Oppiliappan Koil Panguni Brahmotsavam Vedu Pari

On the 8th day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's Vedu Pari was enacted on the banks of the river at Ayyavadi

It was the 8th evening of the Panguni Brahmotsavam at Oppiliappan Koil, one dedicated to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who sang 30 verses of praise on Thiru Vinnagar Divya Desam. The Vaishnavite enlightenment received by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar on the Vedu Pari night was enacted on the banks of the river at Ayyavadi, 1 km South of Oppiliappan Koil on Saturday (April 11).

துறப்பேன் அல்லேன் இன்பம் துறவாது 

நின் உருவம் மறப்பேன் அல்லேன் என்றும் மறவாது 

யான் உலகில் பிறப்பேன் ஆக எண்ணேன் பிறவாமை பெற்றது 

நின் திறத்தேன் ஆதன்மையால் திருவிண்ணகரானே 

The Motorised Pull

The Prabhandham members had gathered earlier in the evening in front of the alankaram mandapam and presented the sacred verses. Soon after the Satru Murai verses that took place at 630pm and the distribution of prasadam, Vedantha Desikar led the procession with the HRCE staff driving the tractor that pulled the deities with Srinivasa Perumal, on a silver horse vahana and Bhoo Devi thayar following the Vaishnavite Acharya.

It is a sign of the changing times at remote temples in Tamil Nadu. From the time not so long ago when sripatham personnel carried the Lord on their shoulders, it has come to a phase when a motorised vehicle is pulling multiple deities even during the Brahmotsavam.

It was a slow start to the procession with the heat generating lights being installed on the Perumal and Thayar chapparams. Every house on the Sannidhi street presented thattu welcoming the Lord into their home. And there were more of those on the East and South streets. 

There was no prabhandham Ghoshti thodakkam at the east end of the sannidhi street like it usually is during the brahmotsavam for this evening is to be Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's and the enactment of the Vedu Pari event would lead to the start of the Periya Thirumozhi verses.

The Vedic members followed Perumal reciting the Vedic verses.

Onto the Nachiyar Koil road towards Ayyavadi, rocket shots into the sky alerted the residents of the arrival of Perumal and Thayar. By 8pm, devotees had gathered on the banks of the river at Ayyavadi awaiting the arrival of Vedantha Desikar, Perumal and Thayar. While the three deities arrived shortly after 8pm, the devotees were kept occupied by rocket shots and fire crackers that went on unabated.

முளிந்தீந்த வெம்கடத்து மூரிப் பெருங்களிற்றால் 

விளிந்தீந்த மா மரம்போல் வீழ்ந்தாரை  நினையாதே 

 அளிந்தோர்நத சிந்தை நின்பால் அடியேற்கு 

வானுலகம் தெளிந்தே என்றெய்வது திருவிண்ணகரானே 

Kainkaryaparas await Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

It was a longish wait with nobody seeming to be in control of the event on this evening with the sensitivities at the temple being played out. The sripatham let go off the rockets that lit up the sky for almost half hour. The Kainkaryaparas brought in fruits and those were place in front of the deities. Tarpaulins were rolled on the side of the road for Nadaswaram artistes to sit and play. Near them the devotees too took to their seat.  It was 8.30pm when a fresh bursting of fire crackers indicated the arrival of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar for the Vedu Pari enactment. He went around Srinivasa Perumal thrice before taking up his position opposite the Lord.

Vedu Pari legend

Mangai Mannan of Thiru Kuraiyalur fell in love with the beautiful Kumudavalli of Annan Koil. Wanting to get him initiated into the devotional path, Kumudavalli laid tough ‘wedding’ conditions, one of which was to feed 1008 Vaishnavites every day. Mangai Mannan, in this attempt, lost a lot of his wealth but determined to fulfil her conditions and win her heart, he turned a thief and resorted to ‘stealing’.

One night, Mangai Mannan way laid a newly married couple at Veda Raja Puram near Thiruvali Thirunagari and threatened to lash out his spear even going to the extent of trying to bite and remove the expensive anklets. Having packed the jewellery into a sack, he was unable to lift the bag and wondered if the person in front of him wielded a magic mantra. It was then that the couple displayed their real character. The thief of a few minutes ago received enlightenment and transformed into a Saint Poet. It was after this episode that he went on to contribute over 1200 verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham with Vadinen Vaadi Varunthinen as his first decad.

Respects to the evening's hero

Following the parivattam to the hero of the evening, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, the sthalathar of the temple, Kutti Kannan (Veeraraghavan) read the specifics of the jewels of Perumal and Thayar to confirm that they were in fact intact and that the thief of the evening who turned into a Vaishnavite Saint Poet had not taken away anything. 

It was after the Vedu Pari event that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had presented the first verses of the Periya Thirumozhi on how he had gone the wrong path in the past and that he was looking to Lord Narayana as his only solace in life.

வாடினேன் வாடி வருந்தினேன் மனத்தால் 

பெருந்துயர் இடும்பயில் பிறந்து 

கூட்டினேன் கூடி இளையவர் தம்மோடு 

அவர் தரும் கலவியே கருதி 

ஓடினேன் ஓடி உய்வதோர் பொருளால் 

உணர்வெனும் பெரும் பதம் தெரிந்து 

நாடினேன் நாடி நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன் 

நாராயணா என்னும் நாமம் 

After the presentation of the first decad of Periya Thirumozhi and with the clock ticking past 9pm, Thaligai and Deepaarathanai was presented on the banks of the river. Thiru Mangai Azhvaar then made his way back much faster than he came with the motorised tractor pulling the three deities following him back to the temple bringing to end the Vedu Pari utsavam at Oppiliappan Koil.

Sekar Babu 5 years TN Temples Glory

A non GOD believing Govt but a slogging tireless man at the helm takes consecration to an all time high

It is exactly a fortnight to go for the TN Assembly elections. Tamil Nadu has seen a five year rule where the Government in power did not believe in the existence of God and saw the idols inside temples as just simple stones. But the Government in power had a man at the helm of the HRCE department who with a chequered history has gone on to become the most ‘in your face’ man over the last five years as he has taken advantage of the devotional wave that has swept the TN temples and gone one to create a record on the consecration front.

His Personal Devotion manifests in many temples

PK Sekar Babu would sit quietly near the Dwajasthambam at the Parthasarathy Perumal Koil temple in Thiruvallikeni invoking the blessings of Parthasarathy and Narasimha with his eyes closed with his team members not knowing when their boss’s eyes will open. Not far away at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, one praised in the same verse as Thiruvallikeni by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, he would hush away HRCE staffers to listen to every issue raised by every day devotees of Karpagambal assuring them that their problems will be looked into.

Almost a 1000 kms away at the Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannar Koil, near Ambasamudram, he would ask all his team members to stay away from VIP darshan allowing the priest/acharya at the temple to show him the way and act as per the traditions at the temple. When the low salary of that priest was brought to his notice by this writer, he immediately increased in manifold while at the same time pointing out that this was not possible across the thousands of temples and that each would have to be governed by the income of the respective temple.

Sekar Babu has his detractors and many at that who have continuously hit out at him during this five year stint but unmindful of the non-stop criticism he has gone about his work in a way none of his predecessors have over the last many decades.

Goes after 'Consecration Target' aggressively

It is normal for those at the top of the leadership board in corporates to have sales and profit targets and that is something the shareholders of the company keep a close watch on. But Sekar Babu at the beginning of this stint as the HRCE minister set out a huge target for himself in the restoration of ancient temples and remote ones at that.

The second half of the previous decade was one marked by a sharp decline in renovations following the High court order restraining restoration activities in temples. The application for repair works came tumbling down and at its low it had touched a level of just 500. This section has written many stories on how consecration did not take place for several decades in many temples in the previous century. 

Even in the temple as renowned as the Azhagiya Nambi Rayar Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi the first full fledged consecration took place last month after a gap of over 110 years driven by various factors including financial.

Sekar Babu set a stiff target of performing over 4000 consecrations during his reign as the HRCE minister and went about this aggressively. Contrasted with the apprehension relating to renovation activities in the previous phase about which this section had featured a story in 2019 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/02/renovation-issues-in-tn-temples.html), he went about restoration exercises aggressively. While the very existence of God was questioned on one side, he took it upon himself to anchor the consecration events and create a positive vibration inside temples.

 In the decade or two prior, not many even in the temple circles had ever seen the HRCE minister but Sekar Babu made it a point to visit every temple small and big, city and remote. He was there physically on important occasions keeping his staffers on their toes. At the HRCE headquarters as this writer noticed  during his reign, the staff had to be update on every pending matter for he had it on his finger tips. Applications for renovations were approved quickly and with devotee donors queuing up to contribute to temples, the authorities took to renovation exercises with sharp deadlines. 

For example, at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyar Koil, now globally renowned for Kal Garuda Sevai, a mega restoration exercise was completed in a year.

Consecrations help Kainkaryaparas

Even for the detractors - the Brahmin Kainkaryaparas at thousands of temples in the state- there seemed to a positive turnaround in their fortunes. By 2026, Sekar Babu had beaten his target that any CEO of a corporate firm would have been proud of. Under his leadership, consecration has been performed in 4500 temples in TN, an unprecedented number.

Consecrations are largely through devotee donors. The income through hundi collection too are through devotees as well. What Sekar Babu has done is to leverage the heightened interest among devotees to participate in events and utsavams and to improve the physical infrastructure at temples and revive utsavams.

What did this mean to the Kainkaryaparas. Every consecration was preceded by 2-3-4 day homam event with recital of the vedic and sacred verses being an integral part of it. Hundreds of Kainkaryaparas benefitted financially in a big way from every such consecration event( this too through devotee donors). The Priests of remote temples about whom this section has featured stories in the past, have all benefitted through the restoration exercises. There are priests and their team members who have participated in 100s of such consecration events in this phase. 

Huge Crowd throng temples

The 4500 consecration events have seen the return of positive vibration in temples with devotees especially in village temples believing that the new look temple will help in the revival in their fortunes. Increased crowd in these temples is leading to more income for the priests at these temples. Annadhanam is at an all time high in over 30 temples with through the day food in large temples such as Srirangam.

During this phase, rope cars have been introduced at Sholingur and Ayyarmalai and lifts at Swami Malai and Maruthamalai. Also, previously unheard of, Sekar Babu has initiated a special tour for senior citizens taking them to Arupadai Veedu, Rameswaram and Kasi.

Remote Divya Desams that had seen a struggle for many decades are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Sirupuliyur is one such. The one legged Srikanthan Bhattar had told this writer last month as to how the dilapidated chariot has been restored in the last few years and the Brahmotsavam procession has taken place. Chariot Processions that had stopped in many temples have been revived.

This writer was the first to write a piece on the huge Rs. 15crore allocation for the Thiruvalluvar temple in Mylapore. The consecration of that temple took place earlier this year.

He is not stopping here. Currently, there are repair works taking place in close to 13000 temples!!!! Sekar Babu claims that over 8000 acres of temple lands have been recovered adding to a huge income to temples in TN.

New Raja Gopuram at Thiru Vellarai

At Pundarikaksha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Vellarai, it is under his directions that the construction of the Raja Gopuram on the Northern side has taken off and is going at a great speed. The towering 100+ feet new Raja Gopuram is likely to see its consecration next year. 

While the Government continues to hold its position on the existence of God, this man has earned devotional rewards from the almighty helping pull in huge crowds to temples. For five years, Sekar Babu has worked tirelessly on the transformational revival of temples across the state. This morning when this writer called him as early as 6am, he picked up the call!!! Last year, when there was a big issue relating to the Srirangam temple, he picked up this writer’s call well past 11pm and jokingly pointed out ‘I may pick your call after 11pm, but the temple JC may not pick my call this late in the night and that we will solve this problem the next morning.”

During this period, he has worked round the clock and has always been available to solve temple issues, patiently listening to the devotee voice to which ever temple he went. And that is not something devotees have experienced with those earlier.

And in this above issue, indeed that problem was solved the next day!!!

Srirangam Pandari Sriram Panguni Uthiram 2026

This ever smiling and friendly Pandari will represent Thayar tom in her 'Panguni Uthiram' heated argument with Namperumal 

It is just 24 hours to go for the vehement argument between Ranganayaki Thayar and Namperumal at the Thayar Sannidhi in Srirangam on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram. 53 year old Pandari K Muthukrishnan (popularly known as Pandari Sriram in the temple circles) is devotionally excited at the prospect of representing Thayar for the third time in his Kainkaryam that now spans two decades.

It is a quiet morning at the Thayar Sannidhi on Tuesday with Namperumal having started out early at 6.30am on a trip to Ellaikarai Mandapam on the eastern outskirts of Srirangam on the Southern Banks of Kollidam on this 8th day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam. There are not too many devotees at the Thayar Sannidhi and Pandari Sriram takes time out to recount to this writer his experience the first time he represented Thayar on the morning of Panguni Uthiram way back in 2012 “I had seen the Panguni Uthiram episode being enacted from my childhood and it was always my dream to one day represent Ranganayaki Thayar in the argument against Namperumal. But when the great opportunity came to me in 2012, just 5 years after I had become a Pandari, I was quite tense for there was a big crowd inside the Thayar Sannidhi with all the eyes on me and with them listening to every single word I was uttering to get Thayar to win the arugment. It was a great experience and I enjoyed it thoroughly.”

In 2017, when he represented Ranganayaki Thayar a second time, he says he was a lot more relaxed having had an experience earlier and also having watched his Pandari colleagues in the previous four years.

On April 1, he will be representing Ranganayaki Thayar at the heated conversation with Namperumal. He says he has been refreshing over the past 10 days the five conversations that will take place tomorrow morning and in the next 24 hours ‘I will refresh once again later today and tomorrow morning as well ahead of the conversation’,

Pandari Sriram told this writer even as a suddenly cheerful Harish Bhattar, son of Chief Priest Murali Bhattar, comes in to have a chat with him. He has just received approval for the presentation on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram of a new Thirumanjanam Vethikai replacing a previous damaged one. Two years ago, on this same occasion, Harish Bhattar had organised a glittering diamond necklace to be worn during the Serthi Sevai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-panguni-uthiram-2024.html)

                              Harish Bhattar

The Legendary Panguni Uthiram Serthi Story

The story goes that Ranganayaki Thayar of Srirangam had learnt, through her friends, about Namperumal’s (the Utsavar deity of Lord Ranganatha) trip, a few days ago, to Uraiyur to meet his beloved Kamalavalli Naachiyar and the presentation of his ring to her. This angered Ranganayaki Thayar and she was waiting for a opportunity to express her unhappiness to the Lord.

(On Sunday 29th March, Namperumal left Srirangam on a 6 km - 7 hour trip across River Cauvery to meet Kamalavalli Nachiyar for ‘Kalyana Utsavam’ festivities at Uraiyur Divya Desam)

A few days after his return from Uraiyur, on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram, having heard about her anger, Namperumal plans a visit to meet the Ranganayaki Thayar at her Sannidhi at the Northern entrance of Srirangam temple.

Namperumal being denied entry into Thaayar Sannidhi

When Namperumal reaches the Thaayar Sannidhi, much to his shock, Ranganayaki Thayar shuts the door on him and refuses to allow him entry into the Sannidhi. The faster he tries to enter the Sannidhi, the quicker the door shuts on him and with greater intensity each time. Adding insult to injury, the Lord is also pelted with butter by the  Thayar's side.

Pandari as the mediator representing Thayar

The Araiyars of Srirangam act as mediators in the war of words that extends to five rounds between Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar represented by Pandari. The Araiyars take the message from Namperumal (waiting outside at the entrance of the Thaayar Sannidhi) and present it to the Pandari and then take back Thaayar’s replies through the Pandari back to Namperumal.

The Araiyar begins round one by putting forth Perumal's defence that he has been out for well over three hours that morning in the hot Panguni sun, listening to the Vedic and Divya Prabhandham recitals and providing darshan to the devotees across the four Chitra and Uthira streets. He pleaded that this was the reason for the delay and that it was only fair that she accepted his garland and allowed him to enter her Sannidhi.

Pandari retorts that this was poor reasoning and put him on the defensive by questioning if providing darshan to devotees was indeed the real reason or if there was some hidden agenda (indirectly pointing to the fact that he was actually out there through the morning collecting money from the devotees to try and buy a ring to replace the one that he had presented to Kamalavalli Nachiyar at Uraiyur)

Thayar expresses surprise finding his eyes red, the hair disturbed, Thiruman not in the way it usually is and even nail marks on his body. Thayar insists on status quo being maintained – No one inside the Sannidhi should go out and those that are outside should not enter her Sannidhi, she orders through the Pandari.

Did you go to Uraiyur

As part of the second round of the debate, Araiyars defend Perumal stating that he had spent sleepless nights protecting his devotees and that was the reason for the red eyes. He had to go to the forest to fight the wild animals to protect his devotees and the nail marks was a result of that fight. He had lost his ring when Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, posing as a thief, attacked him in the middle of the night and that he was still searching for it and was confident of finding it back.

 

An unconvinced Ranganayaki Thayar fires a fiery question at him sending shock waves to the other side – ‘Did you go to Uraiyur.’

              

Where is Uraiyur:)

The next round begins with Ranganatha in all his innocence saying that he had neither heard of nor seen that place. He contests that she was purposely trying to insult him in front of everyone by naming some place that he had never even heard of. This infuriates Thayar even further and she retorted that the Lord was trying to create an illusion by hiding everything and that she had gathered all the truth about his trip from her sources.

Lofty Promises

Pushed back further in every round and completely exasperated with the negative response, Lord Ranganatha decides that it was now time to resort to promises in an effort to convince her. His representatives  tell her that He was ready to promise on the Ocean, the Fire and that he was even ready to put his hand inside the snake pit to prove his innocence.

Ranganayaki Thayar scoffs at these seemingly lofty promises saying that she is not the one to be outdone by these.  Making promises was a well accepted practice to a truce when there was a fight between two parties and Thayar expresses surprise at the kind of promises he has made.

Does he expect the Serpant King on whom he resides all the time to bite him, she extolls!!! She refuses to allow him entry at the end of the fourth round as well saying that he is trying to lure her back with such simple promises.

                2008 Panguni Uthiram Serthi Sevai (photo taken by this writer)

Climax

Araiyars come back a fifth time with an emotional appeal from the Lord standing at the entrance of the Thayar Sannidhi. ‘With the whole world watching him being thus insulted, it is a matter of time before they scoff at her and that all the blame for this public embarrassment of the Lord will have to be taken up by her. He is trying his best to convince her in every possible way but she is remaining adamant and is refusing to accept even the flowers he is presenting her with love and affection.’

Thayar stands firm – ‘The Lord had done everything wrong but it now looks like he is passing on the blame game and trying to make me feel guilty’ she argues.

This heated debate between Perumal and Thayar showcases to the world the beautiful relationship between a husband and a wife, the differences of opinion, the fights and the adjustments one has to make in a relationship for it to succeed. This event also showcases the regard one must have for elders and the role they play in our lives. This can be seen from the fact that despite being angry and upset at Lord Ranganatha’s behaviour, Ranganayaki Thayar listens to the words of Nam Azhvaar and forgives the Lord and accepts him once again. This event is a great lesson for one to follow in this fast paced world where ego seems to play a part in relationships among family members and friends.

With the arrival of the settlement, Namperumal then finally enters the Thaayar Sannidhi provides Serthi Sevai for the only time in the year with Ranganaayaki Thaayar.

Pandari Sriram considers it a great blessing

Pandari Sriram has been performing Kainkaryam right from his teenage years carrying Kudam from Kollidam to different sannidhis as well as performing Vethal service carrying Namperumal on his shoulders on long processions. He has over 3 ½ months of Kainkaryam at the Thayar Sannidhi annually and during his free time, he participates in consecration events to keep himself going.

Pandari Sriram considers this a great blessing that he is being bestowed with a third opportunity in his lifetime to represent Ranganayaki Thayar on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram. Following the enactment of the episode, Pandari Sriram will be taken for a special darshan of Namperumal and be presented with Mariyathai. Also, the temple representatives will see him off at his home on North Chitra Street as a recognition of having represented Ranganayaki Thayaar on this auspicious Panguni Uthiram morning when Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar will provide Serthi Sevai following the enactment of the reconciliation episode.

Pandari Sriram is one of the most friendliest Kainkaryaparas at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and has built a great network of devotees over the last two decades. 200 of them will be there at the Thayar Sannidhi tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to be a source of strength to Pandari Sriram and to boost his confidence in the argument against the representatives of Namperumal. Later in the afternoon, he will be hosting lunch to his large network of ‘supporters’ who have been a pillar of strength in his 2 decades Kainkaryam at the Thayar Sannidhi.

Nidamangalam Santhanaramar Panguni Brahmotsavam

Grand Revival of Utsavams - It will be a big three days for Narayanan Bhattar who has anchored the revival

Santhanaramar will provide Garuda Sevai on Monday evening, be atop his favourite Hanuman on Tuesday and enjoy the marriage celebrations with Sita Devi on Wednesday

                         Narayanan Bhattar after Sesha Vahana alankaram

Narayanan Bhattar, then in his 30s, had been performing Thiru Aradhanam at the Rama temple in Tambaram (Sanatorium) and was enjoying a financially healthy life. When his appa, Santhanaramar Bhattar was getting on age, Narayanan Bhattar decided to move back to Nidamangalam to continue the hereditary archaka service that his forefathers had performed at the centuries old Santhanaramar temple and thus made his way back to Nidamangalam in 2012.

தெரிந்த கருங்குழல் மடவாய் 

நின் அடியேன் விண்ணப்பம் 

செறிந்த மணி முடிச்சனகன் 

சிலை இறுத்து நினைக் கொணர்ந்தது 

அறிந்து அரசு களைகட்ட 

அருந்தவத்தோன் இடை விலங்கச் 

செறிந்த சிலைகொடு தவத்தைச் 

சிதைத்தும் ஓர் அடையாளம் - 3.9.1 - Periyazhvaar Thirumozhi

The 2nd half of the previous century had been a dark phase for this temple with many of the utsavams had come to a halt on the back of an anti-devotional movement. When Narayanan Bhattar took charge as the archaka, his first focus was to revive all the historical utsavams. The original inhabitants of Nidamangalam had long gone but that did not deter Narayana Bhattar from making an attempt to revive the utsavams.

This week is a big one for him in the year with Garuda Sevai on Monday, Hanuman carrying Santhanaramar on Tuesday evening and Thiru Kalyanam on Wednesday evening one that attracts a big crowd as part of the Panguni Brahmotsavam that began on the Rama Navami day on March 27.

For a large part of the year, he is all alone straddling between Thiru Aradhanam and devotee darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi and cooking Thaligai at the madapalli. This solo effort for many years took a heavy toll on his knees and he had to undergo a surgery a couple of years back. But he is now fully fit and back to his old devotional energy and excitement.

Chozha Period temple

The Santhanaramar temple is said to date back to the Chozha period with the sanctum having existed then but the current structure goes back to the late 18th century and the construction by the Thanjavur king Pratap Simha. The Lord appeared in the dreams of the King and asked him to look for an idol of Ramar at this location. The King and his wife Rani Yamunambal were childless. He came here and found the idol beneath the earth. After invoking the blessings of the Lord, she gave birth to a child. Hence the Lord is referred to as Santhana Ramar, a unique name for Lord Rama. 

Prarthana Sthalam for childless couples -Rohini Star Pooja

This location was historically referred to as Yamunambal Puram. The belief is that those who invoke the blessings of Lord Rama and Sita Devi will be blessed with a child.  Every Rohini, there is a Putra Santhana Gopala homam. This is a very special event at the temple and devotees visit in good numbers on the Rohini day every month.

Muthuswamy Dikshithar has presented a song in praise of Santhanaramar in Hindola Vasantha Ragam. The famous Tavil Vidwan Meenakshi Sundaram belonged to this place.

On Sunday evening, Narayana Bhattar was a bit more relaxed than he would be on the next three evenings. It was the day of the big Chariot Procession at the Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Swamy temple and the devotee crowd from this region had all made their way to the legendary Saivite temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/12/thiruvarur-thyagaraja-temple.html).

Sesha Vahana Procession

On this third evening of the Brahmotsavam, Santhana Ramar was decorated atop the Sesha Vahana. Narayana Bhattar is an alankaram specialist and takes great pains paying attention to minute details of the alankaram. It had been his dream to get the grand alankaram back on his favourite Ramar that had been missing for a few decades previously given the slowdown in temples at the end of the previous century.

Also, over the last decade, he dreamt of colourful serial lights across the temple complex and atop the Raja Gopuram like is seen in many temples during the Brahmotsavam. And this Brahmotsavam, he has been able to fulfil that long cherished dream with the entire temple complex wearing a bright look.

மண்ணு புகழ் கௌசலைதன் மணிவயிறு வாய்தவனே 

தென் இலங்கை கோன் மமுடிகள் 

சிந்துவித்தாய் செம்பொன்சேர் 

கன்னிநன் மா புடைசூழ் கணபுரத்து கருமணியே 

என்னுடைய இன்னமுதே ராகவனே தாலேலோ - 8-1-1 - Kulasekara Azhvaar

A couple of Prabhandham members had made their way from Mannargudi and they present the Satru Murai of Moonram Thiruvanthathi and the third canto of Tiruvoimozhi. The Vadakalai members then presented the Satru Murai of the Desikar Prabhandham.

Narayanan Bhattar has built a great relationship with the devotees in the time he has been there in Nidamangalam and he goes to each of the visitors to the temple on this evening to take sankalpam and performs an archanai much to their delight. He presents each of them with a banana, flowers and Tulasi and one could instantly see the happiness in the faces of the devotees. He announces to all of them that the special occasion of Garuda Vahana procession is to take the next evening and asks all of them to take the blessings of Santhana Ramar at the Garuda Sevai.

He was also keen for a good quantity of Thaligai to be presented during the Brahmotsavam and he ensures that every visitor to the on this Sunday evening enjoys Upma and Sundal. 

A delighted amma

Narayanan Bhattar’s amma, who has been a resident of the East Raja Veethi for the last 55 years, watched the way his son was carrying out the activity at the temple on this Sunday evening and expressed happiness to this writer about his son having returned from Chennai to continue the hereditary archaka service, even though there is not much of a salary at this temple. She said that he placed more importance to continuing the service than the financial returns and that drove him back to the temple here.

                     Selvar procession- Bhattar's amma in the background

As is the case in many remote temples, Perumal was ready for the street procession by 7pm with the presentation of Thaligai, Satru Murai and Selvar procession inside the temple but the Sripatham personnel were missing. 

It is a day of utsavams at three temples in Nidamangalam and the Sripatham Personnel are busy at the Mariamman temple. Narayanan Bhattar makes frenetic calls to them asking them to come so the street procession could start. The clock had ticked to 8pm when the Sripatham Personnel presented a Voyali walk towards the Raja Gopuram carrying Santhana Ramar on their shoulders. 

Narayanan Bhattar had performed Thiru Aradhana at the Ramar temple in Tambaram Sanatorium and after his departure, another priest replaced him. Jagan Bhattar made his way for this utsavam from Tambaram and was the one who accompanied Santhana Ramar atop the Sesha Vahana taking Thattu from the residents of Nidamangalam who invoke the blessings of Santhana Ramar.  Narayanan Bhattar's brother, who performs Thiru Aradhanam at the temple inside the SSN School in Perangalathur is a pillar of strength as he is here for all the utsavams - this section had featured a story on that's school owner supported Kurugai Kavalappan temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/07/kurugai-kaavalappan-koil.html) though it took a different turn later.

தளை அவிழும் நறுங்குஞ்சித் தயரதன் குல மதலாய் 

வலய ஒரு சிலையதனால் மதில் இலங்கை அழித்தவனே 

களை கழுநீர் மருங்கலரும் 

கணபுரத்தென் கருமணியே 

இளையவர்கட்கு அருள் உடையாய் 

ராகவனே தாலேலோ 

The railway gate remained locked for 20 minutes with the Chemmozhi Express having arrived from Mannargudi on its way to Coimbatore with the engine having to be moved to the west end. Those at the gate had a surprise darshan of Santhana Ramar cooling them instantly from their anger of the longish closure of the gate. 

A Grand Revival of the Brahmotsavam

Narayanan Bhattar is now a known face to every resident and at every shop in Nidamangalam and each of them exchange pleasantries with him during the procession as he walks ahead of the deity. Santhana Ramar moves on to the North Raja Veethi even as the train leaves the Nidamangalam station for Thanjavur. It is almost 10 pm when the Lord makes his way back to the temple after providing darshan around the temple tank.

                            Jagan Bhattar from Tambaram Ramar Koil

On each of these three evenings, it has been a pretty late night for Narayanan Bhattar for there is work for the archakas long after Perumal has returned to the temple from the street procession. He once again alerted the Sripatham personnel that every delay from their side for the start of the procession would take him that much longer in the night to complete his post procession work and asked them to be on time for the Garuda Sevai Procession on Monday evening.

It is because of the devotional commitment of those like the now 53 year old Narayanan Bhattar that remote temples in Tamil Nadu are able to continue the historic traditions such as conducting the centuries old utsavams. There is a sense of satisfaction that one can see in the face of this Bhattar in the way the Brahmotsavam has taken of this year but for the moment he is not basking in that glory for there are three big days coming starting with Garuda Sevai on Monday evening even as he heads back home late on Sunday night with his thoughts centered around the alankaram for the Garuda Sevai.

Nachiyar Koil Kal Garuda Sevai Sripatham

A century of members, strong camaraderie & team work and devotional commitment come to the fore as the Sripatham personnel celebrate yet another edition of the now popular Kal Garuda Sevai

It is one of the two big days in the year at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur. The fourth day of the Brahmotsavam in Panguni marks the evening when Moolavar Kal Garuda makes his way from his abode to the Vahana Mandapam from where he carries Srinivasa Perumal around the four streets through the night. In his Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar as seen in the verse below refers to Thiru Naraiyur as a location of endless festivals. Friday night was definitely one with the procession starting at 6pm and ending with Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Nachiyar coming back into the temple well past 3am the next morning.

வாளொன் கண் நல்லார் தாங்கள் மதனன் என்கிறார் தம்மைக் 

கேள்மின்கள் ஈளையோடு ஏங்கு கிழவன் என்னாதமுன் 

வேள்வும் விழவும் வீதியில் என்றும் அறாத ஊர் 

நாளும் நறையூர் நாம் தொழுதும் எழு நெஞ்சமே 

While the margazhi Kal Garuda sevai saw unprecedented devotee crowd unmatched anytime in the past, this one on Friday (March 27) evening was a quieter event coming as it did on the back of the annual exams, early vacation of devotees and the upcoming election.

Like Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s century of verses on Thiru Naraiyur Nambi, the Sripatham Personnel and the Kothanar combo too total a century. It is they who are the heroes on this evening when they carry the large sized and heavy Kal Garuda from his Sannidhi down the steps of this steep Mani Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozha.

அம்பரமும் பெருநிலனும் திசைகள் எட்டும் 

அலைக்கடலும் குலவரையும் உண்டகண்டன் 

கொம்பமரும் வடமரத்தின் இலைமேல் பள்ளி கூடினான் 

திருவடியே கூடாகிற்பீர் 

வம்பவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு 

மணி வண்டு வகுலத்தின்  மலர் மேல் வைகு 

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே

Sharp eyed EO Prabhakaran

It is past 1am and the Olai Chapparam housing Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda and Vanjula Valli Thayar atop Anna Pakshi Vahana has turned on to the West Street. The EO of the temple, Prabhakaran, an Engineer by educational qualification, is walking alongside the deities ensuring that everything is in order. In the three years he has been at this temple, he has not slept on the night of the Kal Garuda Sevai and not gone back home accompanying the deities through the procession keep a close eye on the procession. And alert as he was, he spotted a scorpion right in the middle of the road on the West Street and directed his personnel to carefully move it to the side asking them not to kill it.

        Nachiyar Koil EO Prabhakaran

Putting together a strong and united Sripatham team

Chief of the Sripatham team 61 year old C. Kannan is the leader of the Sripatham team and he has been carrying the Lord on his shoulders ever since he was a young boy, quitting school after class VI. He recounts his memories from his childhood days of the Kal Garuda Sevai night “You can see Srinivasa Perumal decked with glittering jewellery and huge flower garlands. It was not so back then. The procession was a simple one. There were no street lights and no houses on this West Street. Perumal was led by Theevatti and Petromax light through the procession. Unlike recent times, the procession used to head back to the temple by midnight.”

     Vanjula Valli Thayar

Puliyotharai for their sripatham service 

8 of them carry Kal Garuda from the Moolavar Sannidhi and then as they go down the steep steps towards the entrance of the Ramar Sannidhi, the sripatham personnel double and as they get to the Dwajasthambam at the Eastern Entrance, over 30 of them carry Garuda to the Vahana Mandapa. He says with a twinkle in his eyes in a cheeky way that during the period of his appa and thatha, half the sripatham used to carry Kal Garuda such was their physical strength given their focus on eating healthy food. 

“My appa was paid 50 paise for the sripatham service on each day of the utsavam. We reside in temple land and also have 2 acres each of farming land belonging to the temple. In return for this, we see it as our responsibility to carry the Lord without any fee and consider this twice a year opportunity as a great blessing bestowed on us by Kal Garuda. Those of us in our team who have seen it this way have been prosperous and living a financially healthy life. It has been the experience of most of us in the Sripatham team that sincere prayers to Kal Garuda has never gone unanswered such is his power”, he told this writer even as the procession moved on to the North street.

It has been a tradition for the sripatham personnel to be handed large quantities of Puliyotharai for their service on this Kal Garuda Sevai night. 

Kannan says that in the days of his forefathers, they used to spend almost a week getting the Olai Chapparam ready such was the attention paid to minute details. It is past 2am and the Olai Chapparam has made its way well on to the North Street (the Bazaar Road). As experienced in the Margazhi Brahmotsavam a couple of months ago, the branches of a tree extended on to the road obstructing the Chapparam.

Cutting out protruding branches

EO Prabhakaran is a great lover of the eco system and has been planting 100s of saplings around the temple but the cutting of these branches was a necessary evil as it came in the way of the procession and it would have on the day of the Chariot procession as well. 

Sripatham Chief Kannan directed his team members to cut out the protruding branches with a sickle. Why did the temple authorities not proactively cut out these branches ahead of the utsavam. Kannan says that they did try but it provided shade to the autos and the stand owners prevented the branches from being cut on the previous day. While the branches were being cut, the Sripatham Personnel took this opportunity to have a ‘Tea Break’. 

                                 Sripatham Head Kannan

Past midnight, a couple of devotees from Kumbakonam brought hot coffee/tea from the popular canteen at the railway station and distributed it free to the sripatham personnel in recognition of their devotional service to Nambi.

கிடந்த நம்பி குடந்தை மேவி  கேழலாய் உலகை இடந்த நம்பி 

எங்கள் நம்பி எறிஞர் அரண் அழியக் 

கடந்த நம்பி கடியார் இலங்கை உலகை ஈர் அடியால் 

நடந்த நம்பி நாமம் சொல்லி நமோ நாராயணா - 6-10-1

The Kal Garuda Sevai at Nachiyar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur is celebrated twice a year – once four days before Vaikunta Ekadasi in Margazhi and the other on this fourth day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam. It is an evening that brings together thousands of devotees and provides them with a great positive vibration inside the temple as they watch Kal Garuda come down with ease from the Moolavar Sannidhi.

Gopi Bhattar at the forefront of all activities 

A story on Nachiyar Koil would not be complete with a mention of Gopinathan Bhattachar, the long standing priest at this Divya Desam. EO Prabhakaran tells this writer on the night that interestingly this time around the Bhattar called him and asked for approval for the Kal Garuda procession to start just after 6pm. 

                               Gopinathan Bhattachar

With the clock now almost ticking to 3am, he is distributing Sambhavanai to the Kainkaryaparas who have performed service on the night. When a devotee known to him arrives, he calls him in front and provides him with a close darshan of Srinivasa Perumal and Kal Garuda and presents him with flowers and fruits. His son, who is being initiated into the agama at Senkalipuram, is also present on the night accompanying Vanjula Valli Thayar. 

For the Sripatham personnel, it is a great show of strength. It is a night when team work, the camaraderie among the members and the positive spirit with which they manage the procession comes to the fore at Thiru Naraiyur. There are young boys just into their teens out there learning the art of carrying Kal Garuda by watching the elders. There are also seniors in the team who have been integral members of this procession for over two decades. It is a night when devotees and the kainkaryaparas alike forget the negativity in their lives and unite as a group to showcase the greatness of Kal Garuda. Friday night at Thiru Naraiyur marked that celebration of Kal Garuda with him showing his might to the devotee world.

Thiru Indhalur Parimala Ranganthar Malliyam

A long summer's day out for Parimala Ranganathar as he makes a trip to Malliyam on the third morning of the Panguni Brahmotsavam

It is the third morning of the Panguni Brahmotsavam both at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and here at the Parimala Ranganatha temple in Thiru Indhalur. Contrasted with the hundreds of Kainkaryaparas carrying Namperumal in the villages of Jeeyapuram, Anthanallur and around, the Moolavar Sannidhi at Thiru Indhalur had not yet opened till 6am when the street procession had been scheduled to start at 5am. 

There are just two full time priests at this Divya Desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar with two long time priests having been suspended in the past. Standing at the entrance of this temple Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his first verse says that devotees are thronging to having darshan of the Lord waiting to serve him. He asks the Lord to reveal himself and walk a few steps so the devotees could get enlightenment. On this morning, there were just a handful of devotees, most of them regulars at the temple and they waited patiently for the Sannidhi to open. 

நும்மைத் தொழுதோம் நுந்தம் பணிசெய்திருக்கும் நும் அடியோம் 

இம்மைக்கு இன்பம் பெற்றோம்  எந்தாய் இந்தளூரீரே 

எம்மைக் கடிதாக் கருமம் அருளி ஆ வா என்று இறங்கி 

நம்மை ஒருகால் காட்டி நடந்தால் நாங்கள் உய்யோமே

One priest, Sukumaran Dikshithar (who had performed Kainkaryam at Andavan Ashramam administered temples in Bombay, MP, UP and Bihar in the 1990s and has been back here after the suspension of the above priests) performs Vishroopam at the Perumal Sannidhi, while Sridhar Bhattar, who now is the anchor priest and the face to devotees, does so at the Thayar Sannidhi.

A long day in the Sun for the Sripatham

It is a big day for the Sripatham Personnel led by the 65 year Kannan with Sugantha Vana Naathan, the Utsava deity, having to make his way out of Mayiladuthurai to the Village of Malliyam on the Kumbakonam highway.  Kannan is there early in the morning and his team mates are slowly trickling in. Sripatham Kannan recalls the personnel carrying Parimala Ranganthar on their shoulders in the century gone by but with the slowdown in temple activities this long procession on the third morning had come to a halt in the second half of the previous century just under 50 years ago with the original inhabitants having left this temple town.

                        Indhalur Sripatham Head Kannan

The Theerthakar is also there by 6am and the ubayadarar of the day also arrive at the temple. The physical infrastructure of the temple wears a new look following the recent consecration. The ubayadarar takes a look at the kannadi arai where Perumal had taken rest in the night and expresses happiness at the beautifully laid out room with mirror all  around.

Madapalli Cook Kumar who has been here for over a decade tells this writer that he was at the temple at 3am to prepare the sacred food ahead of the procession. Sukumaran Dikshithar hits out at his detractors telling them that he had been at the temple till past midnight following last evening’s Chandira Prabhai vahana street procession (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/02/thiru-indhalur-parimala-ranganathar.html). 

Overload on the kainkaryaparas, shortage of service personnel is taking a toll on utsavams in remote Divya Desams. It’s the just the third day of the Brahmotsavam here but the kainkaryaparas are already having a worn out look on their face.

Selvar goes around the prakara inside the temple (no time for a street visit this morning as the activities are well behind schedule). Well past 6.30am, the Sripatham mount the pallakku atop the Wheeled chapparam and Parimala Ranganathar is ready for the procession around the four streets. At the east end of the Sannidhi street in front of the Hanuman Sannidhi, the prabhandham members have gathered for the thodakkam. At this Divya Desam, Periya Thirumozhi is recited on the mornings of the four street procession and the adyapaka accordingly begins the 9th decad of the first Canto with the verses on Thiru Venkatam.

For the next hour, the procession makes a slow progress around the four streets. Residents come out of their home to have a close look at the alankaram of Parimala Ranganathar presenting coconuts, flower garland and fruits.

It is 8am when back near the Hanuman Sannidhi, the prabhandham members present the Satru Murai with the verses on Thiruvallikeni and they consider it appropriate that the Ubayadarar is a current resident of that Divya Desam. It has been a slow paced recital and the Ghoshti have presented 50 verses of the Periya Thirumozhi on this morning.

The procession is behind by two hours and Sripatham Kannan has a worried look on his face. He has been performing this service for many decades with his teammates hailing from the nearby village of appankulam. The procession has to now make its way to the western outskirts of Mayiladuthurai to the village of Malliyam with the Sun having begun to beat down strongly.

சொல்லாது ஒழியகில்லேன் அறிந்த சொல்லில் 

நும்மடியார் எல்லோரோடும் ஓக்க எண்ணியிருந்தீர் அடியேனை 

நல்லார் அறிவீர் தீயார் அறிவீர் 

நமக்கு இவ்வுலகத்து எல்லாம் அறிவீர் 

ஈதே அறியீர், இந்தளூரீரே 

When the devotional wave began striking the TN temples at the turn of the century, the procession to Malliyam was revived but by this time long processions in most Divya Desams had moved to the ‘Wheeled Tyre’ model from the sripatham previously carrying the Lord on their shoulders.

                                     

A new bus stand has been inaugurated. On a busy Thursday morning, moffusil buses were making their way in and out of Mayiladuthurai and Parimala Ranganathar had to wade through heavy traffic to reach Gandhiji Road where an Iyengar family is waiting to welcome to welcome the Lord into their home. The family serves hot Pongal and coffee to the kainkaryaparas including the Sripatham personnel. On to the next house, Perumal makes another stopover this time to bless a young couple who have just had their second child.

Past 9.30am, the Sripatham gather all their strength to push the chapparam atop the steep railway overbridge near the Mayiladuthurai Railway station. There are short stopovers at Sitharkadu and Moovalur even as the feet of the sripatham personnel are already burning.

The trustee of Purushottamar temple in Thiru Nangur stops by to have darshan of Parimala Ranganthar and presents sambhavanai to the Kainkaryaparas before he moves on towards Oppiliappan Koil.

Welcoming Perumal at Malliyam

It is close to 11am, a full four hours after leaving the temple in Indhalur when Parimala Ranganthar reaches the Government Coconut Farm in Malliyam. The Villagers come in large numbers to welcome the Lord on this hot morning.

And then as Sripatham Kannan predicted it was time for a trip around the streets of Malliyam. He recounts to this writer the sad development over the past few years “Long ago, Perumal would reach Malliyam and head directly to the Asthana Mandapam near the coconut grove. But in the recent past, the villagers have made this trip a collection exercise for them. In the hot sun, the Lord has to go around the streets of Malliyam while the Village Chiefs collect donation from every home and shop providing receipt to them.”

Its well past 1pm and the Sripatham on bare foot have been out in the Sun for over six hours. Finally, the Lord came to a rest at the Asthana Mandapam in Malliyam, where he experienced a Thirumanjanam.

Unfortunately for the Sripatham personnel, much of this collection by the villagers in the name of Parimala Ranganathar does not translate to their kitty in a big way, though this time around late on Thursday evening, they fought for their rights with the Malliyam villagers and secured a reasonable sambhavanai for their service from the donations collected. Sripatham Head Kannan told this writer that the Ubayadarar of the day too took good care of the Sripatham Personnel recognising their commitment ferrying the Lord from Indhalur to Malliyam in the hot sun. njanam with the Prabhandham Ghoshti presenting Iyarpa and Tiruvoimozhi verses at Malliyam.

Back in Srirangam too, Namperumal made his way from Jeeyapuram  having spent the whole day there on the Southern Banks of Cauvery. With the Prabhandham Ghoshti presenting Moonraam Thiruvanthathi from the North Chitra street and a whole host of Kainkaryaparas cheering each other through the return procession and with the devotees staying back in good numbers late on Thursday evening, Namperumal made his way back into the South entrance well past 10pm (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/03/srirangam-namperumal-jeeyapuram-utsavam.html). 

Shortage of Kainkaryaparas

At Thiru Indhalur, the shortage of service personnel is impacting utsavams with a few people having to manage the entire workload. All those centuries ago, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his praise says that for generations the devotees have been serving him  and are yearning for his darshan. Contrasted with that, Perumal takes the trouble now to provide darshan through the day in the hot sun but the original inhabitants have long gone from remote temple towns as these.

எந்தை தந்தை தம்மான் என்றென்று 

எமரேழ்  ஏழளவும் 

வந்து நின்ற தொண்டரோர்க்கே வாசிவல்லீரால் 

சிந்தை தன்னுள் முந்தி நிற்றீர் 

சிறிதும் திருமேனி 

இந்த வண்ணம் என்று காட்டீர் இந்தளூரீரே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Madapalli cook Kumar made it to the Iyengar's house in the morning to serve Pongal to the Kainkaryaparas. A physically challenged Kainkaryapara cycled all the way to Malliyam along with Perumal. An original inhabitant from the century gone by who now resides in Chennai having moved on to the corporate space made his way to the procession this morning to assist Sridhar Bhattar. It is with the help of these select Kainkaryaparas that Sridhar Bhattar is now managing processions during the Brahmotsavam.

It was late in the evening when Maruviniya Mainthar began his procession back from Malliyam to reach Thiru Indhalur at 10pm. Kudos to Sridhar Bhattar, who having remained unnoticed for several years, for taking responsibility for the conduct of these utsavams including this Brahmotsavam. The shortage of personnel does not make it easy for him and there are big challenges along the way but with patience, he engages with all the kainkaryaparas and devotees trying his best to make them happy. It was a big achievement for him to ensure that Perumal made it all the way to Malliyam on this hot day and the villagers who gathered in large numbers there were happy that they could have darshan of the Divya Desam Lord at their doorstep.

Thiru Kurungudi New Towering Raja Gopuram

13 Tier over 125 feet Raja Gopuram on the anvil

After a Grand Consecration today, Kurungudi Mutt Jeer and Venu Srinivasan will come together again for the construction of a towering Raja Gopuram atop the existing Mottai Gopuram

  

It is the biggest day in the last several decades at the Azhagiya Nambi Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi, for a full-fledged consecration has taken place this morning (March 25) after a gap of over 110 years. The previous large-scale renovation works and consecration had taken place in 1912 (consecration of the Shiva Sannidhi a year earlier in 1911). This section had featured a story earlier this month on the extensive restoration exercise and the upcoming consecration (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-temple.html).

Two decades ago, when the priests were sitting at the entrance waiting for the next devotee to arrive, they would not have visualised a day when several thousands would gather on a single morning at this Divya Desam. The transformational change at Thiru Kurungudi has been made possible through the joint efforts of the Head of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt, Ramanuja Perarula Jeer and Industrialist TVS’ Venu Srinivasan, who has contributed in a big way to the restoration over the last decade. There were 25 family members from TVS who attended the consecration this morning. Later in the evening, Nambi provided darshan atop the Garuda Vahana.

எங்கனேயோ அன்னைமீர்காள் என்னை முனிவது நீர் 

நங்கள் கோலத் திருக்குறுங்குடி நம்பியை நான் கண்டபின் 

சங்கினோடும் நேமியோடும் தாமரைக் கண்களோடும் 

செங்கனி வாய் ஒன்றினோடும் 

செல்கின்றது என் நெஞ்சமே 

Following today's consecration, the two will come together again on another mega project at the temple that is set to take off soon. 

This section had earlier featured stories on two historical temples in the Chozha region seeing the construction of a new tall Raja Gopuram. Pundarikaksha Perumal temple in Thiru Vellarai and Venkatesa Perumal temple in Gunaseelam will both see the consecration of new Raja Gopurams in the next 2-3 years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/gunaseelam-pichumani-bhattar-hereditary.html).

In the erstwhile Pandya region, at the Kula Deivam temple of Venu Srinivasan, a new Raja Gopuram will come up atop the current Mottai Gopuram at the Eastern entrance. Ramanuja Perarulalar Jeer has assigned this engagement to the industrialist, who following the completion of the restoration works, will now take up the task of the construction of a 13 tier Raja Gopuram that will measure over 125 feet.

The construction of the Raja Gopuram at Thiru Kurungudi is expected to take at least a couple of years. 

Two New Initiatives

The Head of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt told this writer that the large scale Thiruppani works including the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi and consecration has brought back the devotee crowd into the temple. Today's huge crowd at this Divya Desam stood testimony to that. In the coming period, he will focus on two significant exercises. He believes that the consecration and its positive vibration will lead to a 100% recovery initiative of the dues to the temple from the tenants residing at the temple lands. And the second, the starting of the construction of the towering Raja Gopuram that the Jeer is devotionally excited about. 

It may be recalled from a story in this section earlier that at Thiru Vellarai there was a call to first strengthen the foundation before commencing construction of the new Raja Gopuram on the Northern side (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/11/thiru-vellarai-new-raja-gopuram-by-end.html). Ramanuja Perarulalar Jeer said that the current foundation of 50 feet is quite strong and that will facilitate the start of the construction of a Raja Gopuram atop the mottai gopuram.

நீங்க நில்லா கண்ணா நீர்கள் என்று 

அன்னையரும் முனிதிர் 

தேன் கொள் சோலைத் திருக்குறுங்குடி நம்பியை 

நான் கண்டா பின் 

பூந் தன் மாலைத் தன் துழாயும் 

பொன் முடியும் வடிவும் 

பங்கு தோன்றும் பட்டும் நானும் பாவியேன் பக்கத்தவே 

In the past, Ramanuja Perarulalar Jeer has been known to be a stickler to schedule. It is likely that with his devotional commitment to transform this Divya Desam completely and take it to a phase that will truly reflect the praise as seen in the verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Nam Azhvaar, he will drive the construction under his watchful eyes from a few hundred yards away. 

And Industrialist Venu Srinivasan is a hard task master and a disciplinarian who undertook and completed a massive restoration exercise at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam in just 15months over a decade ago. He also has wide ranging experience in temple restoration exericises. Given that these two will be driving this new project, it is likely that the devotees of Nambi will sooner than later be welcomed into the temple by a towering Raja Gopuram at the Eastern Entrance. And that's good news for the overall community in this historic temple town.