Thiru Velliyankudi Brahmotsavam Hanumantha Vahana

In this fifth year after the revival, Kola Villi Rama provides darshan atop his favourite Hanuman on the fifth day of the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam

This section has featured several stories in the past on how the second half of the previous century saw a severe slowdown in temples in Tamil Nadu. Most of the original inhabitants had left their ancestral temple towns to cities in search of jobs away from temple Kainkaryam. Historical utsavams had come to a halt. For well over half a century, the utsavams in Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Kola Villi Rama temple in Thiru Velliyankudi too had stopped. 

Through the 1970s and 80s, the Kola Villi Rama temple in Thiru Velliyankudi, praised in all its glory by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in the Periya Thirumozhi remained a deserted place. There was no public transport to the temple.   There were no proper roads from any direction. One had to walk through a 5km mud path from Sholapuram that was full of pot holes. There was no electricity along the path and it was difficult to visit the temple in the evenings after 6pm. It was the same story from Thirupananthal or Aduthurai. 

The Bhattars of the time lived a lonely life at the temple waiting for the odd devotee to turn up so they could narrate the legendary story of Sukracharya and how he regained his vision here at Thiru Velliyankudi. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar describes Thiru Velliyankudi as being south of the Manni River (Cauvery) with one hearing the loud noise of the river flowing through in full force. The temple was surrounded by huge groves of Areca, Banana and Coconut. There were also Punnai groves and Serundi Trees seen all around the temple and one could hear the buzzing noise of the bumble bees that drank the overflowing nectar humming sweet music in happiness.

 ஆய்ச்சியர் அழைப்ப வெண்ணையுண்டு ஒரு கால் 

ஆலிலை வளர்ந்த எம்பெருமான் 

பேய்ச்சியை முலையுண்டு இணை மருதிருத்து 

பெருநிலம் அளந்தவன் கோயில் 

காய்த்த நீள் கழுகும் கதலியும் தெங்கும் 

எங்குமாம் பொழில்களின் நடுவே 

வாய்த்த நீர் பாயும் மண்ணியின் தென்பால் 

திருவெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே

Revival of Brahomotsavam

Ramamoorthy Bhattar, now 62, has anchored the revival of a few of the utsavams at this Divya Desam over the last few years including a three day Pavitrotsavam, Rama Navami Utsavam and Adyayana Utsavam. The biggest exercise was the revival  of the annual Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi. Five years ago, after getting ready all the vahanas and the chariot, it was decided to revive the Brahmotsavam much to the delight of the local residents. A few of the original inhabitants were back to support the temple utsavams both financially and through physical participation and they ensured that the financial aspects would be taken care of. In Vaikasi 2024, this section featured a story on the Garuda Sevai as part of the Brahmotsavam revival at Thiru Velliyankudi. This story is on the fi

With the completion of his agamic studies, Ramamoorthy Bhattar’s son Sundararaja Bhattar was there to take care of the on the ground conduct of the pooja formalities during the utsavam. 

                                       

Ramamoorthy Bhattar now dons the role of a Managing Director overseeing the activities. It is just past 6pm on Sunday (May 17) evening and Ramamoorthy Bhattar is standing near the flagpost with a worried look on his face. The coconut grinder at the Madapalli has conked off and he is awaiting a quick replacement from his home. Over the last few years, the thaligai has been sumptuous with Sriram from Mambalam in Chennai and the team members he has put together ensuring that the kainkaryaparas, sripatham personnel and the visiting devotees are fed well during the entire length of the utsavam. 

Ramamoorthy also has one eye on the alankaram with the final touches being given to Perumal atop the Hanumantha Vahana. He tells this writer that Thiru Aradhanam has started at 6pm and will take 45 minutes to complete. His son who is also incharge of the alankaram of Perumal has roped in archakas from different nearby locations including the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Senganoor and Nandipura Vinnagara Divya Desam in Nathan Koil to support him. There are also young vedic members to recite the vedas. 

As the clock ticks to 7pm, Ramamoorthy Bhattar directs the devotees to have a darshan of the Varana Kala Moolavar seen in an east facing sayana kolam. Shortly after, the Prabhandham members present the satru murai of Desikar Prabhandham in front of the ancient Utsava deity who provides darshan from the Kannadi Arai through the utsavam. 

The attention then moves to the South Prakara where its time for the Deeparathanai ahead of the street procession. Ramamoorthy Bhattar is pleased that the revival has happened in a traditional way and that “we try to follow traditional processes as much as possible”.

Sundararajan Bhattar recites the Vedas even as the Ubacharam to the Utsava deity is undertaken by another priest. A prabhandham member recites the sacred verse of Nam Azhvaar on the greatness of Rama.

கற்பார் ராமபிரானை அல்லால் மற்றும் கற்பரோ 

புற்பா முதலாப் புல் எறும்பு ஆதி என்று ஒன்று இன்றியே 

நற் பால் அயோத்தியில் வாழும் சராசரம் முற்றவும் 

நற் பாலுக்கு உய்ந்தவன் நான்முகனார் பெற்ற நாட்டுளே 

An important feature of this revival has been the high devotional interest of local residents with young kids not yet 10 reciting one verse of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s praise of Thiru Velliyankudi each day of the utsavam. It is Karthigai day in Vaikasi, the monthly star day of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who provides us with a glimpse of how this historic temple town was a 1000 years ago. Sundararajan Bhattar tells the kids as to how blessed they are to be residing here in a location so beautifully described by this Azhvaar. He told them as to how they need not go in search of any other Lord for they have the most beautiful Perumal right next to them and them enjoying each day of this utsavam would bring them his blessing for the next one year. "Kola Villi Ramar is waiting for you to come to him and seek his blessing", he tells these young kids.

Muralidhara Swami (Guruji) is a surprise visitor on this fifth evening of the Brahmotsavam and he expresses happiness at the presentation of the sacred verse by these five young kids. He personally appreciates each of the five kids asking them their names and congratulating them for their effort.  He also takes a close look at the alankaram and provides feedback to Ramamoorthy Bhattar.

ஒள்ளிய கருமம் செய்வன் என்று உணர்ந்த 

மாவலி வேள்வியில் புக்கு 

தெள்ளிய குறளாய் மூவடி கொண்டு 

திக்குற வளர்ந்தவன் கோயில் 

அள்ளிஅம் பொழில்வாய் இருந்துவாழ் குயில்கள் 

அரி அரி என்று அவை அழைப்ப 

வெள்ளியார் வணங்க விரைந்து அருள் செய்வான் 

திரு வெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே 

It is a new initiative undertaken by the 26 year old Sundararajan Bhattar to get the new gen actively involved in the utsavam. He tells at the devotees present on the occasion that just visiting the utsavam on the Thiru Kalyanam evening on the 7th day is not enough and that this Brahmotsavam is a great 9 day period for them to associate closely with Kola Villi Rama and engage with them as devotees in every way possible. He also narrates the story of the Vamana Avathara as to how Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised the Lord in his verses on Velliyankudi.

It is 8pm when the utsava deity, made this century for street processions, makes his way through the eastern raja gopuram on to the Sannidhi street where the prabhandham members begin the recital of Thiruviruttam. Over the next hour and a half, Srungaara Sundar, the utsava deity, provided darshan around the beautifully lit four streets of Thiru Velliyankudi.

In the not too distant past, there were no street lights, the way to Thiru Velliyankudi was through muddy roads. Ramamoorthy Bhattar recalls to this writer during the Hanumantha Vahana procession as to how he would wade through hip high waters to reach the temple but now a lot has improved. The Prabhandham members are few in number but they are committed to reciting the entire Nalayira Divya Prabhandham as well as Desikar Prabhandham during the course of the Brahmotsavam.

Describing the scenario around the temple, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that Thiru Velliyankudi was a place that had huge jewelled mansions that were so tall they seemed to be playing with the Sun!!! He goes on to say that as the Cauvery gushed along flowing towards the East, it deposited large quantities of gold as wave after wave lashed the banks of Velliyankudi. The original inhabitants had left these shores seeking greener pastures. Now located in far away cities, they have seen a positive financial turnaround in their lives and are now giving back to their favourite Lord as is seen during this Brahmotsavam with colourful lighting, wide ranging Thaligai and prasadam presentation, restoration of the vahanas. All these have resulted in a positive vibration around this historic temple town, with residents in a joyful mood chatting with Ramamoorthy Bhattar welcoming the Lord into their homes with coconut, fruits and flowers. 

Ramamoorthy Bhattar himself is happy that Sriram and his team members have taken complete charge of organising the Ubayadarars and running the utsavam from a financial stand point. He and his archaka team members have thus been able to focus on the pooja aspects of the utsavam. He is also pleased that his son Sundararajan Bhattar has relieved the pressure from his shoulders by taking full responsibility of the Yaaga Salai, Thiru Aradhanam and Alankaram. Late into the evening, Ramamoorthy Bhattar continued to chat around with residents whom he has been engaging with day in day out for over 25 years and the good news is that there are now happy faces with the revival of the utsavams at Thiru Velliyankudi. 

காற்றிடை பூளை கறந்தென அரந்தை உர 

கடல் அரக்கர் தம் சேனை 

கூற்றிடை செல்ல கொங் கணை துறந்த 

கோல வில் இராமன் தன் கோயில் 

ஊற்றிடை நின்ற வாழையின் கனிகள் 

ஊழ்த்து வீழ்ந்தன உண்டு மண்டி 

சேற்றிடை கயல்கள் உகள்திகழ் வயல் சூழ் 

திருவெள்ளியங்குடி அதுவே 

Those that had arrived over the weekend from Chennai for the Garuda Sevai and Hanumantha Vahana head back late on Sunday night by the Uzhavan Express from Kumbakonam completely satisfied at having had darshan of Kola Villi Rama and seeing their favourite Lord in a grand alankaram  decked with glittering jewellery, the huge flower garlands that provided a colourful look to the alankaram and the silk rose vastrams adding to the positivity of the occasion. All these had not seemed possible three decades ago but Ramamoorthy Bhattar combined with these original inhabitants have jointly made every Vaikasi a happy occasion for the residents of Thiru Velliyankudi.

Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai 2024: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/thiru-velliyankudi-brahmotsavam-revival.html

Ramamoorthy Bhattar's 25 year Kainkaryam: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/thiru-velliyankudi-ramamoorthy-bhattar.html

Nachiyar Koil Srinivasa Perumal Thoppu Restoration

The huge 4.5 acre Perumal Thoppu at Nachiyar Koil has been restored to its ancient glory

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Thiru Naraiyur as one with Banana Plantations and Jack Fruit groves where Peacocks danced with joy - EO Prabhakaran is trying to evoke memories of those verses with the restoration of this Thoppu 

Into the second half of the previous century, things began to deteriorate at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur. While Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised this temple as one having utsavams round the year, many of the historical festivals came to a halt even as original inhabitants began to leave their home to larger cities in search of jobs following the anti devotional movement that hit the state. The Nandavanam inside the temple lay into a dilapidated state and the Vasantha Utsavam when Srinivasa Perumal makes a trip to the Vasantha Mandapam at the Western entrance around the Nandavanam too had come to a halt.

ஆளும் பணியும் அடியேனைக் கொண்டான்

விண்ட நிசாசரனைத் 

தோலும் தலையும் துணிவெய்தச் 

சுடு வெம் சிலைவாய்ச் சரம் துறந்தான் 

வேலும் சேயும் அனையாரும் 

வேல் கணாரும் பயில் வீதி 

நாளும் விழவின் ஒலிஒவா 

நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பியே 

It was in the 1990s that a 7week Prarthana pooja for Kal Garuda was initiated that signified the first signs of some sort of revival in the fortunes of the temple. Following the devotional wave that has been striking TN temples over the last decade or so, a number of utsavams have been revived with the twice a year Kal Garuda Sevai becoming popular with devotees thronging the temple on that evening. The grand consecration that followed a major multi crore restoration exercise a few years back saw a new look physical infrastructure inside the temple complex but the huge Thoppu South of the temple remained deserted and in a dilapidated condition. 

It is in light of this background that the contribution of Executive Office Prabhakaran assumes significance. He is completing 4 years at this temple usually a period when HRCE EOs get transferred to another temple. As he walks around the Thoppu on a pretty hot day in April, the 36 year old Prabhakaran told this writer as to how he was keen to restore the Thoppu to its old glory before the end of his term at this temple.

Right from his early teenage years at his home town in Thiruthuraipoondi, he had developed a great interest in tree plantation and during his late schooling and college years, planted a number of saplings in his house that became the cynosure of all eyes in that town as in the years that went by, these small saplings had grown into tall trees. His early interest in nature and protection of greenery also led this Engineer to do a Masters in Social Work. 

In the period he has been the EO in temples in the Chozha region, he has gone about planting saplings in and around the temple.

Till about a few years ago, the Thoppu at Nachiyar Koil was unknown to most with even the Kainkaryaparas at the temple not visiting the place for it was deserted and wore a ‘forest’ like look. EO Prabhakaran who has been studying the temple records right from the time he took charge spotted the presence of a Thoppu for Srinivasa Perumal. Curious to know its current state, he walked to the Thoppu only to find it in a deplorable state. Thankfully, there were no encroachments that had taken place in the previous years and that gave him confidence to initiate steps towards its restoration.

As he set foot for the first time into the forest like 4.5 acres, he needed an ally who would assist him in the restoration. And he found one in Rajasekar, a HRCE staffer at the temple who also doubles up as Sripatham during the processions. Prabhakaran says that Rajasekar has been the man on the ground who has been responsible for carrying out the restoration as directed by him. 

Over the last couple of years, a wide-ranging set of trees have planted including Semmaram, Veppam, Neermaruppu and Naaval. Interestingly, a 100 Ilaippu trees too have grown into a good size.

Buoyed by the successful restoration of this Thoppu, EO Prabhakaran has now identified another 5 acres temple land for planting more trees in this region. Aggressive on recovery of temple lands, he has just helped secure back a Rs. 12crore worth land belonging to the Ramanathaswamy temple in Thiru Naraiyur.

It is now a decade since he began maintain proper records of his tree plantation activities and says that he on his own has planted over 2 lakh saplings since his teenage years. During his time, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar found Thiru Naraiyur to be abound with banana plantations and jackfruit groves where honey dripped down from the trees. In his own way, Prabhakaran is trying to get back those trees into this Thoppu as praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar.

சுளை கொண்ட பலன்கனிகள் தேன் பாய 

கதலிகளின் திளை கொண்ட பழம் கெழுமித்

திகழ் சோலை திருநறையூர் 

வளை கொண்ட வண்ணத்தன் 

பின் தோன்றல் மூவுலகோடு 

அளை வெண்ணை உண்டான் தன் 

அடி இணையே அடை நெஞ்சே 

So impressed was the Forest officer headquartered in Kumbakonam with the initiative of EO Prabhakaran that he directed his team to send him a 1000 saplings to be planted by him in this Thoppu as part of their support. It is from this Thoppu that rose garland knotted by Thoppu Kaaval Rajasekar goes to Perumal. Wide ranging fruits too have begun to spring up and these too are presented to Perumal. 

Being with nature in the midst of peacocks and chirping birds is a big stress buster for Prabhakaran. It sets him with positive thoughts and heads back to the temple with renewed energy. He says that living with nature helps one find inner peace and understand life better. In the time he has been at Nachiyar Koil, he has taken revolutionary steps something that previous EOs had refrained from. 

EO Prabhakaran with Thoppu Kaaval Rajasekar

Bold step to stop theppotsavam

He directed the stopping of the Theppotsavam after he found contaminated water from the residential areas coming into the sacred temple tank. Despite pressure from multiple sources, he refused to allow Perumal to step into the tank that had polluted water. Even the politicians or the collector could not get him to revise his decision.  He told this writer that there are many processions inside the temple and on the streets but the Theppotsavam is very special. He is inside the temple tank one day in a year to provide darshan to devotees. His view is that the sanctity of such an utsavam cannot be undermined. It is something that Srinivasa Perumal enjoys but as an EO ‘I cannot permit Perumal to enter contaminated and polluted water’.”

This issue has now gone to court and he is hopeful that sometime in the near future, there will be a solution found to redirect the drainage water away from the sacred tank into another outlet.

A Model thoppu

Many EOs from temples in the Chozha region have visited the Nachiyar Koil Perumal Thoppu and this now serves as a model for other EOs to implement in the Nandavanam and Thoppu in their respective temples. Veppam and Puli Trees have grown tall and present a beautiful picture against the setting sun on this Wednesday evening. Orange, Lemon and Citron (Narthangai) trees too have come up well that EO Prabhakaran believes the next gen of Kainkaryaparas at Nachiyar Koil now popular for Kal Garuda Sevai will reap.

உறியார் வெண்ணையுண்டு உரலோடும் கட்டுண்டு 

வெறியார் கூந்தல் பின்னை பொருட்டு ஆன் வென்றான் ஊர் 

பொறியார் மஞ்சை பூம் பொழில்தோறும் நடமாட 

நறு நாண்மலர்மேல் வண்டிசை பாடும் நறையூரே

Reminding one of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's verses

Thiru Naraiyur is one of the only two temples that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had showered with over a century of verses. In his praise, he refers to Peacocks dancing to the tunes of the bees in the fragrant groves. It has been another energy sapping summer's hot day with temperature nearly touching 40 degrees at Thiru Naraiyur but EO Prabhakaran is full of positive energy and bullish on the prospects of the future of this Thoppu and the presence of a few peacocks making sweet noises in the evening and dancing around the Thoppu fluttering their wings enthralls him further.  

Revival of Utsavams, Recovery of Temple Lands and Restoration of Nandavanam and Thoppu runs on the top of his mind all the time. The Vasantha Utsavam was revived a few years ago with Srinivasa Perumal going through the Nandavanam to the Vasantha Mandapam in Vaikasi. 

At Thirukurungudi Divya Desam, following the restoration exercise (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-nandavanam.html), Nambi makes a trip to the Thoppu during the Vaikasi Vasantha utsavam. Having restored this 4.5 acre Thoppu, Prabhakaran is hopeful that one day into the future, Nambi of Nachiyar Koil too will make an annual trip to His Thoppu like he once used to on the Kanu day, for the chirping birds to have the sacred food.

Sarangapani Koil Chitrai Brahmotsavam Horse Vahana

Sarangapani and Chakrapani provide Golden Horse Vahana darshan at Valayapettai on the western outskirts of Kumbakonam on Wednesday evening 

It is the eve of the biggest day in the year at the sarangapani temple. Visitors to Kumbakonam on Wednesday (April 29) were  just awestruck  at the sight of the beautifully decorated chariot, the tallest in TN Perumal temples at over 110 feet. Even before stepping into the Sarangapani Koil, a number of them stood in front of the recently restored chariot (undertaken at a cost of Rs. 70 Lakhs by Srimushnam Andavan) and discussing amongst themselves the intricate sculptures on the Chariot and visualising the procession the next morning around the four big streets of the temple.

Wednesday was the 8th day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam at the Sarangapani temple. In the century gone by, Sarangapani and Chakrapani went on pallakku procession to Valayapettai on the West outskirts of Kumbakonam providing Vennai Thaazhi darshan to the residents of this historical temple town. The two of them would stay through the day at the centuries old mandapa in front of the Krishnan Koil in Valayapettai near Darasuram with the two of them starting the return trip in the evening on the Horse Vahana.

Unfortunately, the dilapidated state of this mandapam has led to the cancellation of this morning pallakku procession to Valayapettai on the 8th morning in recent decades. Instead, Sarangapani and Chakrapani provided darshan atop the Golden Garuda Vahana just after 5pm on Wednesday evening at the 100 Pillar Mandapam inside the Sarangapani Koil.

The prabhandham members presented the 8th canto of Tiruvoimozhi and after the Satru Murai, Sarangapani and Chakrapani were set to leave the 100 pillar mandapam. 

This section has featured several stories on how Brahmotsavam vahana processions in small temple towns have moved on to the Chapparam wheeled tyre model but at the Sarangapani Koil, a decade ago soon after the consecration, Karunakarachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html) insisted on the Chitrai Brahmotsavam procession to be traditional and undertaken with the Sripatham Personnel carrying the Sarangapani and Chakrapani on their shoulders with him coming forward to take care of the Sripatham Sambhavanai for this service. 

Two wheelers parked near Dwajasthambam

Over this decade, a lot has changed. The number of vehicles on road has increased manifold. The moffusil bus service has increased substantially making the Ramaswamy North Street and the Aadhi Kumbeswarar South Street a highly congested area. And inside the Sarangapani temple too, as seen in the photo above, two wheelers are parked a few feet away from the Dwajasthambam and very near the path of Perumal's procession!!

Given this changed scenario and with the procession to the Chariot to take place at 5am on Thursday morning, there was once again the debate among the Kainkaryaparas on the possibility of this long procession taking place on the Chapparam so the Lords could return early but it was finally decided to go with the original plan of the Sripatham carrying the two Lords on their shoulders.

நந்தா விளக்கே அளத்தற்கரியாய் 

நர நாரணனே கருமாமுகில்போல் எந்தாய் 

எமக்கே அருளாய் என நின்று 

இமையோர் பரவும் இடம் 

எத்திசையும் கந்தாரம் அம் தேன் இசை பாட மாடே

கழி வண்டு மிழற்ற நிழல் துதைந்து 

மந்தாரம் நின்று மணம் மல்கும் நாங்கூர் 

மணிமாடக்கோயில் வணங்கு என் மனமே 

And thus after 7.15pm, the beautifully decorated Sarangapani Perumal atop the Golden Horse Vahana made his way through the towering Eastern Raja Gopuram to the Sannidhi street next to the chariot followed by Chakrapani Perumal. It is to be a long evening for the Prabhandham members with them scheduled to present several cantos of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi. 

They begin their presentation with the sacred verses on the greatness of Mani Mada Koil in Thiru Nangur. Sarangapani and Chakrapani made their way to the East end of the Sannidhi street while the Prabhandham members stopped half way on that street presenting the verses on Vaikunta Vinnagaram and Arimeya Vinnagaram even as the two Lords made their way back towards the chariot. 

Like on the Garuda Sevai evening last Saturday, vehicles continued to ply around the Chariot making it difficult for the Sripatham Personnel. An interesting feature of the next four hours was the fact that the police who accompanied the procession took selfies at regular intervals to show his seniors that he was present but did very little to help a smooth flow of the two Lords with heavy traffic on the roads.

Past 8.30pm, in front of the Ramaswamy temple, the Prabhandham members had moved on to the fifth canto of the Periya Thirumozhi. The recital continued for the next half hour or so with the members sitting inside the temple while the two Lords made their way past the temple.

Chaotic again

On to the Kumbeswarar South Street, there was once again Chaotic traffic. By now the Sripatham were sweating profusely with them having carried the two Lords for over 90 minutes. The two wheelers raced past the procession while a number of mofussil buses on either side of the road made it difficult for the Sripatham. There were not too many devotee residents to provide Thattu but the combination of the summer heat and the vehicular traffic did not make it easy for the Sripatham personnel.

Dilapidated mandapam

After over two hours, the procession came to a halt at Malluka Street in Valayapettai, a few hundred yards north of the now popular Darasuram Market. As mentioned above in this story, in the century gone by Sarangapani and Chakrapani used to provided at the mandapam in front of the Krishnan Koil but with the dilapidated state of the mandapam, the two stayed put outside the mandapam. HRCE has taken no initiative to restore this Mandapam and allowed it to deteriorate. There are also no questions on why the morning procession to Valayapettai is not being restored.

The Krishnan Koil itself had been taken over by the HRCE but with the trustees taking this to court, they have recently won back the temple. The ubayadarars of the evening presented flower garlands and fruits with the priests presenting Deeparadhanai and Shatari.

Past 10pm, it was time for Sambhavanai to be presented to the Kainkaryaparas. The Sripatham insisted on a bit of additional money given the fact that 40 of them had carried the two Lords on their shoulders for over two hours. Thathiyarathanai was presented to all the Kainkaryaparas. 

Late night Thattu

It was almost 11pm when Sarangapani and Chakrapani began their return trip from Valayapettai. A number of residents on Nellu Kadai street and Naanayakaara street stayed awake late into the night to welcome the two Perumals into their home presenting flowers and fruits. By now, the sole police who had accompanied on the trip to Valayapettai had disappeared leaving the Sripatham to fend for themselves. 

At the Naanayakaara street, a two wheeler rider coming in the opposite direction on this small street directly, quite rudely, the Sripatham to take Sarangapani to the left so he could make his way back home!!! These are the kind of encounters that Sripatham Personnel in small towns have to face with very little protection offered to them.

Highly Energetic Maniyakarar

It was a challenging night for the young Sudarshan who is now a prominent face at the Sarangapani Koil. While discharging his role as a Maniyakaarar, he also doubled up as a Sripatham to support the team. And then on the return trip, he held the canopy atop Sarangapani for a part of the procession.

There were a few more resident devotees on the Viswanathar North Street presenting Thattu. By 12.30am, when Sarangapani and Chakrapani reached the entrance of the Ramaswamy temple, the prabhandham members had progressed quite a bit with their recital. In front of the Ramaswamy temple, where they had stayed behind four hours earlier, the Prabhandham members began the presentation of the 10th canto of Periya Thirumozhi where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar wants to have darshan of the Lord of Thiru Kudanthai.

வானையார் அமுதம் தந்த வள்ளலை 

தேனை நீள் வயல் சேறையில் கண்டு போய் 

ஆணை வாட்டி அருளும் அமரர் தம் கோனை 

யாம் குடந்தை சென்று காண்டுமே 

Thirumangai Azhvaar on the asuras after Ravana's death

In 20 verses following this, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar presents beautiful insights into the mood of the Asuras after the death of their king Ravana and pleads with the Vanaras to not kill them for they are not to be faulted for the wrongs of their king (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/01/thirumangai-azhvaar-on-asuras-of-lanka.html)

தண்டகாரணியம் புகுந்து அன்று

தையலை தகவிலி எம் கோமான்

கொண்டுபோந்து கேட்டான் எமக்கு இங்கு ஓர் குற்றம் இல்லை

கொல்வேல் குல வேந்தே

பெண்டிரால் கெடும் இக் குடி

தன்னைப் பேசுகின்றது என் தாசரதீ

உன் அண்டவாணர் உகப்பதே செய்தாய்

Chakrapani bids goodbye after 8 days

After 8 days of being together with ‘brother’ Sarangapani, Chakrapani Perumal bid goodbye in front of the Ramanuja Sannidhi on Bazaar Street and made a fast paced retreat back to his temple with Sarangapani Perumal continuing the procession alone via the TSR Big Street.

On the eve of Kamakodi's retirement

The CUB has renovated its main branch in Kumbakonam and that shone bright on the night with a farewell message written in front of the branch in a thanking gesture to its outgoing MD who is retiring the next day. Sarangapani’s Chariot procession on Thursday will mark Kamakodi’s last day as the MD of CUB and he retires after 15 years at the helm of the bank(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/n-kamakodi-city-union-bank.html).

பத்து நீள் முடியும்  அவற்று இரட்டிப்

பாழித்  தோளும் படைத்தவன் செல்வம்

சித்தம் மங்கையர் பால் வைத்துக்  கேட்டான்

செய்வது ஒன்று அறியா அடியோங்கள்

ஒத்த தோல் இரண்டும்  ஒரு முடியும்

ஒருவர் தம் திறதோம் அன்றி வாழ்ந்தோம்

அத்த எம் பெருமான் எம்மை கொல்வேல்

130am Horse voyali!!!

It is almost 1.30am when the tireless Sripatham personnel present Voyali in front of the Chariot making a few paced runs back and forth much to the delight of the devotees who had gathered there late in the night specifically to watch this performance.

6 ½ hours after having started out on the procession, Sarangapani Perumal made his way back to the 100 Pillar mandapam after Thirumozhi Satru Murai near the Dwajasthambam. 

For Maniyakarar Sudarshan, there is less than a couple of hours to sleep for after the Artha jaama pooja on this night past 2am, he has to be back at the temple at 4am for the Vishroopam followed by Sarangapani’s procession to the Chariot at 5.15am!!! Such is the life of Kainkaryaparas during Brahmotsavam in small temple towns.

Thoothukudi Sankara Rameswaram Koil Shanmugham Gurukal

From Dindigul to Thoothukudi to continue hereditary archaka service

It is a Sunday morning and different sets of people are reaching out to 43 year old Shanmugha Sundara Bhattar, one of the only two priests at the centuries old Sankara Rameswaram Koil in Thoothukudi. His work load is quite high on most days. His relative, the only other official priest at the temple is at the moolavar sannidhi while he is making arrangements for the Abhisekam this morning. Devotees have brought the Abhisekam items and reach out to him to confirm its correctness. The support priests, most of them his relatives have arrived at the temple to help him on the morning both with the Abhisekam as well as managing the other sannidhis at the temple. While once upon a time, the priests at this temple performed as hereditary service passing on from generations, over the last five decades or so, this has become a HRCE appointed post. And hence, he has to go and sign the register first up in the morning!!! Like in many other temples in TN, the devotional wave is bringing in big crowd into this temple and the income has shot up in recent years. While the second half of the previous century had been challenging for Shanmugham Gurukal’s uncles who performed archaka service at this temple, things have turned around, financially, with the return of the devotees. And it has been an enjoyable 15 years for him as a full time priest with this reversal in fortunes, despite the high work pressure.

From Dindigul to Thoothukudi

Shanmugham Bhattar had his schooling in Dindigul where his appa has been performing archaka service at the Abirami temple. Into his late teens, he began learning the Saiva Agama and undertook that for five years. His uncle who had been performing archaka service at the Sankara Rameswaram temple was looking for a successor to take over the reigns from him, he reached out to Shanmugham Gurukal who agreed to move from Dindigul. For a few years from 2005, he performed service without salary and then officially joined the temple as a temporary archaka in 2009. Two years later, he received a permanent posting and has since been performing service here. His relatives support him both in daily service as well as the utsavams like during the Chitrai Brahmotsavam that is currently on at the temple.

Pandya Period Construction

The story goes that Kashyapa Muni installed the lingam while king Sankara Rama Pandya built the temple in its current form with his brothers Kulasekara Pandya and Parakrama Pandya having built the Sankaran Koil and Kasi Viswanathar Koil (Tenkasi) respectively. To the south of the Siva temple is the Vaikunta Natha Perumal temple.

Shanmugham Gurukal’s forefathers had worked at a sub Rs. 100 salary that later went up to Rs. 3000. He is pleased that while they had served in challenging times, their selfless Kainkaryam of many decades is now paying rich dividend with him now getting a monthly pay of Rs. 30000 given the rapid rise in the fortunes of the temple.  

Thiru Kalyana Utsavam in Aipasi, Kantha Sashti Utsavam and Margazhi Thiruvathirai all attract big devotee crowd at this temple as has the current Chitrai Brahmotsavam. As with most other temples, Kainkaryaparas are in short supply given the work load but that is something the current generation of priests have to live with for many in the previous generation have moved far away from temple service and even those undergoing Patshala Agama initiation are looking at outside events as a career as against full time archaka service in historic temples. For the moment, Shanmugha Sundara Bhattar is enjoying his role as the lead priest at this temple anchoring the daily pooja as well as the utsavams.

Sarangapani Koil Chitrai Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai

Sarangapani and Chakrapani provide joint Garuda Sevai darshan on the fourth day of Chitrai Brahmotsavam at Thiru Kudanthai

           Sarangapani Golden Garuda Sevai

It is a big day in the year at Thiru Kudanthai for Sarangapani and Chakrapani provided joint Garuda Sevai darshan as part of the fourth day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam at the Sarangapani Koil. For the only period in the year, the utsava deity of Chakrapani Koil makes his way to Sarangapani Koil at the start of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam and stays here through the utsavam.

Those who have visited the Sarangapani Koil a couple of decades ago would have seen the deserted state of the temple but with the devotional wave that is striking TN temples currently, there was a long queue in both the Komalavalli Thayar and the Aravamudhan Moolavar Sannidhi on Saturday evening. 

At the 100 pillared mandapam at the eastern entrance of the temple, the Prabhandham members were reciting the fourth canto of the Thiruvoimozhi  in front of Sarangapani and Chakrapani, both beautifully decorated atop the Golden Garuda Vahana even as another set of devotees lined up in a queue for a darshan of these two utsava deities. 

It is a turnaround of a kind very few would have visualised when not so long ago priests of the temple sat at the entrance awaiting the entry on the next set of devotees that proved elusive.

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)

The grandeur of the alankaram reminded one of Azhvaar’s Praise. Sarangapani and Chakrapan were resplendent with glittering jewellery. A wide ranging tall flower garlands added to the beauty of the two Perumals on this Saturday evening, one when devotees continued to pour into the temple to have joint darshan of Sarangapani and Chakrapani alongside each other. 

செல்வம் மல்கு தென் திருக்குடந்தை

அந்தணர் மந்திர மொழியுடன் வணங்க

ஆடு அரவு அமளியில் அறிதுயில்

அமர்ந்த பரம

                       Chakrapani atop Golden Garuda Vahana

In front of the Azhvaars Sannidhi, Maniyakarar of the temple Sudarshan distributed prasadam to devotees and there was a long queue here as well!!!

After deeparathanai, Sripatham personnel carried Sarangapani and Chakrapani one after another through the eastern Raja Gopuram to the Sannidhi street where old time residents presented thattu. Thus far despite the large sized crowd, everything was seemingly under control though the start of the procession was delayed by 90 minutes from the schedule listed in the utsavam invitation.

At the east end of the Sannidhi street, things turned chaotic with no one in control. Vehicles moved in from all sides creating a traffic jam with Sarangapani Perumal not able to move on to the Chapparam. The few police personnel who accompanied the procession remained silent spectators for much of the next three hours. The priests have limited say on such occasions in such remote temple towns these days and they watched in disbelief at the chaotic scenario in front of the newly renovated chariot. The Prabhandham members were ready for the Thodakkam and they too watch the events unfold with every car and van wanted to move forward first paying scant respect for the waiting perumal and two wheelers playing their role as well as they tried to squeak by. Amid this chaos, a two wheeler rider with a loud speaker added to the confusion announcing the chariot procession later next week (April 30) asking devotees to come forward and participate!!!

For a HRCE temple, there were no officials on show at the procession to manage the traffic issues at the start of the procession.

Clock had now ticked to well past 9pm and finally Sarangapani Perumal made his way on to the Olai Chapparam followed by Chakrapani Perumal allowing for the Prabhandham members to start their presentation of the Naangam Thiruvanthathi and they moved ahead after the initial verses but for the Olai Chapparam, the procession was beset with problems. The revered Soundar Bhattar who takes interest in decorating the Lord during Garuda Sevai was seen with his grandchild initiating the young one into devotion at an early stage in life.

No one had taken proactive steps regarding the overhead wires and the tall chariot like chapparam knocked off these wires in multiple places during the procession. A Car parked haphazardly on the North Ramaswamy Sannidhi street led to another stoppage with the Sripatham members pulling up the car by their hand and moving it aside. Here too, the police remained mute spectators.

வாரா வருவாய் வரும் என் மாயா மாயா மூர்த்தியாய் 

ஆரா அமுதாய் அடியேன் ஆவி அகமே தித்திப்பாய் 

தீரா வினைகள் தீர என்ன ஆண்டாய் திருக்குடந்தை 

ஊரா உனக்கு ஆள் பட்டும் அடியேன் இன்னம் உழல்வேனோ 

Farewell meeting - CUB Founder has darshan

A surprise visitor near the Ramaswamy temple was N Kamakodi, Founder Descendent, CUB, who this month is stepping down as the MD. He and his team were present in good numbers to have darshan of Sarangapani and Chakrapani on the occasion of his farewell meeting at a kalyanam mandapam on that street (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/n-kamakodi-city-union-bank.html).

 

Past 10pm, the procession moved on to west street and there was more chaos in front of the Hanumar temple. The utsava deity of Hanumar came out on a Pallakku offering his mariyathai and moved ahead but unfortunately, the two Perumals could not for the shops in front of the temple blocked the path of the Chapparam. For over 15 minutes, the Sripatham Personnel worked hard to bring down the overhead sheets that were protruding out preventing the chapparam from moving forward. Some proactive steps earlier in the evening could have prevented this knocking down. Only last month, this section had featured a story on similar issues at the Olai Chapparam Kal Garuda procession at Nachiyar Koil.

After a stopover at the Ramanuja Sannidhi, the procession moved on to the TSR Big Street, one named after the legendary founder of TSR & Co (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/tsr-co-legendary-enterpreneur_19.html). Devotees showed great devotional strength late into the night to remain through the three hours of the procession to pull the Chapparam with a rope.

It was close to midnight when when the procession made its way back to the Sarangapani Koil Sannidhi street with the sripatham personnel carrying the two Perumals from inside the Olai Chapparam to the temple where the Prabhandham members presented the Satru Murai of the Naangaam Thiruvanthathi verses.

For their mighty three-hour effort, the Sripatham were presented with Puliyotharai and Dhadhyonam even as the priests began the exercise of unmounting the two Perumals from the Garuda Vahana at the 100 Pillared Mandapa. It was 1.30am when Sarangapani and Chakrapani provided Ekantha Sevai in a procession to the Kannadi Arai with almost all the devotees heading back home after participating in pulling the Chapparam and feeling blessed to have had this opportunity on a Joint Garuda Sevai evening. 

For maniyakarar Sudarshan there was still work to be done on the night. Well past 130am, he had to bring thaligai for artha jaana pooja!!!

Srirangam KSB Sampath Bhattar@80

High on Devotional Energy and fully committed to 'devotee happiness', this Octogenarian Bhattar is focusing all his attention on serving Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar in this second phase of his life

K Sampath Bhattar (KSB to those in the temple circles) celebrated his 80th birthday all alone at the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi (he lost his wife 8 years ago and does not have a child). He is now in his 25th year of service at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and is enjoying every minute of it. After an engineering degree, he joined the Bhabha Atomic Energy in the late 1960s while his appa the renowned Krishnan Bhattar was continuing the hereditary archaka service at the Srirangam temple. It was a quiet phase for temples in Tamil Nadu as seen in many previous stories in this section and that led Sampath Bhattar to take to a career in the corporate space.

After 7 years at the Atomic Energy research in Bombay, there rose an opportunity at BHEL Trichy and he moved back to his home town in 1977, where he continued to work for over two decades.

கங்குலும் பகலும் கண்துயில் அறியால் 

கண்ண நீர் கைகளால் இறைக்கும் 

சங்கு சக்கரங்கள் என்று கை கூப்பும் 

தாமரைக் கண் என்றே தளரும் 

எங்கனே தரிக்கேன் உன்னைவிட்டுட்டு  என்னும் 

இரு நிலம் கை துழா இருக்கும் 

செங்கயல் பாய் நீர்த் திருவரங்கத்தாய் 

இவள் திறத்து என் செய்கின்றாயே 

Always prompt in his presence at Kainkaryam

It is a very hot summer’s day in Srirangam but KSB is at the Ranganayaki Thayar sharp at 9am on this Wednesday (April 22) morning, the day of Ramanuja’s annual Thiru Nakshatram. When he has archaka service at the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil, east of Srirangam, he is there at 4.25pm to welcome the devotees into the Sannidhi right on the dot at 4.30pm. When this writer asked him shortly after his 80th birthday on that evening at Singar Koil, KSB replied in the same way that he has seen his archaka service since the time he took over 25 years ago “I had been in the corporate space for well over two decades and the divine couple brought me back to the temple in the 2nd half of my life. There are only a select few who have been blessed with the opportunity to touch and serve them in this legendary Divya Desam. I have been one of those chosen few and I have to consider that the greatest gift I have secured in this life. On your service day, you have to consider Perumal and Thayar as your own child and take care of him/her in a way you would take care of your child.”

Positive words - Focus on Devotee Happiness

On this Summer’s day in April, he places the Shatari on the devotee non stop for two hours without a break with his favourite blessing ‘Ayushman Bhava’, ‘Sumangali Bhava’…. At 80, does he not get physically tired of this “The devotees enter the temple with different kinds of challenges and they are looking to head back from the Sannidhi with happiness.  An archaka blessing with the Shatari gives them that positive feel and I feel I am duty bound to provide them with that joy.”

Way back in 1999, his amma lay on his lap after drinking the morning coffee and soon passed away that had his showering lavish praise on him “My appa told me that I had served my amma as a dutiful son and hence she passed away quietly by my side.”

Wife's Invaluable contribution

A few years later, his appa Krishna Bhattar too passed away leaving KSB and his wife all alone at their home on North Chitra Street. His wife’s passing away in 2018 was a big blow to him and he recalls her invaluable contribution to this writer sitting in front of the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi “As a youngster, I was timid and lacked a bit of confidence because of my squint eye. My wife was well educated and forward looking. It was she who boosted my confidence and lifted my spirit when others would pull me down pointing to my physical shortcoming. It was her consistent messages day in day out that helped me perform my service with confidence.”

Divine Couple's blessing -Rise to the top

When he came back to archaka service after a VRS at BHEL, his colleagues at the temple would often rag him like one would of a newly joined college student “I had learned the Agama for over 5 years but then I had been in corporate service for a few decades and away from the daily kainkaryam. Hence when I took over the reigns from my appa, I had to encounter numerous challenges with many questioning my ability to perform the traditional activities of an archaka.”

உந்திமேல் நான் முகனைப் படைத்தான் 

உலகுண்டவன் எந்தை பெம்மான்

 இமையோர்கள் தாதைக்கு இடம் என்பரால் 

சந்தினோடு மணியும் கொழிக்கும் புனல் காவிரி 

அந்திப்போலும் நிறத்தார் வயல் சூழ் தென் அரங்கமே 

When he joined the archaka service, he was at the bottom of the list as a newcomer in his 50s!!! He recounts how he shot up the archaka ladder in the decade after. “I told myself that I could perform the  Thirumanjanam in the most traditional way and I did that. Adyayana Utsavam is a big challenge and Namperumal stood by me and gave me the confidence that I could handle this too. As time went by, I managed the Yaaga Salai,  Theppotsavam and Pavitrotsavam.”

When an occasion warranted, he performed Thirumanjanam thrice on a single day. 

From a 30th ranked Bhattar, he shot up the list in a short period of time. A fortnight from today, he will be the Raksha Bandana Bhattar at the Chitrai Brahmotsavam that starts on May 6 “I performed a hattrick of this at the Chitrai Brahmotsavam and till date have donned the role of Raksha Bandana Bhattar 7 times. I have also performed the Theerthavari over a dozen times. And been the anchor Bhattar at the Pavitrotsavam as well.”

Dikshai to upcoming next gen Bhattars

He has performed Dikshai for many of the upcoming bhattars at the Srirangam temple and it is with his blessings that the next generation of bhattars have taken to archaka service at this temple.

Credits the Divine Couple for standing by him everyday

Repeatedly turning his face towards Ranganayaki Thayar, he reiterates the point that as an archaka ‘I have to realise that it is all her blessings. I cannot chest thump that I have achieved something in life all of my own. When I took over from my appa, Perumal and Thayar accepted me and guided me every single day and kept me grounded. I have been given an opportunity to perform this kainkaryam and I have seen as my duty to discharge this function as devotionally as possible and in as committed a way that I can’.

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில்

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில்

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் 

துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம் கோயில்

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில்

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து சேர்ந்த கோயில்

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும் தீர்க்கும் கோயில்

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே

Unflinching faith in Divine Couple

At 80, KSB is physically and mentally energetic and there is a lot of positive vibration when he is at the Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi. He continues to make the trip to the east end of Srirangam to serve as an archaka at the Singar Koil where the devotee crowd has shot up dramatically. KSB has also been bestowed with the responsibility of letting go off the arrow on the Vijayadasami evening when Namperumal is at the Singar Koil.

With the growing number of Bhattars, there are those looking for additional kainkaryam days. KSB has always been happy to hand over his Kainkaryam to the next gen Bhattars for them to take forward the service into the next phase. He says that the Divine Couple has taken care of him well in this life and that he has thoroughly enjoyed this experience of serving as a priest at the Ranganathaswamy temple over the last 25 years.

High Devotional Commitment @ 80

He has finished the Uchi Kaala pooja and the Mangalaarathi at the Ranganayaki Sannidhi. With the clock ticking to 1.30pm, this energetic Octogenarian Bhattar, who has been at the Sannidhi for over 4 hours refuses the drop offered by this writer instead choosing his own way back home in the scorching hot sun, a day ahead of the TN assembly elections. It is that self confidence to handle himself and to perform his duty to the best of his ability that has kept him in good spirits at this age. He continues to keep himself abreast of the atomic scenario in the country but outside of this his whole life at 80 centers around Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar. He came back to the Ranganathaswamy temple almost as a novice 25 years ago and with the grace  and blessing of the Divine Couple he has been able to continue this Kainkaryam into his 80th year.

Thenthiruperai Ananthu Bhattar Consecration Anchor

A major milestone for this 'one of a kind' Bhattar

On his fourth consecration event at the Thenthiruperai Divya Desam, Ananthu Bhattar will finally be anchoring the consecration as the 'Pradhana' Archaka next week

He is past 50 and has been at the Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan temple in Thenthiruperai as the lead archaka for almost three decades now. And unlike most priests in Tamil Nadu, he remains unchanged. He does not use the mobile phone inside the Sannidhi. He is not into social media though those around him in Nava Tirupathi are fully into that. He does not send photos and videos to devotees. During every Brahmotsavam over the last 25 years, he has not gone back home for ten days sleeping inside the temple during the period of the annual utsavam in Panguni. Ananthu (Thiruvenkatathan) Bhattar stands apart as a priest conducting himself as one should as a Divya Desam Bhattar. 

In this phase, he has rarely participated in events outside of this temple and has dedicated himself full time in service of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan keeping himself away from financial temptations and the lure of 'lucrative' opportunities in other temple events. During his entire service, he has ensured that the thattu kaasu is shared each day with all the kainkaryaparas at the temple including sweepers and mei kavalars, a model that is not followed in any other temple.

Having joined the temple in the 1990s, it took Ananthu Bhattar almost 25 years to be confirmed as a full time priest on the rolls of the HRCE!!! He neither took this up with the HRCE nor with TVS’ Venu Srinivasan, who has taken care of the Nava Tirupathi temples since the mid 1990s, instead choosing to silently perform the daily Thiru Aradhanam and managing the utsavams as expected of a Bhattar. For a large part of 25 years, he was paid  a monthly salary below Rs. 1000 and not once did he complain though he had two!!!!

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)

A week from now, consecration will take place next Wednesday at the Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan temple and it will be Ananthu Bhattar’s fourth consecration at this Divya Desam. But what makes this one a major milestone in his archaka service career of three decades is that this will be the first one that he will be anchoring as a 'Pradhana' archaka at a temple where he has served since the 1990s. In the first two consecrations- in the mid 1990s and the early 2000s, he could not anchor as he was still a Brahmachari. In the third one a dozen years ago, his wife was pregnant with their second child and hence he missed out on anchoring that one as well. 

Finally the 'Pradhana' archaka at the Consecration

For any priest, anchoring a consecration at his home temple is considered as a recognition of his service and an important moment in a Kainkaryam as an archaka. On this fourth consecration that he is participating at the Thenthiruperai Divya Desam, Ananthu Bhattar will finally be anchoring the event as the ‘Pradathana’ archaka. Having missed out on the earlier three consecrations, he is now all excited to finally be blessed with the opportunity to anchor the consecration at a temple where he has given his all for almost three decades for very minimal financial returns.

TVS’ Venu Srinivasan is once again taking care of the renovation works, something he has done at all Nava Tirupathi temples since the mid 1990s (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

Earlier this month, Ananthu Bhattar spent over ten days at the Thenthiruperai temple not going back home on any of the days of the panguni brahmostavam. And now he will stay put once again inside the temple once the homam event starts next week and will not head back home till the consecration event is complete. Such is the commitment of this Bhattar!!!

Consecration at the Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan Divya Desam will take place next Wednesday April 29  between 9.30am and 10.30am with Garuda Sevai procession of Nigaril Mugil Vannan in the evening after 5.30pm.

A 2021 story on Ananthu Bhattar: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/thenthiruperai-ananthu-bhattar.html

Nidamangalam Santhanaramar Koil Azhvaar Acharya Utsavams Revival

Celebrating Desikar, Ramanujar and the Azhvaars

Narayanan Bhattar drives revival of Acharya and Azhvaar utsavams after several decades

15 years ago, when Narayanan Bhattar quit the Ramar temple in Tambaram to take over the reigns of archaka service from his appa, the Santhanaramar temple in Nidamangalam was in a dilapidated state. Most of the utsavams had stopped. Almost all the original traditional inhabitants had left this town to larger cities in search of greener pastures. There were no devotees at the temple. Narayanan Bhattar had been earning well at the temple in Chennai and he returned to Nidamangalam for a monthly salary of just over Rs. 1000.

He had a lot of experience in handling devotees at the temple in Chennai and was determined to turnaround the fortunes of this temple but he found it a bigger challenge than he had visualised. He had to double up as the cook at the madapalli too straddling between providing darshan to the few devotees who were beginning to turn up at the Ramar Sannidhi and to managing the boiling Pongal at the sacred kitchen.

The physical infrastructure was restored through support from devotees and consecration performed. During this period, he also revived the annual utsavams including the vahana processions at the Panguni Brahmotsavam.

The temple is said to date back to the Chozha period with the Garbha Graha having existed then but the current structure goes back to the late 18th century and the construction by the Thanjavur king Pratap Simha.

The Lord appeared in the dreams of the King and asked him to look for an idol of Ramar at this location. The King and his wife Rani Yamunambal were childless. He came here and found the idol beneath the eart. After invoking the blessings of the Lord, she gave birth to a child. Hence the Lord is referred to as Santhana Ramar, a unique name for Lord Rama. This location was historically referred to as Yamunambal Puram. 

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

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

After recovering from a knee surgery a couple of years ago, Narayanan Bhattar has this month revived the monthly Thirumanjanam for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar on the Karthigai day in Chitrai through support from a Bangalore based devotee. Just over a fortnight from now, he is also planning to revive the monthly Thirumanjanam for Vedantha Desikar on the Shravanam day in Chitrai through a support from a Chennai based devotee. These are two big milestones in his service as an archaka at the Santhanaramar temple for these events had long stopped and he did not visualise a revival of these.

On Sunday (April 19) morning, he came to the temple early in the morning to prepare Kesari and Puliyotharai ahead of the Thirumanjanam for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. Through a tech savvy college student, Narayanan Bhattar has been updating details of the upcoming utsavams and that has led to local devotees making it to the temple to experience the Thirumanjanam that this generation of residents in Nidamangalam had not experienced.

At 9am, in the presence of a few local devotees, he began the Thirumanjanam of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. Being all alone at the temple, he also trebled up as a vedic member and a prabhandham member reciting Periyazhvaar's verse on the oil bath

வெண்ணெய் அலைந்த குணுங்கும் 

விளையாடு புழுதியும் கொண்டு .....

எண்ணெய் புலிப் பழம் கொண்டு

எத்தனை போதும் இருந்தேன்

On a hot Sunday morning, he cooled Thiru Mangai Azhvaar with Coconut water, Sandalwood Paste, Tumeric Paste and Panchamritham.

காயய்சின நீரோடு நெல்லி கடாரத்தில் 

பூரித்து வைத்தேன்………………………….. 

மஞ்சளும் செங்கழுநீரின் வாசிகையும் 

நாறு சாந்தும் அஞ்சனமும் கொண்டு வைத்தேன் - Periyazhvaar on Oil Bath

Much to the delight of the local devotees, he also took Sankalpam from each of them and presented an archanai. An hour later, he handed over Puliyotharai and Kesari to the devotees who were all praise of the commitment of Narayana Bhattar in the way he has gone about reviving the utsavams without too much physical support.

While in Phase 1 of his taking over the reigns from his appa, he saw to the restoration of the physical infrastructure and the revival of the big annual utsavams, in this current phase, after his own recovery from a knee surgery, he is committing himself to revival the azhvaar and archarya utsavams so these legends are remembered at least once a month on their star birthdays and their verses presented on these days. And days such as the one today with a Thirumanjanam and Garuda Sevai procession on the occasion of Akshaya Trithiyai.

It is through the efforts of committed priests such as Narayana Bhattar that remote temples in Tamil Nadu are continuing to survive with the historical events being organised as best as possible in the scenario that exits today.

The temple is open from 7am-11am and 5pm-8pm. Contact: Narayanan Bhattar @ 94448 54208.