Thiru Kannamangai Bhakthavatsala Perumal Jeshtabhisekam Garuda Sevai

Next Gen Srivathsan Bhattar anchors the Jeshtaabhisekam and Garuda Sevai on the occasion of Aadi Ekadasi

It is one of the biggest days in the year at the Bhaktavatsala Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Kannamangai, a temple praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, who says that he found the mighty ocean, the powerful bull, the penance of the rishis, heap of pearls, the soul of devotees, the love of his heart and the sweet sugarcane - all at Kannamangai.

பெரும் புறக் கடலை அடல் ஏற்றினை 

பெண்ணை ஆணை 

எண் இல் முனிவர்க்கு அருள் தரும் தவத்தை 

முத்தின் திரள் கோவையை 

பத்தர் ஆவியை நித்திலத் தொத்தினை 

அரும்பினை அலரை அடியேன் மணத்தாசையை 

அமுதம்  பொதி இன் சுவையை 

கரும்பினை கனியை சென்று நாடி

கண்ணமங்கையுள்  கண்டு கொண்டேனே - Periya Thirumozhi 7-10-1

Ramaswamy Bhattachar's Inspiration

The occasion is Aadi Ekadasi and the annual day of Jeshtabhisekam for the tall standing Moolavar Perumal. For several decades, PK Ramaswamy Bhattachar, who passed away last year, had been the face of the temple for all the devotees with his unflinching devotional commitment in the most challenging of times in the second half of the previous century. While he had physical age related challenges past 80, he continued to be a great source of strength for his son Pakshirajan Raju Bhattar who quit his job to take up the archaka kainkaryam last decade. He would come to the temple in the morning and sit at the mandapam overseeing the Kainkaryam of his son. 

When his grandson Srivathsan Bhattar took over charge as the archaka a couple of years ago immediately after completing his agama education at the Kudavasal Patshala, it was a great moment for him. One generation had suffered in the aftermath of political intervention in temples and Ramaswamy Bhattachar was delighted when his grandson decided to continue the archaka service at this Divya Desam.

Srivathsan had told this writer in January 2022 while he was still undergoing his agama initiation that his Thatha was the real inspiration behind his decision to join the temple even though there was going to be not much money on offer as salary from the HRCE “Even when I was in class III, I was present for the entire Brahmotsavam along with my Thatha. He had created such an interest in me in Divya Desam Kainkaryam that my interest was to be at the temple all the time. I would get away from the class and support my Thatha on the Brahmotsavam days."

While Ramaswamy Bhattachar passed away last year, for the young Srivathsan Bhattar, in his 20s, this was an important day to showcase to his Thatha, who was watching him from above, that he could take up the huge responsibility of conducting the Jeshtabhisekam and make it a success.

In the evening, even while a Kutcheri was being presented in the Prakara, Srivathsan Bhattar got down to decorating Bhakthavatsala Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana. While he had learnt the agama and has now begun to handle the Brahmotsavam as well on his own, he has taken a liking to decorating the Lord. It is 6pm and he has draped the red coloured vastram around the Lord’s vehicle- Garuda. 

After mounting Bhakthavatsala Perumal atop the Garuda, for almost two hours, he undertook the process of presenting his favourite Perumal with a beautiful alankaram. 

A good sized devotee crowd had gathered in the North Prakara to listen to the Kutcheri and they were eagerly awaiting the opening of the screen to have a first glance at the Perumal providing Garuda Sevai. And much to their delight, they saw a grand alankaram of the handsome looking Bhakthavatsala Perumal with colourful flower garlands, glittering jewellery and a crown.

எங்களுக்கு அருள் செய்கின்ற ஈசனை

வாச வார் குழலாள் மலை மங்கை தன் பங்கனைப்

பங்கில் வைத்து உகந்தான் தன்னை

பான்மையை பனி மா மதியம் தவழ் 

மன்குலை சுடரை  வட மா மலை உச்சியை

நச்சி நாம் வணங்கப்படும் கங்குலை

பகலைச் சென்று நாடி

கண்ணமங்கையுள் கண்டு கொண்டேனே

As the clock ticked to 9.30pm on Saturday, following the presentation of prasadam to the devotees, the Sripatham Personnel carried the Perumal to the Eastern entrance where they mounted him on to the wheeled vehicle. All around the four streets, residents came out of their homes to present Thattu and seek the blessings of the Lord atop the Golden Garuda Vahana. For Srivathsan Bhattar, it had been a long day but unmindful of the tiredness he was the one who came with the Perumal on the procession patiently receiving the Thattu from the devotees and presenting the deeparathanai in front of every home.

Pattu is past 60 and has been the one carrying the Theevatti at the processions of Bhakthavatsala Perumal. She is a weak figure but the devotional strength is high and for an hour and a half she was the one lighting up the camphor for the deeparathanai. She doesn’t get any financial returns for her service but that does not deter her from doing what she likes and considers it a blessing to be carrying the Theevatti on such an auspicious occasion.

After mounting the Perumal on to the tyred vehicle, the focus light facing the devotees was turned on. Unfortunately, this proved as a distraction to the devotees as it hit them in the eyes. As the procession moved on to the South Street, the Sripatham member had an interesting answer to the devotees who raised this issue “It is okay if you are finding it a challenge to see the Lord. It is important for him to see you and that is the purpose of this procession”, he told them!!!

Goddess Lakshmi performed penance here to attain the Lord. It is believed that the Thirupaarkadal Lord called in his security Vishwakshena and asked him to suggest a good day for their wedding. Legend has it that all the Devas congregated here to witness the wedding. They were so overwhelmed on seeing the Lord and Goddess Lakshmi together that they took the form of bees and decided to stay here ever after. To this day, one can find the bees in the Thaayar Sannidhi - a unique feature of this Divya Desam.

திருத்தனை திசை நான் முகன் தந்தையை 

தேவ தேவனை மூவரில் முன்னிய விருத்தனை 

விளங்கும் சுடர் சோதியை 

விண்ணை மண்ணினை கண்ணுதல் கூடிய அருத்தனை 

அரியை பரி கீறிய அப்பனை 

ஆப்பிலார் அழலாய் நின்ற கருத்தனை 

களி வண்டறையும் பொழில் 

கண்ணமங்கையுள்  கண்டு கொண்டேனே

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar described the Lord as being surrounded by bee humming groves. Late into the night, one could not hear the humming of the bees, but the tall trees around the temple did flutter in the breeze in happiness of Bhaktavatsala Perumal's Garuda Sevai giving the Kainkaryaparas relief from the sweltering heat that had hit them earlier in the day. While the Prabhandham Ghoshti members were not present, the Nadaswaram artistes played the devotional tunes through the length of the processions around the four streets. It is almost close to 11.30pm when Bhakthavatsala Perumal made his way back to the temple via the Eastern Raja Gopuram. For his devotees, it had been a most enjoyable day having first experienced the Jeshtabhisekam and with this sacred day ending with the Garuda Sevai. 

                            Pakshirajan (Raju) Bhattar

"In a world where the next gen has been moving into cities to work in the corporate space, my  grandson Srivathsan has taken a great devotional interest in Divya Desam Kainkaryam. Given the scenario that existed then back in the 1970s and 80s, my two sons were not able to get into Patshala education and I was keen very early on that the new gen should continue and take forward this Divya Desam service”, Ramaswamy Bhattachar had told this writer in 2022. Late into Saturday night, his son Pakshirajan Raju Bhattar sported a big smile and there was delight in his face and a great satisfaction having watched the young 26 year Srivathsan Bhattar handle this mega event and taking ownership and responsibility for the festival on Saturday. And that augurs well for this remote Divya Desam.

Sarangapani Koil Pavitrotsavam Garuda Sevai Theerthavari

Udaya Golden Garuda Sevai on the final morning of the Pavitrotsavam in Chaotic traffic

Theerthavari at the brimming Potramarai Tank 

It is the final day of the 7day Pavitrotsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar dedicated an entire Prabhandham to Lord Aravamudhan. The young Kesavan Bhattar, following in the foot steps of his appa, mounted Sarangapani atop the beautiful new looking Golden Garuda Vahana late on Thursday night after the Tiruvoimozhi recital and the Yaaga Saalai Pooja on the 6th evening of the festival, one that signifies cleaning of one’s sins committed over the previous year. The alankaram was exquisite with Garuda draped in a green vastram and Sarangapani Perumal looking majestic with tall colourful flower garlands. Kesavan Bhattar is one of those priests in small temple towns who has decided to continue the hereditary service taking this into the next generation at a time when many are looking elsewhere to a life away from temple service. The more senior Chakravarthy Bhattar is at the Yaaga Saalai performing pooja there. 

Prabhandham Ghoshti present the entire Divya Prabhandham

The Prabhandham Ghoshti presented Muthalaayiram and a large part of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi on the first six mornings of the utsavam and the Iyarpa and NamAzhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi in the evenings after the procession inside the temple. They have arrived at the 100 pillared mandapam early on Thursday morning for the recital of Thiruppavai. Soundararaja Bhattar told this writer earlier in the week that a senior citizen teacher devotee presents a box of cashews every morning of the Pavitrotsavam to the Prabhandham Ghoshti members for their recital of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham during the seven days of the utsavam. She has not been keeping good health in recent times but unmindful of her physical challenges has made it for the Prabhandham Thodakkam to hand over the Sambhavanai to the members and that is quite commendable says Soundar Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html). 

                          Next Gen Kesavan Bhattar

It is the second Friday of Aadi and the steady stream of devotees who have made their way to the temple early in the morning have a darshan of Sarangapani atop the Garuda Vahana at the eastern entrance before heading to the Moolavar Sannidhi.

As is often the case at the Sarangapani temple, Maniyakarar Sudarshan is scrambling around at the final minute including calling out for the Sripatham personnel who are to play an important role this morning. His namesake Madapalli Sudarshan brings in the Thaligai and following the Thiruppavai Saatru Murai, it is time for the Udaya Garuda Sevai street procession (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/sarangapani-koil-desikar-sannidhi-new.html).

Clock has ticked past 8.30am and the Sripatham carry Sarangapani to near the Dwajasthambam. The Prabhandham members start off with the first decad of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi before moving on to the 11th Canto continuing from where they had left off on the previous day. The Vedic members follow Sarangapani on the procession as he makes his way through the traffic filled streets on this Friday morning. 

அண்டத்தின் முகடு அழுந்த 

அலை முந்நீர்த் திரை ததும்ப ஆ ஆ என்று 

தொண்டர்க்கு அமரர்க்கும் முனிவர்க்கும் தான் அருளி 

உலகம் ஏழும் உண்டு ஒத்த திருவயிற்றின் 

அகம்படியில் வைத்து  உம்மை உய்யக்கொண்ட 

கொண்டற் கை மணி வண்ணன் 

தன் குடந்தை நகர் பாடி ஆடீர்களே 

Opposite the Ramaswamy temple is the place for the Sripatham to have a short break with the shop there serving them with fruit juice. The Prabhandham members have by now moved on to Thiru Kurungthandagam. As decades passed by in the 20th century, this South Sarangapani street became the bus route towards Thanjavur and Trichy and hence in most of the street processions, Sarangapani Perumal has to put up with loud horns from the buses that want to race past the Lord. 

During the big utsavams in Thai and Chitrai, Karunakarachariar has ensured that the street processions will be ones where the Sripatham carry Sarangapani on their shoulders and not on the wheeled vehicles. And he pays them well for this service. On other occasions too, like this on the final day of the Pavitrotsavam, they carry Sarangapani on their shoulder. Their relationship with the temple Kainkaryaparas is not always smooth like one was to find later this morning but for the moment it is a positive that they continue to carry the Lord on their shoulders.

For their part manage, they manage to wade through the busy roads trying their best to allow the traffic to pass by but on the West (Bazaar) street, it is chaotic in front of Kumbeswarar temple. There are two wheelers who have no patience for the Lord to pass and try to sneak in. In at least a couple of places, the Sripatham get stuck with these two wheelers as they come too close to the Lord but this has become a normal occurrence during these processions with no control of the traffic and the general disregard for the Lord making his way providing Garuda Sevai.

By the time, the procession moves on to the TSR Big Street, it has got really hot and the Sripatham are now on to fast mode as they stroll past the new look Vyasa Raja Mutt and the recently renovated CUB headquarters (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/n-kamakodi-city-union-bank.html).The Prabhandham members are now into the presentation of Thiru Nedunthandagam even as the workers at the jewellery shops make their way out for a darshan just after the opening on this Friday morning.

பிண்டியார் மண்டை ஏந்தி 

பிறர் மனை திரிதந்து உண்ணும் முண்டியான் 

சாபம் தீர்த்த ஒருவனூர் 

உலகமேத்தும் கண்டியூர் அரங்கம் மெய்யம் 

கச்சி பேர் மல்லை என்று மண்டினார் 

உய்யல் அல்லால் 

மற்றையார்க்கு உய்யல் ஆமே 

It is almost 10am when Sarangapani Perumal made his way through the towering Raja Gopuram for the Prabhandham members to present the Satru Murai of Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Kurunthandagam and Thiru Nedunthandagam. At the 100 pillared Mandapam, the Vedic Members present the Satru Murai following which the Ubayadarar of this morning are accorded the Mariyathai for their contribution to the successful conduct of the Udaya Garuda Sevai.

Maniyakarar Sudarshan, who at the end of the procession also doubled up as on managing the colourful canopy atop Sarangapani Perumal, asks all the devotees to head to the Potramarai tank for the Theerthavari with the priests getting down to unmounting Sarangapani from the Garuda Vahana to get him ready for the pallakku procession. Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thayar make their way from the Sannidhi to join Sarangapani at the 100 pillared mandapam. 

The Sripatham personnel have not had much of a break for they have to bring the Thayar and Theerthavari idol to the mandapam but they remain energetic. However, it is one of those things that Maniyam Sudarshan has to manage every time there is a procession. He asks the Sripatham to bring Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thaayar and Theerthaperar alongside to the mandapam but the Sripatham personnel refuse to accede citing shortage of personnel. In such sensitive moments, they give the young Maniyam a tough time. 

It takes 45 minutes for the Bhattars to get Perumal ready for the procession by which time Theerthaperar also makes his way to the mandapam with Sridevi and Bhoodevi having arrived a little earlier.

 It is past 11am when they carry Sarangapani Perumal along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thayar through the west gopuram to the Potramarai tank. The locals of Thiru Kudanthai have gathered in good numbers to watch this sacred bath. 

முற்று ஆரா வன முலையால் பாவை மாயன் 

மொய் அகலத்துள் இருப்பாள் அஃதும் கண்டும் அற்றால் 

தன் நிறை அழிந்தால் ஆவிக்கின்றாள் 

அணிஅரங்கம் ஆடுதுமோ தோழீ என்னும் 

பெற்றேன் வாய்ச் சொல் இறையும் பேசக்கேளால் 

பேர் பாடி தன் குடந்தை நகரும் பாடி 

பொற்றாமரைக் காயம் நீராட போனாள் 

பொறு அற்றால் என் மகள் உம் பொன்னும் அஃதே  

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Thiru Nedunthandagam refers to the Potramarai tank where the devotees take a bath. 

The Kainkaryaparas recite the sacred verses while Chakravarthi Bhattar provides a sacred bath with sandal paste, turmeric, milk and curd much to the delight of the devotees and watched by the EO of the temple. Maniyakarar Sudarshan has entered the waters and done a check on the safety and identified the location for the Theerthavari. And even as the clock is ticking to noon, the devotees gear up for the big moment. 

Chakravarthi Bhattar carries the Theerthavari idol to the Potramarai Kulam and following a few verses, dips the idol into the water with all the Kainkaryaparas too taking a dip into the sacred tank. After the idol is brought bank to the mandapam on the east side, the devotees too take a holy dip and feel blessed at being present on this sacred occasion. 

Past noon, Sarangapani Perumal makes his way back to the temple via the Andal Sannidhi bringing to end the events of the first half. By now, having enjoyed the Garuda Sevai and Theerthavari, most of the devotees and the kainkaryaparas are already looking forward to the Jeshtabhisekam that is to take place on Saturday morning.

Sundarar Aadi Swathi Mukthi Thiruvanaikaval

Wednesday evening marked the celebration of the legendary event that took place at Thiru Vanjikalam on Aadi Swathi when Sundarar boarded the White Elephant presented by the Lord for his final journey

It is one of the big days in the year for one of the four Saivite Sain Poets (Naalvar). Aadi Swathi marks the day when Sundara Moorthy Nayanar was taken by the Lord on a white elephant from Thiru Vanjikalam, where he attained Mukthi.

In his very first verse, legendary Saint Poet Sundara Moorthy Nayanar, born in Thiru Navalur,  refers to Kripapureeswarar of Thiruvennainallur as ‘ARULAALAA’ and gives one an indication as to how God is compassionate with his devotees. When Sundarar asks Kripapureeswarar inside the Thiruvennainallur temple as to how he can praise him and if he was fit at all, the Lord asks him to praise with the very same word (mad) that he had referred to the old man at the wedding mandapa. A delighted Sundarar reaffirms that the Lord of Thiruvennainallur is indeed a MAD one for how else would he shower his blessings on this devotee who had thrown abuses at him, one who had torn the Olai document into pieces and show his compassion by preventing this devotee from being bonded into a married life.  

In his first verse, Sundarar begins with a reference to the Lord as Mad in providing arulaalaa to his devotees.

பித்தா பிறைசூடி பெருமானே  அருளாளா

எத்தால் மற வாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னை

வைத்தாய்  பெண்ணைத் தென்பால்

வெண்ணை நல்லூர் அருட்டுறையுள்

அத்தா உனக் காளாய் இனி

அல்லேன் எனல் ஆமே- Sundarar's first verse

It is past 7pm and alankaram specialist Nagarajan Paricharakar has just got down to decorating Sundarar and Cheramaan Perumal, the Chera King with whom Sundarar forged a great friendship, standing next to him on a simple pallakku. There are a few devotees who have arrived specifically for this once in a year street procession of Sundarar. Clock has almost ticked to 7.30pm when devotees carry Sundara Moorthy Nayanar to the Dwajasthambam where Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan, the sole Othuvar of the last three decades at this temple recites the sacred verses of Sundarar, following which Paricharakar Nagarajan presented the Deeparathanai to mark the start of the procession. Since the very early days, Sundarar has been Othuvar Srinivasan’s favourite and he has recited the 1000+ verses of Sundarar several hundreds of times in this phase. Hence this evening is a special one for him as he is reminded of the good old days in his youth when he used to sing the verses of Sundarar all the time at this temple.

                   Cheramaan Perumal, Chera King

As the procession reaches the western entrance, the Udal players comprising of young teenaged boys and a couple of girls begin the play the drums and the dumbbell with great devotion but it does not work for Othuvar Srinivasan as he moves far ahead of the procession singing the sacred verses of Sundarar, all alone.

As has been the trend on the North Street, most of the residents comprising of Pandithars of this temple, stay put inside the temple as Sundarar moves ahead quickly with no Thattu on offer in any of the homes there. Past the Akilandeswari Sannidhi, the Vedic students of the Sankara Mutt make their way to have darshan of Sundara Moorthy Nayanar. Veena Vidwan Gopalakrishnan and his wife, who are regulars at the Jambukeswarar temple, too have darshan of Sundarar on this North Street.

மமழுவாள் வலன் ஏந்தீ மறையோதி மங்கை பங்கா

தொழுவாரவர் துயராயின தீர்த்தல்லுன தொழிலே

செழுவார் பெண்ணைத் தென்பால்

வெண்ணை நல்லூர் அருட்டுறையுள் 

அழகா உனக்  காளாய்  இனி அல்லேன் எனலாமே

The devotee crowd gathers steam at the east end of the North street and the East Street where many of the residents come out of their homes to have darshan of Sundarar.

Sundarar praises the Lord of Thiru Aanaikka as one who graciously accepts us as His servants and rules over us day after day. In his verse, he says that when a Chola king bathed in the cool waters of the Cauvery  and accidentally dropped his pearl necklace, the Lord accepted the offering by causing it to enter the sacred bathing vessel while the king stood in the water refusing to come ashore out of distress over the loss!!!

தாரம்‌ ஆகிய பொன்னித்

 ‌தண்துறை ஆடி விழுத்தும்

நீரில்‌ நின்று, அடி போற்றி,

 நின்மலா, கொள்‌! என ஆங்கே

ஆரம்‌ கொண்ட எம்‌ ஆனைக்கா

 உடை ஆதியை நாளும்‌ 

ஈரம்‌ உள்ளவர்‌ நாளும்‌

 எம்மையும்‌ ஆள்‌ உடையாரே

The Vedic students comprising of a few Vadakalai Iyengars as well at the east end of the South street too come out for a darshan of Sundarar and Cheramaan Raja. There are more devotees on this street presenting Thattu. 

Highly Devoted Shiva Adiyars

For the Shiva Adiyars this is a very sacred evening. They have great regard for the Nalavars and this evening when Sundarar was taken atop the white elephant rekindles great memories for them of this legendary event that took place in Thiru Vanjikalam, also the birth place of Chera King and Vaishnavite Saint Poet Kulasekara Azhvaar. They follow Sundarar on the procession reciting the sacred verses of this great Saint Poet. 

As is usually the case on the street processions at this temple, there are a good number of devotees waiting at the South Gopuram of the temple for a darshan. A few more Shiva Adiyars join the recital of the sacred verses. Through the entire procession, they are highly devotional with no chit chats amongst them and their sole focus being to sing the verses of their favourite Sundarar on this special evening for him. These Shiva Adiyars are a special breed in terms of their devotion as they turn up on such evenings from everywhere to present these verses. Nothing around them distracts them as they present one verse after another of the 1000 of Sundarar. 

It is almost close to 8.30pm when Sundarar makes his way back to the golden flag post where Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan presents the final verses of this great Saint Poet sung at Thiru Vanjikalam before he was given a memorable send off with Lord Shiva himself arriving to take him along with him on a white elephant. Othuvar Srinivasan is on a high after reciting Sundarar’s verses for over an hour and he tells this writer as to how Sundarar praises the Lord of Thiru Vanjikalam and asks him for Mukthi. 

வீடின்‌ பயன்‌ என்‌? பிறப்பின்‌ பயன்‌ என்‌? 

 விடை ஏறுவது என்‌, மதயானை நிற்க? 

கூடும்‌ மலைமங்கை ஒருத்தி உ.டன்‌ 

சடைமேல்‌ கங்கையாளை நீ சூடிற்று என்னே? 

பாடும்‌ புலவர்க்கு அருளும்‌ பொருள்‌ என்‌?

நிதியம் பல செய்த கலச்‌ செலவில்‌ 

ஆடும்‌ கடல்‌ அம் கரைமேல்‌ மகோதை

அணி ஆர்‌ பொழில்‌ அஞ்சைக்களத்து அப்பனே! - Sundarar on Thiru Vanjikalam

In his praise of Thiru Vanjikalam, Sundarar describes the temple at Thiruvanjikalam as surrounded by beautiful groves on the shores of the ocean that bears ships laden with treasures like gold and gems.

He asks the Lord as to what the purpose is of him having both of these opposing states—liberation and birth—rather than establishing just one of them? He further asks him as to why he rides a bull when he has an elephant and as to why he has Ganga in his matted locks alongside the daughter of the Mountain, who is inseparably united with his sacred form?

                             Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan

When he asks the Lord as to what is the reward he bestows upon poets who sing of him much in a way Thiru Mangai Azhvaar asked of Parimala Ranganatha of Thiru Indhalur, he seems to have pleased the Lord greatly.

Sundarar in his praise of the Lord of Thiru Vanjikkalam says that the institution of birth is for the purpose of severing the bonds that hinder the enjoyment of the bliss. The Lord abides with the Mountain Maiden to uphold righteousness and to facilitate worldly enjoyments for living beings; He bears the Ganga to ensure that such enjoyment is sustained without being interrupted or destroyed by other forces. Having thus attained all these states —save for 'Veedu' (Liberation), Sundarar says that he now beseeches the Lord to graciously grant him that ultimate fruit, 'Veedu'. And answering the prayers of these last few verses of Sundarar at Thiru Vanjikalam, the Lord placed the White Elephant in front of him for Sundarar to board and make that final trip of this life.

Even as Paricharaka Nagarajan takes Sundarar and Cheramaan Perumal to their abode, Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan sits in a corner of the prakara reminiscing the good old days when he sit in different corners of the temple and walk around the temple reciting the sacred verses of Sundarar. This Aadi Swathi evening evoked great memories of Sundarar for this intelligent Othuvar with a great devotional voice.

Sankara Mutt Thiruvanaikaval Patshala Ramji Ganapadigal

Periyava's direction leads Allur Ramji Ganapadigal to Thiruvanaikaval Sankara Mutt Patshala to revive Krishna Yajur Veda

In 2018, this section featured a story on the revival of the Patshala in Pazhur, anchored by the then 30 year old Neelakantan Sastrigal. This story is about Ramji Ganapadigal, who similar to Neelakantan Sastrigal, was roped in by Periyava this time to revive the Krishna Yajur Veda at the Sankara Mutt Patshala in Thiruvanaikaval, just under 10 kms east of Pazhur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/pazhur-patshala-revival.html).And just like Neelakantan Sastrigal, Ramji Ganapadigal is also one who has stuck to traditions all his life so much so that he is strict on his students performing Sandhyavandhanam every single day, almost as a pre condition to them joining his class. Such sticklers to tradition are hard to find in this day and age when one finds compromised solutions even in the traditional space and most leaders going with the flow and the current trend.

Ramji Ganapadigal belongs to a Niyama Adyayanam family where the tradition is for the father to pass on his learnings to the son. In line with that model, he discontinued academics after class VII to be initiated into the Vedas in the Gurukulam style by his appa, Seshadri Ganapadigal at the Patshala in Allur. It was in Allur where in the Patshala blessed by Maha Periyava his grandfather, Yegneshwara Sastrigal had for many decades taught students Vedas and created the next generation of Vedic Scholars.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

An enjoyable childhood in Allur

Ramji Ganapadigal recounts with joy those enjoyable teenage years at Allur “Well over two decades ago, there were a number of young boys at the Agraharam in Allur and we would be together all the time sometimes playing tennis ball cricket and at other times chatting up amongst ourselves sitting on the banks of the Cauvery. We would be taught for around 2 hours every morning and had to practice that through the day, a process that helps us remember every single verse even today.”

                             Akilandeswari

The Kasi Meeting with Periyava that changed his path

After the completion of his 10 year Vedic studies that included Krishna Yajur Veda and Ganantham, Ramji Ganapadigal spent a while in his late 20s presenting Veda Parayanam at temple events and elsewhere in the Trichy region while continuing to be based in Allur. For over 60 years, the life of this family had centered around Vedic teachings at the Allur Patshala and Ramji Ganapadigal believed that it would be his way of life too but that was until he met the Periyava at the Chaturmasya trip in Kasi in 2023.

Kanchi Periyava's direction

Ramji Ganapadigal vividly remembers that day in 2023 in Kasi where he went with his family to be part of Periyava's Chaturmasya trip. “Periyava called us (my wife and me) and expressed his interest to revive the Krishna Yajur Veda at the Sankara Mutt in Thiruvanaikaval, one that had been integral to the Patshala in the century gone by. And he wanted me to be the teacher to lead that revival. I had lived almost all my life at Allur and my wife and our children too had settled down well there in a quiet life in that remote town and I was initially reluctant to leave my parents and make the move”, he told this writer this Wednesday evening even while directing his students to perform Sandhyavandhanam.

A life changing move to this Paadal Petra Sthalam

However, he realised soon that Periyava had identified him as the chosen one for the task of reviving the Krishna Yajur Veda at Thiruvanaikaval and this devout disciple of Periya could not refuse the orders of his acharya. Exactly two years ago, he moved to the Mutt opposite the Akilandeswari Sannidhi at Thiruvanaikaval with his young family to kickstart the revival process. This revival initiative started off with three students initially and has since more than doubled to seven students. 

The first phase of two years

He says that the first set of students is always a big challenge for the entire process has to start from scratch and put in place one for the students to follow. He follows an open line of communication with his students and tells them how they should live their live in the phase and the reasoning behind that process. During this entire phase of the last two years, he has always been with his students guiding them each day of the year so much so that even when he makes a trip to visit his parents in Allur, he takes them along seeing them as being part of his family.

செம்பொன் மேனிவெண் ணீறணி வானைக்

 கரிய கண்டனை மால்அயன் காணாச்

சம்பு வைத்தழல் அங்கையி னானைச்

 சாம வேதனைத் தன்னொப்பி லானைக்

கும்ப மாகரி யின்னுரி யானைக்

 கோவின் மேல்வருங் கோவினை எங்கள்

நம்ப னைநள் ளாறனை அமுதை

 நாயி னேன்மறந் தென்நினைக் கேனே

Motivated by the students' early enthusiasm

After spending over three decades in Allur with his parents, these last two years have been a new experience for Ramji Ganapadigal for he has had to start on his own initiating these young students on dharmic aspects and getting them to live a traditional way of life, in addition to teaching them the Vedas. The good news for him is that he has found them to be enthusiastic and energetic and that has been a big boost to his revival efforts. Like his own teenage days, he is happy to see that they too have begun to mingle well with each other playing a bit of cricket in their free time and spending time with the few cows that they have for company at the Patshala. These young kids also get devotionally excited when they see Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari making their way on to the North street on a procession led by the temple elephant and to the beating of the drums. 

Much against the current trend, the 36 year old Vedic Acharya has received great support from his wife (daughter of Ayyappan Sastrigal) who has been backing him to the hilt in this endeavour to create the next generation of Krishna Yajur Vedic Scholars.  Though she had lived her entire first phase of life in Mylapore around the Kapaleeswarar temple, she was comfortable moving into a remote town as Allur and now to Thiruvanaikaval, away from the round the year devotional buzz that she had experienced around the Mada Streets in her teenage phase and quite surprisingly in this day and age has a traditional old fashioned simplistic way of life leaving everything to the blessings of Periya and now to the divine couple of Thiruvanaikaval. 

It is an interesting phase in Ramji Ganapadigal's life. For 30 years, he had spent a life in Allur under the guidance of his appa and now he is all on his own reviving a Veda as desired by Periyava with the entire onus on him to get the first batch of students to graduate in a period of 8 years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/iyyappan-sastrigal-muttam-kattu-mannar.html). No more does Ramji Ganapadigal go for outside events as he used when he was in Allur despite the fact that the financial returns as a Vedic Acharya is no where near best in class. His entire focus is only on these children at Thiruvanaikaval and his only focus is to make this vision of Periyava a success and to help these young children master the Krishna Yajur Veda. And in this endeavour, he is blessed to have a wife who backs him completely in this way of life. 

Thiru Mandangudi Thondaradipodi Giri Bhattar

From Selling Petrol to Archaka Kainkaryam

For over two decades, this priest hailing from Kandiyur has been performing archaka service for 18 days every month also doubling up as the madapalli cook

It is a quiet Tuesday (July 14) morning at the avathara sthalam of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar in Thiru Mandangudi, 1km west of Pullam Bhoothangudi Divya Desam. Giri Bhattar has been at the temple from 6am and over the first three hours there are hardly any devotees. This is a daily scenario that he has experienced over the last two decades that he has been at the temple. Two Divya Desams – Pullam Bhoothangudi and Thiru Athanur – are nearby almost at walking distance and yet devotees rarely make it to this historic temple town. Half a km to the south is the factory of Thiru Arooran Sugars. Neither the locals nor outstation devotees make it to this temple and for Giri Bhattar it is usually a long wait until a car applies the brake at the entrance of the temple making him sit up gleefully for he sees it as an opportunity to present the greatness of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and his devotional attachment with Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

பச்சை மா மலை போல் மேனி 

பவளவாய் கமலச் செங்கண்

அச்சுதா அமரர் ஏறே, 

ஆயர் தம் கொழுந்தே என்னும்

இச்சுவை தவிர யான் போய்

இந்திர லோகம் ஆளும்

அச்சுவை பெறினும் வேண்டேன்

அரங்க மா நகருளானே

On this Tuesday, there is one family that has made it way to this temple from Bangalore albeit as a mistaken identity. The lady at a fellow in a University in Bangalore is doing research on Araiyar Sevai and wanted to go to Pullam Bhoothangudi but on her way from Athanur she missed the Valvil Ramar Divya Desam and made her way to Thiru Mandangudi.

For over half an hour, Giri Bhattar took them to the Ranganathaswamy Sannidhi, then to Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and finally to Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi presenting the sacred verses of the Azhvaar and explaining them the significance of this historic temple town. There is not much of a thattu kaasu on offer but for Giri Bhattar it is the opportunity to describe the devotional greatness of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar to the devotees that gives him happiness.

The Thirumalai and Thiruppalli Yezhuchi verses have so touched these devotees from Bangalore that they recite alongside him in each of the sannidhis. Suddenly, Giri Bhattar is full of energy mingling with these new set of devotees from another state. He tells them as to why Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is seen with a flower basket much to their delight. Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is seen alongside Lords of two different Divya Desams - Tirupathi Balaji and Thiru Maaliruncholai Soundararajan Perumal and Giri Bhattar also narrates the reasoning behind that. The story goes that both of them had heard of some beautiful early morning songs in praise of Ranganatha and wanted to listen to Thondaradipodi Azhvaar’s Thirupalli Ezhuchi and are believed to have made a trip to Thiru Mandangudito be treated to those sweet ‘wake up’ verses of Thondaradipodi.

His forefathers had been associated with temples in their times but with the slowdown in the 2nd half of the previous century, this family moved away from temples into farming in Kandiyur near the Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal temple.

On this hot July morning, when the Cauvery water has still not reached Kandiyur for their farming operations to start, Giri Bhattar recalls to this writer as to how he made it to this unlikely location in Thiru Mandangudi. The financial scenario had not been great with farming largely dependent on the release of the Cauvery water and this led to the teenaged Giri quitting academics after Class X. His appa got him into retailing of Petrol and Diesel “It was a period when fuel was not available in the Thiruvayaru region and one had to go to Thanjavur to find a fuel station. We retailed petrol and diesel and that made good business. It was the way my life was headed when shortage of priests opened up an unlikely opportunity for me.

As has been the scenario in many remote temples in the state, there was an urgent need for a priest to take over at this avathara sthalam in Thiru Mandangudi. His relative who was the trustee at this temple approached him to join as an archaka and quite reluctantly he made his way to this temple town.

Till then, he had spent almost all his life in Thiru Kandiyur around the Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal temple but suddenly he was thrown into a space that he had not experienced earlier. There was an opportunity presented to him to perform Kainkaryam in this avathara sthalam on Thondaradipodi Azhvaar. The financial return was just in three digits and that was not luring for him to make the switch but the opportunity of an Azhvaar Sthalam kainkaryam got him interested. 

Since then, just over two decades ago, he has performing archaka kainkaryam at this temple for 18 days every month staying alone in this remote location for more than half a month before returning to Kandiyur to be with his family.

Legendary Tale

Born in Thiru Mandangudi, Thondaradipodi Azhvaar (his original name was Vipra Narayanan) was lost in love for Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Very early in his life, he moved from Thiru Mandangudi to Srirangam and mastered himself in Vedas. His devotion was so enduring that he thought of none but Ranganatha. This devotion meant that he decided to sing praise only of the Lord of Srirangam and of no other Lord. Dedicating his life to the service of Lord Ranganatha, he created a beautiful Nandavanam in Srirangam and with a basket in hand immersed himself in collecting flowers and making beautiful garlands for the Lord every day.

Having heard of the Lord accepting Thirumazhisai Azhvaar’s request to come out of the kingdom in Thiruvekka near Kanchipuram and provide a special Maaru Sayanam posture there on his return, and another special posture in Kumbakonam with his Uththana Sayanam as Aaravamuthan, Thondaradipodi was keen that he too be given a special darshan from his favourite Lord Ranganatha.

Ranganatha promised him to provide such a darshan but asked him to go to his birth place at Thiru Mandangudi. Unwillingly, he left Srirangam and reached Thiru Mandangudi. To his surprise, he saw Lord Rangantha waiting for him in a special and rare standing posture to provide darshan along with Sri and Bhoo devi.

As Lord Ranganatha surprised Thondaradi Podi Azhvaar with this special standing darshan at his very own birth place, he is referred to as ‘ Varam Tharum’ Perumal and is believed to accede to and grant the sincere prayers of the devotees who visit this temple at Thiru Mandangudi.

மனத்தில் ஓர் தூய்மை இல்லை 

வாயில் ஓர் இன்சொல் இல்லை 

சினத்தினால் செற்றம் நோக்கி 

தீவிளி விளிவன் வாளா 

புனத்துழாய் மாலையானே 

பொன்னி சூழ் திருவரங்கா 

எனக்கு இனிக் கதி என் சொல்லாய் 

என்னை ஆளுடைய கோவே 

20+ years later and with Giri Bhattar now into his 50s, the monthly salary remains abysmally low at Rs. 2000. This temple does not attract devotees like those in the heart of Kumbakonam and hence thattu kaasu is not in line with what priests get in temples in bigger towns. That’s not something Giri Bhattar has taken to heart for every time a new devotee enters the temple his eyes light up as he gets into the groove of presenting the sacred verses to them narrating the tale of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and creating a devotional bonding for them with this Azhvaar. 

Every morning and evening, in addition to the Thiru Aradhanam and taking care of devotee darshan, Giri Bhattar also doubles up as the cook in the madapalli preparing and presenting the sacred food.

The consecration event took place in late 2024 and the temple complex now wears a colourful fresh look, so different and bearing no resemblance to what it was 15 years ago when this writer featured a story on the temple. The Kettai day in Margazhi marking the birthday of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is celebrated in a grand way with a Garuda Vahana procession around the streets of Thiru Mandangudi on that morning. Pavitrotsavam is another utsavam that is celebrated at this temple. 

It is almost close to noon and Giri Bhattar is back sitting in front of the sannidhi waiting to see if another devotee will arrive at the temple before the temple closes for the first half. He is just left in the company of the trustee who are present at the temple on this hot day to oversee some of the repair activities. Giri Bhattar also performs Thiru Aradhanam at their house following which he distributes the daily Thaligai to anyone present at the temple. 

கதிரவன் குணதிசைச் சிகரம் வந்து அணைந்தான் 

கனை இருள் அகன்றது காலை அம் பொழுதாய் 

மது விரிந்து ஒழுகின மா மலர் எல்லாம் 

வானவர் அரசர்கள் வந்து வந்து ஈண்டி 

எதிர்திசை நிறைந்தனர் இவரொடும் புகுந்த 

இருங் களிற்று ஈட்டமும் பிடியொடு முரசும் 

அதிர்தலில் அலைகடல் போன்றுளது எங்கும் 

அரங்கத்தம்மா பள்ளி எழுந்தருளாயே 

Like this verse of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar in Thirupalliezhuchi, he is hopeful that one day his financial darkness too would be dispelled. But till then, unmindful of the low salary, Giri Bhattar is looking to continue to enjoy this experience of donning the role of an archaka at this birth place of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and being the one presenting the legendary tale of this Azhvaar to the devotees who make it to the temple every now and then. The presence of devotees revitalises his energy and he has narrated this devotional tale so many times over and over again to those who have made it to the temple. And the one to the devotee family from Bangalore this morning was another occasion that brought cheer to him as he saw it as yet another opportunity to narrate this temple's story and to get devotees excited towards Thondaradipodi Azhvaar.

While the low salary is a worry, Giri Bhattar has another way back in Kandiyur. The cauvery water has not yet been opened into the second week of July, a time when his family should have begun harvesting for the new season. That source of income too hangs in the balance!! 

Tailpiece: All those who for years have been hitting out at the HRCE on low salaries to priests should visit this temple Nd see the plight of the archaka, a temple where the private hereditary trustee pays the priest Rs. 2000 after almost 25 years of archaka service.

Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar Brahmananda News Network

Sanyasi turns a Journalist 

Torch Bearer of Kapali Temple is back in the NEWS after a 18 month hiatus this time launching a News Network!!!

For a couple of years, former World Bank staffer and consultant to the PMO, Sanyasi 'Brahmanandha' Ramkumar was the most renowned devotional face at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore. After having let go of the corporate life that had taken him to many overseas locations, Ramkumar sole destination in life became this legendary temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar as one having utsavams round the year.

As he settled down into the temple as a devotee who inspired others to read devotional books and to follow a certain path within the temple, he found the absence of a permanent torch bearer during the processions and decided to take it upon himself. He would ride early in the evening on his old two wheeler from his home in Kodambakkam on the days in the month when there was a street procession. On other days, he would be in time for the Artha jaama pooja.

His contribution assumed great significance during the annual panguni utsavam when he stayed in a room on the south mada street and arrived at the temple at 3am to don an early morning role of carrying the Theevatti to the Yaaga Salai and then stayed back for the vahana procession in the morning. He came back in the evening carrying the Theevatti through the entire length of the 2-3 hour procession and stayed back at the temple till after midnight.

Even as he was performing this duty at the Kapaleeswarar temple, a high profile engagement of a Consultant to the PMO came his way. And for over a year, he straddled between the street processions and working on the digitisation of temple records.

Kapali Temple to the Banks of Ganga

In Karthigai of 2024, he came up and told this writer in front of the Murugan Sannidhi at the Kapaleeswarar temple that he was ending both his engagements – the one at the temple where he had become the face of the street processions with his vocal conversations with devotees as well as the engagement with the PMO and that he was heading into a saintly life.

And all of a sudden much to the shock of the devotees of Kapaleeswarar temple, he left the temple one night to never return. He initially reached the banks of Cauvery in Mayiladuthurai and then went to historic sacred places across the country and to Nepal as well. He was mostly out of sight and available only to some of his close devotee mates with whom he had built a devotional engagement at the Kapali temple.

The Sanyasi Journalist

In this phase he told this writer that disengaging with the worldly life including the bonding with Kapaleeswarar was his next phase of devotional enlightenment. Now, over 18 months after he quit the worldly life, he is back in the limelight with Brahmanandha News Network that he says is an independent editorial platform dedicated to verified, curated and meaningful journalism!!! He says that it was born from a vision of culture, truth, dharma and nation first and is hoping that this will be trusted source for balanced, indepth and inspiring news across India and World. He has a morning, midday and prime time bulleting.

Interestingly, he is going deep into understanding AI and how it can be used to disseminate insightful information to the readers. He says that AI assisted human curated news sets BNN apart. Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar who acquired Deekshai and is now known as Brahmanandha also has on offer weekly specials on wide ranging topics. He calls himself the Editor in Chief!!!

In his life, Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar had donned various roles – from overseas corporate engagements in the 2000s to being a consultant to the World Bank and then moving completely away to the devotional world and to a daily life at Kapaleeswarar temple to then disengaging his bonding with Kapali to move on a path of a rishi. Now after all these, Ramkumar (Brahmanandha) has got into journalism and with AI as an important assistant, he is confident of taking on the best in the business to provide news promising depth with clarity, truth with responsibility and speed with accuracy.

In his more recent roles over the last decade or so, he has managed to capture the imagination of people and more often than not became the centre of attraction. When the devotees of Kapaleeswarar thought that they had lost him forever, he is back with a bang proudly announcing on social media about his launch. There is also a Brahmanandha Bhakthi Network (BBN) that will provide info on events and the happenings at temples

One long standing devotee of Kapaleeswarar told this writer at the Singar temple over the weekend that Theevatti Ramkumar’s launch could even give the CNN a run for its money – for a start at least the name 'BNN' sounds so.  It is just over a month since the launch and Ramkumar is highly active on the social media including on his instagram page as he looks to take the news consumers by storm like he did with his 'Theevatti' engagement and his digitisation role with TN temples. 

This section will track the developments at the BNN and BBN. Till this weekend he has not been back at the Kapaleeswarar temple after his sudden exit after the Murugan procession on the Karthigai evening in 2024.

Best wishes to Brahmanandha News Network!! 

Srirangam Temple Prasadam Stall Transformation Aadi 2026

HRCE Minister Ramesh has initiated two unprecedented steps that augurs well for the devotees

High Quality Prasadam will now be prepared internally at the Madapalli, and the temple has seen a drastic reduction in 'VIP reference' darshan this month

In his first 45 days as the HRCE Minister, Ramesh has taken two unprecedented positive steps at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. This section had featured a story as early as September 2018 as to how the so called ‘Prasadam’ stall functioned at the temple. And then in 2024, this section featured another story on how the High Court came hard on the HRCE regarding the conduct of the Prasadam stall (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/srirangam-prasadam-stall.html).

Minister breaking the flawed model

This writer had said then back in 2018 that the HR & CE had converted ‘Food’ into a lucrative business inside the temple complex with the food counter having been auctioned for around Rs. 1crore at the Srirangam temple, a mind boggling Rs. 30000 a day.In that model, food was made far away from the Madapalli and even brought from outside the temple complex. One did not know when it was prepared and how old the snacks and sweets were.

Hiring Madapalli Paricharakars for Prasadam preparation

As soon as Ramesh took charge, he has gone about initiating two transformational changes. It is Sunday morning (June 28) and the day of Aani Jeshtabhisekam for Ranganathaswamy. The sacred water is brought from Kollidam through the Thayar Sannidhi to the presentation of non stop Nadaswaram by the entire team of artistes at the temple.

Photo credit: Sundar Bhattar

JC Sivaram Kumar is near the Dwajasthambam just past 9am as part of the sacred Kudam's procession on the temple elephant. He tells this writer as to how based on the proactive initiative of Minister Ramesh, the Srirangam temple will see a new model of Prasadam that has not been seen here or elsewhere. “We are hiring specific Parijaraka personnel for the madapalli and have received the requisite certification from the Food quality authorities. We are now in the process of identifying the quantity of ingredients required for the daily preparation and will finalise these over the next fortnight. The contract with the existing prasadam stall ends in the 2nd week of July and we will be preparing the various sweets through our own newly hired Paricharakars from mid July. This is a first of its kind initiative undertaken in TN temples and am happy that it is starting off in Srirangam”, he told this writer even as scores of Nadaswaram artistes play devotional music next to the Dwajasthambam.

The Aadi Start - Minister Ramesh's Prasadam stall direction

Minister Ramesh was keen that every food packet handed to devotees from the Prasadam stall had to have manufacturing and expiry dates. As per his direction, when the sweets get prepared from the paniyaram zone from the 3rd week of July, every packet will have these details. Ramesh is expected to closely monitor this process to ensure that only high quality prasadam is handed out to devotees. Come Aadi, the devotees of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam will experience something that they have not in the last few decades that of tasting high quality food prepared with good quality ghee, oil and other ingredients and with specific deadlines on the wrapperm of the food packets sold.

VIP 'Reference' darshan model on the decline

The Ranganathaswamy temple has been witnessing big crowds on specific festive occasions such Adyayana Vaikunta Ekadasi utsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Puratasi Saturdays and the like. With the taking off of the devotional wave, devotees are now thronging the temple round the year even on non festive occasions to have darshan of the Moolavar Lord in Sayana Kolam. 

For a long time, the VIP darshan model created havoc in the path to the Moolavar darshan. There was very little the local temple authorities could do for every so called VIP dished out a ‘reference’. Soon as Minister Ramesh visited the temple, he was clear that there had to be an end to this model. He backed JC Sivaram Kumar to undertake strict steps and adopt a clear process driven model for darshan. 

Photo credit : Sundar Bhattar

JC Sivaram Kumar told this writer on Sunday morning as to how ‘I know him’ reference of VIP devotees has almost come to an end at the Ranganathaswamy temple. Once into the Aariya Bhattal Vaasal, devotees are directed to the free darshan queue or the Rs. 100 queue. Those continuing to wield VIP reference power have to get a sign off from the JC. Even the Kainkaryaparas who brought in devotees for special darshan have to now make an entry in the notebook placed near the Dwajasthambam signing off with their name and the number of devotees they are bringing for special darshan. This step has drastically reduced VIP darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi and there is a sense of process now to this approach.

A Refreshing outlook of the new Minister

While the previous HRCE minister focused on ‘Kumbhabhisekam’ target and giving a new look to the temple infrastructure, the new minister is focused on streamlining important processes within the temple so as to create a friendly environment for the devotees who are coming to have darshan of the Lord. The two initiatives Minister Ramesh has undertaken at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam has sent a strong message to everyone at the temple that he would not tolerate anyone wavering from devotee friendly processes.  He has said that he may seem young and inexperienced but he has toiled hard in the background for years to come to this level. With the clarity on what he wants to achieve for devotee welfare, he is taking bold, unprecedented steps that very few at the Ranganathaswamy temple had expected or have experienced in the past. And that is great news for devotees who are thronging the temple from far and wide for a few seconds darshan of the Sleeping Lord.

Koodal Azhagar Periyazhvar Avathara Utsavam Aani Swathi

Reminding one of the legendary episode - Periyazhvar atop Elephant, Perumal providing Garuda Sevai

Celebrating Periyazhvar’s Birthday on Aani Swathi at the location where he praised the Lord with the Pallandu Verses after seeing him descend on his Garuda Vahana

Vishnu Chittar (later Periyazhvar) who had dedicated his entire life to selfless service of the Lord in Srivilliputhur,  was invited to a debate in Koodal Nagar (Madurai) after King Vallabha Deva was told by an invisible voice that ‘what is required / you want after death should be accumulated in this life itself.’ The King summoned his head priest Selva Nambi to find him the answer. Selva Nambi, who had heard of Vishnu Chittar, sent an invitation to Srivilliputhur to get him to participate.

There was a huge prize on offer to the one who provided insights into this. Many scholars came forward but the bag with the golden coins hung in the balance. When it was time for Vishnu Chittar to come up with his presentation, he stunned the Pandya King with his description of Lord Narayana projecting him as the Supreme Being giving various references from the Vedic Scriptures and stating that worshiping him in one’s life time with devotion was the highest form of worship and was likely to lead one to what we want after death.

Even as he was finishing his speech, the golden coins were showered on him, for Vallabha Deva was truly impressed with his presentation. It was then that he was conferred the title of ‘Bhattar Piran’ by Raja Simhan I (Vallabha Deva) and led into a royal procession around the streets of Madurai in a grand event witnessed by a huge crowd. The melodies of musical instruments resonated everywhere and Bhattar Piran was surrounded by a royal retinue with the Pandya king requesting him with open arms to ascend and mount on to the elephant top.

As he moved along in the procession, he suddenly had darshan of the Lord along with Goddess Lakshmi on Garuda mount against the back drop of the clear blue sky. Immediately he fell into a trance and watching the Lord in high sky praised him expressing concern of his safety. Verses poured out instantly as he sung for the Lord’s long life. It was seen as so sacred that Thiru Pallandu became the first decad of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.

Vedanta Desikan in his Prabhanda Saaram provides a delightful description of this event in Madurai

பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆனி தன்னில்

பெருந் சோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே

முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்

துயக்கற மால் பரத்துவத்தைத் திருமாச்செப்பி

வாரணமேல் மதுரை வலம் வரவே

வானில் கருடவாகன நாய்த் தோன்ற

வாழ்த்தும் ஏரணி  பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு

நானூற்று எழுபத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும்

எனக்கு உதவு நீயே

Birthday Celebrations begin with Thirumanjanam

It is Aani Swathi (June 25) and the birthday of Periyazhvar. 27year old Kesava Bhattar, who secured an engineering degree from Sastra University, performed a quick 5minute Thirumajanam for Periyazhvar. With the Challenges in temples for archakas, it is likely Kesava Bhattar would have pursued the Engineering path at least for a while but unfortunately soon after he joined a top Tier 1 IT company, his appa passed away and he made his way back to the temple. His family is one of the three hereditary archakas of the Koodal Azhagar temple with each family sharing 10 days each at Perumal, Thayar and Andal Sannidhis every month.

பருப்பதத்துக் கயல் பொறித்த பாண்டியர் குலபதி போல்

திரு பொழிந்த சேவடி என் சென்னியின் மேல் பொறித்தாய்

மறுப்பு ஒசித்தாய் மல் அடர்த்தாய் என்றென்று உன் வாசகமே

உருப் பொலிந்த நாவினேன் உனக்கு உரித்து ஆக்கினையே - Periyazhvar Thirumozhi

Hereditary Bhattar decorates Periyazhvar

47 year old Gopi Bhattar, who has been performing archaka kainkaryam at this Divya Desam for over 25 years, arrives at 9am to decorate Periyazhvar after the Thirumanjanam. The Prabhandham members are on the dot at the scheduled time of 9.30am for the Ghoshti that lasts just over an hour with them presenting Thiruppavai, the fifth canto of Periyazhvar’s Thirumozhi and the tenth canto of Tiruvoimozhi. Following Thiruvarathanam, it is time for the Sripatham Personnel to carry Periyazhvar for the Mangalasasanam first to the Moolavar Sannidhi where the Prabhandham members present the Pallandu verses. And then at the Thayar Sannidhi, they present the Thiruvappai verses.

Mangalasasanam - Perumal, Thayar and Andal

Past 11.30am, it has got hot in Madurai and Periyazhvar goes around the prakara to Andal Sannidhi with everyone sweating with the Prabhandham members presenting Ramanuja Nootranthathi. There is a sizeable local crowd for the Mangalasasanam and a New Zealander as well who now straddles between Tiruvannamalai and the Kiwi land. She is not much of a cricket fan but is excited about the third test against England starting in the next few hours at Trent Bridge. 

By noon, there are over a 100 devotees for the Satru Murai verses followed by the distribution of Puliyodharai prasadam, 58 year old Yamanan has been the sole cook at the Madapalli for over a decade at a daily wage having been roped in by Suresh Bhattar from the Vanamamalai Mutt in Thiruvallikeni and earlier the 'Vada Malai' cook at the Anjaneya temple in Nanganallur for over a dozen years. He has been busy all morning having made dosai in the morning for vishroopam with him also now doubling up on such utsavam days as the one who distributes the prasadam. He tells this writer that he enjoys preparing the sacred food and though he is alone at the madapalli, the blessing of preparing Thaligai for Perumal takes away the physical tiredness of this activity. He also seems to be the most friendly kainkaryapara as he engages with everyone - his kainkaryapara colleagues, the devotees and the HRCE and is sporting a smile throughout.

Delayed Procession 
And now the disappointing aspect of Periyazhvar’s birthday celebrations. While the Satru Murai and the Theertha Shatari Prasadam took quite a while given the good sized devotee crowd, the utsava deity could have been brought from the Moolavar Sannidhi to the alankara mandapam and one of the archakas could have been assigned the task of decorating Koodal Azhagar atop the Garuda Vahana so Perumal could have been ready for the street procession after the Satru Murai event of Periyazhvar. But unfortunately that aspect was neglected and the utsava deity did not make to the alankara mandapam till 12.15pm. Also, the vastram for Perumal was not kept ready and one had to scramble around to secure a suitable vastram for the occasion. This meant that the procession did not start till after 1.15pm with devotees having had to wait for well over an hour for the plan had been to start the Garuda Vahana procession around noon with the multiple posters of this utsavam pointing to the Garuda Sevai in ‘Nanpagal’!!! Ofcourse in divya desams outside of the cities such as Chennai, there is shortage of service personnel. In this case there are three sannidhis to be managed and the Periyazhvar mangalasasanam and satru murai event. Archakas in such locations are always looking for physical presence and support from kainkaryaparas as against just a financial contribution as a devotee donor.

Reminded of the Legendary Episode on his birthday

There were around a hundred devotees outside the Rajagopuram to witness birthday boy Periyazhvar providing ethir sevai when in the sweltering heat Koodal Azhagar made his way atop the Garuda Vahana through the new look eastern raja gopuram to be mounted on to the wheeled vehicle for a quick fast paced procession around the four streets. This procession reminded these devotees of the legendary episode when Periyazhvar atop the elephant suddenly saw Perumal on his Garuda Vahana in clear blue sky. Indeed it was absolutely clear sky on this afternoon and devotees thoroughly enjoyed the joint darshan of Periyazhvar and Koodal Azhagar.