Kanchi Varadar Brahmotsavam MAV Compromise Offer

Last week this section had featured a story on HR & CE minister PK Sekar Babu where he expressed anguish at the open fight between the Thenkalai and Vadakalai Sects at the Varadaraja Perumal  temple in Kanchipuram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html). He told this writer that he had tried to mediate between the two at the Secretariat but to no avail.

Thenkalai Prabhandham Ghosti leader MA Venkatakrishnan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/05/ma-venkatakrishnan-thiruvallikeni-divya_16.html) told this writer just ahead of the Chariot procession on Wednesday morning in Thiruvallikeni that since this section has earlier referred to him as a Fanatic Thenkalai, which he says he is neither ashamed of nor embarrassed and is infact proud to protect the fair rights of his Sect, he is even willing and open for an independent and credible Thenkalai (in case the Vadakalai leaders are not okay to him being part of the discussion) and Vadakalai personality to sit and discuss this issue over the next fortnight and arrive at a compromise solution that is fully fair to both sides.

This way, he says, the Prabhandham Ghosti and the Veda Parayanam can take place at the forthcoming Vaikasi Brahmotsavam that starts on May 31.

MAV says that the earlier tradition was for the Thenkalayars to lead the Prabhandham Ghosti and for the Vadakalayars to lead the Veda Parayanam. Each of these will have to be led as per the respective Sampradaya. The Vadakalayars are allowed to follow the Thenkalai Prabhandham members after the first couple of rows and similarly the Thenkalayars are allowed to participate in the Vedic Recital after the first few rows.

After Pon Jayaraman, the former EO of Ranganathaswamy temple Srirangam(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/srirangam-ranganathaswamy-renovation.html), took over as the EO of Kanchi Varadar temple, he told this writer that he too tried a resolution to this dispute but his sincere attempts to bring the two sects together failed at that time. He has since moved to head the Thiruppani committee at the HR & CE.

The High Court then directed the two sects to sort out the differences amongst themselves and get back with the solution for the court to then direct the final order.

With 20 days to go for the start of the Brahmotsavam, MAV pointed to the fact that most of the Paadal Petra Sthalams (Saivite Saint Poets praised temples) don’t present the Thevaram verses as a Ghosti anymore and it is only in Vaishnavite Divya Desams that this tradition (Prabhandham Ghosti) still continues. He told this writer that both sides should go all out to find an amicable solution so the Prabhandham and Veda Parayanam tradition can take place during this Brahmotsavam at the Varadaraja Perumal temple “There will be compromises that will have to be made on both sides. If it is a fair compromise that offers fair rights to both sects, the Thengalayars will be open to following it" MAV told this writer on Wednesday right in front of Parthasarathy Perumal on the Chariot.

There are many credible leaders in both sects and they can sit and sort out the differences as Prabhandham and Vedic recital are integral part of the processions, he said.

On the seventh morning of the Brahmotsavam at Thiruvallikeni, the mada streets reverberated with the loud recital of the sacred verses with around a fifty Prabhandham members led by MAV presenting the first canto of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi even as Parthasarathy Perumal made his way around the four streets on the 90 minute chariot procession.

                           

Over the last many decades, MAV has anchored and led the Prabhandham Ghosti at Thiruvallikeni and ensured that the team stays strong and united in the recital(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/thiruvallikeni-prabhandham-ghosti.html). An example of his leadership quality was seen at the recently concluded Ramanujam Utsavam when in a fraction of a few seconds he silenced two fighting members of his team at the end of a procession. 

This morning on the auspicious occasion of the Chariot Procession he has openly declared that he is up for a compromise solution between the Thengalayars and the Vadakalayars of Kanchipuram that is fair to both sides. 

Will the Vadakalayars including the Mutt Heads be open to a discussion within the next fortnight to find an amicable solution so the devotees at Kanchipuram can enjoy both the Prabhandham as well as the Vedic Recital over the ten days of the festival.  Will someone like a Venu Srinivasan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html) who has seen many a Union issue in his four decades at the TVS Group, take the lead on this and come forward to the discussion table to find a workable solution that both sides are happy with.

It is not an impossible task and with willingness from both sides, it is an issue that can easily find a solution. Thenkalai Prabhandham leader MAV has expressed intent  from his sect to seek a fair solution and to make both Prabhandham and Vedic Recital a reality at the forthcoming Brahmotsavam. It is hoped that Vadakalayars will reach out and make yet another serious attempt to find a solution to this longstanding issue between the two Vaishnavite Sects.

If ego gets the better of the Vaishnavites at this point of time, it will be a matter of time before others enter this domain. And that will not be pleasing to the Vaishnavite ears!!!