Devotional Revival at the Musukunda Chozha Period Temple with the arrival of a new priest
Paravakottai Andavan spent the Pre Acharya years in the agraharam in Musiri
Chakkarathazhvaar consecrated today as part of his Centenary Celebrations
Located 35kms West of Srirangam Divya Desam on the Gunaseelam - Thottiyam highway is the Musukunda Chozhan period East Facing Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple in Musiri on the banks of Cauvery.
Chozha King's Presence here
On a return trip after his victory in one of the battles, Musukunda Chozha is believed to have stayed in Musiri during the month of Aipasi and invoked the blessings of Lakshmi Narayana Perumal after having ‘Tula Snanam’ in Akanda Cauvery. In memory of his visit, this place came to be referred to as Musukunda Puri which over time has become ‘Musiri’.
Pre Acharya days of renouned Poundarikapuram Ashramam Head
It was here in the agraharam that Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Mahadesikan of the Poundarika Puram Ashramam spent the early decades of his pre acharya life as a Sanskrit Pundit and a librarian in the Govt Boys School in Musuri.
The current Trustee of the temple remembers the days when he was classmates at school with the current Acharya of the ashramam.
It was from his house in the agraharam that Paravakottai Andavan walked away East towards Srirangam leaving his family behind.
The current trustee Ananda Theertham remembers his classmate letting out a huge cry on his father going away from the family but as is the process of those getting into Sainthood, he did not turn back that day and took the long 35kms walk to Srirangam.
It was Paravakottai Andavan who chalked out a clear set of aradhana krama for Lakshmi Narayana Perumal and the Utsavams to be conducted by presenting sacred verses in Sanskrit on the Perumal of Musiri. He also organised and presented a number of Kalakshepams here in Musiri.
An Exempted Temple
In 1929, the Rayar Family (another set of them manage the Koviladi Appa Kudathan Divya Desam) secured an official order for this temple to be categorized as an ‘Exempted’ Temple and to run the temple based on the hereditary rights of the Rayars (Gunaseelam Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple secured an order in 1932, following the order given to this temple) - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/02/gunaseelam-prasanna-venkatesa-perumal.html.
It was Pichumani’s (the well know Sthalathar of Gunaseelam) grandfather who performed aradhana at the Lakshmi Narayana Perumal temple in Musiri all those decades ago.
From Corporate life to a remote temple archaka
Balaji Bhattar, with a MBA from St. Josephs Trichy had worked with WIPRO in the IT industry for a few years before the initiation from the current Head Paravakotyao Chinna Andavan (son of Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Maha Desikan) of the Poundarikapuram Ashramam to quit the high paying corporate job and to dedicate the rest of his life in service of the Lord. His wife and children too have been taking their lives in the direction of the Lord. His wife has a Masters in Prabhandham and is currently pursuing a PHD in Prabhandham while his two young sons are looking to assist their father in his day to day temple activities.
Festivals
Since the arrival of Balaji Bhattar, a number of the utsavams have been revived to its full glory. Thiruppavadai Sevai is being performed thrice a year – Laddu Thiruppavadai Sevai on the 16th day of Margazhi, Periya Thiruppavadai Sevai on Aani Moolam and Puliyodharai Thiruppavadai Sevai on the third Saturday of Puratsasi.
On each of the ten days of the Navarathri Utsavam, there is a special ‘dasavatharam’ alankaram with a Horse Vahana procession through the agraharam on the Vijayadasami day. There are historical stone carvings of Dasavatharam idols atop the Vimanam at this temple.
Lakshmi Narayana Perumal is adorned with Sandhana Kaapu on the Pongal day, while Laksha Archanai is performed through Margazhi with Parivettai Utsavam on Kanu.
On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, the Lord goes out on a procession through the agraharam on the Garuda Vahana.
Another day when he goes on a procession on the horse vahana is the occasion of Panguni Uthiram.
Within three months of the temple performing a homam every Shravanam as directed by the current pontiff of the ashramam, a devotee from Madras offered an utsava Chakkrathazhvaar idol, the consecration of which is taking place today Sunday (January 24, 2021) in the presence of the current Head of the Ashramam as part of the Centenary celebrations of Paravakottai Andavan.
The Rayars are now building a Bhajanai Mandapam just next to the temple. There are plans to convert the huge area behind the temple into a mandapam where Kalyana Utsavam can be conducted in the future.
As has been the case with a large number of temples under the HR & CE administration, the administration here too have found it difficult to secure income from the lessees of the 110 acre land that is under the temple’s possession. It is an ongoing battle that is likely to continue in the years to come.
Contact Balaji Bhattar @ 89035 54426
When here, visit
Thottiyam Veda Narayana Perumal Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/01/thottiyam-veda-narayana-perumal-koil.html) - a few kms west of Musiri
and
Arasalur Navaneetha Krishnan Perumal Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/09/navaneetha-krishnan-temple-arasalur.html) where too the priest quit a corporate banking job to dedicate his life to service to the Lord