Senkalipuram Perumal Temple

87 year old SB Kalyanaraman (popularly known as Kalyanam) Bhattachar has spent his entire life in the agraharam at Senkalipuram, the birth place of the renowned Anantharama Dikshithar and a location historically renowned for Vedic recital. His devotional service to Lord Parimala Ranganatha, who is seen with 6 fingers on one hand, has not dropped a wee bit in the seven decades of service that he has rendered and despite his old age, he is ever ready to serve the visiting devotees.

It was the revered Swaminathan Dikshithar who taught Kalyanaraman Bhattachar’s father and Anantharama Dikshithar Vedic lessons in this very agraharam.  Swaminathan Dikshithar had told Kalyanam Bhattar’s father that the temple in its current form and structure was at least 400 years old.

Anantharama Dikshithar would visit the Perumal Temple every day and collect Theertham from Kalyanam Bhattar.

நாராயணநாராயண...

Kalyanarama Bhattachar says that his father’s message was very clear “Do not leave the service at the temple under any circumstance." He was completely dedicated to the Lord and wanted me to continue through my life.

This ancient temple town is surrounded on all four sides by prominent ancient saivite temples amidst fertile green lands. Choleswarar Temple in the East, Dundubeeswarar in the West, Viswanathar temple in the South and a temple dedicated to Lord Muruga were historical temples. Growth for a large part was always in excess till the first half of the 20^th century. Villagers would come and present their harvest to the Lord. Overall it was a lively atmosphere in this temple town.

In the first half of the 20^th century, 60 Kalam Paddy was given to the Bhattars for their services. As with many other temples in Tamil Nadu, the lands belonging to the temples here too were whisked away in the 1960s and 70s. There is still 100 acres of land belonging to the temple but no income accrues. The salary from the 1960s and 70s dropped drastically and there came a time when there was no salary paid to the Bhattar.

Kalyanam Bhattar remembers the good old days when  agraharam was vibrant with around 200 traditional families, most of them Smarthas residing at this historical location. There was an ancient patshala where Kalyanam Bhattar did Veda Adyayanam. For several decades, he presented Upanyasam across the state.  

On the occasion of Avani Avittam, over 100 families came to the Ranganatha temple to invoke the blessings of the Lord.  Festivals were grand once upon a time with Vahana processions of the Lord. Those too came to a halt 50 years ago and remained so for a couple of decades. Chariot festival too was grand at this temple. 

Kalyanam Bhattar stresses the legend of the location to establish its historical importance. It was here that after the demolition of Madhu-Kaidapar, the Lord cleansed his chakra in the Chakkarai Theertham in Senkalipuram. When the rishis suggested that he was contaminating the Kulam by washing the weapon that was used to kill, he told them that this entire place would become sacred as he has put an end to the asuras’ violence and hence will become a renowned location, much to their delight.

Another story goes that Prahalada undertook penance here to relieve himself from Pithru Hathi Dosham. When Jalamedha, the grandson of the Pandavas performed a Sarpa Yagna, his hands shrunk as a result of the killing of the snakes. He is believed to have undertaken penance here to relieve himself from the dosham.

During the Muslim invasion, the idols had been buried under the sand and a big mound accumulated.

Centuries ago, a sadhu, seen not seen in a great mental frame, shouted about the presence of Lord. When the farmers came to the agraharam to sell their harvest, the sadhu once again shouted out the name of the Lord. The farmers who had come there with sickels dug the place and unearthed a Lord sleeping atop Adisesha with two and a half furls. An invisible voice asked them to stop and hence in a unique posture, Lord Parimala Ranganatha is seen in a unique posture atop Adishesha with 2 ½ furls.

Kalyanarama Bhattar initiated his sons and grandsons into the agamas and Vedas directing them to continue the service at the temple. While there is not much of a salary, grandson Balaji Bhattar has stuck to this service with great devotion. With support from devotees, they have revived the Brahmotsavam in Maasi and also are performing the Pavitrotsavam. Over the last few years, devotee crowd has increased but it is still not enough to manage a family, financially. Balaji Bhattar makes ends meet by performing Homams and participating in Samprokshanams. 

Most of the traditional inhabitants had quit the agraharam by the 80s leaving the Bhattar family as one of the few. It is to their great credit that this family that has performed aradhana at this temple for several generations has continued to serve in tough and challenging times with the monthly salary paid by HR &CE not enough to run a family.  Kalyanaraman Bhattar is happy that in the most challenging of decades, the family stayed back to serve the Lord unmindful of the low salary.

The temple is open from 7am -1130am and from 5pm to 730pm. Contact Kalyanarama Bhattachar @ 94441 61609 / Balaji Bhattar @ 83001 81629/63811 87235

Senkalipuram is 4kms from Kodavasal off the Kumbakonam – Tiruvarur Highway and under 10kms from Thiru Cherai Divya Desam. Auto from Kodavasal will cost Rs. 150.