Well into his 60s, this Gurukal's decades long devotional engagement with Neiyarappar continues at Thillaisthanam
In 1958, Kannaiah Gurukal secured the archaka service at the Neiyarappar temple in Thillaisthanam at a time when there was no proper path from Thiruvayaru, 2kms away and no lights at the temple or in this historical temple town. To coincide with what the Gurukal considered as a great blessing, his grandson Sankara Gurukal was born, one who would be devotionally attached to Neiyarappar throughout his life.
Even while he was at Srinivasa School, Thiruvayaru, Sankara Gurukal had begun learning the agamas at the Chettiar Patshala. Early into his teens, he began walking and cycling with his appa Somaskanda Gurukal from his ancestral home on West Mada Vilagam at Thiruvayaru to Thillasthanam to support him in daily pooja. It was this early initiation that led to his great devotional attachment with Neiyarappar.
Historical temple abound with inscriptions
Praised by Appar and Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, the Kritha Pureeswarar temple in Thillaisthanam finds historical references dating back to the 9th century AD to the Pallava rule. Lighting a perpetual lamp was an important contribution that was made at this temple during the rule of the Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas.
Fraudulent acts were brought to book and the collections made through fines were repaid back to the temple in form of ornaments for the deities. Even the instrument players failing in their duties were punished and had to pay back to the temple. Allocations were made for Abhishekams.
Thatha keeps the family united
Sitting at his home a hundred yards away from the West Tower of the Airappar temple in Thiruvayaru, Sankara Gurukal, now 66, recounts those early days to this writer“We were a big joint family and every day 20 members would sit around to have food. I grew up in an environment where high premium was placed on family unity. Our grandparents kept the family together and seeded the thoughts of the importance of staying united.”
“My appa and Chithappa were so close that the entire Kainkaryaras at the temple referred to them as Periya anna and Chinna anna. I too called them in the same way as the other service personnel!!!”
Thatha Kannaiah Gurukal with his wife
“Our forefathers had 5 days of service at the Swami Sannidhi and 5 days at the Ambal Sannidhi at the Airappar temple every month. There was minimal Thattu Kaasu and almost no crowd in the 1970s. We have been performing hereditary archaka service at this temple for generations and were given patta satham every day of our service. It was with that food that we managed to run our life.”
Alankaram Specialist
From very early on, Sankara Gurukal developed interest in decorating Swami and Ambal and became the alankaram expert. He recalls the great early words of Thatha that he has followed to this day “Only after performing the morning pooja to Neiyarappar and presenting the Neivedyam to him should you have your food.”
Always Ghee Lit Lamps
During the rule of Nandi Varma Pallava III in the 2nd half of the 9th Century AD, there was a gift of 60 Kalanju of pure gold to light a perpetual lamp at the temple. A decade later during the rule of Varaguna Pandya II, there was a gift of 200 kasu by the Pandya Queen and then 100 kasu by the crown prince towards lamp service at the temple. The Sabha at Thillaisthanam received the cash and agreed to measure the ghee everyday for the lamp service.
The contributions to light the lamp for the Lord continued during the rule of Aditya Chola I, when there was initially a gift of 96 sheep and then of 100 sheep for supply of an olukku of ghee and a gift of 25 kalanju of gold for burning the perpetual lamp. The sabha undertook to distribute the sheep among the shepherds.
However, into the 1960s and 70s, there were no vastrams or even oil to light the lamp at the Thillasthanam temple“We would take a few vastrams from Airappar temple to drape Neiyarappar. It was only after my appa took charge at Thillaisthanam did the temple see electrical lighting.”
Appa Somaskanda Gurukal delights guests on Sapthasthanam day
Festivals such as Vaikasi Utsavam and the 10 day Maasi Utsavam with Thiru Kalyanam ceremony on the 7th day were celebrated in a grand manner at this temple. It is here at the Thillaisthanam temple that one can have darshan of all the 7 Lords during the Sapthasthana Festival in Chitrai.
Sankara Gurukal’s eyes light up as he recalls the day from his teenage years way back in the 1970s“At 4am, my appa would present coffee to all the Gurukals from other temples after they reached Thillaisthanam. He also organised food for them that day. It was the happiest day in the year for all of us as we took great delight in playing host to Lords from the other Sapthasthanam temples.”
Even though there was no income at the Neiyarappar temple with only a few select devotees making it to the temple and him being paid a salary of just Rs. 500 in the decades gone by, Sankara Gurukal has remained devotionally attached to the temple for the archaka service came the way of the family in the year he was born.
As per the rotation, he gets the rights to anchor the big annual utsavam in Chitrai at the Pancha Natheeswarar temple in Thiruvayaru once in five years. He recalls how his archaka colleagues there often pull his legs on his attachment to Neiyarappar “Even on my ten service days at Aiyarappar temple, I would make it to Thillaisthanam for an hour in the morning and a couple of hours in the evening for the daily pooja leading to other archakas pointing out jokingly that my mind was always with Neiyarappar.”
“Yes, there was no income at the temple and very minimal salary and thattu kaasu but in all these decades I have not failed to perform the daily pooja at the Neiyarappar temple.”
As the decades passed by, devotees from Chennai who had been associated with the temple in their early years began to present rice, oil and daily flower garland at Thillaisthanam much to Sankara Gurukal’s delight “There had been a time in my childhood when there was no oil, no vastram, no garland and no lights at the temple and it was dangerous to head to Thillaisthanam with liquor shops and dark streets around. Today, devotees are contributing to the temple.”
Temple Legend and 'Nei' Abhisekam
During the rule of Vikrama Chola, provisions for offerings such as ghee, milk, curd were made. Cows were distributed to the nearby villages and there were agreements made to provide for stipulated quantity of the above. In 967AD, there was a gift of paddy for offerings.
Legend has it that invoking the blessings of Saraswathi, Kamadhenu performed pooja here with Ghee instead of milk. In memory of this event, this temple is referred to as ‘Nei-Arappar’ temple. Nei Abhisekam is special at the Thillaisthanam temple for relief from heart ailments and devotees come together on Monday and Pradosham in good numbers for this. Those from the Agraharam present daily milk for abhisekam.
His salary has doubled to Rs. 1000 after two decades but there is no tinge of sadness at the low salary “There is very little income at the temple and with whatever hundi collections that the temple gets, they pay the salary to me and to the sweeper and mei kaval.”
But he is happy that devotees have played a role in the development of the temple in recent times. It is Sankara Gurukal who did new Vahanas for the street processions during the Maasi Utsavam and roped in devotees to the temple through his devotional engagement with Neiyarappar.
How sincere devotion pays off
After he performed a Nei Abhisekam, a long standing devotee, delighted at his devotional performance, presented Rs. 20000 to him for his daughter’s wedding “It was exactly the amount I had to pay the mandapam and Neiyarappar showed the way.”
Sankara Gurukal is now 66 and it has been a long five decades + association for him having joined his appa at this temple when he was a teenager. He is well past the retirement age but there are no replacements and he does not see a life for himself outside Neiyarappar. He says that whenever he is serving Neiyarappar he experiences a calmness and peace that is unmatched. His grandson has already joined the Patshala and Sankara Gurukal is hopeful that one day he would take over from him to continue the service to Neiyarappar with whom he has had such a long devotional engagement.