Renovation will begin next month
at the 17th Century AD Thiru Venkatamudayan temple in Ariyakudi
after a gap of 17 years at an estimate cost of around Rs. 3crores. This will be
just the 2nd renovation in over 100 years at the temple that has connection
with three Divya Desams. The 7 Tier 120
feet high Rajagopuram is the tallest for a Vishnu Temple in the Chettinad
Region.
With severe monkey menace, a
number of beautifully crafted and sculpted idols atop the Rishi Gopuram, the 2nd
Gopuram just behind the Raja Gopuram, have come off. In some, the heads are
missing, while in Brahmma’s idol, his hand has been knocked off. The palm of the hand of the 10 headed Ravana
too is missing. In most, the paintings have peeled off and are wearing a faded
look. Each of these will be restored to its
original colour and beauty with Pancha Varna painting.
There are also leakages in both
the Gopurams and the plan is to have complete civil works undertaken to fix the
leakages with long term solutions.
Mooligai
Paintings
On the side and upper walls of
the huge Ekadasi Mandapa are exquisite and rare four centuries old mooligai
paintings showcasing Lord Vishnu in his different incarnations as well as the
different postures (standing, sitting and sleeping). This is a special feature and
one of the big highlights at this temple. This mandapa is opened only once a
year on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi and thus the devotees have an
opportunity to explore these paintings only on that day. The colour has come
off a few of these paintings and the plan is to bring these back to its natural
features.
Another challenge is the rain
water flowing through the gaps into the Ekadasi Mandapa flooding the place
putting the paintings at risk. The plan is to construct a shed at the entrance
to prevent water entering the mandapa.
Multiple Stapathis will be used
during the year long renovation activity with each being assigned a specific set
of tasks. Chemical wash will be performed on the walls and pillars at the
temple to restore it to its original form.
Vahanas
– Repair work
Repair work will be carried out
to the Golden Garuda Vahana on which the Lord goes out on a Procession on the
opening day of Chitrai every year. The popular Chariot Festival and
Theppotsavam take place in Vaikasi as part of the grand 15 day Brahmotsavam.
While 1000s of devotees visit the
temple during the annual Vaikasi festival, as well as on each of the Saturdays
in Puratasi, the temple complex lacks basic amenities such as bathroom and
toilet facilities. It is hoped that HR & CE will immediately look into this
and make available some of the basic facilities for the devotees including
rooms to stay.
All the shops opposite the temple
are being brought down and re-built. The staff quarters are being refurbished.
Connection with
three Divya Desams
The story goes that Sevukan
Chettiyar used to walk to Tirupathi with a group of devotees to have darshan of
Srinivasa Perumal on the Thiruvonam day in Puratasi. On one such trip, when ill
health disrupted his trip, he heard an invisible voice state that He, the Lord himself would provide darshan at the
devotee’s place rather than the devotee coming all the way here.
He was directed to Srirangam to
collect the idol, one which was the Abhisheka Murthy of Ramanuja. He came back
here to this dense forest area of Ariyakudi and installed the utsava idol of
Srinivasa Perumal and built the first prakara. In memory of the construction by
Sevukan Chettiyar, his idol is seen on one of the pillars in front of the
sanctum.
Subsequently, the 7tiered Raja
Gopuram was built along with a separate Sannidhi for Alarmel Mangai Thayar.
The speciality at this temple is
that the utsava idol is from Srirangam, the Shatari from Tirupathi and Agni (the
sacred fire) from Thiru Maiyam. In centuries gone by, during the Thiruvonam festival
in Puratasi, devotees had the honour of being blessed by the Lords from three
Divya Desams (the Abhisheka idol, the Shatari and the sacred fire that would be
brought from Thirumayam – about 20 kms away - for the Karpoora Aradhana) at the
Dasavathara mandapa.
Every month on the Swathi star
day, a special Thirumanjana, with 108 sacred Kudams, is performed for Garuda.
The belief is that this helps liberate one from doshams.
Ramanuja Iyengar and Ariyakudi Temple
The 20th century Carnatic Music Legend Ramanuja Iyengar lived here for many years in the Sannidhi Street, 100 yards away from the temple. An archival record dating back to 1937 features a kutcheri presentation by him here at Ariyakudi. Well over 70 years ago, Varadaraja Bhattar would seek Ramanuja Iyengar’s endorsement of the special alankarams each day during the 15 day Vaikasi Brahmotsavam. So devoted was Ramanuja Iyengar towards Lord Srinivasa that he would identify and point out even minor errors in the alankaram that would then be corrected by the Bhattar before the screen was opened for the devotees’ darshan.
The temple is open between 730am-1230pm
and 430pm-8pm. Those interested in supporting the renovation efforts may
contact: 89397 91779 / 94866 34228
How to reach
Ariyakudi is 4kms from Karaikudi.
Daily express trains ply from Chennai to
Karaikudi. Auto from Karaikudi Station will cost Rs. 75.
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