For six decades, he has served at the Gajendra Varadar Divya Desam with devotional commitment
His 'challenged' son has been supporting him 'quietly' at the temple for the last two decades
Despite the financial challenges of several decades, Seshadri Bhattar has lived a quiet and contented life without any complaints
Seshadri Bhattar was one of the well respected priests in
the region even at that young age in the 1960s for he had learned the Vedas and
Agamas for a decade from 1949 from the revered Oothukadu Sankara Ganapadigal at
the renowned centuries old Raja Patshala in Kumbakonam. He wanted to become a teacher but the sudden
death of his father meant that the responsibility of the temple service came to
him at a very young age.
Vibrant Agraharam –
Strong Service Personnel
In the 1960s, Kapisthalam too was vibrant with 21 traditional
families including one Saivite and Rayar family, in the Agraharam. With the
presence of Adyapakas, Divya Prabhandham Ghosti was an everyday feature at the
temple. All the residents in the agraharam would gather at the temple in large
numbers for Nithyanusanthanam in the evening that was followed by the presentation
of Sundal to the Lord.
That decade, the temple had 11 service personnel including
Mei Kaavalar, the garland maker and paricharakars, in addition to four who
played the sacred musical instruments. For 15 years, Seshadri lived a
financially challenging life. He would receive a maximum of one anna a day and
it was with that, that he ran the family. His elder brothers found their way
into life outside of temple service as did his younger brother leaving him as
the only one in the family continuing the hereditary service. In the 1960s,
Seshadri Bhattar also ran a Patshala in Kapisthalam teaching over 20 students.
Most of his students have done financially well in their lives but very few
have come to serve their Guru or help him financially in his tough times.
In those initial decades at Kapisthalam, he resided in what is now the Vahana Mandapam at the Eastern entrance to the temple, a 200 sq ft room. With support from the residents of Umayalapuram, he built the small home opposite the Gajendra Varadar temple which is where he has been residing for decades.
Umayalpuram Perumal - An Additional Temple in
charge
In September 1976, his uncle who had been performing service
at the Rajagopalan Temple in Umayalpuram, a few kms East of Kapisthalam went in
pursuit of overseas opportunities and asked Seshadri to perform ‘two time’
aradhana at the temple. Umayalpuram was a vibrant location in those decades
with 60 traditional families residing in the agraharam. All the residents loved
Seshadri Bhattar for his devotion to the Lord. He would cycle his way between
Kapisthalam and Umayalpuram each day. He was paid a monthly salary of Rs. 150
for his service there, which came as a welcome addition, financially.
Heartbreak - A Deaf And Dumb Son
His son was born partially (or at least that’s what Seshadri
Bhattar thought) deaf and dumb in 1981. Through that entire decade, he spent
his entire earnings and more on the medical treatment for his son including
taking him to JIPMER but nothing progressed. There were different versions and
solutions that gave Seshadri Bhattar hope but his son has remained speechless
for almost four decades now, though the father has kept the verbal
communication going from his side. And over time, his son began to understand
the messages from his father, especially those relating to temple activities.
Utsavams
There has been no Brahmotsavam at the temple for over a
century, though when he joined service he found many of the Vahanas. But even
during the time his grandfather served at the temple, the Brahmotsavam had not been conducted.
The Lord provides Garuda Sevai darshan on Akshaya Trithiyai. In
the 1960s, the Gajendra Moksham episode used to be enacted in a grand way at
the tank South of the temple. Thirumanjanam on Puratasi
Saturday and Ramaa Mani Thayar purapdu on Aadi and Thai Fridays have been
regular features at the temple. But most of the grand festivals have come to
nought in recent decades with almost the entire agraharam residents moving away
to cities seeking greener pastures. In the last decade or so, Navarathri has
been celebrated in a grand way with participation from the local community.
A Towering
Recognition from Kudanthai Andavan
Way back in 1963, when he was just 21 years old, Thiru
Kudanthai Andavan of Andavan Ashram conferred the title of
‘Mantra Mani' for having rendered Vishnu Homam for 20 hours nonstop in
Kumbakonam without a water or a toilet break. But financial rewards have eluded
Seshadri Bhattar all through his life.
All alone without
support
Unlike many other priests in the region, Seshadri Bhattar
has not been in the thick of action performing Samprokshanams in other Divya
Desams / Temples, an activity that would have been financially lucrative. Given the
physical state of his son and being stuck all alone at the Kapisthalam temple,
he has rarely participated in Samprokshanam activities in other temples. Thus
for a major part of his life, he has had to manage with the two digit salary at
the Kapisthalam temple and the slightly better remuneration at the Umayalpuram
temple. As decades passed, the service personnel too reduced at the Kapisthalam
Divya Desam and for a number of years he has now been all alone at the temple.
In the last few years, the devotee numbers has been on the
rise and so has the Thattu Kaasu.
What he has found remarkable is that his wife has never
complained once in her life about the financial challenges. He proudly says
that she eats the food available on the day, even if it’s without salt. That
has been her commitment to him and this Divya Desam. A couple of years ago,
after several years of search, Seshadri found a lady who agreed to marry his
son giving the 77 year old Bhattar peace of mind that there would be someone to
take care of his son after his time.
Seshadri Bhattar is truly a one of his kind having spent the
last six decades at the Kapisthalam Divya Desam. He has never complained in his life about the financial
challenges and has served the Lord with devotion every day for he has largely
remained contented with the way of life that God has provided him. His son has been
very dear to him and he has spent the last four decades trying to give him as
much happiness as possible communicating to him in whatever way he could. With the
passing of every decade, his son has improved and is now able to help devotees
with darshan.
As a financial security for his son, 77 year old Seshadri Bhattar is
hopeful that one day some devotee will help him run a Go-Shala in Kapisthalam
He can be reached on 04374225434/9585085619
He can be reached on 04374225434/9585085619
11 comments:
Very nice article.
Let me see what I can do for this Bhattar Swamigal
Well written. If you want, Kapali can arrange for two cows.
great, nostalgic post.
Interesting story .how bhattachar protects the
Temple
Interested,in helping bhattacharya of the temple
You may call the bhattar on the above numbers.
At least people putting more funds at srirangam Tirumala can identify these perumal to start the brimothsavams. I heard GK moopanar family used to do so many. But now nobody is caring Gajendra varadhan
The temple commitee collecting money in the name of construction for over last 10years from all visiting devotees. Last year i questioned when you are going to do the work? Reply was they are using the collected money for some other shiva temple near by.
Moopanar family has stolen 1500 acres land belongs to kapistalam temple.
Unfortunately the poweful moopannar chose to keep him serve without taking care to provide him basic comforts and medical help for his son This us true color of a great congress leader similar to many such landed people of Tanjore exploring the vulnerable
So sad to know about the Temple n the The Archakars. Wl help him in whatever small way I can financially.
Since son is Married now all hv to be taken care of . May God Open His Eyes for the Welfare of This Devoted Family.
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