges in Life

Very quickly his spiritual lecture series became popular but it also saw encounter new challenges that he had not hitherto faced. There was demand for his Upanyasam from across the country and overseas, In 2018, he went on an overseas tour to Dubai to present an upanyasam there. Being present on social media led to viewers raising controversial questions on spiritual topics. He was new to this and initially found it challenging to handle. In 2019, he understood the concept of the success of TV serial makers and launched an online video series explaining the 1000 names of the Lord but here too a few controversies followed him with the online audience raising poking questions.

It was Karunakaran Swamy who gave him the confidence to continue with his upanyasams "In spiritual lectures, mental focus and strength is very important. It is important not to get distracted" Karunakaraswamy told me, says Venkatesh. He began to see each of these as lessons for life and interestingly now keeps a count of the lessons he has learned from his Upanyasams and the hard hitting feedback from the audience that have held him in good stead since.

Moves up into the ‘Sadas’ space

It was also his mentor who asked him participate in the Sadas at the Vanamamalai Mutt. His mentor has always tested his ability to face new challenges and in one of the Sadas, Karunakaracharya surprised him by asking him to present in Sanskrit what he had just presented in Tamil. “It shook me completely for a minute but I gathered the courage, collected my thoughts and presented in Sanskrit much to the delight of my mentor” recalls Venkatesh of that day.

That presentation gave him greater confidence and he has thus far participated and presented in 35 Sadas.

Within a few years of his debut at Nachiyar Koil, he has gone on to present Upanyasams in Geneva, Frankfurt, Luxemburg and Paris. Following the Pandemic, he presented to the audience in the US.

Quits Govt Job, Starts own Clinic

While he was thus presenting upanyasams around the globe, he continued to don his professional role as a doctor at the GH in Kumbakonam. Venkatesh has always risen to the challenges he has faced in life even at a young age. Hence when in 2020-21, he was transferred from GH to the Primary Health Center a move that he felt would lead him into mundane work, he contemplated quitting the Govt job. But prior to taking this call, he was blessed to have got great insights from the Head of the Poundarikapuram Mutt in Srirangam. “When I was in a bit of a confused state, He gave me the confidence that Lord Ranganatha would take care of me. He provided insights about what every devotee should do at Srirangam. He asked me to perform a pradakshanam of the seven prakaras starting from the outermost prakara and then quit the Government job” he told this writer even as his caring amma provides him with another tumbler of hot water.

A day prior to this writer meeting Venkatesh, he had a chance to meet the Head of the Poundarikapuram Mutt in Thiru Kudanthai and the latter expressed happiness at the Doctor starting his own clinic while at the same time continuing to spread the dharmic messages among people through his spiritual lectures.

Now into Nalayira Divya Prabhandham

After presenting insights into the 1000 namaas, he wondered what next “Many of the devotees listen to the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham but I realised that not all know the indepth meaning of each of these sacred verses. I decided to present insights into the word by word meaning of the sacred verses.”

A saivite devotee who met this writer in front of the Kapaleeswarar temple on Tuesday said as to how she has been captivated by his presentation on Divya Prabhandham and how she wants to now understand the meaning of all the 4000 verses.

He has also written books on Sampradayam and its relevance to annual festivals in Perumal temples.

Unflinching Devotion as a way of life

He does not see Upanyasam and his lecture series as a money making opportunity. “Philosophical explanation of scriptures is my way of life. I see any financial returns from Upanyasam as Prasadam.”

He points to the story of Karunakaraswamy as an endorsement of this. "Facing financial challenges, my mentor's forefathers had sold their lands including the Thiru Maligai in Vaduvur that left them saddened. He went to Lord Rama and challenged him that he had taken everything from the family but the Lord would not be able to take away the Bhakthi from him. 4 decades later, after securing back the financial strength, Karunakaraswamy was able to get back the same Thirumaligai in its same form and structure and the name of the man who sold it back to him was Kothanda Raman!!!"

"That is my real inspiration. If we show unflinching devotion towards the Lord, he will bless us. Hence only Spiritual Power can help us sustain my upanyasams and not focus on money" says 32 year old Dr. Venkatesh even as he gets ready to head to his clinic in the evening.

This temple finds a reference in the Parasara Kshetra Mahatmiyam with Sage Vashishta having performed penance invoking the blessings of Perumal

The Maratha Prince found the current Moolavar Idol beneath the Ayyan Kulam a few centuries ago

One of the 88 temples under the administration of the Thanjavur Palace, Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple finds a mention as Minmalai Venkatesar in the Thanjai Vellai Pillayar Kuravanji literature alongside Thanjai Maa Mani Koil (Divya Desam), Raghunatha Perumal and Aadhi Kesava Perumal (South of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal).

The Moolavar idol that one finds today was located by the Thanjavur prince centuries ago in Ayyan Kulam following an invisible message from the Lord directing the Prince to that tank.

Parasara Kshetra Mahatmiyam refers to the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple as being located 4miles South of Panchanatheswarar temple (Thiruvayaru) and South West of Vashishteswaram (now Karanthai). As per the legend, Sage Vashista undertook penance here in this Kshetram invoking the blessings of Perumal who happy with the penance provided darshan to the Sage. A beautiful temple tank and a Nandavanam was created at this place.

Parasarar performed his pooja with the sacred water and flowers presenting 108 names of Prasanna Venkatesan.

Following the killing of Thanjakasuran, Perumal acceded to his request of naming this place after him as ‘Thanjai’.

Muthuswamy Dikshithar has also presented verses in praise of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal “Prasanna Venkateswaram Bajarey, Vaadi Vasantha Bairavi Nutham Shri”.

This section had featured a story on Venkatesa Bhattar, archaka at Saligrama Kothandaramar temple in Punnai Nallur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/06/punnai-nallur-kothandaramar-temple.html). His younger brother Srikanth Bhattar has been performing the role of the archaka at the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple in Thanjavur over the last two decades after the Vaikanasa Agama initiation from Dr. Muthu Bhattachar for four years.

He has just sent his 10 year old son to the Agama Patshala in Kudavasal and is hoping that he would continue the temple service in the future.

The two big annual utsavams takes place in Chitrai and Puratasi.

As with other temples under his administration, Babaji Rajah Bhonsle (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html), the current Prince of the Thanjavur Palace takes good care of the Priest with a fair salary and other benefits. Currently, the Prince is actively involved with the restoration of the Venugopalaswamy temple on the Southern Banks of Cauvery in Thiruvayaru (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thanjavur-palace-venugopalaswamy-temple.html).

Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple is located near the Ayyan Bazaar Street in the heart of Thanjavur and about 3kms South West of Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/thanjai-maa-mani-divya-desam.html).

Pending Payment to Nadaswaram Artistes seven months after the Panguni Utsavam shows the HR & CE and the Kapali Temple administration in poor light

"We are not asking HRCE for a favour, We only want the money promised. They are insulting traditional artistes from remote towns by making us follow up" - Artistes who performed at the Kapali Panguni Utsavam 2024

Almost, seven months after the Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, the Nadaswaram artistes who presented during the street processions have not been paid their dues. As per the invitation (photo attached below) of the Utsavam, P Vijayakumar Reddy, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the temple and Preetha Reddy sponsored these artistes at the utsavam. They have been the sponsors for several years.

A couple of years ago as well, this writer wrote a story on delayed payments. That year, it was a matter of a couple of months but this time, almost 7 months have passed but the payments have not been made.

This section had featured a story in April this year about the pending payment. Half a year has passed since then but the payment to these traditional artistes continue to remain pending. Interestingly, the same sponsor at the same temple made immediate payment to high profile artistes who presented Kutcheries at the Navarathri Mandapam soon after the completion of the Panguni Utsavam, as part of the Vidayatri Series.

One wonders as to why the traditional artistes performing at the sacred street processions have been given this second-hand treatment and their payment held back for so many months.

Minister promises to solve this issue

When this writer brought this to the notice of the HR & CE Minister PK Sekar Babu over the weekend, he promised to take care of this issue and said that he would ensure that this long pending payment would be made.

Artistes left saddened and disappointed

In April, Ayyappan, hailing from Mei Thiru Gnanam, one of the artistes who presented at the street procession told this writer that all that they are asking for is to be respected as a traditional artiste “The Sambhavanai is a mark of respect to the artistes who presented before the Lord. We console ourselves that we were blessed enough to present in front of Kapaleeswarar and that feeling is unmatched.”

Another artiste, Murugavel from Sithakadu, had performed on the day of the Adi Kaara Nandi utsavam. He had told this writer in April that not receiving the Sambhavanai even after one month was saddening but they have no complaints about that “as the satisfaction for us is from the performance and happiness that we saw on the faces of the devotees.”

Paid my personal money to my team members!!!

45 year old TPN Ramanathan also hails from Thiru Mei Gnanam and he presented on the second day at the street procession in March this year. On Tuesday morning, he told this writer that he feels very aggrieved and disappointed at the poor treatment of the artistes “Since my team members should not suffer financially, I have paid my personal money to them. Most of them are from mayavaram and around and not being given the promised Sambhavanai is very unfair. I followed up with Kapali Temple’s Mohan Dass anna for many months but he too has no answer. He keeps saying the same thing that they will receive the money but even he does not know when. What option is there for us other than to wait endlessly and hope that the Kapali Temple administration would pay us one day for our services.”

“I have worked hard for this. We are not asking for favour from the Kapali Temple administration or the HR & CE. They invited us to perform at the utsavam and we are only asking for what is due to us.”

Feel shy and embarrassed to ask but it is an insult to traditional artistes

54 year old TPJ Selvarathinam hails from Thiruvisa Nallur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/04/thiru-nallur-sundareswarar-temple.html) has a doctorate in music. He came along with his troupe by train from Kumbakonam spending his own money. On a rainy Tuesday morning, the day when the North East Monsoon hit Chennai, he told this writer that he feels shy and embarrassed to even be talking about the pending payment. “We came only because Asthana Vidwan Mohan Dass Anna invited us. He was keen for us to present as he wanted traditional artistes from remote towns to perform at the procession. 8 of us came from Kumbakonam. Not only did we spend our own money for the train trip, but we also had to take care of our food and all other expenses. The temple administration did not give us anything – not even water during the long two hour presentation or after", he said in a very sad tone at the way the artistes have been treated.

"As a traditional artiste who performed at the annual utsavam of such a large temple, I feel embarrassed to even ask for this money but at the same time, my mind has been continuously questioning the fact as to why a the temple administration would show such disrespect to traditional artistes who performed during the street procession on their invitation. We feel deeply saddened that such an administration would ill-treat traditional nadaswaram artistes by making us follow up for our payment. This poor treatment meted out to us would definitely bring a bad name to this temple administration at the way they are insulting nadaswaram artistes from remote temple towns", Selvarathinam told this writer.

One does not know why the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Kapaleeswarar Temple does not want to pay the money to these artistes after putting his name as the sponsor in the utsavam Nadaswaram programme invitation. Will the HR&CE minister intervene in this as promised and ensure that the payment is made to the artistes. Else this poor treatment meted out to the Nadaswaram artistes is likely to bring a bad name to the HR & CE department.

This section will track the developments on this front.

Cauvery Theerthavari in the morning rain, a vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Satru Murai event in the evening mark a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai

A feature of the annual Vedantha Desikar Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai is that it starts on Puratasi Shravanam and runs for ten days. The Sannidhi archakar, Sudarshan Bhattar, who also doubles up as the Maniyakarar at the temple is at the Desikar Sannidhi at 8am. There is a small devotee crowd trickling in on this misty Monday morning that also turns out to be a muhurtham day. As is the case in temples in remote towns, the archakar has to wait for everyone to come in. The Nadaswaram player is missing as he is out at a wedding.

It is past 9am when Vedantha Desikar starts on the procession through the western entrance of the temple. The archaka and the Veda Ghosti personnel take to their two wheelers to ride their way to the Cauvery while the Kainkaryapakas who don the role of the Sripatham carry their Acharya from the temple to the Southern Banks of the Cauvery wading through the busy bazaar street and past the Chakrapani temple.

Grand Thirumanjanam

It is a once in a year event for Vedantha Desikar on the banks of the Cauvery and it really was a grand Thirumanjanam with the Vadakalai Acharya being anointed with fruits, honey and sandalwood. The Cauvery river bank reverberated with Vedic recital even as a few ladies who had gathered to watch the Thirumanjanam almost in happy tears watching their acharya's face and body turn from Turmeric paste to Sandalwood paste. It is past 10am and the slight drizzle has turned into a heavy rain but unmindful of this, the Kainkaryapakas bring several Kudams of water from the Cauvery for the Thirumanjanam.

Shortly after, scores of them make their way down the steps and enter the Cauvery in pouring rain for the Theerthavari. Devotees are excited to dip into the river in this Thula month on the auspicious occasion of their Acharya’s Theerthavari.

Following the Theerthavari, Sudarshan Bhattar along with Vedic Pundit Kesavan, also an alankaram expert, decorate the Acharya for half an hour following the Theerthavari. Kesavan's aged amma is caught in the rain and unable to leave the mandapam. She is 'happily angry' with her son as she remarks that he was unlikely to finish the alankaram soon as he gets himself lost when he is with the Acharya.

It is 11am when Vedantha Desikar makes his way back to the temple through the flooded streets with the Sripatham showing great commitment to carry the Lord back in the rain that did not seem to relent.

Thiru Mangai's special love for Kudanthai Lord

For Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, Thiru Kudanthai was a location that seemed to be close to his heart. He found great joy in presenting a separate Prabhandham on Lord Aaraavamudhan at this temple and the Prabhandham Ghosti brought this to life with their presentation of Thiru Kurungthandagam, Thiru Nedunthandagam and Thiru Ezhu Kootrurukkai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html) with Vedantha Desikar seated in front of the Perumal Sannidhi and listening with joy to this rendition.

நால் திசை நடுங்க அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி

நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி

ஒரு தனி வேழத்து அரந்தையை

ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை

After Mangalasasanam at the Andal Sannidhi, Vedantha Desikar returned back to his abode near the eastern entrance of the temple where devotees were served with Chakkarai Pongal and Puliyotharai.

A Decoration that delights devotees

Past 1pm, Komalavalli Thayar and Sarangapani Perumal made their way to the Desikar Sannidhi bringing to end the morning event. After attending a wedding in the first half, Soundararaja Bhattar(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html), known for his great devotional attachment to Sarangapani Perumal, arrives at the Desikar Sannidhi and for the next three hours is involved in decoration of the Divine Couple and the Acharya.

By 5pm, devotees have gathered in front of the Desikar Sannidhi to have a first look at the alankaram. And they are not disappointed. None of them are able to take away their eyes from the delightful decoration of the Divine Couple who are to provide darshan for the next four hours at the Desikar Sannidhi.

Vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti

At 6pm, the Prabhandham Ghoshti began their slow rendering of the tenth Canto of the Tiruvoimozhi followed by a fast paced presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthi. By 8pm, the devotees had flocked in good numbers ahead of the Satru Murai. By now, Karunakarachariar, who is closely associated with this temple, too joined the Ghoshti.

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில்

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில்

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம் கோயில்

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில்

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து சேர்ந்த கோயில்

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும் தீர்க்கும் கோயில்

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே

After Paatraachar presented Sarangapani Perumal’s parivattam to Vedantha Desikar, the Prabhandham recital reaches its peak with the Ghoshti members presenting Adikara Sangraham, Prabhandha Saaram and Pillayanthaathi in high pitched voice much to the delight of the devotees.

It had been a long day for the personnel at the madapalli. Accolades poured in from the devotees after they taste the multiple sweets, Kaaram, hot Pongal and Puliyotharai that is served to them at 10pm.

Karunakarachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html) is particularly happy at the way the Satru Murai of Vadakalai Acharya has been celebrated at the Sarangapani Koil. The decoration of Perumal, Thayar and Desikar, the presentation of the Prabhandham and Veda Ghoshti and the quality of the sacred food makes him feel good in the way tradition has been followed on this evening. He stays back till 11pm and as he walks alongside Komalavalli Thayar on the procession from the Desikar Sannidhi to her abode makes the remark that it is always the Thayar who makes her way back first.

Mosquito Menace - A challenge for all

Late into the night, he is critical of the mosquito menace at the temple on this evening and bemoans the absence of the HR & CE EO at this grand celebration and the lack of steps to control the mosquitos that too were present in good numbers alongside the Kainkaryapakas and the devotees.

Sarangapani Perumal's return procession to his Sannidhi past 11pm marked the end of a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai. It had been a long day for the Kainkarayapakas but the devotees who had gathered at the temple to watch the events unfold on the Satru Murai day of Vedantha Desikar Utsavam seem to have enjoyed the celebration.

New look Raja Gopuram, Gold plated Vimanam, Repaired Vahanas but the HR & CE has taken back all the Utsava idols to Kumbakonam preventing the conduct of the processional utsavams!!!

Historical house of the priest has been brought down with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!!

For a long time, Sundara Perumal Koil located about 10kms west of Kumbakonam had remained in a dilapidated condition. A few years ago, ‘Bhagavathar’ Aravamudhan took charge of the temple as the priest after quitting his corporate job. Since then, activities have heightened at the temple with the revival of utsavams and crowds coming back to the temple in good numbers especially during the mandalabhisekam phase.

The Raja Gopuram that had a dilapidated feel about it has received a fresh coat of paint and wears a new colourful look. The young priest managed to rope in a donor to gold plate the kalasam for the inner Gopuram and also a gold plate for the Perumal Vimanam. Taking away the historical feel, the entrance to the Andal Sannidhi has been replenished with new marble flooring.

A Priest who served for five decades

In October 2009, this section had featured a story on the handsome lord at Sundara Perumal Koil but after the passing away of Sundara Raja Bhattar who had served as the priest for five decades from the early 1960s, the temple had been without a priest for almost a decade before the young Aravamudhan took over. In the century gone by, Perumal provided Garuda Sevai on Tamil New Year’s day. There were also processions on the occasion of Krishna Jayanthi and on the Kanu day in Thai. 10 day Navarathri Festival too was celebrated in a grand way with Horse Vahana Procession on Vijayadasami. There was a four kalam pooja every day with sacred food presentations to the Lord that included Curd rice, Sundal and Sweet Pongal. In the outer prakara was a huge Nandavanam that was filled with different varieties of Jasmine trees. The Lord and Thayar were draped with beautiful garlands especially on festive occasions.

When this writer visited the temple in 2009 to meet Sundara Raja Bhattar, he was residing in the first house opposite the temple on the Sannidhi Street. The Mei Kavalar resided in the next house. Unfortunately, both these houses have been brought down this year with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!! One wonders as to why the houses that had historically been the residence of the priest and the Mei Kavalar will be converted to a Kalyana Mandapam.

A Grand Revival by a young priest

For the first time in decades, Perumal went on a street procession on the newly repaired Horse Vahana on the occasion of Vijayadasami earlier this month. Garuda Sevai also took place this year after several decades following the consecration. The priest, who also doubles up as the cook at the madapalli, has also managed to revive the Navarathri Utsavam for Thayar bringing in good crowd that had been hitherto missing. Thayar also presented Oonjal Sevai over nine days. He also organised the Anna Kooda Utsavam on a Saturday in Puratasi. The Thaligai presentation to Perumal too has been revived and during the utsavams this year, good quantity of Thaligai has been presented and distributed among the devotees, much to the delight of the local residents.

A devotee from Chennai has come forward to take care of the accommodation for the priest and his young family. The HR & CE too has almost trebled the salary of the priest this year.

Utsava Idols taken away to safe custody in Kumbakonam

However, the HR & CE has taken away all the utsava idols back to the Ramaswamy temple in Kumbakonam despite the presence of safety lockers at the Sundara Perumal Koil. This has meant that no processions can take place every month on sacred occasions and these are possible only when the idols are brought from Kumbakonam for select festivals.

After all the efforts to undertake the restoration efforts, this has come as a dampener to the residents as well as the priest. It is hoped that the HR & CE will hand back all the utsava idols to the temple so the processions can take place for Thayar, Perumal and Azhvaars and Acharyas.

Colourful Nandavanam

The nandavanam too is now abound with colourful flowers that are knotted and presented to the deities every day. However, the pathway around the outer prakara has been stopped half way by the HR & CE thus preventing the devotees from performing a pradakshina around the prakara. It is hoped that they will soon resume this work and complete the pathway.

Despite these challenges, good times are back at the historical Sundara Perumal Koil. And a lot of the credit for this revival should go to the young priest who has enthusiastically taken up the restoration work engaging with local residents, the HR & CE and the devotee donors.

Moolavar Sundara Raja Perumal is seen in a handsome standing posture.

How to reach

Sundara Perumal Koil is located 10kms West of Kumbakonam on the Thanjavur Highway near Papanasam. Buses between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur stop near the railway level crossing at Sundara Perumal Koil. Passenger Trains stop at Sundara Perumal Koil Railway Station. The temple is about half a km from the Railway station / Gate.

When here, visit Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/05/kalinga-narthana-temple-oothukadu.html) - 10kms from here.

The Utsava Deity went on a procession around the Prakara before resting himself for an hour long display on the Oonjal

Bhattars double up as Vedic Reciters during the Oonjal Utsavam

Around a hundred devotees watched the start of the three day Oonjal Utsavam at the Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam in Madurai on Wednesday (Nov 13) evening, a day when the Utsava deity at another Divya Desam, Azhagar Koil, not far from here went on a trip atop the Thiru Maliruncholai hills for Thailakkappu utsavam at Noopur Ganga. At 7.30pm, the utsava deity with glittering pathakam on his chest and seen in a grand white silk vastram went on a procession around the prakara with Sathatha Vaishnava, who continues to perform the Kainkaryam at this temple, leading the way.

The Greatness of this Divya Desam

It was after invoking the blessings of Koodal Azhagar that Vishnu Chittar arrived in the court of Vallabha Deva to present his views on 'Parathaththuvam'. His description of Lord Narayana as the Supreme Being and his narration of references from the Vedic Scriptures and the suggestion that worshipping him in one’s life time with devotion was the highest form of worship thrilled Vallabha Deva Pandya.Even as he was finishing his speech, the golden coins were showered on him for Vallabha Deva instinctively realised that he had found the ultimate solution.

It was then that Vishnu Chittar was conferred the title of ‘Bhattar Piran’ by Raja Simhan I (Vallabha Deva) with the king ordering a royal procession for Vishnu Chittar to be taken around the streets of Madurai.

When Vishnu Chittar heard dissenting voices from his detractors asking him if he could show the Lord, Bhattar Piran, once again, invoked the blessings of Lord Koodal Azhagar. And shortly after, much to the delight of everyone there, Koodal Azhagar, appeared on his Garuda Vahana from above the Ashtanga Vimana along with Goddess Lakshmi.Worried that evil eyes should not fall on this beautiful Lord, Vishnu Chittar falling into a trance, showered verses of praise expressing concern for the Lord’s safety using the bell tied to the elephant as his Thaalam.

பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆணி தன்னில்

பெருந் ஜோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே

முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்

துயக்கற மால் பருத்து வத்தை திருமாசெப்பி

வானர மேல் மதுரை வளம் வரவே

வானில் கருட வாகனமாய்த் தோன்ற

வாழ்த்தும் ஈரணி பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு

நானூற்று எழுவத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும் எனக்கு உதவு நீயே – Vedanta Desikar's praise of Periyazhvaar's Royal Procession

A beautiful alankaram

The devotees watched in awe the beautiful decoration of the Lord and even found a happy smile on his face as the priest moved the swing in a slow manner. Devotees, who also gathered in good numbers from the North, were particularly curious about the Muthu Kondai and posed queries about its significance.

Shortage of Vedic Scholars at this Divya Desam

While in the century gone by, there were Vedic Scholars presenting the Vedas during this utsavam, it is now left to the priests themselves to present the Vedas during the Oonjal. Following the Thiru Aradhanam, Balaji Bhattar along with his brother also doubled up as the Vedic Scholars to recite the Vedas.

By this time, the devotee crowd had gathered steam and they lined up the two sides of the Oonjal for the presentation of Theertham, Shatari and Prasadam.

Shortly after 8.30pm, the Sripatham were back at the Oonjal to carry the Lord back to his abode bringing to end day one of the rather simple Oonjal Utsavam at this historical Divya Desam.

Kallazhagar went up the steep ‘Victory Hill’ this Wednesday for the Thailakappu Neeraattam Utsavam on the occasion of Sukla Paksha Dwadasi in Aippasi

In the fourth canto of his Thirumozhi, Periyazhvar provides great insights into Thiru Maliruncholaiand makes repeated references to Noopura Gangai and its greatness. He says that celestial maidens came all the way to bathe in the sacred falls that flowed down from the Thiru Malirun Cholai hills. He praises Noopura Gangai as producing sacred water. The Kalpataru flowers in heaven are filled with nectar like fragrance and he compares that to Noopura Gangai which he praises as having a similar fragrance

ஈட்டிய பல் பொருள்கள் எம்பிரானுக்கு அடியுறை என்று

ஒட்டரும் தண் சிலம்பாறு உடை மாலிருஞ் சோலையதே

Legend has it that during his Trivikrama Avatara, Lord Narayana’s feet stretched to Brahmma Logam where a delighted Brahmma poured the sacred water on the Silambu / Noopuram worn by the Lord on his feet. This sacred water poured from the Lord’s feet to this place in Thiru Maliruncholai on Sukla Paksha Dwadasi in Aipasi. In celebration of this legendary episode, Lord Kallazhagar, the Utsava deity of Azhagar Koil, makes an annual trip up the hilly terrain to Noopura Gangai on this day every year for the Thailakappu and Neerattam Utsavam.

வானாட்டில் நின்று மாமலர்க் கற்பகத் தொத்த இழி

தேனாறு பாயும் தென் திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலையே

This event was enacted this Wednesday (Nov 13) at Thiru Maliruncholai Malai, a hill that Periyazhvaar refers to as one with thousands of lakes and flower groves and where the Lord is reclining with a thousand arms and a thousand crowns on the serpent with a thousand hoods. There is a rock carving atop the Nupura Ganga of the Lord in a Sayana Kolam on a huge Serpant.

ஆயிரம் தோல் பரப்பி முடி ஆயிரம் மின்னிலக

ஆயிரம் பைந்தலைய அனந்தசயனன் ஆளும் மலை

ஆயிர மாருகளும் கணைகள் பலவாயிரமும்

Kallazhagar, the Utsava deity at the Azhagar Koil Divya Desam began a two hour procession from his abode at Azhagar Koil to the sacred Noopura Gangai Theertham atop Maliruncholai hills. Not so long ago, this trip used to take longer and Kallazhagar would reach the mandapam atop the hill only after 11.30am but with infra development has led to a great improvement facilitating a comparitively easier trip for the Sripatham.

Newly laid road up the Maliruncholai Hill

Till half a century ago, the procession took place through the hilly terrain, bereft of a proper road and the Sripatham Thangis along with Kainkaryapakas had to wade their way through bushes, tall trees and a rocky path uphill to reach Noopoura Gangai. Old timers recounted as to how they took to this arduous procession with great devotion keeping a close watch on wild animals along with the way. It was quite a strenuous trip up the hill with most of the Kainkaryapakas ending up with bleeding feet but in the decades gone by they did it all with devotion to the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai. With the gaining popularity of Pazhamuthir Cholai, one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, the tar road was relaid ahead of the utsavam paving way for a less strenuous procession.

Periyazhvaar describes Thiru Maliruncholai as home to huge elephants that make their way into the forest in large numbers as a herd. The Wild elephants are seen chasing helpless cows into the forest of Thiru Maliruncholai. Even as late as the 1970s and 80s, the priests had such ‘wild’ experiences during this annual trip of the Lord in Aippasi.

Hundreds of devotees gathered at the temple early morning on Wednesday and led by the temple elephant and the white horse and to the tunes of the Nadaswaram, Kallazhagar began his procession going around the inner prakara before taking leave from the Lord protecting the temple at Padhinettaam Padi.

Historical Inscription

An Inscription on the wall between the Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi of the Thiru Maliruncholai Divya Desam in the outskirts of Madurai refers to an undertaking during the coronation ceremony of Sundara Pandyan that he would continue the ‘Thalai Aruvi’ Utsavam and that if he did not it would amount to killing a 1000 sacred cows, testifying that the one of its kind festival at Nupura Ganga (Silambaru) is a historical one.

Periyazhvaar says that Pandya King Nedumaran of Koodal came to Thiru Maliruncholai in a thanking gesture to the Lord and to celebrate his victory. Those who visited the Lord at Thiru Maliruncholai and invoked his blessings before an event always returned with victory and came back to thank the Lord. And hence he describes it as a VICTORY HILL.

கொல் நவில் கூறவேற் கோன்

நெடுமாறன் தென் கூடற் கோன்

தென்னன் கொண்டாடும்

தென் திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலையே

Despite being a weekday, buses carried devotees in good numbers to Pazhamuthir Cholai making it a challenging procession for the Sripatham thangis as they had to make way for the vehicles plying up as well as coming down.

Aru Padai Veedu Murugar Prasadam

Led by the Chief Priest Muthu Kumar Gurukal, the representatives of Murugan temple presented Mariyathai to Sundararaja Perumal while he crossed Pazhamuthir Cholai on this once a year Aippasi trip to Noopura Gangai for the Thailakkaappu utsavam.

Beautifully Decorated Noopura Gangai Mandapam

Hundreds of devotees had already stationed themselves in front of the mandapam at Noopura Gangai that was decorated with hundreds of apples and oranges to welcome Sundararaja Perumal. For over an hour, they were treated to a delightful Thailakkappu presentation by the popular and well known chief priest Ambi Narayana Bhattar. An ‘alankaram specialist’ he is continuing in the footsteps of his forefathers who presented this alankaram over the last century. After applying the sacred oil multiple times, he devotionally combed the Lord’s long hair sending the devotees into a trance. Following the Deepaarathanai, as expected there was a big rush to receive the sacred Thailam from the Bhattar. After a 90 minute presentation, it was commendable of him to patiently to reach out to every single devotee to present this oil to them.

The Eternal Spring

In line with Periyazhvaar’s praise of Silambaru as an ‘eternal water spring’, water gushes down the slope to Azhagar Koil from Nupura Ganga all through the year without a break, quite a unique feature of this location. It was 1pm when Sundararaja Perumal made his down the steps to Noopura Gangai after Mariyathai in front of Raakaayi Amman Sannidhi for a two hour bath after the Thailakkappu. This sacred moment of the Utsavam when Kallazhagar makes his way to Silambaru, where he has a ‘direct’ bath from the spring is the only one of its kind in a Divya Desam.

Periyazhvaar says that devotees came from towns and villages to take a holy dip in Noopura Gangai in an effort to rid themselves of the sins. And when Ambi Narayanan Bhattar splashed this holy water on the devotees they were reminded of Periyazhvaar’s verse and their face brightened up and they seemed to be gripped with an elated feeling of devotion. For a couple of hours, devotees thronged the Noopura Gangai Theertham for a darshan of the Lord having bath, as well as to receive the blessings through the sacred water splashed on them by the Bhattar. There was great devotional fervour among the devotees as they lined up down the steps to have that once in a year darshan of the Divya Desam Perumal.

The Victory Hill -Thiru Maliruncholai

அலை வலைமை தவிர்த்த

அழகன் அலங்காரன் மலை

குல மலை கோல மலை

குளிர் மா மலை கொற்ற மலை

நில மலை நீண்ட மலை

திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலை யதே

Thiru Koshtiyur Madhavan who has had a close devotional attachment with Azhagar Koil for many decades led Thirupathi Jeer to Noopura Gangai to receive a splash of the Noopura Gangai Theertham from the Bhattar.

After a day long stay at Noopura Gangai, Kallazhagar made his way back to Azhagar Koil in the evening bringing to end the Aippasi Thailakkappu- Neeraattam Utsavam.

It was here that Lord Muruga came to rest after slaying the asura in Tiruchendur

Muthu Kumar Gurukal has been carrying on the archaka service handed by his forefathers

42year old Muthu Kumar Gurukal has been visiting the Arupadai Veedu Murugan temple in Pazhamuthir Cholai right from the time he was a young boy way back in the 1980s. He would often accompany his Thatha Karthikeya Gurukal on the long uphill path to the temple watching him performing the pooja with great devotion.

His Thatha had joined the temple in the 1960s and performed service for over three decades. A week after the now popular and grand Kanda Sashti Utsavam, Muthu Kumar Gurukal recounts the tales around the annual Sashti that his Thatha had narrated to him during his school days “My Thatha would carry all the pooja items on his head ahead of Kanda Sashti Utsavam and walk all the way from his quarters in Azhagar Koil to Pazha Muthir Cholai at a time where there was no proper road and the entire hill was inhabited by wild animals. He also doubled up as the cook at the madapalli. There were not too many devotees in those time, very minimal thattu kaasu and it was financially very challenging for the family in that phase.”

Financial Challenges didn't deter him

While he saw the financial challenges that his thatha and appa faced, it would have been normal for Muthu Kumar Gurukal to have taken the academics route to gain entry into the corporate world like many of his contemporaries but right from a young age his mind had been directed towards a devotional way of life and continuing the archaka service that he saw the two of them carry out during his childhood with great sincerity.

Quits school, joins Allur Patshala

He quit academics after class VIII in the mid 1990s and joined the Veda Agama Patshala in Allur (Trichy) “I never visualised a college life or moving away from temple service to work in a company. The thought had been instilled in my mind at an early age that service at this Arupadai Veedu should be my way of life and I had no second thoughts on this.”

Soon after his Patshala education, at the turn of the century, he joined his appa in archaka service at Pazha Muthir Cholai.

A share in tickets and abhisekams

Contrary to what is the practice in most HR & CE temples now, Muthu Kumar Gurukal does not take a fixed monthly salary and continues the historical practice at Pazha Muthir Cholai. He has a percentage share in archanai, alankaram, abhisekam and ticket collection, in addition to the thattu kaasu.

Big Turnaround, Huge devotee crowd

After the Kumbabhisekam in 2014, fortunes have changed dramatically at the temple and with the gaining popularity of Aru Padai Veedu, much like Divya Desams and Paadal Petra Sthalam, devotees have been thronging Pazha Muthir Cholai in large numbers.

Muthu Kumar Gurukal says that even on normal days, the tourists have been visiting in good numbers so much so that he now has full time assistants for the sannidhis to support him daily as well as during the utsavams, a far cry from the decades when his thatha just had two watchmen for company. Over the last decade or so, there has also been a full time paricharaka at the madapalli to take care of the Neivedyam unlike the dark decades of the second half of the 20th century when Karthikeya Gurukal and later his son had to double up both as the priest and the cook at the madapalli.

Grand Utsavams and Vahana Processions

Vaikasi Visakam, Aadi Karthigai, Kanda Sashti, Thai Poosam are all celebrated in a grand way with abisekam, alankaram and purapadu.

Saivite Priests welcome Sundararaja Perumal

The Murugan temple in Pazha Muthir Cholai is also symbolic of the Saivite Vaishnavite unity as was seen last week on the Dwadashi day in Aippasi when Sundararaja Perumal from Azhagar Koil made his way to Noopura Gangai for Thailakkappu and Neeraattam utsavam. The priests from the Murugan temple climbed the steep hilly path to present flower garland to Perumal on his way to Noopura Gangai.

Lord Muruga came here after slaying the Asuras

While the Azhvaars referred to the Perumal’s presence in Maaliruncholai Malai and the greatness of this hill (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/thiru-maliruncholai-periyazhvar.html), Saivite Poets referred to the presence of Murugan at Pazha Muthir Cholai Malai. It was here that he came to rest after slaying the asuras in Tirchendur. Silambaru, the sacred falls, that Sundararaja Perumal visits every year in Aippasi, is just a couple of hundred yards from Pazha Muthir Cholai temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/11/azhagar-koil-noopura-ganga-aippasi.html). Arunagirinathar has sung 15 verses of praise of the Lord of Pazha Muthir Cholai. He refers to Solai Malai being abound with mansions and mandapams and gopurams giving an indication that this would have been a beautiful temple town with people living a wealthy life.

Maliruncholai Malai also finds a reference in the historic Paripatal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/paripatal-on-vishnu.html).

Muthu Kumar Gurukal is delighted that he has been presented with an opportunity to perform archaka service at this abode of Lord Muruga. He says that the great devotion with which his thatha and appa performed service at this temple in those dark decades is now paying off with the revival of this historical temple and that the Lord has given him everything he could have hoped for in this life. As with many priests of this generation, he has had a late marriage and is hoping that he would be blessed with a son to continue the archaka service at Pazha Muthir Cholai.

The temple is open from 6.30am to 7pm on all days. A bus plies every 15minutes or so from Azhagar Koil to Pazha Muthir Cholai (ticket Rs. 10).

Pazha Muthir Cholai is about 2 kms uphill from Azhagar Koil Divya Desam

A Kaisika Ekadasi Gift for Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar

TN CM’s Sambandhi presents Rs. 1.5crore Rathna Kreedam on Wednesday

It was meant to be a day of fasting and one renowned for the recital of Kasika Puranam, a legend relating to Nambaduvan and his unflinching devotion. But devotees at the Ranganathaswamy temple were in for a big surprise shortly after the 10am procession of Namperumal, the first of the two processions on this Wednesday.

Harish Bhattar, who had on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-panguni-uthiram-2024.html) in March this year secured a Rs. 60lakhs Kili diamond necklace, has done an extraordinary two for Nampuermal in 2024. On Kaisika Ekadasi, he has secured a Rs. 1.50crore Rathna Kreedam that the processional deity adorned at 11.30am at the Santanu Mandapam just before the start of the Thirumanjanam.

The Rathna Kreedam for Namperumal is the first Kreedam for the utsava deity in 200 years after the Pandyan Kondai in the 19th century.

It was Harish Bhattar who provided the measurements and saw through the entire process of making the Kreedam like he did in the case of the diamond necklace earlier this year.

The first procession on the Kaisika Ekadasi day began shortly after 10am with Namperumal reaching the Santanu Mandapam at 1030am. While the devotees eagerly gathered for the Thirumanjanam, they were surprised at this precious gift that Namperumal adorned ahead of the Thirumanjanam.

The Rathna Kreedam was presented this morning by TN CM’s son in law’s (Sabareesan) father Veda Moorthy to Mariappan, the JC of the temple with Murali Bhattar and his son Harish Bhattar taking possession of the Kreedam before they adorned it on Namperumal at the Santanu Mandapam.

For Harish Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-harish-bhattar.html), it was a morning of great satisfaction having played a role in two invaluable ornaments for the deities at the Srirangam temple, both of which are likely to last for centuries.

While this Rathna Kreedam will be adorned on Ranganayaki Thayar, there is another similar priceless Kreedam in the offing that is expected to be placed on Namperumal over the next 12 months.

On the occasion of his birthday - Karthigai Rohini – Thirupaan Azhvaar made a trip on Saturday morning to Periya Perumal and Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhis

On Saturday (Dec 14) morning, on the occasion of his birthday, Thiru Paan Azhvaar brought back memories of his unflinching devotion towards Ranganatha Swamy from the banks of the Cauvery and the way he was rewarded by Periya Perumal.

Great Devotional Message

The legendary tale of Thiru Paan Azhvaar’s devotional endeavour still holds good over a thousand years later. Over a 1000 years ago, Thiru Paan Azhvaar presented a great lesson for the devotee world to follow in their every day lives. His devotional way of life was clear. Being an outcaste, he was restricted from entering the Srirangam temple but he showcased to the world with his devotion that no matter who you are, if you show sincere faith in the Lord he will take care of you.

The story of Thiru Paan Azhvaar is a classic illustration of the Lord sharing the pain with the devotee and being by the side of a devotee, when he needs HIM the most.

The Baanar community lived in Srirangam on the Cauvery river banks near Melur. The Baanars were well known for their special penchant for playing sweet music. Among them was one who developed a special affection for Lord Ranganatha from a very young age and who later went on to compose 10 beautiful verses - Amalanaathipiraan in praise of the Lord of Srirangam.

Prayers from the southern side of Cauvery

Being denied entry into the temple, this young man, Thiru Baanar (Thiru Paan Azhvaar), had only heard of Lord Ranganatha and had never seen him. Every morning, he would wake up early and before dawn walk up to the banks of the Cauvery with a Veena in hand and facing the direction of the temple immerse himself in the thoughts of the Lord. This man would visualise the Lord, engage himself in deep conversation with the Lord day in day out and sing praises of the Lord as visualised by him in his thoughts.

Baanar pelted with stone

One morning, Sage Loka Saranga came to the banks of Cauvery to bathe and to then proceed to meet the Lord in Srirangam. Finding this man blocking his way, the sage indicated to him with a show of hands to move away from his path. Finding no reply, the sage lost his patience and mistakin this lack of reaction for arrogance, he threw a stone at the man. With blood oozing from his forehand, the man opened his eyes and found the sage behind him in an angry mood. The man soon realized that he had obstructed the path of the sage and had delayed the sage’s bath and his visit to the Lord Ranganatha temple. Immediately, he moved away from this place so the sage could carry on with his devotion to the Lord.

Lord Ranganatha bleeds - Shares pain with his devotee

After completing the formalities, the sage proceeded to the Lord Ranganatha temple. On reaching the sannidhi, he found to his shock blood from the fore head of Lord Ranganatha. That night, in his dream, he saw Lord Ranganatha unhappy with him and expressing his displeasure about the sage‘s treatment of the devotee who was immersed in his morning prayers. The Lord said ‘To those who show utmost devotion, I become one among them and share their pains. You have hurt Baanar, who despite not being able to visit me, has been relentless in his devotion from the Cauvery banks. I am today sharing the pains of Baanar.”

Sage Loka Saranga carries Baanar on his shoulder

Realising his folly, the sage pleaded with the Lord to forgive his actions and asked for a reprieve. The Lord wanted the sage to carry this devotee on his shoulder from the Cauvery river banks and bring him to his sannidhi. Obeying the Lord’s orders, the sage went to the southern banks of Cauvery the next morning where he found the man immersed once again in his prayers facing the direction of the Srirangam temple. Falling at his feet, the sage requested Baanar to allow him to follow the instructions of the Lord to carry him all the way to the Ranganatha temple.

Amalanaathipiraan- Verses in praise of Lord Ranganatha

The sage, accompanied by his disciples, carried him into the Ranganatha Sannidhi and for the first time Baanar entered the temple and found himself in front of the Lord who he had only visualised till then. So thrilled was Baanar at the sight of the Lord that he instantly showered verses of praise of Lord Ranganatha beginning with the loving legs of the Lord

அமலன் ஆதிபிரான் அடியார்க்கு என்னை ஆட்படுத்த விமலன்

விண்ணவர்கோன் வீரையார் பொழில் வேங்கடவன்

நிமலன் நின்மலன் நீதி வானவன்

நீல் மதில் அரங்கத்தம்மா

திருக்கமல பாதம் வந்து

என் கண்ணின் உள்ளன ஒக்கின்றதே

He ended his praise of the Lord with the words “En Amuthinai Kanda Kangal Matronrinai Kaanaathey”. Now that he had seen the Lord, he wanted nothing else in this life and wanted the Lord to take him along. The Lord was truly impressed with this composition and the devotion of Baanar that he took him in along with him. In front of a startled Sage and all his followers, Baanar merged with the Lord and attained moksham.

Birthday Celebrations on Karthigai Rohini

At 5am on Saturday, he made his way from his abode at the Southern entrance of the Ranganathaswamy temple to the Periya Perumal Sannidhi for Vishwaroopa Sevai. Five hours later, the bhagavathas had gathered in good numbers to carry Thiru Paan Azhvaar on the street procession around the four Chitrai Streets of Srirangam(the official temple Sripatham did not carry Azhvaar on this procession). The Vedic members were already presenting the sacred verses standing in front of Thiru Paan Azhvaar and they followed the Azhvaar on the two hour street procession.

The azhvaar who presented his only verses of praise on Lord Ranganatha is accorded a great send off from the Perumal Sannidhi with a Parivattam, Shawl and a Flower Garland.

To Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi at 10.30am

His first stop on the procession was at the Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi. At the Therku Vaasal Gopuram, the Chief Priest of the Thiru Paan Azhvaar Sannidhi is presented with a flower garland that he drapes around his head.

Ramanuja Nootranthathi - Prabhandham Ghoshti

The Prabhandham Ghoshti begin the recital of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi verses at the South Chitrai Street on this cloudy Saturday morning when the devotee crowd is relatively less at the temple. It is 11am when Thiru Paan Azhvaar makes his into the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi. It is a special occasion for Thiru Paan Azhvaar for it is the only day in the year when he makes it to the Thaayar Sannidhi. Following Theertham and Shatari, Dhadhyonam is presented to the 50 odd devotees who have gathered in front of the Thaayar Sannidhi.

Thiru Paan Azhvaar had dedicated his entire life to the Divine Couple of Srirangam and there seemed to a happy smile when he entered the Thayar Sannidhi. The service personnel who carried the Azhvaar on the occasion of his birthday too sported a big smile through the entire procession.

கொண்டல் வண்ணனை கோவலனை வெண்ணை உண்ட வாயன்

என் உள்ளம் கவர்ந்தானை

அண்டர்கோன் அணி அரங்கன்

என் அமுதினைக் கண்ட கண்கள்

மற்றொன்றினைக் காணவே

The final stop at Ul Andal Sannidhi

It is noon when after going around the Chitrai Streets, he made his to the Ul Andal Sannidhi via the Therku Gopuram. He goes around the Andal Sannidhi as do the Prabhandham Ghoshti. After another round of Theertham and Shatari, Dhadhyonam is presented to those present before Thiru Paan Azhvaar headed back to his Sannidhi at 12. 30pm where the Prabhandham Ghoshti members presented the Satru Murai verses of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi following the completion of the sacred verses of the Vedic members bringing to end the annual utsavam on this Rohini day in Karthigai.

It had been over seven happy hours for Thiru Paan Azhvaar as he celebrated his birthday at the Ranganatha Swamy, Ranganayaki Thayar and Ul Andal Sannidhis while also providing darshan to devotees around the four Chitrai Streets.

Temple Activist/President of Temple Worshippers Society TR Ramesh sends notice to TN Principal Secy and HRCE Commissioner on Trustee Appointment and Internal Audit issues in TN temples

It is Sunday (Dec 15) morning at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. All the hereditary priests of the temple have just received a letter from Joint Commissioner Mariappan allocating the archaka service duty for the month of Margazhi. The HR & CE has taken possession and the rights of archaka service from those hereditary archakas who had let go off their right towards the end of the previous century given the challenging scenario that prevailed at the temple at that time. With a sizeable number of days in each of the Sannidhis at this huge temple now under the control of the HR &CE, it is the JC of the Srirangam temple who decides as to how he allocates these services to the archakas. One look at the duty allocated for Margazhi (2024) will give a knowledgeable devotee an indication as to the basis on which he has made this allocation!!!

The Srirangam temple has been without a Board of Trustees for many years now after the term of Venu Srinivasan had come to an end. With a good understanding of temple administration and the financial management, the TVS Motors Chief had reigned in good control in the administration of this huge temple on behalf of the devotees (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). But his departure from the role of the CBT has handed back full control to the HR &CE on most aspects of the administration of the Srirangam temple including the allocation of archakas for the Sannidhis every month from the above mentioned basket of days that HR & CE now have under their arms.

2021 - Judge Anitha Sumanth's order on EO's role

In November 2021, this section had featured a story on the Madras HC order paving the way for the phasing out of Executive Officers in HR & CE Temples and the appointment of Trustees to take over the management of the temple. On the role of EOs in TN Temples, Judge Dr. Anitha Sumanth had said in that order that with the elapsing of the tenure of the E.O (period of five years), he becomes functus officio. As per that order, the position of the Executive Officers in TN temples had become untenable and the temple administration had to be handed back to the hereditary trustees, or a new board of trustees that had to be constituted (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/11/tn-temples-hr-eos-out-trustees-back.html).

Display of Trustee's name and phone number

In September 2020, another Judge M.M. Sundresh had directed the name of the Trustees and their phone numbers to be displayed inside the temple as the trustees were doing a public duty and appointed as trustees of the named temples to take care of the interest of the temples to which they are appointed. "Therefore, it is not only logical but also proper that their names along with their profession/ avocation will have to be published in such of those temples in which they are appointed and thereafter function as trustees. Their phone numbers also will have to be indicated so that a devotee can have access to them to redress his grievance on the functioning of the temple", the judge had said in his order.

Appointment of Trustees in TN Temples

In November 2020, Periya Nambi Acharya Narasimha Gopalan of Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannar Koil, Ambasamudram reached out to the Court seeking the official direction for his appointment as a descendant of Periya Nambi as the hereditary trustee of the temple based on the 1000 year inscription, a copy of which he presented to the Court. The court had directed the JC to initiate action on this front but the appointment is still pending after four years with the JC court refusing to accept the centuries old inscription that points to the Periya Nambi clan as being the hereditary trustee of the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/mannar-koil-narasimha-gopalan.html).

Narasimha Gopalan had also questioned the transparency involved in the appointment of non hereditary Trustees in Temples. In a letter to the Commissioner of the HR & CE and to the Principal Secretary to the Govt - Religious Endowments Dept, he had requested to make public the qualifications and credentials of Trustees selected for the Temples in Tamil Nadu.

For decades, most temples under the HR & CE administration have had no trustees and the activities of the temples have been administered by “Fit Person” appointed by the Government. There are also cases in temples where the Fit Person and the EO are the same. In many cases, the application for funds is signed by the EO of the temple and the same individual approves the application and signs as the Fit Person.

TR Ramesh sends notice to Secy/TN Govt and HRCE Commissioner

On the morning when Srirangam JC Mariappan sent the archaka service break up to all the hereditary archakas for the month of Margazhi, a few hundred kms away in Mylapore Chennai, Temple Activist and President of the Temple Worshipper’s Society TR Ramesh has sent a notice to The Principal Secretary, TN Government Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment and The Commissioner HR & CE asking for detailed clarification on the pending appointment of Trustees (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html).

Mandatory to appoint Trustees but HR & CE has failed

Accusing them of not appointing mandatory trustees, Ramesh has said in the notice that Trustees have not appointed to temples having non-hereditary Trustees for more than 10 years even though such appointments are mandatory requirements under Section 47 of the 1959 Act and that they have deliberately withheld appointment of qualified Hindu citizens as Trustees to Hindu Temples and Endowments to ensure that these continue to be under the abject control of the Government. Further he has said in his notice that despite being fully aware that while the full term of a properly appointed Board of Trustees is only two years they have continued with the “interim appointment” of Fit Person for more than 10 years i.e. the said interim period is more than 5 times the full term of properly appointed Board of Trustees.

Cites specific examples of wrongly presence of EOs

Citing the examples of Samayapuram Sri Mariamman Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/12/samayapuram-mariamman-temple.html) and Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, Ramesh has said in his notice that the EOs of these temples are functioning there without any legally sustainable order of appointment but in each of these temples such illegally present person is also made the “Fit Person” of the very same temple.

Suspension of Trustees and appointment of HRCE officials

Citing a few other specific cases, Ramesh says that at the Sri Madhava Perumal Bysani Trust and Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple, Pazhaya Seevaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/12/lakshmi-narasimha-perumal-pazhaya.html), Hereditary Trustees have been suspended and the HR & CE official appointed as Fit Person. At the Tiruporur temple, the trustee service of Sri Chidambara Swamy Mutt has been terminated and the Asst Commissioner has been appointed as the “Fit Person” in his place.

Financial Mismanagement

While the lack of proper trustees impacts negatively the administration of temples, Ramesh has pointed out a deep rooted issue in this. Lack of professional internal audit services has led to the HR&CE not sending the audit reports are to the Trustees and only to their own EOs and JCs and the Commissioner leading to a lack of transparency in the financial management of temples in TN.

Summarising the points in the notice and demanding immediate action, Ramesh has requested the two of them to resolve and rectify audit objections that have been pending for decades, ensure no promotions and additional responsibilities are bestowed on HR&CE Officials against whom audit objections are pending in Audit Reports, ensure no HR&CE official is allowed to freely retire from service and reap retiral benefits without settling the audit objections pending against him and without rectifying the defects disclosed in the audit reports.

Ramesh has asked them to respond to every point in the notice within the next three weeks failing which he has said that he would take to legal recourse.

This section will track the developments on this front.

A HR & CE JC for whom there is no sleep!!!

It is 9pm on Thursday (Dec 19) evening. Most of the devotees have left the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam after darshan but for the Joint Commissioner J Mariappan work has just started. He is on rounds checking the infrastructure at the temple. Within months of removal of shops at the Ranga Vilas Mandapam and in front of Natha Muni and Chakrathazhvaar Sannidhi, development works have begun and are running at a fast pace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-temple-popular-shops-shut-down.html). The place where shops had been selling pooja items for decades has now been converted to a mother’s feeding room, legal dept and a library. The place around the Natha Muni Sannidhi will soon be home to Tulabaram.

Relocation of Tulabaram to Therku Vaasal

"Devotees wanting to present rice and jaggery found it challenging to carry the things all the way past Garuda Sannidhi to the Tulabaram room. Hence to make it easier for them, the Tulabaram center is being shifted to Therku Vaasal near the Natha Muni Sannidhi", the JC told this writer near the Garuda Sannidhi.

A bold step on Panguni Uthiram night

In March this year, for the first time in several decades he closed the ticket counter at 7.30pm on Panguni Uthiram day letting go of revenue with his sole focus being on getting the Chariot to start on time the next morning. For years, the Serthi Sevai continued late into the night delaying the Chariot procession. JC Mariappan took a strong call of foregoing ticket collection and getting the Thirumanjanam to start on time on the Panguni Uthiram night.

Clarity on his role at the Srirangam temple

He speaks with a lot of clarity on what he sees as his role as the EO of this large temple “I am not here to fight and solve internal politics. I have been paid a salary for this role and I want to work as hard and as sincerely as possible to justify the salary. I want to look at key issues that devotees face at this temple and try to make it easy for them and a happy experience”, he told this writer.

This writer had met the JC for the first time on the Krishna Jayanthi and it was well past 9pm that evening as well when he was still deep into his work. With the additional responsibility now bestowed on him of managing the Thanjavur and Pudukottai temples, JC Mariappan’s days have been long and hard in the recent past but he sees it as his daily role to discharge his duty to the best of his ability.

East Gopuram restoration progressing well

He is also keeping a close watch on the Eastern Gopuram on East Adayavalanjan street that had been severely damaged last year. He told this writer that the same devotee from Coimbatore building the Raja Gopuram at Thiru Vellarai Divya Desam is taking care of the restoration of this Gopuram as well. The road from the Srirangam railway station towards Vellai gopuram has been cut off at East adayavalanjan following the orders from the collector "It will take at least another year for the Gopuram to be restored given the extent of the damage to its structure.”

Tier 3 Raja Gopuram completed at Thiru Vellarai

JC Mariappan is happy that the Raja Gopuram work at Thiru Vellarai is moving a good pace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/11/thiru-vellarai-new-raja-gopuram-by-end.html).“The third tier of the seven tier Tower has been completed and construction is progressing as per plan. The Raja Gopuram had seen a lot of hurdles and now that we have got all the approvals and the basic structure has been strengthened, we want to ensure that the entire construction is strong. It will take at least another year for it to be completed”, he said.

Anbil Consecration soon

The restoration of the Vadivazhagiya Nambi Divya Desam in Anbil undertaken by Venu Srinivasan has been completed (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/04/venu-srinivasan-anbil-nambi-temple.html). He is pleased with the way the temple has been restored to its historical best. "We have to finalise the date of the consecration and expect this to take place in February", JC Mariappan told this writer even as his staff are waiting near the Garuda Sannidhi for his next order late into this Thursday evening.

He tells them that he will be back at the temple the next morning at 8am for the Vaikunta Ekadasi related meeting with the Collector and asks the team to be on time.

There are a number of internal challenges within the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam but JC Mariappan is unflustered about these. He focuses on developmental activities that will benefit the devotees at large. He has remained non-controversial over the last 15 months and says that he is not here to fight with activists or with the kainkaryaparas of the temple.

"Till the time I am at this huge temple, I want to remain focussed on developmental activities and not on controversies" says the JC.

Will Venu Srinivasan be back as CBT

This writer had earlier this week written a story on the non appointment of trustees in TN temples including in Srirangam and asks the JC on the status “That’s for the Government to decide but we will welcome back Venu Srinivasan with both hands and this temple will benefit a lot if the TVS Chief agrees to the role again for he had played a remarkable part in the restoration earlier”, the JC tells this writer even as he rushes back to attend to his next work late on Thursday night.

Will Venu Srinivasan, who had transformed the temple infrastructure with his restoration exercise a decade ago, don the role of CBT again(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html).

This section will track the developments.

Battery car Passenger ferry at Rs. 30 has become a big hit at Trichy Junction

Senior Citizens or those with luggages can now easily move from the main entrance to any platform at the station using this service

In a very passenger friendly initiative, the Trichy Railway Station provides battery car operated services carrying passengers from platform 1 to all other platforms in the station right up to the East End of the station.

The service charges Rs. 30 per passenger and has become a big hit with the train travellers especially the senior citizens and those with luggage. Those who enter the station from the western side and whose train is on platform 4 or 5 or 6 can now use this service to easily reach their compartment for the battery car takes them right to their coach.

Similarly, those who arrive on platforms 4 or 5 can use this service to reach the main entrance of the station on the Western side.

The Tiruchirapalli station has been a forerunner on many fronts. The Junction has had high quality retiring rooms and dormitories for a long time now (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/08/retiring-room-tiruchchirappalli.html)

With this ferry service from one side of the railway station to the other, passengers do not have to go up the stairway or the subway to reach other platforms from the main entrance.

The Legendary Episode of Periyazhvaar on a Royal Elephant presenting the Pallandu verses after darshan of Lord Narayana atop the Garuda Vahana was played out on Monday on the eve of the commencement of the Pagal Pathu Utsavam at Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam in Madurai

It is just past 7.30pm on Monday and Koodal Azhagar in a shining pink silk vastram and decked with glittering jewellery atop the Garuda Vahana is all ready to listen to the first verses of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham.

All those centuries ago, after his Victory in the debate, Periyazhvaar went atop the Royal Elephant of Vallabha Deva Pandya around the streets of Madurai in a Grand Celebratory Event. On Monday evening, in memory of that legendary event, Periyazhvaar led the procession on a golden Elephant vahana. A few years ago, this procession had taken place with Periyazhvaar atop a broken elephant vahana but this evening, the elephant captured everyone's attention with its golden shine.

Saathaatha Vaishnava at Koodal Azhagar

83 year old Saathatha Vaishnava Srinivasan has been performing service at this Divya Desam for five decades and he goes ahead of Koodal Azhagar clearing the way for the procession. The octogenarian’s devotional way of life has not waned one bit after all these decades of service and he carried the Velli Thadi leading the procession ahead of Koodal Azhagar. He was devotionally energetic throughout the procession and was the one who donned the role of silencing devotees while the recital was on (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/koodal-azhagar-saathatha-vaishnavas.html).

As has been the trend in most divya desams in Tamil Nadu, the days of sripatham carrying the Lord on their shoulders has become a thing in the past and Koodal Azhagar as well as Periyazhvaar are mounted onto wheeled vehicles for the procession. Devotees in good numbers rush out of the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi to have darshan of Koodal Azhagar and Periyazhvaar in front of the Eastern Raja Gopuram.

A procession wading through heavy traffic

Slowly, they make their way on to the busy West Maasi Street. They have to wade through a string of vehicles as the year end festive offer saw people flocking the mega shops for their new year purchases. Interestingly, with the fast paced growth of mega marts in Madurai, this event is now referred to as being organised near Thanga Mayil!!! The entire showroom staff are at the entrance to welcome Koodal Azhagar and the Azhvaar from Srivilliputhur.

By 8.30pm, a sizeable crowd has gathered at 'Mei Kattu Pottal’, the location of the historical court of Vallabha Deva Pandya, the King of Koodal Nagar. The legendary episode relating to the creation of the first decad of verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham was played out with historical flavour at this place, a km west of Koodal Azhagar temple.

From Thiru Mogur to present the Pallandu Puranam

57 year old Srinivasa Raghavan is a Sthaneegam at the Kaalamegha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Mogur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/thiru-mogur-kalamegha-perumal.html). His appa, Venkathadri Bhattar, presented the Pallandu Episode on this historic day on the eve of the Pagal Pathu utsavam for five decades and following in his footsteps, he has now been carrying forward that legacy for well over a decade.

The Bhattar presented Koodal Azhagar’s flower garland and the sacred book containing the legendary episode to Srinivasa Raghavan. Donning the cone shaped colourful blue hat, symbolic of the Araiyars of Srivilliputhur, Srinivasa Raghavan began his presentation of the story that culminated in Periyazhvaar presenting the Pallandu verses praying for the protection of the Lord from evil eyes!!!

The Legendary episode at the Pandya King's Court

For over 20 minutes all eyes and ears focused on Srinivasa Raghavan as he narrated the tale of King Vallabha Deva seeking the inner meaning of Paratathuvam. Describing that legendary tale, Srinivasa Raghavan said that when Pandya King Vallabha Deva went, incognito, on his usual late night rounds through the streets of Madurai to understand the sentiments of his people, he met with Soma Sarma, a traditional Brahmin who introduced himself as one on a long pilgrimage from Avanti Kingdom. He surprised the King with his philosophical view on life, one that gave him sleepless nights ‘What we want for a rainy day is saved during good times. What we need for the night is to be earned during the day. Similarly what one wants after death should be accumulated now, in this very life.’

Unable to fathom the inner meaning of this, Vallabha Deva summoned his acharya and head priest Selva Nambi seeking an understanding of this statement. A big prize was announced to the one who provided insights into this. Many renowned scholars of the time tried their best but the king was not convinced and the bag of gold coins hung in the balance. It was then that Selva Nambi went to Srivilliputhur seeking the services of Vishnu Chittar to provide the insights at the court of the Pandya King.

His description of Lord Narayana as the Supreme Being and his narration of references from the Vedic Scriptures and the suggestion that worshipping him in one’s life time with devotion was the highest form of worship and was likely to lead one in the direction of what he or she sought after death thrilled Vallabha Deva Pandya. Even as he was finishing his speech, the golden coins were showered on him, for Vallabha Deva instinctively realised that he had found the ultimate solution.

It was then that Vishnu Chittar was conferred the title of ‘Bhattar Piran’ by Raja Simhan I (Vallabha Deva). The king ordered a royal procession for Vishnu Chittar on an elephant top around the streets of Madurai and the entire city resonated with the melodies of musical instruments. As he moved along in the procession in a grand celebratory event witnessed by a huge crowd, Bhattar Piran heard dissenting voices from his detractors who raised eyebrows on his devotional power. They asked him if the Lord that he referred to was so powerful, would it be in his powers to show them the Lord.

When Bhattar Piran invoked the blessings of Koodal Azhagar, much to the delight of everyone there, the Lord of Madurai, appeared on his Garuda Vahana from above the Ashtanga Vimana along with Goddess Lakshmi against the back drop of the clear blue sky.

Worried that evil eyes should not fall on this beautiful Lord, seen in this immaculate posture with his beloved Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu Chittar falling into a trance, showered verses of praise expressing concern for the Lord’s safety using the bell tied to the elephant as his Thaalam.

பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆணி தன்னில்

பெருந் ஜோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே

முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்

துயக்கற மால் பருத்து வத்தை திருமாசெப்பி

வானர மேல் மதுரை வளம் வரவே

வானில் கருட வாகனமாய்த் தோன்ற

வாழ்த்தும் ஈரணி பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு

நானூற்று எழுவத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும் எனக்கு உதவு நீயே – Vedanta Desikar's praise of Periyazhvaar's Royal Procession

Srinivasa Raghavan who too was presented a symbolic bag like the one presented by King Vallabha Deva to Vishnu Chittar began the Pallandu verses using the cymbal just like the Araiyar of Srivilliputhur. The Prabhandham Ghoshti members carried forward the rest of the Pallandu verses signifying the commencement of the Pagal Pathu utsavam.

This episode of ‘Pallandu Thodakkam’ at the Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam on the eve of Pagal Pathu is the only one of its kind in a Divya Desam. On sighting the Lord in the high air, verses poured out instantly from Periyazhvaar and he sung for the Lord’s long life. It is the only set of verses among the 4000 verses where an Azhvaar has sung benedictory hymns of the Lord.

Periyazhvaar suggests to the devotees who live with the only desire of serving the Lord to carry immediately talc paste and those with fragrances. He asks them to resist worldly pleasures and to come together as true devotees letting go vain glory and to sing the sacred mantra. He says that it is important for us to give up our old bad habits and to connect with the Lord.

எந்த தந்தை தந்தை தந்தை தம் மூத்தப்பன்

ஏழ் படி கால் தொடங்கி

வந்து வழி வழி ஆட் செய்கின்றோம்

He cautions that no one whose thoughts are just on food shall be allowed here. He wants all of us to continuously utter the 1000 names of the Lord and sing benedictory praise wishing for his long life. It was seen as so sacred that Thiru Pallandu became the first decad of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.

Following Theertham and Shatari, Koodal Azhagar and Periyazhvaar in line with the past practices of providing darshan to donors made their way through the small stretch on Valaiyal street with the Lord's crown just about managing to escape from the numerous wires above before he made his way back to the temple at 10pm bringing to end the Pallandu utsavam.

Thillaisthanam Neiyarappar Sankara Gurukal

Thanjavur Station Retiring Room Bathing facilities

Thiru Chotruthurai Othanvaneswarar Temple Trust Lands Issue

Thanjavur Palace Venugopalaswamy temple Thiruvayaru

Yathulan Bhattar Rayanallur 7 temples Parayanam Initiative 2024

Sikkal Singaravelar Ramanathan Gurukal

Dr Venkatesh Thiru Kudanthai Upanyasakar

Thanjavur Palace Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple

Kapali Panguni Utsavam 2024 Nadaswaram artistes not paid after 7months

Sarangapani Koil Vedantha Desikar Utsavam 2024

Sundara Perumal Koil wears a new look, Consecration after 80years

Koodal Azhagar Aippasi Oonjal Utsavam 2024

Azhagar Koil Noopura Ganga Aippasi Thailakkaappu Neerattam Utsavam

Pazhamuthir Cholai Arupadai Veedu

Srirangam Kaisika Ekadasi Rathna Kreedam after 200 years

Thirupaan Azhvaar Srirangam Birthday Celebrations 2024

TN Temple Trustees Non Appointment

Srirangam Temple JC Mariappan

Trichy Junction Battery Car Passenger Shuttle Service

Koodal Azhagar Madurai Pallandu Utsavam 2024