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 2am 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

Thiru Kurungudi Nambi temple Consecration March 2026

Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer and Venu Srinivasan come together for the largest restoration exercise in over a 100 years

This historic Divya Desam where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar attained Moksham is all set for the first full fledged consecration since 1912

            Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer with a sample memento for the Consecration Day

It is just past 6am on Thursday (March 12) morning and there is already a buzz around the historic Nambi temple in Thiru Kurungudi, one praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Namazhvaar. A lady is drawing a beautiful kolam in front of the temple, while the priests and the small set of Kainkaryaparas are preparing themselves for the 7am Vishroopam. The personnel involved in the Thiruppani works are deeply engrossed in their activity in different zones inside the temple. Nambi Bhattar from Nanguneri has arrived early and is seen engaging in a conversation with the Vaikanasa Agama experts strategizing the plans for the mega consecration event that is set to take place on March 25.

எங்கனேயோ அன்னைமீர்காள் என்னை முனிவது நீர் 

நங்கள் கோலத் திருக்குறுங்குடி நம்பியை நான் கண்ட பின் 

சங்கினோடும் நேமியோடும் தாமரைக் கண்களோடும் 

செங்கனிவாய் ஒன்றினோடும் செல்கின்றது என் நெஞ்சமே - Namazhvaar

Known as the ‘Dakshina Badri’, the Azhagiya Nambi temple at Thirukurungudi is located about 40kms from Tirunelveli (and about 15kms from Nanguneri) off the Nagercoil highway at the foot of the Mahendra hill on the Western Ghat. The Lord here is seen 5 different Kolams- Ninra Kolam, Iruntha Kolam, Sayana(Sleeping) Kolam, Thirupaarkadal Nambi and Thirumalai Nambi (on top of the Mahendra hill). It was here that Perumal took the role of a disciple and obtained Vaishnava Initiation from Ramanuja. Hence he is referred to as Vaishnava Nambi.

Jeer exudes confidence

Way back in May last year, when this writer met Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer, the head of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt that administers this temple, he had said that the date of the consecration had already been fixed (March 25, 2026) a week ahead of the start of the Panguni Brahmotsavam (starts on April 1 this year with the Pancha Garuda Sevai on April 5 evening) and that he was confident that the restoration activities would go as per plan and be completed on time. There is an aura about this Jeer and the confidence he extols in carrying out his plans for the temple leaves no one in doubt as to how he wants the activities to be undertaken. He monitors the temple activities very closely each day of the year and is keen to ensure that devotees get the best experience.

Later in the morning, soon after finalising the Prabhandham schedule for the Consecration event with the Adyapaka leader, the Jeer sits with this writer to share his thoughts on how he has gone about the consecration. A Kainkaryapara shows him a sample of a clock memento with photos of each of the Azhvaars on it and he is happy with the way it has come out. This is yet another instance of how he is thinking out of the box and coming up with interesting ideas keeping the promotion of tradition in mind (photo above at the top of the story).

No Achievement this...Its divine opportunity

When this writer asks if it is a big achievement under his leadership to perform the biggest and the first full-fledged consecration at this temple  since 1912, he downplays coinage such as ‘achievement’ and says that he genuinely considers it as a ‘Nambi’ directed opportunity “I do not call this an achievement. It is a divine opportunity presented to me by Lord Nambi designating me as the one to oversee the restoration activities and to perform this first full-fledged consecration in almost 115years. I have to consider that a big blessing in my life and not an achievement.”

                 Nambi Bhattar (R) with Agama experts on Thursday

Fruitful Partnership with Venu Srinivasan

He is quick to point out the strong partnership he has forged with Industrialist and TVS’ Chairman Venu Srinivasan and how that has been one of the prime reasons and the driving factor for this transformation at Thiru Kurungudi. “There have been fingers pointed at Venu Srinivasan in the past by disgruntled persons but I told them all that in this now 15 years association with him, there has not been a single occasion when he has undertaken activities inside the temple on his own. He has great regard for the Mutt and each of the restoration initiatives he has undertaken over the last decade or so has been pre-approved by me as the Mutt Head. And in this current exercise, every activity is being undertaken with the sole objective of restoring this Divya Desam to its old grandeur. Both of us were very clear right from the beginning that getting the traditional aspects back inside the temple complex has to be at the forefront of all that with we do ahead of the long pending consecration.”

Hurdles along the way

Soon after the Jeer took charge 15 plus years ago, he was keen for the restoration to take place in a traditional way and the consecration to be performed thereafter but he has had to face a number of roadblocks and hurdles along the way, each of which delayed the consecration. During the middle of the previous decade, a high court order restricted renovation works across all temples in Tamil Nadu for a period. And then there was an ongoing court case around the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi that had been demolished 20 years ago.

The Jeer was not keen to perform consecration of the Perumal temple when the issue relating to the Shiva Sannidhi was pending in the court. In the previous full fledged consecration in early 20th century, the Shiva Sannidhi consecration preceded the one of Perumal. After the closure of the court case, the consecration of the restored Shiva Sannidhi took place in 2023 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/thiru-kurungudi-pakkam-ninnaar-shiva.html)

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும்  உடையார்

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க  நின்ற 

பண்பர் ஊர்போலும்

தக்க மரத்தின் தாழ்சினையேறி 

தாய் ;வாயில் கொக்கின் பிள்ளை 

வெள்ளிர உண்ணும் குறுங்குடியே  -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Venu's Kula Deivam and a Temple 'close to his heart'

This temple is the Kula Deivam for Venu Srinivasan and one that he holds close to his heart. While he had begun his temple restoration exercise in South TN with the Nava Tirupathi temples in the mid1990s, he was always waiting for the appropriate moment to start the large scale restoration of his Kula Deivam temple here at Thiru Kurungudi.  As with many remote temples in Tamil Nadu, the Nambi temple in Kurungudi too had been in a state of disrepair at the turn of the century.  The Jeer points out that even the 1981 consecration did not see any major restoration and had been done on a small scale.

Early on Thursday morning, Venu Srinivasan takes time out to share his memories with this writer of how he saw the temple when he took up the restoration after having gained experience from the Nava Tirupathi work in the last decade of the previous century. “The walls in the outer prakara were in a dilapidated state and with further delay would have fallen off. Thiru Mangai Azhvaar describes this temple as one with big trees but the coconut trees had almost become a thing of the past with most lying in damaged condition. It was sad to see the nandavanam resembling anything but that.”

If Srirangam is known for Vaikunta Ekadesi, Thiru Kurungkudi is said to be the home to the Vaishnava tradition of ‘Kaisika Ekadesi’ and Kaisika Natakam (drama)- worship of the Lord through dance, music and drama is a special event at the Thiru Kurungudi Nambi temple on the Kaisika Ekadesi day. Kaisika Puranam, which is a part of Varaaha Puraanam and comprises several hundred songs- all in small stanzas- shows Lord Narayana as the ultimate supreme force and is a case study in this modern money making world of keeping up one’s word at the cost of anything, even life.

Venu Srinivasan recalls walking around the temple complex and finding thick bushes. “The outer prakara was an ‘unpaved one’ in the past and sharp thorns would pierce your feet. The Kaisika Ekadasi mandapam too was in bad shape and one couldn’t even visit the Ramanuja Sannidhi. Not many in the new generation knew that there was a Moksha Sthalam (Thiruvarasu) of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar for that too was in a dilapidated state. The Bats that inhabited the temple in large numbers left a bad odour. Overall, it had been in a terrible state with most things unattended to.”

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who built the huge walls of Srirangam and contributed in no small measure to the temple asked for Moksham from Srirangam Ranganatha and was directed to visit his ‘Southern house’. He is believed to have attained moksham from here (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/06/thiru-kurungudi-thiru-mangai-azhvaar.html)

Above is a photograph taken by this writer just under 15 years ago of the state of the outer prakara and the Chitrai Gopuram in the background that wore a old worn out look- a story on this had featured in The Hindu friday review back then.

Over the last decade or so, there has been a transformational change in the Nandavanam and the Vasantha Utsavam when Nambi makes his way there has become an annual event that attracts big crowd from across the state. The bats have disappeared into history.

The utsavams had become restricted to within the temple. Venu credits the Jeer’s personal initiative of reviving ‘Veethi Purappadu’. “The Jeer wanted all the utsavams to be restored to its old grandeur and all street processions to take place as it had been in the centuries gone by.”

                               
            Outer Prakara now as contrasted with over a decade ago

While he has anchored restorations in over 225 temples across South India, Venu Srinivasan feels particularly blessed about having been able to undertake large sized restoration works in the Nava Tirupathi temples as well as Nanguneri and now this consecration, in addition to the 'out of the blue' surprise opportunity at Srirangam.

Hanuman’s Leap to Lanka

About 8 kms from here on the Western Ghats is the Thirumalai Nambi temple from where Lord Hanuman is said to have taken the leap to Lanka.

Ramanuja’s early trip back to Thirukurungudi

Ramanuja made trips to other Divya Desams such as Thiruvattaru and Thiruvan Parisaram. At Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, when Ramanuja wanted to return back to Thiru Kurungudi, the Lord directed Garuda to carry him fast that same night and to Ramanuja’s surprise, he was on top of the Thirukurungudi rock at the blink of an eye. As a result of this event, it is believed that one does not find Garuda in the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple.

Varna Kalaa Painting of Moolavar

One of the biggest efforts of the last 12 months has been to restore the moolavar idols in the three perumal sannidhis. When the Jeer wanted the best paintings of the Varna Kaala Moolavar idols and asked Venu Srinivasan on this, the action was immediate. Venu roped in ‘Varna Kalaa’ experts from Kerala. This writer got a sneak preview of the work going on on this front and devotees when they get to have darshan of the Moolavar in just over ten days are sure to be astonished with the quality of the painting that is sure to last a generation. An IT professional too has played a big role in this exercise and this section will feature a separate story on that.

                                     

Recognising the role and importance of the musicians and the nadaswaram artistes in temples, the authorities have presented a showcase to safeguard and keep the music instruments.

Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer continues to bless devotees on this morning with a couple of them presenting a good sized Sambhavanai towards the consecration event. There was a time till about a decade ago when the temple was short on funds that resulted in challenges even in the daily running of activities and taking care of the service personnel. The Jeer tells this writer that things have been turning around quite dramatically both in terms of devotee contribution as well as recovery of dues from the temple lands. “The entire restoration expense has been taken care of (by a single devotee), but when you are presenting this Sambhavanai with such devotion, I will accept it with both hands", the Jeer tells the two devotees.

When one of them says that this is not such a big amount, the Jeer points to her that even a Rupees Five contribution by the devotee of Nambi will be valued and he asks her to collect the receipt from the temple office. 

Perumal Abaranam- Gold Rake

There is a delight in his eyes when the Jeer talks about the gold rake abaranam for the three Perumals. 24 Carat Gold Rake has been completed for Veetriruntha Perumal and the work will start for Ninra Nambi in a day or two, he says. There is also to be a gold door at the entrance of the Moolavar Sannidhi. The Paramapada Vaasal door too is being refurbished and will sport a traditional look by the 25th of this month.

Grand Yaaga Salai

In line with the traditions laid down in the Vaikanasa Agama, there will be 24 Kundams for 24 Vishnu Naamas, one Panchagni each for the three Perumals (5 Kundams each). Archakas are being roped in from Chennai for the Yaaga Salai.

                              

            Grand Yaaga Salai @ a cost of over Rs. 30L with around 40 Kundams

Jeer says that Venu Srinivasan had wanted this to be the best consecration and agreed to take care of the entire expenses, both of the restoration exercise as well as the consecration event with the overall amount going well above Rs. 10 crores.

Thirumanjanam Koradu

Another interesting feature of the restoration exercise has been the making of the Thirumanjanam Koradu with exquisite sculptures and art work. Perumal will be seen inside the Thirumanjanam Koradu at the Yaaga Salai during the Consecration event.

Restoring damaged sculptures

At the Utsavam Alankara mandapam in front of the Eastern entrance, some of the historical centuries old sculptures had been in a broken state. These have been restored to its original shape using the latest technology. Such has been the quality of the restoration that the devotees would not be able to identify the ones that had been in a broken state previously, says the Jeer.

He is also happy that some of the historical wrongs have been corrected. Walls had been constructed around the Kaisika Ekadasi mandapam  during the 1981 consecration. It is a mandapam where Perumal also comes for ten days during the Pagal Pathu utsavam. These have been removed and grill windows installed so there is a free air circulation as well as natural light entering the mandapam. There is now a traditional elegance to this place.

A look at the sketches dating back to 1912 and 1930 shows that the Era Pathu mandapam had moved from one place to another!!!

When the Atheenam came forward to take care of the Shiva Sannidhi consecration, the Jeer told them that there had been wrongs at this temple in the past and that he would manage the consecration of the restored Shiva Sannidhi, himself.

 

The roof of the main temple complex has also been beautifully done to prevent rain drops from pouring down. Nambi Bhattar who will anchor the consecration event arrives and presents a set of new Paligai Kinnam much to the delight of the Jeer.

Origination of Araiyar Sevai

The famed Araiyar Sevai, depiction of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham in song and dance form, originated at Thiru Kurungkudi with Nambi watching Araiyar’s Abhinayam hiding behind a wall in Bashyam Street (South Mada Street). 

Focus on Recoveries

The Jeer in the recent past has appointed a separate team for revenue administration and he believes that this will reap rich dividends into the future. Following the consecration, I have a message from Ninra Nambi that the recoveries will touch 100%.  Venu has also been supporting us in the recovery exercise where ever possible.  The salaries to Kainkaryaparas is now at a healthy level but there continues to be a shortage of service personnel to carry out the daily activities. The Jeer says that Venu has come forward to support any number of additions to the Kainkaryaparas to strengthen the team at the temple. He is hopeful that there will be more original inhabitants who will come back to this temple town to perform Kainkaryam like they had in the centuries gone by.

Lord's Southern House

As per the Vaishnavite Sampradayam, Thirukurungudi is said to be the ‘Southern House’ of Lord Vishnu. Hence, it is believed that ‘Vaikuntam’ (the ultimate destination for Vaishnavites) is in ‘calling distance’ from Thirukurungudi (Thiru Narayana Puram is said to be the ‘Mela Veedu’, Kanchipuram the ‘Keezha Veedu’ and Srirangam ‘Veedu’).

Leading to the consecration, there will Upanyasams by Kidambi Narayanan and Satajit, among others (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/09/kidambi-narayanan-upanyasakar.html).

Big Moment for the Jeer

In the decades gone by, the temple looked deserted with the priests sitting endlessly at the entrance waiting for the next devotee but that wait almost always proved elusive and they would head back home with very minimal thattu kaasu. The Physical infrastructure within the temple complex had remained in a dilapidated state for a long time with no proper restoration initiatives for over a century. The utsavams had lost its grandeur. Overall, the second half of the previous century saw a major downturn in the fortunes of this historic Divya Desam. 

The entry of Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer in 2010 and his subsequent strong devotional partnership with Venu Srinivasan has resulted in a remarkable transformation on all fronts. From waiting for the next devotee not so long ago, the temple will have to now equip themselves to handle around 50000 devotees on the consecration day. Utsavams have been revived with Perumal's presence during the Vasantha Utsavam at the new look Nandavanam and the Pancha Garuda Sevai in Panguni attracting a large number of devotees. Jeer's strong focus on recoveries is strengthening the financial position of the Mutt and if the 100% recovery that he is targeting in the near future materialises, it is likely that the Mutt will become one of the strongest, also given the fact the original inhabitants are now contributing back to the temple town that they had left decades ago. He is looking forward to March 25 for it is one of the biggest days in his life leading a mega consecration event taking place at this historic Divya Desam after over a 100 years.

The consecration will take place between 9.20am and 10.30am on March 25 and Garuda Sevai street procession after 6pm that evening.

Panguni Garuda Sevai: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-panguni-garuda.html

Venu Srinivasan 25 years temple restoration: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html