Thiru Koodalur Jagathrakshagan Vaikasi Brahmotsavam Revival

Kasturi Rangan Bhattar performs a solo act in reviving and organising the annual Brahmotsavam bringing together local boys and getting them to perform the Sripatham Service for the Vahana Processions

It is over 25years since Kasturi Rangan Bhattar began his Kainkaryam at the Jagathrakshagan perumal temple in Thiru Koodalur, one praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. For much of this phase, he has been all alone performing archaka kainkaryam having initially begun his service as a teenager supporting his ‘blind’ appa Muthu Krishnan Bhattar (who had lost his eyesight in an accident) and then officially taking over in 2007. He was inspired by the story of his grandfather Srinivasa Raghavan who had performed Thiru Aradhanam at the temple for several decades till 1980 at a salary of just Rs. 13!!! With the exodus of the original inhabitants and shortage of Kainkaryaparas combined with the slowdown in the devotional movement, most of the utsavams had come to a halt in the second half of the previous century.

He had tried to revive the Brahmotsavam in the decades gone by but the vahanas were big sized and heavy. Jagatharakshagan Perumal had provided darshan around the four streets atop different vahanas in the glory days of the temple as part of the Brahmotsavam but with the shortage of Sripatham personnel, these could not be used anymore. Kasturi Rangan Bhattar saw the renovation works as a good opportunity to build new smaller vahanas so the Brahmotsavam with vahana processions could be revived. 

The consecration of the temple that took place a few years ago was a good time to kick start the Brahmotsavam with vahana processions once again. He pooled together young school going boys and inspired them to take to this service. He motivated and trained them in this process. Surprisingly, the young ones, some of them not yet into their mid teens took to this with great delight seeing this as an opportunity to spend quality time with their friends during the summer vacation. 

தாம் தம் பெருமை அறியார்

தூது வேந்தர் காய வேந்தர் ஊர் போல்

காந்தன் விரல் மென் கலை நன் மடவார்

கூந்தல் கமழும் கூடலூரே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Legendary story

Legend has it that the Devas came together at Thiru Koodalur invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu requesting him to kill Asura Hiranyaksha. As all of them came together at this place invoked the blessings of the Lord requesting for protection, this place has come to be called Koodalur (where people come together). The Lord who protected the village from the Asura has come to called Jagath Rakshagan - One who protects the World and the moolavar as Vaiyam Kaatha Perumal.

Through the year, Kasturi Rangan Bhattar also doubles up as the cook but for the Brahmotsavam he has roped in two Kainkaryaparas to perform madapalli service over the ten days of the utsavam. A team from Chennai has taken turns to present the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham during the festival.  He also brought in a couple of his relatives to support him in archaka service. 

Silk vastrams for the procession

It is Tuesday (May 27) evening and the fifth day of the Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi. Proactively particiapting in the revival, once India’s fastest bowler and the architect of the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, TA Sekar along with his wife offered to present vastrams as early as February of this year and later organised silk vastrams for the street processions on hearing of the revival of the Brahmotsavam. Pleased with the arrival of these new vastrams ahead of the Brahmotsavam, Kasturi Rangan Bhattar  got down to draping Hanuman and then Jagathrakshagan early in the evening. By 5.15pm, he had done with the alankaram with Perumal looking bright decked with shining jewellery. 

Taking care of education costs

Like this former India cricketer, a founder of a Mylapore, Chennai headquartered IT company, who was also a class mate of Sekar, is supporting the education of the priest's school going daughter that acts as a great financial security to him for the HRCE pays him a lowly salary that has remained stagnant during the decades of his service. The paddy that was historically paid to priests at this temple has also been due for two decades and that amounts to a few lakhs. 

In his praise, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that the Lord resides at Thiru Koodalur where bees drink the fragrant nectar and sing the Kurunji songs.

செரும் திண் திமில் ஏறு உடைய பின்னை

பெரும் தண் கோலம் பெற்றார் ஊர் போல்

நறும் தண் தீம் தேன் உண்டு வந்து

குறிஞ்சி பாடும் கூடலூரே

The outstation devotees are unfortunately absent at the Brahmotsavam. Even the ubayadarar on this fifth day has not been able to make it for he is in Australia. Kasturi Rangan Bhattar says that he keeps informing devotees ahead of time but most of them don't make it even to this annual utsavam that has been revived with the historic Vahana processions around the streets of Aduthurai Perumal Koil.

Solo Recital of Tiruvoimozhi

Sridharan, the sole prabhandham member has made it from Chrompet, Chennai and he begins the recital of the fifth canto of Tiruvoimozhi sitting in front of the grand looking Jagathrakashagan even as the two madapalli cooks start the preparation of the prasadam for the evening. There is buzz inside the temple complex as around 25 of the Sripatham boys arrive just after 6.30pm. Kasturi Rangan Bhattar has all of them under his mentorship and they are eager to learn.

After the evening pooja, he directs the sripatham boys to get ready for the start of the procession. About 10 of them carry Jagathrakshagan from the alankara mandapam to the wheeled vehicle. A couple of the sripatham boys go to the corner of the temple to light up the fire crackers to signal the start of the procession so the residents of Aduthurai Perumal Koil, the name by which this location is referred to can get ready to welcome the Lord into their homes. 

Jagathrakshagan in a shiny pink silk vastram atop Hanuman in a green silk vastram make their way through the eastern raja gopuram where the solo prabhandham members begins the recital of Namazhvaar’s Tiruviruttam verses.  The lights go up in front of the Lord making him look even brighter.

In another of his ten verses on Thiru Koodalur, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar found raw mangos falling from the trees ripen in the (Cauvery) river.

தக்கன் வேள்வி தகர்த்த தலைவன்

துக்கம் துடைத்த துணைவர் ஊர் போல்

எக்கலிடு நுண்மணல் மேல்

எங்கும் கொக்கின் பழம்வீழ் கூடலூரே

When he was here  as part of his devotional journey, he saw the sapling of Mullai creepers climbing over the tall Kurundu tree and coconut branches hanging low on trees over the leaves of the betel creepers that were surrounding it. 

Another story relating to this historic temple goes that Raja Ambarishi was so pious that he even let go his kingdom to continue his penance. Sage Durvasa, renowned for anger, once visited Ambarishi. With the king in deep penance, Durvasa, in his typical style, lost patience and cursed Ambarishi to lose the power of his penance. The staunch devotee that Ambarishi was, he continued to be lost in thoughts of the Lord. Coming to the aid of his devotee, Vishnu threw his Chakra at Sage Durvasa, who immediately begged the Lord for forgiveness. Hence, one can find the Utsavar at this temple-JagathRakshagan- with the Chakra in his hand.

Pleased with Ambarishi’s penance, it is here that Vishnu gave him Darshan in his full Divine form. Delighted at having seen the Lord in his divine form, Ambarishi built this temple. It is believed that this temple was washed away later with floods in the Cauvery. The temple that exists now in its current form was built later by Rani Mangammal of Madurai.

Sridharan, Prabhandham Member (l) with Sudarshan, Sarangapani Koil Maniam

On to the South street, there is a surprise visitor to the utsavam. Sudarshan, the Maniyakarar of Sarangapani Koil, welcomes Jagathrakshagan to his home presenting flowers and has darshan of the Lord along with his parents. The Maniyakarar hails from Thiru Koodalur with his forefathers having resided on this South Street. 

The residents of Thiru Koodalur are delighted with the revival of the Brahmotsavam and each one of them come out of their homes along with the family members to present Thattu. There are happy faces all around for they see this revival as a positive sign for this historic temple town praised over a thousand years ago by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. 

Past 8pm, Jagathrakshagan is in the final stretch having reached the Eastern end of Aduthurai Perumal Koil. Provision shop owners and tiffen centers too come out to present flowers and have darshan of Perumal atop Hanuman.

A third story relating to the temple has it that River Cauvery, now completely dry a few hundred yards South,  displayed her grief to the Lord that all the impurity/sins was being washed at the river and that she was feeling that the river here was becoming impure and unclean. Answering her prayers, it is believed that Cauvery regained all her glory at this place.

Voyali right at the end

The Sripatham boys are enjoying this experience engaging with the devotee residents at every stop. The sole prabhandham member recites Namazhvaar’s Tiruviruttam verses through the street procession. Close to 9pm, Vaiyam Kaatha Perumal is back at the temple through the recently consecrated Eastern Raja Gopuram. The Sripatham personnel carry the Lord on their shoulders back to the alankara mandapam from where they had started just after 7pm. And they perform Voyali much to the delight of the 50 odd local residents who have gathered at the temple for the closing events of this fifth day. Kasturi Rangan Bhattar performs the Deeparathanai and shortly after prasadam is distributed in good quantities to each of them. 

Kasturi Rangan Bhattar (l) with his two team members

Devotional commitment to revive utsavams

It takes a great devotional commitment to stay back at a remote temple as this and perform daily Thiru Aradhana all alone for two decades. It is even more challenging to revive and organise a ten Brahmotsavam with processions both in the morning and evening without any physical support on the ground.  But the 43 year old Kasturi Rangan Bhattar who has been here from his teenage years has built a great relationship with the locals and the sripatham boys provide him with great strength and cheer. They listen to his directions and follow his instructions understanding each step in the process. For them, it is a great way to spend the summer vacation and this experience will hold them in good stead into the future. For the Bhattar, he is looking forward to participation from more Kainkaryaparas at this Vaikasi Brahmotsavam and also for them to support the utsavam financially so it can return to its old grandeur.

Also, it is hoped that the new HRCE minister Ramesh will look into the issue of low salary and initiate action to both increase the priest's salary as well as close out the dues, that have been pending for decades.

Achalpuram Vaikasi Brahmotsavam Revival after 60 years

Following the recent consecration, Brahmotsavam has been revived this month at the Shiva Loga Thyagaraja temple much to devotees' delight

81 year old Mythili is devotionally excited on Sunday evening for the revival of the Brahmotsavam this week at the Shiva Loga Thyagaraja Swamy temple in Achalpuram, one where Thiru Gnana Sambandar married and attained Mukthi, has evoked happy memories from her childhood years in the 1950s and 60s.

Her family has just come together in good numbers for ten days at the centuries old house on North Sannidhi street where they have been celebrating the Rama Navami utsavam. It had been a hut house all through her childhood when she went to school here at Achalpuram. A couple of decades ago, the family decided to build walls inside the house but she was keen for the traditional look to be maintained and thus the beautiful long Thinnai in front of the house was kept as is. Most of the traditional old styled houses are gone in the street with the original inhabitants having sold off their homes but there are a couple of them on the street that still have an old fashioned look like this North facing house on that street.

A traditional experience from the past

Sitting on this Thinnai, she recounted her childhood memories to this writer a couple of hours before Thyagesa Swami and Thiru Venneerutru Umaiammai Ambal were to come out on a street procession on the Bootha Vahana. There were a number of Gurukals in those years in the 1950s "I was a young school girl and they would lift me and make me sit in the Chariot as it went around the streets of Achalpuram during the Brahmotsavam. It was a thrilling and unforgettable experience to be amidst the devotees during the Brahmotsavam."

She experienced the Brahmotsavam through the 1950s with the North Street filled with traditional residents. And even as some tears roll down her eyes, she recalls that year in the 1960s when she was blessed to witness the final year of the Brahmotsavam before it came to a halt. She had moved out of Achalpuram in 1962 after her marriage but came back a couple of years later to experience a magical ten days. “I was pregnant with our first child and made my way back to Achalpuram from Chennai. I still remember Thyagesa Swami coming out of the temple providing darshan in a different vahana each day during the Brahmotsavam. Unfortunately, 1964 was the last year the Brahmotsavam took place. The financial situation had deteriorated at the temple and the historic utsavams came to a halt one by one. And finally the Brahmotsavam too was stopped for they could not afford to conduct the utsavam anymore much to my disappointment”, she tells this writer.

And as decades passed by, the original inhabitants left this historic temple town seeking greener pastures in cities. Given the slowdown in temples, the next gen priests too moved away from service at this temple. The income to the temple dwindled. All these meant, the Brahmotsavam did not take place for six decades.

Consecration leads to Brahmotsavam revival

With the return of the devotional wave that is now sweeping temples in TN, a grand consecration took place last year, one that also spurred the revival of the Brahmotsavam. As part of the renovation works, all the vahanas were spruced up. Earlier this year, a call was taken to revive the Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi with one community taking up each day’s utsavam. 

Thiru Gnana Sambandhar sang the last of his Thevaram verses on the Lord of this temple.  He made 7 long trips from Sirkazhi and back. It was on the 7th trip that he reached Achalpuram. In his verses, he refers to himself as being from Sirkazhi and assures the devotees that their sincere prayers at Nallur Perumanam (the ancient name of this place) will see them being liberated from their sins. In another verse, he specifically refers to the names of both the Lord and Ambal.

கல் ஊர்ப் பெரு மணம் 

 வேண்டா கழுமலம்

பல் ஊர்ப் பெரு மணம் 

 பாட்டு மெய் ஆய்த்தில?

சொல் ஊர்ப் பெரு மணம் 

 சூடலரே! தொண்டர்

நல்லூர்ப்பெருமணம் 

 மேய நம்பானே! - Thiru Gnana Sambandar

Happy Octogenarian returns for the Revival

Hearing news of the revival, Octogenarian Mythili has made it to Achalpuram this week specifically to enjoy the experience of the Brahmotsavam, one that has kindled memories from her childhood. She misses the morning procession that used to be an integral part of this utsavam during her schooling years in the 1950s but is happy that Swami and Ambal are providing darshan every evening in a Vahana.

Teenager manages the Yaaga Salai

Back at the temple, a few young patshala students have made it to Achalpuram this week to decorate the Pancha Moorthies atop different vahanas and they have been at work through the evening to get the deities ready for the street procession. There is a shortage of kainkaryaparas at the temple and when big utsavams such as this are revived, those from outside have to be roped in for support.

18 year old Ashwin is in his final year of Saiva Agama and Vedic studies and has been here at Achalpuram to put that initiation into practical use taking care of the Yaaga Salai pooja during the utsavam. His appa is a priest at Thiru Kadaiyur and he hopes that one he would be able to continue the archaka service. It is 6pm and he heads to the Yaaga Salai for a couple of hours of pooja in the midst of smoke.

The sripatham personnel numbering 70 have to come from Sirkazhi, about 15kms from here. Balaji Gurukal is now into his 40s and he is the go-to-man for the Atheenam. Through the evening, he gets non stop calls asking for updates at the temple ahead of the street procession and he patiently answers the superintendent each time providing him feedback on the arrival of the flower garlands to the opening of the Sannidhi.

It is a big Sunday evening at Achalpuram for it’s the first weekend in six decades when a Brahmotsavam procession is to take place. Past 6pm, devotees began to trickle in even as the young patshala students were giving the final touches to the alankaram. Huge vessels arrive with different varieties of food that is to be distributed to devotees after the start of the procession. 

Anchoring the Overall Management

Mahesh has seen the temple from close quarters through the three decades of his life. He had managed all the activities at the temple in earlier years and then moved to Chennai where he runs a production firm handling advertising, outdoor hoardings and the like. Balaji Gurukal has roped him for support during these ten days and he is the one who is shouldering responsibility for the overall management of the utsavam. The young patshala students have been at alankaram work for several hours and he calls them in one by one for dinner at the Madapalli ahead of the procession. 

He is delighted that the Brahmotsavam has been revived this year soon after the consecration and believes that this will lead to a turnaround in the fortunes of the temple. He is confident that the scale of the Brahmotsavam can become bigger and is open to roping in Ubayadarars for different activities if the Atheenam gives him a free hand and that responsibility. He has not had a minute’s rest through this Sunday evening and has been in the thick of action co-ordinating different activities even as Balaji Gurukal ensures that the alankaram is completed in time.

The Ubayadarar on this evening is the Vanniyar community and past 7pm they have arrived in good numbers. It is a big festive occasion at this historic temple where the legendary Saivite Saint Poet married and soon after attained Mukthi by merging with the Lord here. Several hundreds of devotees have gathered at the temple and are ready for the Deeparathanai. 

The Nadaswaram artistes have been playing devotional music with devotees sitting around them. The now popular Udal players comprising of highly devoted youngsters enter the temple through the Eastern Raja Gopuram and their entry signifies that the start is around the corner. The rockets go up in the sky and sharp at 8pm, the Gurukal presents the Deeparathanai and the Ubacharam for Thyagaraja Swami.

The Pancha Moorthies begin the procession around the prakara making their way to the Yaaga Salai on the North East corner where there is a pooja and Deeparathanai. Sripatham carry the deities on their shoulders through the Raja Gopuram and mount them on to the wheeled vehicles. Prasadam is distributed in large numbers to the devotees and there are happy faces all around.

It is 9pm and rockets and fire crackers continue to go up. The temple complex as well as the streets of Achalpuram wear a colourful look with special lights donning this historic temple town on this Brahmotsavam evening. Mythili is ready at the North Car street with her brother to present coconut, fruits and flowers to Shiva Loga Thyagaraja Swamy and Thiru Venneerutru Umaiammai Ambal. It is a big moment in her life for when the Brahmotsavam stopped six decades ago, she did not know if and when it would be revived for things were bleak at the temple that decade. 

Into her 80s, she is happy that the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam has been revived in her time and that she has been able to witness the vahana processions once again, something that was so integral to her life during her childhood. The beating of the drums and the music resonating from the Nadaswaram would stir up her devotional emotions. After darshan of the divine couple atop the Bootha Vahanas on this late Sunday evening, she heads back home thrilled at this experience of enjoying the Brahmotsavam once again and chatting about the good old childhood days. 

This has been a start and going by the response from the devotees on this Sunday evening, this annual Brahmotsavam can only become bigger.

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/achalpuram-shiva-loga-thyagaraja-temple.html

Thiru Gnana Sambandar Mukthi Utsavam

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/06/thiru-gnana-sambandar-mukthi-utsavam.html

Nachiyar Koil Vaikasi Vasanthotsavam

A Grand Revival of the Summer Festival

Following the restoration of the Nandavanam and the consecration of the temple, the Vasanthotsavam has been revived at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Nambi temple in Thiru Naraiyur

It is a Thursday (May 21) evening in May and one of the hottest summer days of the year. Contrasted with the scenario just over two decades ago and unmindful of the scorching heat, there are scores of devotees walking into the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyar Koil, a divya desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. Praising the Lord here as Thiru Naraiyur Nambi, he was so impressed with his location and the positive vibration that residents here brought with their devotion that he sung 100 verses of praise, one of the only two temples to be bestowed with a century of verses. 

Into the 1990s, when the scenario at the temple was bleak, the Prarthana sevai archanai spanning over 7 weeks was kicked off as part of the effort to bring devotees back into this Divya Desam. This seven week Prarthana sevai for Kal Garuda every Thursday has become hugely popular and there is a mind boggling 750 archanais every Thursday for Kal Garuda. 

Revival of Vasantha Utsavam

As part of this devotional wave, the Vasantha Utsavam that had come to a halt in the 2nd half of the previous century has been revived. There are three Murai archakas currently at this temple sharing the service equally every month. However, on Thursdays all the three are at work to manage the devotee crowd that has been thronging the Kal Garuda Sannidhi for archanai. 

This Thursday marked the beginning of the tenday Vasanthotsavam when Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjuvalli Thayar make their way every evening to the Vasantha Mandapam on the western side of the temple. While Vasu Bhattar with a couple of young relative boys, who have turned up at Thiru Naraiyur for the annual vacation, is manning the Kal Garuda Sannidhi, Gopinathan Bhattar with his son is decorating the divine couple at the Kannadi Arai. There is a severe shortage of Kainkaryaparas at remote temple towns as these and Gopinathan Bhattar along with Theerthakarar Kumar have to get the Pallakku ready for the procession. 

Happy Kal Garuda devotees 

Prasanna Bhattar, who has been at the temple from his teens has also walked in to service the devotees who continue to throng the Kal Garuda Sannidhi through the evening. A happy devotee couple have organised for Chakkarai Pongal Thaligai and they have begun distributing this past 6pm. He has seen it all over the last three decades and is thrilled at the way the crowd has increased manifold on Thursdays with Kal Garuda fulfilling the Kalyana Prarthana of devotees There are devotees coming back to the temple with huge flower garlands and silk vastrams in happiness of their wishes being taken care of by Kal Garuda.

EO Prabhakaran's proactive initiatives

There are some Executive Officers in the HRCE regime who have gone out of the way to take interest in the activities of the temple inspiring and motivating the kainkaryaparas to revive the historic utsavams and organise it in a traditional way. This section had earlier this month featured a story on EO Prabhakaran, who has been at the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam for the last four years, restoring the Thoppu South of the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/05/nachiyar-koil-srinivasa-perumal-thoppu.html). Since his childhood, he had committed himself to protecting the nature and has been planting saplings over the last two decades across the chozha region and in recent years at the temples where he has been the EO. It is also the audit phase at the temple and EO Prabhakaran brings in the auditor to have darshan of Kal Garuda and Moolavar deities.

New HRCE Minister and EO transfers

It is also the day when the new young HR & CE minister hailing from Srirangam has been anointed with this responsible post. The EO of Nachiyar Koil, Prabhakaran, has been here for four years and has seen the biggest of consecration, the revival of utsavams and restoration of large parts of the temple during his tenure. The sacred temple tank North of the temple is the one issue that he has been fighting for over the last 1-2 years with polluted water entering the tank from the public space. With the new HRCE ministry in place, he wonders as to where his next tenure would be for he has completed his typical stint of three years in one temple here at Nachiyar Koil. There is need for restoration at the Sarangapani Koil, not far from here and another temple that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar held close to his heart. Will he able to make it to the Aravamuthan Perumal temple in Thiru Kudanthai for his next transformational change exercise. Only time will tell. Like many of the prarthana devotees of Kal Garuda, EO Prabhakaran too has had a prarthana and sported a new look on this Thursday evening having presented the hair on his head to the Goddess. 

Back at the Kannadi Arai, Gopinathan Bhattar is pleased with the Sandalwood paste alankaram of Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar. His son provides the final touches decking the divine couple of glittering jewellery. After retiring as a dean at a University in Kanchipuram, one of the stathalathars has settled down in Nachiyar Koil and presents Nithyaanu Santhanam verses every evening. After finishing the recital along with Theerthakarar Kumar, he distributes hot Dhadhyonam to devotees returning from the Kal Garuda Sannidhi.

The restoration of the Nandavanam that had been initiated by Gopinathan Bhattar in the 2nd half of the previous decade and completed during the consecration phase earlier this decade has led to the revival of the Vasantha Utsavam with Srinivasa Perumal making his way every evening through the Nandavanam to the Vasantha Mandapam for 10 days in Vaikasi. 

It is 6.30pm when Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar make their way from the Kannadi Arai for the procession to the Vasantha Mandapam. Mariyathai is presented at Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Ramanuja Sannidhi before they make their way through the restored beautiful looking Nandavanam on the South Prakara. The usual sripatham personnel who carry the Lord on street processions haven't arrived at the temple for they are all still at work and hence the temple Kainkaryaparas themselves carry the Divine Couple to the Vasantha Mandapam.

The Endless Round the year festivals at Thiru Naraiyur

In different decads, he praises different aspects of the joy he found at Thiru Naraiyur. From the tall trees to the huge banana plantations, from the buzzing bees to the swans, the round the year utsavams that provided a festive atmosphere all through the year, the unmatched greatness of Nambi, the huge temple built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan and the Vedic Chants that reverberated the streets of Thiru Naraiyur, he was thrilled with everything he saw at Thiru Naraiyur.

ஆளும் பணியும் அடியேனை கொண்டான் 

விண்ட நிசாசரனை 

தோளும் தலையும் துணிவெய்தச் 

சுடு வெம் சிலைவாய்ச் சரம் துறந்தான் 

வேலும் சேயும் அனையாரும் 

வேல்கணாரும் பயில் வீதி 

நாளும் விழவின் ஒலி ஓவா 

நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பியே 

He says that the streets were filled with devotional people who listened to the never ending beating of the drums during the 'all the year' utsavams that never seemed to cease. 

வாள் ஒண் கண் நல்லார் தாங்கள் மதனன் என்றார் தம்மை

கேள் மின்கள்  ஈளையோடு ஏங்கு கிழவன் என்னாதமுன் 

வேள்வும் விழவும் வீதியில் என்றும் அறாத ஊர் 

நாளும் நறையூர் நாம் எழு நெஞ்சமே 

This round the year festivals as described by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had come to a halt in the second half of the previous century following a slowdown in devotion and a mass exodus of the original inhabitants of Thiru Naraiyur. The physical infrastructure of the temple too saw a deterioration over the decades with the temple sporting a worn out look in the 1980s and 90s.

In the outer prakara there was a beautiful nandavanam and this too had become a discarded part of the temple complex even as kainkaryaparas dwindled in numbers. Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praises Naraiyur as one where groves flow with nectar and cranes frequently visit the watered fields. In another verse, he praises the Lord as 'Lord of Groves' Naraiyur.

பாறை ஊரும் பாரம் தீரப் பார்த்தன் தன் தேரை ஊரும் 

தேவதேவன் சேரும் ஊர் 

தாரை ஊரும் தண் தளிர் வேலி புடை சூழ 

நாரை ஊரும் நல் வயல் சூழ்ந்த நறையூரே 

The western entrance to the temple where the Vasantha Mandapam was located too was shut down and continues to be. Hopefully, one day into the future, this western entrance will be reopened and devotees can enter the temple through this Gopuram like they once used to. 

The Vasantha Mandapam itself was in a damaged condition with decades of stoppage of the Vaikasi Utsavam. But this has been restored to its old grandeur. Colourful lighting and a pool of water around the mandapam adds to the grandeur. The divine couple have positioned themselves in the oonjal. The devotees are directed to the Vasantha Mandapam after their prarthana pooja at the Kal Garuda Sannidhi and they trickle in over the next hour and a half to have darshan of the utsava deities.

The Panguni Brahmotsavam that includes the now popular Kal Garuda Sevai took place in sweltering heat with street processions both in the morning and evening. The Vasantha Utsavam spread over ten days allows Srinivasa Perumal to cool himself amidst the fluttering breeze from the tall trees in the Nandavanam. With the scorching summer heat, the Vasantha Mandapam is where Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar cool themselves amidst the breeze from the tall trees in the West Prakara of the temple. The revival of the Vasantha Utasvam in its traditional way is an important milestone in the revival in fortunes of the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam.

Indeed, the tall coconut trees and the banana plantations in the nandavanam provide a relief to the devotees and they could spot a smile on the faces of Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar spending this first evening of the Vasanthotsavam at this mandapam.

The Ubayadarar of the first day arrives at 8pm and Prasanna Bhattar who is renowned at this Divya Desam for his devotional rendition of the archanai presents one much to the delight of the devotees present on this evening. Hundreds of devotees who visited the Vasanthotsavam on this evening found a cooling effect going around the mandapam that was filled with water. The EO of the temple has presented his Sambhavanai to Prasanna Bhattar for this utsavam and the priest immediately hands it to the Sripatham Personnel to organise flower garlands for the second day of the utsavam on Friday evening.

On arrival at the mandapam, Jack Fruit was presented to all the devotees soon after the divine couple mounted on the oonjal. For the fourth time this evening, ahead of the return procession, yet another prasadam was handed out to the devotees - this time it was Puliyotharai. 

Gopinathan Bhattar and his social media devotee fans

It is social media phase and temple kainkaryaparas have been leveraging this platform to gain visibility for their respective temples. Gopinathan Bhattachar has a huge devotee base and he arrived at the Vasantha Mandapam to provide LIVE video feedback to his devotee base across the world explaining the highlights of the Vasantha Utsavam and benefits of having darshan of this Lord on this occasion. He says as to how the sandalwood paste has a cooling effect not just on the Divine Couple but also on those who have darshan of the Chandana Kaappu alankaram.

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே 

While Kal Garuda Sevai has become a big differentiator at this temple, this above verse of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praising Thiru Naraiyur Nambi as the Lord he had seen at Tirupathi is one that Gopinathan Bhattachar once again referred to in his LIVE feed to the devotees creating the devotional feeling in them that having darshan of Srinivasa Perumal is equivalent to having darshan at Tirumala for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar himself said so. 

It is 8.45pm when Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar began their return procession via the North prakara of the nandavanam led by the ghee lit Theevatti. This first day of the utsvam coinciding with the Thursday evening Prarthana Kal Garuda Sevai meant that the revived festival got off to a happy beginning with a sizeable number of devotees visiting the Vasantha Mandapam to enjoy the cool breeze from the tall trees at the Nandavanam. There are still a handful of devotees who are back after the Kal Garuda sevai and they are seen with folded handed hands invoking the blessings of Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar as they make their way back through the Nandavanam. 

By 9pm, the divine couple were back at the Kannadi Arai bringing to end the first day of the Vasanthotsavam.

Nachiyar Koil - A peek into the past

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/12/nachiyar-koil-divya-desam.html

Gopinathan Bhattachar

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html

Thiru Velliyankudi Brahmotsavam Hanumantha Vahana

In this fifth year after the revival, Kola Villi Rama provides darshan atop his favourite Hanuman on the fifth day of the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam

This section has featured several stories in the past on how the second half of the previous century saw a severe slowdown in temples in Tamil Nadu. Most of the original inhabitants had left their ancestral temple towns to cities in search of jobs away from temple Kainkaryam. Historical utsavams had come to a halt. For well over half a century, the utsavams in Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Kola Villi Rama temple in Thiru Velliyankudi too had stopped. 

Through the 1970s and 80s, the Kola Villi Rama temple in Thiru Velliyankudi, praised in all its glory by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in the Periya Thirumozhi remained a deserted place. There was no public transport to the temple.   There were no proper roads from any direction. One had to walk through a 5km mud path from Sholapuram that was full of pot holes. There was no electricity along the path and it was difficult to visit the temple in the evenings after 6pm. It was the same story from Thirupananthal or Aduthurai. 

The Bhattars of the time lived a lonely life at the temple waiting for the odd devotee to turn up so they could narrate the legendary story of Sukracharya and how he regained his vision here at Thiru Velliyankudi. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar describes Thiru Velliyankudi as being south of the Manni River (Cauvery) with one hearing the loud noise of the river flowing through in full force. The temple was surrounded by huge groves of Areca, Banana and Coconut. There were also Punnai groves and Serundi Trees seen all around the temple and one could hear the buzzing noise of the bumble bees that drank the overflowing nectar humming sweet music in happiness.

 ஆய்ச்சியர் அழைப்ப வெண்ணையுண்டு ஒரு கால் 

ஆலிலை வளர்ந்த எம்பெருமான் 

பேய்ச்சியை முலையுண்டு இணை மருதிருத்து 

பெருநிலம் அளந்தவன் கோயில் 

காய்த்த நீள் கழுகும் கதலியும் தெங்கும் 

எங்குமாம் பொழில்களின் நடுவே 

வாய்த்த நீர் பாயும் மண்ணியின் தென்பால் 

திருவெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே

Revival of Brahomotsavam

Ramamoorthy Bhattar, now 62, has anchored the revival of a few of the utsavams at this Divya Desam over the last few years including a three day Pavitrotsavam, Rama Navami Utsavam and Adyayana Utsavam. The biggest exercise was the revival  of the annual Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi. Five years ago, after getting ready all the vahanas and the chariot, it was decided to revive the Brahmotsavam much to the delight of the local residents. A few of the original inhabitants were back to support the temple utsavams both financially and through physical participation and they ensured that the financial aspects would be taken care of. In Vaikasi 2024, this section featured a story on the Garuda Sevai as part of the Brahmotsavam revival at Thiru Velliyankudi. This story is on the fi

With the completion of his agamic studies, Ramamoorthy Bhattar’s son Sundararaja Bhattar was there to take care of the on the ground conduct of the pooja formalities during the utsavam. 

                                       

Ramamoorthy Bhattar now dons the role of a Managing Director overseeing the activities. It is just past 6pm on Sunday (May 17) evening and Ramamoorthy Bhattar is standing near the flagpost with a worried look on his face. The coconut grinder at the Madapalli has conked off and he is awaiting a quick replacement from his home. Over the last few years, the thaligai has been sumptuous with Sriram from Mambalam in Chennai and the team members he has put together ensuring that the kainkaryaparas, sripatham personnel and the visiting devotees are fed well during the entire length of the utsavam. 

Ramamoorthy also has one eye on the alankaram with the final touches being given to Perumal atop the Hanumantha Vahana. He tells this writer that Thiru Aradhanam has started at 6pm and will take 45 minutes to complete. His son who is also incharge of the alankaram of Perumal has roped in archakas from different nearby locations including the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Senganoor and Nandipura Vinnagara Divya Desam in Nathan Koil to support him. There are also young vedic members to recite the vedas. 

As the clock ticks to 7pm, Ramamoorthy Bhattar directs the devotees to have a darshan of the Varana Kala Moolavar seen in an east facing sayana kolam. Shortly after, the Prabhandham members present the satru murai of Desikar Prabhandham in front of the ancient Utsava deity who provides darshan from the Kannadi Arai through the utsavam. 

The attention then moves to the South Prakara where its time for the Deeparathanai ahead of the street procession. Ramamoorthy Bhattar is pleased that the revival has happened in a traditional way and that “we try to follow traditional processes as much as possible”.

Sundararajan Bhattar recites the Vedas even as the Ubacharam to the Utsava deity is undertaken by another priest. A prabhandham member recites the sacred verse of Nam Azhvaar on the greatness of Rama.

கற்பார் ராமபிரானை அல்லால் மற்றும் கற்பரோ 

புற்பா முதலாப் புல் எறும்பு ஆதி என்று ஒன்று இன்றியே 

நற் பால் அயோத்தியில் வாழும் சராசரம் முற்றவும் 

நற் பாலுக்கு உய்ந்தவன் நான்முகனார் பெற்ற நாட்டுளே 

An important feature of this revival has been the high devotional interest of local residents with young kids not yet 10 reciting one verse of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s praise of Thiru Velliyankudi each day of the utsavam. It is Karthigai day in Vaikasi, the monthly star day of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who provides us with a glimpse of how this historic temple town was a 1000 years ago. Sundararajan Bhattar tells the kids as to how blessed they are to be residing here in a location so beautifully described by this Azhvaar. He told them as to how they need not go in search of any other Lord for they have the most beautiful Perumal right next to them and them enjoying each day of this utsavam would bring them his blessing for the next one year. "Kola Villi Ramar is waiting for you to come to him and seek his blessing", he tells these young kids.

Muralidhara Swami (Guruji) is a surprise visitor on this fifth evening of the Brahmotsavam and he expresses happiness at the presentation of the sacred verse by these five young kids. He personally appreciates each of the five kids asking them their names and congratulating them for their effort.  He also takes a close look at the alankaram and provides feedback to Ramamoorthy Bhattar.

ஒள்ளிய கருமம் செய்வன் என்று உணர்ந்த 

மாவலி வேள்வியில் புக்கு 

தெள்ளிய குறளாய் மூவடி கொண்டு 

திக்குற வளர்ந்தவன் கோயில் 

அள்ளிஅம் பொழில்வாய் இருந்துவாழ் குயில்கள் 

அரி அரி என்று அவை அழைப்ப 

வெள்ளியார் வணங்க விரைந்து அருள் செய்வான் 

திரு வெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே 

It is a new initiative undertaken by the 26 year old Sundararajan Bhattar to get the new gen actively involved in the utsavam. He tells at the devotees present on the occasion that just visiting the utsavam on the Thiru Kalyanam evening on the 7th day is not enough and that this Brahmotsavam is a great 9 day period for them to associate closely with Kola Villi Rama and engage with them as devotees in every way possible. He also narrates the story of the Vamana Avathara as to how Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised the Lord in his verses on Velliyankudi.

It is 8pm when the utsava deity, made this century for street processions, makes his way through the eastern raja gopuram on to the Sannidhi street where the prabhandham members begin the recital of Thiruviruttam. Over the next hour and a half, Srungaara Sundar, the utsava deity, provided darshan around the beautifully lit four streets of Thiru Velliyankudi.

In the not too distant past, there were no street lights, the way to Thiru Velliyankudi was through muddy roads. Ramamoorthy Bhattar recalls to this writer during the Hanumantha Vahana procession as to how he would wade through hip high waters to reach the temple but now a lot has improved. The Prabhandham members are few in number but they are committed to reciting the entire Nalayira Divya Prabhandham as well as Desikar Prabhandham during the course of the Brahmotsavam.

Describing the scenario around the temple, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that Thiru Velliyankudi was a place that had huge jewelled mansions that were so tall they seemed to be playing with the Sun!!! He goes on to say that as the Cauvery gushed along flowing towards the East, it deposited large quantities of gold as wave after wave lashed the banks of Velliyankudi. The original inhabitants had left these shores seeking greener pastures. Now located in far away cities, they have seen a positive financial turnaround in their lives and are now giving back to their favourite Lord as is seen during this Brahmotsavam with colourful lighting, wide ranging Thaligai and prasadam presentation, restoration of the vahanas. All these have resulted in a positive vibration around this historic temple town, with residents in a joyful mood chatting with Ramamoorthy Bhattar welcoming the Lord into their homes with coconut, fruits and flowers. 

Ramamoorthy Bhattar himself is happy that Sriram and his team members have taken complete charge of organising the Ubayadarars and running the utsavam from a financial stand point. He and his archaka team members have thus been able to focus on the pooja aspects of the utsavam. He is also pleased that his son Sundararajan Bhattar has relieved the pressure from his shoulders by taking full responsibility of the Yaaga Salai, Thiru Aradhanam and Alankaram. Late into the evening, Ramamoorthy Bhattar continued to chat around with residents whom he has been engaging with day in day out for over 25 years and the good news is that there are now happy faces with the revival of the utsavams at Thiru Velliyankudi. 

காற்றிடை பூளை கறந்தென அரந்தை உர 

கடல் அரக்கர் தம் சேனை 

கூற்றிடை செல்ல கொங் கணை துறந்த 

கோல வில் இராமன் தன் கோயில் 

ஊற்றிடை நின்ற வாழையின் கனிகள் 

ஊழ்த்து வீழ்ந்தன உண்டு மண்டி 

சேற்றிடை கயல்கள் உகள்திகழ் வயல் சூழ் 

திருவெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே 

Those that had arrived over the weekend from Chennai for the Garuda Sevai and Hanumantha Vahana head back late on Sunday night by the Uzhavan Express from Kumbakonam completely satisfied at having had darshan of Kola Villi Rama and seeing their favourite Lord in a grand alankaram  decked with glittering jewellery, the huge flower garlands that provided a colourful look to the alankaram and the silk rose vastrams adding to the positivity of the occasion. All these had not seemed possible three decades ago but Ramamoorthy Bhattar combined with these original inhabitants have jointly made every Vaikasi a happy occasion for the residents of Thiru Velliyankudi.

Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai 2024: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/thiru-velliyankudi-brahmotsavam-revival.html

Ramamoorthy Bhattar's 25 year Kainkaryam: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/thiru-velliyankudi-ramamoorthy-bhattar.html

Nachiyar Koil Srinivasa Perumal Thoppu Restoration

The huge 4.5 acre Perumal Thoppu at Nachiyar Koil has been restored to its ancient glory

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Thiru Naraiyur as one with Banana Plantations and Jack Fruit groves where Peacocks danced with joy - EO Prabhakaran is trying to evoke memories of those verses with the restoration of this Thoppu 

Into the second half of the previous century, things began to deteriorate at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur. While Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised this temple as one having utsavams round the year, many of the historical festivals came to a halt even as original inhabitants began to leave their home to larger cities in search of jobs following the anti devotional movement that hit the state. The Nandavanam inside the temple lay into a dilapidated state and the Vasantha Utsavam when Srinivasa Perumal makes a trip to the Vasantha Mandapam at the Western entrance around the Nandavanam too had come to a halt.

ஆளும் பணியும் அடியேனைக் கொண்டான்

விண்ட நிசாசரனைத் 

தோலும் தலையும் துணிவெய்தச் 

சுடு வெம் சிலைவாய்ச் சரம் துறந்தான் 

வேலும் சேயும் அனையாரும் 

வேல் கணாரும் பயில் வீதி 

நாளும் விழவின் ஒலிஒவா 

நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பியே 

It was in the 1990s that a 7week Prarthana pooja for Kal Garuda was initiated that signified the first signs of some sort of revival in the fortunes of the temple. Following the devotional wave that has been striking TN temples over the last decade or so, a number of utsavams have been revived with the twice a year Kal Garuda Sevai becoming popular with devotees thronging the temple on that evening. The grand consecration that followed a major multi crore restoration exercise a few years back saw a new look physical infrastructure inside the temple complex but the huge Thoppu South of the temple remained deserted and in a dilapidated condition. 

It is in light of this background that the contribution of Executive Office Prabhakaran assumes significance. He is completing 4 years at this temple usually a period when HRCE EOs get transferred to another temple. As he walks around the Thoppu on a pretty hot day in April, the 36 year old Prabhakaran told this writer as to how he was keen to restore the Thoppu to its old glory before the end of his term at this temple.

Right from his early teenage years at his home town in Thiruthuraipoondi, he had developed a great interest in tree plantation and during his late schooling and college years, planted a number of saplings in his house that became the cynosure of all eyes in that town as in the years that went by, these small saplings had grown into tall trees. His early interest in nature and protection of greenery also led this Engineer to do a Masters in Social Work. 

In the period he has been the EO in temples in the Chozha region, he has gone about planting saplings in and around the temple.

Till about a few years ago, the Thoppu at Nachiyar Koil was unknown to most with even the Kainkaryaparas at the temple not visiting the place for it was deserted and wore a ‘forest’ like look. EO Prabhakaran who has been studying the temple records right from the time he took charge spotted the presence of a Thoppu for Srinivasa Perumal. Curious to know its current state, he walked to the Thoppu only to find it in a deplorable state. Thankfully, there were no encroachments that had taken place in the previous years and that gave him confidence to initiate steps towards its restoration.

As he set foot for the first time into the forest like 4.5 acres, he needed an ally who would assist him in the restoration. And he found one in Rajasekar, a HRCE staffer at the temple who also doubles up as Sripatham during the processions. Prabhakaran says that Rajasekar has been the man on the ground who has been responsible for carrying out the restoration as directed by him. 

Over the last couple of years, a wide-ranging set of trees have planted including Semmaram, Veppam, Neermaruppu and Naaval. Interestingly, a 100 Ilaippu trees too have grown into a good size.

Buoyed by the successful restoration of this Thoppu, EO Prabhakaran has now identified another 5 acres temple land for planting more trees in this region. Aggressive on recovery of temple lands, he has just helped secure back a Rs. 12crore worth land belonging to the Ramanathaswamy temple in Thiru Naraiyur.

It is now a decade since he began maintain proper records of his tree plantation activities and says that he on his own has planted over 2 lakh saplings since his teenage years. During his time, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar found Thiru Naraiyur to be abound with banana plantations and jackfruit groves where honey dripped down from the trees. In his own way, Prabhakaran is trying to get back those trees into this Thoppu as praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar.

சுளை கொண்ட பலன்கனிகள் தேன் பாய 

கதலிகளின் திளை கொண்ட பழம் கெழுமித்

திகழ் சோலை திருநறையூர் 

வளை கொண்ட வண்ணத்தன் 

பின் தோன்றல் மூவுலகோடு 

அளை வெண்ணை உண்டான் தன் 

அடி இணையே அடை நெஞ்சே 

So impressed was the Forest officer headquartered in Kumbakonam with the initiative of EO Prabhakaran that he directed his team to send him a 1000 saplings to be planted by him in this Thoppu as part of their support. It is from this Thoppu that rose garland knotted by Thoppu Kaaval Rajasekar goes to Perumal. Wide ranging fruits too have begun to spring up and these too are presented to Perumal. 

Being with nature in the midst of peacocks and chirping birds is a big stress buster for Prabhakaran. It sets him with positive thoughts and heads back to the temple with renewed energy. He says that living with nature helps one find inner peace and understand life better. In the time he has been at Nachiyar Koil, he has taken revolutionary steps something that previous EOs had refrained from. 

EO Prabhakaran with Thoppu Kaaval Rajasekar

Bold step to stop theppotsavam

He directed the stopping of the Theppotsavam after he found contaminated water from the residential areas coming into the sacred temple tank. Despite pressure from multiple sources, he refused to allow Perumal to step into the tank that had polluted water. Even the politicians or the collector could not get him to revise his decision.  He told this writer that there are many processions inside the temple and on the streets but the Theppotsavam is very special. He is inside the temple tank one day in a year to provide darshan to devotees. His view is that the sanctity of such an utsavam cannot be undermined. It is something that Srinivasa Perumal enjoys but as an EO ‘I cannot permit Perumal to enter contaminated and polluted water’.”

This issue has now gone to court and he is hopeful that sometime in the near future, there will be a solution found to redirect the drainage water away from the sacred tank into another outlet.

A Model thoppu

Many EOs from temples in the Chozha region have visited the Nachiyar Koil Perumal Thoppu and this now serves as a model for other EOs to implement in the Nandavanam and Thoppu in their respective temples. Veppam and Puli Trees have grown tall and present a beautiful picture against the setting sun on this Wednesday evening. Orange, Lemon and Citron (Narthangai) trees too have come up well that EO Prabhakaran believes the next gen of Kainkaryaparas at Nachiyar Koil now popular for Kal Garuda Sevai will reap.

உறியார் வெண்ணையுண்டு உரலோடும் கட்டுண்டு 

வெறியார் கூந்தல் பின்னை பொருட்டு ஆன் வென்றான் ஊர் 

பொறியார் மஞ்சை பூம் பொழில்தோறும் நடமாட 

நறு நாண்மலர்மேல் வண்டிசை பாடும் நறையூரே

Reminding one of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's verses

Thiru Naraiyur is one of the only two temples that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had showered with over a century of verses. In his praise, he refers to Peacocks dancing to the tunes of the bees in the fragrant groves. It has been another energy sapping summer's hot day with temperature nearly touching 40 degrees at Thiru Naraiyur but EO Prabhakaran is full of positive energy and bullish on the prospects of the future of this Thoppu and the presence of a few peacocks making sweet noises in the evening and dancing around the Thoppu fluttering their wings enthralls him further.  

Revival of Utsavams, Recovery of Temple Lands and Restoration of Nandavanam and Thoppu runs on the top of his mind all the time. The Vasantha Utsavam was revived a few years ago with Srinivasa Perumal going through the Nandavanam to the Vasantha Mandapam in Vaikasi. 

At Thirukurungudi Divya Desam, following the restoration exercise (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-nandavanam.html), Nambi makes a trip to the Thoppu during the Vaikasi Vasantha utsavam. Having restored this 4.5 acre Thoppu, Prabhakaran is hopeful that one day into the future, Nambi of Nachiyar Koil too will make an annual trip to His Thoppu like he once used to on the Kanu day, for the chirping birds to have the sacred food.

Sarangapani Koil Chitrai Brahmotsavam Horse Vahana

Sarangapani and Chakrapani provide Golden Horse Vahana darshan at Valayapettai on the western outskirts of Kumbakonam on Wednesday evening 

It is the eve of the biggest day in the year at the sarangapani temple. Visitors to Kumbakonam on Wednesday (April 29) were  just awestruck  at the sight of the beautifully decorated chariot, the tallest in TN Perumal temples at over 110 feet. Even before stepping into the Sarangapani Koil, a number of them stood in front of the recently restored chariot (undertaken at a cost of Rs. 70 Lakhs by Srimushnam Andavan) and discussing amongst themselves the intricate sculptures on the Chariot and visualising the procession the next morning around the four big streets of the temple.

Wednesday was the 8th day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam at the Sarangapani temple. In the century gone by, Sarangapani and Chakrapani went on pallakku procession to Valayapettai on the West outskirts of Kumbakonam providing Vennai Thaazhi darshan to the residents of this historical temple town. The two of them would stay through the day at the centuries old mandapa in front of the Krishnan Koil in Valayapettai near Darasuram with the two of them starting the return trip in the evening on the Horse Vahana.

Unfortunately, the dilapidated state of this mandapam has led to the cancellation of this morning pallakku procession to Valayapettai on the 8th morning in recent decades. Instead, Sarangapani and Chakrapani provided darshan atop the Golden Garuda Vahana just after 5pm on Wednesday evening at the 100 Pillar Mandapam inside the Sarangapani Koil.

The prabhandham members presented the 8th canto of Tiruvoimozhi and after the Satru Murai, Sarangapani and Chakrapani were set to leave the 100 pillar mandapam. 

This section has featured several stories on how Brahmotsavam vahana processions in small temple towns have moved on to the Chapparam wheeled tyre model but at the Sarangapani Koil, a decade ago soon after the consecration, Karunakarachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html) insisted on the Chitrai Brahmotsavam procession to be traditional and undertaken with the Sripatham Personnel carrying the Sarangapani and Chakrapani on their shoulders with him coming forward to take care of the Sripatham Sambhavanai for this service. 

Two wheelers parked near Dwajasthambam

Over this decade, a lot has changed. The number of vehicles on road has increased manifold. The moffusil bus service has increased substantially making the Ramaswamy North Street and the Aadhi Kumbeswarar South Street a highly congested area. And inside the Sarangapani temple too, as seen in the photo above, two wheelers are parked a few feet away from the Dwajasthambam and very near the path of Perumal's procession!!

Given this changed scenario and with the procession to the Chariot to take place at 5am on Thursday morning, there was once again the debate among the Kainkaryaparas on the possibility of this long procession taking place on the Chapparam so the Lords could return early but it was finally decided to go with the original plan of the Sripatham carrying the two Lords on their shoulders.

நந்தா விளக்கே அளத்தற்கரியாய் 

நர நாரணனே கருமாமுகில்போல் எந்தாய் 

எமக்கே அருளாய் என நின்று 

இமையோர் பரவும் இடம் 

எத்திசையும் கந்தாரம் அம் தேன் இசை பாட மாடே

கழி வண்டு மிழற்ற நிழல் துதைந்து 

மந்தாரம் நின்று மணம் மல்கும் நாங்கூர் 

மணிமாடக்கோயில் வணங்கு என் மனமே 

And thus after 7.15pm, the beautifully decorated Sarangapani Perumal atop the Golden Horse Vahana made his way through the towering Eastern Raja Gopuram to the Sannidhi street next to the chariot followed by Chakrapani Perumal. It is to be a long evening for the Prabhandham members with them scheduled to present several cantos of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi. 

They begin their presentation with the sacred verses on the greatness of Mani Mada Koil in Thiru Nangur. Sarangapani and Chakrapani made their way to the East end of the Sannidhi street while the Prabhandham members stopped half way on that street presenting the verses on Vaikunta Vinnagaram and Arimeya Vinnagaram even as the two Lords made their way back towards the chariot. 

Like on the Garuda Sevai evening last Saturday, vehicles continued to ply around the Chariot making it difficult for the Sripatham Personnel. An interesting feature of the next four hours was the fact that the police who accompanied the procession took selfies at regular intervals to show his seniors that he was present but did very little to help a smooth flow of the two Lords with heavy traffic on the roads.

Past 8.30pm, in front of the Ramaswamy temple, the Prabhandham members had moved on to the fifth canto of the Periya Thirumozhi. The recital continued for the next half hour or so with the members sitting inside the temple while the two Lords made their way past the temple.

Chaotic again

On to the Kumbeswarar South Street, there was once again Chaotic traffic. By now the Sripatham were sweating profusely with them having carried the two Lords for over 90 minutes. The two wheelers raced past the procession while a number of mofussil buses on either side of the road made it difficult for the Sripatham. There were not too many devotee residents to provide Thattu but the combination of the summer heat and the vehicular traffic did not make it easy for the Sripatham personnel.

Dilapidated mandapam

After over two hours, the procession came to a halt at Malluka Street in Valayapettai, a few hundred yards north of the now popular Darasuram Market. As mentioned above in this story, in the century gone by Sarangapani and Chakrapani used to provided at the mandapam in front of the Krishnan Koil but with the dilapidated state of the mandapam, the two stayed put outside the mandapam. HRCE has taken no initiative to restore this Mandapam and allowed it to deteriorate. There are also no questions on why the morning procession to Valayapettai is not being restored.

The Krishnan Koil itself had been taken over by the HRCE but with the trustees taking this to court, they have recently won back the temple. The ubayadarars of the evening presented flower garlands and fruits with the priests presenting Deeparadhanai and Shatari.

Past 10pm, it was time for Sambhavanai to be presented to the Kainkaryaparas. The Sripatham insisted on a bit of additional money given the fact that 40 of them had carried the two Lords on their shoulders for over two hours. Thathiyarathanai was presented to all the Kainkaryaparas. 

Late night Thattu

It was almost 11pm when Sarangapani and Chakrapani began their return trip from Valayapettai. A number of residents on Nellu Kadai street and Naanayakaara street stayed awake late into the night to welcome the two Perumals into their home presenting flowers and fruits. By now, the sole police who had accompanied on the trip to Valayapettai had disappeared leaving the Sripatham to fend for themselves. 

At the Naanayakaara street, a two wheeler rider coming in the opposite direction on this small street directly, quite rudely, the Sripatham to take Sarangapani to the left so he could make his way back home!!! These are the kind of encounters that Sripatham Personnel in small towns have to face with very little protection offered to them.

Highly Energetic Maniyakarar

It was a challenging night for the young Sudarshan who is now a prominent face at the Sarangapani Koil. While discharging his role as a Maniyakaarar, he also doubled up as a Sripatham to support the team. And then on the return trip, he held the canopy atop Sarangapani for a part of the procession.

There were a few more resident devotees on the Viswanathar North Street presenting Thattu. By 12.30am, when Sarangapani and Chakrapani reached the entrance of the Ramaswamy temple, the prabhandham members had progressed quite a bit with their recital. In front of the Ramaswamy temple, where they had stayed behind four hours earlier, the Prabhandham members began the presentation of the 10th canto of Periya Thirumozhi where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar wants to have darshan of the Lord of Thiru Kudanthai.

வானையார் அமுதம் தந்த வள்ளலை 

தேனை நீள் வயல் சேறையில் கண்டு போய் 

ஆணை வாட்டி அருளும் அமரர் தம் கோனை 

யாம் குடந்தை சென்று காண்டுமே 

Thirumangai Azhvaar on the asuras after Ravana's death

In 20 verses following this, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar presents beautiful insights into the mood of the Asuras after the death of their king Ravana and pleads with the Vanaras to not kill them for they are not to be faulted for the wrongs of their king (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/01/thirumangai-azhvaar-on-asuras-of-lanka.html)

தண்டகாரணியம் புகுந்து அன்று

தையலை தகவிலி எம் கோமான்

கொண்டுபோந்து கேட்டான் எமக்கு இங்கு ஓர் குற்றம் இல்லை

கொல்வேல் குல வேந்தே

பெண்டிரால் கெடும் இக் குடி

தன்னைப் பேசுகின்றது என் தாசரதீ

உன் அண்டவாணர் உகப்பதே செய்தாய்

Chakrapani bids goodbye after 8 days

After 8 days of being together with ‘brother’ Sarangapani, Chakrapani Perumal bid goodbye in front of the Ramanuja Sannidhi on Bazaar Street and made a fast paced retreat back to his temple with Sarangapani Perumal continuing the procession alone via the TSR Big Street.

On the eve of Kamakodi's retirement

The CUB has renovated its main branch in Kumbakonam and that shone bright on the night with a farewell message written in front of the branch in a thanking gesture to its outgoing MD who is retiring the next day. Sarangapani’s Chariot procession on Thursday will mark Kamakodi’s last day as the MD of CUB and he retires after 15 years at the helm of the bank(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/n-kamakodi-city-union-bank.html).

பத்து நீள் முடியும்  அவற்று இரட்டிப்

பாழித்  தோளும் படைத்தவன் செல்வம்

சித்தம் மங்கையர் பால் வைத்துக்  கேட்டான்

செய்வது ஒன்று அறியா அடியோங்கள்

ஒத்த தோல் இரண்டும்  ஒரு முடியும்

ஒருவர் தம் திறதோம் அன்றி வாழ்ந்தோம்

அத்த எம் பெருமான் எம்மை கொல்வேல்

130am Horse voyali!!!

It is almost 1.30am when the tireless Sripatham personnel present Voyali in front of the Chariot making a few paced runs back and forth much to the delight of the devotees who had gathered there late in the night specifically to watch this performance.

6 ½ hours after having started out on the procession, Sarangapani Perumal made his way back to the 100 Pillar mandapam after Thirumozhi Satru Murai near the Dwajasthambam. 

For Maniyakarar Sudarshan, there is less than a couple of hours to sleep for after the Artha jaama pooja on this night past 2am, he has to be back at the temple at 4am for the Vishroopam followed by Sarangapani’s procession to the Chariot at 5.15am!!! Such is the life of Kainkaryaparas during Brahmotsavam in small temple towns.