The Priest has been serving at the ancient HR & CE temple for the last 35years – Currently at a Monthly Salary of Rs. 800
In 1985, Veda Narayanan was just 13years old and studying in his home town in Thiru Indhalur, a Divya Desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi (Indhalur). His appa Krishnaswamy Iyengar used to recite Divya Prabhandham at this temple. It was a time when the centuries old Varadaraja Perumal temple in Mel Mangai Nallur, a town about 5kms West of Sirupuliyur Divya Desam(Sirupuliyur Srikanthan) and 7kms East of Therazhundur Divya Desam was without a priest. His grandfather and grand uncle had been associated with the Aamaruviappan temple in Therazhundur Divya Desam and were also taking care of the temple in Mel Mangai Nallur.
They wanted the next gen to take over and along with the Pannayaar Maami, a long time resident of the agraharam, convinced Veda Narayanan, who was still a teenager and brought him from Thiru Indhalur to Mel Mangai Nallur to perform archaka service at this temple. Since then, for the last 35 years Veda Narayanan has been performing service at the HR & CE administered Varadaraja Perumal temple except for a brief phase when Sridhar Dikshithar (father of Prasanna Dikshithar of Mannargudi) took him to the Balaji Temple in Banaswadi for service there (Veda Narayanan had been married into a Mannargudi Dikshithar family).
He learned the basic lessons for archaka service from Kannan Bhattar (father of Vasan Bhattar) of Therazhundur Divya Desam. But he did not go deep into the agamas and restricted himself to a simple archaka work model.
Serving at a Monthly Salary of Rs. 800
For the last couple of decades, he has been performing service at this HR & CE administered temple at a monthly salary in the hundreds, with his latest salary being at Rs. 800. In the 20th Century, the income that was generated from the One Veli land that belonged to the temple and paddy from the harvest used to be handed to the priest for the temple expenses as well as his salary. But that was a story from decades ago. No more does any income accrue from the temple land. Only a big notice remains at the temple with a direction to the tenants to pay up the dues from the land.
No Processions
Street Processions or even inside processions have not taken place at the temple in decades for the utsava idol has been kept in safe custody at the Veeratana Kshetram of Vazhuvur.
Like Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur Divya Desam (Therazhundur Vasan Bhattar) did many years ago, Veda Narayanan Bhattar too pays the electricity bill at the temple!!!
A Special Feature - Presence of Vibheeshna
The presence of an idol for Vibheeshana at the Rama Sannidhi is particularly satisfying for Veda Narayanan Bhattar. There are only a few temples with Moolavar Idols of Vibheeshana including one in the nearby Thiru Kannapuram Divya Desam. “You do not find idols of Vibheeshana in most temples. To be performing pooja for him is a blessed feeling” says Veda Narayanan Bhattar.
As with many other priests in remote temples in Tamil Nadu, including as seen recently with Sowri Rajan Bhattar at Pinna Vasal (Ayyur Temple), Veda Narayanan too began performing pooja in nearby temples for additional income.
Service at multiple village temples
He also goes on a two wheeler to the privately managed Veda Narayanan temple in Kappur on the banks of Veera Chozhan River. His appa had performed kainkaryam at this temple “I was born at Kappur and hence was named after the Lord there as Veda Narayanan.”
In addition, he has also been performing Thiru Aradhanam at the Lakshmi Narayanan Sannidhi in Velakudi (2kms from Manga Nallur) and Rajagopalan Perumal Temple in Komal, a temple visited by renowned Upanyasakar Krishnapremi and referred to as Ashta Gopala Puram in the centuries gone by. This is also the Abhimana Perumal for Therazhundur Aamaruviappan Divya Desam. The Moolavar at the Komal Perumal Temple too is Varadarajar.
Hastham Parikaram Temple, Komal
The nearby Shiva (Annapoorani) temple in Komal is seen as a Parikara Sthalam for devotees with Hastham star and hence this temple attracts those with Hastham star. The temple was also visited by High Court judge Indira Banerjee (Hastham star).
Over the last ten years, he has been performing daily pooja at the Chozha Period Ulagandha Easwaran temple, another HR & CE temple located a few 100 yards from the Varadaraja Perumal temple. Both these temples are said to date back to the Chozha Period going by the Karungal Constructions. There are also several historical inscriptions at the temple.
It is really the contribution from the agraharam residents in Mel Mangai Nallur and the trust relating to the Komal temple that have helped him financially with their Sambhavanai being significantly higher than that paid by the HR & CE.
His brother Sri Rangan has been performing Thiru Aradhanam at the Nara Narayanan Perumal temple at Thiru Nallar. A few years ago, he initiated his son into the Vedas by sending him to the Patshala in Thiru Nangur. He is hopeful that once he graduates from the Patshala he will be able to remain financially independent. Interestingly, against the current trend, he has just finalized for his daughter a groom who is into temple service“My daughter has agreed to marry one who is associated with temples and I am happy about that”, he told this writer this week.
A Contented Lifestyle
Veda Narayanan Bhattar says that despite all the financial challenges, he has no complaints in life. He has lived a contented life serving at the feet of the Lord for the last 35years. He visits multiple village temples each day of the year. In Margazhi, he starts very early and goes around from temple to temple to light the lamp and present the early morning Thaligai. The Consecration of the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Mangai Nallur took place in 2016 but his salary has remained static in three digits. He is unfazed by the financial challenges that he has seen in his life. ‘I have been blessed to perform archaka service. That is what has given me the biggest satisfaction” says Veda Narayanan Bhattar.
How does a Village Priest in an ancient temple live a family life with an official salary of Rs. 800 and minimal thattu kaasu. Veda Narayanan Bhattar has showed the way to devotional commitment in the last 35years. Truly a Committed and Devoted Village Priest.
Veda Narayanan Bhattar can be reached on 94440 19031.