Suchindram Thaanumaalaya Temple Sthanikar Shiva Prasad

A doctor by profession and a mridangist by passion but this 47 year old sees the Sthanikar role as a privilege and blessing -  a great responsibility passed on from several generations that he wants to discharge with the fullest bhakthi

47 year old P Shiva Prasad is a multi faceted personality. He is an ayurvedic doctor by profession, plays the mridangam as a passion but most importantly considers it a privilege and a blessing to be a descendant of a clan that has been the Sthaanikam at the Thaanumaalaya temple in Suchindram, distinctive for the Shiva, Vishnu and Brahmma's moolavar idols out of one lingam. He had seen this temple from close quarters in the 1980s when he was a school boy during the phase when his appa was a Sthanikar and finds a dramatic change, now, in many aspects related to the temple.

He has taken over the mantle as a Sthanikar in an interesting as well as challenging time for this historic temple. Interesting because devotees who had deserted the temple in the final decades of the previous century are now coming back with a bang but challenging as not all the activities are going as per traditional processes in line with the current trend in temples. And he has had to bear the brunt of the fury on many occasions.

Dr. Shiva Prasad, who had returned from a professional engagement in Malaysia at the beginning after the previous decade, has also had to face criticism from his well wishers for not marketing his ayurvedic clinic and its products. To each one of his critics, he has the same message that his appa repeatedly told him ‘we  have never gone out to market ourselves as a clinic or as a temple. Our role is to discharge our responsibility as we see it as our duty and God will  take care of us’ he told this writer even as scores of patients are waiting to meet him on this Thursday afternoon in Vaikasi when devotees are flocking the Dakshina Murthy Sannidhi in line with the current trend.

Absence of Agraharam impacts service

He bemoans the vanishing of the once vibrant Agraharam and has an interesting anecdote on the role the original inhabitants played in the centuries gone by “Its like the current social media groups. Like minded people came together in the streets around the temple complex so they could discharge their duties quickly and the poojas could be performed on time and as per process. The priests lived on one street, the garland makers, the pooja product suppliers and other service personnel resided in another and it was all a vibrant environment.”

Changing Trend

At the same time, he accepts the overall changes happening all around us and the consequent trend in the functioning of temples as well  ‘During my appa’s time, he only saw folded hands of devotees. Today, the hands are holding the mobile phone at all times including before God. Earlier devotees prostrated in front of God and sought the blessings of the priests. Today they are taking selfies with God during processions.'

Key Service Personnel from three states

It is  also  a bit of a complicated process at the Thaanumaalaya temple with those from three states involved – pooja krama as per kerala agama, Shivachariars in Tamil Saivite style and the Pothies from Karnataka managing the now popular Hanumar and Vinayaka sannidhis. He points to the celebration of the Hanumar Jayanthi as a case in point “Every month of the year, moolam day sees huge crowd on the occasion of the monthly star of Hanuman. However, the annual Hanumar Jayanthi is celebrated on the No moon day following Karthigai and not on Moolam day."

These are practical on the ground challenges that he has had to face as a Sthanikar.

Crowd is back and so too the grandeur of the utsavams 

During his school days in the 1980s, there were very few rose water bottles and butter packets for Hanuman and he would pay Rs. 2 as Sambhavanai to get archaka to perform the archanai. Now the same panneer bottle and butter packets are auctioned. That is a huge change. Today’s world is commercialised and temples too have fallen prey to this trend. 

Hoping for Service Personnel to return

There is also a big shortage of service personnel and no replacements are in the offing after retirees leave the temple. In Kerala temples, people don’t use soap at the temple tanks because there are those to monitor but here the shortage has meant that there isn’t enough man power to monitor every single activity, says Dr. Shiva Prasad pointing to a data  "service personnel has almost halved from 140 during his appa’s early phase to his time now." As with the Jeer of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-jeer-mega-plans-for-mutt.html), this Sthanikar of the Vattappalli Mutt too is hoping that service personnel will come to the hereditary location to perform the traditional services 

Will Kattiyam resume?

In the century gone by, during Shiveli Kattiyam was presented as there was a person specifically assigned for Kattiyam. Shankaracharya’s sloka too was recited at the temple. In recent times with the gaining popularity of Pradoshams, Thevaram verses are being presented and he is hoping that soon Sanaracharya's slokams as well as the Kattiyam too can be brought back to the recital process.

Sthanikar's role

Dr Shiva Prasad belongs to the Vattappalli Mutt and he dons the role of a Sthanikar  that includes opening the keys of the Shiva and Perumal Sannidhi. He is also responsible of special poojas for Shiva Shrine and all poojas during the two big festivals in Margazhi and Chitrai. He is also responsible for the poojas during the Maasi Utsavam, Thai Poosam, Shivarathri and Aadi Swathi. It is also Dr Shiva Prasad as the Sthanikar who has to fix the time and date of the festivals.

Sthanikar from another Mutt (Therkumann Mutt) takes care of the Chariot festival and the float and the hoisting of the flag during the festival.

Big Positives

Despite all the challenges on hand, he sees the positive side. With the thronging of devotees, he says that the abhisekams have increased, vaahanas have been refurbished and rebuilt, mandagapadis are on the rise and the Lord is being seen in so many different alankarams. Overall, the grandeur of the utsavam is back. Devotee crowd has grown manifold with the parikara and prarthana model of visiting temples leading them on specific days to Dakshina Murthy Sannidhi, Hanumar Sannidhi, Saneeswarar Sannidhi and the like. It is a different form of Bhakthi from what Dr Shiva Prasad experienced as a school boy in the 1980s but this trend is here to stay and he has come to accept it.

At all times, Sthanikar Dr. Shiva Prasad remembers the lifetime message from his appa that it is a great responsibility 'bestowed on us' and 'we have to discharge it with the fullest Bhakthi.' And that is what this Sthanikar is out to fulfil in times to come.  

Srirangam Murari Bhattar

The Krishnapremi Anna Impact

Quitting a corporate job in Chennai a few years ago, he returned to this Divya Desam to perform archaka kainkaryam

These are interesting times at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. As seen earlier in many stories in this section, given the then scenario at TN temples, the next gen priests in many temples focused on academics and left their hereditary locations to work in corporates. The Srirangam temple was no different with many in the next gen taking to the corporate world. The uncertainty over the archaka kainkaryam was gaining momentum and the hereditary priests at Srirangam gave up their days of archaka service to the HR & CE as they looked for a career outside of the temple space. The outcome of this is that the HR & CE now has close to 500 days of archaka service in their fold relating to multiple sannidhis at the Ranganathaswamy temple, the Narasimha temple at Singar Koil and the Kamalavalli Nachiyar temple in Uraiyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/bhattars-gurukals-move-away-from-temples.html).

He took to academics and a corporate job

Given the challenges that archakas have been facing in TN temples and the uncertain future, many of in the next gen at the Srirangam temple took to academics and saw the corporate world as their future after their graduation. Harish Bhattar joined a Bank after his Masters, Aravinda Bhattar, now into his 40s, is still in the IT sector in Chennai and there are others who continue to work in the corporate sector (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-aravinda-bhattar-it-director.html).

Murari Bhattar, grandson of the revered SKR Bhattar, too was one such. After doing Civil Engineering, he worked on the high profile Metro Rail project.

Devotional Wave and opportunities back for the priests

But as things began to turn around financially following the devotional wave that is currently striking the TN temples, the next gen priests who had made their way to the Corporate sector have been returning back to the temple with Harish Bhattar being the first to quit a Bank job, a decade ago (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-harish-bhattar.html). A few others have followed suit in the last few years. Murari Bhattar is one such.

ஏனாகி உலகிடந்து அன்று இருநிலனும் பெரு விசும்பும் 

தானாய பெருமானை தன்னடியார் மனத்தென்றும் 

தேனாகி அமுதாகித் திகழ்ந்தானை 

மகிழ்ந்தொருகால் 

ஆனாயன் ஆனானை கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே- Periya Thirumozhi- 5.6.3

During the work phase in Chennai, he began listening to the lectures of Krishnapremi Anna, among others. So moved was he by Anna's celebration of the greatness of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam that he took a sudden call to quit this job six years ago and returned to this Divya Desam when he was not yet 30, leaving his relatives shocked. 

As with Harish Bhattar who quit and returned to temple service a decade ago, the decision of Murari Bhattar too did not find acceptance among his well wishers. Sitting in front of the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi, he told this writer that all of them thought that ‘I was making a stupid decision’ but he was clear in his mind after the wholesome influence of Krishnapremi Anna that his future lay in archaka Kainkaryam and completely trusted Perumal to take care of him.

Soon after his return, he learned the agamas and the pooja krama and the learning has been an ongoing process ever since.

                                               

A new traditional look 

He was not married then and his sudden decision left his parents stunned.  His new looks sporting a tuft and turning himself full time into a traditional attire made them anxious and apprehensive if they would be able to find a girl for him. But Krishnapremi Anna’s influence was complete and he was truly transformed. He had decided that he would spend the rest of his life serving the Lord at Srirangam irrespective of the financial outcome.

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில் 

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில் 

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம்  கோயில் 

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில் 

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து  சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும்  தீர்க்கும் கோயில் 

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே - Athikaara Sangraham

As has been the trend over the last decade or so, it has been difficult for traditional men sporting a traditional attire to find a bride and this had left his parents worried at that time. But his unflinching faith in the Divine Couple paid dividend and a Srirangam bred girl agreed to be his life partner understanding fully well the traditional way of life he was getting into, away from the corporate work place.

It is the Poochatru utsavam for Ranganayaki Thayar this week and the 34 year old Murari Bhattar is at the procession supporting the main archaka of the evening. It has been six years since he returned to Srirangam after quitting his job but he still does not have a full time archaka service engagement at the temple.  There is a family from Hyderabad that seeks his blessings as an archaka of this Divya Desam. It is a transformed devotional feeling that did not exist previously when he was working in the corporate set up. The respect for him as an archaka performing kainkaryam at this legendary temple is unmatched but there are currently challenges relating to the number of days of service every month. 

SKR Bhattar, who performed service for several decades at the temple, had around 100 days of archaka service and that was split among his three sons a few years ago just prior to his death with Murari Bhattar’s appa Balaji Bhattar getting about 30 days of service as his share. Touching 70, Balaji Bhattar continues to perform service at the temple while Murari Bhattar is dependent on the archaka service assigned every month by the HR & CE. 

HR & CE assigns archaka service every month

Every month, it is the HR & CE that assigns these close to 500 combined days of service in the multiple sannidhis (including Singar Koil and Uraiyur) to different hereditary archakas who have expressed interest to perform (additional) Kainkaryam. With no Kainkaryam of his own as his appa is still performing service, Murari Bhattar has to look up to the HR & CE to see the number of days assigned by them to him every month. But currently there are easily over a dozen priests vying for this HR & CE assigned service engagement.

Also, with the advent of the social media and the instant uploading of photos and videos, the responsibility on the bhattars has increased manifold and the pressure is intense in large temples as was evident during the poochatru utsavam for Namperumal. A devotee raised an issue at the HRCE headquarters on the alankaram and flower garlands on perumal on the first day of the utsavam and this put pressure on them for the rest of the utsavam. Decades ago, priests waited for the next devotee to arrive but for the most part it proved elusive. Today, devotees are thronging temples in large numbers and the scrutiny on the priests following of the agama and traditions is ever increasing. 

It was a bold decision at a young age to let go of a financially lucrative corporate job. Murari Bhattar is happy that he took that early call and is ever grateful to Krishnapremi Anna for enlightening him (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/09/periya-vachan-pillai-senganoor.html). 

In the six years since his return, his average income has been a miniscule part of what he was earning in the corporate sector but he says he was prepared for this way of life including the challenges relating to meeting the devotees' expectations when he made the decision to quit the corporate life for ever. 

He has been living a contended life with his thoughts centered around Kainkaryam at the Ranganatha temple. Having decided to dedicate the rest of his life to Kainkaryam at this temple, he is hoping that sometime into the future, he will be provided with a lot more days of service every month through the HR & CE assignment but for the moment, he is left with just a couple of days of service every month and spends the rest of the time supporting the other archakas as and when needed including during the utsavam days as he has been this week at the Thayar Poochatru Utsavam.

Having taken the call to return to Srirangam, Murari bhattar is confident that the divine couple will shower their blessings on him and that he will be well taken care of by them, though there currently is an uncertainty on the service days.

Thiruvanaikaval Navarasu Othuvar Dreams

This 21 year old is dreaming big of becoming the next Othuvar at the Jambukeswarar temple where he has been performing different kinds of Kainkaryam since childhood

It is noon on a scorching hot Wednesday at Thiruvanaikaval. 21 year old Navarasu, who has just completed his Thevaram verses training at the Government Music School in Srirangam, is beating the drum leading the Uchchi Kaala Pooja procession of Pandithar from Jambukeswarar Sannidhi to Akilandeswari Sannidhi. Only last week, he received an award in Chennai from Krishna Sweets for the potential he holds in becoming a long standing Othuvar.

Through the first two decades of his life, Navarasu has spent most of his free time at the temple performing different kinds of Kainkaryam.

His love for cows

His appa had gained Deekshai from Raghavan, the uncle of Thiruvanaikaval Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan. It was Raghavan who named him as Navarasu. Right from childhood, he took to a liking for Appar’s verses and would often sing at processions alongside his mentor Raghavan. It was also Raghavan who got his appa to manage the Go Shala at the temple in Thiruvanaikaval.  Navarasu would feed the cows, given them a bath and also bring a cow for the Vishroopam and Uchchi Kaala Pooja.

A leadership role as a Sripatham

Over the decades, there has been a shortage of service personnel at the temple. Five years ago, Navarasu, then still in his mid teens, took a leadership position and organised a group of like minded personnel for Sripatham service “We were all still studying but decided to commit ourselves to carrying the Lord during the processions. It is something I have really enjoyed and about 15 of us in the same age group have all worked together as a team to ensure that all processions take place in order” Navarasu told this writer on his association with temple Kainkaryam.

He had always been interested in the sacred verses having been initiated into it by Raghavan. After his class XII exams, he joined the Government run Music School in Moolathope in Srirangam where he learned the sacred verses for three years. He now proudly says that he can recite over 2000 verses by heart without the assistance of a book.

Opportunities to recite the sacred verses

Finding his great interest in the sacred verses of the Saivite Saint Poets, many have invited him to temple utsavams and consecration events to present the sacred verses. “I have already presented the sacred verses in over 25 temples across the state and have been a regular at the street processions during utsavams at prominent Saivite temples in Trichy including Uchchi Pillayar, Uyyakondan and Uraiyur” he told this writer even as his eyes sway towards the cow standing at a distance ahead of the Uchchi Kaala Pooja.

நசையானை நால்வேதத் தப்பா லானை

 நல்குரவுந் தீப்பிணிநோய் காப்பான் றன்னை

இசையானை எண்ணிறந்த குணத்தான் றன்னை

 இடைமருதும் ஈங்கோயும் நீங்கா தேற்றின்

மிசையானை விரிகடலும் மண்ணும் விண்ணும்

 மிகுதீயும் புனலெறிகாற் றாகி யெட்டுத்

திசையானைத் திருவானைக் காவு ளானைச்

 செழுநீர்த் திரளைச்சென் றாடி னேனே – Thiru Gnana Sambandar

Othuvars have taken a liking to his devotional interest and his way of presentation and have invited him for the sacred recital during utsavams in temples such as Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple in Pudukottai and Avudayar Koil, among others. 

To Chidambaram for a degree in music

Keen to master the subject, he is now taking to a degree in Music at the Annamalai University in Chidambaram. He is hoping that by the time he is 25, he will have gained quite a bit of understanding on the musical aspects of the verses in addition to its simple presentation.

From taking care of the temple cows to beating the drums, from carrying the Lord during processions to blowing the trumpet, Navarasu’s involvement with the Jambukeswarar temple has been devotionally intense. 

Thiruvanaikaval's Ramani Srinivasan Othuvar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/thiruvanaikaval-othuvar-srinivasan.html) has been the sole Othuvar at the temple for well over two decades. He is now into his 50s. Navarasu is hoping that after completing his four year music degree, he will be able to join as Ramani Othuvar’s assistant at Thiruvanaikaval and learn under his tutelage before taking over from him after he retires.

For Navarasu, his entire life so far has centered around Kainkaryam at the Jambukeswarar temple and it is his dream to be an Othuvar of excellance at this temple singing praise of the Lord each day of the year.  In each of his temple engagements, he has shown high devotional excitement and energy and has also taken to a leadership role in Sripatham. On a few occasions he has also fought for the tradition like was seen on Maasi Sathayam when he stood his ground for Ko Chenganan Chozhan to first return to his abode before the palliyarai procession could start. 

He has a special liking for Appar and Ko Chenganan and his passion ran high during the street procession just a couple of months ago of the great Chozha king who built this temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiruvanaikaval-ko-chenganan-maasi.html). 

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

His Thatha and appa have always dreamt of Navarasu being closely associated with Thiruvanaikaval temple as an Othuvar. If his own big dream comes true with Jambukeswarar’s blessing, Navarasu will have become an Othuvar by the end of this decade after he completes his four year degree, given that there already is an additional posting vacancy for an Othuvar at this temple. His lifetime wish is to render the sacred verses of the Saivite Saint Poets each day of the year as an Othuvar at this legendary temple in Thiruvanaikaval.

Nanguneri Chitrai Brahmotsavam Horse Vahana Procession

It is a day of great celebration as villagers around Nanguneri come together ahead of the Golden Horse Vahana Procession of Deivanayakan

The eighth day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam is a special one at the Thothadri Nathan Divya Desam in Nanguneri.  It is a day when the villagers come together to organise the celebration. Following the pallakku procession at 8am last Wednesday (May 7), Deivanayakan, the utsava deity at the temple enjoyed a Thirumanjanam at the mandapam west of the temple, where he remained through the day. 

Srikaryam of the Vaanamaamalai Mutt, Srikanth, led the Vedic recital. It was past noon when the morning events came to an end with a large quantity of Ven Pongal distributed to several hundreds of devotees present on the occasion. 

It was past 11pm when the music programme that was conducted at a specially erected stage came to an end. By this time, Perumal had mounted atop the Golden Horse Vahana while Srivaramangai Thayar was atop the Sesha Vahana. The Prabhandham members began the recital of the third canto of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi leading to the start of the procession. 

பெண்மைமிகு வடிவு கொடு வந்தவளை 

பெரியபேயினிது உருவு கொடு மாள  உயிருண்டு 

திண்மைமிகு மருதொடு நற்சகடம் இருத்தருளும் 

தேவனவன் மகிழ்ந்து இனிது மறிவு உரை கோயில் 

உண்மை மிகு மறையொடு நற் கலைகள் நிறை பொறைகள் 

உதவு கொடை என்று இவற்றின் ஒழிவு இல்லாப் 

பெரிய வண்மை மிகு மறையவர்கள் மலிவு எய்து நாங்கூர்

வைகுண்ட விண்ணகரம் வணங்கு மட நெஞ்சே

There was a celebratory buzz all around. The organisers got down to dismantling the music stage for Perumal and Thayar to start the procession around the temple complex. It was past midnight when they reached the eastern entrance of the temple, where mariyathai was presented to the Jeer of the Vaanamaamalai Mutt that adminsters the temple.  Devotees had gathered in good numbers to watch the mounting of the colourful canopy atop the divine couple. 

The Sannidhi Street remains traditional to this day with Agraharam style homes. Devotees came out of each home to present thattu welcoming Perumal and Thayar to their homes. The devotional excitement of seeing their favourite Perumal in a princely alankaram was palpable. Sripatham Personnel continue to carry the Lord on their shoulders in this Divya Desam and they showed a lot of energy stopping at each home a few yards apart and then resuming the procession.

The Prabhandham members had moved on to the fourth canto of Periya Thirumozhi when they turned on to the East street when hundreds of devotees gathered at the far end of the Sannidhi street. It is 1am and the devotees are looking forward to the mega bursting of crackers that had been announced earlier in all the posters around the temple. Rockets went up unabated for 15 minutes lighting up the entire sky even as Prabhandham members continued their recital amid the loud noice of the rockets.

And then the fire crackers were lit much to the delight of the residents. It signified the happy state of mind of the residents of Nanguneri as they wanted to make this an enjoyable night of celebration. 

Even as the fire crackers were coming to an end, the police personnel turned up to inform the temple authorities that given the poor state of a couple of roads and the time having gone past 1am, the procession had to head back through the Sannidhi Street. The Prabhandham members who had already made their way to the East street were informed accordingly and they returned back to the Sannidhi street as Deivanayakan made his way back in a fast paced procession back to the temple entrance. 

நால் திசை நடுங்க  அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி

நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி

ஒரு தனி  வேழத்து அரந்தையை

ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை

The Ghoshti members presented Thiru Ezhu Kootrurukkai, another of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Prabhandham and Satru Murai of Periya Thirumozhi verses (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html). 

குன்றா மது மலர்ச் சோலை வண்கொடிப் படப்பை

வரு புனல் பொன்னி மா மணி அலைக்கும்

செந்நெல் ஒண்  கழனித் திகழ் வனம் உடுத்த

கற்போர் புரிசைக் கனக மாளிகை

நிமிர் கொடி விசும்பில் இளம் பிறை துவக்கும்

A special feature of Brahmotsavams in Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu is the increasing number of Bhagavathas participating in a wholesome way in the processions. Here too, they were present right till the end.

It is past 1.45am when Deiva Nayakan and Srivara Mangai Thayar presented an Ekantha Sevai as they made their way back to the Sannidhi. It is the kind of peaceful late-night procession to the Sannidhi that a select set of local residents experienced and enjoyed. 

The day is still not complete as the priest heads to the moolavar sannidhi for the Artha Jaama Pooja bringing to end the 8th day celebrations of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam. 

For the Sripatham too there is still some more work left as they carry the horse and sesha vahana back to the vahana mandapam before they got back for a well earned rest late on Wednesday night. It is almost 2.30am when Nambi Bhattar made his way back home after a long day at the temple, a typical scenario during Brahmotsavams in remote temple towns.

Thiru Kurungudi Sudharsan Sthaneegam

Quitting a Top IT firm in Chennai at 35, Sudharsan has returned to Azhagiya Nambi Divya Desam to perform lifetime service 

Last week, this section featured a story on a long time resident of Thiruvallikeni quitting a corporate job in his early 40s to return to his hereditary home in Vaanamaamalai Divya Desam where he is currently performing Madapalli service at the Thothadri Nathan temple. This story is about another Thiruvallikeni resident, who aged only 35, has quit a high paying IT job after over a dozen years in the sector and returned to Thiru Kurungudi to take up service as a  Sannidhi Paricharakar at less than one tenth the IT salary.

Dreams to become a doctor but gets into IT

A student of DAV Gopalapuram, S Sudharsan was keen to become a doctor and secured 95% in Class XII Board but even that was not enough to secure him a seat in a medical college. He took to BE (Comp Science) in a private college in Chennai and joined a Top 3 Tier I IT company as a Programme Analyst in 2010. Amidst the competitive IT landscape, he made good progress but within him he knew that the corporate world was not his ultimate destination and was always keen to return to Thiru Kurungudi.

The transformation towards a spiritual journey

He was initiated into the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham by Suresh (Sindhu’s appa - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/thiruvallikeni-thiru-kurungudi-sindhu.html) during his collegiate years and also learned the sacred verses from Thirucheraia Narayanan and Pachadi Parthasarathy. And like Nambi Thothadri Srinivasan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/vaanamaamalai-thothadri-srinivasan.html), he too was a regular at the Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni. During his Corporate years, he began listening to the lectures of Velukkudi Krishnan and this created an interest in him Divya Desam Kainkaryam.

Inspired by Mannar Koil Acharya

PS Narasimha Gopalan, a descendant of Periya Nambi and one responsible for the restoration of the Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Azhvaar temple in Mannar Koil, Ambasamudram had been pitching for those to return to hereditary locations to perform temple service. Ahead of Nambi’s procession to the Nandavanam on the fifth day of the Vasantha Utsavam, Sudharsan told this writer in his newly renovated home next to Venu Srinivasan’s Trust on North Street that his Acharya - Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan Swamy – had initiated the thought in him to return to Thiru Kurungudi as there were not enough Kainkaryaparas there to perform daily service. 

His appa quit family life when Sudharsan was still at college and came to Thiru Kurungudi to head the Mutt as the Jeer in 2009.

Quits Corporate work at 35

While taking to temple kainkaryam had been in his mind for a while, the decision to quit the IT job was sudden and he made his way to Thiru Kurungudi. It was Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan who spoke to the Jeer to provide Sudharsan with an official Kainkaryam engagement at this Divya Desam pitching with the Jeer that at a time when there was a serious shortage of service personnel in remote temples in TN, the arrival of Sudharsan at 35 would be a great Kainkaryam asset for the temple and that they should utilise his presence by providing him with a full time daily Kainkaryam. 

Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer has great regard for Narasimha Gopalan Acharya in the way he has single handedly managed the Mannar Koil temple and as per his suggestion, assigned the Sannidhi Paricharaka Kainkaryam to Sudharsan. 

It has been almost six months now and Sudharsan has been enjoying every bit of it though he has found the Kainkaryam a lot more taxing than he thought it would be. 

Sannidhi Paricharaka and Madapalli Kainkaryam

His role at the Azhagiya Nambi Sannidhi entails getting everything read for Vishroopam including Theertham and then supporting the archaka during the Thiruvarathanam and other pooja services. Both in the morning and evening, he lights the lamp in all sannidhis during the ten days of his kainkaryam every month. 

In addition to the ten day service at the Azhagiya Nambi Sannidhi, he performs another ten days of Paricharaka and Madapalli Kainkaryam at the Thiruparkadal Nambi Sannidi and has taken a liking to the Madapalli cooking.

Interested in Pushpa Kainkaryam

Into the future, he is also keen to perform Pushpa Kainkaryam by plucking flowers from the Nandavanam and knotting the flowers into a garland and presenting those to Nambi.

புள்ளினை வாய் பிளந்திட்டாய் 

பொருகரியின் கொம்பு ஒசித்தாய் 

கள்ள அரக்கியை மூகோடு 

காவலனை தலை கொண்டாய்

அள்ளி நீ வெண்ணெய் விழங்க அஞ்சாது அடியேன் அடித்தேன்

தெள்ளிய நீரில் எழுந்த செங்கழுநீர் சூட்டவாறாய்

Unmatched peace and happiness at Thiru Kurungudi

Months after he quit the high paying IT job, he says he has found a new sense of peace and satisfaction “There were opportunities to move up the ladder in the IT job but one always encountered jealousy and it was something I had to face every day at work. There is a peace in this kainkaryam and when the thought process is clear that the intention of my presence here is purely service related, the Kainkaryam becomes all the more enjoyable.”

Utsavam Kainkaryam

During the Panguni Brahmotsavam, Sudharsan also performed the service of presenting Theertham to the devotees at the street procession. He also doubles up as a Sripatham when there is a shortage of personnel to carry the Lord as was found last week at the procession to the Nandavanam.

At the utsavams, Sudharsan is also involved in distributing Thaligai to the devotees and his model of distribution stands out among the personnel there. He credits the Mannar Koil Acharya Swami for this learning “When I performed Kainkaryam at the Utsavams in Mannar Koil, he would often ask me to present the Thaligai in large quantities to the devotees and only what is finally left should be taken by us. I have taken to that model and hand out as much prasadam as possible to the devotees so they go back happy and satisfied.”

Improvement areas 

In the six months he has been at the temple he has identified areas of improvement and is hoping that going forward he will be able to contribute in those areas “Streamlining the madapalli process, use of technology in the documentation process, maintaining traditions in as many areas as possible. The Kainkaryaparas took to multi tasking in the century gone by and I see myself being involved in any kainkaryam that is expected of me at this temple.”

As far as his own learning goes, he says there is a lot to learn. He is in the process of learning Kattiyam, Veda Vinnappam and Stotra Paadams and is hoping that sometime in the near future he will be able to present these before the Lord.

His Thatha's devotional story inspires him

He refers to an example of his Thatha’s Kainkaryam serving as a real motivation to him “My amma’s appa performed service at the Thirumalai Nambi Sannidhi at the Mahendra Giri Parvatham. Once when he had walked all the way to the top of the hill, he found that he had not carried the salt and walked back home to pick up the salt. Such was his commitment to the Kainkaryam. I want to see if I can perform this service with that kind of devotional commitment to Nambi." 

Interestingly, within months of him returning to this Divya Desam, his elder brother, Jagannathan, also a member of the Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni, quit his IT job in a top Tier 1 IT company in Chennai and he too has returned to Thiru Kurungudi to join Sudharsan.

                Elder brother Jagannathan - quits Top Tier 1 IT company

As the Jeer of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt told this writer last week (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-jeer-mega-plans-for-mutt.html), there is a shortage of Kainkaryaparas at this historic Divya Desam and not many are willing to make their way back to remote temple towns. Sudharsan had been reasonably ambitious at his work and had grown to become a technology architect when he quit the job late last year. With an almost 15 year experience in the IT space, there was a career beckoning including overseas growth opportunities but Sudharsan has chosen a different path in his life – that of performing a lifetime service at the feet of Nambi of Thiru Kurungudi. Having been a part of the vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Parthasarathy temple, he says he does miss that bit about Thiruvallikeni but this new found peace in this remote Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi is something he has come to enjoy. Like Thothadri Srinivasan at Vaanamaamalai, Sudharsan too talks very little and his focus is entirely on the Kainkaryam at hand.

The enjoyable experience of these last six months is likely to keep him firmly grounded to his roots at this Divya Desam. More importantly, selfless temple service as a way of life that Sudharsan has chosen should serve as an inspiration to other youngsters to return to their hereditary towns to dedicate themselves to Kainkaryam as was the way till the middle of the previous century.  As an immediate testimony, his elder brother has joined him within months at this temple. One has to wait and watch if more Kainkaryapas will return from cities to their hereditary locations. 

Thanjavur Big Temple Chitrai Rishabham

Sani Pradosham overshadows the Rishabha Vahana procession on the final evening of the Chitrai Festival as devotees throng the Brahadeeswarar temple in thousands for the Nandi Abhisekam

40 years ago, when the current Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle took over the reigns of the Big Temple in Thanjavur, almost all the utsavams had come to a halt. There was not enough money to take care of the temple expenses and the income from the close to 100 temples under the Prince’s administration had dwindled in the decades gone by. The Periya Koil lay deserted most of the time and the priests were always awaiting the next set of devotees but the wait was to no avail. Pradosham was not an event that had been marketed as has now been over the last decade or so. Even subsequently, the Pradosham abhisekam was performed only for the small nandi and there was not enough milk for the abhisekam!!

On Saturday (May 10) evening, one got a glimpse of the transformational turnaround at the Brahadeeswarar temple. It was Sani Pradosham and against the backdrop of the setting sun and the beautiful lights that lit up the towaring structure, devotees thronged in thousands taking early vantage positions to have darshan of the abhisekam for the Big Nandi. 

The trend has been such that Pradosham in general and Sani Pradosham specifically has over shadowed everything else. And this Saturday evening was a prime example of that. It was the final day of the long Chitrai Festival that had begun three weeks ago with Peruvudayar and Periyanayaki set to provide darshan on the Rishabham Vahana.  Even as the Nandi Abhisekam was being performed, a set of priests were working on decorating the Pancha Moorthies. 

                 Bringing down the Flag - End of Chitrai Festival

Post 6pm, following the Abhisekam, devotees continued to perform pradakshinam around the Nandi and visit the Swami and Ambal Sannidhi completely unaware of the Rishabha Vahana procession that was to begin shortly. There was a sizeable crowd listening to the Thirumurai presentation of the Othuvar while the flag was brought down shortly after 630pm in the presence of Pillayar marking the end of the Chitrai Festival. 

The Big Temple wore a festive look on Saturday evening but not because of the Chitrai Festival but the Sani Pradosham. As the clock ticked past 7pm, 30 year old G Sukumar, who has been blowing the trumpet at the festival procession for over two decades, blew the Ekkalam once again as the Priest presented the big Deeparathanai ahead of the procession. 

                                   Sukumar - Ekkalam Kainkaryam

Sukumar told this writer that he has been playing the Ekkalam at the Artha Jaama Pooja and at all the street processions since the time he was a young school boy. He says that in the centuries gone by there had been loads of kainkaryaparas playing different kind of musical instruments at the processions but with the service personnel dwindling in numbers, the instruments too had come down. But he along with a few other college going boys continue to do their bit every evening during the Artha Jaama Pooja and during such important street processions.

Divine Couple around the Prakara on the Rishabham

Shortly after 7.30pm, Swami and Ambal made their way around the prakara on the Rishabham led by young boys playing the Udal. While the divine couple made their way to the entrance, visiting devotees captured photos and videos of the Rishabha Vahana procession but most of them continued with their walk to the Big Nandi.

The traffic jam that had begun early in the evening had not subsided and with Pancha Moorthy purapadu entering the Periya Koil street, it was difficult for the deities to wade through the Saturday evening traffic. It was past 8pm when Swami and Ambal made their way on to the West Street behind the Thanjavur Palace. Once in a while, a couple of devotees picked up the sacred ash from the priest but for a large part the procession on tyred wheels moved fast. 

Around the traffic filled streets!!!

At this temple, as with many remote temples in the state, the Sripatham carry the deities on the shoulder and mount it on to the Wheeled Chapparam and the procession on the four streets around the Palace takes place on these Tyred Wheels. 

Maathu Sri Kaamatchi Bai Saheb's Rishabham

It is interesting that the final Pancha Moorthy procession of the Chitrai Festival at the Brahadeeswarar temple has Swami and Ambal atop the Velli Rishabham. Prince Babaji Bhonsle told this writer that his great great grand mother had built the Velli  Rishabham a couple of centuries ago and in her memory the final procession of this 18 day Chitrai Festival takes place with Swami and Ambal atop the Rishabham (Earlier on Monday, the divine couple had provided darshan on Rishabham in the Olai Chapparam procession around the Palace streets).

This Saturday evening provided yet another indication of where the devotion is headed with Pradosham taking centre stage. All through the evening, road side vendors made brisk business, there was no space to park vehicles anywhere around the temple complex with the huge parking space completely filled up. 

As part of the new devotional wave, the belief has been completely ingrained in the devotee that a darshan of the Nandi Abhisekam on the Sani Pradosham will solve one’s problems and this has led them to throng temples on Pradosham evenings. After the 2020 Kumbabhisekam, devotee crowd has grown manifold and during the summer vacation as one witnessed this Saturday evening, the temple is drawing crowds that would have been beyond the Prince's wildest dreams in the 1980s (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/02/thanjavur-big-temple-kumbhabhishekam.html).

For Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html), this positive turnaround through a Pradosham event is something he would not have visualised four decades ago when he took over but it is an event that is helping strengthen the finances of the temple and providing a positive vibration that had been missing in the second half of the previous century.  From a phase of no devotees and no income, Sani Pradosham is drawing huge crowd to the Big Temple bringing cheer to the Prince for all his hard work through the late 1980s and the 90s is now paying off for him.  

Tail Piece: Ramanathan Gurukal, who passed away in January 2022 after serving as an archaka for four decades during the Big Temple's most challenging phase, would be delighted and showering his blessings from high above at such a turnaround in fortunes driven by Sani Pradosham!!! (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/01/thanjavur-big-temple-ramanathan.html)

Thiru Kurungudi Jeer Mega Plans for the Mutt

Plan to treble Mutt Corpus to Rs. 50crores, confident that Kainkaryaparas will return to this Divya Desam to perform full time service- Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer, Thiru Kurungudi Mutt

  Photo taken on Wednesday evening at the Mutt HQ

It is 15 years since Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer took over the administration of the historic Nambi Divya  Desam in Thiru Kurungudi. He has been taking a tough stance on temple related issues and speaks on the face when confronted with real challenges. He leaves no one in doubt on what he thinks about every issue that is brought to his attention. A decade ago, when Sthaneegam Murali, who had been a long serving Kainkaryapar at the temple, was short on physical attendance for a long period of time and also travelled overseas, the Jeer took the bold step of keeping away from this service and he has not been able to come back yet. On serious temple related issues, he has always acted with clarity, though his tough and instant actions have not always gone down well with the service personnel. When Sripatham seemed to delay their presence on important occasions, he brought personnel from other Divya Desams sending out a message to all that he is a stickler for time and programme schedules.   

In August 2017, when this writer met him and asked him about the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi, his answer was honest and straight forward “I will see to the restoration as soon as possible” he told this writer that day without any second thoughts on what he thought about the demolition.

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும்  உடையார்

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க  நின்ற 

பண்பர் ஊர்போலும்

தக்க மரத்தின் தாழ்சினையேறி 

தாய் ;வாயில் கொக்கின் பிள்ளை 

வெள்ளிர உண்ணும் குறுங்குடியே  -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

In June 2023, the Shiva Sannidhi was restored to be back next to Nambi Sannidhi as seen in Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's praise above and the positive vibration is now back in the Sannidhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/thiru-kurungudi-pakkam-ninnaar-shiva.html).

Soon after Azhagiya Nambi returned from his once in a year procession to the Nandavanam on the fifth day of the Vasantha Utsavam on Wednesday (May 7), Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer took on a wide ranging set of questions from this writer and answered each one of them with great conviction in a long late evening conversation at the Mutt headquarters.

            With Maniam Ramanujar at the Vasantha Utsavam

Recovery of Temple Assets - A Transformation

Recovery of temple assets and collection of a fair rent has been an issue with temples across TN. This temple has around 6000 acres of land. When this writer posed this issue to the Jeer specifically relating to this temple, he answered with delight on how this process has progressed over the last decade or so “We have strengthened the administrative machinery. There is a GM- Administration, a CA and a retired Tahsildar for land administration. I focused on striking down forged documents and was successful in the effort. From a recovery of around 20% before my time, we have now been able to recover over 70% of the temple lands. And even more significantly, we have been able to revise upwards the rent for the temple lands and over the last decade or so have garnered fair rent from almost all the tenants."

Muslims pay on time and a fair rent

He points to the fact that almost all the lands in Eravadi (a town about 5kms from Thiru Kurungudi) belong to the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt "Most of the tenants are Muslims but each one of them pays the fair rent and on time every month.”

எங்கனேயோ அன்னைமீர்காள் என்னை முனிவது நீர் 

நங்கள் கோலத் திருக்குறுங்குடி நம்பியை நான் கண்ட பின் 

சங்கினோடும் நேமியோடும் தாமரைக் கண்களோடும் 

செங்கனிவாய் ஒன்றினோடும் செல்கின்றது என் நெஞ்சமே - Namazhvaar 

Mutt Corpus shoots up

So how has this recovery boosted the temple revenues “From a corpus of around Rs. 35lakhs at the time I took over, it has now shot up to Rs. 15crores. This has been solely due to the aggressive recovery mechanism I had put in place” he told this writer even as the Chief Priest made his way to the Mutt to share his plans for the next day’s (6th day) Vasantha Utsavam event.

Employees well paid

“When I took over, most of the employees were being paid a few hundred rupees as salary. This has now gone up to almost a five digit figure for most of them.”

Spreading the Mutt’s wings, he says he spent Rs. 1crore for the construction of the Mutt at Thiru Pullani Divya Desam and a similar amount at Thiru Kurungudi for guest houses for devotees including AC rooms.

To Treble the Mutt Corpus

The Head of the Mutt is clear with his vision and the legacy that he wants to leave at the Mutt “There are several challenges at the temple. I want to strengthen the temple coffers and give the confidence to the Kainkaryaparas that this temple is in safe hands. I want to treble the corpus to Rs. 50crores in the next phase and am confident that this will be possible through the recovery of temple lands and the payment of fair rent.”

Temple Reforms -Golden Period for Thiru Kurungudi

 He says that this is a golden period for Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam (Vahanas too have turned Gold!!!) and points to several reforms that he has undertaken “I have streamlined a number of the processes. When I took over, the morning procession during the Brahmotsavam used to start at 8.30am and Nambi used to return in the sun. I wanted it to start at 4.30am and for the Lord to return by 6am before the heat of Panguni. While there were initial objections at this early start, everyone came to accept it and this has turned out to be a positive solution for all kainkaryaparas. Similarly, Perumalreturns from the evening procession (except on the Garuda Sevai night) by 10pm or so. And all the Kainkaryaparas are able to finish their service at a reasonable time in the night during the Brahmotsavam.”

“We have got a strong team of Sripatham personnel and I have ensured that there is no delay in processions, especially the big ones. Also, on normal days, the vishroopam was previously at 8am. I moved it to 7am and devotees can now have darshan without a break till noon.”

He is also happy in the way the Vahanas have been refurbished  “Most of the Vahanas have been upgraded to Gold during my period. The Parangi Naarkaali and Manjal Neer Chapram have been restored to its historical glory with Mural type painting.”

He says that on every utsavam day he has instructed the madapalli personnel to present Thaligai in large quantities so the devotees’ who come from far and wide are well fed. On this Nandavanam procession evening, he organised for 15 padi Dhadhyonam that the hundreds of devotees present truly enjoyed as a prasadam.

                    Jeer at the Panguni Garuda Sevai Seva Kaalam

Shortage of Kainkaryaparas - A real issue

There is a severe shortage of service personnel at the temple as was seen even on this Vasantha Utsavam Nandavanam procession on Wednesday. This writer asked if there are any plans to tackle this issue. He agrees that there is a shortage of personnel for some of the daily services inside the temple and accepts that is a real issue that he cannot run away from “TVS’ Venu Srinivasan has an open offer to the Mutt to provide a reasonable sambhavanai for all Kainkaryaparas who join the temple and that is reassuring. Next Generation is definitely to be created and I am continuously on the look out to strengthen the team but securing quality service personnel in such a remote temple is definitely a challenge as there are not many who are ready and willing to return to their hereditary locations to perform Kainkaryam. But I am confident that things will turn around on this front at this Divya Desam sometime in the future.”

(there are already a couple of positive developments on this front - story to follow soon!!!)

Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan - A stand out example
Asked about the future of remote temples in TN and the increasing number of challenges, he points to Narasimha Gopalan of Mannar Koil Rajagopalaswamy temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/mannar-koil-narasimha-gopalan-solo-act.html) as a standing example "There is some financial strength here at this Mutt and a team of service personnel that takes of utsavams but Narasimha Gopalan's has been able a solo act and he single handedly performed two large sized restoration and Samprokshanam events. He has also revived historic annual utsavams all on his own. He is a standing example for every temple archaka, especially in a remote town, as to how restoration and revival is possible even with limited personnel if one is willing to have a strong unflinching faith in God and put the required effort to manage such a huge temple."

Consecration next March at Kurungudi

The Balalayam was performed in mid April this year and following the repair and refurbishing works, the consecration will take place. “We have already fixed the date for the Samprokshanam – 25th March 2026- a week before the start of the Brahmotsavam next year and hence those involved can work backwords to finish the work on time.” 

Securing Mutt's rights at Azhvaar Tirunagari

He is also happy at the way he fought for traditional rights at Azhvaar Tirunagari and secured for different Mutts during the Vaikasi Azhvaar Utsavam. “Another Mutt wanted rights for all the ten days of the utsavam but as per historic tradition, there was a ratio to be followed with those that observed the maximum Chaturmasya getting more days. I fought for it and secured different days for different Mutts during this utsavam.”

A 45 minute walk around the outer prakara

It is 8pm on this Vasantha Utsavam Wednesday evening (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-nandavanam.html) and time for the Jeer to go on a 45 minute Prakaram Pradakshinam walk that is part of his daily routine to keep himself fit and energised. He also spends 15 minutes sitting at the temple entrance after the walk just to enjoy the evening breeze. Presenting Adirasam prasadam to this writer, he bids goodbye with the message that this Divya Desam temple will be greatly strengthened during his time and be financially self sustaining in the coming decades. 

It is a message that will be greatly reassuring to the Kainkaryaparas and the staffers.  With a strong financial support both from the Mutt and TVS’s Venu Srinivasan, it is hoped that more kainkaryaparas will return to Thiru Kurungudi in the times to come to perform full time service at this Azhvaars’ praised temple.