Azhagar Koil Noopura Ganga Aippasi Thailakkaappu Neerattam Utsavam

Sundararaja Perumal went up the steep ‘Victory Hill’ this Wednesday for the Thailakappu Neeraattam Utsavam on the occasion of Sukla Paksha Dwadasi in Aippasi

In the fourth canto of his Thirumozhi, Periyazhvar provides great insights into Thiru Maliruncholai and makes repeated references to Noopura Gangai and its greatness. He says that celestial maidens came all the way to bathe in the sacred falls that flowed down from the Thiru Malirun Cholai hills. He praises Noopura Gangai as producing sacred water. The Kalpataru flowers in heaven are filled with nectar like fragrance and he compares that to Noopura Gangai which he praises as having a similar fragrance

ஈட்டிய பல் பொருள்கள் எம்பிரானுக்கு அடியுறை என்று 

ஒட்டரும் தண் சிலம்பாறு உடை மாலிருஞ் சோலையதே

Legend has it that during his Trivikrama Avatara, Lord Narayana’s feet stretched to Brahmma Logam where a delighted Brahmma poured the sacred water on the Silambu / Noopuram worn by the Lord on his feet. This sacred water poured from the Lord’s feet to this place in Thiru Maliruncholai on Sukla Paksha Dwadasi in Aipasi. In celebration of this legendary episode, Lord Kallazhagar, the Utsava deity of Azhagar Koil, makes an annual trip up the hilly terrain to Noopura Gangai on this day every year for the Thailakappu and Neerattam Utsavam.

வானாட்டில் நின்று மாமலர்க் கற்பகத் தொத்த இழி

தேனாறு பாயும் தென் திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலையே

This event was enacted this Wednesday (Nov 13) at Thiru Maliruncholai Malai, a hill that Periyazhvaar refers to as one with thousands of lakes and flower groves and where the Lord is reclining with a thousand arms and a thousand crowns on the serpent with a thousand hoods. There is a rock carving atop the Nupura Ganga of the Lord in a Sayana Kolam on a huge Serpant.

ஆயிரம் தோல் பரப்பி முடி ஆயிரம் மின்னிலக

ஆயிரம் பைந்தலைய அனந்தசயனன் ஆளும் மலை

 ஆயிர  மாருகளும் கணைகள் பலவாயிரமும்

Kallazhagar (Sundararaja Perumal), the Utsava deity at the Azhagar Koil Divya Desam began a two hour procession from his abode at Azhagar Koil to the sacred Noopura Gangai Theertham atop Maliruncholai hills. Not so long ago, this trip used to take longer and Kallazhagar would reach the mandapam atop the hill only after 11.30am but with infra development has led to a great improvement facilitating a comparitively easier trip for the Sripatham.

Newly laid road up the Maliruncholai Hill

Till half a century ago, the procession took place through the hilly terrain, bereft of a proper road and the Sripatham Thangis along with Kainkaryapakas had to wade their way through bushes, tall trees and a rocky path uphill to reach Noopoura Gangai. Old timers recounted as to how they took to this arduous procession with great devotion keeping a close watch on wild animals along with the way. It was quite a strenuous trip up the hill with most of the Kainkaryapakas ending up with bleeding feet but in the decades gone by they did it all with devotion to the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai. With the gaining popularity of Pazhamuthir Cholai, one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga, the tar road was relaid ahead of the utsavam paving way for a less strenuous procession. 

Periyazhvaar describes Thiru Maliruncholai as home to huge elephants that make their way into the forest in large numbers as a herd. The Wild elephants are seen chasing helpless cows into the forest of Thiru Maliruncholai. Even as late as the 1970s and 80s, the priests had such ‘wild’ experiences during this annual trip of the Lord in Aippasi.

Hundreds of devotees gathered at the temple early morning on Wednesday and led by the temple elephant and the white horse and to the tunes of the Nadaswaram, Kallazhagar began his procession going around the inner prakara before taking leave from the Lord protecting the temple at  Padhinettaam Padi.

Historical Inscription

An Inscription on the wall between the Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi of the Thiru Maliruncholai Divya Desam in the outskirts of Madurai refers to an undertaking during the coronation ceremony of Sundara Pandyan that he would continue the ‘Thalai Aruvi’ Utsavam and that if he did not it would amount to killing a 1000 sacred cows, testifying that the one of its kind festival at Nupura Ganga (Silambaru) is a historical one.

Periyazhvaar says that Pandya King Nedumaran of Koodal came to Thiru Maliruncholai in a thanking gesture to the Lord and to celebrate his victory. Those who visited the Lord at Thiru Maliruncholai and invoked his blessings before an event always returned with victory and came back to thank the Lord. And hence he describes it as a VICTORY HILL.

கொல் நவில் கூறவேற் கோன்

நெடுமாறன் தென் கூடற் கோன்

தென்னன் கொண்டாடும்

தென் திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலையே

Despite being a weekday, buses carried devotees in good numbers to Pazhamuthir Cholai making it a challenging procession for the Sripatham thangis as they had to make way for the vehicles plying up as well as coming down. 

Aru Padai Veedu Murugar Prasadam

Led by the Chief Priest Muthu Kumar Gurukal, the representatives of Murugan temple presented Mariyathai to Sundararaja Perumal while he crossed Pazhamuthir Cholai on this once a year Aippasi trip to Noopura Gangai for the Thailakkaappu utsavam.

Beautifully Decorated Noopura Gangai Mandapam

Hundreds of devotees had already stationed themselves in front of the mandapam at Noopura Gangai that was decorated with hundreds of apples and oranges to welcome Sundararaja Perumal. For over an hour, they were treated to a delightful Thailakkappu presentation by the popular and well known chief priest Ambi Narayana Bhattar. An ‘alankaram specialist’ he is continuing in the footsteps of his forefathers who presented this alankaram over the last century. After applying the sacred oil multiple times, he devotionally combed the Lord’s long hair sending the devotees into a trance. Following the Deepaarathanai, as expected there was a big rush to receive the sacred Thailam from the Bhattar. After a 90 minute presentation, it was commendable of him to patiently to reach out to every single devotee to present this oil to them.

The Eternal Spring

In line with Periyazhvaar’s praise of Silambaru as an ‘eternal water spring’, water gushes down the slope to Azhagar Koil from Nupura Ganga all through the year without a break, quite a unique feature of this location. It was 1pm when Sundararaja Perumal made his down the steps to Noopura Gangai after Mariyathai in front of Raakaayi Amman Sannidhi for a two hour bath after the Thailakkappu. This sacred moment of the Utsavam when Kallazhagar makes his way to Silambaru, where he has a ‘direct’ bath from the spring is the only one of its kind in a Divya Desam. 

Periyazhvaar says that devotees came from towns and villages to take a holy dip in Noopura Gangai in an effort to rid themselves of the sins. And when Ambi Narayanan Bhattar splashed this holy water on the devotees they were reminded of Periyazhvaar’s verse and their face brightened up and they seemed to be gripped with an elated feeling of devotion. For a couple of hours, devotees thronged the Noopura Gangai Theertham for a darshan of the Lord having bath, as well as to receive the blessings through the sacred water splashed on them by the Bhattar. There was great devotional fervour among the devotees as they lined up down the steps to have that once in a year darshan of the Divya Desam Perumal.

The Victory Hill -Thiru Maliruncholai

அலை வலைமை தவிர்த்த

அழகன் அலங்காரன் மலை

குல மலை கோல மலை

குளிர் மா மலை கொற்ற மலை

நில மலை நீண்ட மலை

திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலை யதே

Thiru Koshtiyur Madhavan who has had a close devotional attachment with Azhagar Koil for many decades led Thirupathi Jeer to Noopura Gangai to receive a splash of the Noopura Gangai Theertham from the Bhattar. 

After a day long stay at Noopura Gangai, Kallazhagar made his way back to Azhagar Koil in the evening bringing to end the  Aippasi Thailakkappu- Neeraattam Utsavam.

Koodal Azhagar Aippasi Oonjal Utsavam 2024

The Utsava Deity went on a procession around the Prakara before resting himself for an hour long display on the Oonjal

Bhattars double up as Vedic Reciters during the Oonjal Utsavam

Around a hundred devotees watched the start of the three day Oonjal Utsavam at the Koodal Azhagar Divya Desam in Madurai on Wednesday (Nov 13) evening, a day when the Utsava deity at another Divya Desam, Azhagar Koil, not far from here went on a trip atop the Thiru Maliruncholai hills for Thailakkappu utsavam at Noopur Ganga. At 7.30pm, the utsava deity with glittering pathakam on his chest and seen in a grand white silk vastram went on a procession around the prakara with Sathatha Vaishnava, who continues to perform the Kainkaryam at this temple, leading the way.

The Greatness of this Divya Desam

It was after invoking the blessings of Koodal Azhagar that Vishnu Chittar arrived in the court of Vallabha Deva to present his views on 'Parathaththuvam'. 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 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) with the king ordering a royal procession for Vishnu Chittar to be taken around the streets of Madurai. 

                                  

When Vishnu Chittar heard dissenting voices from his detractors asking him if he could show the Lord, Bhattar Piran, once again, invoked the blessings of Lord Koodal Azhagar. And shortly after, much to the delight of everyone there, Koodal Azhagar, appeared on his Garuda Vahana from above the Ashtanga Vimana along with Goddess Lakshmi.Worried that evil eyes should not fall on this beautiful Lord, 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

A beautiful alankaram

The devotees watched in awe the beautiful decoration of the Lord and even found a happy smile on his face as the priest moved the swing in a slow manner. Devotees, who also gathered in good numbers from the North, were particularly curious about the Muthu Kondai and posed queries about its significance.

Shortage of Vedic Scholars at this Divya Desam

While in the century gone by, there were Vedic Scholars presenting the Vedas during this utsavam, it is now left to the priests themselves to present the Vedas during the Oonjal. Following the Thiru Aradhanam, Balaji Bhattar along with his brother also doubled up as the Vedic Scholars to recite the Vedas.

By this time, the devotee crowd had gathered steam and they lined up the two sides of the Oonjal for the presentation of Theertham, Shatari and Prasadam. 

Shortly after 8.30pm, the Sripatham were back at the Oonjal to carry the Lord back to his abode bringing to end day one of the rather simple Oonjal Utsavam at this historical Divya Desam.

Sundara Perumal Koil wears a new look, Consecration after 80years

New look Raja Gopuram, Gold plated Vimanam, Repaired Vahanas but the HR & CE has taken back all the Utsava idols to Kumbakonam preventing the conduct of the processional utsavams!!!

Historical house of the priest has been brought down with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!!

For a long time, Sundara Perumal Koil located about 10kms west of Kumbakonam had remained in a dilapidated condition. A few years ago, ‘Bhagavathar’ Aravamudhan took charge of the temple as the priest after quitting his corporate job. Since then, activities have heightened at the temple with the revival of utsavams and crowds coming back to the temple in good numbers especially during the mandalabhisekam phase.

The Raja Gopuram that had a dilapidated feel about it has received a fresh coat of paint and wears a new colourful look. The young priest managed to rope in a donor to gold plate the kalasam for the inner Gopuram and also a gold plate for the Perumal Vimanam.  Taking away the historical feel, the entrance to the Andal Sannidhi has been replenished with new marble flooring. 

A Priest who served for five decades

In October 2009, this section had featured a story on the handsome lord at Sundara Perumal Koil but after the passing away of Sundara Raja Bhattar who had served as the priest for five decades from the early 1960s, the temple had been without a priest for almost a decade before the young Aravamudhan took over.  In the century gone by, Perumal provided Garuda Sevai on Tamil New Year’s day. There were also processions on the occasion of Krishna Jayanthi and on the Kanu day in Thai. 10 day Navarathri Festival too was celebrated in a grand way with Horse Vahana Procession on Vijayadasami. There was a four kalam pooja every day with sacred food presentations to the Lord that included Curd rice, Sundal and Sweet Pongal. In the outer prakara was a huge Nandavanam that was filled with different varieties of Jasmine trees. The Lord and Thayar were draped with beautiful garlands especially on festive occasions.

When this writer visited the temple in 2009 to meet Sundara Raja Bhattar, he was residing in the first house opposite the temple on the Sannidhi Street. The Mei Kavalar resided in the next house. Unfortunately, both these houses have been brought down this year with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!! One wonders as to why the houses that had historically been the residence of the priest and the Mei Kavalar will be converted to a Kalyana Mandapam.

A Grand Revival by a young priest

For the first time in decades, Perumal went on a street procession on the newly repaired Horse Vahana on the occasion of Vijayadasami earlier this month. Garuda Sevai also took place this year after several decades following the consecration. The priest, who also doubles up as the cook at the madapalli, has also managed to revive the Navarathri Utsavam for Thayar bringing in good crowd that had been hitherto missing. Thayar also presented Oonjal Sevai over nine days. He also organised the Anna Kooda Utsavam on a Saturday in Puratasi. The Thaligai presentation to Perumal too has been revived and during the utsavams this year, good quantity of Thaligai has been presented and distributed among the devotees, much to the delight of the local residents.

A devotee from Chennai has come forward to take care of the accommodation for the priest and his young family. The HR & CE too has almost trebled the salary of the priest this year.

Utsava Idols taken away to safe custody in Kumbakonam

However, the HR & CE has taken away all the utsava idols back to the Ramaswamy temple in Kumbakonam despite the presence of safety lockers at the Sundara Perumal Koil. This has meant that no processions can take place every month on sacred occasions and these are possible only when the idols are brought from Kumbakonam for select festivals.

After all the efforts to undertake the restoration efforts, this has come as a dampener to the residents as well as the priest. It is hoped that the HR & CE will hand back all the utsava idols to the temple so the processions can take place for Thayar, Perumal and Azhvaars and Acharyas.

Colourful Nandavanam

The nandavanam too is now abound with colourful flowers that are knotted and presented to the deities every day. However, the pathway around the outer prakara has been stopped half way by the HR & CE thus preventing the devotees from performing a pradakshina around the prakara. It is hoped that they will soon resume this work and complete the pathway.

Despite these challenges, good times are back at the historical Sundara Perumal Koil. And a lot of the credit for this revival should go to the young priest who has enthusiastically taken up the restoration work engaging with local residents, the HR & CE and the devotee donors.

Moolavar Sundara Raja Perumal is seen in a handsome standing posture.

How to reach

Sundara Perumal Koil is located 10kms West of Kumbakonam on the Thanjavur Highway near Papanasam. Buses between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur stop near the railway level crossing at Sundara Perumal Koil. Passenger Trains stop at Sundara Perumal Koil Railway Station. The temple is about half a km from the Railway station / Gate.

When here, visit Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/05/kalinga-narthana-temple-oothukadu.html) - 10kms from here.

Sarangapani Koil Vedantha Desikar Utsavam 2024

Cauvery Theerthavari in the morning rain, a vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Satru Murai event in the evening mark a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai

A feature of the annual Vedantha Desikar Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai is that it starts on Puratasi Shravanam and runs for ten days. The Sannidhi archakar, Sudarshan Bhattar, who also doubles up as the Maniyakarar at the temple is at the Desikar Sannidhi at 8am. There is a small devotee crowd trickling in on this misty Monday morning that also turns out to be a muhurtham day. As is the case in temples in remote towns, the archakar has to wait for everyone to come in. The Nadaswaram player is missing as he is out at a wedding. 

It is past 9am when Vedantha Desikar starts on the procession through the western entrance of the temple.  The archaka and the Veda Ghosti personnel take to their two wheelers to ride their way to the Cauvery while the Kainkaryapakas who don the role of the Sripatham carry their Acharya from the temple to the Southern Banks of the Cauvery wading through the busy bazaar street and past the Chakrapani temple.

Grand Thirumanjanam

It is a once in a year event for Vedantha Desikar on the banks of the Cauvery and it really was a grand Thirumanjanam with the Vadakalai Acharya being anointed with fruits, honey and sandalwood. The Cauvery river bank reverberated with Vedic recital even as a few ladies who had gathered to watch the Thirumanjanam almost in happy tears watching their acharya's face and body turn from Turmeric paste to Sandalwood paste. It is past 10am and the slight drizzle has turned into a heavy rain but unmindful of this, the Kainkaryapakas bring several Kudams of water from the Cauvery for the Thirumanjanam.

Shortly after, scores of them make their way down the steps and enter the Cauvery in pouring rain for the Theerthavari. Devotees are excited to dip into the river in this Thula month on the auspicious occasion of their Acharya’s Theerthavari.

Following the Theerthavari, Sudarshan Bhattar along with Vedic Pundit Kesavan, also an alankaram expert, decorate the Acharya for half an hour following the Theerthavari. Kesavan's aged amma is caught in the rain and unable to leave the mandapam. She is 'happily angry' with her son as she remarks that he was unlikely to finish the alankaram soon as he gets himself lost when he is with the Acharya.

It is 11am when Vedantha Desikar makes his way back to the temple through the flooded streets with  the Sripatham showing great commitment to carry the Lord back in the rain that did not seem to relent.

Thiru Mangai's special love for Kudanthai Lord

For Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, Thiru Kudanthai was a location that seemed to be close to his heart. He found great joy in presenting a separate Prabhandham on Lord Aaraavamudhan at this temple and the Prabhandham Ghosti brought this to life with their presentation of Thiru Kurungthandagam, Thiru Nedunthandagam and Thiru Ezhu Kootrurukkai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html) with Vedantha Desikar seated in front of the Perumal Sannidhi and listening with joy to this rendition.

நால் திசை நடுங்க  அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி

நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி

ஒரு தனி  வேழத்து அரந்தையை

ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை

After Mangalasasanam at the Andal Sannidhi, Vedantha Desikar returned back to his abode near the eastern entrance of the temple where devotees were served with Chakkarai Pongal and Puliyotharai.

A Decoration that delights devotees

Past 1pm, Komalavalli Thayar and Sarangapani Perumal made their way to the Desikar Sannidhi bringing to end the morning event. After attending a wedding in the first half, Soundararaja Bhattar(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html), known for his great devotional attachment to Sarangapani Perumal, arrives at the Desikar Sannidhi and for the next three hours is involved in decoration of the Divine Couple and the Acharya.

By 5pm, devotees have gathered in front of the Desikar Sannidhi to have a first look at the alankaram. And they are not disappointed. None of them are able to take away their eyes from the delightful decoration of the Divine Couple who are to provide darshan for the next four hours at the Desikar Sannidhi.

Vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti

At 6pm, the Prabhandham Ghoshti began their slow rendering of the tenth Canto of the Tiruvoimozhi followed by a fast paced presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthi. By 8pm, the devotees had flocked in good numbers ahead of the Satru Murai. By now, Karunakarachariar, who is closely associated with this temple, too joined the Ghoshti. 

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில் 

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில் 

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம்  கோயில் 

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில் 

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து  சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும்  தீர்க்கும் கோயில் 

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே 

After Paatraachar presented Sarangapani Perumal’s parivattam to Vedantha Desikar, the Prabhandham recital reaches its peak with the Ghoshti members presenting Adikara Sangraham, Prabhandha Saaram and Pillayanthaathi in high pitched voice much to the delight of the devotees.

It had been a long day for the personnel at the madapalli. Accolades poured in from the devotees after they taste the multiple sweets, Kaaram, hot Pongal and Puliyotharai that is served to them at 10pm. 

Karunakarachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html) is particularly happy at the way the Satru Murai of Vadakalai Acharya has been celebrated at the Sarangapani Koil. The decoration of Perumal, Thayar and Desikar, the presentation of the Prabhandham and Veda Ghoshti and the quality of the sacred food makes him feel good in the way tradition has been followed on this evening. He stays back till 11pm and as he walks alongside Komalavalli Thayar on the procession from the Desikar Sannidhi to her abode makes the remark that it is always the Thayar who makes her way back first. 

Mosquito Menace - A challenge for all

Late into the night, he is critical of the mosquito menace at the temple on this evening and bemoans the absence of the HR & CE EO at this grand celebration and the lack of steps to control the mosquitos that too were present in good numbers alongside the Kainkaryapakas and the devotees.

Sarangapani Perumal's return procession to his Sannidhi past 11pm marked the end of a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai. It had been a long day for the Kainkarayapakas but the devotees who had gathered at the temple to watch the events unfold on the Satru Murai day of Vedantha Desikar Utsavam seem to have enjoyed the celebration.

Kapali Panguni Utsavam 2024 Nadaswaram artistes not paid after 7months

Pending Payment to Nadaswaram Artistes seven months after the Panguni Utsavam shows the HR & CE and the Kapali Temple administration in poor light

"We are not asking HRCE for a favour, We only want the money promised. They are insulting traditional artistes from remote towns by making us follow up" - Artistes who performed at the Kapali Panguni Utsavam 2024

Almost, seven months after the Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, the Nadaswaram artistes who presented during the street processions have not been paid their dues. As per the invitation (photo attached below) of the Utsavam, P Vijayakumar Reddy, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the temple and Preetha Reddy sponsored these artistes at the utsavam. They have been the sponsors for several years.

A couple of years ago as well, this writer wrote a story on delayed payments. That year, it was a matter of a couple of months but this time, almost 7 months have passed but the payments have not been made. 

This section had featured a story in April this year about the pending payment. Half a year has passed since then but the payment to these traditional artistes continue to remain pending. Interestingly, the same sponsor at the same temple made immediate payment to high profile artistes who presented Kutcheries at the Navarathri Mandapam soon after the completion of the Panguni Utsavam, as part of the Vidayatri Series. 

One wonders as to why the traditional artistes performing at the sacred street processions have been given this second-hand treatment and their payment held back for so many months.

Minister promises to solve this issue

When this writer brought this to the notice of the HR & CE Minister PK Sekar Babu over the weekend, he promised to take care of this issue and said that he would ensure that this long pending payment would be made. 

Artistes left saddened and disappointed

In April, Ayyappan, hailing from Mei Thiru Gnanam, one of the artistes who presented at the street procession told this writer that all that they are asking for is to be respected as a traditional artiste “The Sambhavanai is a mark of respect to the artistes who presented before the Lord. We console ourselves that we were blessed enough to present in front of Kapaleeswarar and that feeling is unmatched.”

Another artiste, Murugavel from Sithakadu, had performed on the day of the Adi Kaara Nandi utsavam. He had told this writer in April that not receiving the Sambhavanai even after one month was saddening but they have no complaints about that “as the satisfaction for us is from the performance and happiness that we saw on the faces of the devotees.”

Paid my personal money to my team members!!!

45 year old TPN Ramanathan also hails from Thiru Mei Gnanam and he presented on the second day at the street procession in March this year. On Tuesday morning, he told this writer that he feels very aggrieved and disappointed at the poor treatment of the artistes “Since my team members should not suffer financially, I have paid my personal money to them. Most of them are from mayavaram and around and not being given the promised Sambhavanai is very unfair. I followed up with Kapali Temple’s Mohan Dass anna for many months but he too has no answer. He keeps saying the same thing that they will receive the money but even he does not know when. What option is there for us other than to wait endlessly and hope that the Kapali Temple administration would pay us one day for our services.”

“I have worked hard for this. We are not asking for favour from the Kapali Temple administration or the HR & CE. They invited us to perform at the utsavam and we are only asking for what is due to us.”

Feel shy and embarrassed to ask but it is an insult to traditional artistes

54 year old  TPJ Selvarathinam hails from Thiruvisa Nallur  (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/04/thiru-nallur-sundareswarar-temple.html) has a doctorate in music. He came along with his troupe by train from Kumbakonam spending his own money. On a rainy Tuesday morning, the day when the North East Monsoon hit Chennai, he told this writer that he feels shy and embarrassed to even be talking about the pending payment. “We came only because Asthana Vidwan Mohan Dass Anna invited us. He was keen for us to present as he wanted traditional artistes from remote towns to perform at the procession. 8 of us came from Kumbakonam. Not only did we spend our own money for the train trip, but we also had to take care of our food and all other expenses. The temple administration did not give us anything – not even water during the long two hour presentation or after", he said in a very sad tone at the way the artistes have been treated.

"As a traditional artiste who performed at the annual utsavam of such a large temple, I feel embarrassed to even ask for this money but at the same time, my mind has been continuously questioning the fact as to why a the temple administration would show such disrespect to  traditional artistes who performed during the street procession on their invitation. We feel deeply saddened that such an administration would ill-treat traditional nadaswaram artistes by making us follow up for our payment. This poor treatment meted out to us would definitely bring a bad name to this temple administration at the way they are insulting nadaswaram artistes from remote temple towns", Selvarathinam told this writer.

One does not know why the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Kapaleeswarar Temple does not want to pay the money to these artistes after putting his name as the sponsor in the utsavam Nadaswaram programme invitation. Will the HR&CE minister intervene in this as promised and ensure that the payment is made to the artistes. Else this poor treatment meted out to the Nadaswaram artistes is likely to bring a bad name to the HR & CE department.

This section will track the developments on this front.

Thanjavur Palace Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple

This temple finds a reference in the Parasara Kshetra Mahatmiyam with Sage Vashishta having performed penance invoking the blessings of Perumal

The Maratha Prince found the current Moolavar Idol beneath the Ayyan Kulam a few centuries ago

One of the 88 temples under the administration of the Thanjavur Palace, Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple finds a mention as Minmalai Venkatesar in the Thanjai Vellai Pillayar Kuravanji literature alongside Thanjai Maa Mani Koil (Divya Desam), Raghunatha Perumal and Aadhi Kesava Perumal (South of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal).

The Moolavar idol that one finds today was located by the Thanjavur prince centuries ago in Ayyan Kulam following an invisible message from the Lord directing the Prince to that tank.

Parasara Kshetra Mahatmiyam refers to the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple as being located 4miles South of Panchanatheswarar temple (Thiruvayaru) and South West of Vashishteswaram (now Karanthai). As per the legend, Sage Vashista undertook penance here in this Kshetram invoking the blessings of Perumal who happy with the penance provided darshan to the Sage. A beautiful temple tank and a Nandavanam was created at this place.

Parasarar performed his pooja with the sacred water and flowers presenting 108 names of Prasanna Venkatesan.

Following the killing of Thanjakasuran, Perumal acceded to his request of naming this place after him as ‘Thanjai’.

Muthuswamy Dikshithar has also presented verses in praise of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal “Prasanna Venkateswaram Bajarey, Vaadi Vasantha Bairavi Nutham Shri”.

This section had featured a story on Venkatesa Bhattar, archaka at Saligrama Kothandaramar temple in Punnai Nallur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/06/punnai-nallur-kothandaramar-temple.html). His younger brother Srikanth Bhattar has been performing the role of the archaka at the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple in Thanjavur over the last two decades after the Vaikanasa Agama initiation from Dr. Muthu Bhattachar for four years. 

He has just sent his 10 year old son to the Agama Patshala in Kudavasal and is hoping that he would continue the temple service in the future.

The two big annual utsavams takes place in Chitrai and Puratasi.

As with other temples under his administration, Babaji Rajah Bhonsle (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html), the current Prince of the Thanjavur Palace takes good care of the Priest with a fair salary and other benefits. Currently, the Prince is actively involved with the restoration of the Venugopalaswamy temple on the Southern Banks of Cauvery in Thiruvayaru (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thanjavur-palace-venugopalaswamy-temple.html).

Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple is located near the Ayyan Bazaar Street in the heart of Thanjavur and about 3kms South West of Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/thanjai-maa-mani-divya-desam.html).

Dr Venkatesh Thiru Kudanthai Upanyasakar

At a young age, this doctor from Kumbakonam has carved out a niche for himself in the ‘Spiritual Lectures’ world 

A Debut on Kal Garuda Sevai day, an unexpected 30 days Thiruppavai upanyasam at Sarangapani Koil and a chance meeting with Karunakaraswamy transforms his life

As a young student of ARR Matriculation school, Thiru Kudanthai N Venkatesh showed his devotional flavour by reciting and presenting the meaning of the verses from the Bhagavath Gita at the prayer every morning from his early teens. When he was 15, he won the first prize in an oratorical competition organised in Kumbakonam. By this time, he had also begun writing poems. Following a district rank in class XII, he joined Medicine at the Government College in Erode. Seeing his spiritual interest, his professor motivated and spurred him to pursue that interest. Over the last few years, he has captured the minds of the devotees with his style of presentation and a down to earth way of life. Here’s the story.

Like all boys his age, Venkatesh spent his childhood playing cricket on the streets and at school. But by the time he was into his teens, he had begun to probe within as to how he wanted to live his life and what he wanted to do with it. When a professor at college asked all the students as to what their vision was in life, Venkatesh began thinking about his talent and found that his biggest was his ability to express and present. 

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே 

From a young age, he was a regular at Nachiyar Koil in the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Thiru Naraiyur Divya Desam and was devotionally inclined. While there was no big family background in spirituality and lectures, he began reading devotional texts extensively. In the internal assessment exams at Erode, he taught students abstract subjects and they went back and succeeded in the final exam. He found great insights from this and the idea struck him to extend this teaching exercise to the spirituality space.

The Debut Upanyasam

Seeing his spiritual interest, his amma spoke to the Bhattars at Nachiyar Koil and secured him an opportunity to present an upanyasam at the now popular for Kal Garuda Sevai in 2011. It turned out to be a great experience. The Kal Garuda Sevai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/12/kal-garuda-utsavam-nachiyar-koil.html) had by then become a very popular event and huge crowd thronged the temple on that evening. After Kal Garuda had made his way to the mandapam at the entrance of the temple and ahead of the street procession of Perumal and Garuda, Venkatesh presented an one hour upanyasam that turned out to be a hit. He had not yet completed college but he saw a new life for him in this spiritual space and this journey of spreading dharmic messages from the historical scriptures began that evening.

                        

The Thiruppavai Opportunity - A surprise call from HRCE EO!!!

In 2013, he had his Pancha Samskaram from Sirupuliyur Swami at Srirangam. Later that year, during his visit to the Sarangapani Koil as a devotee on the first day of Margazhi, the EO of the temple made a surprise invitation to Venkatesh to present Thiruppavai Upanyasam at the temple during the entire Margazhi. He had no prior experience in daily upanyasams but he went back home immediately, prepared through the day and began his upanyasam that very same day. 

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே

A special feature of the Adyayana Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil is that the 21 day utsavam starts every year on the first day of Margazhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/sarangapani-koil-pagal-pathu-utsavam.html). He decided to stick to presenting only that day’s verse during each of the days of Margazhi and has followed that model ever since in the Thiruppavai Upanyasams over the last decade.

A year after he became a house surgeon and joined night casualty duty which he particularly enjoyed, he had a transformational meeting with Karunakaran Swamy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html). It was a meeting out of the blue and quite unexpected and it changed his life completely. Karunakaran Swamy offered to initiate him into ‘Sri Bashyam/ Geetha Bashyam and Vishnu Puranam and Venkatesh has engaged himself in close spiritual discussions over the last decade. He has also reached out to his mentor whenever he has faced challenges in life during this period.

In 2015, he secured a Government job and joined the Government Hospital in Kumbakonam where he continued to perform the professional role of a doctor.

Facing New and Unexpected Challenges in Life

Very quickly his spiritual lecture series became popular but it also saw encounter new challenges that he had not hitherto faced. There was demand for his Upanyasam from across the country and overseas, In 2018, he went on an overseas tour to Dubai to present an upanyasam there. Being present on social media led to viewers raising controversial questions on spiritual topics. He was new to this and initially found it challenging to handle. In 2019, he understood the concept of the success of TV serial makers and launched an online video series explaining the 1000 names of the Lord but here too a few controversies followed him with the online audience raising poking questions. 

It was Karunakaran Swamy who gave him the confidence to continue with his upanyasams "In spiritual lectures, mental focus and strength is very important. It is important not to get distracted" Karunakaraswamy told me, says Venkatesh. He began to see each of these as lessons for life and interestingly now keeps a count of the lessons he has learned from his Upanyasams and the hard hitting feedback from the audience that have held him in good stead since.

Moves up into the ‘Sadas’ space

It was also his mentor who asked him participate in the Sadas at the Vanamamalai Mutt. His mentor has always tested his ability to face new challenges and in one of the Sadas, Karunakaracharya surprised him by asking him to present in Sanskrit what he had just presented in Tamil. “It shook me completely for a minute but I gathered the courage, collected my thoughts and presented in Sanskrit much to the delight of my mentor” recalls Venkatesh of that day.

That presentation gave him greater confidence and he has thus far participated and presented in 35 Sadas.

Within a few years of his debut at Nachiyar Koil, he has gone on to present Upanyasams in Geneva, Frankfurt, Luxemburg and Paris. Following the Pandemic, he presented to the audience in the US.

Quits Govt Job, Starts own Clinic

While he was thus presenting upanyasams around the globe, he continued to don his professional role as a doctor at the GH in Kumbakonam. Venkatesh has always risen to the challenges he has faced in life even at a young age. Hence when in 2020-21, he was transferred from GH to the Primary Health Center a move that he felt would lead him into mundane work, he contemplated quitting the Govt job. But prior to taking this call, he was blessed to have got great insights from the Head of the Poundarikapuram Mutt in Srirangam. “When I was in a bit of a confused state, He gave me the confidence that Lord Ranganatha would take care of me. He provided insights about what every devotee should do at Srirangam. He asked me to perform a pradakshanam of the seven prakaras starting from the outermost prakara and then quit the Government job” he told this writer even as his caring amma provides him with another tumbler of hot water.

A day prior to this writer meeting Venkatesh, he had a chance to meet the Head of the Poundarikapuram Mutt in Thiru Kudanthai and the latter expressed happiness at the Doctor starting his own clinic while at the same time continuing to spread the dharmic messages among people through his spiritual lectures. 

Now into Nalayira Divya Prabhandham

After presenting insights into the 1000 namaas, he wondered what next “Many of the devotees listen to the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham but I realised that not all know the indepth meaning of each of these sacred verses. I decided to present insights into the word by word meaning of the sacred verses.”

A saivite devotee who met this writer in front of the Kapaleeswarar temple on Tuesday said as to how she has been captivated by his presentation on Divya Prabhandham and how she wants to now understand the meaning of all the 4000 verses.

He has also written books on Sampradayam and its relevance to annual festivals in Perumal temples. 

Unflinching Devotion as a way of life

He does not see Upanyasam and his lecture series as a money making opportunity. “Philosophical explanation of scriptures is my way of life. I see any financial returns from Upanyasam as Prasadam.” 

He points to the story of Karunakaraswamy as an endorsement of this. "Facing financial challenges, my mentor's forefathers had sold their lands including the Thiru Maligai in Vaduvur that left them saddened. He went to Lord Rama and challenged him that he had taken everything from the family but the Lord would not be able to take away the Bhakthi from him. 4 decades later, after securing back the financial strength, Karunakaraswamy was able to get back the same Thirumaligai in its same form and structure and the name of the man who sold it back to him was Kothanda Raman!!!"

"That is my real inspiration. If we show unflinching devotion towards the Lord, he will bless us. Hence only Spiritual Power can help us sustain my upanyasams and not focus on money" says 32 year old Dr. Venkatesh even as he gets ready to head to his clinic in the evening.

Sikkal Singara Ramanathan Gurukal

Low devotee turnout and fading fortunes led this Gurukal to accept overseas offers and he served there as an archaka for almost 15 years

With an overflowing crowd, he is back at the Sikkal temple to continue the service as the 7th Gen archaka

This section has, in the past, featured many stories on priests letting go of lucrative overseas opportunities to stay back in their hereditary location to continue pooja in the temple where their forefathers had served as archaka. Only last week this section one such story of a priest not too far away from Sikkal, who following the orders of his acharya went to a remote temple in Rayanallur and has been serving there for the last many years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/yathulan-bhattar-rayanallur-parayanam.html).

There have also been those who have opted to take the overseas route to archaka service like the one at the Aabathsahayeswarar temple in Thiru Pazhanam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-pazhanam-devotees-neglect.html). This story is about one such priest who took up an overseas opportunity that came his way through his Patshala Guru soon after the completion of his agama education and went on to perform archaka service in multiple countries for over a decade. During his overseas stint, he also undertook a research in Saiva Agama and received a Doctorate from the Durban University. After the retirement of his appa last decade, he has returned and taken over as archaka at the Navaneetheswarar temple in Sikkal(now popularly known as Sikkal Singaravelar temple) where 7generations of his family have performed service.

Overseas temple stints in his 20s

After completing class X exam, Ramanathan Gurukal underwent Agama initiation at the Patshala in Tippirajapuram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/thippirajapuram-vikrama-choleswarar.html). At the turn of the century, after his agama education, he received an offer from Durban, South Africa to perform pooja at the Emperumal temple. After four years, he moved to Singapore to perform pooja at the Shiva temple there. From there he moved to another continent and to Australia for three years. He then went back to Africa and the Eastern part of the country and performed pooja for four years at the Navasakthi Vinayakar temple in Seychelles Island.

In 2013, when his appa, Senapathi Gurukal, retired from service at the Singaravelar temple in Sikkal after over four decades as an archaka (he too had served in a temple in Singapore for 2years in the late 1990s), Ramanathan Gurukal returned from East Africa to take over charge at this temple.

Financial challenges led him into overseas temples

Ramanathan Gurukal looks back at the challenging days during his appa’s service that prompted them to go overseas “The patta satham that we got as 'Uchi Kaala' prasadam from the temple served as our lunch during my schooling days in the 1980s. My appa had to take a loan from the temple to even pay my school fees. Kandha Sashti Utsavam was the only one where devotees came in big numbers. For the rest of the year, there were hardly any devotees in the first two decades of my appa’s service. Thattu Kaasi was minimal and the salary of just over Rs. 200 that my appa received in the 1980s made life financially challenging. Into the 1990s, many of the other priests had made their way to cities with my appa taking care of the temple all alone for a few years”, he told this writer sitting in front of the Singaravelar Sannidhi last Thursday morning.

A doctorate in Saiva Agama

It was against this backdrop he grabbed his first overseas opportunity in the Durban temple when his Patshala Acharya offered this overseas stint. Interestingly, during that phase, he also completed a doctorate in Shiva Agama from the Durban University!!!

Ambal hands Murugan the Vel with her blessings

Legend has it that Vel Nedung Kanni Ambal presented Singaravelar with the Vel ahead of his Soora Samhara battle. On the Shukla Panchami in Aipasi, there is an abhisekam for Ambal with the Vel. It was after Swami returns from the Chariot Procession that she presents the Vel to Murugan blessing him for the battle with the asuras. Till the previous century, the Vel used to go from Sikkal to Tiruchendur for the Soora Samharam event. The ancient Vel is still here  and is seen in his hand during the Abhisekam.

Singaravelar sweats

A special annual feature at this temple, one that now sees devotees thronging in thousands, is that one can see Singaravelar sweating on this day. It is a unique occurrence that devotees queue to take a look at the mandapam.

Prarthana Sthalam to get rid of one's enemies

At this temple, there is only the utsavar idol for Singaravelar praised as ‘Seppu Thirumeni’ in the Thirupugazh. Arunagirinathar also refers to Singaravelar of Sikkal as the Samhara Moorthy. The Shatru Samhara Neethi was written here. It is in the belief that all your enemies will go away are devotees now flocking this temple to have darshan and invoke the blessings of Singaravelar.

On the first four morning of the Kandha Sashti utsavam, Singaravelar is decorated as Perumal including presenting himself in the Sesha Vahanam and in Venugopalan Thirukolam.  Ramanathan Gurukal points to the Perumal Sannidhi in the 2nd prakara as indication of the Saivite Vaishnavite unity at this temple. There was a Vathula Agama Pooja performed by Shivachariar for Perumal till the 1950s. He says that the Bhattar from the Perumal Sannidhi supports the Shivachariars during the crowded days at the Murugan Sannidhi. 

Turnaround in fortunes

This is a historical temple with Lord Shiva praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Appar. However, as with many other temples in Tamil Nadu, this temple dedicated to Navaneetheswarar has come to be renowned for Singarvaler and most devotees refers to this as the Sikkal Singara temple similar to the Thirunallur temple now being referred to as Saneeswarar temple. Also, the bhakthi towards Murugan has increased manifold as can be seen from the devotee crowd here at Sikkal in recent years as well as at the Ettukudi temple, not too far away from here (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/ettukudi-pachakshara-shivachariar.html). 

Back to Glory Days at Sikkal

Things have turned around quite remarkably over the last decade or so at this Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/thiruvanaikaval-jambukeswarar.html) on the back of the devotional wave dedicated to Singaravelar. From the time when the priests had to look elsewhere for opportunities including overseas, they now have reached a stage where they have to appoint support priests to help them manage the crowd that is thronging the temple including on Karthigai and Shashti days every month.  Like at the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur, another temple built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan, where devotees are thronging the Kal Garudan Sannidhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/12/kal-garuda-utsavam-nachiyar-koil.html), here too a majority of the devotee crowd is seen seeking the blessings of Singaravelar, such has been the revival in temples this century.

From a salary in the 100s during his appa’s four decade service, Ramanathan Gurukal is happy that the archaka salary has grown manifold and has now topped Rs. 20000 at this Grade 1 temple with the complete turnaround in fortunes for the priests.

Ramanathan Gurukal has archaka service through the month in different sannidhis at this temple and is quite enjoying the current phase of a devotional wave that has set in Tamil Nadu. While his appa would often sit at the temple entrance waiting for the next set of devotees, there is not too much of rest for Ramanathan Gurukal on days dedicated to Murugan with devotees lining up in long queues to offer their prayers to Singaravelar. Devotees visiting Thirunallaru and Velankanni/Vedaranyam have made Sikkal an integral part of their temple trip and that has also been bringing in sizeable crowd to this temple.

For the 44 year old Ramananthan Gurukal, it is back to glory days at the Navaneetheswarar temple and he is confident that for the next decade and a half of his service, it is likely that this trend of devotional wave directed at parikara and prarthana sthalams will not be reversed.