Pullam Bhoothangudi Panguni Garuda Sevai 2026

The solo bhattar of the last two decades, Gopalan Bhattar, showcases his favourite Valvil Ramar in great light with a delightful alankaram atop the Garuda Vahana on Sunday evening

55year old Gopalan Bhattar is all alone as the anchor Bhattar on the Garuda Sevai day at the Valvil Rama temple in Pullam Bhoothangudi, 10kms west of Kumbakonam, a Divya Desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in ten verses in the Periya Thirumozhi, where Moolavar Rama is seen with conch and chakra in a Bala Sayanam Posture. He has been at the temple for over two decades following in the footsteps of his appa Krishnamurthy (Kannan) Bhattachar, who had served here for several decades and who was face of the temple during the most challenging times in the second half of the previous century.

அறிவதரியான் அனைத்துலகும் உடையான் 

என்னைஆள் உடையான் 

குறிய மாணி உரு ஆய  கூத்தன் மன்னி 

அமரும் இடம் 

நறிய மலர் மேல் சுரும்பார்க்க 

எழிலார் மஞ்சை நடமாட 

பொறி கொள் சிறை வண்டிசை பாடும் 

புள்ளம பூதங்குடி தானே

A Bhattar formerly at Thiru Kovilur and now residing in Melattur was to support Gopalan Bhattar through this utsavam but on the fourth morning of the utsavam he left Pullam Bhoothangudi after encountering a difference of opinion. Being a lone Bhattar to manage two processions each day, pallakku in the morning and vahana in the evening, is a physically tiring exercise, in addition to the Yaaga Saalai pooja and the daily thiru aradhanam at the Perumal and Thayar sannidhis. 

Being alone over the last two decades has also taken a toll on his health in recent times but unmindful of this, he is at the temple till 2pm for the morning procession and then for the Uchchi Kaala pooja. His wife is worried at home in the way he gets stressed out physically and mentally. The hall at his house on Sannidhi street is full of medicines but he does not have the time for health care during this utsavam. After a quick meal, he is back at the temple. 

On days through the year, Mei Kavalar Saravanan is his sole companion. Like Gopalan Bhattar, Saravanan too has followed in the footsteps of his appa. On this big utsavam day too, he is active welcoming devotees and informing them on the likely schedule and directing them to the moolavar sannidhi or towards the vahana Mandapam.

By 6.30pm, the prabhandham ghoshti are in the final verses of completing their fourth day recital of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham.  Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Pullam Bhoothangudi as a location where Vedic seers of ever-lasting fame were reciting the Vedas. There are  not Vedic scholars in large numbers anymore at Pullam Bhoothangudi with the original inhabitants having long quit this historic location in search of greener pastures in cities but there are a couple of members presenting the vedic verses with great commitment in front of the Valvil Ramar Sannidhi ahead of the Garuda Vahana procession.

கறையார் நெடுவேல் மறமன்னர் வீய 

விசயன் தேர் கடவி 

இறையான் கையில் நிறையாத 

முண்டம் நிறைத்த எந்தை இடம் 

மறையால் முத்தீ அவை வளர்க்கும் 

மண்ணு புகழால் வன்மையால் 

பொறையால் மிக்க அந்தணர் வாழ் 

புள்ளம் பூதங்குடி தானே

Devotees are slowly trickling ahead of the Garuda Sevai procession. The Prabhandham and Vedic members arrive in front of Valvil Ramar atop the Garuda Vahana for Satru Murai.

Sripatham Personnel - The residents of three villages

At Pullam Bhoothangudi temple, administered by the Ahobila Mutt, the tradition has been for the residents of three villages – Pullam Bhoothangudi, Narasimmapuram and Athanur, the Andalakkum Aiyyan Divya Desam to don the role of Sripatham. 

33year old Ramkumar resides in the Agraharam opposite the Raja Gopuram and he has been carrying the Lord during the Brahmotsavam as well as during the Pancha Parva Utsavam each month right from the time he was a young boy. He recalls the time from his teenage years “I have had great regard for the Bhattachar for they (father earlier and now son) have performed the Kainkaryam all alone for so many decades. I considered it a great blessing to be residing the Agraharam and to have carried the Lord for so many years. My appa and I are also the ones to carry the Kudai during the morning Pallakku procession and to station the canopy atop the vahana in the evening morning.”

He also tells this writer that in the past a devotee in Chennai had motivated the Sripatham to start the Pancha Parva procession well before 6pm offering a Sambhavanai to them for these processions every month.

The sripatham are not paid money for their service. Instead over generations, they have been presented with large quantities of food after each procession. The sripatham personnel numbering over 50 arrive after 8.30pm and the Prabhandham members begin the presentation of Naanmugan Thiruvanthathi in front of the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi. 

         Prabhandham Ghoshti reciting Naangaam Thiruvanthaathi

Gopalan Bhattar’s nephew 24 year old Ambarish, who along with his appa performs kainkaryam at the Perumal temple in Innambur, one managed by The Hindu family, has taken the place of the ‘angered’ Bhattar and is the one who accompanies Valvil Ramar at the Garuda Vahana procession. The streets are dotted with white pulli kolam and the residents invoke the blessings of the Lord presenting Thattu in front of their homes (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/ezhuthurai-nathar-temple-innambur.html). 

Residents continue to live in Thatched Hut

66 year old R Nagarajan is a painter and has seen the Garuda Sevai for over six decades having been a resident of Pullam Bhoothangudi all his life. He and his wife  still live in a hut house on the North street and he recalls the poverty-stricken temple town from the second half of the previous century “There was only one big house in the entire North street till a few decades ago. There was nothing grand about the procession as we see now. Everything was simple. There was not much the residents could offer to the Lord in a poverty-stricken scenario. Kannan Bhattar was the known face to all of us. He would pray for all of us and instil confidence in us that with Valvil Ramar's blessings, our fortunes would turnaround for the better, one day.”

          Long time resident painter Nagarajan living under a thatched roof

வெற்பால் மாறி பழுதாக்கி 

விறல் வாள் அரக்கர் தலைவன் தன் 

வற்பாற் திரள் தோள் ஐந்நான்கும் 

துணித்த வல்வில் ராமனிடம் 

கற்பார் புரிசை செய் குன்றம் 

கவினார் கூடம் மாளிகைகள் 

பொற்பார் மாடம் எழிலாரும் 

புள்ளம் பூதங்குடி தானே

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to mountain like mansions and homes in Pullam Bhoothangudi during his times. Unfortunately, this temple town has seen little infra development in the decades gone by. Even public transport is infrequent making it challenging for devotees to visit this Divya Desam. While there is currently an overall economic development in the country, this historic temple town still has people living in hut houses around the temple. 

Theevatti Kainkaryaparas

There were no street lights till a few decades ago and Perumal was led by the Theevatti that threw light amid the darkness all around. Arumugam has been carrying the Theevatti during the procession over the last few decades and he recalls the dark days from the past “We would be paid 50 paise for our Theevatti service during this Brahmotsavam procession. We live on daily wages during the day for survival but we turn up in the night without fail to light up the procession with our ghee lit Theevatti.”

The streets are still dark with no bright lights and it is the Theevatti Kainkaryaparas whose service helps with the smooth procession. Even so, the canopy gets stuck in a couple of locations with the overhead wires.

Legendary Episode

Legend has it that Rama, who had not been able to perform the last rites for his father as he was away in the forest, derived some consolation by performing Jatayu's obsequies and giving moksham to the Bird. In the Ramayana, this episode is referred to as the death of the second father. It is believed that those who failed to perform last rites for their father (parents) will get liberation from their ‘parental curse’ (Pithru Saabham Nivarthi) if they visit this temple.

While performing the last rites, Raama felt the absence of Sita. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi came out of the Golden Lotus temple tank to stand by his side while he performed the last rites for the bird. Hence, Thaayar at this temple is called Potraamaraiyaal.

கற்றா மறித்துக் காளியன் தன் 

சென்னி நடுங்க நடம்பயின்ற

பொற்றாமரையாள் தன் கேள்வன் 

புள்ளம் பூதங்குடி தன்மேல் 

கற்றார் பரவும் மங்கையர் கோன் 

காரார் புயற்க்கை கலிகன்றி 

சொல் தான் ஈரைந்து இவை பாட 

சோர நில்லா துயர் தாமே 

The Hanumantha Vahana is still 24 hours away but young kids are already in that mood visualising Hanuman carrying Valvil Ramar on Monday evening and they move from house to house in a signature monkey mask alerting the residents of the upcoming Hanumantha Vahana procession. On this Garuda Sevai procession, there are scores of young children accompanying the Lord and enjoying the festive mood. 

Past 10pm, Valvil Ramar is back at the temple after the Deeparathanai and the Satru Murai verses at the Raja Gopuram. The sripatham personnel await the presentation of Puliyotharai and Dhadhyonam that they can take back home for dinner. During the utsavam, huge quantity of Thaligai is prepared that Kainkaryaparas can have as well as to be handed out to the Sripatham.

As the clock ticks to 11pm, Gopalan Bhattar is back at the Vahana Mandapam to first remove the alankaram of the evening and then to decorate Valvil Ramar for the 8am procession on the 5th day.  Right from a young age, he has taken great pride in showcasing his ‘Ramar’ in great light and had always wanted to see a resplendent Rama decked with glittering jewels and huge flower garlands. Two decades ago, things were not rosy at the temple with a deserted look most of the time and the Raja Gopuram too had a worn out look. But the devotional wave, especially the belief in Narasimha, has been bringing devotees to this temple and Gopalan Bhattar's childhood dream of seeing Valvil Ramar in shining silk vastrams has finally been fulfilled. Sunday evening was one such occasion when this Bhattar who has spent all his life with this Lord, devoted a great deal of time to decorating his favourite Lord.

           Uncle Gopalan Bhattar and Nephew Ambarish 

It was well past midnight when Gopalan Bhattar and his nephew Ambarish went back home in the quietness of the night for a well earned rest with most of Pullam Bhoothangudi having already gone to sleep. 

A story on Kannan Bhattar and Gopalan Bhattar in 2017: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/05/pullam-bhoothangudi-divya-desam.html

Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Panguni Garuda Sevai 2026

A month after the grand consecration, the six hour Garuda Sevai showcases how vote bank politics influences remote temple utsavams

It is the week the assembly election dates were announced. Soon after, on the 10th day of the 18day Panguni Brahmotsavam, the EO of the Rajagopalaswamy temple in Raja Mannargudi sends out direction to the Kainkaryaparas on the need to have an early evening start to the procession and an early return back to the Sannidhi. There was a logic to this direction with the police personnel in this historic temple town being assigned to other cities ahead of election management work, there was not enough police protection that would be available for the rest of the utsavams. Typically, Perumal would start on the Garuda Sevai procession after 8pm and return well past 2am. The direction this week was to start the procession after 630pm and for Perumal to return to the temple before 11pm.

Perumal atop Garuda Vahana ready at 6.30pm

In line with this direction, Sthaneegam Dr. Prasanna Venkatesa Dikshithar got on to decorating Raja Gopalaswamy atop the Golden Garuda Vahana early in the evening. In the decades leading to the end of the previous century, the temple utsavams across the state had seen a slowdown and even the Brahmotsavams were a toned down version of what it once was.  But the emergence of a new devotional wave has seen a big revival in utsavams at this temple.

Grand Renovation and Consecration

The repair works leading to the Consecration last month was an indication of how the fortunes of the temple had seen a turnaround. The temple that not too long ago had worn a deserted look has seen the biggest renovation works in several decades. The HRCE itself had allocated over a crore and with the priests securing a few crores through their devotee network, the expenses relating to the Thiruppani and the subsequent consecration event had reached a level not seen before at this temple.

The entire temple complex now sports a new, clean look. A new flooring has been laid around the entire outer prakara. For the first time in decades, the dark black spots on the walls and pillars of the madapalli have been removed and there is a breath of fresh air inside the large madapalli where on the day of the consecration several hundred kgs of sacred food was prepared and distributed to the devotees from early morning. Vedic Pandits from across the country participated in the consecration event with the Kainkaryaparas alone touching the 300 mark on that morning. The towering Raja Gopuram is among the tallest in TN Perumal temples at over 150 feet.

Similar to the grand consecration event, the grandeur of the Garuda Sevai too has seen a revival taking one back to old time. The glittering crown, the shining jewellary on Raja Gopala Swamy’s chest and the huge flower garlands, the silk vastram on Garuda and Perumal are all indications of this grand revival at this temple. 

Devotees had a first glimpse of the majestic Raja Gopala Swamy just after 6.30pm when the screen opened at the Vahana Mandapam with the Nadaswaram artistes presenting devotional tunes. On such days, the priests are at the mercy of many others. One such on this evening was a sudden sharp shower. It is a newly consecrated temple. Just a month after, pools of water was stagnant in the path to madapalli.

The EO directs a process but who is in charge of the procession

The direction for an early start was well intentioned but the sripatham personnel were not to be seen and the procession did not start till the clock had ticked to almost 8pm. By this time, a huge devotee crowd had gathered inside the temple for the Gopuram Vaasal darshan. As is the current trend, the phones went up high through the procession from the Vahana Mandapam to the Raja Gopuram with devotees clicking their first shots of the handsome looking Raja Gopala Swamy carried by the Golden Garuda.

Rettai Kudai Darshan

A bigger crowd had already positioned themselves near the Chariot for the mounting of the ‘Rettai Kudai’ atop Raja Gopala Swamy, an event that devotees specifically come to have darshan of. It was 8.45pm when both the white Canopies were fixed atop Perumal. While most of the devotees dispersed after darshan of Perumal in front of the Raja Gopuram, the Lord made his way through the busy traffic filled Bazaar Street to the Garuda Mandapa at the east end. 

This was once a traditional mandapam where Raja Gopala Swamy would halt for a brief while before being mounted on the Chapparam. With the economic development, this mandapa is now a mobile showroom. It was from here that one experienced the full extent of the vote bank politics and its impact on this procession.

Sirupuliyur Bhattar makes it to the Garuda Mandapam

Perumal had made his to the Garuda Mandapam aka the mobile showroom well before 10pm. Scores of devotees on the eastern side of Mannargudi came in to have darshan at this location. The one legged Srikanthan Bhattar, who recently received a Kainkarya Saagaram award for his selfless service and who mentored under Dr. Prasanna Dikshithar at utsavams in various temples including at the Iskcon temple in Ahmedabad makes it to the Garuda Mandapam along with his brother who had performed kainkaryam at Banaswadi temple in Bombay (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/03/sirupuliyur-srikanthan-bhattar.html). 

The clock had ticked to 11pm but the Chapparam did not arrive. The sripatham had had a rest of well over an hour by now. A car had been parked in front of the Chapparam and that seemingly delayed its arrival to near the Garuda mandapam. The wait seemed endless. Most of the devotees had left the mandapam and there were just a few left.

It was 11.30pm, a full 3 ½ hours after the start from inside the temple when Raja Gopala Swamy finally began the Chapparam procession from the Bazaar street. The traditional four streets procession takes place with Perumal inside the Chapparam. In front of the Eastern Raja Gopuram, on the east car street, a few Prabhandham members were waiting for Perumal to arrive.

Kannangudi Bhattar has Garuda Sevai darshan

Prabhakara (Prabhu) Bhattar is all alone at the Damodara Narayana Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Kannangudi. After the Saayi Raksha pooja, he makes his way just before midnight for a darshan of Raja Gopala Swamy at the Garuda Vahana procession. He walks along with Perumal till the East street before returning to Thiru Kannagudi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/08/thiru-kannangudi-prabhu-bhattar.html). 

Prabhandham Thodakkam after midnight

Past midnight, the Prabhandham members began the Thodakkam of Naanmugan Thiruvanthathi. After the first verse, they proceeded towards the South street and had hoped that Perumal would follow them as is the norm but alas Perumal was to lay stationed in front of the Raja Gopuram with the young Vidyasagar Dikshithar sitting inside. The sripatham personnel, who had well over an hour of rest after the halt at Garuda Mandapam went for a tea break. 

Helpless Dikshithars

Another young Dikshithar arrived to accompany Vidyasagar at the procession but there were no signs of the restart of the procession for the Sripatham continued to enjoy their tea. There were a couple of police people who watched in silence. The priests would have no say in such things. The Prabhandham members had long moved into the South street with the recital of the Naanamugan Thiruvanthathi. The traditionalists at the South street had decorated the entire street with large sized white pulli kolam and had been waiting for Perumal to arrive in front of their homes but the wait turned out to be long on the night.

Finally, after 12.30am, Perumal made his way on to the South street where a number of the Dikshithars reside. While there were devotees waiting with thattu, the procession did not stop in front of each of the homes, leaving the residents helpless as they walked along to present the thattu to the Dikshithar even as the Chapparam was moving. 

By 1am, the procession turned on to the West street. And here, the left side of the Chapparam slid away from the newly laid tar road!!! A Bhagavatha is all alone singing praise of Krishna and his greatness through the whole night at the procession and while the nadaswaram artistes are not to be seen anywhere on the four streets, two drum beaters carry out their duty with great commitment. 

Energetic Ekkalam Duo

Raman is well past 60 and he has been presenting the traditional Ekkalam from his childhood during the entire Panguni Brahmotsavam. His son too has joined him at this utsavam and through the evening right from 8pm, they have been energetically playing the Ekkalam at this procession. Raman considers it a great blessing to have played this instrument for almost five decades at this temple. 

On to the North street, residents have stayed awake late into the night for a darshan of Raja Gopala Swamy atop the Garuda Vahana and they present Thattu even as the Chapparam keeps moving. It is exactly 2am, six hours after Raja Gopala Swamy had made his way out of the vahana mandapam, when the priest presents Deeparathanai with the Chapparam having come to a final halt in front of the Chariot. 

As was seen after the Horse Vahana procession at the Chakrapani temple in Kumbakonam a fortnight ago, there was confusion as to whether the shatari mariyathai should be presented in front of the Chapparam or if it should at the vahana mandapam inside the temple. Krishna Kumar Bhattar was vocal that the mariyathai is to be inside the temple as had been performed by his forefathers and the Sripatham personnel nodded to his direction.

Here there was a young priest and the sripatham insisted on the mariyathai taking place near the Chapparam and so it was carried out. By now, Krishna Kumar Bhattar’s son in law, Baradwaj Diskhithar who has a fortnight’s Murai every month at this temple as well as ten days in Vaduvur, was alerted about the return of the procession and he made his way to the Raja Gopuram for the Deeparathanai and Satru Murai. 

In front of the Vanamaamalai and Ahobila Mutt, Deeparathanai was presented by Chellappa Bhattar. It was past 2.30am when the Prabhandham members made their way to the entrance of the Ramanuja Sannidhi for the Satru Murai verses of Naanmugan Thiruvanthathi. 

Prasanna Dikshithar arrives at 2.30am for Ubayadarar Mariyathai

By this time, Dr. Prasanna Dikshithar too had arrived to carry out the ubayadarar mariyathai at the Vahana Mandapam. He may have secured a Doctorate in Agama and Utsavam Processes at the Raja Gopalaswamy temple and touching 50, he too has to be at the mercy of others!!! While the Sripatham Personnel made their way out of the temple as did the ubayadarars, there was more work for the priests. Perumal had to be unmounted from the Garuda Vahana and the necklaces to be kept back in safe custody inside the Sannidhi. 

And then it was time for Raja Gopala Swamy to be decorated in the Kalinga Narthana Thiru Kolam for the next morning’s procession. It was past 5am on Friday morning when the priests could sit peacefully and look back at the long night at the temple.

For much of the procession, the Dikshithars have to be silent spectators caught between the temple authorities on one side, whose directions they anyway follow and the Sripatham Personnel on the other at whose mercy they are through the entire 18 day utsavam.  There are multiple communities that manage the different utsavams and there are votes to be secured from them. The politics right at the top has a message to not rub them on the wrong side and to allow the procession to progress as per their process.

Bearing in Silence 

If the procession does not start till 8pm though the HRCE instruction was to start early, if Perumal remains halted at the Bazaar street for 90 minutes and if the prabhandham members have long moved after the Thodakkam in front of the Raja Gopuram but Perumal remains there for half hour for a ‘Tea Break’, there is very little that the Dikshithars can do other than bear in silence. The Dikshithars of Mannargudi decorate the Lord on time, they are with the Perumal from start to finish during the street processions, they spend time late in the night to remove the alankaram and get Perumal ready with the alankaram for the next procession and yet very little happens as per schedule and they have to bear the variable external factors with patience at the Raja Gopala Swami at Raja Mannargudi. 

The Revered Dikshithars of Raja Mannargudi

Once upon a time in the not too distant past, the Dikshithars of Mannargudi anchored utsavams at many temples in this region. Baradwaj Dikshithar, now in his 30s, recalls his grandfather staying put for ten days during Brahmotsavam in other temples and being sent back with great respect on a bullock cart with a bag full of Paddy, such was the regard for the Dikshathars of Mannargudi in the times gone by for they revered for their deepo agama knowledge as well as the traditional way they carried out their work during the Big Utsavamsw. For the moment, the Dikshithar is not the Raja at the processions here for he is constantly at the mercy of others at this temple.

Mannargudi Prasanna Dikshithar Doctorate

A Bhattar Doctor

Into his late 40s, this hereditary Sthaneegam secures a Doctorate with an almost 200 page document providing great insights into the historical importance, relevance and uniqueness of utsavams at the Rajagopalaswamy temple

The 1970s and 80s saw a sever downturn in the fortunes of the Kainkaryaparas at the Raja Gopalaswamy temple in Mannargudi. This led Prasanna Dikshithar to focus on academics.Till class XII, he did not have much of a connection with the temple for there were no devotees and most of the utsavams had toned down in grandeur.

It was after his wedding in 2002 that he experience a strong resurgence towards Vaishnavism. Having graduated in the 1990s in Chemistry during which time he also learned the agamas, he took to a second degree at the turn of the century and then went on to pick up a Masters degree as well in Vaishnavism.  Prasanna Dikshithar has always liked to write and has been maintaining a note of various utsavams and its processes.

Having secured the Masters degree, he wanted to make his dream a reality – that of recording the reasoning and the relevance behind the utsavams at the Rajagopalaswamy temple for posterity.  It was MA Venkatakrishnan, the former HOD of Vaishnavism at the Madras University and the head of the Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni who seeded the thought in him to explore a doctorate at the Sastra University. 

On the Garuda Sevai evening soon after decorating Rajagopalaswamy in a grand alankaram atop the Golden Garuda Vahana, he told this writer that this temple had some unique utsavams that had been going on for several centuries- the current ’18 day’ Brahmotsavam in Panguni being an illustration of that.

Following the Pandemic, he met with Dr. N. Kannan, Head of Oriental studies at the Sastra University and under his guidance as well as that of his co-guide Dr. Thyagarajan took to researching the Pancharatra Agama and its relevance and application in the utsavams at the Rajagopalaswamy temple in Mannargudi. He has gone into details of daily utsavams, the monthly Pancha Parva Utsavams and round the year utsavams at this temple such as Vasantha Utsavam, Kodai Utsavam, Panguni Uthira Utsavam, Chitrai Utsavam, Theppotsavam and Pavitrotsavam among others, describing as to how each of these should be performed and the historical agama relevance and the importance of paying attention to minute detail in every process of these utsavams.

The thought process behind every activity during utsavams

Interesting Agamic aspects in these include the time for the performance of Angooraarpanam, the points to be followed on this, the sacred items required for this and the like. He has also provide great insights into the relevance of Raksha Bandanam and the process to be followed there.  One may have seen the Photo of Garuda alongside the Flag Post during the Brahmotsavam. He has described the historical significance of this as to why and how this should be done. During this 18 day Brahmotsavam in Panguni, Perumal starts for the street procession from the 'Elephant' mandapam on 10days. Dr. Prasanna Dikshithar provides insights into the significance of starting out from the Yaanai mandapam. For Thayar, he has insights on the importance of Friday and utsavams take place for her on this day. 

Uniqueness of Rajagopalaswamy temple utsavams

During the Navarathri Utsavam, there is a Raksha Bandanam for the Horse Vahana. Dr. Prasanna Dikshithar provides the historical significance of this.For the next gen archakas, he has recorded the relevance and importance of village deities utsavams as well in his findings. Yet another unique feature at the Rajagopalaswamy temple is celebration of the Kolattam utsavam. Prasanna Dikshithar has insights on why this is celebrated in his almost 200page research document. He has dug deep into ancient scripts that has passed on from generations and referred to over 40 historical books.

In the century gone by, there had been an overflowing number of Dikshithars who performed archaka service at this temple. The large number of archakas meant that each of them had only a minimal number of days each year with Prasanna Dikshithar himself having 75 days annually at this temple split equally between Perumal and Thayar Sannidhis. 

Over the last dozen years, on the insistence of Muralidhara Swami, he has also been initiating the next gen students into Agama at the Patshala in Nangur. One of his students has just joined the Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal at Thiru Vekka temple in Kanchipuram as an archaka while another student is currently serving as a priest at the Vijayaraghava Divya Desam in Thiruputkuzhi.  There have been over 50 students who have been initiated into the agamas by Prasanna Dikshithar in addition to him also mentoring next gen Bhattars with practical experience during utsavams. 

Every year, he also anchors Pavitrotsavam in many nearby temples around Mannargudi including the Varadararja Perumal temple in Rayanallur as well as those in Coimbatore, Mettupalayam, Banaswadi (Bombay) and the Iskcon temple in Ahmedabad. Leading to the consecration that took place last month, Prasanna Dikshithar single handedly organised a few crores towards the repairs works through the network he has built over the last two decades.

In the past many hereditary bhattars cut short their academics to learn agamas so they could follow in the footsteps of their forefathers. Also, there had been no Masters degree in Sanskrit or Vaishnavism through the correspondence route till recently and there were not too many priests who explored this option.

But Prasanna Dikshithar is different. He has an inquisitive mind, one that wants to learn all the time as well as share his learnings with others. When the Vaishnavism grad and masters degree was introduced through correspondence route, he latched on to that and took great interest in completing those. The Masters degree paved the way for him to explore the possibility of a P. Hd. Straddling between his kainkaryam at the Rajagopalaswamy temple and the agama teaching at the  Nangur Patshala, he worked hard for three years to prepare and present a 200 page document on Pancharatra Agama and the utsavams at the Mannargudi temple. For future generations, this thoroughly researched document will serve as a ready reckoner for all utsavams at this temple. 

On this Thursday, he is back at the temple at 2.30am to present the Mariyathai to the Ubayadarars on the Garuda Sevai night and stays there till well past 3am. That’s Prasanna Dikshithar for you. He had seen the temple in financial turmoil during his childhood and knows the importance of a donor devotee in the conduct of these utsavams. At the same time, being the one initiating young students into the agamas, he knows the dire need for the next gen bhattars to understand indepth the relevance of the utsavams at this temple and the thought process behind every activity at each of these utsavams. Dr. S Prasanna Venkatesan Dikshithar is the first archaka in this region to secure a doctorate on a temple utsavam subject and that’s no mean achievement for one in his late 40s.  

A story on Prasanna Dikshithar in 2023: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/03/mannargudi-prasanna-dikshithar.html

TS Ramaswamy Advocate Tiruvoimozhi Book @ 95

TSR - Spotting and Mentoring R. Ashwin, S. Sriram and Badrinath in 1980s/90s, Appearing for MGR and Moopanar at the Madras High Court AND now at 95, authoring a 750 page book on Tiruvoimozhi

TS Ramaswamy (TSR to those in the cricketing circles) was instrumental in the initial mentoring of India Cricketers S Sriram (TSR holds him closest to his heart), R Ashwin and S Badrinath at his YMCA TSR cricket academy. Promodh Sharma was one of TSR’s favourite cricketers back then. He did not progress as much as TSR would have liked him to playing till the first division league in cricket but in business he has, over the last decade or so, built a $100 m Textile empire with a global presence and he dedicates this success to the importance placed on mental strength  and the 'never say die' attitude instilled in him by TSR during his teenage years. 

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே  - Thiruvoimozhi (5-8-1)

At his peak as an advocate, TSR counted former TN CM MGR and Congress leader Moopanar as his top clients. He has also appeared on behalf of Vaishnavite Mutts in courts cases.

In the second half of his life, TSR turned highly devotional straddling between the professional court cases, the passionate cricket academy and the Devotional visits to his favouriter Parthasarathy temple. Into his 50s he would walk over 10kms every week from his home in South Boag Road, T. Nagar to the Parthasarathy temple in Thiruvallikeni.

எங்கள் செல்சார்வு யாமுடை அமுதம்

இமயவரப்பன்  என் அப்பன்

பொங்கு மூவுலகும் படைத்து அளித்து அழிக்கும்

பொருந்து மூவுருவன்  எம் அருவன்

செங்கயல் உகளும்  தேம் பணை  புடை  சூழ்

திருசெங்குன்றுர்த் திருசிற்றாறு அங்கு  அமர்கின்ற 

ஆதியான்  அல்லால்

யாவர்  மற்று  என்  அமர் துணையே - Tiruvoimozhi - 8-4-2

Guidance from MAV

Former Head of Vaishnavite Dept, Madras University and Head of the Adyapaka Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni, MA Venkatakrishnan has always admired the great commitment of TSR in everything he did. MAV told this writer that as a student of Vaishnavism, TSR showed the same commitment that one had come to hear of him in courts and the cricket grounds. "When he was keen to pursue the doctorate degree, I suggested to him to take up a topic related to the court cases as his thesis.”

Into his 70s and 80s, he began writing books on Dharmic way of life throwing up insights from the Mahabaratha and the like. Even as a school boy, he had taken a liking to Vaishnavite Saint Poet Nam Azhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi and well past 60, he picked up a Doctorate in Vaishnavism under the guidance of MAV.

And now well into his 90s, with his three sons away in the US and a bed ridden wife, TSR has focused all his energy on the 1000 verses of Namazhvaar from the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham. His several years of research on this subject has helped him put together a 750 page Voluminous book that presents an insight into the ten Cantos of Tiruvoimozhi and what it holds for us in our everyday life.

வெள்ளைச் சூரி சங்கொடு ஆழி ஏந்தி 

தாமரைக்கு கண்ணன் என் நெஞ்சினூடே 

புன்னைக் காடாகின்ற ஆற்றைக் காணீர் 

என் சொல்லிச் சொல்லுகேன் அன்னைமீர்காள் 

வெள்ளச் சுகம் அவன் வீற்றிருந்த 

வேத ஒலியும் விழா ஒலியும் 

பிள்ளைக குழா விளையாட்டு ஒலியும் ஆறாத் 

திருப்பேரெயில் சேர்வான் நானே - Thiruvoimozhi ( 7.3.1)

TSR has always been a voracious reader right from his childhood and that can be seen from his quoting renowned global authors on a Dharmic way of life and taking that forward through the verses of Nam Azhvaar.

A meeting with Sriram, his Favouriter Student

His favourite cricketing student, S Sriram, who has had coaching stints with the Aussie team and with IPL teams, is now a renowned TV commentator. He visited TSR recently at his home on the East Car street, where he has been a resident for over three decades and found him to have high energy especially on the devotional front and says his memory continued to be sharp recollecting the cricketing days from the 1980s. It was TSR who predicted when Sriram was just 11 that he would go on to play for the country. 

Mental Strength and Never say Die attitude

TSR told this writer in 2021 soon after his 90th Birthday, that his focus had always been on removing fear in the mind of the cricketers. "Usually there was a tendency to get overwhelmed when you came up against the so called big teams. I called for the strengthening of the mind and to take on any opposition without fear. I instilled the belief in the students that they could beat anyone if they developed the self belief. Faith in oneself was most important”. 

At 95, it is that faith that has helped TSR work day and night over the last couple of years to pull out this master piece. He is short on physical support these days having also to take care of his wife in addition to managing his own health issues. But like his ever lasting key messages to his wards at his cricket academy in Nandanam in the 1980s and 90s, he is not short on mental strength and that is what keeps him going including having the devotional energy to write a 750 page book on Tiruvoimozhi. 

The book was released recently at a grand function in Thiruvallikeni in the presence in leading high court judges and prominent Vaishnavite personalities.

A 2021 story on TSR: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/08/advocate-ts-ramaswamy90.html

Sirupuliyur Srikanthan Bhattar Doddacharya Kainkaryam Award

A dozen years of Divya Desam archaka kainkaryam with one leg

Srikanthan Bhattar is anointed with a ‘Kainkaryam Saagaram’ award by Sholingur’s Doddacharya for his committed archaka service at Kripa Samudram temple

In 2013, Srikanthan Bhattar, then just in his 20s, was knocked down by a speeding bus, an accident that took away his left leg. He was in the hospital for over a month. For an archaka, a leg is an important asset for he has to accompany Perumal through the processions. The loss of a leg would have crushed the heart of any other person but not Srikanthan Bhattar.

In the Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that those who worship the Lord’s feet seeking a change of heart, Sirupuliyur, where the Lord resides in Salasayanam, is the place to be.

கள்ளம் மனம் விள்ளும் வகை,

கருதிக் கழல் தொழுவீர்

வெள்ளம் முதுபரவைத் திரை விரிய

கரை யெங்கும் தெள்ளும் மணி திகழும்

சிறுபுலியூர் சலசயனத் துள்ளும்

எனது உள்ளத்துள்ளும்

உறைவாரை உள்ளீரே

On a quiet Monday (March 16) evening at the Kripa Samudra perumal temple in Sirupuliyur two days after receiving the coveted Kainkarya Saagaram award from Doddacharya in Sholingur, Srikanthan Bhattar told this writer the inspiration behind his strong comeback “My immediate reaction after the accident was one of apprehension as to whether I could ever make it back to the temple and if I could continue the Kainkaryam like before. But when I was in bed at the hospital in Puducherry for well over a month, I saw patients who had lost both legs. There were many others with more serious injuries and were fighting for life. I told myself that I had at least one leg and that turned out to be a big inspiration in my comeback.”

Srikanthan Bhattar was back into archaka Kainkaryam three months after the accident with just one leg in action.

Revival of Utsavams

In the years preceding the accident, with the Sirupuliyur temple in a dilapidated state, Srikanthan Bhattar used to be an active member at temple events across the Chozha region and spent a fortnight every month at utsavams and consecration events under the guidance of the revered Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur, Prasanna Bhattar of Mannargudi, Krishna Kumar Bhattar of Chakrapani Koil (Kumbakonam) and Parthanpalli and Ramudu Bhattar of Thiru Cherai. 

The accident meant that his travel on a two- wheeler became restricted (he has since been presented a special purpose TVS Scooty by a Chennai based tech firm’s owner) and he began to spend a lot of time at this Divya Desam. He also takes care of his Octogenarian appa, Venkata Gopalan Bhattar, who had served at this Divya Desam for several decades during the darkest phase when there were no devotees at the temple and no salary or thattu kaasu for the archaka. 

Arumakadal Perumal as his only refuge

Srikanthan Bhattar may have lost a leg but as described by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, he sees the feet of Arumakadal Lord as his only refuge. He promised to himself at that time that he would revive the historical utsavams one after another and that is exactly what he has done over the last decade.

கருமா முகில் உருவா கனல் உருவா புனல் உருவா 

பெருமாள் வரை உருவா பிற உருவா நினது உருவா 

திருமாமகள் மருவும் சிறுபுலியூர் சலசயனத்து 

அருமா கடல் அமுதே உனது அடியே சரணாமே

In the dozen plus years since, he has revived the Theppotsavam, rebuilt the Perumal Ther, built a new Ther for Manavala Mamunigal and revived the morning procession during the Brahmotsavam.

Revival of Chariot Procession

He built the Chariot Wheels in 2016 and then completed the entire Ther and the procession was revived during the Brahmotsavam in 2022, after a gap of several decades. 

         Newly Built Manavala Maamuni Ther

Theppotsavam after a 100 years

The sacred temple tank had seen encroachments and the Maasi Theppotsavam had long come to a halt. It was Srikanthan Bhattar’s initiative that saw the sending back of the trespassers “Till that time, this did not even resemble a temple tank. Once the encroachments were removed, we went about the task of refurbishing the tank that finally led to the revival of Theppotsavam in Maasi just prior to the Pandemic”, says Srikanthan Bhattar recalling the revival after over 100 years.

A Grand Manavala Mamuni Utsavam - Physical Participation of Kainkaryaparas

The Manavala Mamunigal utsavam too had stopped. Srikanthan Bhattar was keen not just to revive this utsavam in Aippasi but to get the disciples of the Thengalai Acharya to come to Sirupuliyur and take active part in the utsavam instead of just transferring funds required for the conduct of the utsavam “I wanted them to physically participate both in the annual utsavam in Aippasi as well as on the monthly star day which too has been revived now. To my surprise, 15 Kainkaryaparas have been participating in Seva Kalam, Procession and Thirumanjanam during the Manavala Maamuni Utsavam over the past 4-5 years.”

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that those who surrender to the Lord of Sirupuliyur will experience an instant vanishing of their Karmas. 

பறையும் வினை தொழுது உய்ம்மின்

நீர் பணியும் சிறு தொண்டீர்

அறையும் புனல் ஒருபால் வயல் ஒருபால் பொழில் ஒருபால்

சிறை வந்து இனம் அறையும்

சிறுபுலியூர்ச் சலசயனத்து

உறையும் இறை அடி அல்லது

ஒன்று இறையும் அறியேனே

New look Raja Gopuram

For several decades, the Raja Gopuram wore a faded look until Srikanthan Bhattar took to the Thiruppani works that resulted in a grand consecration last year. The temple now wears a new fresh look with the colourful Raja Gopuram welcoming the devotees. 

  Raja Gopuram (Manavala Mamuni gopuram on the right)

The Best Alankaram Bhattar in this region

With the loss of a leg, he has turned into an alankaram expert and is the one who decorates the Perumal atop the Vahanas during the Brahmotsavams and other big utsavams in a number of temples in this region. Vasan Bhattar told this writer during the Consecration event last month at Aamaruviappan temple in Therazhundur that Srikanthan Bhattar is easily the best alankaram bhattar and everyone looks up to him to learn from his style of decorating Perumal atop different Vahanas. 

A coveted award for his selfless kainkaryam

On Saturday (March 14), on the occasion of Maasi Uthiradam, the annual birthday of Chandamarutham Doddachar Swami, Srikanthan Bhattar was in Sholingur to receive the coveted ‘Kainkarya Sagaram’ award from the current descendant Koil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Yoga Narasimha Swami at an event organised at his Thirumaligai.

The pharmaceutical firm that got him an artificial leg are shocked at the way he has been actively walking all through the year at different utsavams with his artificial leg.  The recognition is a just reward for this Bhattar who unmindful of the physical pain has served perumal selflessly for the last almost 15 years since the accident and has committed himself to a lifetime service at this Divya Desam.

Guru Prasad Thiru Kurungudi Temple Paintings

From IT Sector to Divya Desam Art Painting

This Comp Science Engineer has begun a transition from a high flying IT career to a Devotional Engagement with God through his exquisite depiction of Parivara Moorthies at the Nambi Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi

In May 2020, this section had featured a story on the then 10 year Thiruvallikeni school boy Prahladh and his passion for devotional paintings (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/05/prahladh-devotional-drawing.html). A year later, he was the one who pointed to the shifting of the Narasimha Idol at Ahobilam during his trip to that Divya Desam. This story is about an IT professional whose devotional life has turned 'magical' in his 30s after a nine month experience at Thiru Kurungudi.

When the Moolavar Sannidhis open for darshan exactly ten days from now (Consecration on March 25) after a Balalayam break of a year, the exquisite paintings that devotees find behind the Moolavar Idols at the three Nambi Sannidhis in Thiru Kurungudi would have been the handiwork of a 36year old IT professional from Nanganallur, Chennai. Computer Science Engineer from Visveswaraya Institute M. Guru Prasad (Krishna Swami) has been in the IT sector for well over a decade. Outside of his proficiency in academics, he had developed an early interest in Mural Paintings taking inspiration from the idols seen in annual calendars and depicting the Chozha bronzes through his drawings. That passion for the brush is turning into a great devotional opportunity.

தூங்கார் அரவ திரை வந்து உலவத்தொடு கடலுள் 

பொங்கார் இரவில் துயிலும் புனிதரூர் போலும் 

செங்கால் அன்னம் திகழ் தன் பணையில் பெடையோடும் 

கொங்கார் கமலத்து அலரில் சேரும் குறுங்குடியே  

Mentoring under Sasi Edavarad

Almost two decades ago, when the celebrated Sasi Edavarad, the renowned mentor in Mural Paintings, came to Bangalore from Kozhikode, Guru Prasad attended a workshop and that proved to be a big inspiration and a turning point in his life. He learned indepth the intricacies behind the Mural Paintings attending more workshops exploring micro painting in his teenage years.

“I would travel 3 hours one way from my house to Bidadi, learn the traditional Hoysala sculptures and related painting for one hour and then travel back three more hours” he told this writer this week at Thiru Kurungudi looking back at his first professional learning experience on Mural Paintings.

And then, he was initiated into training on Sirpangals and granthas by Gnanananda at the Siddha Gurukulam in Bangalore where the Guru taught students in an open natural environment under the tree. 

Shilpa Sastras and Chitra Sootram

Based on these experiences, he began asking deeper questions about Lords and his curiosity rose on the forms of Narasimha with 16 and 24 hands and the like!!! He delved more into Shilpa Sastras and Chitra Sootram and understood that it was not just about drawing ‘Roopams’. “There was a devotional aspect to it on how make idols into art forms. The curiosity about who is Vishnu, his conch and chakra, the forms of Vishnu and the idol in each of these forms and the science behind the colours drew me closer to Perumal. Why Madanagopal should be in Pink and not in Blue and so on”, says Guruprasad.

He also learned a bit of Parameswara Samhita as he went along while focusing on his IT career as well. He also knew a bit of Sanskrit and that helped too. Also attending several workshops to sharpen his skills and to gain practical knowledge in his 20s.

Archaeologist's surprise message reg a devotional engagement 

A couple of years ago, he had expressed to archaeologist PS Sriraman, known for Keezhadi excavation investigation, his interest to research Mural Paintings and art forms relating to God. Just under a year ago, he received a surprise message from the retired archaeologist about a temple sketching opportunity. “He put me on to the TVS personnel who shared the specifics of the work involved. I had professional IT work on hand but saw this as a God sent opportunity and agreed to this assignment”, Guruprasad told this writer on how this Divya Desam engagement came when he least expected it.

Over the last nine months, he has been involved in this highly devotional exercise of drawing the Parivara Moorthies and the mural pai nting inside the three Moolavar Perumal Sannidhis at the Azhagiya Nambi temple in Thiru Kurungudi. “In the early phase of this engagement, I would complete my IT work during the day and then take up the drawings that would go on late into the night till 2am. I carried an indepth study of the parivara moorthies, prepared prototype sketches and mock up drawings, discussed it with Vaikanasa Vidwans confirming with them that these were in line with the traditional agama. I then painted to scale and presented demos to archaeologists, Kurungudi Jeer, TVS and the Agama Vidwans” says Guruprasad looking back at the way his life went between August and November 2025.

Extensive Drawings of Parivara Moorthies

Alongside the two artistes from Trichur, Kerala, he has undertaken the exercise of mural painting the Moolavar idols and sketching the Parivara Moorthies that would come up behind these idols in each of these three Sannidhis. He counts his chozha mural style sketches as being his differentiators.

In the Ninra Nambi Sannidhi, he says there is Gajalakshmi in front of Perumal, and Shiva and Brahmma behind the moolavar idol. At the Veetrurintha Sannidhi, there were to be sketches of Brigu, Brahmma, Markandeya, Shiva, Surya, Kinnara Dampathis, Narada, Maya Virksham, Samsadhini, Tumburu, four rishis and Chandran. And then at the Pallikonda Perumal Sannidhi, his artistic endeavour involved painting Sridevi near the Sleeping Lord’s head, Boodevi at his feet, Brahmma, Brigu, Markandeya, Shiva with his family, Ashwin Devathas, Narada, Surya, Tumburu, Garuda, Pancha Ayudha Purushas, Kaumodhagi, Madhu Kaidapars, 8 Dikpalakars and Chandran. 

Sabbatical from IT

As the painting work gathered pace, he had to allocate a lot more time to the temple assignment and that led him to what he thought would be a short break from IT. He told this writer earlier this week that it has been a highly engrossing  phase in his life where in the initial three months of this assignment 'I straddled between IT work and the painting'. 

And then as he moved deeper into the engagement, he opted for a three month sabbatical to relocate to Thiru Kurungudi leaving behind my family back in Chennai. "The decision to take a sabbatical in November was with the idea of having an open ‘return’ ticket to the IT sector once this engagement was completed at Thiru Kurungudi", says Guru Prasad on the thinking at the time of taking a Sabbatical after almost 15 years in the industry.

"But being away from the family and a young daughter has been a shock for them. The daughter has been missing my presence”, Guruprasad notes on the personal downside of this engagement. And that is something he has to keep in mind before taking to such assignments in the future.

A one of a kind personality

Guruprasad is a rare and a one of a kind personality equipped with technology skills, agama knowledge and a natural talent in Painting Murals. Art, Sutra and Agama is a rare intersection with not too many into this at this point of time, in the temple circles. Till about a year ago, he would get into temple drawings when he found time outside of IT work and the family and most of these were for the Pooja Room. 

With the consecration just days away (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-temple.html), the art work has gathered momentum and Guru Prasad is in the process of providing the final touches to his drawings. This opportunity in a historic Divya Desam, praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Namazhvaar, was not something he expected and it came out of the blue when the Jeer of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt and TVS Trust were looking for someone who could complement the work done by the Kerala artists with the murals of the moolavar idols and the parivara moorthies.

These 9 months or so of being active in a devotional engagement has given him so much satisfaction that it has made him contemplate the possibility of diving deeper into this subject. He has been in the IT sector for almost a decade and a half and that has been his bread winner all along. There is a young family to take care of and his aged parents as well. 

He recites this below line every day of his life and sees Kainkaryam to Perumal as an important way of life.

தவானுபூதி சம்புத ப்ரீதிக்காரிதா டாசடாம் தேஹிமே க்ருபயா நாத நஜானே கதிமன்யதா

Devotionally Transformational Phase

In the past, he has been involved in sketching the Pancharatra Parameswara  Samhita Sudarshana Narasimha Yantra for the sthapathi to sculpt, painting Dhanvantri inspired by Chozha Bronze iconography, a reference sketch of Raja Gopalaswamy for the sthapathi  and a Garuda Dwaja as per the Pancharatra Ishwara Samhita for the Vaira Mudi Brahmotsavam at Melkote, in Panguni last year. 

But just like how the upcoming consecration will be the first full fledged one in over a 100 years, these nine months at Thiru Kurungudi has been the biggest and the longest full time devotional engagement for Guru Prasad. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's verse comes back to life again

In his Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, describing the fresh flowers from the mountains (the western ghats behind the revamped Nandavanam now present a peaceful sight), where the bees sing over fragrant Mullai flowers, asks devotees to offer worship and serve at Thiru Kurungudi with devotion and be elevated.

நின்ற வினையும் துயரும் கெட மா மலர் ஏந்தி 

சென்று பணிமின் எழுமின் தொழுமின் தொண்டீர்காள் 

என்றும் இரவும் பகலும் வரி வண்டு இசை பாட 

குன்றின் முல்லை மன்றிடை நாறும் குறுங்குடியே 

On the lines of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's praise, Guru Prasad has found his presence at Thiru Kurungudi to be a devotionally transformational experience  and his almost full time stint at Thiru Kurungudi has made him think about what lies ahead for him. In these nine months, being full time with God and sketching multiple Moorthies every single day has been ‘devotional magic’ in his life, something that he did not expect to come his way. Should he now take the return ticket to the IT sector as was the plan when to opted for the Sabbatical or should he dive deep into continuing this devotional engagement. 

In the meantime, he has also started mentoring a select set of students on Chitra Kalaa focusing on sastric precision, meditative process and technical discipline.

There are a good number of temples in Tamil Nadu that have Varna Kalaa idols and based on the high quality work at this Divya Desam, there could be newer opportunities coming his way. The decision between a future in the IT sector and a more devotionally enriching engagement with ancient temples is something he is likely to take a call on in the coming years. but for the moment he is basking in the glory of having been the one to be assigned the devotional task of sketching the entire parivara moorthies at the three Moolavar Sannidhis. And that he counts as a big blessing from Nambi of Thiru Kurungudi. 

11 year old's devotional drawings catches 'Ahobilam Narasimha' - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/07/ahobilam-yogananda-narasimha.html

A story on a teenager's passion for painting: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/08/tarika-ram-kalpa-druma-art-of-happiness.html