Thiru Kurungudi Shiva Sannidhi Restoration Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும் உடையார் 

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க நின்ற பண்பர் ஊர்போலும் 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                       

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

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