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

Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam Seshadri Kainkaryapara

After serving at Poundarikapuram Ashram for close to a decade and later helping Ahobila Mutt construct its branch in Thiru Nangur, this 84 year old Vannartrankarai resident is back at the Divya Desam where he spent his entire childhood enjoying the Brahmotsavams and the annual Vedantha Desikar utsavam

Octogenarian R Seshadri is back to where he had enjoyed his childhood in the early independence phase – with the majestic Veera Narasimha Perumal and Vedantha Desikar of Neelamegha Perumal Koil at the Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam at Vannartrankarai (Vannar Banks) on the Northern outskirts of Thanjavur.

It is the third day (Sept 15) of the Vedantha Desikar Avathara Utsavam at the Neelamegha Perumal Koil on the Southern Banks of Vannar and 84year old Seshadri is readying himself for the procession around the streets of Vannartrankarai that during his childhood was brimming with Vadakalaiyars. He looks back on the golden years at Vannartrankarai where he grew up amidst the Vedic and Prabhandham recital. He himself had learnt the slokams and stotras from Devanathachariar who was the Sanskrit pandit at Saraswathi Mahal. His appa Ranganathan was a Purohit in demand and the family was financially well off in those early years. 

எண்தள அம்புயத்துள் இலங்கும் அறுகோணமிசை 

வண்பணிலம் திகிரி வளைவில் வளைவாய் குசலம் 

திண்கையில் அங்குசம் சீர் திகழும் கதை செங்கமலம் 

எண்படை ஏந்தி நின்றான் எழிலாழி இறையவனே 

It is just past 6.30pm and close to ten Prabhandham members are reciting Paramatha Bhangam in front of the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi at the Neelamegha Perumal temple. Paricharakar Sridhar who works at the madapalli at Veera Narisimha Perumal temple is an alankaram specialist and is the one who has decorated desikar on this third evening of the festival.

Vibrant Vedic and Prabhandham Ghoshti during his childhood

As Seshadri arrives at the Neelamegha Perumal temple for the start of the procession of Vedantha Desikar, there are happy tears in his eyes as he recollects the glorious phase from his childhood “It was my Periappa and appa who put together this festival a 100 years ago pooling together the Ubayadarars for the ten days of the festival and they were the ones who signed these off. There were at least 10 Vedic scholars and 20 Prabhandham members presenting the Parayanam during the Desikar Utsavam and there was positive vibration all around.”

எம்பிரான் எந்தை என்னுடை சுற்றம் 

எனக்கு அரசு என்னுடை வாழ்நாள் 

அம்பினால் அரக்கர் வெருக்கொள நெருக்கி 

அவர் உயிர் செகுத்த எம் அண்ணல் 

வம்புலாம் சோலை மா மதில் 

தஞ்சை மாமணிக்  கோயிலே வணங்கி 

நம்பிகாள் உய்ய நான் கண்டு கொண்டேன் 

நாராயணா என்னும் நாமம் 

As he walks alongside this writer at the start of the procession, he shows to this writer the huge tract of land between Manikundram Perumal temple and Neelamegha Perumal temple that his family had possessed way back in the 1940s and 50s. “We had quite a big house and all around the house was farm land. It was greenery all around the three temples. The South and North streets were full of Vaishnavites with Vadakalayars having a dominant presence. By the time I joined the Muncipal Corporation service in Thanjavur, the original inhabitants had begun leaving this Divya Desam seeking greener pastures in big cities and the Vaishnavite numbers dwindled with each passing decade.”

உடம்புருவில் மூன்றொன்றாய் மூர்த்தி வேறாய் 

உலகுய்ய நின்றானை 

அன்று பேய்ச்சி விடம்பருகு வித்தகனை கன்று மேய்த்து 

விளையாட வல்லானை வரைமீகானில் 

தடம் பருகு கரு முகிலை தஞ்சை கோயில் 

தவநெறிக்கோர் பெரு நெறியை  வையம் காக்கும் 

கடும் பரிமேல் கற்கியை நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன் 

கடு பொழில் சூழ் கடல்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்தே 

Desikar oonjal 

 The pace of the procession is fast and Seshadri is seen repeatedly asking the sripatham personnel to slow down. His is a happy face when he points to the Mandapam where vedantha desikar will enjoy the swing this weekend as part of the 7th day festival, an evening that they have been supporting for decades.

As Vedantha Desikar made his way to the Singaperumal koil North Street, the happy tears turned to sadness. The first thattu of the procession  was at the house of the grandson of Vannartrankarai Acharya, who has been coordinating the utsavam for a few years now. There aren't the traditionalists anymore for the agraharams have become a thing of the past. 

The ancestral house and large tracts of land were sold off when the family members of Seshadri moved out of this Divya Desam. Seshadri picked up a house on the Singaperumal Koil South Street where he now resides. This South Agraharam was once vibrant with Vaishnavites forming a large part of this long street but there are just a couple of them outside of Seshadri on this street. He has always been a popular man with his vocal views on traditional aspects and as he walks through the procession, the residents of this Divya Desam enquire about his well being and if he had had his dinner. 

Seshadri was  a Revenue officer in his final years of service in the 1990s, a phase when he had forged a respectful relationship with Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Acharya, the Pontiff of Poundarikapuram Ashramam. He had taken Sanyasam at the Neelamegha Perumal temple and Seshadri recalls walking back from Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam all the way to Srirangam. The Pontiff assigned Seshadri to renovate and restore the Narayanaswami Brindavanam in Vannartrankarai that had been in a dilapidated state. 

And then when Paravakottai Acharya went on a yatra, he called on Seshadri to accompany him “I walked with him from Srirangam through Kallanai, Thillaisthanam, Kumbakonam to Mannargudi before making our way back to Srirangam via Thanjavur. It was a great experience. He would not compromise, sticked to traditions, was steadfast on principles. It was those qualities that inspired me to join him a decade later after I retired from my job as a Revenue Officer.”

                    Seshadri with Veera Narasimha Perumal Koil Bhattar

At the turn of the century, soon after his retirement, Seshadri performed daily service at the Poundarikapuram Ashram at the feet of Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Acharya building the Patshala and the room for visitors to the ashram. It was Seshadri who anchored and oversaw the construction of the compound wall for the ashram. In that phase, Seshadri helped in the sale of a building belonging to the Ashram at Thillai Nagar and also secured an apartment for the ashram on the Melur Road through a well wisher of the Acharya.

Seshadri counts that phase at the Poundarikapuram Ashram in service to the Pontiff as a most satisfying phase in his life. Following the passing away of the Pontiff with whom he had had a close association for two decades, Seshadri made his way out of Srirangam.

He had worked for a few years in Sirkazhi before the passing away of his wife in 1994, a period when he had visited the Nangur Perumal temples. After almost a decade long service at the Poundarikapuram Ashram, he made his way to Thiru Nangur to live a quiet life away from the bustling activity he had been through over the previous years at the ashram. 

He was past 70 then when he made his way to Thiru Nangur. He bought a cycle and would visit all the Nangur temples every week. It was a phase when a branch of Ahobila Mutt was being built in Thiru Nangur and Azhagiya Singar assigned Seshadri the task of overseeing the construction. It was quite a rewarding period for him as he completed the construction of the building with Azhagiya Singar making it for the inauguration. 

But by this time into his mid 70s, he had had a bypass surgery and a stent had been inserted. He had had a good three years at Thiru Nangur spending time all by himself cooking each day of the year and making it to the Divya Desams praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. The golden memories from his childhood pulled him back to Vannartrankarai and wanted to spend the rest of his life with the Divya Desam Perumals that he had grown up with in the 1940s and 50s. 

Vedantha Desikar had by now made his way back to Neelamegha Perumal temple where a couple of the vadakalaiyars turn as sripatham members to carry their acharya around the prakara. The Prabhandham members had been reciting the Moonraam Thiruvanthathi and with the completion of the Satru Murai of Pey Azhvaar’s Thiruvanthathi and having had one final darshan on this third evening of the Desikar Utsavam, Seshadri made his way back to his home on Singaperumal South street. 

தொட்ட படை எட்டும் தோலாத வென்றியான் 

அட்டபுயகரத்தான் அஞ்ஞான்று 

குட்டத்துக் கோல் முதலை துஞ்ச குறித்து எறிந்த சக்கரத்தான் 

தாள் முதலே நங்கட்குச் சார்வு 

More devotees came up to him at the temple enquiring about his wellbeing for he has always been a renowned face with his outspoken views on temple activities. There were hard stones on this dark street and as is his wont he made a jocular remark that these are good for his feet. Almost every resident of the street exchanged a few words with him an indication of his longstanding popularity in this Divya Desam. 

It’s just past 7.30pm and he has made his way back home after the four street procession, one that has left him wondering if more of the original inhabitants would make their way back to this Divya Desam comprising of three temples and if they could at least make their way for the annual Brahmotsavams at Narismha Perumal and Neelamegha Perumal temples and for this utsavam of the Vadakalai Acharya. He is hoping that there would be a lot more on the birthday of Vedantha Desikar a week from today on Sept 22 when the Acharya would make his way from Neelamegha perumal temple to Manikundaram and Veera Narasimha perumal temples for Mangalasaasanam. 

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 

His son has always been wanting him to come to Chennai to spend a relaxed life there with the family but Seshadri's heart has always been with the three Perumals of Vannartrankarai and he counts himself blessed that he has been able to make it back to the Divya Desam where he had spent his entire childhood enjoying the vibrant utsavams in those decades and one where he has now been able to contribute his bit as a devotee to the recent consecrations. The experience of the vedantha desikar utsavam this week has once again rekindled memories from his school days when the vaishnavites in the north and south streets came in good numbers to participate in the celebration of the vadakalai acharya.

HRCE pulls back mobile ban Srirangam Temple

Thoughtless Instinctive Approach of the HRCE

In a U-Turn within two days, the HRCE has pulled back the ban on mobile phones inside the Ranganathaswamy temple 

The inexperience of the new HRCE ministry has once again come to light. In a dramatic U turn, the HRCE has pulled back the ban on mobile phones within two days of its implementation. For starters, at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, the temple authorities have decided to revoke the ban for three days - Friday-Sunday when the crowds are huge,  bringing to light the lack of preparedness to handle the big crowd. There are a total of over 2000 mobile lockers put together at the three entry points but given the congested place at the Therku Vaasal, it would be a big challenge for the authorities to manage the crowd that would continuously be handing in and taking back the mobiles from the same counter.

On Puratasi Saturdays, the first of which is just a fortnight away, there is likely to be 50000 devotees at the temple. Even 10% of them handing their mobiles at the counter would make it an unmanageable task for the HRCE staffers unless they are trained to handle this workload of collecting and handing back the mobiles. And the crowd is likely to be inside the temple till past 11pm on Puratasi Saturdays. The mobile counters cannot close at 9pm because the shift of the HRCE staff ends then.

This section had last month predicted a chaotic first few days at the mobile counters, one that was to serve as an alert to the HRCE to be well prepared for what they were to face in the first few days of the ban. But they were ill prepared and saw the full wrath of the devotees in the initial couple of days that has led them to revoke the ban. The ill preparedness and the lack of thought on the part of the HRCE showcased itself on day one at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/08/srirangam-temple-mobile-ban-sept-1.html).

Poorly thought out decision

The temple authorities, without foresight, decided to stop receiving mobile phones at the counter after 8pm even though the darshan at the temple was to go on till well past 10pm on September 1. It was the Satru Murai evening of the Pavitrotsavam and Namperumal was to listen to the Padippu on this final evening before he headed back to his abode. And then the devotees were to have darshan of the deeparaathanai in front of the moolavar Sannidhi- this was to take place well past 9.30pm. The Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi too was to be open till 9pm and the Mangalaarathi to take place after 9.15pm.

Given this schedule, it did not make logical sense to stop receiving mobile phones at the counter after 8pm. Also, the HRCE staffers at the counter whose daily work schedule was to end at 9pm informed the devotees that they had to collect the mobiles back before 9pm sending shivering thoughts in the devotees to return back quickly.

It was a thoughtless approach from the HRCE authorities in Srirangam. When the Sannidhis were to be open till 930pm and devotees were inside the temple, how could you force them to come back and pick up the mobiles before 9pm just because the HRCE staff’s shift was to end at 9pm.

This as predicted created chaotic scenes at the Therku Vaasal counter with outstation devotees expressing their wrath at the staff’s refusal to receive the mobile phone at 8.15pm. These devotees told the staff at the counter that the temple was still open and questioned the reason to not receive the mobile when the sannidhis were still open.

Also, they questioned the staff as to how they could come back before 9pm when darshan was possible till well after 9.30pm on Tuesday evening (Sept 1). One devotee couple who had come from Coimbatore were caught in a tangle – should they go for darshan and risk not picking up the phone before 9pm when they had a latenight train back to Coimbatore. Another set of devotees told this writer that they came back in a hurry without having darshan to reach the counter before 9pm.

New mobile counter takes away devotee space

It was a poorly managed first day by the HRCE at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. The voices rose elsewhere too in other temples in Tamil Nadu. At the Akilandeswari entrance in Thiruvanaikaval, the HRCE built a mobile counter complex inside the North entrance at a location where the devotees sit back for a few minutes after darshan. This construction has taken away the entire sitting space leaving not an inch for the devotees.

Hitting out at the previous HRCE ministry for every delay and thoughtless instinctive approach on important issues as this Mobile ban has become an early feature of the new HRCE ministry. The early phase shows that they are not ready to listen to the devotees’ voice.

For two days, life had gone back to the 1980s at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam with devotees having face to face conversations with one another while standing in the queue at the Thayar and Perumal Sannidhi for they were deprived of their mobile phones for the first time in many years. And it seemed a positive turnaround for people were getting to greet and talk to each other. On this Krishna Jayanthi Friday morning, its back to the new normal with phones being allowed inside the temple and devotees have got their eyes back to the mobile phones away!!!

Kapisthalam Seshadri Bhattar retires at 84

Tears after six decades of Kainkaryam

Started at a salary of less than Rs. 20 and retired six decades later at an unpaid monthly salary of Rs. 450!!!

After over six decades of unflinching selfless solo Bhattar Kainkaryam at a monthly salary that did not top Rs. 500 anytime in that phase, O.S Seshadri Bhattar has retired from service at the Moopanar administered Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kapisthalam at the age of 84. He started out at a monthly salary of Rs. 17 in the early 60s and ended up 60+ years later at a salary of Rs. 450!!! While devotees are constantly hitting out at the HRCE administration for their treatment of kainkaryaparas, this temple serves as an example of private administrators being no different in terms of treatment to archakas.

கூற்றமும் சாரா கொடுவினையும் சாரா

தீ மாற்றமும் சாரா

வகை அறிந்தேன்

ஆற்றங்கரை கிடக்கும் கண்ணன்

கடல் கிடக்கும் மாயன்

உரை கிடக்கும் உள்ளது எனக்கு

A highly respected Priest in the Kumbakonam region

In the second half of the previous century, Seshadri Bhattar was one of the most respected priests in the region for he had learned the Vedas and Agamas for a decade from the revered Oothukadu Sankara Ganapadigal at the renowned centuries old Raja Patshala in Kumbakonam.  He wanted to become a teacher and that may have given him financial stability in his life but the sudden death of his appa meant that the responsibility of the Divya Desam service came to him at a very young age when he was still in his teens.

That decade, in the 1960s, he ran a Patshala in Kapisthalam, a temple on the Northern Banks of the Cauvery, teaching over 20 students and creating the next generation of agama experts. Most of his students have done financially well in their lives but very few have come to serve their Guru or help him financially in his tough times.

Shockingly at the time of his retirement, his salary remained unpaid for several years. All through his service phase, he remained quiet bearing the pain of inhuman treatment without ever raising his voice against the high profile political figures, performing the archaka service at this Divya Desam all alone.

Legendary temple

The story goes that Vishnu devotee Raja Indirajimnan would be so immersed in his prayers that he often forgot the world around him. On one such occasion, he incurred the wrath of Sage Durvasa known for his instant anger by continuing to be in his prayers and making the Sage wait outside. He was cursed thus - “The fact that you are a great devotee has made you arrogant and you have disrespected a Sage, who has come to meet you. May you turn into a mad elephant.”

Realising his folly, Indrajimnan begged for forgiveness. The Sage who is also know for showing sympathy agreed to reduce the impact of the curse stating that he would continue to be devoted to the Lord as ‘Elephant Gajendra’ and that he would one day be relieved of his curse by Vishnu himself.

Another story goes that Asura Guhu once playfully pulled the legs of Sage Agastya while he was having bath. Angered at this act, the Sage cursed him instantly turning the Asura into a Crocodile.

Vishnu, on his Garuda Vahana rescued Elephant (King) Gajendra from the clutches of the Crocodile (the Asura) on the banks of the river by hurling his Chakra at the crocodile and killing it. Thus the king was rid of his curse and attained Moksham. This Gajendra Moksham episode is enacted here every year in Panguni (March-April). 

Severe Health Issues into his mid 80s

He had always taken happiness from the fact that he was blessed to be performing Kainkaryam in a Divya Desam with such a legendary tale. But the financial challenges and later on the physical state of his son took a heavy toll on him. 

Following his retirement and being away from Gajendra Varadar, whom he had served so devotionally for decades, has led to a deterioration in Seshadri Bhattar’s health. He had spent almost his entire life at the feet of Gajendra Varadar and the feeling of not being able to serve him anymore has left him emotionally drained leading to health issues. He was bedridden for a few weeks and is just in the process of recovering.

This year, his medical expenses has mounted and the financial scenario at home does not allow for such a huge cash outflow. He continues to sleep on a decades old cot under a decades old fan.

His wife had been a pillar of strength during his troubled times backing him to continue the Kainkaryam despite the low salary but she too has become immobile of late, while his son is physically challenged (can’t hear or speak). There is not too much of support around with the temple administrators turning a blind eye to his financial troubles. For many decades, he was the most recognisable face at the temple but the administrators have had the least sympathy for his current state of life of someone who had single handedly managed the temple since the 1960s.

Since the time he quit his service, many archakas have come and gone with the stint of each being quite short lived. He has not entered the temple for months for he is not wanted anymore by the administrators 

Way back in 1963, when he was just 21 years old, Thiru Kudanthai Andavan of Andavan Ashram conferred the title of ‘Mantra Mani' for his rendering of Vishnu Homam for 20 hours nonstop in Kumbakonam without a water or a toilet break. But financial rewards have eluded Seshadri Bhattar all through his life.

A 2007 photo taken by this writer that has Lakshmana Moopanar's name on the wall!!!

On this Monday afternoon, he has nothing left in him other than the tears that roll down his cheeks looking back at his six decades Divya Desam Kainkaryam. Outstation devotees who visit this temple continue to pay regards to him by visiting his home opposite the temple for he was the most recognisable face for so many decades and the one who was available to them any time of the day. His memory remains sharp and is able to recollect those glory days in his youth when there were sthaneegam, paricharakars and sthalathars at this temple but most of them left long ago and he has remained the sole kainkaryapara for decades. 

Unmindful of the personal challenges in his life, his has been a life of complete dedication to Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal of Kapisthalam. Seshadri Bhattar had been one of the very few Octogenarian priests performing Kainkaryam in a Divya Desam in Tamil Nadu. With the private administrators looking the other way, the pain had become too unbearable for him to continue. He now spends most of his time at home on the decades old cot remembering the glory days of his Kainkaryam to Gajendra Varadar.

One hopes that sometime in the near future, GK Vasan and co would at least pay him the salary dues that have been pending for years. And may be for the selfless solo archaka kainkaryam of 60+ years, they can surprise him with a bonus that will sustain him and his family for the rest of his life!!!

Seshadri Bhattar can be reached on: 9585085619