Veenai Ekantham Ranganathan CA rank holder

The All India CA rank holder is looking to take forward the historical Kainkaryam assigned by Ramanuja into the next phase at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam

He is keen to turn a Veenai Teacher to inspire the young ones to take to this mesmerizing instrument 

It is just past 10pm on Pongal evening and a few hundred devotees have gathered inside the Nazhikettan Vaasal to watch the one hour Veenai Ekantham presentation by the Veenai Vidwans of Srirangam. G Ranganathan was just ten years old when this writer wrote a story on the unique standing Veenai presentation during the Era Pathu utsavam in 2009 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/veena-ekantham-at-srirangam-ranganatha.html) and last night he was alongside his appa Govindan and his uncles to present this sacred Veena Ekantham in front of Namperumal. The devotional mind of this All India CA rank holder, who is currently with ICICI, is all on continuing the kainkaryam assigned to the Sathya Koota clan by Ramanuja and taking over, along with his cousins, the historical service from his appa and uncles.

Early Veena Initiation by his Thatha

Ranganathan had a great mentor in his thatha, the revered and respected G Rangarajan, the former principal of National College. Late into the 2nd half of the previous century, as was the larger trend in those decades, two of Rangarajan’s sons had moved from Srirangam to Chennai into the corporate world, the first in the family to move away from this Divya Desam. To generate an early interest, Rangarajan would often travel to Chennai to initiate Ranganathan into the art of playing the Veena.

        Renowned Veenai Rangarajan

Sitting at the Sesha Rayar mandapam, the morning after he had presented the Veenai Ekantham, Ranganathan recounts those early years of his life and how his Thatha created an ever lasting bond for him with the Veena “I was just four years old when my Thatha initiated me into the Veena. Having been a lecturer and later the Principal, he was so understanding of the young mind. He would allow to play with my friends to my heart’s content and when I was in the right frame of mind, he would begin his Veenai lessons. We had a small veenai in those days and it was with that I first started my practice. Every weekend I would practice together with my appa.”

Solo Presentation at 13 in front of Ranganatha

He was just in class VIII when he got an unexpected opportunity to perform at the Vishroopam in front of Ranganthaswamy “My patti had passed away and my appa and uncles could not perform and all of a sudden I was all alone (without appa or uncles by my side) in front of Lord Ranganatha with a big devotee crowd around me at the Vishroopam early in the morning. I realised that morning that actual presentation in front of a crowd is quite different from practicing at your home. I was quite nervous and felt like a duck out of water but that morning went on well and that solo presentation when I was just 13 years old gave me a lot of confidence.”

After the early initiation and mentoring, his thatha sent him to Mudikondan S. N. Ramesh for indepth lessons in the Veena. “My Guru taught me with Sahityam for seven years and my knowledge of the Veena deepened and expanded thanks to his teachings.”

                  Mudikondan Ramesh

During his learning phase, he also had a carnatic music tutelage for 12 years from Vidhwan Senthagudi Jayaraman at Krishna Gana Sabha, T.Nagar which helped shape his initial understanding of music. 

He says that the foundation laid by him has been crucial in his development. 

Also, for a few years, he learnt songs from Vidwan Akila Siva, an initiative that helped him connect with the Veenai presentation.

Utsavam Keerthanais and Paasurams

He also learned the utsava sampradaya keerthanais and the sacred verses of the Azhvaars that his forefathers usually presented. He made his debut at Veenai Ekantham at the Era Pathu Utsavam when he was just 16 years old “That experience of presenting Veenai Ekantham was such an eye opener. The standing presentation meant that we cannot see the Veenai and perform. Our great grandfather was a disciple of Mysore Veena Seshanna and we follow his finger splitting style of presentation. In the standing posture, there is a weight to handle, the duration is quite long (one hour in standing posture with Veenai tied to you) and we are looking at Namperumal through our presentation. It was an unforgettable experience.”

10 year old Ranganthan seen in the middle ahead of the Veenai Ekantham in Dec 2009

While his Thatha and his parents did not push into securing high marks, they were keen for him to explore a professional degree. "My thatha seeded the thought in me that a professional degree would give me the flexibility to alternate between an income generating profession and continuing the Veenai Kainkaryam. I liked commerce and hence thought CA would be a good option.”

All India 10th Rank in CA

In 2019, he prepared hard for four months ahead of the CA final with his intention being just to clear the exam and be certified as a CA.  He looks back at that tense phase “I did not want to let anyone down and did not want to be the one black mark in the family as my relatives were all academically well qualified. And despite the preparation and efforts, I was quite nervous ahead of the Direct Tax exam though I liked this subject a lot. In that phase (and I still have it to this day), I had a message written on my white board which read ‘God gives those who deserve and not those who desire’. That gave me a lot of confidence that my hard work of four months would not go waste.”

A couple of days after Pongal of 2020 and just a couple of months before the Pandemic hit the world, he was on a train when he heard the news that he had cleared CA “I was relieved that I had passed and did not pay too much attention to the marks I had scored. But it was my appa’s firm’s auditor who remarked that it was likely that I would have secured a rank based on my marks.”

Looking back on that day when he found that he was ranked tenth all India and second in TN, he says that it was a humbling experience “When I prepared and wrote the exam, I did not aim for any rank. My focus was on becoming a CA. I would have been happy with a 400+ but I ended up with close to 500 marks. I felt that the Divine Powers had played a role in my life.”

There was a campus placement for rank holders and he was picked up by ICICI in early 2020. It has been a roller coaster ride ever since for Ranganathan in the last four years at the bank.

Into the future, Ranganathan is keen to don the role of a Veena teacher to pass on this art to the young ones. And to this end, he is fine tuning his own learnings from his appa Govindan and uncle Srinivasan who he counts as a great teacher and a role model.

He is particularly interested in Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Keerthanais, especially those containing the Kshtram Paadals and Thyagarajar’s Pancha Ratna Keerthanais on Srirangam. He is excited about presenting these during the Vishroopam in the years to come. 

Ranganathan flanked by Anna and Appa

The veena vidwans also present Veenai ekantham at the Thayar sannidhiand at Uraiyur during the Era Pathu utsavams there.

Full time Daily Kainkaryam at Srirangam

His appa went the full distance in the corporate world and retired at 60. But 26 year old Ranganathan is hoping that he will get back to Srirangam lot earlier, so he, along with his brother and cousins, can taken over from his appa and uncles for the daily presentation as well as during the Era Pathu utsavam and continue this kainkaryam at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam for he believes that no amount of money in the corporate world can equate with the opportunity to present in front of the Lord of Srirangam. He is happy his brother and cousins are all keen and interested to continue this service.

Ranganathan, the 48th descendant of the Sathya Koota clan, will soon tie the wedding knot and this section wishes him a happy married life.

Nachiyar Koil Kal Garuda Sevai 2025 January

Beautiful Alankaram, a Delightful Voyali by Sripatham, Unprecedented crowd and a through the night street procession mark the Kal Garuda Sevai at Thiru Naraiyur Divya Desam

It is just past 4pm on Monday evening and a big day for the young 34 year Mechanical Engineer P Prabhakaran, who is the EO of the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur. Along with long standing priest Gopinathan Bhattar, Prabhakaran was instrumental in ensuring that the Thiruppani works were completed in a record period of just 9 months and the consecration took place at this historical temple after 18 years.

A big crowd has already gathered around the Dwajasthambam and Prabhakaran expects this to swell in the next hour or so. It is a highly challenging task for the EO  to both manage the huge crowd and help them enjoy a good darshan of the popular Kal Garuda procession while at the same assist the Sripatham Thangis to have an smooth path from the moolavar Sannidhi through the steep steps of this first Mada Perumal Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html).

வம்பு அவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு

மணி வண்டு வகுளத்தின் மலர்மேல் வைகு

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணான் சேர்ந்த கோயில்

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே

While Prasanna Bhattar is decorating Kal Garuda inside the Sannidhi, EO Prabhakaran is having conversations with the police personnel who too have gathered in good numbers to manage the crowd and finalising the plan for the procession from the Garuda Sannidhi to the Vahana Mandapa.

No VIP Tickets- a welcome initiative

From earlier years, he has initiated a big change in plan in terms of crowd presence during the procession. While there was ticketed service (including Rs. 500) that allowed devotees to come up to the Garuda Sannidhi, this EO who has been at this temple for just over a couple of years has done away with paid tickets foregoing the collection for HR & CE on this crowded evening. Instead, he devised a plan whereby only the Ubayadarars, Mutt Kainkarayaparas and high end VIPs were allowed in front of the Garuda Sannidhi. Prabhakaran is seen going up to every devotee inside the Sannidhi to enquire about their well being and comfort on this crowded evening. He is keen for the devotees to have a happy experience despite the seemingly unmanageable crowd inside the temple complex.

An hour ahead of the procession, a few hundred devotees were allowed to stand in front of the Rama Mandapa while the majority of the crowd were stationed in front of the Dwajasthambam to have a long view of Kal Garuda making his down the steps. 

A Delightful fast paced voyali

Past 6pm, the District Judge makes his way to the Sannidhi and soon after the Sripatham Thangis dressed in bright yellow shirts make their way to carry Kal Garuda out of the Sannidhi. By 6.30pm, thousands of devotees have made it to the temple. Unlike in the past, the path from Garuda Sannidhi to the Dwajasthambam is clear thanks to the crowd management and the Sripatham personnel stride away majestically carrying the heavy Kal Garuda on their shoulder. And as they near the Dwajasthambam, they present several fast paced voyali much to the delight of the devotees before placing Kal Garuda inside the vahana mandapa.  

There is a Nadaswaram Kutcheri and a Namasankeerthanam performance in a specially erected stage opposite the vahana mandapa and devotees spend the next two hours listening to these (wish the volume of the speakers was turned down a bit for it was too loud for one’s liking especially inside a temple complex!!!) while the Bhattars are busy decorating Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda. Thousands of devotees have also lined up (and this went up past the Raja Gopuram) to have darshan of Moolavar Perumal and Thayar and this goes on till well past 9pm. On this special evening, the temple has organised a sumptuous dinner for the Sripatham Thangis ahead of the long street procession.

It is almost ten pm when Vanjula Valli Thayar on an Anna Pakshi Vahana followed by Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda make their way out of the vahana mandapa. As is the trend these days, phones and go up for the first pictures and videos of this popular event. The huge crowd has stayed back for the start of this joint procession and it is 10.30pm when they make their way into the Sannidhi street.

End of the street, there is a chapparam waiting and Perumal and Thayar are mounted on to that and the rest of the procession takes place with the divine couple moving around the streets providing darshan on a wheeled chapparam. The procession around the streets of Thiru Naraiyur goes on through the night as the residents stay awake late into the night welcoming the deities to their homes and presenting them with coconuts and flowers.

A sleepless night for EO Prabhakaran

Like with Gopi and Prasanna Bhattar, it is a sleepless night for  EO Prabhakaran too. It is an unprecedented decision and one not seen in any other Divya Desam. EOs in the past have not stayed back past the start of the procession. Prabhakaran told his family that he would not be returning home till the deities are safely back at their abode and thus spends the entire night at the temple.  Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar are foremost in his mind and he credits their blessings for a most successful consecration that took end of 2023, the scale of which has not been seen at this Divya Desam.

Late into the night, he tells this writer about the satisfied feel after having ensured that every single devotee had a happy darshan on this evening. In and around Nachiyar Koil, he has anchored restoration of 25 temples where consecration have taken place in the last year or so.

He is keen to take up next the thiruppani works at the historical Siddanatha temple in Thiru Naraiyur, a temple that is in poor shape. 

Engineer Prabhakaran also has a Masters degree in Social Work and in line with that degree, he has passionately involved in the planting of saplings for the last many years. At Nachiyar Koil, he has made it a point to plant one new sapling a day and the huge Nandavanam in the outer prakara wears a beautiful look.  He has thus far planted over one lakh saplings in his life including in every temple location in the last seven years where he has been an EO. He sees this environment protection as an integral part of his life and he and his wife have made a separate financial allocation every month for this green exercise. 

He also feels blessed that he has had a proactive priest as Gopi Bhattar to work with at Nachiyar Koil as he has been able to implement many of his ideas and initiatives through the experienced and enterprising Bhattar.

As the EO of this historical temple, he has seen as his duty to push for collection from temple lands and over the last couple of years, he has taken it upon himself to visit every lease holder to collect all the pending payment relating to the temple land. And his relentless endeavour on this front has helped boost the income at this temple.

For the moment, Prabhakaran is thankful to Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar for having presented him with the opportunity to participate in the huge Thiruppani works and the consecration in 2023 that has seen the crowd swell at this temple. He also feels blessed as an EO to be a tool in helping devotees have a happy darshan on the Kal Garuda Sevai darshan at this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam. 

Young and energetic EOs like Prabhakaran at HR & CE administered temples offer positive hope to devotees for the future.

Koodal Azhagar Madurai Pallandu Utsavam 2024

The Legendary Episode of Periyazhvaar on a Royal Elephant presenting the Pallandu verses after darshan of Lord Narayana atop the Garuda Vahana was played out on Monday on the eve of the commencement of the Pagal Pathu Utsavam at Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam in Madurai

It is just past 7.30pm on Monday and Koodal Azhagar in a shining pink silk vastram and decked with glittering jewellery atop the Garuda Vahana is all ready to listen to the first verses of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham.

All those centuries ago, after his Victory in the debate, Periyazhvaar went atop the Royal Elephant of Vallabha Deva Pandya around the streets of Madurai in a Grand Celebratory Event. On Monday evening, in memory of that legendary event, Periyazhvaar led the procession on a golden Elephant vahana. A few years ago, this procession had taken place with Periyazhvaar atop a broken elephant vahana but this evening, the elephant captured everyone's attention with its golden shine.

Saathaatha Vaishnava at Koodal Azhagar

83 year old Saathatha Vaishnava Srinivasan has been performing service at this Divya Desam for five decades and he goes ahead of Koodal Azhagar clearing the way for the procession. The octogenarian’s devotional way of life has not waned one bit after all these decades of service and he carried the Velli Thadi leading the procession ahead of Koodal Azhagar. He was devotionally energetic throughout the procession and was the one who donned the role of silencing devotees while the recital was on (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/koodal-azhagar-saathatha-vaishnavas.html).

As has been the trend in most divya desams in Tamil Nadu, the days of sripatham carrying the Lord on their shoulders has become a thing in the past and Koodal Azhagar as well as Periyazhvaar are mounted onto wheeled vehicles for the procession. Devotees in good numbers rush out of the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi to have darshan of Koodal Azhagar and Periyazhvaar in front of the Eastern Raja Gopuram.

A procession wading through heavy traffic

Slowly, they make their way on to the busy West Maasi Street. They have to wade through a string of vehicles as the year end festive offer saw people flocking the mega shops for their new year purchases. Interestingly, with the fast paced growth of mega marts in Madurai, this event is now referred to as being organised near Thanga Mayil!!! The entire showroom staff are at the entrance to welcome Koodal Azhagar and the Azhvaar from Srivilliputhur.

By 8.30pm, a sizeable crowd has gathered at 'Mei Kattu Pottal’, the location of the historical court of Vallabha Deva Pandya, the King of Koodal Nagar. The legendary episode relating to the creation of the first decad of verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham was played out with historical flavour at this place, a km west of Koodal Azhagar temple. 

From Thiru Mogur to present the Pallandu Puranam

57 year old Srinivasa Raghavan is a Sthaneegam at the Kaalamegha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Mogur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/thiru-mogur-kalamegha-perumal.html). His appa, Venkathadri Bhattar, presented the Pallandu Episode on this historic day on the eve of the Pagal Pathu utsavam for five decades and following in his footsteps, he has now been carrying forward that legacy for well over a decade.

The Bhattar presented Koodal Azhagar’s flower garland and the sacred book containing the legendary episode to Srinivasa Raghavan. Donning the cone shaped colourful blue hat, symbolic of the Araiyars of Srivilliputhur, Srinivasa Raghavan began his presentation of the story that culminated in Periyazhvaar presenting the Pallandu verses praying for the protection of the Lord from evil eyes!!!

The Legendary episode at the Pandya King's Court

For over 20 minutes all eyes and ears focused on Srinivasa Raghavan as he narrated the tale of King Vallabha Deva seeking the inner meaning of Paratathuvam. Describing that legendary tale, Srinivasa Raghavan said that when Pandya King Vallabha Deva went, incognito, on his usual late night rounds through the streets of Madurai to understand the sentiments of his people, he met with Soma Sarma, a traditional Brahmin who introduced himself as one on a long pilgrimage from Avanti Kingdom. He surprised the King with his philosophical view on life, one that gave him sleepless nights ‘What we want for a rainy day is saved during good times. What we need for the night is to be earned during the day. Similarly what one wants after death should be accumulated now, in this very life.’ 

Unable to fathom the inner meaning of this, Vallabha Deva summoned his acharya and head priest Selva Nambi seeking an understanding of this statement. A big prize was announced to the one who provided insights into this. Many renowned scholars of the time tried their best but the king was not convinced and the bag of gold coins hung in the balance. It was then that Selva Nambi went to Srivilliputhur seeking the services of Vishnu Chittar to provide the insights at the court of the Pandya King. 

His description of Lord Narayana as the Supreme Being and his narration of references from the Vedic Scriptures and the suggestion that worshipping him in one’s life time with devotion was the highest form of worship and was likely to lead one  in the direction of what he or she sought after death thrilled Vallabha Deva Pandya. Even as he was finishing his speech, the golden coins were showered on him, for Vallabha Deva instinctively realised that he had found the ultimate solution.

It was then that Vishnu Chittar was conferred the title of ‘Bhattar Piran’ by Raja Simhan I (Vallabha Deva). The king ordered a royal procession for Vishnu Chittar on an elephant top around the streets of Madurai and the entire city resonated with the melodies of musical instruments. As he moved along in the procession in a grand celebratory event witnessed by a huge crowd, Bhattar Piran heard dissenting voices from his detractors who raised eyebrows on his devotional power. They asked him if the Lord that he referred to was so powerful, would it be in his powers to show them the Lord.

When Bhattar Piran invoked the blessings of Koodal Azhagar, much to the delight of everyone there, the Lord of Madurai, appeared on his Garuda Vahana from above the Ashtanga Vimana along with Goddess Lakshmi against the back drop of the clear blue sky. 

Worried that evil eyes should not fall on this beautiful Lord, seen in this immaculate posture with his beloved Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu Chittar falling into a trance, showered verses of praise expressing concern for the Lord’s safety using the bell tied to the elephant as his Thaalam. 

 பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆணி தன்னில்

 பெருந் ஜோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே

முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்

துயக்கற மால் பருத்து வத்தை திருமாசெப்பி

வானர மேல் மதுரை வளம் வரவே

வானில் கருட வாகனமாய்த் தோன்ற

வாழ்த்தும் ஈரணி  பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு

நானூற்று எழுவத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும் எனக்கு உதவு நீயே – Vedanta Desikar's praise of Periyazhvaar's Royal Procession

Srinivasa Raghavan who too was presented a symbolic bag like the one presented by King Vallabha Deva to Vishnu Chittar began the Pallandu verses using the cymbal just like the Araiyar of Srivilliputhur. The Prabhandham Ghoshti members carried forward the rest of the Pallandu verses signifying the commencement of the Pagal Pathu utsavam.

This episode of ‘Pallandu Thodakkam’ at the Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam on the eve of Pagal Pathu is the only one of its kind in a Divya Desam. On sighting the Lord in the high air, verses poured out instantly from Periyazhvaar and he sung for the Lord’s long life. It is the only set of verses among the 4000 verses where an Azhvaar has sung benedictory hymns of the Lord.

Periyazhvaar suggests to the devotees who live with the only desire of serving the Lord to carry immediately talc paste and those with fragrances. He asks them to resist worldly pleasures and to come together as true devotees letting go vain glory and to sing the sacred mantra. He says that it is important for us to give up our old bad habits and to connect with the Lord. 

எந்த தந்தை தந்தை தந்தை தம் மூத்தப்பன்

ஏழ் படி கால் தொடங்கி 

வந்து வழி வழி ஆட் செய்கின்றோம் 

He cautions that no one whose thoughts are just on food shall be allowed here. He wants all of us to continuously utter the 1000 names of the Lord and sing benedictory praise wishing for his long life. It was seen as so sacred that Thiru Pallandu became the first decad of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.

Following Theertham and Shatari, Koodal Azhagar and Periyazhvaar in line with the past practices of providing darshan to  donors made their way through the small stretch on Valaiyal street with the Lord's crown just about  managing to escape from the numerous wires above before he made his way back to the temple at 10pm bringing to end the Pallandu utsavam. 

Trichy Junction Battery Car Passenger Shuttle Service

Battery car Passenger ferry at Rs. 30 has become a big hit at Trichy Junction

Senior Citizens or those with luggages can now easily move from the main entrance to any platform at the station using this service

In a very passenger friendly initiative, the Trichy Railway Station provides battery car operated services carrying passengers from platform 1 to all other platforms in the station right up to the East End of the station.

The service charges Rs. 30 per passenger and has become a big hit with the train travellers especially the senior citizens and those with luggage. Those who enter the station from the western side and whose train is on platform 4 or 5 or 6 can now use this service to easily reach their compartment for the battery car takes them right to their coach.

Similarly, those who arrive on platforms 4 or 5 can use this service to reach the main entrance of the station on the Western side.

The Tiruchirapalli station has been a forerunner on many fronts. The Junction has had high quality retiring rooms and dormitories for a long time now (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/08/retiring-room-tiruchchirappalli.html)

With this ferry service from one side of the railway station to the other, passengers do not have to go up the stairway or the subway to reach other platforms from the main entrance.

Srirangam Temple JC Mariappan

A HR & CE JC for whom there is no sleep!!!

It is 9pm on Thursday (Dec 19) evening. Most of the devotees have left the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam after darshan but for the Joint Commissioner J Mariappan work has just started. He is on rounds checking the infrastructure at the temple. Within months of removal of shops at the Ranga Vilas Mandapam and in front of Natha Muni and Chakrathazhvaar Sannidhi, development works have begun and are running at a fast pace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-temple-popular-shops-shut-down.html). The place where shops had been selling pooja items for decades has now been converted to a mother’s feeding room, legal dept and a library. The place around the Natha Muni Sannidhi will soon be home to Tulabaram.

Relocation of Tulabaram to Therku Vaasal

"Devotees wanting to present rice and jaggery found it challenging to carry the things all the way past Garuda Sannidhi to the Tulabaram room. Hence to make it easier for them, the Tulabaram center is being shifted to Therku Vaasal near the Natha Muni Sannidhi", the JC told this writer near the Garuda Sannidhi.

The first aid center that has been located at the north end of manal veli is being relocated to Therku Vaasal near the erstwhile Ranga Vilas shops.

A bold step on Panguni Uthiram night

In March this year, for the first time in several decades he closed the ticket counter at 7.30pm on Panguni Uthiram day letting go of revenue with his sole focus being on getting the Chariot to start on time the next morning. For years, the Serthi Sevai continued late into the night delaying the Chariot procession. JC Mariappan took a strong call of foregoing ticket collection and getting the Thirumanjanam to start on time on the Panguni Uthiram night. 

Clarity on his role at the Srirangam temple

He speaks with a lot of clarity on what he sees as his role as the EO of this large temple “I am not here to fight and solve internal politics. I have been paid a salary for this role and I want to work as hard and as sincerely as possible to justify the salary. I want to look at key issues that devotees face at this temple and try to make it easy for them and a happy experience”, he told this writer.

This writer had met the JC for the first time on the Krishna Jayanthi and it was well past 9pm that evening as well when he was still deep into his work. With the additional responsibility now bestowed on him of managing the Thanjavur and Pudukottai temples, JC Mariappan’s days have been long and hard in the recent past but he sees it as his daily role to discharge his duty to the best of his ability. 

East Gopuram restoration progressing well

He is also keeping a close watch on the Eastern Gopuram on East Adayavalanjan street that had been severely damaged last year. He told this writer that the same devotee from Coimbatore building the Raja Gopuram at Thiru Vellarai Divya Desam is taking care of the restoration of this Gopuram as well. The road from the Srirangam railway station towards Vellai gopuram has been cut off at East adayavalanjan following the orders from the collector "It will take at least another year for the Gopuram to be restored given the extent of the damage to its structure.”

Tier 3 Raja Gopuram completed at Thiru Vellarai

JC Mariappan is happy that the Raja Gopuram work at Thiru Vellarai is moving a good pace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/11/thiru-vellarai-new-raja-gopuram-by-end.html). “The third tier of the seven tier Tower has been completed and construction is progressing as per plan. The Raja Gopuram had seen a lot of hurdles and now that we have got all the approvals and the basic structure has been strengthened, we want to ensure that the entire construction is strong. It will take at least another year for it to be completed”, he said.

Anbil Consecration soon

The restoration of the Vadivazhagiya Nambi Divya Desam in Anbil undertaken by Venu Srinivasan has been completed (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/04/venu-srinivasan-anbil-nambi-temple.html). He is pleased with the way the temple has been restored to its historical best. "We have to finalise the date of the consecration and expect this to take place in February", JC Mariappan told this writer even as his staff are waiting near the Garuda Sannidhi for his next order late into this Thursday evening.

He tells them that he will be back at the temple the next morning at 8am for the Vaikunta Ekadasi related meeting with the Collector and asks the team to be on time. 

There are a number of internal challenges within the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam but JC Mariappan is unflustered about these. He focuses on developmental activities that will benefit the devotees at large. He has remained non-controversial over the last 15 months and says that he is not here to fight with activists or with the kainkaryaparas of the temple. 

"Till the time I am at this huge temple, I want to remain focussed on developmental activities and not on controversies" says the JC.

Will Venu Srinivasan be back as CBT

This writer had earlier this week written a story on the non appointment of trustees in TN temples including in Srirangam and asks the JC on the status “That’s for the Government to decide but we will welcome back Venu Srinivasan with both hands and this temple will benefit a lot if the TVS Chief agrees to the role again for he had played a remarkable part in the restoration earlier”, the JC tells this writer even as he rushes back to attend to his next work late on  Thursday night.

Will Venu Srinivasan, who had transformed the temple infrastructure with his restoration exercise a decade ago, don the role of CBT again(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). 

This section will track the developments.

TN Temple Trustees Non Appointment

Temple Activist/President of Temple Worshippers Society TR Ramesh sends notice to TN Principal Secy and HRCE Commissioner on Trustee Appointment and Internal Audit issues in TN temples

It is Sunday (Dec 15) morning at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. All the hereditary priests of the temple have just received a letter from Joint Commissioner Mariappan allocating the archaka service duty for the month of Margazhi. The HR & CE has taken possession and the rights of archaka service from those hereditary archakas who had let go off their right towards the end of the previous century given the challenging scenario that prevailed at the temple at that time. With a sizeable number of days in each of the Sannidhis at this huge temple now under the control of the HR &CE, it is the JC of the Srirangam temple who decides as to how he allocates these services to the archakas. One look at the duty allocated for Margazhi (2024) will give a knowledgeable devotee an indication as to the basis on which he has made this allocation!!!

The Srirangam temple has been without a Board of Trustees for many years now after the term of Venu Srinivasan had come to an end. With a good understanding of temple administration and the financial management, the TVS Motors Chief had reigned in good control in the administration of this huge temple on behalf of the devotees (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). But his departure from the role of the CBT has handed back full control to the HR &CE on most aspects of the administration of the Srirangam temple including the allocation of archakas for the Sannidhis every month from the above mentioned basket of days that HR & CE now have under their arms.

2021 - Judge Anitha Sumanth's order on EO's role

In November 2021, this section had featured a story on the Madras HC order paving the way for the phasing out of Executive Officers in HR & CE Temples and the appointment of Trustees to take over the management of the temple. On the role of EOs in TN Temples, Judge Dr. Anitha Sumanth had said in that order that with the elapsing of the tenure of the E.O (period of five years), he becomes functus officio. As per that order, the position of the Executive Officers in TN temples had become untenable and the temple administration had to be handed back to the hereditary trustees, or a new board of trustees that had to be constituted (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/11/tn-temples-hr-eos-out-trustees-back.html).

Display of Trustee's name and phone number

In September 2020, another Judge M.M. Sundresh had directed the name of the Trustees and their phone numbers to be displayed inside the temple as the trustees were doing a public duty and appointed as trustees of the named temples to take care of the interest of the  temples to which  they   are  appointed.  "Therefore, it is not only logical but also proper that their names along with their profession/ avocation will have to be  published  in such of those temples in which they are appointed and thereafter function as trustees. Their phone numbers also will have to be indicated so that a devotee can have access to them to redress his grievance on the functioning of the temple", the judge had said in his order.

Appointment of Trustees in TN Temples

In November 2020, Periya Nambi Acharya Narasimha Gopalan of Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannar Koil, Ambasamudram  reached out to the Court seeking the official direction for his appointment as a descendant of Periya Nambi as the hereditary trustee of the temple based on the 1000 year inscription, a copy of which he presented to the Court. The court had directed the JC to initiate action on this front but the appointment is still pending after four years with the JC court refusing to accept the centuries old inscription that points to the Periya Nambi clan as being the hereditary trustee of the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/mannar-koil-narasimha-gopalan.html). 

Narasimha Gopalan had also questioned the transparency involved in the appointment of non hereditary Trustees in Temples. In a letter to the Commissioner of the HR & CE and to the Principal Secretary to the Govt - Religious Endowments Dept, he had requested to make public the qualifications and credentials of Trustees selected for the Temples in Tamil Nadu.  

For decades, most temples under the HR & CE administration have had no trustees and the activities of the temples have been administered by “Fit Person” appointed by the Government.  There are also cases in temples where the Fit Person and the EO are the same. In many cases, the application for funds is signed by the EO of the temple and the same individual approves the application and signs as the Fit Person.

TR Ramesh sends notice to Secy/TN Govt and HRCE Commissioner

On the morning when Srirangam JC Mariappan sent the archaka service break up to all the hereditary archakas for the month of Margazhi, a few hundred kms away in Mylapore Chennai, Temple Activist and President of the Temple Worshipper’s Society TR Ramesh has sent a notice to The Principal Secretary, TN Government Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowment and The Commissioner HR & CE asking for detailed clarification on the pending appointment of Trustees (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html).

Mandatory to appoint Trustees but HR & CE has failed

Accusing them of not appointing mandatory trustees, Ramesh has said in the notice that Trustees have not appointed to temples having non-hereditary Trustees for more than 10 years even though such appointments are mandatory requirements under Section 47 of the 1959 Act and that they have deliberately withheld appointment of qualified Hindu citizens as Trustees to Hindu Temples and Endowments  to ensure that these continue to be under the abject control of the Government.  Further he has said in his notice that despite being fully aware that while the full term of a properly appointed Board of Trustees is only two years they have continued with the “interim appointment” of Fit Person for more than 10 years i.e. the said interim period is more than 5 times the full term of properly appointed Board of Trustees.

Cites specific examples of wrongly presence of EOs

Citing the examples of Samayapuram Sri Mariamman Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/12/samayapuram-mariamman-temple.html) and Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple, Tiruvannamalai, Ramesh has said  in his notice that the EOs of these temples are  functioning there without any legally sustainable order of appointment but in each of these temples such illegally present person  is also made the “Fit Person” of the very same temple.

Suspension of Trustees and appointment of HRCE officials

Citing a few other specific cases, Ramesh says that at the Sri Madhava Perumal Bysani Trust and Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple, Pazhaya Seevaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/12/lakshmi-narasimha-perumal-pazhaya.html), Hereditary Trustees have been suspended and the HR & CE official appointed as Fit Person.  At the Tiruporur temple, the trustee service of Sri Chidambara Swamy Mutt has been terminated and the Asst Commissioner has been appointed as the “Fit Person” in his place. 

Financial Mismanagement

While the lack of proper trustees impacts negatively the administration of temples, Ramesh has pointed out a deep rooted issue in this. Lack of professional internal audit services has led to the HR&CE not sending the audit reports are to the Trustees and only to their own EOs and JCs and the Commissioner leading to a lack of transparency in the financial management of temples in TN.

Summarising the points in the notice and demanding immediate action, Ramesh has requested the two of them to resolve and rectify audit objections that have been pending for decades, ensure no promotions and additional responsibilities are bestowed on HR&CE Officials against whom audit objections are pending in Audit Reports, ensure no HR&CE official is allowed to freely retire from service and reap retiral benefits without settling the audit objections pending against him  and without rectifying the defects disclosed in the audit reports.

Ramesh has asked them to respond to every point in the notice within the next three weeks failing which he has said that he would take to legal recourse.

This section will track the developments on this front.

Thirupaan Azhvaar Srirangam Birthday Celebrations 2024

On the occasion of his birthday - Karthigai Rohini – Thirupaan Azhvaar made a trip on Saturday morning to Periya Perumal and Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhis

On Saturday (Dec 14) morning, on the occasion of his birthday, Thiru Paan Azhvaar brought back memories of his unflinching devotion towards Ranganatha Swamy from the banks of the Cauvery and the way he was rewarded by Periya Perumal.

Great Devotional Message

The legendary tale of Thiru Paan Azhvaar’s devotional endeavour still holds good over a thousand years later. Over a 1000 years ago, Thiru Paan Azhvaar presented a great lesson for the devotee world to follow in their every day lives. His devotional way of life was clear. Being an outcaste, he was restricted from entering the Srirangam temple but he showcased to the world with his devotion that no matter who you are, if you show sincere faith in the Lord he will take care of you. 

The story of Thiru Paan Azhvaar is a classic illustration of the Lord sharing the pain with the devotee and being by the side of a devotee, when he needs HIM the most.

The Baanar community lived in Srirangam on the Cauvery river banks near Melur. The Baanars were well known for their special penchant for playing sweet music. Among them was one who developed a special affection for Lord Ranganatha from a very young age and who later went on to compose 10 beautiful verses - Amalanaathipiraan in praise of the Lord of Srirangam.

Prayers from the southern side of Cauvery

Being denied entry into the temple, this young man, Thiru Baanar (Thiru Paan Azhvaar), had only heard of Lord Ranganatha and had never seen him. Every morning, he would wake up early  and before dawn walk up to the banks of the Cauvery with a Veena in hand and facing the direction of the temple immerse himself in the thoughts of the Lord. This man would visualise the Lord, engage himself in deep conversation with the Lord day in day out and sing praises of the Lord as visualised by him in his thoughts.

Baanar pelted with stone

One morning, Sage Loka Saranga came to the banks of Cauvery to bathe and to then proceed to meet the Lord in Srirangam. Finding this man blocking his way, the sage indicated to him with a show of hands to move away from his path. Finding no reply, the sage lost his patience and mistakin this lack of reaction for arrogance, he threw a stone at the man. With blood oozing from his forehand, the man opened his eyes and found the sage behind him in an angry mood. The man soon realized that he had obstructed the path of the sage and had delayed the sage’s bath and his visit to the Lord Ranganatha temple. Immediately, he moved away from this place so the sage could carry on with his devotion to the Lord.

Lord Ranganatha bleeds - Shares pain with his devotee

After completing the formalities, the sage proceeded to the Lord Ranganatha temple. On reaching the sannidhi, he found to his shock blood from the fore head of Lord Ranganatha. That night, in his dream, he saw Lord Ranganatha unhappy with him and expressing his displeasure about the sage‘s treatment of the devotee who was immersed in his morning prayers. The Lord said ‘To those who show utmost devotion, I become one among them and share their pains. You have hurt Baanar, who despite not being able to visit me, has been relentless in his devotion from the Cauvery banks. I am today sharing the pains of Baanar.”

Sage Loka Saranga carries Baanar on his shoulder

Realising his folly, the sage pleaded with the Lord to forgive his actions and asked for a reprieve. The Lord wanted the sage to carry this devotee on his shoulder from the Cauvery river banks and bring him to his sannidhi. Obeying the Lord’s orders, the sage went to the southern banks of Cauvery the next morning where he found the man immersed once again in his prayers facing the direction of the Srirangam temple. Falling at his feet, the sage requested Baanar to allow him to follow the instructions of the Lord to carry him all the way to the Ranganatha temple.

Amalanaathipiraan- Verses in praise of Lord Ranganatha

The sage, accompanied by his disciples, carried him into the Ranganatha Sannidhi and for the first time Baanar entered the temple and found himself in front of the Lord who he had only visualised till then. So thrilled was Baanar at the sight of the Lord that he instantly showered verses of praise of Lord Ranganatha beginning with the loving legs of the Lord 

அமலன் ஆதிபிரான் அடியார்க்கு என்னை ஆட்படுத்த விமலன்

விண்ணவர்கோன் வீரையார் பொழில் வேங்கடவன்

நிமலன் நின்மலன் நீதி வானவன்

நீல் மதில் அரங்கத்தம்மா 

திருக்கமல பாதம் வந்து

என் கண்ணின் உள்ளன ஒக்கின்றதே

He ended his praise of the Lord with the words “En Amuthinai Kanda Kangal Matronrinai Kaanaathey”. Now that he had seen the Lord, he wanted nothing else in this life and wanted the Lord to take him along. The Lord was truly impressed with this composition and the devotion of Baanar that he took him in along with him. In front of a startled Sage and all his followers, Baanar merged with the Lord and attained moksham.

Birthday Celebrations on Karthigai Rohini

At 5am on Saturday, he made his way from his abode at the Southern entrance of the Ranganathaswamy temple to the Periya Perumal Sannidhi for Vishwaroopa Sevai. Five hours later, the bhagavathas had gathered in good numbers to carry Thiru Paan Azhvaar on the street procession around the four Chitrai Streets of Srirangam(the official temple Sripatham did not carry Azhvaar on this procession). The Vedic members were already presenting the sacred verses standing in front of Thiru Paan Azhvaar and they followed the Azhvaar on the two hour street procession.

The azhvaar who presented his only verses of praise on Lord Ranganatha is accorded a great send off from the Perumal Sannidhi with a Parivattam, Shawl and a Flower Garland. 

To Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi at 10.30am

His first stop on the procession was at the Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi. At the Therku Vaasal Gopuram, the Chief Priest of the Thiru Paan Azhvaar Sannidhi is presented with a flower garland that he drapes around his head. 

Ramanuja Nootranthathi - Prabhandham Ghoshti

The Prabhandham Ghoshti begin the recital of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi verses at the South Chitrai Street on this cloudy Saturday morning when the devotee crowd is relatively less at the temple. It is 11am when Thiru Paan Azhvaar makes his into the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi. It is a special occasion for Thiru Paan Azhvaar for it is the only day in the year when he makes it to the Thaayar Sannidhi. Following Theertham and Shatari, Dhadhyonam is presented to the 50 odd devotees who have gathered in front of the Thaayar Sannidhi.

Thiru Paan Azhvaar had dedicated his entire life to the Divine Couple of Srirangam and there seemed to a happy smile when he entered the Thayar Sannidhi. The service personnel who carried the Azhvaar on the occasion of his birthday too sported a big smile through the entire procession.

கொண்டல் வண்ணனை கோவலனை வெண்ணை உண்ட வாயன் 

என் உள்ளம் கவர்ந்தானை 

அண்டர்கோன் அணி அரங்கன் 

என் அமுதினைக் கண்ட கண்கள் 

மற்றொன்றினைக் காணவே

The final stop at Ul Andal Sannidhi

It is noon when after going around the Chitrai Streets, he made his to the Ul Andal Sannidhi via the Therku Gopuram. He goes around the Andal Sannidhi as do the Prabhandham Ghoshti. After another round of Theertham and Shatari, Dhadhyonam is presented to those present before Thiru Paan Azhvaar headed back to his Sannidhi at 12. 30pm where the Prabhandham Ghoshti members presented the Satru Murai verses of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi following the completion of the sacred verses of the Vedic members bringing to end the annual utsavam on this Rohini day in Karthigai.

It had been over seven happy hours for Thiru Paan Azhvaar as he celebrated his birthday at the Ranganatha Swamy, Ranganayaki Thayar and Ul Andal Sannidhis while also providing darshan to devotees around the four Chitrai Streets. 

Srirangam Kaisika Ekadasi Rathna Kreedam after 200 years

A Kaisika Ekadasi Gift for Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar

TN CM’s Sambandhi presents Rathna Kreedam on Wednesday

It was meant to be a day of fasting and one renowned for the recital of Kasika Puranam, a legend relating to Nambaduvan and his unflinching devotion. But devotees at the Ranganathaswamy temple were in for a big surprise shortly after the 10am procession of Namperumal, the first of the two processions on this Wednesday.

Harish Bhattar, who had on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-panguni-uthiram-2024.html) in March this year secured a Rs. 60lakhs Kili diamond necklace, has done an extraordinary two for Nampuermal in 2024. On Kaisika Ekadasi, he has secured a Rs. 1.50crore Rathna Kreedam that the processional deity adorned at 11.30am at the Santanu Mandapam just before the start of the Thirumanjanam.

The Rathna Kreedam for Namperumal is the first Kreedam for the utsava deity in 200 years after the Pandyan Kondai in the 19th century.

It was Harish Bhattar  who provided the measurements and saw through the entire process of making the Kreedam (for dancer Zakir Hussain ) like he did in the case of the diamond necklace earlier this year.

The first procession on the Kaisika Ekadasi day began shortly after 10am with Namperumal reaching the Santanu Mandapam at 1030am. While the devotees eagerly gathered for the Thirumanjanam, they were surprised at this precious gift that Namperumal adorned ahead of the Thirumanjanam.

The Rathna Kreedam was presented this morning by TN CM’s son in law’s (Sabareesan) father Veda Moorthy to Mariappan, the JC of the temple with Murali Bhattar and his son Harish Bhattar taking possession of the Kreedam before they adorned it on Namperumal at the Santanu Mandapam( for the official records, this was gifted by dancer Zakir Hussain).

For Harish Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-harish-bhattar.html), it was  a morning of great satisfaction having played a role in two invaluable  ornaments for the deities at the Srirangam temple, both of which are likely to last for centuries.

While this Rathna Kreedam will be adorned on Ranganayaki Thayar, there is another similar priceless Kreedam in the offing that is expected to be placed on Namperumal over the next 12 months.

Pazhamuthir Cholai Arupadai Veedu

It was here that Lord Muruga came to rest after slaying the asura in Tiruchendur

Muthu Kumar Gurukal has been carrying on the archaka service handed by his forefathers

42year old Muthu Kumar Gurukal has been visiting the Arupadai Veedu Murugan temple in Pazhamuthir Cholai right from the time he was a young boy way back in the 1980s. He would often accompany his Thatha Karthikeya Gurukal on the long uphill path to the temple watching him performing the pooja with great devotion.

His Thatha had joined the temple in the 1960s and performed service for over three decades. A week after the now popular and grand Kanda Sashti Utsavam, Muthu Kumar Gurukal recounts the tales around the annual Kanda Sashti Utsavam that his Thatha had narrated to him during his school days “My Thatha would carry all the pooja items on his head ahead of Kanda Sashti Utsavam and walk all the way from his quarters in Azhagar Koil to Pazha Muthir Cholai at a time where there was no proper road and the entire hill was inhabited by wild animals. He also doubled up as the cook at the madapalli. There were not too many devotees in those time, very minimal thattu kaasu and it was financially very challenging for the family in that phase.”

As things improved slightly, his thatha began to cycle to the temple. With the passing of decades, the road has been well built and is relaid often enabling an easy passage for the priests of this generation. 

Financial Challenges didn't deter him

While he saw the financial challenges that his thatha and appa faced, it would have been normal for Muthu Kumar Gurukal to have taken the academics route to gain entry into the corporate world like many of his contemporaries but right from a young age his mind had been directed towards a devotional way of life and continuing the archaka service that he saw the two of them carry out during his childhood with great sincerity. 

Quits school, joins Allur Patshala

He quit academics after class VIII in the mid 1990s and joined the Veda Agama Patshala in Allur (Trichy) “I never visualised a college life or moving away from temple service to work in a company. The thought had been instilled in my mind at an early age that service at this Arupadai Veedu should be my way of life and I had no second thoughts on this.”

Soon after his Patshala education, at the turn of the century, he joined his appa in archaka service at Pazha Muthir Cholai.

A share in tickets and abhisekams

Contrary to what is the practice in most HR & CE temples now, Muthu Kumar Gurukal does not take a fixed monthly salary and continues the historical practice at Pazha Muthir Cholai. He has a percentage share in archanai, alankaram, abhisekam and ticket collection, in addition to the thattu kaasu.

Big Turnaround, Huge devotee crowd

After the Kumbabhisekam in 2014, fortunes have changed dramatically at the temple and with the gaining popularity of Aru Padai Veedu, much like Divya Desams and Paadal Petra Sthalam, devotees have been thronging Pazha Muthir Cholai in large numbers.

Muthu Kumar Gurukal says that even on normal days, the tourists have been visiting in good numbers so much so that he now has full time assistants for the sannidhis to support him daily as well as during the utsavams, a far cry from the decades when his thatha just had two watchmen for company. Over the last decade or so, there has also been a full time paricharaka at the madapalli to take care of the Neivedyam unlike the dark decades of the second half of the 20th century when Karthikeya Gurukal and later his son had to double up both as the priest and the cook at the madapalli.

Grand Utsavams and Vahana Processions

Vaikasi Visakam, Aadi Karthigai, Kanda Sashti, Thai Poosam are all celebrated in a grand way with abisekam, alankaram and purapadu. 

Saivite Priests welcome Sundararaja Perumal

The Murugan temple in Pazha Muthir Cholai is also symbolic of the Saivite Vaishnavite unity as was seen last week on the Dwadashi day in Aippasi when Sundararaja Perumal from Azhagar Koil made his way to Noopura Gangai for Thailakkappu and Neeraattam utsavam. The priests from the Murugan temple climbed up the steep hilly path to present flower garland to Perumal on his way to Noopura Gangai.

Lord Muruga came here after slaying the Asuras

While the Azhvaars referred to the Perumal’s presence in Maaliruncholai Malai and the greatness of this hill (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/thiru-maliruncholai-periyazhvar.html), Saivite Poets referred to the presence of Murugan at Pazha Muthir Cholai Malai. It was here that he came to rest after slaying the asuras in Tirchendur. Silambaru, the sacred falls, that Sundararaja Perumal visits every year in Aippasi, is just a couple of hundred yards from Pazha Muthir Cholai temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/11/azhagar-koil-noopura-ganga-aippasi.html). Arunagirinathar has sung 15 verses of praise of the Lord of Pazha Muthir Cholai. He refers to Solai Malai being abound with mansions and mandapams and gopurams giving an indication that this would have been a beautiful temple town with people living a wealthy life. 

Maliruncholai Malai also finds a reference in the historic Paripatal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/paripatal-on-vishnu.html).

Muthu Kumar Gurukal is delighted that he has been presented with an opportunity to perform archaka service at this abode of Lord Muruga. He says that the great devotion with which his thatha and appa performed service at this temple in those dark decades is now paying off with the revival of this historical temple and that the Lord has given him everything he could have hoped for in this life. As with many priests of this generation, he has had a late marriage and is hoping that he would be blessed with a son to continue the archaka service at Pazha Muthir Cholai.

The temple is open from 6.30am to 7pm on all days. A bus plies every 15minutes or so from Azhagar Koil to Pazha Muthir Cholai (ticket Rs. 10).

Pazha Muthir Cholai is about 2 kms uphill from Azhagar Koil Divya Desam