Pey Azhvaar Avathara Sthalam Dilapidated

Aippasi Sathayam is one of the most important days in the year at the Madhava Perumal Temple in Thyagarajapuram, Mylapore. It is the birthday of one of the first three Azhvaar, Pey Azhvaar, who was born in Mylapore.

On this morning, Pey Azhvaar goes on a procession from the Madhava Perumal temple to the Avathara Sthalam on Arundel Street (historically known as 'Arundhathi Street'). There, the day long events would start with a Thirumanjanam. The Prabhandham members too gathered there on the occasion to recite Thirumozhi verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar.

After alankaram in the second half, Pey Azhvaar went on a Mangalagiri procession in the evening around the four big streets with the Prabhandham members presenting Ramanuja Nootranthaathi verses. The day ended with the recital of the last canto from Namazhvaar's Tiruvoimozhi.

Unfortunately, the grand celebrations of Pey Azhvaar's birthday at his avathara sthalam has become a thing of the past with the sacred location shut down for a few years now after the mandapam had fallen off. Given the dilapidated state, this annual procession from Madhava Perumal temple to the Pey Azhvaar Avathara Sthalam has not taken place in the last few years. There has been no action from the HR & CE to restore the historical mandapam. 

The Pey Azhvaar Avathara Sthalam belonging to Kesava Perumal temple (that Trustee NC Sridhar has been managing) is just adjacent to the one belonging to the Madhava Perumal temple. On Aippasi Sarhayam, it has been a tradition for Pey Azhvaar from Kesava Perumal temple as well to make the annual trip to the Avathara Sthalam. Thus, through the previous century, Pey Azhvaar from both these temples have made the annual trip to the Avathara Sthalam on Arundel Street to celebrate the birthday on Aippasi Sathayam.

As seen in the story in this section last month, TVS’ Venu Srinivasan who has undertaken restoration exercises in over 200 temples across TN, Karnataka, AP and Kerala is undertaking the Thiruppani works at the Madhava Perumal temple with Balalayam expected to take place later this month (in Avani) following the three day Pavitrotsavam that will be performed next week. The Painting of the Vimanam and Raja Gopuram and other repair works inside the temple complex is likely to be completed within 6months (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/07/madhava-perumal-mylapore-temple.html).

The huge well is currently located at the Avathara Sthalam belonging to Kesava Perumal temple.

Unfortunately, HR & CE’s application  and the approval from the renovation committee for the Thiruppani works did not include restoration of the Avathara Sthalam. One wonders why? This writer managed to take a few photographs this week of the dilapidated state of the avathara sthalam from between the fully covered aluminum sheets. One now finds dust bins in front of this sacred location, the birth place of Pey Azhvaar.

While the Pey Azhwar Avathara Sthalam belonging to Kesava Perumal temple on the same street has been well maintained with personnel having been posted to take care of the Nandavanam, the Avathara Sthalam belonging to Madhava Perumal Temple has been shut out with tall aluminum sheets. Sadly one now finds dust bins at the western entrance of this sacred Avathara Sthalam.

With the renovation exercise at the Madhava Perumal temple taking place after 15years, this is ideal time for the dilapidated Pey Azhwar Avathara Sthalam to be restored to its historical glory and for the Aippasi Sathayam Utsavam of Pey Azhvaar and the procession to the Avathara Sthalam to be revived.

It is hoped that the HR & CE will take immediate steps and include the restoration of the Avathara Sthalam as part of the current renovation exercise of the Madhava Perumal temple.