Thiru Indhalur Tula Utsavam Garuda Sevai 2026

Parimala Ranganatha provides Garuda Sevai on the fourth day of the Tula Utsavam  

Tula Utsavam is one of the two big utsavams in the year at Parimala Ranganatha temple in Thiru Indhalur, a Divya Desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. The utsavam is marked by vahana procession every evening like the Brahmotsavam in Panguni with Theerthavari in the Cauvery following the Chariot Procession on the 9th day (next Monday- Nov 16).

Just over six decades ago, the entire Sannidhi Street was filled with traditionalists who spent all their time in temple related activities. Divya Prabhandham and Vedic Recital was an integral part of this Divya Desam. There were full time Adyapakars and Vedic Scholars who performed daily service at the temple. Prabhandham Scholars from across the state made it to the Tula Utsavam such was the sanctity of the festival here in Aippasi. This year the Tula Utsavam coincided with the Manavala Mamuni Avathar Utsavam. The prabhandham members have dwindled in remote temple towns but the Theerthakarars of Thiru Indhalur have kept the recital going during these big utsavams. Early evening on Wednesday (Nov 11), they presented two cantos of Periya Thirumozhi and one from Namazhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi. 

Thiru Indhalur is a Pancha Ranga Kshetram where the Lord is seen in a grand Veera Sayana Posture displaying his four hands with the entire moolavar Lord carved on a single stone, an exquisite piece of architecture.  The other Pancha Kshetrams are Srirangam, Srirangapatnam, Koviladi and Kumbakonam. There are several other sculptures inside the temple depicting historical episodes. Also, there are Navagraha stone carvings atop the roof at 6 different locations within the temple. Most of the structures are architecturally appealing.

Sridhar Bhattar at the forefront

As mentioned in a few of the stories on this temple earlier in this section, two of the longstanding priests have remained suspended for many years with no signs of them coming back. Sridhar Bhattar who had been sidelined for a long time has become the face of the temple over the last few years and is the one most active at this temple moving around from Sannidhi to alankara mandapam and then for the Satru Murai on this 8th day of Manavala Mamuni utsavam in front of the azhvaar-acharya Sannidhi.

With the clock ticking past 7pm, the prabhandham members began Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s final verses on Sowri Raja Perumal of Thiru Kannapuram and followed it with the final verse of the 8th canto of Tiruvoimozhi. Theertham, Shatari and Prasadam were presented to the Kainkaryaparas and the few devotees who were present for the Satru Murai.

Ahead of the Garuda Sevai, Sridhar Bhattar roped in the young Madhavan Bhattar from Thiru Cherai Saranathan Perumal Divya Desam for the alankaram of Parimala Ranganatha atop the Garuda Vahana and the 20 year old Patshala student Varada Gopalan from Kaarappankaadu for the alankaram of Senai Muthalvar. He himself decorated Andal atop the Anna Pakshi vahana.

Most of the original inhabitants have left this historic divya desam in search of greener pastures and thus there are very few devotees or kainkaryaparas for the start of the Garuda sevai procession. The sripatham service has been outsourced and they have arrived on time in good numbers. Following the Deeparathanai and the presentation of Puliyotharai Prasadam, they are all set to carry Parimala Ranganatha to the Eastern Entrance where the big door beneath the Raja Gopuram shuts.

There are a handful of devotees waiting outside on the Sannidhi street in anticipation of the opening of the Raja Gopuram door for them to have a first glimpse of Parimala Ranganatha Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana. Even as the deeparathanai is presented at this eastern entrance, the devotees are awestruck at the beautiful decoration and they cant take their eyes away from the handsome looking Lord with whom Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had expressed his anger at not welcoming him into the temple.

ஆசை வழுவாதேத்தும் எமக்கு இங்கு இழுக்காய்த்து 

அடியோர்க்குத் தேசம் அறிய உமக்கே ஆளாய்த் திரிகின்றோமுக்கு 

காசின் ஒளியில் திகழும் வண்ணம் காட்டீர் எம் பெருமான் 

வாசி வல்லீர் இந்தளூரீரே வாழ்ந்தே போம் நீரே 

The devotees were even more delighted on seeing Andal atop the Anna Pakshi Vahana in a beautiful green saree holding a veena in her hand. 

Solo Madapalli Cook

In the century gone by, during the Tula Utsavam, devotees and service personnel at the temple were served so much food and in such varieties that on most days they had to reject the servings for there was no more space (in the stomach) to consume. Madapalli was packed with cooks and parijarakarars in those decades. Madapalli Paricharakar Kumar is busy preparing hot Puliyotharai for the Sripatham personnel. It is a solo act and there is no support even during this utsavam period. The onus is on him to prepare the sacred food for the daily pooja, for the manavala mamuni utsavam as well as the Tula Utsavam. It is a physically tiring job working in challenging conditions with the firewood burning inside the madapalli. But he is up for it. He considers it a great opportunity to be the one donning the hat of a cook multiple times in the day for different occasions- cooking for the utsavam as well as for the daily pooja. Unmindful of health issues, he is devotionally engaged inside the madapalli, all alone.

On the Sannidhi street, the residents come out to present the Thattu. By this time, Satish Narayana Bhattar from Narayana Perumal temple in Thiru Nangur has arrived after completing his daily pooja at the Nangur Divya Desam to don the role of the priest for the procession. He collects the Thattu from each of the residents and presents deeparathanai to Perumal and Andal. 

The prabhandham members have begun the recital of Nanmugan Thiruvanthathi while four vedic members from Chennai follow perumal on the procession with their vedic recital. It is past 9pm when Parimala Ranganatha is mounted on to the Olai Chapparam followed by Senai Muthalvar and Andal.

               Nangur and Kaarappankaadu Bhattars

While there is a dearth of kainkaryaparas and devotees even at the Garuda Vahana procession, there is no shortage of arguments and fights. At the end of the Sannidhi street, next to the Anjaneya Sannidhi, the chief of the Sripatham wants to burst the crackers to signify the commencement of the Olai Chapparam procession around the four streets but the fruit vendor who has fig leaves atop his shop objects to the crackers being burst in front of his shop fearing the spark igniting the leaves. Finally better sense prevails and the fire crackers and the rockets go up at the intersection of the East and South Mada streets. 

The Bhagavathas are an integral part of such processions and this group presents bhajans and sacred songs with great devotion. Their participation adds a devotional flavour to the procession. 

 

சொல்லாது ஒழியகில்லேன் அறிந்த சொல்லில்

நும்மடியார் எல்லோரோடும் ஓக்க எண்ணியிருந்தீர் அடியேனை

நல்லார் அறிவீர் தீயார் அறிவீர்

நமக்கு இவ்வுலகத்து எல்லாம் அறிவீர்

ஈதே அறியீர், இந்தளூரீரே

Octogenarian Priest from yesteryears

Residents of the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam come out of their homes on the South and West Mada streets to have darshan of the Trio. Satish Narayana Bhattar is full of patience while the young Varada Gopalan is at his energetic best delighted at securing this opportunity to perform kainkaryam on the Garuda Sevai evening. 

On the West Street is 85 year old SK Bhattar who is lifted by two Sripatham persons with his chair to seat him in front of Parimala Rangantha. Sridhar Bhattar who is now carrying forward the Murai of SK Bhattar at this temple explains the features of this evening’s alankaram to the Octogenarian who once upon a time performed Kainkaryam at this temple.

Archaka Ramesh has been performing Thiru Aradhana for over 25 years at the Srinivasa Perumal temple, an abhimana sthalam a couple of kms north of this Divya Desam. He too joins in the kainkaryam and holds the canopy atop Andal.

In 2019, this section had featured a story on the Tula Utsavam when the North Street was full of pits and it was quite a challenge for Parimala Rangantha to wade through that street. Things have improved a lot on the infra front with the four roads now in good shape leading to a smooth procession. 

A 2019 Tula Utsavam photo taken by this writer

Well past 10pm and on to the North Mada street, there are two surprise visitors from two Saivite temples in the region. Agneeswarar Gurukal of Kanjanur and Thyagarajan Gurukal of Thiru Kodikkaval have made it to Mayiladuthurai for the Rishabha Vahana procession at the Mayuranatha temple, 2 kms South of here but that procession has not yet started. On this North street, they have darshan of Parimala Rangantha. They are a popular duo with all the kainkaryaparas of Thiru Indhalur exchanging pleasantries with them. 

In front of the Anjaneya Sanndhi, they move on in their Innova car towards the Mayuranatha temple even as Parimala Ranganatha makes his way out of the Olai Chapparam back to the temple. In front of the Eastern Rajagopuram, the prabhandham members present the Satru Murai verses of Nangaam Thiruvanthathi followed by the conclusion of the Vedic verses. It is past 11pm when Perumal and Andal make it back to the alankara mandapam while Senai Mudhalvar goes back to his Sannidhi. 

எந்தை தந்தை தம்மான் என்றென்று

எமரேழ்  ஏழளவும்

வந்து நின்ற தொண்டரோர்க்கே வாசிவல்லீரால்

சிந்தை தன்னுள் முந்தி நிற்றீர்

சிறிதும் திருமேனி

இந்த வண்ணம் என்று காட்டீர் இந்தளூரீரே

The madapalli cook distributes the huge quantity of Puliyotharai that he has prepared to the Sripatham personnel for them to take back home for their service on the evening. Past 11.30pm most of the kainkaryaparas have left the temple with Sridhar Bhattar and Satish Narayana Bhattar engaging in mounting Perumal and Andal from their vahanas and to removing the jewels and the alankaram. This is quite a laborious task and takes a few hours. They are at the temple into the wee hours of Thursday morning before they are finally done with this task and keeping the jewels back in safe custody. 

For Sridhar Bhattar it is a very satisfying experience. For a couple of decades, he had played second fiddle to Mappilai Bhattar and Muralidhara Deekshithar but he patiently held his  ground in that phase. And he is now reaping the benefits of that great devotional commitment that he had exhibition in that earlier period. He considers it Parimala Ranganatha’s blessing for bestowing this great responsibility on him to organise this Garuda Sevai procession during this sacred Tula Utsavam and is ever grateful to the Lord who he served from far in the decades gone by.

Thiru Kurungudi Shiva Sanndhi Subramanian Gurukal

Devotee crowd is back and so is his smile

After waiting for close to 20 years, Subramanian Gurukal is happy that Lord Shiva has answered his long time prayer of restoring the Sannidhi at its original location

Subramanian Gurukal was not yet 40 when he landed up at the Shiva Sannidhi early in the morning middle of Vaikasi in 2004 only to find it in tatters. The entire Sannidhi had been brought down in a single night and there was no resemblance of what had existed the previous night and for the many centuries prior. Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his praise in the Periya Thirumozhi referred to Lord Shiva as ‘Pakkam Ninraar’.

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும்  உடையார்

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க  நின்ற 

பண்பர் ஊர்போலும்

தக்க மரத்தின் தாழ் சினாய் ஏறி 

தாய் வாயில் கொக்கின் பிள்ளை 

வெள் இற உண்ணும் குறுங்குடியே 

On this Ashtami morning in Aippasi, the Gurukal tells this writer as to how he spent close to two decades in sadness at not being able to perform pooja at the Sannidhi that had been handed to his family in the 1980s soon after the consecration back then. “There was opposition from a lot of the local residents with Sokkalingam Pillai (he is no more) being the most vocal but the balalayam was done" recalls Subramanian Gurukal. 

His long time prayer throughout the period since then was to get Shiva back to his original location. Finally in 2023, his prayer was answered and Shiva Sannidhi was consecrated again at the same place from where it had been displaced.

Till 1980s, the pooja at the Shiva Sannidhi had been performed by the Pothies from Kerala. Subramanaian Gurukal’s appa ran a school in Thiru Kurungudi and this was vibrant with over 500 students and close to 20 teachers but with passing of time, students have stayed away from Government aided school and moved on to more modern sophisticated schools in the region. At that time back in the 1980a, the Mutt was in a poor state financially with recovery of tenancy monies being a serious issue. The temple itself was in a bad shape and the original inhabitants had moved away from their ancestral town in search of greener pastures in large cities. For a large part, the temple was deserted and there were very few devotees at the Shiva Sannidhi in the 1980s and 90s, recalls Subramanian Gurukal.

He had joined the temple service in his late teens in the 1980s and learned the pooja krana from his appa and uncle by watching them and serving alongside them. In 1994, he joined the temple as the official archaka at a monthly salary of Rs. 60. A few years later, when TVS’ Venu Srinivasan began restoration of Divya Desams in this region, Subramanian Gurukal was paid a monthly sambhavanai of Rs. 500 which was a solid amount at that time.

He had a Masters degree in History and a DTE and tried his hand at teaching in the local school but ended up without a salary for many years and let go of his interest in teaching.

With the restoration of the Sannidhi and the consecration of the temple earlier this year, the crowd has increased especially over the weekends.  The taking over of the reigns by Ramanuja Perarula Jeer just over 15 years ago has led to the financial turn around of the Mutt  through his proactive recovery initiatives  (this section featured a story on that earlier this year). This meant that the salary of the Gurukal has risen manifold. 

He also performs homam and participates in consecration events in the temples in the region.

VAO at Vaanamaamalai Mutt

Interestingly, the Vanamaamalai Mutt in Nanguneri offered him the role of a VAO that involved supervising a team in collection of rent from temple lands and depositing that in the Mutt account. That service helped him with an additional income to sustain and run his family.

It has been a satisfying last few years for Subramanian Gurukal following the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi that had been in Balalayam for close to two decades. Devotees, who visit the Nambi Sannidhis at this temple, reach here to listen to the temple legend. He has been blessed with good communication skills and is able to engage well with devotees. To each of them, he refers to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Pakkam Ninraar verse and how the Thaligai comes from the same madapalli and is presented to both Nambi Perumal and Lord Shiva.

நின்ற வினையும் துயரும் கெட மா மலர் ஏந்தி 

சென்று பணிமின் எழுமின் தொழுமின் தொண்டீர்காள் 

என்றும் இரவும் பகலும் வரி வண்டு இசை பாட 

குன்றின் முல்லை மன்றிடை நாறும் குறுங்குடியே 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar asks the devotees to come to Thiru Kurungudi and offer their worship here. He says that by serving the Lord here, they would be elevated and their past Karmas would be destroyed.

Even as he completes the conversation with this writer, pooja items are coming in for Ashtami. He also sounds out the Madapalli Paricharakar and Maniam Ramanujam on the Thaligai. His phone doesn’t stop ringing with calls to fix his appointment and get his nod for a consecration event.

It has been a positive turnaround for the Gurukal whose appa and uncle had endured financial challenges in the 1980s. He is now enjoying his role as the Gurukal at this Azhvaars praised temple with the Shiva Sannidhi housed inside the Divya Desam. Devotees who visit the Sannidhi are reminded of the Kanchi temples where Perumal is housed inside the Shiva temple. They are told that this is similar to the Divya Desam in Thiru Koshtiyur where Shiva Sannidhi is located inside the Azhvaar praised Perumal temple.

Devotees continue to throng the Shiva Sannidhi on this Sunday with many of them wanting an archanai at the Bairavar Sannidhi housed next to Lord Shiva. Subramanian Gurukal heeds to their call and moves on to present the archanai much to their delight. It is now just over three years since the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi and for Subramanian Gurukal it has been a glorious phase in his life serving the devotees. When he joined the temple, there were very few devotees, the salary was low and then soon after the Sannidhi was brought dow.  It has been a positive turnaround in recent times. The devotee crowd has increased manifold, the salary of kainkaryaparas has risen under the management of the current Jeer and the restoration of this sannidhi and the large scale consecration of the larger temple complex is drawing people in big numbers to this Divya Desam. And that is bringing the 'previously missing' smile back on to the Gurukal's face.

Shiva Sannidhi restored in 2023: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/thiru-kurungudi-pakkam-ninnaar-shiva.html

Srirangam Station Porter Karuppan

Dwindling Service

This 63 year old has been performing the service of a Porter for over 3 decades at the Srirangam Railway Station

In the not so distant past, it was all red when one entered the railway station. The red shirted porter would welcome passengers at the entrance offering to pick up and carry to the railway coach the big sized suitcases that passengers brought along with them. Similarly, when one alighted from the coach, there were scores of porters running into each of the coaches, especially the AC coaches to pick up the luggage of passengers and physically carry them on their head and shoulders.

But with the emergence of the wheeled tyred vehicles, the number of porters offering this service of physically carrying the luggage has reduced drastically in railway stations. While they continue to survive in larger stations, this physical porter service is slowly becoming a thing of the past in the stations in smaller towns.

However, there is one senior citizen who continues to offer this service to this day. 63year old K. Karuppan hails from Senthurai and he has been donning the role of a porter at the Srirangam Railway Station for over three decades. He is now a frail man with very little physical energy left but on this November day he is on platform number 1 waiting for the next train to arrive in the hope that some passenger would use his porter service. 

No Schooling, becomes a luggage carrier at the bus stand

Given the financial situation in the family, Karuppan did not go to school and from a very young age, when most others were at school, he was at the Senthurai bus stand carrying luggage as much as he could for his age in the 1970s. As he grew up into his teens, he began to carry bigger luggage comprising of daily vegetables and fruits to the market and rice and dal bags to the shops in the town. And then into his 20s, he boarded a train to Srirangam and landed up at this legendary temple town. 

                                 

A Licensed Porter at Srirangam Railway station

Sitting on platform 1, he recalls to this writer the meter gauge steam engines from the previous century. Following the consecration of the towering 236 feet Raja Gopuram in the late 1980s, the devotee crowd increased at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and so too the demand for his porter service at the Srirangam railway station in the 1990s. 

After coming to know the background of his porter service in Senthurai, the then station master of Srirangam helped him secure the tag of a licensed porter and he began to carry passenger’s luggage from 1994.  The ward councillor of the time organised a small place for him to stay near the station. 

He says he enjoyed a good time in that phase with passengers from popular trains such as the Rockfort and Pallavan Express becoming his regular customers. Over the last three decades, he has built a solid customer base. With the ever growing usage of the mobile phones, they would call him ahead of time for him to wait in front of the relevant coach. There were times in the past when he made well over Rs. 500 a day but unfortunately things have started looking bleak for him in recent years. 

He says with tears rolling down his cheeks that passengers do not use the physical porter service anymore like they used to in the 2nd half of the previous century. There are other options available like for example the trolley. However, decades of serving passengers at this railway station has earned him their goodwill and that's the only thing that is holding him in good stead these days for those loyal customers turn to him simply based on the positive experience from the past. And that is getting him some money for his daily survival. He stays at the railway platform most of the time in the hope that his phone will ring from one of those happy customers. Earlier this week one such long standing customer sent him a shirt and dhoti for Deepavali much to his delight.

On this hot afternoon in November, he moves on towards the AC coach even as another train arrives at platform 1 at the Srirangam Railway Station. Many red shirted porters have moved on in life with the next gen staying away from this once popular service but for Karuppan, this has been the only service he has known in over five decades ever since the time he was a young boy.  He has always been passionate about his role in helping passengers shed their weight and carrying their luggage on to the coach.  Karuppan says that till his final breath, he would continue to carry this porter service at the Srirangam Railway Station, proudly pointing to the red shirt and says that he has never worn another in his life for this is symbolic of the way he has created happy customers over the last 50+ years

Thiru Kurungudi Ramanuja Sannidhi

Maniam Ramanujam has been performing daily Thiru Aradhana and Thaligai Presentation at Emberumaanaar Sannidhi at Thiru Kurungudi for over two decades 

It is just past 6.30am on Sunday (Nov 1) morning. The Maniyakaarar of Azhagiya Nambi temple in Thiru Kurungudi, D. Ramanujam, is already on his way west of this Divya Desam to the historic location on the banks of Nambi River at the foot of the Mahendra Giri Parvatham. For over five decades, his family has been taking care of the Thiru Aradhana at the Ramanuja Sannidhi in this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Nam Azhvaar praised Divya Desam.

Decades of Selfless Service

His appa Deivanayakan had taken care of this Sannidhi at a time when it was in a dilapidated state and when very few devotees visited this Sannidhi. Tears start rolling down his cheeks when he recalls to this writer those financially challenging phase in his childhood “My appa would walk all the way from the Sannidhi street through the Thiruparkadal Nambi temple and I would carry rice and curd and go along with him early in the morning. He would cook Thaligai and present to Ramanuja, perform Thiru Aradhana and come back. It was with that Thaligai that I used to fill my stomach in my school days such was the financial scenario in the family.”

TVS' Venu restores the Ramanuja Sannidhi

Maniam Ramanujam credits TVS' Venu Srinivasan for the transformation at this Sannidhi. "During my appa's kainkaryam decades, this sannidhi was in a dilapidated state. It was Venu Srinivasan who took up the restoration work and transformed this sannidhi. Even more creditable is the fact that after the restoration, he was keen on the maintenance and has been providing provisions for every day Thaligai that has motivated me to continue this Kainkaryam that my appa had done for three decades."

Like he has in many other temples in this region, Venu Srinivasan has created a beautiful Nandavanam right around the complex growing traditional flowers as described by Periyaazhvaar in his verses. For Venu, the consecration that took place in March this year was one of the happiest moments of his life. Restoring multiple sannidhis that had been in dilapidated state and giving a facelift to the huge temple complex meant that his lifetime dream had been achieved (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-temple.html).

His appa was presented with one padi rice and oil for this Kainkaryam. Things have turned around now and carrying forward the service, Maniam Ramanujam is paid a fair sambhavanai both by the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt as well as by Venu Srinivasan.

The Sacred Rock in Thiru Kurungudi

The story goes that Ramanuja went to Thiru Ananthapuram to promote Vaishnavism in that region but was packed off by the Namboodaries who were a dominant force there.

Maniam Ramanujam points to the rock on the banks of Nambi River and narrates as to how Ramanuja landed up here "From Thiru Ananthapuram, he was lifted by Garuda and dropped off here west of Thiru Kurungudi. When he woke up, he called for Vaduka for he did not realise that his disciple was still in Thiru Ananthapuram. Lord Nambi answered his call and performed Kainkaryam to Ramanuja acting as his disciple Vaduka. In the Vaishnava Sampradaya, Acharya performs Kainkaryam at the feet of the Lord but here Nambi himself was performing Kainkaryam."

The huge rock on the banks of Nambi River with Thiruman and Ramanuja

Ramanuja had bath in the Nambi river, sat in the rock and placed Thiruman on his forehead. The balance as was his practice he presented to his Sishya- Nambi Lord in this case. Taking the sacred Tulasi, he asked his disciple to accompany him to have darshan of Lord Nambi. When he reached the flag post, his disciple was missing. When the Sannidhi opened for darshan, Ramanuja saw the wet remains on the forehead of the Lord and only then realised that Azhagiya Nambi himself had served as his disciple. The sacred rock where Ramanuja placed the Thiruman is referred to as Parivattapaarai as the Lord had taken Ramanuja’s Kashaya Vastram, washed it and hung it on the rock.

Doubles up as Madapalli Cook

Maniam Ramanujam doubles up as the Aradhakar as well as the cook at the madapalli. He continues to use the traditional firewood to boil the rice. Past 8am, he presents Dhadhyonam to Udayavar and then heads back to the Azhagiya Nambi temple. There arent any devotees this early in the morning but Ramanujam says that during the course of the day, after they have visited the Nambi Sannidhis, he takes the interested devotees both to the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi as well as here to the Ramanuja Sannidhi.

Just over a year ago, this section had featured a story on the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi which too Maniam Ramanujam has been taking care of.  In addition to discharging his duty as the Maniam of the Azhagiya Nambi temple, Ramanujam has been the guiding force behind both the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and this Ramanuja Sannidhi taking the visiting devotees to these two locations so they know its historical importance. He says it is a very satisfying experience to be here every morning to cook and present a Thaligai to Emberumaanar. 

Ramanujam had begun his life as a peanut seller in his teenage years in the 1970s and has transformed himself into a responsible Maniyakaarar at this historic Divya Desam. From literally no food days in his childhood, he now now feeds visiting devotees on all festive occasions. 

Kaisika Ekadasi on Nov 20

Just over a fortnight from now, he and his wife will be hosting several hundreds of devotees at their home on the Kaisika Ekadasi and Dwadasi days and treating the guests to traditional food. Last year, the couple had served food to over 300 devotees and even packed food for those who took to the early morning train after having darshan of Kaisika Natakam and Araiyar Sevai on the Kaisika Ekadasi night (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/kaisika-puranam-in-thirukurungudi.html). 

Maniam Ramanujam is looking to the Kaisika Ekadasi utsavam that falls on Friday November 20 this year. He has just painted his house after a couple of decades and also created more cots and beds so the devotees visiting the Kaisika Ekadasi utsavam could rest on the first floor of his house.

Contact Maniam Ramanujam@ 9360548252

Story on Kaisika Ekadasi: 

Kurungudi Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sanndhi: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/06/thiru-kurungudi-thiru-mangai-azhvaar.html

Kumbakonam Ramaswamy Koil Navarathri Utsavam

Soundar Bhattar has revitalised devotee interest at the Ramaswamy Temple by restoring damaged dolls and creating a theme based Ramayana story each day of Navarathri

The Pandemic Phase led him to a creative idea of creating a new set of dolls sculpted by Lakshmana Sthapathi to tell the entire Ramayana story from Rama's birth to Pattabhisekam

Soundararaja Bhattar is easily one of the most-friendliest of Bhattars in the Kumbakonam region with his ever smiling welcome of the devotees and is ever amenable to their ideas. On Sunday (Oct 18) evening on the 8th day of the Navarathri Utsavam at the Ramaswamy temple in Thiru Kudanthai Hundreds of devotees were taken back to Lord Rama’s return trip from Lanka on the Pushpaka Vimana and the sumptuous meal Rama and his retinue had at the Baradwaja Ashrama. 

As the alankara mandapa opened for darshan at 6pm, the utsava deities of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were flanked by 16 dolls that told this story of Rama fulfilling his earlier promise to Baradwaja Rishi.

மைத்தரு மா மலர்குழலாய் வைதேவீ விண்ணப்பம் 

ஒத்த புகழ் வானரக்கோன் உடன் இருந்து நினைத் தேட 

அத்தகு சீர் அயோத்தியர்கோன் அடையாளம் இவைமொழிந்தான் 

இத் தகையால் அடையாளம் ஈது அவன் கைம் மோதிரமே -Periyaazhvaar

Hearing the devotee voice

When Kalyanaraman, an auditor-devotee from Kumbakonam suggested the idea of telling the Ramayana story during the utsavam a decade ago, Soundar Bhattar became excited. “Kalyanaraman’s appa was a disciple of Krishnapremi Anna and had performed 1000 Pattabhisekams. Kalyanaraman wanted me to present the Ramayana Alankaram so as to instil bhakthi among devotees through this story telling model”, Soundar Bhattar told this writer on Sunday evening at the Ramaswamy Koil.

          Soundar Bhattar 

Restored damaged dolls to devotees' delight

As he searched around the temple complex, he found 16 large sized wooden dolls in damaged condition. Soundar Bhattar restored these dolls and over the last decade as part of the Navarathri Utsavam he has converted these dolls into Ramayana artistes with one story theme presented on each day of the utsavam. 

கற்பார் இராம பிரானை எல்லாம் மற்றும் கற்பரோ 

புற்பா முதலாப் புல் எறும்பு ஆதி ஒன்று இன்றியே 

நற் பால் அயோத்தியில் வாழும் சராசரம் முற்றவும் 

நற் பாலுக்கு உய்த்தனன் நான்முகனார் பெற்ற நாட்டுளே - Namazhvaar

Baradwaja Rishi hosts Lord Rama

On this 8th day, the theme was the hosting of a meal by Baradwaja Rishi on Rama’s victorious return trip after defeating the Lankan King Rama. The story goes that Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stayed at Baradwaja Ashrama after being banished from Ayodhya. Baradwaja Rishi considered it a great blessing to host Rama and was keen to present a great meal but Rama rejected the offer as he had decided to consume only select food during the Vanavaas and promised the Rishi that he would definitely with his wish the next time he was there. 

Fulfilling that promise, Rama with the Vanaras and the new Lankan King landed at Baradwaja Ashrama from the Pushpaka Vimana much to the delight of the Rishi.  This episode of Rama consuming a meal at the Ashrama along with his retinue was captured through the creative depiction of the dolls much to the delight of the devotees. Also, in line with the theme of the day, wide ranging sweets were presented to Rama as was the wish of Baradwaja Rishi.

Through the evening, the young next gen Sathyavasan Bhattar briefed the devotees on the theme of the alankaram leaving them thrilled with the depiction.

சுற்றும் எல்லாம் பின் தொடர்ந்த தொல் கானம் அடைந்தவனே 

அற்றவர்கட்கு அருமருந்தே அயோத்தி நகர்க்கு அதிபதியே 

கற்றவர்கள் தாம் வாழும் கணபுரத்து என் கருமணியே 

சிற்றவைதன் சொற் கொண்ட சீராமா தாலேலோ - Kulasekara Azhvaar

When the Pandemic struck six years, activities slowed down at the temple. That phase got Soundar Bhattar thinking as to how more devotees could be attracted to this temple. That’s how he got to the idea of telling the entire Ramayana story in one zone inside the temple complex. 

Ramayana through sculpted dolls

When this story idea struck him, he immediately called upon Lakshmana Sthapathi and told him that he was keen to tell the Ramayana story during the Navarathri Utsavam. Soundar Bhattar told this writer that he gave the sthapathi an end to end story of the Ramayana sharing with him the detailed list of the kind of dolls he wanted to create in order to tell the legendary epic. “The Sthapathi would come up with a drawing and a sketch and I would make some corrections. He would then buy barrel of fibre and finish that set in one go. It took us 9 months to create a new set of dolls that narrates the story from the birth of Rama to his Pattabhisekam.”

Soundar Bhattar's alankaram

It's the first day of the Tula month on Sunday and Soundar Bhattar is at the Sarangapani Koil in the first half of the day for his kainkaryam there. After 1pm he is at ramaswamy koil to decorate Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. As the Kannadi arai opens at 6pm, the devotees not only get a snippet, through the restored dolls, of Baradwaja Rishi's great penchant for playing a host, but also Soundar Bhattar's attention to details wit his alankaram that touches their devotional hearts.

A special visitor on this evening was upanyasakar Dr. Venkatesh who enjoyed and experienced the day's theme as his eyes stayed glued to the beautiful thematic presentation of Soundar Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/dr-venkatesh-thiru-kudanthai-upanyasakar.html).

Soundar Bhattar is thrilled that this has captured the imagination of the devotees and he sees many parents narrating the Ramayana story to their children taking them through each doll and character in the Ramayana. On this Sunday evening, he points to that ‘story zone’ next to the alankara mandapam to show this writer the kind of devotee crowd that visits that area each evening of the utsavam.

While Soundar Bhattar vehemently opposes devotees taking their own photos along with the idol (selfies inside temples and during utsvams), he is excited at the outcome of how devotees have video captured this Ramayana story depicted through beautifully sculpted dolls and this creative idea at the Ramaswamy temple having gone viral across the world.

By the end of the evening, a number of children were seen talking about the fighting spirit of bird Jatayu who gave his life trying to rescue Sita from Ravana, Guha ferrying Rama, Sita and Lakshmana across the river on his boat, the defining friendship of Rama and Sugreeva, dutiful Hanuman carrying the entire Sanjeevani hill when he could not find the herb and finally the slaying of the ten head Ravana by Rama.

This Navarathri Utsavam shows as to how a highly devoted and committed Bhattar can draw devotees to the temple through a simple creative process. Soundar Bhattar converted the period of the sadness of the Pandemic into a creative phase that is now drawing devotees from across Kumbakonam specifically to the Ramaswami temple to watch the Ramayana ‘Theme of the Day’.

A story on Soundar Bhattar, Thiru Kudanthai: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html

Dasavathara Temple Srirangam Sudarshan Bhattar

From Coffee Manufacturing to Archaka Kainkaryam at the feet of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s favourite Narasimha idol

It has been three years since Sudarshan Bhattar took over the mantle as the sole archaka at the Dasavathara temple in Srirangam, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar performed Thiru Aradhana for Lord Narasimha. In his five decads of praise on Srirangam, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has reserved a decad for the Dasavatharam Lords with a verse each for them in his Periya Thirmozhi. This phase following the Pandemic has been a most satisfying one for Sudarshan Bhattar with him being bestowed the responsibility of carrying out the year-long renovation works that concluded earlier this year at this Ahobila Mutt administered temple.

ஏனாகி உலகிடந்து அன்று இரு நிலனும் பெரு விசும்பும் 

தானாய பெருமானை தன் அடியார் மனத்தென்றும் 

தேனாகி அமுதாகித் திகழந்தானை 

மகிழ்ந்து ஒரு கால் 

ஆனாயன் ஆனானைக் கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே 

Electronics Engineering

With his appa Srinivasan working in the Defence sector in Bangalore, Sudarshan took to his early education at the Sainik School in the Cantonment area. After class X, he underwent a three year diploma course in electronics and telecom engineering and then pursued a two year pharmacology course. In that phase, he also learned the agama at the Sripuram Andavan Ashram in Bangalore under the mentorship of Vadugu Nambi.

Right from an early age borne out of disciplined education at Sainik School, Sudarshan was enterprising and energetic. Out of his teens, he set up a coffee manufacturing unit and ran it for a few years in Bangalore before he migrated to the Sannidhi street in Kanchipuram.

Enterprising Personality

On this Swathi morning in Puratasi, he was up at the temple early morning for Thiru Aradhana for Narasimha swami at the Dasavathara temple following which he told this writer as to how he shifted to Kanchi after spending the first 30 years of his life in a very cosmopolitan environment in Bangalore “My appa retired from defence service and was keen to move to a temple town. I was under the PM employment generation project and that meant I could move only within a 350 km radius and hence we chose Kanchi.”

At Kanchi, he continued the coffee manufacturing business for 8 years before having to shut shop following the Pandemic in 2020. He also encouraged and promoted women entrepreneurship organising micro finance for them and getting them to produce traditional food products.

Into Temple Kainkaryam

During that phase in Kanchi, he began performing full fledged Kainkaryam at the Vaikunta Nathan perumal Koil, a remotely located abhimana sthalam in Magaral, about 15 kms from Kanchi. He also performed Kainkaryam at the Parakala Mutt in Thoopul, Kanchi. 

வளர்ந்தவனைத் தடங் கடலுள் வலி உருவில் திரி சகடம் 

தளர்ந்துதிர உதைத்தவனை

தரியாது அன்று இரணியனைப் பிளந்தவனை 

பெரு நிலம் ஈர் அடி நீட்டிப் 

பண்டொருநாள் அளந்தவனை 

யான் கண்டது அணி நீர்த் தென் அரங்கத்தே 

He then founded a Trust (FEDSED) in an endeavour to convert semi skilled workers to skilled workers with support from the Central Government.  Over the next one year, he is hoping to launch a Vocational training institute in Srirangam (Trichy) to fulfil this dream of his. He says that it will serve as an incubation center, Train them on business and help prospective entrepreneurs set up a small scale business.

Oriental Coaching for Patshala Students

For the Vedic Patshala students, his dream is to provide oriental training to educate them on Science, Maths, Astrology and Astronomy. He says there is a Central Government thrust towards this and he wants to do his bit on this front as well. 

His aunt lived in Srirangam and during his childhood years he would often visit this legendary temple town. Those trips created an early liking for him for Srirangam and following the Pandemic he moved to the madapalli at the Ranganathaswamy temple. 

And then in 2023, came the opportunity at the Dasavathara Sannidhi. He told this writer that he considers it a great blessing to be performing Thiru Aradhana for Lord Narasimha, one for whom Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had performed.

தம் சினத்தைத் தவிர்த்து அடைந்தார் 

தவ நெறியை 

தரியாது அன்று உலகம் உண்டு உமிழ்ந்த கற்பகத்தை 

வெம் சினத்த கொடுந் தொழிலோன் 

விசை உருவை அசைவித்த 

அம்சிறை புள் பாகனை யான் கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே 

The walls of the Dasavathara Sannidhi, the Prakaras and the structure of the tower are an indication of the history of this temple. The rectangular shaped Vimana is special. Also, there are 10 Kalasam for the 10 Dasavathara Idols, another unique feature at this temple. In the 2nd tier below the Vimana, there is a sculpture of Lakshmi Narasimha as well as an Oonjal Chain- an indication that there may have been an Oonjal Utsavam at this temple. Beginning Kaisika Ekadasi, there are five festive days in the Karthigai month. On the Thiru Karthigai day, the Lord is taken on a procession around the 8 streets- 4 Chitra streets and 4 Uthara streets.

Since his arrival at the Dasavaratha temple, he has created a two kaala full fledged Thaligai and a sumptuous Thathiyaaraathanai at least twice a month (Dwadashi). When it was time for Thirupanni works to start in 2024, the CEO of the Ahobila Mutt in Srirangam assigned Sudarshan Bhattar the entire responsibility to undertake the repair works that culminated in a grand consecration earlier this year. 

நீரழலாய் நெடுநிலனாய் நின்றானை 

அன்று அரக்கன் ஊர் அழலால் உண்டானை 

கண்டார் பின் காணாமே 

பேரழலாய் பெரு விசும்பாய் 

பின் மறையோர் மந்திரத்தின் 

ஆரழலால் உண்டானைக் 

கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே 

He says that him being the chosen one for the renovation works and taking on the mantle as the anchor person for the consecration event gave him a great bit of satisfaction. The devotee crowd has increased at the Dasavathara Temple this year following the consecration and there is a steady stream of devotees having darshan each day. He is quiet most of the time and goes about his Kainkaryam without attracting attention. Through his service, he has attracted a few devotees in Srirangam who are at the Dasavathara Sannidhi every morning to support him in every way possible. Over these three years, he has doubled up both as the archaka as well as the cook at the madapalli. The sacred food presented to the Lord has been at its peak at this temple reminding one of the decades gone by in temples in Tamil Nadu.

               Thiru Mangai Azhvaar on Karthigai

When he was manufacturing coffee 20 years ago and running a hugely successful business in Bangalore providing employment to several people, he may not have foreseen a phase when he would perform Kainkaryam in a legendary Thiru Mangai Azhvaar related Sannidhi. But its been a transformational phase with him being the sole Thiru Aradhaka at the Dasavathara Sannidhi in Srirangam. For the 45 year old Sudarshan Bhattar, it has been an enjoyable three years so far at Srirangam and he says that he will continue this Kainkaryam as long as possible and as long as the Ahobila Mutt wants him to. It had always been his appa’s dream to create an entrepreneurial culture in this country and he says that he will continue to work on the social development initiatives that he has embarked on.

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