Doddamallur Aprameya Navaneetha Krishna Temple

Committed to the devotional service of Lord Aprameya, Pancharatra Agama expert Radhakrishna Bhattarchaya refused lucrative overseas offers and has served the Lord for 40years without an official posting – He is set to receive a Doctorate Degree this Saturday for his expertise in the Agamas

His father served the temple with utmost devotion for over seven decades, a majority of which at a monthly salary of Rs. 3

A Temple that celebrates the Avathara Utsavam of both Desikar and Manavala Mamuni

Radhakrishna Bhattachar is touching 70. His legs have weakened after over four decades of standing long hours at the Doddamallur Aprameya Perumal temple, one that is renowned for the crawling Navaneetha Krishna. Yet his devotional service has not reduced over the decades as he takes slow steps towards the Aprameya Perumal Sannidhi for the morning Satru Murai. On most days over the years, his stay at the temple has extended to 1pm as tourist and devotee crowd make their way to the temple on their way to Mysore along the National Highway.

Starting from the offer in the mid 1970s, he has let go several overseas opportunities that have come his way over the last four decades and has lived his life with the sole purpose of serving the Lord at Doddamallur, inspired by the verses of Purandaradasa who sung praise of Lord Aprameya.

His father Govindaraja Bhattar served at the temple for over seven decades from 1942, starting with a monthly salary of Rs. 3 and ending 71 years later (when he passed away) with a salary of Rs. 1500 much like O. S Seshadri Bhattar at Kapisthalam Divya Desam, who received Rs. 16 as monthly salary for several decades (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/07/kapisthalam-seshadri-bhattar.html).

A 5 year Agama course in Mysore
Soon after Radhakrishna Bhattar received Dikshai at the age of 16, he joined his father at the temple supporting him in the daily activities. Having completed his schooling in Doddamallur, Radhakrishna Bhattar studied Pancharatra Agama for five years at the Mysore Sanskrit College, the most renowned college in those days. From the stalwarts of those days, he learnt Desikar Prabhandham, Mimamsa and other Mantras.  The jeer of Parakala Mutt took a personal liking for the devotional conduct of the then young man in the 1970s and would ask him to recite the Desikar Prabhandham. 

No official posting for Radhakrishna till 2013

There was only one official posting at the temple and since his father held that, Radhakrishna Bhattar could only offer support activities and for much of his life has not been an official staffer of the temple. In the mid 1970s, when Radhakrishna Bhattar was in his 20s, he was offered a posting at the Pittsburg Perumal temple, an offer that was so lucrative that few would have refused.

His father, who was on a monthly salary of Rs. 3 was keen that his son accept the offer as it would have given great financial stability and growth to the family and tried his best to pursue his son to accept the offer but the son’s mind lay elsewhere even at that young age. The peace of mind that Radhakrishna had experienced in the first two decades of his life serving the Lord helped him forge a strong devotional bonding with the temple and he simply refused to leave Lord Aprameya and the crawling and handsome child like Navaneetha Krishna.

Not only did he instantly reject the offer, he also decided that he would not leave the Lord of Doddamallur at any point of time in life to serve at an overseas temple. In the ensuing decades, several other offers from temples in different continents came his way but Radhakrishna Bhattachar resisted the temptation to make the move away from Lord Aprameya. In fact most residents in the agraharam in his age group moved away from the town in the 1970s and 80s. Many of them went on to hold top posts in their lives including the head of HMT, BEML, Police (DGP) and one in the atomic energy space.

Radhakrishna Bhattar, for his part, also refused full time jobs within the state including a Professor’s posting at the Mysore Govt College, for he did not want a life outside of the temple. For over two decades, he taught part time at a local school and later also taught agamas and sculptures in a college.

It was this devotional commitment that helped the popularity of the temple grow over the last few decades. During the harvest season, the farmers in all the neighbouring villages would present their first offering at the feet of this Bhattar family, such was the regard they had for the family. 

The Legend

In the Brahmanda Purana, Lord Aprameya has been described in 12 Adyayams. Inscriptions dating back to 400AD refer to the temple. Lord Aprameya also finds mention in other historical scriptures. The story goes that when one dug three feet at this place, one got pure sand. Hence it was referred to as ‘Manalur’ (Maavalur in Kannada) which in later period became Malloor.  Another story goes that King Sarangadara ruled over 20 villages in this region. When once the opposition forces over powered him and cut him into pieces, he invoked the blessings of Lord Aprameya and to the surprise of everyone, his hands came back. Hence this place was called ‘Molaitha’ Ooru.

The Moolavar Lord is seen in an East facing standing posture with a conch and chakra. Aravinda Valli Thaayar is seen in a separate sannidhi. There are also sannidhis for Vedantha Desikar and Manavala Mamunigal.  

During the Brahmotsavam, the Lord is carried on the Vahanas around the four streets of Dodda Mallur.

A once Vibrant Agraharam

Not so long ago till the early part of the second half of the 20^th century, there was a vibrant agaraharam opposite the temple with over a 100 traditional families residing in the street. It was such an integral part of the town that all communication from here went with a reference to the agraharam of Doddamallur.

Historically, there were four Perumal temples and four Shiva temples in each of the four sides. Gopalakrishna Temple in the East,  Janardhana in the West, Rama in the South and Lakshmi Narasimha in the North.  Arkeswara Temple in the East, Kalyana Natheswara in the West and Varadeswara in the South and Kaileswara in the North.There are several inscriptions within the temple in the inner prakara.

In recognition of the contribution of the improvement initiatives at the temple, there is a stone image of a Vijayanagara ruler.

Festivals

A Grand Brahmotsavam continues to be celebrated in Chitrai with Chariot Festival on Hastham. It is the fortnight in the year when almost all the traditionalists congregate in the agraharam. A number of cultural initiatives especially for children have been initiated by Radhakrishna Bhattar around the Krishna Jayanthi Utsavam. A 4 day Pavitrotsavam  in Avani is also celebrated . Unlike most of the temples in Tamil Nadu, both the Vedantha Desikar and Manavala Mamuni Utsavams are celebrated in a grand way at this temple. 

A continuing piece of historical tradition is that the temple closes for the day when there is a death in the agraharam.

The official posting - Takes over from his father
Only after the death of his father in 2013, did Radhakrishan Bhattar get the posting in the temple, over five decades after he began performing service at the temple, supporting his father. Interestingly, there are notices at different locations at the temple that direct devotees to present ‘Thattu Kaasu’ only in the official Hundials!!! In the years that Radhakrishna Bhattar has performed service and his special connect with the devotees at large, the annual hundi collection in the temple has gone up from Rs.40000 to Rs. 40 Lakhs but as with temples in Tamil Nadu, the salary of the priest has remained abysmally low.

In recognition of his four plus decades of devotional service at the temple, promotion of spiritual activities and his expertise and presentations on the Pancharatra agama, he is being conferred a Doctorate this Saturday (July 27) jointly by a University in Bangalore and in the US. 

Quick Facts

Moolavar: Aprameya Perumal

Thayar    : Aravinda Valli Thayar

Separate Sannidhi: Crawling Navaneetha Krishna seen with butter in his hand

The temple is open from 730am-1pm and 430pm to 8pm. Contact: 080-29783127

How to reach

Doddamallur is about 60kms from Bangalore on the Mysore Highway, 3kms after Channapatna. From Channapatna Station, an auto to the temple will cost Rs. 70 (96636 70125 Arasu).

Share autos are available from the bus stand. Express bus may not stop at Doddamallur.