Sarangapani Koil Pavitrotsavam Garuda Sevai Theerthavari

Udaya Golden Garuda Sevai on the final morning of the Pavitrotsavam in Chaotic traffic

Theerthavari at the brimming Potramarai Tank 

It is the final day of the 7day Pavitrotsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar dedicated an entire Prabhandham to Lord Aravamudhan. The young Kesavan Bhattar, following in the foot steps of his appa, mounted Sarangapani atop the beautiful new looking Golden Garuda Vahana late on Thursday night after the Tiruvoimozhi recital and the Yaaga Saalai Pooja on the 6th evening of the festival, one that signifies cleaning of one’s sins committed over the previous year. The alankaram was exquisite with Garuda draped in a green vastram and Sarangapani Perumal looking majestic with tall colourful flower garlands. Kesavan Bhattar is one of those priests in small temple towns who has decided to continue the hereditary service taking this into the next generation at a time when many are looking elsewhere to a life away from temple service. The more senior Chakravarthy Bhattar is at the Yaaga Saalai performing pooja there. 

Prabhandham Ghoshti present the entire Divya Prabhandham

The Prabhandham Ghoshti presented Muthalaayiram and a large part of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi on the first six mornings of the utsavam and the Iyarpa and NamAzhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi in the evenings after the procession inside the temple. They have arrived at the 100 pillared mandapam early on Thursday morning for the recital of Thiruppavai. Soundararaja Bhattar told this writer earlier in the week that a senior citizen teacher devotee presents a box of cashews every morning of the Pavitrotsavam to the Prabhandham Ghoshti members for their recital of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham during the seven days of the utsavam. She has not been keeping good health in recent times but unmindful of her physical challenges has made it for the Prabhandham Thodakkam to hand over the Sambhavanai to the members and that is quite commendable says Soundar Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html). 

                          Next Gen Kesavan Bhattar

It is the second Friday of Aadi and the steady stream of devotees who have made their way to the temple early in the morning have a darshan of Sarangapani atop the Garuda Vahana at the eastern entrance before heading to the Moolavar Sannidhi.

As is often the case at the Sarangapani temple, Maniyakarar Sudarshan is scrambling around at the final minute including calling out for the Sripatham personnel who are to play an important role this morning. His namesake Madapalli Sudarshan brings in the Thaligai and following the Thiruppavai Saatru Murai, it is time for the Udaya Garuda Sevai street procession (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/sarangapani-koil-desikar-sannidhi-new.html).

Clock has ticked past 8.30am and the Sripatham carry Sarangapani to near the Dwajasthambam. The Prabhandham members start off with the first decad of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi before moving on to the 11th Canto continuing from where they had left off on the previous day. The Vedic members follow Sarangapani on the procession as he makes his way through the traffic filled streets on this Friday morning. 

அண்டத்தின் முகடு அழுந்த 

அலை முந்நீர்த் திரை ததும்ப ஆ ஆ என்று 

தொண்டர்க்கு அமரர்க்கும் முனிவர்க்கும் தான் அருளி 

உலகம் ஏழும் உண்டு ஒத்த திருவயிற்றின் 

அகம்படியில் வைத்து  உம்மை உய்யக்கொண்ட 

கொண்டற் கை மணி வண்ணன் 

தன் குடந்தை நகர் பாடி ஆடீர்களே 

Opposite the Ramaswamy temple is the place for the Sripatham to have a short break with the shop there serving them with fruit juice. The Prabhandham members have by now moved on to Thiru Kurungthandagam. As decades passed by in the 20th century, this South Sarangapani street became the bus route towards Thanjavur and Trichy and hence in most of the street processions, Sarangapani Perumal has to put up with loud horns from the buses that want to race past the Lord. 

During the big utsavams in Thai and Chitrai, Karunakarachariar has ensured that the street processions will be ones where the Sripatham carry Sarangapani on their shoulders and not on the wheeled vehicles. And he pays them well for this service. On other occasions too, like this on the final day of the Pavitrotsavam, they carry Sarangapani on their shoulder. Their relationship with the temple Kainkaryaparas is not always smooth like one was to find later this morning but for the moment it is a positive that they continue to carry the Lord on their shoulders.

For their part manage, they manage to wade through the busy roads trying their best to allow the traffic to pass by but on the West (Bazaar) street, it is chaotic in front of Kumbeswarar temple. There are two wheelers who have no patience for the Lord to pass and try to sneak in. In at least a couple of places, the Sripatham get stuck with these two wheelers as they come too close to the Lord but this has become a normal occurrence during these processions with no control of the traffic and the general disregard for the Lord making his way providing Garuda Sevai.

By the time, the procession moves on to the TSR Big Street, it has got really hot and the Sripatham are now on to fast mode as they stroll past the new look Vyasa Raja Mutt and the recently renovated CUB headquarters (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/n-kamakodi-city-union-bank.html).The Prabhandham members are now into the presentation of Thiru Nedunthandagam even as the workers at the jewellery shops make their way out for a darshan just after the opening on this Friday morning.

பிண்டியார் மண்டை ஏந்தி 

பிறர் மனை திரிதந்து உண்ணும் முண்டியான் 

சாபம் தீர்த்த ஒருவனூர் 

உலகமேத்தும் கண்டியூர் அரங்கம் மெய்யம் 

கச்சி பேர் மல்லை என்று மண்டினார் 

உய்யல் அல்லால் 

மற்றையார்க்கு உய்யல் ஆமே 

It is almost 10am when Sarangapani Perumal made his way through the towering Raja Gopuram for the Prabhandham members to present the Satru Murai of Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Kurunthandagam and Thiru Nedunthandagam. At the 100 pillared Mandapam, the Vedic Members present the Satru Murai following which the Ubayadarar of this morning are accorded the Mariyathai for their contribution to the successful conduct of the Udaya Garuda Sevai.

Maniyakarar Sudarshan, who at the end of the procession also doubled up as on managing the colourful canopy atop Sarangapani Perumal, asks all the devotees to head to the Potramarai tank for the Theerthavari with the priests getting down to unmounting Sarangapani from the Garuda Vahana to get him ready for the pallakku procession. Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thayar make their way from the Sannidhi to join Sarangapani at the 100 pillared mandapam. 

The Sripatham personnel have not had much of a break for they have to bring the Thayar and Theerthavari idol to the mandapam but they remain energetic. However, it is one of those things that Maniyam Sudarshan has to manage every time there is a procession. He asks the Sripatham to bring Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thaayar and Theerthaperar alongside to the mandapam but the Sripatham personnel refuse to accede citing shortage of personnel. In such sensitive moments, they give the young Maniyam a tough time. 

It takes 45 minutes for the Bhattars to get Perumal ready for the procession by which time Theerthaperar also makes his way to the mandapam with Sridevi and Bhoodevi having arrived a little earlier.

 It is past 11am when they carry Sarangapani Perumal along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi Thayar through the west gopuram to the Potramarai tank. The locals of Thiru Kudanthai have gathered in good numbers to watch this sacred bath. 

முற்று ஆரா வன முலையால் பாவை மாயன் 

மொய் அகலத்துள் இருப்பாள் அஃதும் கண்டும் அற்றால் 

தன் நிறை அழிந்தால் ஆவிக்கின்றாள் 

அணிஅரங்கம் ஆடுதுமோ தோழீ என்னும் 

பெற்றேன் வாய்ச் சொல் இறையும் பேசக்கேளால் 

பேர் பாடி தன் குடந்தை நகரும் பாடி 

பொற்றாமரைக் காயம் நீராட போனாள் 

பொறு அற்றால் என் மகள் உம் பொன்னும் அஃதே  

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Thiru Nedunthandagam refers to the Potramarai tank where the devotees take a bath. 

The Kainkaryaparas recite the sacred verses while Chakravarthi Bhattar provides a sacred bath with sandal paste, turmeric, milk and curd much to the delight of the devotees and watched by the EO of the temple. Maniyakarar Sudarshan has entered the waters and done a check on the safety and identified the location for the Theerthavari. And even as the clock is ticking to noon, the devotees gear up for the big moment. 

Chakravarthi Bhattar carries the Theerthavari idol to the Potramarai Kulam and following a few verses, dips the idol into the water with all the Kainkaryaparas too taking a dip into the sacred tank. After the idol is brought bank to the mandapam on the east side, the devotees too take a holy dip and feel blessed at being present on this sacred occasion. 

Past noon, Sarangapani Perumal makes his way back to the temple via the Andal Sannidhi bringing to end the events of the first half. By now, having enjoyed the Garuda Sevai and Theerthavari, most of the devotees and the kainkaryaparas are already looking forward to the Jeshtabhisekam that is to take place on Saturday morning.

Sundarar Aadi Swathi Mukthi Thiruvanaikaval

Wednesday evening marked the celebration of the legendary event that took place at Thiru Vanjikalam on Aadi Swathi when Sundarar boarded the White Elephant presented by the Lord for his final journey

It is one of the big days in the year for one of the four Saivite Sain Poets (Naalvar). Aadi Swathi marks the day when Sundara Moorthy Nayanar was taken by the Lord on a white elephant from Thiru Vanjikalam, where he attained Mukthi.

In his very first verse, legendary Saint Poet Sundara Moorthy Nayanar, born in Thiru Navalur,  refers to Kripapureeswarar of Thiruvennainallur as ‘ARULAALAA’ and gives one an indication as to how God is compassionate with his devotees. When Sundarar asks Kripapureeswarar inside the Thiruvennainallur temple as to how he can praise him and if he was fit at all, the Lord asks him to praise with the very same word (mad) that he had referred to the old man at the wedding mandapa. A delighted Sundarar reaffirms that the Lord of Thiruvennainallur is indeed a MAD one for how else would he shower his blessings on this devotee who had thrown abuses at him, one who had torn the Olai document into pieces and show his compassion by preventing this devotee from being bonded into a married life.  

In his first verse, Sundarar begins with a reference to the Lord as Mad in providing arulaalaa to his devotees.

பித்தா பிறைசூடி பெருமானே  அருளாளா

எத்தால் மற வாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னை

வைத்தாய்  பெண்ணைத் தென்பால்

வெண்ணை நல்லூர் அருட்டுறையுள்

அத்தா உனக் காளாய் இனி

அல்லேன் எனல் ஆமே- Sundarar's first verse

It is past 7pm and alankaram specialist Nagarajan Paricharakar has just got down to decorating Sundarar and Cheramaan Perumal, the Chera King with whom Sundarar forged a great friendship, standing next to him on a simple pallakku. There are a few devotees who have arrived specifically for this once in a year street procession of Sundarar. Clock has almost ticked to 7.30pm when devotees carry Sundara Moorthy Nayanar to the Dwajasthambam where Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan, the sole Othuvar of the last three decades at this temple recites the sacred verses of Sundarar, following which Paricharakar Nagarajan presented the Deeparathanai to mark the start of the procession. Since the very early days, Sundarar has been Othuvar Srinivasan’s favourite and he has recited the 1000+ verses of Sundarar several hundreds of times in this phase. Hence this evening is a special one for him as he is reminded of the good old days in his youth when he used to sing the verses of Sundarar all the time at this temple.

                   Cheramaan Perumal, Chera King

As the procession reaches the western entrance, the Udal players comprising of young teenaged boys and a couple of girls begin the play the drums and the dumbbell with great devotion but it does not work for Othuvar Srinivasan as he moves far ahead of the procession singing the sacred verses of Sundarar, all alone.

As has been the trend on the North Street, most of the residents comprising of Pandithars of this temple, stay put inside the temple as Sundarar moves ahead quickly with no Thattu on offer in any of the homes there. Past the Akilandeswari Sannidhi, the Vedic students of the Sankara Mutt make their way to have darshan of Sundara Moorthy Nayanar. Veena Vidwan Gopalakrishnan and his wife, who are regulars at the Jambukeswarar temple, too have darshan of Sundarar on this North Street.

மமழுவாள் வலன் ஏந்தீ மறையோதி மங்கை பங்கா

தொழுவாரவர் துயராயின தீர்த்தல்லுன தொழிலே

செழுவார் பெண்ணைத் தென்பால்

வெண்ணை நல்லூர் அருட்டுறையுள் 

அழகா உனக்  காளாய்  இனி அல்லேன் எனலாமே

The devotee crowd gathers steam at the east end of the North street and the East Street where many of the residents come out of their homes to have darshan of Sundarar.

Sundarar praises the Lord of Thiru Aanaikka as one who graciously accepts us as His servants and rules over us day after day. In his verse, he says that when a Chola king bathed in the cool waters of the Cauvery  and accidentally dropped his pearl necklace, the Lord accepted the offering by causing it to enter the sacred bathing vessel while the king stood in the water refusing to come ashore out of distress over the loss!!!

தாரம்‌ ஆகிய பொன்னித்

 ‌தண்துறை ஆடி விழுத்தும்

நீரில்‌ நின்று, அடி போற்றி,

 நின்மலா, கொள்‌! என ஆங்கே

ஆரம்‌ கொண்ட எம்‌ ஆனைக்கா

 உடை ஆதியை நாளும்‌ 

ஈரம்‌ உள்ளவர்‌ நாளும்‌

 எம்மையும்‌ ஆள்‌ உடையாரே

The Vedic students comprising of a few Vadakalai Iyengars as well at the east end of the South street too come out for a darshan of Sundarar and Cheramaan Raja. There are more devotees on this street presenting Thattu. 

Highly Devoted Shiva Adiyars

For the Shiva Adiyars this is a very sacred evening. They have great regard for the Nalavars and this evening when Sundarar was taken atop the white elephant rekindles great memories for them of this legendary event that took place in Thiru Vanjikalam, also the birth place of Chera King and Vaishnavite Saint Poet Kulasekara Azhvaar. They follow Sundarar on the procession reciting the sacred verses of this great Saint Poet. 

As is usually the case on the street processions at this temple, there are a good number of devotees waiting at the South Gopuram of the temple for a darshan. A few more Shiva Adiyars join the recital of the sacred verses. Through the entire procession, they are highly devotional with no chit chats amongst them and their sole focus being to sing the verses of their favourite Sundarar on this special evening for him. These Shiva Adiyars are a special breed in terms of their devotion as they turn up on such evenings from everywhere to present these verses. Nothing around them distracts them as they present one verse after another of the 1000 of Sundarar. 

It is almost close to 8.30pm when Sundarar makes his way back to the golden flag post where Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan presents the final verses of this great Saint Poet sung at Thiru Vanjikalam before he was given a memorable send off with Lord Shiva himself arriving to take him along with him on a white elephant. Othuvar Srinivasan is on a high after reciting Sundarar’s verses for over an hour and he tells this writer as to how Sundarar praises the Lord of Thiru Vanjikalam and asks him for Mukthi. 

வீடின்‌ பயன்‌ என்‌? பிறப்பின்‌ பயன்‌ என்‌? 

 விடை ஏறுவது என்‌, மதயானை நிற்க? 

கூடும்‌ மலைமங்கை ஒருத்தி உ.டன்‌ 

சடைமேல்‌ கங்கையாளை நீ சூடிற்று என்னே? 

பாடும்‌ புலவர்க்கு அருளும்‌ பொருள்‌ என்‌?

நிதியம் பல செய்த கலச்‌ செலவில்‌ 

ஆடும்‌ கடல்‌ அம் கரைமேல்‌ மகோதை

அணி ஆர்‌ பொழில்‌ அஞ்சைக்களத்து அப்பனே! - Sundarar on Thiru Vanjikalam

In his praise of Thiru Vanjikalam, Sundarar describes the temple at Thiruvanjikalam as surrounded by beautiful groves on the shores of the ocean that bears ships laden with treasures like gold and gems.

He asks the Lord as to what the purpose is of him having both of these opposing states—liberation and birth—rather than establishing just one of them? He further asks him as to why he rides a bull when he has an elephant and as to why he has Ganga in his matted locks alongside the daughter of the Mountain, who is inseparably united with his sacred form?

                             Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan

When he asks the Lord as to what is the reward he bestows upon poets who sing of him much in a way Thiru Mangai Azhvaar asked of Parimala Ranganatha of Thiru Indhalur, he seems to have pleased the Lord greatly.

Sundarar in his praise of the Lord of Thiru Vanjikkalam says that the institution of birth is for the purpose of severing the bonds that hinder the enjoyment of the bliss. The Lord abides with the Mountain Maiden to uphold righteousness and to facilitate worldly enjoyments for living beings; He bears the Ganga to ensure that such enjoyment is sustained without being interrupted or destroyed by other forces. Having thus attained all these states —save for 'Veedu' (Liberation), Sundarar says that he now beseeches the Lord to graciously grant him that ultimate fruit, 'Veedu'. And answering the prayers of these last few verses of Sundarar at Thiru Vanjikalam, the Lord placed the White Elephant in front of him for Sundarar to board and make that final trip of this life.

Even as Paricharaka Nagarajan takes Sundarar and Cheramaan Perumal to their abode, Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan sits in a corner of the prakara reminiscing the good old days when he sit in different corners of the temple and walk around the temple reciting the sacred verses of Sundarar. This Aadi Swathi evening evoked great memories of Sundarar for this intelligent Othuvar with a great devotional voice.

Sankara Mutt Thiruvanaikaval Patshala Ramji Ganapadigal

Periyava's direction leads Allur Ramji Ganapadigal to Thiruvanaikaval Sankara Mutt Patshala to revive Krishna Yajur Veda

In 2018, this section featured a story on the revival of the Patshala in Pazhur, anchored by the then 30 year old Neelakantan Sastrigal. This story is about Ramji Ganapadigal, who similar to Neelakantan Sastrigal, was roped in by Periyava this time to revive the Krishna Yajur Veda at the Sankara Mutt Patshala in Thiruvanaikaval, just under 10 kms east of Pazhur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/pazhur-patshala-revival.html).And just like Neelakantan Sastrigal, Ramji Ganapadigal is also one who has stuck to traditions all his life so much so that he is strict on his students performing Sandhyavandhanam every single day, almost as a pre condition to them joining his class. Such sticklers to tradition are hard to find in this day and age when one finds compromised solutions even in the traditional space and most leaders going with the flow and the current trend.

Ramji Ganapadigal belongs to a Niyama Adyayanam family where the tradition is for the father to pass on his learnings to the son. In line with that model, he discontinued academics after class VII to be initiated into the Vedas in the Gurukulam style by his appa, Seshadri Ganapadigal at the Patshala in Allur. It was in Allur where in the Patshala blessed by Maha Periyava his grandfather, Yegneshwara Sastrigal had for many decades taught students Vedas and created the next generation of Vedic Scholars.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

An enjoyable childhood in Allur

Ramji Ganapadigal recounts with joy those enjoyable teenage years at Allur “Well over two decades ago, there were a number of young boys at the Agraharam in Allur and we would be together all the time sometimes playing tennis ball cricket and at other times chatting up amongst ourselves sitting on the banks of the Cauvery. We would be taught for around 2 hours every morning and had to practice that through the day, a process that helps us remember every single verse even today.”

                             Akilandeswari

The Kasi Meeting with Periyava that changed his path

After the completion of his 10 year Vedic studies that included Krishna Yajur Veda and Ganantham, Ramji Ganapadigal spent a while in his late 20s presenting Veda Parayanam at temple events and elsewhere in the Trichy region while continuing to be based in Allur. For over 60 years, the life of this family had centered around Vedic teachings at the Allur Patshala and Ramji Ganapadigal believed that it would be his way of life too but that was until he met the Periyava at the Chaturmasya trip in Kasi in 2023.

Kanchi Periyava's direction

Ramji Ganapadigal vividly remembers that day in 2023 in Kasi where he went with his family to be part of Periyava's Chaturmasya trip. “Periyava called us (my wife and me) and expressed his interest to revive the Krishna Yajur Veda at the Sankara Mutt in Thiruvanaikaval, one that had been integral to the Patshala in the century gone by. And he wanted me to be the teacher to lead that revival. I had lived almost all my life at Allur and my wife and our children too had settled down well there in a quiet life in that remote town and I was initially reluctant to leave my parents and make the move”, he told this writer this Wednesday evening even while directing his students to perform Sandhyavandhanam.

A life changing move to this Paadal Petra Sthalam

However, he realised soon that Periyava had identified him as the chosen one for the task of reviving the Krishna Yajur Veda at Thiruvanaikaval and this devout disciple of Periya could not refuse the orders of his acharya. Exactly two years ago, he moved to the Mutt opposite the Akilandeswari Sannidhi at Thiruvanaikaval with his young family to kickstart the revival process. This revival initiative started off with three students initially and has since more than doubled to seven students. 

The first phase of two years

He says that the first set of students is always a big challenge for the entire process has to start from scratch and put in place one for the students to follow. He follows an open line of communication with his students and tells them how they should live their live in the phase and the reasoning behind that process. During this entire phase of the last two years, he has always been with his students guiding them each day of the year so much so that even when he makes a trip to visit his parents in Allur, he takes them along seeing them as being part of his family.

செம்பொன் மேனிவெண் ணீறணி வானைக்

 கரிய கண்டனை மால்அயன் காணாச்

சம்பு வைத்தழல் அங்கையி னானைச்

 சாம வேதனைத் தன்னொப்பி லானைக்

கும்ப மாகரி யின்னுரி யானைக்

 கோவின் மேல்வருங் கோவினை எங்கள்

நம்ப னைநள் ளாறனை அமுதை

 நாயி னேன்மறந் தென்நினைக் கேனே

Motivated by the students' early enthusiasm

After spending over three decades in Allur with his parents, these last two years have been a new experience for Ramji Ganapadigal for he has had to start on his own initiating these young students on dharmic aspects and getting them to live a traditional way of life, in addition to teaching them the Vedas. The good news for him is that he has found them to be enthusiastic and energetic and that has been a big boost to his revival efforts. Like his own teenage days, he is happy to see that they too have begun to mingle well with each other playing a bit of cricket in their free time and spending time with the few cows that they have for company at the Patshala. These young kids also get devotionally excited when they see Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari making their way on to the North street on a procession led by the temple elephant and to the beating of the drums. 

Much against the current trend, the 36 year old Vedic Acharya has received great support from his wife (daughter of Ayyappan Sastrigal) who has been backing him to the hilt in this endeavour to create the next generation of Krishna Yajur Vedic Scholars.  Though she had lived her entire first phase of life in Mylapore around the Kapaleeswarar temple, she was comfortable moving into a remote town as Allur and now to Thiruvanaikaval, away from the round the year devotional buzz that she had experienced around the Mada Streets in her teenage phase and quite surprisingly in this day and age has a traditional old fashioned simplistic way of life leaving everything to the blessings of Periya and now to the divine couple of Thiruvanaikaval. 

It is an interesting phase in Ramji Ganapadigal's life. For 30 years, he had spent a life in Allur under the guidance of his appa and now he is all on his own reviving a Veda as desired by Periyava with the entire onus on him to get the first batch of students to graduate in a period of 8 years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/iyyappan-sastrigal-muttam-kattu-mannar.html). No more does Ramji Ganapadigal go for outside events as he used when he was in Allur despite the fact that the financial returns as a Vedic Acharya is no where near best in class. His entire focus is only on these children at Thiruvanaikaval and his only focus is to make this vision of Periyava a success and to help these young children master the Krishna Yajur Veda. And in this endeavour, he is blessed to have a wife who backs him completely in this way of life. 

Thiru Mandangudi Thondaradipodi Giri Bhattar

From Selling Petrol to Archaka Kainkaryam

For over two decades, this priest hailing from Kandiyur has been performing archaka service for 18 days every month also doubling up as the madapalli cook

It is a quiet Tuesday (July 14) morning at the avathara sthalam of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar in Thiru Mandangudi, 1km west of Pullam Bhoothangudi Divya Desam. Giri Bhattar has been at the temple from 6am and over the first three hours there are hardly any devotees. This is a daily scenario that he has experienced over the last two decades that he has been at the temple. Two Divya Desams – Pullam Bhoothangudi and Thiru Athanur – are nearby almost at walking distance and yet devotees rarely make it to this historic temple town. Half a km to the south is the factory of Thiru Arooran Sugars. Neither the locals nor outstation devotees make it to this temple and for Giri Bhattar it is usually a long wait until a car applies the brake at the entrance of the temple making him sit up gleefully for he sees it as an opportunity to present the greatness of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and his devotional attachment with Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

பச்சை மா மலை போல் மேனி 

பவளவாய் கமலச் செங்கண்

அச்சுதா அமரர் ஏறே, 

ஆயர் தம் கொழுந்தே என்னும்

இச்சுவை தவிர யான் போய்

இந்திர லோகம் ஆளும்

அச்சுவை பெறினும் வேண்டேன்

அரங்க மா நகருளானே

On this Tuesday, there is one family that has made it way to this temple from Bangalore albeit as a mistaken identity. The lady at a fellow in a University in Bangalore is doing research on Araiyar Sevai and wanted to go to Pullam Bhoothangudi but on her way from Athanur she missed the Valvil Ramar Divya Desam and made her way to Thiru Mandangudi.

For over half an hour, Giri Bhattar took them to the Ranganathaswamy Sannidhi, then to Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and finally to Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi presenting the sacred verses of the Azhvaar and explaining them the significance of this historic temple town. There is not much of a thattu kaasu on offer but for Giri Bhattar it is the opportunity to describe the devotional greatness of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar to the devotees that gives him happiness.

The Thirumalai and Thiruppalli Yezhuchi verses have so touched these devotees from Bangalore that they recite alongside him in each of the sannidhis. Suddenly, Giri Bhattar is full of energy mingling with these new set of devotees from another state. He tells them as to why Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is seen with a flower basket much to their delight. Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is seen alongside Lords of two different Divya Desams - Tirupathi Balaji and Thiru Maaliruncholai Soundararajan Perumal and Giri Bhattar also narrates the reasoning behind that. The story goes that both of them had heard of some beautiful early morning songs in praise of Ranganatha and wanted to listen to Thondaradipodi Azhvaar’s Thirupalli Ezhuchi and are believed to have made a trip to Thiru Mandangudito be treated to those sweet ‘wake up’ verses of Thondaradipodi.

His forefathers had been associated with temples in their times but with the slowdown in the 2nd half of the previous century, this family moved away from temples into farming in Kandiyur near the Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal temple.

On this hot July morning, when the Cauvery water has still not reached Kandiyur for their farming operations to start, Giri Bhattar recalls to this writer as to how he made it to this unlikely location in Thiru Mandangudi. The financial scenario had not been great with farming largely dependent on the release of the Cauvery water and this led to the teenaged Giri quitting academics after Class X. His appa got him into retailing of Petrol and Diesel “It was a period when fuel was not available in the Thiruvayaru region and one had to go to Thanjavur to find a fuel station. We retailed petrol and diesel and that made good business. It was the way my life was headed when shortage of priests opened up an unlikely opportunity for me.

As has been the scenario in many remote temples in the state, there was an urgent need for a priest to take over at this avathara sthalam in Thiru Mandangudi. His relative who was the trustee at this temple approached him to join as an archaka and quite reluctantly he made his way to this temple town.

Till then, he had spent almost all his life in Thiru Kandiyur around the Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal temple but suddenly he was thrown into a space that he had not experienced earlier. There was an opportunity presented to him to perform Kainkaryam in this avathara sthalam on Thondaradipodi Azhvaar. The financial return was just in three digits and that was not luring for him to make the switch but the opportunity of an Azhvaar Sthalam kainkaryam got him interested. 

Since then, just over two decades ago, he has performing archaka kainkaryam at this temple for 18 days every month staying alone in this remote location for more than half a month before returning to Kandiyur to be with his family.

Legendary Tale

Born in Thiru Mandangudi, Thondaradipodi Azhvaar (his original name was Vipra Narayanan) was lost in love for Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Very early in his life, he moved from Thiru Mandangudi to Srirangam and mastered himself in Vedas. His devotion was so enduring that he thought of none but Ranganatha. This devotion meant that he decided to sing praise only of the Lord of Srirangam and of no other Lord. Dedicating his life to the service of Lord Ranganatha, he created a beautiful Nandavanam in Srirangam and with a basket in hand immersed himself in collecting flowers and making beautiful garlands for the Lord every day.

Having heard of the Lord accepting Thirumazhisai Azhvaar’s request to come out of the kingdom in Thiruvekka near Kanchipuram and provide a special Maaru Sayanam posture there on his return, and another special posture in Kumbakonam with his Uththana Sayanam as Aaravamuthan, Thondaradipodi was keen that he too be given a special darshan from his favourite Lord Ranganatha.

Ranganatha promised him to provide such a darshan but asked him to go to his birth place at Thiru Mandangudi. Unwillingly, he left Srirangam and reached Thiru Mandangudi. To his surprise, he saw Lord Rangantha waiting for him in a special and rare standing posture to provide darshan along with Sri and Bhoo devi.

As Lord Ranganatha surprised Thondaradi Podi Azhvaar with this special standing darshan at his very own birth place, he is referred to as ‘ Varam Tharum’ Perumal and is believed to accede to and grant the sincere prayers of the devotees who visit this temple at Thiru Mandangudi.

மனத்தில் ஓர் தூய்மை இல்லை 

வாயில் ஓர் இன்சொல் இல்லை 

சினத்தினால் செற்றம் நோக்கி 

தீவிளி விளிவன் வாளா 

புனத்துழாய் மாலையானே 

பொன்னி சூழ் திருவரங்கா 

எனக்கு இனிக் கதி என் சொல்லாய் 

என்னை ஆளுடைய கோவே 

20+ years later and with Giri Bhattar now into his 50s, the monthly salary remains abysmally low at Rs. 2000. This temple does not attract devotees like those in the heart of Kumbakonam and hence thattu kaasu is not in line with what priests get in temples in bigger towns. That’s not something Giri Bhattar has taken to heart for every time a new devotee enters the temple his eyes light up as he gets into the groove of presenting the sacred verses to them narrating the tale of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and creating a devotional bonding for them with this Azhvaar. 

Every morning and evening, in addition to the Thiru Aradhanam and taking care of devotee darshan, Giri Bhattar also doubles up as the cook in the madapalli preparing and presenting the sacred food.

The consecration event took place in late 2024 and the temple complex now wears a colourful fresh look, so different and bearing no resemblance to what it was 15 years ago when this writer featured a story on the temple. The Kettai day in Margazhi marking the birthday of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is celebrated in a grand way with a Garuda Vahana procession around the streets of Thiru Mandangudi on that morning. Pavitrotsavam is another utsavam that is celebrated at this temple. 

It is almost close to noon and Giri Bhattar is back sitting in front of the sannidhi waiting to see if another devotee will arrive at the temple before the temple closes for the first half. He is just left in the company of the trustee who are present at the temple on this hot day to oversee some of the repair activities. Giri Bhattar also performs Thiru Aradhanam at their house following which he distributes the daily Thaligai to anyone present at the temple. 

கதிரவன் குணதிசைச் சிகரம் வந்து அணைந்தான் 

கனை இருள் அகன்றது காலை அம் பொழுதாய் 

மது விரிந்து ஒழுகின மா மலர் எல்லாம் 

வானவர் அரசர்கள் வந்து வந்து ஈண்டி 

எதிர்திசை நிறைந்தனர் இவரொடும் புகுந்த 

இருங் களிற்று ஈட்டமும் பிடியொடு முரசும் 

அதிர்தலில் அலைகடல் போன்றுளது எங்கும் 

அரங்கத்தம்மா பள்ளி எழுந்தருளாயே 

Like this verse of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar in Thirupalliezhuchi, he is hopeful that one day his financial darkness too would be dispelled. But till then, unmindful of the low salary, Giri Bhattar is looking to continue to enjoy this experience of donning the role of an archaka at this birth place of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and being the one presenting the legendary tale of this Azhvaar to the devotees who make it to the temple every now and then. The presence of devotees revitalises his energy and he has narrated this devotional tale so many times over and over again to those who have made it to the temple. And the one to the devotee family from Bangalore this morning was another occasion that brought cheer to him as he saw it as yet another opportunity to narrate this temple's story and to get devotees excited towards Thondaradipodi Azhvaar.

While the low salary is a worry, Giri Bhattar has another way back in Kandiyur. The cauvery water has not yet been opened into the second week of July, a time when his family should have begun harvesting for the new season. That source of income too hangs in the balance!! 

Tailpiece: All those who for years have been hitting out at the HRCE on low salaries to priests should visit this temple Nd see the plight of the archaka, a temple where the private hereditary trustee pays the priest Rs. 2000 after almost 25 years of archaka service.

Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar Brahmananda News Network

Sanyasi turns a Journalist 

Torch Bearer of Kapali Temple is back in the NEWS after a 18 month hiatus this time launching a News Network!!!

For a couple of years, former World Bank staffer and consultant to the PMO, Sanyasi 'Brahmanandha' Ramkumar was the most renowned devotional face at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore. After having let go of the corporate life that had taken him to many overseas locations, Ramkumar sole destination in life became this legendary temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar as one having utsavams round the year.

As he settled down into the temple as a devotee who inspired others to read devotional books and to follow a certain path within the temple, he found the absence of a permanent torch bearer during the processions and decided to take it upon himself. He would ride early in the evening on his old two wheeler from his home in Kodambakkam on the days in the month when there was a street procession. On other days, he would be in time for the Artha jaama pooja.

His contribution assumed great significance during the annual panguni utsavam when he stayed in a room on the south mada street and arrived at the temple at 3am to don an early morning role of carrying the Theevatti to the Yaaga Salai and then stayed back for the vahana procession in the morning. He came back in the evening carrying the Theevatti through the entire length of the 2-3 hour procession and stayed back at the temple till after midnight.

Even as he was performing this duty at the Kapaleeswarar temple, a high profile engagement of a Consultant to the PMO came his way. And for over a year, he straddled between the street processions and working on the digitisation of temple records.

Kapali Temple to the Banks of Ganga

In Karthigai of 2024, he came up and told this writer in front of the Murugan Sannidhi at the Kapaleeswarar temple that he was ending both his engagements – the one at the temple where he had become the face of the street processions with his vocal conversations with devotees as well as the engagement with the PMO and that he was heading into a saintly life.

And all of a sudden much to the shock of the devotees of Kapaleeswarar temple, he left the temple one night to never return. He initially reached the banks of Cauvery in Mayiladuthurai and then went to historic sacred places across the country and to Nepal as well. He was mostly out of sight and available only to some of his close devotee mates with whom he had built a devotional engagement at the Kapali temple.

The Sanyasi Journalist

In this phase he told this writer that disengaging with the worldly life including the bonding with Kapaleeswarar was his next phase of devotional enlightenment. Now, over 18 months after he quit the worldly life, he is back in the limelight with Brahmanandha News Network that he says is an independent editorial platform dedicated to verified, curated and meaningful journalism!!! He says that it was born from a vision of culture, truth, dharma and nation first and is hoping that this will be trusted source for balanced, indepth and inspiring news across India and World. He has a morning, midday and prime time bulleting.

Interestingly, he is going deep into understanding AI and how it can be used to disseminate insightful information to the readers. He says that AI assisted human curated news sets BNN apart. Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar who acquired Deekshai and is now known as Brahmanandha also has on offer weekly specials on wide ranging topics. He calls himself the Editor in Chief!!!

In his life, Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar had donned various roles – from overseas corporate engagements in the 2000s to being a consultant to the World Bank and then moving completely away to the devotional world and to a daily life at Kapaleeswarar temple to then disengaging his bonding with Kapali to move on a path of a rishi. Now after all these, Ramkumar (Brahmanandha) has got into journalism and with AI as an important assistant, he is confident of taking on the best in the business to provide news promising depth with clarity, truth with responsibility and speed with accuracy.

In his more recent roles over the last decade or so, he has managed to capture the imagination of people and more often than not became the centre of attraction. When the devotees of Kapaleeswarar thought that they had lost him forever, he is back with a bang proudly announcing on social media about his launch. There is also a Brahmanandha Bhakthi Network (BBN) that will provide info on events and the happenings at temples

One long standing devotee of Kapaleeswarar told this writer at the Singar temple over the weekend that Theevatti Ramkumar’s launch could even give the CNN a run for its money – for a start at least the name 'BNN' sounds so.  It is just over a month since the launch and Ramkumar is highly active on the social media including on his instagram page as he looks to take the news consumers by storm like he did with his 'Theevatti' engagement and his digitisation role with TN temples. 

This section will track the developments at the BNN and BBN. Till this weekend he has not been back at the Kapaleeswarar temple after his sudden exit after the Murugan procession on the Karthigai evening in 2024.

Best wishes to Brahmanandha News Network!! 

Srirangam Temple Prasadam Stall Transformation Aadi 2026

HRCE Minister Ramesh has initiated two unprecedented steps that augurs well for the devotees

High Quality Prasadam will now be prepared internally at the Madapalli, and the temple has seen a drastic reduction in 'VIP reference' darshan this month

In his first 45 days as the HRCE Minister, Ramesh has taken two unprecedented positive steps at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. This section had featured a story as early as September 2018 as to how the so called ‘Prasadam’ stall functioned at the temple. And then in 2024, this section featured another story on how the High Court came hard on the HRCE regarding the conduct of the Prasadam stall (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/srirangam-prasadam-stall.html).

Minister breaking the flawed model

This writer had said then back in 2018 that the HR & CE had converted ‘Food’ into a lucrative business inside the temple complex with the food counter having been auctioned for around Rs. 1crore at the Srirangam temple, a mind boggling Rs. 30000 a day.In that model, food was made far away from the Madapalli and even brought from outside the temple complex. One did not know when it was prepared and how old the snacks and sweets were.

Hiring Madapalli Paricharakars for Prasadam preparation

As soon as Ramesh took charge, he has gone about initiating two transformational changes. It is Sunday morning (June 28) and the day of Aani Jeshtabhisekam for Ranganathaswamy. The sacred water is brought from Kollidam through the Thayar Sannidhi to the presentation of non stop Nadaswaram by the entire team of artistes at the temple.

Photo credit: Sundar Bhattar

JC Sivaram Kumar is near the Dwajasthambam just past 9am as part of the sacred Kudam's procession on the temple elephant. He tells this writer as to how based on the proactive initiative of Minister Ramesh, the Srirangam temple will see a new model of Prasadam that has not been seen here or elsewhere. “We are hiring specific Parijaraka personnel for the madapalli and have received the requisite certification from the Food quality authorities. We are now in the process of identifying the quantity of ingredients required for the daily preparation and will finalise these over the next fortnight. The contract with the existing prasadam stall ends in the 2nd week of July and we will be preparing the various sweets through our own newly hired Paricharakars from mid July. This is a first of its kind initiative undertaken in TN temples and am happy that it is starting off in Srirangam”, he told this writer even as scores of Nadaswaram artistes play devotional music next to the Dwajasthambam.

The Aadi Start - Minister Ramesh's Prasadam stall direction

Minister Ramesh was keen that every food packet handed to devotees from the Prasadam stall had to have manufacturing and expiry dates. As per his direction, when the sweets get prepared from the paniyaram zone from the 3rd week of July, every packet will have these details. Ramesh is expected to closely monitor this process to ensure that only high quality prasadam is handed out to devotees. Come Aadi, the devotees of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam will experience something that they have not in the last few decades that of tasting high quality food prepared with good quality ghee, oil and other ingredients and with specific deadlines on the wrapperm of the food packets sold.

VIP 'Reference' darshan model on the decline

The Ranganathaswamy temple has been witnessing big crowds on specific festive occasions such Adyayana Vaikunta Ekadasi utsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Puratasi Saturdays and the like. With the taking off of the devotional wave, devotees are now thronging the temple round the year even on non festive occasions to have darshan of the Moolavar Lord in Sayana Kolam. 

For a long time, the VIP darshan model created havoc in the path to the Moolavar darshan. There was very little the local temple authorities could do for every so called VIP dished out a ‘reference’. Soon as Minister Ramesh visited the temple, he was clear that there had to be an end to this model. He backed JC Sivaram Kumar to undertake strict steps and adopt a clear process driven model for darshan. 

Photo credit : Sundar Bhattar

JC Sivaram Kumar told this writer on Sunday morning as to how ‘I know him’ reference of VIP devotees has almost come to an end at the Ranganathaswamy temple. Once into the Aariya Bhattal Vaasal, devotees are directed to the free darshan queue or the Rs. 100 queue. Those continuing to wield VIP reference power have to get a sign off from the JC. Even the Kainkaryaparas who brought in devotees for special darshan have to now make an entry in the notebook placed near the Dwajasthambam signing off with their name and the number of devotees they are bringing for special darshan. This step has drastically reduced VIP darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi and there is a sense of process now to this approach.

A Refreshing outlook of the new Minister

While the previous HRCE minister focused on ‘Kumbhabhisekam’ target and giving a new look to the temple infrastructure, the new minister is focused on streamlining important processes within the temple so as to create a friendly environment for the devotees who are coming to have darshan of the Lord. The two initiatives Minister Ramesh has undertaken at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam has sent a strong message to everyone at the temple that he would not tolerate anyone wavering from devotee friendly processes.  He has said that he may seem young and inexperienced but he has toiled hard in the background for years to come to this level. With the clarity on what he wants to achieve for devotee welfare, he is taking bold, unprecedented steps that very few at the Ranganathaswamy temple had expected or have experienced in the past. And that is great news for devotees who are thronging the temple from far and wide for a few seconds darshan of the Sleeping Lord.

Koodal Azhagar Periyazhvar Avathara Utsavam Aani Swathi

Reminding one of the legendary episode - Periyazhvar atop Elephant, Perumal providing Garuda Sevai

Celebrating Periyazhvar’s Birthday on Aani Swathi at the location where he praised the Lord with the Pallandu Verses after seeing him descend on his Garuda Vahana

Vishnu Chittar (later Periyazhvar) who had dedicated his entire life to selfless service of the Lord in Srivilliputhur,  was invited to a debate in Koodal Nagar (Madurai) after King Vallabha Deva was told by an invisible voice that ‘what is required / you want after death should be accumulated in this life itself.’ The King summoned his head priest Selva Nambi to find him the answer. Selva Nambi, who had heard of Vishnu Chittar, sent an invitation to Srivilliputhur to get him to participate.

There was a huge prize on offer to the one who provided insights into this. Many scholars came forward but the bag with the golden coins hung in the balance. When it was time for Vishnu Chittar to come up with his presentation, he stunned the Pandya King with his description of Lord Narayana projecting him as the Supreme Being giving various references from the Vedic Scriptures and stating that worshiping him in one’s life time with devotion was the highest form of worship and was likely to lead one to what we want after death.

Even as he was finishing his speech, the golden coins were showered on him, for Vallabha Deva was truly impressed with his presentation. It was then that he was conferred the title of ‘Bhattar Piran’ by Raja Simhan I (Vallabha Deva) and led into a royal procession around the streets of Madurai in a grand event witnessed by a huge crowd. The melodies of musical instruments resonated everywhere and Bhattar Piran was surrounded by a royal retinue with the Pandya king requesting him with open arms to ascend and mount on to the elephant top.

As he moved along in the procession, he suddenly had darshan of the Lord along with Goddess Lakshmi on Garuda mount against the back drop of the clear blue sky. Immediately he fell into a trance and watching the Lord in high sky praised him expressing concern of his safety. Verses poured out instantly as he sung for the Lord’s long life. It was seen as so sacred that Thiru Pallandu became the first decad of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.

Vedanta Desikan in his Prabhanda Saaram provides a delightful description of this event in Madurai

பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆனி தன்னில்

பெருந் சோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே

முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்

துயக்கற மால் பரத்துவத்தைத் திருமாச்செப்பி

வாரணமேல் மதுரை வலம் வரவே

வானில் கருடவாகன நாய்த் தோன்ற

வாழ்த்தும் ஏரணி  பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு

நானூற்று எழுபத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும்

எனக்கு உதவு நீயே

Birthday Celebrations begin with Thirumanjanam

It is Aani Swathi (June 25) and the birthday of Periyazhvar. 27year old Kesava Bhattar, who secured an engineering degree from Sastra University, performed a quick 5minute Thirumajanam for Periyazhvar. With the Challenges in temples for archakas, it is likely Kesava Bhattar would have pursued the Engineering path at least for a while but unfortunately soon after he joined a top Tier 1 IT company, his appa passed away and he made his way back to the temple. His family is one of the three hereditary archakas of the Koodal Azhagar temple with each family sharing 10 days each at Perumal, Thayar and Andal Sannidhis every month.

பருப்பதத்துக் கயல் பொறித்த பாண்டியர் குலபதி போல்

திரு பொழிந்த சேவடி என் சென்னியின் மேல் பொறித்தாய்

மறுப்பு ஒசித்தாய் மல் அடர்த்தாய் என்றென்று உன் வாசகமே

உருப் பொலிந்த நாவினேன் உனக்கு உரித்து ஆக்கினையே - Periyazhvar Thirumozhi

Hereditary Bhattar decorates Periyazhvar

47 year old Gopi Bhattar, who has been performing archaka kainkaryam at this Divya Desam for over 25 years, arrives at 9am to decorate Periyazhvar after the Thirumanjanam. The Prabhandham members are on the dot at the scheduled time of 9.30am for the Ghoshti that lasts just over an hour with them presenting Thiruppavai, the fifth canto of Periyazhvar’s Thirumozhi and the tenth canto of Tiruvoimozhi. Following Thiruvarathanam, it is time for the Sripatham Personnel to carry Periyazhvar for the Mangalasasanam first to the Moolavar Sannidhi where the Prabhandham members present the Pallandu verses. And then at the Thayar Sannidhi, they present the Thiruvappai verses.

Mangalasasanam - Perumal, Thayar and Andal

Past 11.30am, it has got hot in Madurai and Periyazhvar goes around the prakara to Andal Sannidhi with everyone sweating with the Prabhandham members presenting Ramanuja Nootranthathi. There is a sizeable local crowd for the Mangalasasanam and a New Zealander as well who now straddles between Tiruvannamalai and the Kiwi land. She is not much of a cricket fan but is excited about the third test against England starting in the next few hours at Trent Bridge. 

By noon, there are over a 100 devotees for the Satru Murai verses followed by the distribution of Puliyodharai prasadam, 58 year old Yamanan has been the sole cook at the Madapalli for over a decade at a daily wage having been roped in by Suresh Bhattar from the Vanamamalai Mutt in Thiruvallikeni and earlier the 'Vada Malai' cook at the Anjaneya temple in Nanganallur for over a dozen years. He has been busy all morning having made dosai in the morning for vishroopam with him also now doubling up on such utsavam days as the one who distributes the prasadam. He tells this writer that he enjoys preparing the sacred food and though he is alone at the madapalli, the blessing of preparing Thaligai for Perumal takes away the physical tiredness of this activity. He also seems to be the most friendly kainkaryapara as he engages with everyone - his kainkaryapara colleagues, the devotees and the HRCE and is sporting a smile throughout.

Delayed Procession 
And now the disappointing aspect of Periyazhvar’s birthday celebrations. While the Satru Murai and the Theertha Shatari Prasadam took quite a while given the good sized devotee crowd, the utsava deity could have been brought from the Moolavar Sannidhi to the alankara mandapam and one of the archakas could have been assigned the task of decorating Koodal Azhagar atop the Garuda Vahana so Perumal could have been ready for the street procession after the Satru Murai event of Periyazhvar. But unfortunately that aspect was neglected and the utsava deity did not make to the alankara mandapam till 12.15pm. Also, the vastram for Perumal was not kept ready and one had to scramble around to secure a suitable vastram for the occasion. This meant that the procession did not start till after 1.15pm with devotees having had to wait for well over an hour for the plan had been to start the Garuda Vahana procession around noon with the multiple posters of this utsavam pointing to the Garuda Sevai in ‘Nanpagal’!!! Ofcourse in divya desams outside of the cities such as Chennai, there is shortage of service personnel. In this case there are three sannidhis to be managed and the Periyazhvar mangalasasanam and satru murai event. Archakas in such locations are always looking for physical presence and support from kainkaryaparas as against just a financial contribution as a devotee donor.

Reminded of the Legendary Episode on his birthday

There were around a hundred devotees outside the Rajagopuram to witness birthday boy Periyazhvar providing ethir sevai when in the sweltering heat Koodal Azhagar made his way atop the Garuda Vahana through the new look eastern raja gopuram to be mounted on to the wheeled vehicle for a quick fast paced procession around the four streets. This procession reminded these devotees of the legendary episode when Periyazhvar atop the elephant suddenly saw Perumal on his Garuda Vahana in clear blue sky. Indeed it was absolutely clear sky on this afternoon and devotees thoroughly enjoyed the joint darshan of Periyazhvar and Koodal Azhagar.

Vandiyur Veera Raghava Perumal Sundararaja Bhattar

Poverty Sticken childhood to a popular Bhattar in Vandiyur

Two decades of tireless solo effort leads to a grand consecration at the Veera Raghavan Perumal temple in Vandiyur

51 year old Sundararaja Bhattar  has been serving as the sole archakas at the Veera Raghava temple in Vandiyur for 27 years having taking over the role in 1999 at a time when the temple was in a dilapidated state. On this Saturday ( June 20) morning, he sports a happy smile looking at the Raja Gopuram whose construction he has anchored. The consecration took place under a year ago after a gap of almost 30 years. Every devotee that passes by this morning wish him well and exchange pleasentries with him enquiring about his well being, a testimony to the huge devotee network he has built over the last couple of decades.

This assumes even greater importance as he spent his entire childhood in poverty. His appa performed Sannidhi paricharaka kainkaryam at the Sundararaja Perumal temple in Thiru Maliruncholai. Sitting outside the Veera Raghava Perumal Sannidhi, he recounts to this writer his life during his schooling phase “Me and my siblings would have our meal only after our appa returned from the temple with the Thaligai. Sambhavanai was almost non existent with devotees being few and far between in the 1970s. We were dependent entirely on the temple food and grew up eating Sambhaa Satham and Ven Pongal.”

Paricharaka at Azhagar Koil

After class X, he learned the Pancharatra Agama at the Kuppan Iyengar Patshala in Srivilliputhur and began performing Paricharaka service at Azhagar Koil in the 1990s. He says his Chittappa had 15 day paricharaka service but did not have descendants and thus the Kainkaryam fell on him. 

Rangaraj Pandey's jeweller family

He recounts his association with Rangaraj Pandey’s family in those years “We were in such dire straits that my appa pledged jewels at Rangaraj Pandey’s appa jewellery shop to run the family. Later he sold historic lands to organise family functions. It was a terrible phase for the family, financially.”

The one silver lining was that though many of the kainkaryaparas went through a challenging life, they were all united and supported each other in whatever way they could. That unity is now missing at a time when all the Kainkaryaparas in temples are amassing wealth. When they were in financial trouble, they were united. Now when they are all rich, one is jealous of the other, says Sundararaja Bhattar pointing to the way temple service personnel have changed for the worse in recent times.

Sundararaja Bhattar would carry several Kudams of water from the sacred tank in Srivilliputhur every morning and would be paid 50 paise for his service. 

Azhagar Koil Bhattars inspire him

He credits Ambi Bhattar and his appa Paraswamy Bhattar of Azhagar Koil for taking care of him as one in their family after he made his way to Madurai to perform Paricharaka service at Thiru Maliruncholai, especially at a time when his appa and amma passed away one after another in quick succession when he was still in his teens. He recalls not having money even to perform their final rites such was the financial state of the family in the 1980s.

To Vandiyur for archaka service

In 1999, the Veera Raghava Perumal temple lay in a dilapidated state. The previous Bhattar who had performed selfless service for many years left the temple. That was when Sundararaja Bhattar was roped as the archaka by the HRCE at a salary of Rs. 1000!!!

Azhagar's Chitrai trip to Vandiyur

He was clear that the devotees had to form an integral part of the temple and began building that network. He was an extrovert right from his childhood and mingled well with people. He was also vocal with his views. He recalls how the Ekantha Sevai of Kallazhagar at the Veera Raghava Perumal temple attracted very few devotees for most of them went away after he stepped into the Vaigai. “Most of them did not understand the significance of the entire trip of Sundararaja Perumal from Thiru Maliruncholai to Madurai for it was to liberated Manduka Maha Rishi from his curse and to provide him with Moksham” says Sundararaja Bhattar looking back at that early phase at the Vandiyur temple. 

In that early phase, he would cycle from Simmakkal where he lived in a small rented house to perform kainkaryam every day at Vandiyur.  

Building a friendly devotee network

As more devotees pass by on this Saturday morning, one gets an indication of the positive vibrancy Sundararaja Bhattar has created at the temple as each one of them recall the role he played in restoring this temple to its historic glory. He worked tirelessly for many years and through contributions from devotees built the Thayar, Chakkarathazhvaar and Hanuman Sannidhi assigning one archaka to man each of these sannidhis. Through the devotee donors, he also built the Raja Gopuram that had remained half built during the Thirumalai Nayakar period.

With Kallazhagar having given him the early boost in the 1990s, he continues to go there during all the festivals to support Ambi Bhattar with whom he shares a close bonding (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/06/azhagar-koil-ambi-bhattar.html).

As clock ticks to 9am on this Saturday morning, a parent reach out to him to present their son to Veera Raghava Perumal and look up to Sundararaja Bhattar for the process to hand over their son to the perumal of Vandiyur. 

The Face of Vandiyur

For the residents of Madurai, Sundararaja Bhattar is the most renowned face at Vandiyur for he has created positivity in 1000s of devotees and the belief in them that sincere prayers will be answered by Veera Raghava Perumal. And in return, they listen quietly to everything he says and support him in all his devotional endeavours.

It has been a remarkable turnaround at this temple one that has been made possible through the sole efforts of Sundararaja Bhattar. With things looking up for him, he has managed to build a own house at Vandiyur. But despite the financial turnaround, almost every single day he looks back at his childhood days to remind himself of the humble background that he had risen from, a phase when he did not know when the next meal would come. Recalling this background from his life in the 1970s and 80s, he says he will forever remain firmly grounded and perform a lifetime of service to Veera Raghava Perumal.