Thenthiruperai Kannan Kainkaryapara Boost to Archakas

From TVS Motor Hosur to Thenthiruperai Kainkaryam

62 year old Kannan has returned to his ancestral location to perform Kainkaryam at the Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan Divya Desam 

The Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan Divya Desam in Thenthiruperai sports a new look following the consecration earlier this year. The Nandanam in the outer prakara has a never before look with beautiful plants that are now growing into tall trees. The Go Shala building in the South Prakara that was set to come up was stalled last year and Nikara Mugil Vannan, the utsava deity, actually went through the outer prakara after many decades during the consecration event (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/04/thenthiruperai-ananthu-bhattar.html).

While the physical infrastructure wears a refreshing look, there has been a positive addition to the Kainkaryapara team that could become a great source of strength in the future. Kannan joined erstwhile Ind (TVS) Suzuki (a motorcycle that was quite popular in the 1980s and 90s) in 1986 and worked at the Hosur Plant of Venu Srinivasan’s TVS Motor for 3 ½ decades in the Production, Planning and Control section.

Following his retirement, he chose to return his home town of Thenthiruperai where he had grown up to perform Kainkaryam at the Divya Desam. A Krishnaswamy had served at the temple for over a decade as an archaka supporting the anchor Ananthu Bhattar but when he decided to move to Kanchi following health issues, there was a shortage of service personnel at the temple.

It was then that Kannan offered his services to the temple and Ananthu Bhattar was delighted that an old timer of Thenthiruperai had come forward to contribute in some way. “I knew his father very well and had great regard for him. Hence, when Kannan Swamy offered to support, we were happy to make him an integral part of the Kainkaryapara team” Ananthu Bhattar told this writer on Thursday.

It was a morning when the grand daughter of K Ranganayaki made her way to the temple and presented a devotional song in front of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan. Exactly a decade ago, this section had featured a story on Ranganayaki, who passed away a few years ago,  and her childhood memories of Thenthiruperai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/thenthiruperai-divya-desam.html). She was a great devotee of the temple and would not miss a single day of darshan even in her old age such was her affection of the Lord of Thenthiruperai.

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)

It is also a morning when the three year old son of Rahul Bhattar presents the Enganeyo paasuram on Thiru Kurungudi in front of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan. At 3, he recites Pallandu Paasuram in full and a few other verses too, an endorsement of great parenting creating that early devotional interest in the child. He is making a lot of noise inside the temple leading one to be reminded of the first verse of Nam Azhvaar on Thenthiruperai where he says that he could hear the playful tones of young children of Thenthiruperai. 

Rahul Bhattar - with his mentor Ananthu Bhattar

While the son is thus devotionally engaging himself, Rahul Bhattar explains the legendary posture of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan showing each part to the devotees much to their delight. A few minutes later, when a set of Telugu devotees arrive, Rahul Bhattar is just as fluent in his description of the Lord's majestic posture and handsome features. Such devotional presentation contributes to positive vibration inside the temple and creates a devotional mood among devotees to know more about the temple. 

Kannan was assigned the role of supporting Paricharaka Balaji and he has been carrying this out in recent times. After having reached the temple just after 7am and carrying out the early morning paricharaka service including presenting Tulasi, Theertham and Manjal to devotees who came in steady stream through the morning, Kannan told this writer that he did not visualise a period of Kainkaryam at this Divya Desam but when he returned to Thenthiruperai soon after his retirement in 2023-24 for the Adyayana Utsavam, a few days at the temple captivated his devotion and there has been no looking back since. “The satisfaction of the Kainkaryam alongside the selfless and highly devoted Ananthu Bhattar was unmatched and I found great peace of mind here.

Temple Audit - Cleanliness Aspects

As an extension of his Kainkaryam at Thenthiruperai, Venu Srinivasan assigned him on an audit engagement with the Nava Tirupathi temples as well as a few other temples that the industrialist has restored in TN. Kannan says that the audit of temples on metrics such as cleanliness of Sannidhi, prakara and Madapalli, among others, has led to a dramatic improvement in aesthetics of the temple and one finds the temples restored by Venu Srinivasan lot more cleaner than many other temples that he has visited.

காலம் பெற என்னைக் காட்டுமின்கள் 

காதல் கடலின் மிகப் பெரிதால் 

நீல முகில்வண்ணத்து எம் பெருமான் 

நிற்கும் முன்னே வந்து என் கைக்கும் எய்தான் 

ஞாலத்து அவன் வந்து வீற்றிருந்த 

நான்மறையாளரும் வேள்வி ஓவா 

கோலச் செந்நெற்கள் கவரி வீசும் 

கூடு புனல் திருப்பேரெயிற்கே 

Venu Srinivasan is now implementing the Japanese model of JH (an integral component of TPM in auto sector) in temples leading to higher standards of cleanliness in every corner of the temple. For example, there is now a lot more focus on storage of provisions inside the madapalli while in most temples one would find provisions kept in one place and not in air tight containers raising the question of health safety.

Kannan is particularly delighted that he has got an opportunity in the Thenthiruperai Divya Desam for he considers this the best among the Nava Tirupathi temples both in terms of archaka service as well as the upkeep of the temple premises.

What particularly touched Kannan was the fact that Venu Srinivasan came from nowhere to restore such remotely located temples and gave it a new lease of life. This has thrust a great responsibility on the Kainkaryaparas to take care of these temples that were once in dilapidated state and to make it a highly devotional experience for the devotees who visit the temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

As recent as the first Puratasi Saturday, Kannan suggested to Venu Srinivasan’s temple service team to build a fence near the Dwarapalakas at the Nigaril Mugil Vannan temple so the devotees thronging the temple on Saturdays don’t spill the Manjal on the walls and sculptures. He says that the TVS team immediately implemented this and the impact was seen on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays as there have been no spilling of Manjal on the sculptures.

For a few days every month, Kannan travels around the state to audit a few temples restored by Venu Srinivasan like Padai Veedu, Thiru Kurungudi and the temple at Hosur. And then he is back at Thenthiruperai for the rest of the month to support Ananthu Bhattar and his team.

நகரமும் நாடும் பிறவும் தேர்வேன் 

நாண் எனக்கு இல்லை தோழிமீர்காள் 

சிகர மணி நெடுமாடம் நீடு 

தென் திருப்பேரெயில் வீற்றிருந்த 

மகர நெடுங்குழைக் காதன் மாயன் 

நூற்றுவரை அன்று மங்கா நூற்று 

நிகரில் முகில் வண்ணன் நேமியான் 

என் நெஞ்சம் கவர்ந்து எனை ஊழியானே 

His wife has been a great pillar of strength and support in his transformation from a corporate worker of four decades to a temple Kainkaryapara in a Divya Desam. Kannan is clear that service at the feet of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan at Thenthiruperai is where his future is and he is gearing himself for a full fledged active every day role in the future supporting Ananthu and the young Rahul Bhattar. 

While devotee donors have been coming forward with financial contributions in recent years, the remote temples have been feeling the pinch of shortage of service personnel. Those like Kannan returning to their ancestral locations serves as a big boost to the archaka team for whom a highly devoted Kainkaryapara adds great value in them carrying out their everyday activities.

Thiru Indhalur Parimala Ranganatha Next Gen Balaji Bhattar

This 24 year old underwent Agama training under Prasanna Dikshithar at Nangur Patshala and is now all set to take over the archaka mantle from his appa Sridhar Bhattar

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar threatened to give the Parimala Ranganatha temple in Thiru Indhalur a go by. Devotees have done so for a long time with minimal crowd witnessed here most of the weekdays. Two Bhattars who had been the face of the temple for a long time made their way out after suspension. During a lot of the lows, Sridhar Bhattar, now 57, struck a low profile staying in the background and performing Thiru Aradhanam at the Hanuman temple opposite the Parimala Ranganatha temple. The devotees saw him as donning a support role to the other two priests. 

ஆசை வழுவாதேத்தும் எமக்கு இங்கு இழுக்காய்த்து 

அடியோர்க்குத் தேசம் அறிய உமக்கே ஆளாய்த் திரிகின்றோமுக்கு 

காசின் ஒளியில் திகழும் வண்ணம் காட்டீர் எம் பெருமான் 

வாசி வல்லீர் இந்தளூரீரே வாழ்ந்தே போம் நீரே 

Pancha Ranga Kshetram

Appa Sridhar Bhattar is at the Moolavar Sannidhi on this Tuesday morning and to the steady string of devotees who are at the temple, he describes Parimala Ranganatha as being the final destination in the  list of Pancha Ranga Kshetram where the Lord is seen in a grand Veera Sayana Posture displaying his four hands with conch and chakra, a unique one for a sleeping lord.  The other Pancha Ranga Kshetrams are Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangapatna Ranganatha, Koviladi Appaala Ranganatha and Kumbakonam Madhya Rangam Sarangapani Koil.

                                         Appa Sridhar Bhattar

Since the time the two priests were suspended and with no signs of them returning to the temple, Sridhar Bhattar has been the face to the devotees in the last few years. He is at the temple every morning at 6am and stays there till well past noon and comes back in the evening and takes care of the devotees with great patience. 

For a major part of the last three decades, Sridhar Bhattar faced financial challenges but his great devotional commitment is finally paying dividend now for he has now become the face of the temple to the devotees at large. He has been anchoring the big utsavams in the last few years and also played an active part in getting devotee donors for the Thirupanni works ahead of the consecration that took place earlier this year.

எந்தை தந்தை தம்மான் என்றென்று

எமரேழ்  ஏழளவும்

வந்து நின்ற தொண்டரோர்க்கே வாசிவல்லீரால்

சிந்தை தன்னுள் முந்தி நிற்றீர்

சிறிதும் திருமேனி

இந்த வண்ணம் என்று காட்டீர் இந்தளூரீரே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

The good news for the temple is that his young son is keen to take forward the Archaka Kainkaryam at this Divya Desam following in the footsteps of the father. Balaji Bhattar has learned the Pancharatra Agama from Prasanna Dikshithar at the Nangur Patshala administered by Muralidhara Swamigal. 

Right from his school days, he would join his appa at the utsavams heading to the temple every evening. Over the last decade or so, he learned the art of alankaram from the one legged Srikanthan Bhattar of Sirupuliyur Divya Desam (about 15 kms from here). In that phase, he has performed Kainkaryam alongside the revered Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur, Ramudu Bhattar of Thiru Cherai as well as at the Nangur Divya Desams.

சொல்லாது ஒழியகில்லேன் அறிந்த சொல்லில்

நும்மடியார் எல்லோரோடும் ஓக்க எண்ணியிருந்தீர் அடியேனை

நல்லார் அறிவீர் தீயார் அறிவீர்

நமக்கு இவ்வுலகத்து எல்லாம் அறிவீர்

ஈதே அறியீர், இந்தளூரீரே

He has had some health issues of late and is currently in the process of recovering from that. He is clear in his mind that temple Kainkaryam is where his future is. His appa struggled financially for a period of time during Balaji Bhattar’s childhood and for several years played second fiddle to the other priests who were dominant at the temple but that hasn’t deterred him from wanting to continue the Divya Desam Kainkaryam though one is seeing a lot of the next gen making their way out of the temple space into the corporate world.

Parimala Rangan as Thiruvallikeni Parthasarathy in the Tula Utsavam

Chandran liberated from Brihaspati's curse

The legendary story goes that as part of a 3 fold parikara for casting his eyes on his preceptor's wife, Chandran undertook penance at Thiru Indhalur after bathing at the sacred Theertham. Answering his prayers, Lord appeared before him and agreed to liberate him from part of the sins. The story goes that Chandran went to Thalai Changa Naan Mathiyam, another Divya Desam about 15 East of Thiru Indhalur, where he was fully liberated from his curse and dosham.

The 24 year old Balaji Bhattar is excited at the prospect of picking up the Kainkaryam mantle from his appa and is confident of taking forward the Mirasu archaka service into the next phase at this legendary Divya Desam. He has a special liking for decorating the Lord and is hoping to present his favourite Parimala Ranganathar at his best in the upcoming Tula Utsavam that starts on November 8. For the moment, he heads back into the Sannidhi for the Uchi Kaala Pooja.

Parimala Rangan Perumal temple in Thiru Indhalur is located 2kms North of the Mayavaram bus stand on the Northern banks of Cauvery

Srirangam Ranganatha Temple Sannidhi Timings Issue

Perumal, Thayar, Chakkarathazhvaar and Dhanvatri Sannidhis are closed between 8am and 10am leaving outstation devotees helpless

Will the HRCE Minister Ramesh who has promised devotee friendly initiatives look into this and rework the darshan timings at the Srirangam Temple

It is less than 24 hours since the suspension of a staff of the HRCE for improper conduct with the devotees of the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam. It is just after 8.30am on this Sunday morning and a family of devotees from Coimbatore are frustrated and pointing fingers at each other for not having been able to have darshan in any of the Sannidhis as they now head to Thiruvanaikal in the hope of having darshan of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari.

So what’s the issue with the darshan timings at the Srirangam temple. This devotee writer has over the last one year brought this issue to the attention of JC Sivaram Kumar but he has pleaded helplessness. However good and professional he is in wanting to improve the service to the devotees, he has been rendered ‘weaponless’ with his inability to intrude into the internal Sannidhi affairs at the temple. He has made efforts over the last year to try and bring about some changes but the answer has been the same that HRCE cannot interfere in the ‘Ulthurai’ management of the temple and thus he has been kept at bay

                    Photo taken by this writer in 2008

The Perumal Sannidhi closes at 7.15am after the morning Vishroopam Sevai and reopens at 9.30am with Mangalaarathi but the non VIP devotees can begin to have darshan every day only from around 10am. The Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi closes at 8am and while mangalaarathi takes place at 9.45am, the darshan inside the Sannidhi for devotees starts only at around 10am. This is exactly the scenario at Chakkarathazhvaar and Dhanvantri Sannidhi as well.

Unfortunately, this devotee family from Coimbatore reached the temple just after 7.30am on this Sunday morning and found that the Ariya Bhattal Vaasal was closed after the early  morning Seva. By the time they walked to the Thayar Sannidhi, it was 8am and that too was closed. They tried Chakkarathazhvaar and the met with the same fate. Finally, they hoped to invoke the blessings of the God of Medicine, Dhanvantri, but that Sannidhi too was closed. 

Having travelled 250 kms to have darshan at Srirangam, they found just after 9am that they could not have darshan in any of the main Sannidhis. This is not an exception. This writer has brought to the attention of the JC multiple times this year that outstation devotees who reach the entrance of the Perumal Sannnidhi after 7.30am find themselves in a situation of not being able to have darshan till 10am there, at the Thayar Sannidhi, Chakkarathazhvaar or Dhanvantri Sannidhi and most of them break the heads not knowing what to do for the next two hours.

                       A helpless JC Sivaram Kumar

Absence of Timings Board in any Sannidhi

This writer has also brought to the attention of the JC that there are no timings board in any of the Sannidhis except the Perumal Sannidhi. One wonders as to why the HRCE cannot have a proper timings board in front of the Thayar Sannidhi or Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi instead of devotees having to keep asking people about the reopening of the Sannidhis. Why would the HRCE be so poor in its communication on this front. All outstation devotees having to ask others to get know of the timings of the Sannidhis is a deplorable state of affairs at this temple at a time when we are erring so much on over communication.

Since these sannidhis are closed for about 2 hours at the peak time in the morning when devotees typically have darshan in all temples in Tamil Nadu, the crowd builds up in each of the sannidhis at 9.30am and one finds long queues. There is also a scramble as to which Sannidhi they should go to at 9.30am since the main Sannidhis had been closed in the hour gone by. 

Unfortunately for the JC of the temple, every time he hopes to bring this issue with the concerned Kainkaryaparas, he is pushed back many a mile with the standard message ‘This is a historical tradition that cannot be changed now’.

A 1000 years ago, there would have been local residents as devotees for a major part. Now there are 1000s of outstation devotees reaching Srirangam in the morning. Those that reach the Perumal Sannidhi at 7.30am remain a frustrated lot for they miss darshan in all the main Sannidhis for the next 2.5hours.

It is a similar scenario in the evening as well when at the peak time for darshan these main sannidhis are closed from 5.30pm to around 7pm.

It is saddening to see the helpless state of the JC of the temple with his hands being tied resulting in his inability to be more devotee darshan friendly. When devotees raised issue on Saturday about the unfair treatment meted out to them by the HRCE staff, there was action taken immediately by the JC but on the issue of opening and closure of the sannidhis and hardship caused to outstation devotees, he has not been able to initiate any positive devotee friendly action. 

Nava Tirupathi-  a prime example 

At Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam, a set of 9 temples either side of tamaraibarani, following the massive restoration undertaken by TVS' Venu Srinivasan in the mid 1990s, the timings of the temples have been devised (revised) in such a way that devotees are able to have darshan of all temples by 3pm every day starting the day at 7am. Four of the nine temples are open through the day 9am to 5pm with a one hour break in the middle while the rest follow  a 7am-12noon schedule. And timings of all the temples are displayed prominently in each of these temples so the devotees are clear on how and when they should visit these temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

Will the new HRCE Minister S Ramesh who has repeatedly promised devotee friendly initiatives look into this, engage with the kainkaryaparas of the Srirangam temple and rework the Sannidhi timings so outstation devotees, who now throng the temple in large numbers, are able to have darshan at least in 2 of the main sannidhis at any point of time. Also, he should understand as to why Thayar Sannidhi or Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi should be closed for over 90 minutes in the morning and as to what happens in the Sannidhi during that period. If he personally visits the temple during this period, he will be able to better understand the issues of the devotees. 

Well past 9.15am on this Sunday morning, the devotee family from Coimbatore leave the Srirangam temple through the North Gate angry at the way the Ranganathaswamy temple functions and pointing out that they have not experienced such closure at peak morning time in any other temple in the state.

Sarangapani Koil Madapalli Srinivasan

From Ordinance Factory to Thaligai for Lord Aaravamudhan

This section had earlier featured a story on a person making the transition from working in late night shifts a manufacturing firm in Trichy  to carrying Namperumal on his shoulder. This story is of another person who worked in a manufacturing firm, again in Trichy to now preparing the sacred food for Lord Aaravamudhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/11/srirangam-sripatham-chakrapani.html).

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)

63 year old N Srinivasan has received a new lease of life years after his retirement from manufacturing defence equipment at the Ordinance factory in Trichy. Hailing from Kumbakonam, Srinivasan, who holds a diploma in Electrical Engineering, belonged to the phase when temples in TN witnessed a severe slowdown arising of the anti bhakthi movement of the 1970s. As was the case with many service personnel of the time, he too sought greener pastures elsewhere away from a life at the temple that was very close to his heart during his entire childhood and teenage years. 

He went into the manufacturing space and was involved in the manufacture of defence equipment. Over the last few years, he has been an integral part of the Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Sarangapani Koil. 

This section has featured stories on the issues that Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu are facing in terms of shortage of personnel at the Madapalli and the substantial lowering of Thaligai for Perumal. At the Sarangapani Koil, the man who was managing the Madapalli decided to head overseas leaving the temple in disarray and that’s when the services of Srinivasan was sought. 

An Unexpected Opportunity

Into his 60s, this was a completely unexpected invitation from the temple and he has grabbed it with both hands. He is at the madapalli preparing akkara vadisal and tells this writer that he considers a great blessing to be the one preparing the sacred food for Aaravamudha Perumal and presenting it each day over the last couple of months.

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 

He is still in his early days at the madapalli but he has enjoyed every minute of it though he misses the recital of the Prabhandham during the utsavams including the just concluded Vedantha Desikar utsavam of which he had been an integral part in the last few years.

Prabhandham Ghoshti Srinivasan in far left - Desikar Utsavam 2021

Much to his surprise, he has already received positive feedback from the devotees and the locals have been enjoying the prasadam prepared by this new man at the madapalli.

Miniscule daily wages

As is the case at HRCE temples, the salary is miniscule and Srinivasan is working at a daily wage of Rs. 300. Even at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, the authorities are finding it difficult to find service personnel for the madapalli and there is a severe shortage there. While the financial part is frustrating, Srinivasan is enjoying the mantle of being the sole man in charge of every day Thaligai. It is a challenging task to be preparing multiple food at different times of the day ranging from Puliyotharai to Chakkara Pongal and Dhadhyonam to Kathamba Saatham but he is up for it and like his Prabhandham recital is doing this with great devotion.

குன்றா மது மலர்ச் சோலை வண்கொடிப் படப்பை

வரு புனல் பொன்னி மா மணி அலைக்கும்

செந்நெல் ஒண்  கழனித் திகழ் வனம் உடுத்த

கற்போர் புரிசைக் கனக மாளிகை

நிமிர் கொடி விசும்பில் இளம் பிறை துவக்கும்

செல்வம் மல்கு தென் திருக்குடந்தை

அந்தணர் மந்திர மொழியுடன் வணங்க- Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai

For a temple of its size and the round the year utsavams, having just one person at the madapalli is an indication of the current 'Kainkaryapara' scenario in historic temples and from that point of view having the 63 year old Srinivasan at this point of time at the madapalli away from his favourite prabhandham recital is indeed a boon for the temple. Devotees are hopeful that he will be in this for the long haul though the remuneration is abysmal considering the long hours of duty at the madapalli. He himself does not know what plans Aaravamudhan has for him but at the moment he considers this one of the greatest blessings of his life to be assigned the task of managing the madapalli all alone.

Nageswaran Temple Kumbakonam Restoration

HRCE Minister takes an unprecedented call to suspend an EO citing 'unclean' temple

New EO in temporary charge Prabhakaran turns around the temple complex within a few days

For over 25 years, a largely quiet set of temples during the weekdays would suddenly turn into a rush of activities once or twice a year. It almost always signified the likely arrival of industrialist Venu Srinivasan, the man behind the large scale restoration of Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam. The entire service personnel work round the clock to clean the temples leaving no dirt unturned, even in the most unlikeliest corner of the complex for they knew that he had the uncanny knack of spotting  unclean zones in the temple. As devotees, there was always the prayer for him to visit more often so the temples looked spic and span through the year (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

One would have expected such an exercise ahead of a HRCE minister’s visit as well. When S Ramesh the new minister of less than six months visited Kumbakonam for his first big meeting on the preparations for the 2028 Maha Magam, the EOs of temples in this temple town should have woken up from their slumber. Unfortunately, an EO in one temple in the heart of Kumbakonam did not and the carelessness led to an unprecedented suspension.

தக்கனது பெருவேள்வி தகர்த்தார் போலும்;

  சந்திரனைக் கலைகவர்ந்து தரித்தார் போலும்;

செக்கர்ஒளி, பவளஒளி, மின்னின் சோதி, செழுஞ்சுடர்த்தீ,

  ஞாயிறு,எனச் செய்யர் போலும்-

மிக்கதிறல் மறையவரால் விளங்கு வேள்வி

  மிகுபுகைபோய் விண்பொழியக், கழனி எல்லாம்

கொக்குஇனிய கனிசிதறித் தேறல் பாயும்

  குடந்தைக்கீழ்க் கோட்டத்துஎம் கூத்த னாரே- Appar

When minister Ramesh visited the Nageswaran temple last month, a temple praised by Appar, he was shocked to find  the shambolic state it was in. The abhisekam water did not have a proper outflow that led to a severe stink in that area arising out of stagnation. There were thick bushes in the prakara. Overall the temple cleanliness standards that the HRCE minister would have expected at this historic temple was missing and he saw as being below par.

In the decades gone by, there have not been too many instances of suspension of HRCE EOs related to cleanliness of temples. But so dismayed was the minister that within 24 hours of his visit the EO was suspended and well over a fortnight later still remains in suspension.

And then what happened at the temple????

EO Prabhakaran restores the temple complex

This section has featured a few stories over the last year or so on the proactive initiatives of EO Prabhakaran of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam, now popular for the Kal Garuda Utsavam. From a massive restoration of the temple complex that saw the rebirth of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who sung a century of verses on the Nambi Lord of Thiru Naraiyur to process driven initiatives to manage the ever increasing crowd on the Kal Garuda Sevai evening, from restoring the Vasantha Mandapam and reviving the Vasantha Utsavam to giving a new lease of life to the dilapidated Thoppu South of the temple, EO Prabhakaran has been impressed the devotees with his administrative abilities (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/05/nachiyar-koil-srinivasa-perumal-thoppu.html).

He had accompanied the HRCE minister during his Kumbakonam visit and soon after the suspension of Nageswaran temple EO, Prabhakaran was handed the additional charge of this temple with an immediate task of undoing the damage caused to the temple brand. And as has been his differentiator, he turned around the temple complex in a matter of a few days removing the bushes, the rumbles inside the complex and creating a free flowing pathway for the abhisekam water to make its way out. The temple complex now bears no resemblance to what it was a month ago.

With Maha Magam just under 18 months away, the Nageswaran temple is due for Thiruppani. Prabhakaran who oversaw the largest restoration exercise in several decades at Nachiyar Koil could be the one undertaking the restoration work at the Nageswaran temple as well though for the moment he is only there for a temporary period taking charge in addition to his full time work at Nachiyar Koil. 

Old timers to the temple recall the poorly lit complex in the century gone by. Unfortunately the temple continues to be dark with minimal lighting around the prakara. A look at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore would give one an indication of how well a temple complex can be illuminated.

The temple complex has some impressive historic architecture that dates back several centuries. The Nataraja Sabha aesthetics is as exquisite as the one seen at the Sarangapani temple just a few hundred yards away with horses and elephants pulling Nataraja. Sivakami Ambal plays the Thalam, Lord Vishnu the flute and Kaali is seen watching intensely Nataraja’s dance. The presence of Pralayakala Rudra is another feature at the temple. Nageswaran Swamy is one of the Lords to make the trip to the Maha Magam tank for the Maasi Utsavam.

On the outer temple walls of the Nageswara Swamy Sannidhi, the legend of Ramayana has been sculpted in stone.

Prabhakaran has been the EO at Nachiyar Koil for well over three years which means as per the HRCE practice he is due for a transfer. While he is currently on a short period assignment at the Nageswaran temple, it would serve the temple well if he is handed the full time engagement ahead of the Maha Magam Utsavam especially given that the Thiruppani works are slated to start soon.

But for now, the devotees of the temples count it as their blessing to have him oversee the activities in this phase and to improve the infra within the temple complex. The Navarathri is one of the important festivals in the year and that is just over 10 days away. Devotees are already looking forward to Periya Nayaki Ambal providing darshan in an improved lighting scenario during the utsavam. It is hoped that under EO Prabhakaran's supervision devotees will be able to experience a devotional Navarathri with illuminated lighting.

Sarangapani koil Desikar Utsavam Chariot Procession

On the 9th day of the Vedantha Desikar Utsavam, the Vadakalai Acharya provides darshan atop the chariot around the four big streets of Thiru Kudanthai

After spending the first half of the day at mangalasasam event in multiple temples and enjoying karunakarachariar's sadas, Vedantha Desikar of sarangapani koil provided darshan around the four big streets atop the chariot in the evening on this 9th day of the utsavam to celebrate his birthday in Puratasi.

This section featured a story last year on the mangalasasanam and the events of the first half of this special 9th day of the Vedantha Desikar Avathara Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai (story link below at the end of this story).

Desikar 9 temple Mangalasasanam in the morning

Sudarshan Bhattar is the archaka at the Desikar Sannidhi and he wears a tired look just after 7pm on Wednesday. It had been a long first half of the day in scorching heat with Vedantha Desikar going on a Mangalasasanam trip to multiple temples starting at 9am. Sudarshan Bhattar led the procession to 9 sannidhis including the Ramaswamy Temple, Chakrapani temple, Aathi Varaha Perumal, Ramanuja and then finally to Rajagopalan Sannidhi where Karunakarachariar was waiting for his acharya to arrive so he could start his annual one hour long Sadas in front of Vedantha Desikar.

Sudarshan Bhattar was keen for Desikar to stay put at Rajagopalan Sannidhi after the Sadas and for him to return in the evening after the heat subsided but the Sripatham personnel were keen to head back to the Sarangapani temple. It was past 2pm when Desikar made his way back to his abode at the eastern entrance.

The Prabhandham members arrived early on Wednesday evening for the presentation of the 9th canto of Tiruvoimozhi and Mummani Kovai and Navamani Maalai verses from the Desikar Prabhandham while Sudarshan Bhattar and his team got on to decorating their Acharya atop the Ther. Just past 7.30pm, Vedantha Desikar looks handsome in a grand decoration glittering with jewellery sporting a sacred look with the colourful flower garlands. The temple complex at the eastern entrance looks equally grand with colourful lighting and shamiana around the Desikar Sannidhi.

அந்தமில்சீர் அயிந்தைநகர் அமர்ந்த நாதன் 

அடியிணைமேல் அடி  உரையால் ஐம்பதேத்திச் 

சிந்தை கவர் பிராகிருதம் நூறு கூறிச் 

செந்தமிழ் மும்மணிக்கோவை செரியச் சேர்த்துப் 

பந்து கழல் அம்மானை ஊசல் ஏசல் 

பரவு நவமணிமாலை இவையும் சொன்னேன் 

முந்தை மறை மொழியை வழி மொழி நீ என்று 

முகுந்தன் அருள் தந்த பயன் பெற்றேன் நானே 

As mentioned in the 2024 and 2025 stories on the desikar utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil, it starts on Puratasi Shravanam and goes on for ten days. Unlike the mangalasasanam event last Tuesday at Devanatha Swamy temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram where the Vadakalayars gathered in large numbers to participate in the Mangalasasanam, it was a bit tepid at the Sarangapani temple. There were the locals who turned up for the start of the procession at 7.45pm with the prabhandham members presenting the Madal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/09/thiruvahindrapuram-desikar.html).

It was Sudarshan Bhattar once again who anchored the procession while the prabhandham members stayed back at the temple to continue their presentation inside the temple complex. A couple of the Vedic members followed their acharya reciting the Vedas through the one hour procession around the four big streets.

There were a couple of residents on the Sannidhi street who presented thattu but otherwise it was a quiet procession with Desikar making a rather lonely trip accompanied only by the loud horns from the moffusil buses making their way towards Thanjavur and Trichy. Near the Ramaswamy temple, the Amul shop, as has become a tradition now, offered juice to the Sripatham Personnel for their service and that led to a 10 minute stopover. 

It was a quiet procession through the Bazaar street and on to the TSR Big street it was only a few staffers from CUB’s headquarters who had darshan of Vedantha Desikar on their way back home. Near the tall Sarangapani Chariot, the local residents presented fruits that the Sripatham enjoyed at this 2nd stopover. By 8.45pm, Vedantha Desikar was back at the towering Eastern Raja Gopuram. In front of the dwajasthambam, the Prabhandham members presented Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Prabhandham on Thiru Kudanthai -Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai- composed in the form of a Chariot before Vedantha Desikar came down from the Chariot and made his back to his abode.

குன்றா மது மலர்ச் சோலை வண்கொடிப் படப்பை

வரு புனல் பொன்னி மா மணி அலைக்கும்

செந்நெல் ஒண்  கழனித் திகழ் வனம் உடுத்த

கற்போர் புரிசைக் கனக மாளிகை

நிமிர் கொடி விசும்பில் இளம் பிறை துவக்கும்

செல்வம் மல்கு தென் திருக்குடந்தை

அந்தணர் மந்திர மொழியுடன் வணங்க

Patrachariar made an important final announcement to the Prabhandham members. It is Theerthavari day the next morning with Vedantha Desikar set to make his way to the Cauvery followed by a Thirumanjanam at the mandapam on the banks of the river. Patrachariar asked a few of the members to stay back at the temple on Thursday morning for the daily Thiruppavai presentation so the Thiruppavai Satru Murai can take place as soon as Desikar returned from the Theerthavari for it to be followed by the presentation of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Thiru Kurunthandagam and Thiru Nedunthandagam in front of Sarangapani Perumal. 

For Sudarshan Bhattar, it had been a long day with minimal rest. His sacred Thiruman had worn off by the end of the Chariot Procession and he headed back home for a well earned rest.

2024 story on Desikar Theerthavari day: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/10/sarangapani-koil-vedantha-desikar.html

2025 story on Desikar Mangalasasanam: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/10/sarangapani-koil-vedantha-desikar.html

Sudarshan Bhattar : https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/sarangapani-koil-desikar-sannidhi-new.html

Thiruvahindrapuram Desikar Mangalasasanam 2026

Vadakalayars display their high devotional commitment to their Acharya

After a mega 9 hour Mangalasasanam event, Vedantha Desikar went on a Pattinapravesam providing darshan to devotees around the streets of Thiru Vahindrapuram on his birthday

Last year, Vadakalai Acharya Vedantha Desikar’s birthday day had fallen on a Thursday that necessitated a rescheduling of the programme events at the legendary location in Thiruvahindrapuram where he had composed the Hayagriva Stotram atop the hill. Things had taken a turn for the worse in the 1970s and 80s in temples in Tamil Nadu with devotees leaving their ancestral locations in search of greener pastures in bigger cities. This created a void in remote temples including ones as the Devanathaswamy temple in Thiruvahindrapuram, praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. The physical infrastructure too took a hit and the temple had presented a worn out look in those decades and was crying for attention and restoration. The communication system was restricted and transport facilities minimal to locations such as this. Against this backdrop, the utsavams too lost its lustre in that phase.  And to add to the complication, the several decades old archaka family lost their service at the temple.

வையம் ஏழும் உண்டு ஆலிலை வைகிய மாயவன் 

அடியவர்க்கு மெய்யன் ஆகிய  தெய்வநாயகன் இடம் 

மெய் தகு வரைச் சாரல் 

மொய் கொள் மாதவி சண்பகம் முயங்கிய 

முல்லை அம் கொடி ஆட 

செய்ய தாமரைச் செழும் பணை திகழ்தரு 

திருவஹீந்திரபுரமே

After decades of slowdown, the devotional wave hit back strong at the turn of the century with Prarthana pooja and Parikarams leading the devotees back to the temples. And this historic divya desam benefitted from that with devotees heading to the Hayagriva Sannidhi atop the hill to invoke the blessings of the God of Education on Thursdays.

Residing in Thiru Vahindrapuram, Vedantha Desikar composed verses on Lakshmi Hayagriva and Deivanayakan.

When two demons took away the Vedic scriptures from Brahmma, Vishnu is believed to have taken the form of Hayagriva and brought back the Vedic scriptures from the demons. Being the place where Lord Vishnu, in Hayagriva form, where he brought back the educative scriptures, he is referred to as the God of Learning. He is believed to fulfill one’s prayers relating to education.

Devotees have been thronging the temple every Thursday right from 6am in big numbers and it was for that reason that the Vedantha Desikar’s procession to the Hayagriva Sannidhi had started at 3.30am last year so the several hundreds of devotees could have darshan of Hayagriva from 6am by which time Desikar made his way back down the hill.

This time with the acharya's birthday falling on a Tuesday, the schedule was back to normal. To coincide with the devotional wave that brought devotees back to this temple in large numbers, the original inhabitants too began to make their way back to the temple where they had grown up in the early phase in their lives. By the turn of the century, they had begun to settle down well in their career with many finding their way to overseas locations. And they wanted to give back to their Perumal with whose blessings they were prospering in their lives.

They did this in two ways – One they contributed their might to the restoration of the temple and to decorating their Perumal and Thayar with glittering jewellery. And two, they returned to Thiruvahindrapuram at least twice a year presenting their physical presence during the Brahmotsavam and their Acharya’s Utsavam in Puratasi.

On this Tuesday morning, the Vadakalayars of Thiruvahindrapuram turned out in good numbers despite this being an early week day. By 5am, they were at the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi ahead of the Thiruppavai presentation. A surprise visitor early in the morning was Barath, a prabhandham member from Mylapore and grandson of Srinivasachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/t-srinivasachariar-raghava-simham-press.html), who skipped the Mangalasasanam event at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal koil to be here for the morning recital. Another expert Mylapore prabhandham member 'Dollar' Prasanna too joined the morning Ghoshti and was present through the day at the mangalasasanam in each of the sannidhis(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/01/vedantha-desikar-srinivasa-perumal.html).

அத்திகிரி அருளாளப் பெருமாள் வந்தார் 

ஆனைபரி  தேரின்மேல் அழகர் வந்தார் 

கச்சிதனில் கண்கொடுக்கும் பெருமாள் வந்தார் 

கருதவரம் தரும் தெய்வ பெருமாள்  வந்தார் 

முத்தி மழை பொழியும் முகில்வண்ணர் வந்தார் 

மூலமென ஓலமிட வல்லார் வந்தார் 

உத்தர வேதிகுள்ளே உதித்தார் வந்தார் 

உம்பர்தொழும் கழலுடையார் வந்தார் தாமே 

The prabhandham members presented Thiruppavai, Thirupalliezhuchi and Vedantha Desikar’s Panniru Naamam and Thiru Chinnamaalai verses before the Acharya began his procession just after 6.15am from the Kannadi Arai to the Hayagriva Sannidhi atop the hill.

Hayagriva Stotram at the hill temple

There had been rain the previous night and the path was a bit soggy but as was to be seen over the next 8 hours, the Vadakalayars who carried their Acharya on their shoulders showed high devotional commitment. It was not an easy procession atop the hill but the Kainkaryaparas were unwavering in their devotion. The Veda Ghoshti followed the Acharya on the procession. As he made his way to the top, the representatives of Hayagriva welcomed Vedantha Desikar with wide ranging fruits and flower garland.

தேசோத்தார் இல்லை எனும் தெய்வநாயகா 

வாசக்குழல் மாமலராள் மணவாளர் 

வாசித்து எழும் மன்மதனார் மணல் தோப்பில் 

மாசிக்கடலாடி மகிழ்ந்து வருவாரே 

Nadaswaram artistes' delight with Nottuswaram presentation

Vedantha Desikar positioned himself at the mandapam opposite Hayagriva listening to the presentation of the Hayagriva Stotram, the first of the morning. It was past 9am when the Acharya made his way to the Devanathanatha Swamy Sannidhi for the second of the Mangalasasanam. 

This Photo credit: Deepa and Arun

As he got down the hill, one of the Kainkaryaparas signalled to the Nadaswaram artistes to play the Nottuswaram and till the time Vedantha Desikar would start listening to the Prabhandham and Stotram in front of the  Devanathaswamy Sannidhi, these artistes presented a devotional display of Muthuswami Dikshitar's English Notes. 

The slow rhythemic presentation of Mummani Kovai and Navamani Maalai followed by Devanayaka Panchasathu meant that the devotees who had by now gathered at the temple for a darshan of Devanatha Swamy had to wait for the Mangalasasanam at this Sannidhi to end. Some of them who did not understand the context grew restless and expressed urgency to have a darshan of perumal.

Mahavira Vaibhavam - A highlight of the morning

Past 10am, he moved on to the Ramar Sannidhi for the much awaited recital of Mahavira Vaibhavam, which is one of the highlights of this morning. But before that the members presented Desikar’s Paramatha Bangam verses, a prabhandham after his victory over his challengers in front of Devanathaswamy of Thiruvahindrapuram and registering the supremacy of Vishishtaadvaitham. Following this presentation, the devotees were stunned at the breathless recital of Mahavira Vaibhavam praising the greatness of Lord Rama. 

ஜட  கிரண ஷகள தரஜடில  நடபதி மகுட தட

நடன பது விபுத சரிததி

பஹுல மது களன லலித பத நளின ரஜ உபம்ருதித நிஜ

வ்ரிஜின ஜஹதுபல தணுருசின

பரம முநிவரா யுவதி நுத

Malola Kannan was among the first to release an album on Raghuvira Vaibhavam and he was present this morning. His rendition this morning alongside the Kainkaryaparas reflected his happy state of mind for his football daughter’s wedding has been fixed with the parents having been able to find a boy to go with her independent style of life.

(Malola Kannan's daughter - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/05/chandomaye-malola-kannan.html)

This recital would have warranted a bit of a break but there was no such on this morning for the Kainkaryaparas for the procession moved on to Shengamala Thayar Sannidhi for the presentation of Sri Stuti.

Over the next couple of hours, Vedantha Desikar made his way to Rajagopalan, Andal, Nam Azhvaar and Ramanuja Sannidhis for Mangalasasanam. It was past 2pm when Vedantha Desikar made his way back to his abode to the presentation of the Vedic verses.

A Unique Temple Project

An interesting featuring of this Mangalasasanam day of Vedantha Acharya was the presence of ‘student’ Arun from Pondicherry along with his mentor Madam, who had returned to the erstwhile French colony after a long term teaching engagement in a University in Houston. The two of them have taken up a set of 15 temples in Pondicherry and are working on a unique project to bring forth a report on the traditions followed in Hindu temples including in the round the year utsavams. The two have already tracked the everyday activities in these 15 temples over the last one year and had turned up at the Devanathaswamy temple in Thiruvahindrapuram after being told about the grand birthday celebration at this Divya Desam. 

She told this writer during Vedantha Desikar's Pattinapravesam procession that started at 2.45pm from his Sannidhi that she is hoping for this to be a ‘role model’ project that can be replicated in other temple towns. The two of them caught the attention of the Kainkaryaparas and devotees alike on this day as they tried to capture exclusive moments from various different angles through Desikar’s procession to different sannidhis. They were trying to capture the mood of the occasion and the mentor even spotted a small ornament on the chest of Vedantha Desikar that she passed on to her mentee.

By the end of the mangalasasanam event, the Kainkarayaparas of Thiru Vahindrapuram were eager to understand the reasons behind the shooting of photos with their professional cameras and many were seen requesting them for copies of some exciting moments in the day. 

Past 3pm, it was time for them to return to Pondicherry for Satru Murai event of Vedantha Desikar at a Perumal temple there, even as the Acharya made his way out of his residence at Thiru Vahindrapuram for a procession around the streets of this legendary temple town.

Like last year, kudos to the Kainkarayaparas of Thiru Vahindrapuram who set aside the day in the year for their Acharya offering their selfless service from very early in the morning.

Tarika Ram Handwoven Tapestry Exhibition Taneira Adyar

From paintings in the past, this teenager has now graduated into Handwoven Tapestry and will be showcasing a dozen of her art works at a 2day exhibition next Friday and Saturday

Tarika has now learnt a gamut of new techniques and developed the ability to conceptualize outside the box. Picking up a complicated topic like a 180 degree view of the Thiruvannamalai hill and wanting to sketch that in a series of paintings is a remarkable thought - Art Mentor Diana Shatish 

ஓதிமா மலர்கள் தூவி உமையவள் பங்காமிக்க

சோதியே துளங்கும் எண்தோள் சுடர்மழுப் படையினானே

ஆதியே அமரர் கோவே அணிஅணாமலைஉளானே 

நீதியால் நின்னை அல்லால் நினையுமாறு நினைவிலேனே- Appar on the hill of Thiruvannamalai

Into her final year as a teenager, Tarika Ram is making rapid strides in the art world. In August last year, she had presented 30 of her art works on the theme of ‘Art of Happiness’ at a glittering event at Kalpa Druma. A year later, she is now back with a new theme and a new vertical in the art world. She is now into weaving as a new medium weaving gels with tapestries and has been honing her weaving skills at Shuttles & Needles. Inspired by South Indian saree patterns and using multiple colours, she has worked on a dozen pieces that she will be showcasing next week and calls her forthcoming exhibition a celebration of India’s rich handloom tradition. Tarika says that it is the constant coaxing from her mentor to conceptualise creatively and explore a gamut of media, techniques & movements that she has led into this new medium, this time around. Her mentor's encouragement to draw inspiration from her own life as well as the Indian art has shaped a lot of artistic work over the years.

Since the event at Kalpa Druma, she has gone on to present her art on wide ranging subjects such as birds, climate change and 'Love as a universal language'. She has also presented a triptych (Panel Painting) during this phase.

Currently, she is in the process of expanding her horizon attending clay and wire sculpture classes. Next on her plate are plans to improve her weaving in making tableware.

 

Her father Srivats Ram, the CMD of Wheels India had told this writer earlier that her series of 30 works last year on the art of happiness was a big leap of faith for Tarika for it marked her moving away from her comfort zone of 'Paintings' to Tapestry and Textile in this exhibition.

In the year since, she has moved full-fledged into handwoven tapestry that has now resulted in her producing a dozen works of art.

Her passion for art had kicked off with a series on Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural. For the first time, she will now be directly associating herself with a temple and a legendary one at that.   

தேனைக்‌ காவல்‌ கொண்டு விண்ட

  கொன்றைச்‌ செழுந்‌ தாராய்‌! 

வானைக்‌ காவல்‌ கொண்டு நின்றார்

 ‌ அறியா நெறியானே! 

ஆனைக்காவில்‌ அரனே! பரனே!

  அண்ணாமலையானே !

ஊனைக்‌ காவல்‌ கைவிட்டு, உன்னை

  உகப்பார்‌ உணர்வாரே.

Her art mentor for over a decade, Ms. Diana Shatish, who Tarika says has been instrumental in shaping her artistic abilities & sensibilities, told this writer that Tarika has now learnt a gamut of new techniques and developed the ability to conceptualize outside the box. “She has picked complicated topics like 180 degree views of the arunachala mountains and experimented materials and media and weaving on her own.  I see her becoming big and making a name for herself in the art world”, says Ms. Diana.

Following the exhibition next week, she will be progressing with a series of paintings on the huge hill, one where several thousands of devotees undertake the Girivalam every month on the full moon day.

Ramana Maharishi has presented verses on the greatness of the hill of Thiruvannamalai

அறிவறு கிரியென வமர்தரு மம்மா வதிசய மிதன்செய லறிவரி தார்க்கு

மறிவறு சிறுவய ததுமுத லருணா சலமிகப் பெரிதென வறிவினி லங்க

வறிகில னதன்பொரு ளதுதிரு வண்ணா மலையென வொருவரா லறிவுறப் பெற்று

மறிவினை மருளுறுத் தருகினி லீர்க்க வருகுறு மமயமி தசலமாக் கண்டேன்

Her mother, Aruna told this writer that Tarika has been visiting the Ramana Ashram in Tiruvannamalai right from the time she was a child. The periodic visits to the historic temple location drew her close to the huge hill over a period of time and that inspiration has led her to now looking at a series of sketches on the sacred hill of Tiruvannamalai.

The Painting Series on the sacred hill of Arunachaleswarar at Thiruvannamalai, praised by the Saivite Saint Poets as well as Ramana Maharishi, would be a momentous occasion for Tarika. This section will track the developments on that front.

Tarika will present a dozen of her latest handwoven tapestry works at a two day exhibition next week starting Friday at Taneira Adyar. 

Gunaseelam Puratasi Brahmotsavam

Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal provides darshan atop the Golden Hanumantha Vahana

For Pichumani Bhattar, the hereditary trustee at the Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple in Gunaseelam, Wednesday (Sept 16) marked yet another remarkable achievement. It is ten years since the making of the Golden Hanumantha Vahana. The donor, Sundararajan, who worked for close to four decades at Chemplast Sanmar at their plant in Mettur, was the one who offered to contribute to the conversation of the Hanumantha Vahana from the wooden make it was at that time into a golden one (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/jolly-rovers-n-sankar-75.html). 

He is present this evening ahead of the procession  right in front of the Raja Gopuram that is to be constructed and is all praise for Pichumani Bhattar “Garuda Vahana had turned Gold but the rest of the vahanas were still made of wood. When Pichumani Bhattar asked if I would be interested in the gold plating of the Hanumantha Vahana, I immediately grabbed the opportunity. Following this, he went on to gold plate other Vahanas too. It is a mammoth task to manage all the events at this temple and Pichumani Bhattar does it all alone bringing together devotees from across the world to create a vibrant feel at the temple”, Sundararajan told this writer on Wednesday evening at Gunaseelam.

சோதி ஆகி எல்லா உலகும் தொழும் 

ஆதிமூர்த்தி என்றால் அளவு ஆகுமோ 

வேதியர் முழு வேதத்து அமுதத்தை 

தீது இல் சீர்த் திருவேங்கடத்தானையே 

Just past 5pm, Pichumani Bhattar is at the Vahana Mandapam next to the restored Chariot overseeing the alankaram carried out by his team. He tells this writer as to how he has brought together the team for this Brahmotsavam “All through the year, there are 4-5 Kainkaryaparas at the Sannidhi but for the Puratasi Brahmotsavam the entire family members join us in Kainkarayam. Some of them take up Sannidhi Kainkaryam, a few others take to decorating the Perumal atop the Vahana, a couple of them are alongside Perumal during the procession and there are those who take care of the Yaaga Salai and the daily pooja.”

As mentioned in a story on Pichumani Bhattar in June 2024(link below), many of the family members had left this hereditary town in the 1980s when there was a slowdown in temple activities across the state but for the Brahmotsavam they are always here to support those that stayed back. It is remarkable team work by this family to ensure that the biggest festival of the year is celebrated in a grand way. 

The Vedic members arrived in good numbers at the inner prakara just after 6pm to recite the Vedas. This place was historically renowned for the recital of the Vedas and during the Brahmotsavam we see a sizeable number of vedic members reciting all the four vedas each day of the festival.

Great Kainkaryam by Srirangam Vethal Sripatham

One of the biggest challenges that every Divya Desam is experiencing recently is the availability of Sripatham Personnel. In most temples, the procession has moved on to wheeled tyres but Pichumani Bhattar delightfully tells this writer that the Sripatham Personnel carry Venkatesa Perumal on their shoulders at every procession and he is grateful to the Vethal Volunteers of Srirangam for this Kainkaryam. 

“For over 25 years, they have been coming  here in good numbers year after year without fail for both the morning Pallakku procession and the evening Vahana procession. It is a great service on their part to travel around 20 kms each day and many of them go back to work after the morning procession and come back again after their work. Their presence here has taken away a lot of the worries relating to the procession for they are always ahead of time and they push us to start the procession on time” says Pichumani Bhattar. 

Ravi (Lakshmi Narasimhan) worked at the Ponmalai Railway Yard for many decades and has been coming to Gunaseelam for the Sripatham Kainkaryam for the last 15 years. He considers it a great blessing to have got this opportunity to carry Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal during the Brahmotsavam and finds this festival well managed. The Sripatham Personnel are well taken care of by Pichumani Bhattar with him providing them breakfast in the morning and dinner in the night in addition to a good Sambhavanai for their service. 

Clock has ticked to 7.30pm and Perumal is ready for the start of the procession with the electrician providing the final touches to the lights which has now become an integral part of the evening processions in temples.As the screen opens, the Bhattar of the evening presents a deeparaathanai.  Devotees have lined up either side of Perumal to experience the Ubacharams carried out by the Bhattar for the handsome Perumal decked with glittering jewellery. Following this, the screen closes once again and the Sripatham Personnel are called out for and invited into the alankara mandapam to take their position next to the Perumal.

அகலகில்லேன் இரையும் என்று 

அலர்மேல் மங்கை உரை மார்பா 

நிகரில் புகழாய் உலகம் மூன்று உடையாய் 

என்னை ஆள்வானே 

நிகரில் அமரர் முனிக்கணங்கள் விரும்பும் 

திருவேங்கத்தானே 

புகலொன்று இல்லா அடியேன் 

உன் அடிக்கீழ் அமர்ந்து புகுந்தேனே 

There is rain in the air but the procession goes ahead. It is 8pm when Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal makes his way out of the Vahana Mandapam. The colourful canopies go up above the Lord and the temple musicians begin their Nadaswaram presentation at the East Prakara. It is delightful devotional music and Pichumani Bhattar is all praise for them “They are the daily artistes who present the music during the Pooja time at the temple. Except for the Garuda Sevai, they are the ones who present during the street processions. Historically, this temple was renowned for nadaswaram artistes. If someone says that he has played at Gunaseelam Brahmotsavam, his credibility goes up manifold.”

On the South and West Prakara too, Perumal stops to listen to the Nadaswaram presentation before the procession moves on after Pichumani Bhattar gives the go ahead. 

The golden hanuman vahana is now into its 10th year but is shining gold. Pichumani Bhattar revelas the secret behind that "The vahana is kept inside a glass cabinet and that has helped maintain its shine."

A new horse at the Brahmotsavam 

For four decades, Pichumani Bhattar has given his heart and soul to taking care of Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal and he is reaping the benefits of that long term devotional commitment. Earlier this year, Deepu Bhattar of Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam gifted a male horse to the Gunaseelam temple. For many of the Bhattars of Srirangam, this temple is the Kula Deivam and they have a soft corner for this perumal. This was a nice surprise gesture from Deepu Bhattar and the horse leads the way in every procession during the Brahmotsavam” says Pichumani Bhattar. 

Brahmotsavam expenses mount

Back in the 1980s and 90s, Pichumani Bhattar organised the entire Brahmotsavam at less than Rs. 30000. Today, the scale and the grandeur has increased and improved so much that he spends over Rs. 30 Lakhs on this Brahmotsavam with a sizeable share of the expenses being taken care through the hundi offerings of the devotees. Well over 150 Kainkarayaparas are presented with food through the day for their service. 

தெரியேன் பாலகனாய் பல தீமைகள் செய்துமிட்டேன் 

பெரியேன் ஆயினபின் பிறர்க்கே உழைத்து ஏழை ஆனேன் 

கரி சேர் பூம் பொழில் சூழ் கனமாமலை வேங்கடவா 

அறியே வந்தடைந்தேன் அடியேனை ஆட் கொண்டருளே 

It is almost 9pm when Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal makes his way back to the alankara mandapam. The clouds had thickened and there was prospect of a heavy rain but it went away handing out just a few drops. While many of the devotees have their hands up clicking a photo shot of Perumal, Pichumani Bhattar is always seen with folded hands in a thanking gesture of helping see through another day and another vahana procession. 

The foundation has been laid for the new Raja Gopuram that is coming up. Soon after the Brahmotsavam Periyava will be making it to the temple and Pichumani Bhattar hopes to have the pooja that day for starting the construction of the Raja Gopuram. He is confident that with Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal's blessings, 50% of the work would be completed by the time the next Brahmotsavam is here in Puratasi of 2027.

Over the last few decades, Pichumani Bhattar has anchored the transformation of the temple that can now be seen in the grandeur of the Puratasi Brahmotsvam. In the next few years, with his high devotional commitment, it is likely that this temple will sport a new Raja Gopuram and Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal will sometime in the near future go around the Saptha Prakara in a procession. 

Pichumani Bhattar - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/gunaseelam-pichumani-bhattar-hereditary.html