BCCI Umpire Rajesh Kannan quits IOB after 25years

R Rajesh Kannan moves into the league of Top 100 Indian Umpires - Set for a new full innings as an Umpire

A few years ago, he let go a cricket coaching offer as it meant taking away another's livelihood. In a world that has now come to grab everything coming one's way, this was indeed a rare gesture

It is a sign of changing times. A couple of decades ago, upcoming cricketers looked up to bank jobs for life security. Life in the cricketing circles has come a full cycle. 

After serving the bank both as a player and a mentor- coach for over two decades,  46 year old Rajesh Kannan (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/06/rajesh-kannan-bcci-board-umpire.html), a down-to-earth man from a humble middle class family in Madras who for many years during those early days in cricket boarded that infrequent 45B bus at the Saidapet bus stand to reach his cricket destination and came up the hard way in cricket facing many hurdles that would broken many a weaker mind, is quitting IOB exactly 25 years after he joined when he was handpicked by former TN opener and mentor for many at IOB V Krishnaswamy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/krishnaswamy-v.html). 

Rajesh Kannan has quit the Bank just ahead of the long domestic cricket season. He follows in the footsteps of mentor and former teammate KN Ananthapadmanabhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/ananthapadmanabhan-kn.html) who just last year quit IOB. International umpire S Ravi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/umpire-ravi-quits-rbi.html) too had quit his bank job at RBI a couple of years back.

In recent times, it had become increasingly difficult for him to straddle between the two careers – the pressures of a Deputy Manager at a bank branch, the physical challenges of sitting at the desk for several hours and the issues relating to that and his absence from the branch for many days with the growing number of matches for BCCI umpires and the related outstation travel involved in this engagement.

Once, Banks provided a stable career

In the decades gone by, Banks provided a stable long term job for cricketers, who usually settled down in the PSUs at the end of their playing days. There were those like Krishnaswamy who also grew professionally in the Bank after their playing career and scaled the peak in the Banking Career.

Not anymore.

Buoyed by positive feedback over the last 12 months on his umpiring performances at the BCCI level and confident of going up the ladder with increasing opportunities at the national level tournaments and pushed and motivated by BCCI Umpiring colleague Sai Darshan Kumar to explore his umpiring potential a little further, Rajesh Kannan, who continued to play for IOB till the time he was into his 40s also doubling up as a mentor- coach for the bank, has taken a bold call and decided to focus on a full time career in umpiring.

With match referee and teammate ASK Verma at the send off function at the Besant Nagar Branch

Even in the just concluded TNPL, given the pressures of the bank job and the responsibilities he held at the branch, he was shuttling midweek between Tirunelveli/ Natham and Madras to take care of his work at the Besant Nagar Branch, where he has been working over the last year, and then returning a day later for his umpiring duty at the TNPL.

TNPL Final
Rajesh Kannan officiated as the third umpire in the final of the TNPL at Chepauk after a strong showing in the league phase of the tournament that earned him the respect of the players.

With the domestic calendar set to start next month and expected to be another long one, Rajesh Kannan is likely to be away on an Umpiring expedition going around the country over the next four months.

A Great Human Being
A few years ago, Rajesh Kannan was offered a lucrative coaching role by a local team in the city, almost a blank cheque for him to sign up. His entry would have meant two of the three existing coaches to have lost their jobs. Life for those existing coaches depended on that coaching engagement. Rajesh Kannan refused that engagement. He did not want a coaching assignment that would have meant taking away the financial benefits of other human beings. In a world that has now come to grab everything coming one's way, this was a rare gesture. 

It is likely to be an exciting new career for him especially given the increasing number of matches at the national level starting from age group tournaments. While the steps up the umpiring ladder may have many challenging moments, one can be confident of one thing – at all times, Rajesh Kannan will display the same kind of passion and commitment as an umpire that he, for so long, presented as a player and then subsequently as a staffer at the bank. And it is the above human characteristic of not grabbing everything at all cost that will stand him in good stead wherever he goes.

Rajesh Kannan's elder daughter is an upcoming carnatic music artiste and a student of Subha Ganesan
(http://sundaykutcheri.blogspot.com/2015/07/harini-presents-lively-sunday-kutcheri.html)

Ananthazhvaar Kirangur

Descendant Ananthacharya has shown a remarkable devotional commitment in performing daily aradhana for Ananthazhvaan

in Kirangur at the age of 86

Decades of perseverance results in a Sannidhi and a beautiful garden for  Ananthzhvaar at this Avathara Sthalam near Srirangapatna

There was a long agraharam comprising of 50 houses and direct route to the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangapatna from here

He is 86 years old and has a frail body. But that is no indication of the devotional commitment of this Octogenarian and his endeavour to showcase the significant contribution of his acharya Ananthazhvaar. Like old timers of the centuries gone by, he remains without food for several hours lost in the thought of his acharya. It is an age when one would typically sit back in an easy chair and relax. Not A Ananthacharya of Kirangur, a descendant of Ananthazhvaar. One can’t but admire his great devotional commitment to his acharya of almost 1000 years ago. Every morning at around 10am, he rides his TVS Scooty from his residence near the Ranganatha Swami temple in Srirangapatna (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/10/ranganatha-swamy-in-srirangapatna.html) through the Bangalore National Highway amidst high traffic to reach the Avathara Sthalam of Ananthazhvaan in Kirangur on the Pandavapura Highway.

He spends a few hours doing aradhana for the idol of Ananthazhvaar at the Sannidhi in his Avathara Sthalam, whose construction he anchored 15years ago. He then returns to his residence in the afternoon once again riding along the highway to have his first real meal of the day. On many days, he makes this return trip in the rain that usually hits this region in the afternoons. But amidst his devotional service to his acharya, he considers this as only a minor challenge. 

He also manages the Thiru Ananthazhvaar Sannidhi Trust that he launched for his acharya and sends a fair amount of time communicating in the second half of the day with the sishyas announcing the activities undertaken for Ananthazhvaar. This has been his daily routine over the last decade. Interestingly for his age, he is also quite well versed in computers.

His grandfather, almost 70 years ago, and subsequently his father had looked at re-acquiring the land at the Avathara Sthalam of Ananthazhvaar but could not do so. In the 1960s, 12 ½ cents of land was granted but was later taken back by the Government at ‘Upset Price’. It was only after his persistent efforts for several decades and against stiff opposition that he managed to acquire 45 cents of land just under two decades ago. Even that has not been fully handed over to the trust with only around 10% land having been physically secured by the Trust, which he launched at the beginning of this century.

Thiruvallikeni Adyapakas' Presentation

In the last few years, Divya Prabhandham Adyapakas ( https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/thiruvallikeni-prabhandham-ghosti.html) from Thiruvallikeni Divya Desam led by MA Venkatakrishnan have been presenting the sacred verses of the Azhvaars once a year in celebration of the contribution of Ananthazhvaar. This year, on July 27, a group of around 50 scholars presented the entire Periya Thirumozhi on a single day at the Avathara Sthalam in Kirangur.

A long Agraharam in Kirangur

In a survey undertaken during the British rule in the late 19the century, there is a record of an agraharam comprising of over 50 houses. Historically, there was also a direct route the Srirangapatna temple from the agraharam through the Cauvery.

Historical Tank

The Tank at this Avatharam Sthalam was a sole indication of the history of this location and Ananthacharya was keen to build a sannidhi for Ananthazhvaan at this very location. In fact as a young school boy in the 1940s, he would walk from Pandavapura to Srirangapatna crossing the Avathara Sthalam each day during those 9 years. Even then, as a school going kid, who was initiated by his father and grandfather into the legendary tale of his acharya, he had visualized doing something for Ananthazhvaan at this location. Decades later, when they dug up this location removing the huge amount of debris that had collected here, they found the steps to the tank.  

He began construction of the sannidhi through the trust. One now finds a huge nandavanam at this avathara sthalam with Ananthacharya also taking care of the maintenance of the garden. There is also a madaipalli from where the sacred presentations to the Lord are made and the Thaligai on the day there are scores of sishyas visiting the Sannidhi.

In his professional career, he went all over the state conducting survey as someone who was involved in the collection of statistics. For over 5 years, he also edited educational books of the NCERT. The extensive work done during that period gave him the resilience to continue his work in the devotional space as well.  

  

The Legend of Ananthazhvaar

Ananthazhvaar (Anantarya) was born on the Chitrai day in Chitrai in 1053AD in Kirangur (historically referred to as Siruputtur), on the banks of Cauvery, 2kms from Srirangapatna. After his early education in Kirangur, he went to Srirangam to be initiated into Vaishnavism by Ramanuja. Once when Ramanuja recited the verses of Namazhvaar on Thiruvengadam and his special liking for flowers, he asked if any of the disciples would take up the opportunity to grow a flower garden. When none accepted this offer, fearing the dangerous and the long route, Ananthazhvaar rose up and agreed to do the trip. Delighted at this response, Ramanuja called him out as ‘Ananta-anPillai’.

At Tirumalai, he created a garden with a well inside and also began personally digging a tank with his pregnant wife supporting him. When the Lord in the guise of a young boy put him to test by offering to help with the work, Ananthaanpillai refused saying that he is serving the Lord and that he cannot outsource the work to another.  Shortly after, when he found that the boy was helping his wife in the activity, he ran after the boy and threw the crow bar that hit his chin. The boy continued his run and locked himself in the sannidhi. When the door opened based on the priests request, Ananthazhvaan found the Lord bleeding from his chin. The Lord directed the chin mark to remain on his cheek so the devotees relate to the devotional commitment of Ananthazhvaan. Also, in memory of this event, to this day, the crow bar is hung below the main tower of the temple. 

When Ramanuja visited Tirumalai, he was delighted to watch the devotional work of Ananthazhvaar. Later when he found sadness of his disciple on hearing the news of his departure from Tirumalai, he handed to him an image of himself which was installed in a shrine within the temple.

After the death of Ramanuja, Ananthazhvaan spent an entire year in sadness shying away from the duties relating to the stringing of the flower garland for the Lord. Later, he initiated the presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthathi during the Adyayana Utsavam and also installed the image of Ramanuja at the temple.

In memory of his contribution, Ananthazhvaar is presented with a flower garland on the 8^th day of the Puratasi Utsavam at the Tirumalai temple, a day earlier, the Lord makes a procession in the opposite- Apradakshina direction indicating the trip of the Lord and Thayar to the garden created by Ananthazhvaan. There are also images at the temple of Ananthazhvaar and his wife in recognition of their contributions. 

Great Contribution to his Acharya

Similar to Ananthazhvaar, who carried out the order of his preceptor Ramanuja and created a beautiful flower garden in Tirumalai and strung flower garlands for the Lord, his descendant Ananthacharya for the large part of his life has been committed to extol the virtues of the acharya and his years of perseverance has now translated into a sannidhi at his avathara sthalam in Kirangur where in memory of the acharya’s great service, Ananthacharya has also created a beautiful flower filled garden from where he presents flowers for his acharya each day of the year.  

Truly, this descendant of Ananthazhvaar has made a significant contribution to our tradition and his unflinching devotion to his acharya at 86 is remarkable.

Thiruvaimur Thiruvaimurnathar Temple

Saptha Vidanga Kshetram

The story of how a devoted hereditary Gurukal understood the psyche of the current generation of devotees and created a monthly utsavam to bring crowds back at this Thevaram Sthalam

On Thei Pirai Ashtami every month, a Homam is performed for Bairavar, an event watched with devotion by over 2000 people

42 year old Pichumani Gurukal has been at the Appar and Thiru Gnana Sambandar praised Thiruvamunathar temple in Thiruvaimur, a location so remote that there are no bus facilities to this temple, for the last three decades. So attached was he to this temple that even as a young boy, he would run fast from the school to come and assist his father, who served for over 50 years at a salary of Rs 60 at the temple. Not too far in the distant past, the entire village ( and the lands) belonged to the temple.  Close to 25 people worked at the temple.  Utsavams were vibrant. His mind was not too focused on academics.  He learnt the Agamas from father, now 76 years old Panchakshara Shivachariar, a Sanskrit Samrat and one of the most respected in the region. His father is the sthaneegam at the Murugan temple in Ettukudi, where he continues to perform service at this grand old age. Pichumani Gurukal's grandfather too had served at the temple for several decades.

Even as Pichumani Gurukal grew up, he saw a steep deterioration in the finances at the temple. Income from the lands dried up. Salary of the priests and the service personnel did not go up even as the cost of living rose drastically in the passing decades. Brahmotsavam came to a halt over three decades ago as did many of the other annual utsavams at the temple. While the priests have been here for several generations and continued to serve Lord, the service personnel began leaving the temple one by one and there are just three of them a scenario that would have broken the heart of many priests but the ones from this family.

With his devotional commitment coming to the forefront, Pichumani Gurukal brought together the residents of this ancient temple town. While many issues remain including the issue of low salary to the priest, he has with the support from the villagers revived the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam. Abhisekam for the Lord is done six times in the year.

Thei Pirai Ashtami Utsavam

As part of his revival initiatives, Pichumani highlighted the special features of the Ashta Bairavar, a differentiated Sannidhi at this temple. And this got the devotees interested as many found their problems being sorted out through the special pooja and homam he performed on Thei Perai Ashtami. And as the word spread, devotees are now thronging the temple in 1000s on the ashtami day every month.  Over 2000 people are fed on this day after the Homam and Pooja. 

As with many other ancient temples (Patteeswaram Durgai (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/patteeswaram-thiru-gnana-sambanthar.html) and Thirunallur Saneeswarar being cases in point), the original history has been lost to the devotees of the current generation and they have taken to the parikara and prarthana route to this temple. As he went through challenging times in the first two decades of his service at the temple, Pichumani Gurukal realized the psyche of the devotees. And as he created this new belief of Ashta Bairavar solving all their problems, the temple atleast on the devotees front has seen a sudden transformation.

The Legendary Tale - Saptha Vidanga Sthalam

Indra sought Vishnu’s help to protect the Devas from an Asura. Vishnu handed him the idol of Thyagaraja and asked him to perform pooja. He also directed him to Chozha King Musukuntha, a great Saivite Devotees, as the asura had obtained the boon of being killed only by humans.

After the asura was killed, a delighted Indra took Musukunta to his abode. An invisible voice directed him to take Thyagaraja’s idol to Thiruvarur.  When Indra offered a boon to the king for helping him win, the king asked for the idol leaving Indra stunned. That night, Indra asked sculptor Vishwakarma to make 6 similar idols. When Indra offered the king any of the 7 idols hoping that the king would not be able to distinguish the real one and would take one of the 6 that were created the previous night, Musukuntha Chozha with his true devotion identified the original one. Delighted with the sincerity of the king’s devotion to Lord Shiva, Indra handed him all the 7 idols. Musukuntha made his way to Thiruvarur in a Chariot procession and celebrated with a grand festival.

After installing the original one at Tiruvarur, he took the other 6 idols and installed it at Thiru Kolili, Thiru Kaaraayil, Thiru Maraikkadu, Thiru Vaimur, Thiru Nallaru and Thiru Nagai. These 7 are referred to as Saptha Vidanga Kshetram.

The story of Musukuntha, the Chozha King

Once while Shiva and Parvati were resting in the groves of Kailasam, a male monkey kept throwing Vilva leaves on them. Shiva intervened in time to prevent an irritated Parvati from uttering a curse on the monkey reminding her that it was Shivarathri and the monkey had indeed performed a divine deed by placing Vilva leaves on them. Thus, a likely curse turned into a blessing. The male monkey requested that he be born with a monkey face in memory of his previous birth and as a great devotee of Lord Shiva.  This was Musukuntha Chozha who ruled the Chozha kingdom with Karuvurai as his capital.

Appar and Thiru Gnana Sambandar's Praise

Appar in his Thiru Kurun Thogai and Thiru Gnana Sambandar in his Thiru Murai have praised the Lord of Thiruvaimur.

                                         Appar's Praise

The Temple is open from 630am -12noon and from 5pm-830pm. Contact Pichumani Gurukal @94880 77126

There are a number of inscriptions on the outer walls of the Prakara that date back a 1000 years.

How to reach

Thiruvaimur is 2kms from Ettukudi Murugan temple.  Buses every hour from Katchanam on the Thiruvarur -Thiruthuraipoondi Highway. Auto from Katchanam will cost Rs. 200.

From Thiruthuraipoondi, take the Nagapattinam bound bus and get down at Keezhaiyur. An auto from Keezhaiyur  to the temple will cost Rs. 50,

Senkalipuram Perumal Temple

Twin Temples of Parimala Ranganatha and Varadaraja Perumal whose legend relates to previous Yugams

Birth Place of Anantharama Dikshithar

                              Kalyanam Bhattachar

87 year old SB Kalyanaraman (popularly known as Kalyanam) Bhattachar has spent his entire life in the agraharam at Senkalipuram, the birth place of the renowned Anantharama Dikshithar and a location historically renowned for Vedic recital. His devotional service to Lord Parimala Ranganatha, who is seen with 6 fingers on one hand, has not dropped a wee bit in the seven decades of service that he has rendered and despite his old age, he is ever ready to serve the visiting devotees.

It was the revered Swaminathan Dikshithar who taught Kalyanaraman Bhattachar’s father and Anantharama Dikshithar Vedic lessons in this very agraharam.  Swaminathan Dikshithar had told Kalyanam Bhattar’s father that the temple in its current form and structure was at least 400 years old.

Anantharama Dikshithar would visit the Perumal Temple every day and collect Theertham from Kalyanam Bhattar.

கல்யாண ரூபாய க்ளுஜனானாம்

கல்யாண தாத்ரே கருணா சுதாப்தே

கம்ப்வாதி திவ்யாயுத  சத்கராய

வாதால  யதல்ச நமோ நமஸ்த்தே

நாராயண நாராயண...

Be ever in Service to the Lord

Kalyanarama Bhattachar says that his father’s message was very clear “Do not leave the service at the temple under any circumstance." He was completely dedicated to the Lord and wanted me to continue through my life.

This ancient temple town is surrounded on all four sides by prominent ancient saivite temples amidst fertile green lands. Choleswarar Temple in the East, Dundubeeswarar in the West, Viswanathar temple in the South and a temple dedicated to Lord Muruga were historical temples. Growth for a large part was always in excess till the first half of the 20^th century. Villagers would come and present their harvest to the Lord. Overall it was a lively atmosphere in this temple town.

In the first half of the 20^th century, 60 Kalam Paddy was given to the Bhattars for their services. As with many other temples in Tamil Nadu, the lands belonging to the temples here too were whisked away in the 1960s and 70s. There is still 100 acres of land belonging to the temple but no income accrues. The salary from the 1960s and 70s dropped drastically and there came a time when there was no salary paid to the Bhattar.

Kalyanam Bhattar remembers the good old days when  agraharam was vibrant with around 200 traditional families, most of them Smarthas residing at this historical location. There was an ancient patshala where Kalyanam Bhattar did Veda Adyayanam. For several decades, he presented Upanyasam across the state.  

On the occasion of Avani Avittam, over 100 families came to the Ranganatha temple to invoke the blessings of the Lord.  Festivals were grand once upon a time with Vahana processions of the Lord. Those too came to a halt 50 years ago and remained so for a couple of decades. Chariot festival too was grand at this temple. 

The Legend

Kalyanam Bhattar stresses the legend of the location to establish its historical importance. It was here that after the demolition of Madhu-Kaidapar, the Lord cleansed his chakra in the Chakkarai Theertham in Senkalipuram. When the rishis suggested that he was contaminating the Kulam by washing the weapon that was used to kill, he told them that this entire place would become sacred as he has put an end to the asuras’ violence and hence will become a renowned location, much to their delight.

Another story goes that Prahalada undertook penance here to relieve himself from Pithru Hathi Dosham. When Jalamedha, the grandson of the Pandavas performed a Sarpa Yagna, his hands shrunk as a result of the killing of the snakes. He is believed to have undertaken penance here to relieve himself from the dosham.

The recovery of the idol

During the Muslim invasion, the idols had been buried under the sand and a big mound accumulated.

Centuries ago, a sadhu, seen not seen in a great mental frame, shouted about the presence of Lord. When the farmers came to the agraharam to sell their harvest, the sadhu once again shouted out the name of the Lord. The farmers who had come there with sickels dug the place and unearthed a Lord sleeping atop Adisesha with two and a half furls. An invisible voice asked them to stop and hence in a unique posture, Lord Parimala Ranganatha is seen in a unique posture atop Adishesha with 2 ½ furls.

Kalyanarama Bhattar initiated his sons and grandsons into the agamas and Vedas directing them to continue the service at the temple. While there is not much of a salary, grandson Balaji Bhattar has stuck to this service with great devotion. With support from devotees, they have revived the Brahmotsavam in Maasi and also are performing the Pavitrotsavam. Over the last few years, devotee crowd has increased but it is still not enough to manage a family, financially. Balaji Bhattar makes ends meet by performing Homams and participating in Samprokshanams. 

Most of the traditional inhabitants had quit the agraharam by the 80s leaving the Bhattar family as one of the few. It is to their great credit that this family that has performed aradhana at this temple for several generations has continued to serve in tough and challenging times with the monthly salary paid by HR &CE not enough to run a family.  Kalyanaraman Bhattar is happy that in the most challenging of decades, the family stayed back to serve the Lord unmindful of the low salary.

The temple is open from 7am -1130am and from 5pm to 730pm. Contact Kalyanarama Bhattachar @ 94441 61609 / Balaji Bhattar @ 83001 81629/63811 87235

How to reach

Senkalipuram is 4kms from Kodavasal off the Kumbakonam – Tiruvarur Highway and under 10kms from Thiru Cherai Divya Desam. Auto from Kodavasal will cost Rs. 150.

Sirupuliyur Divya Desam

One Legged Srikanthan Bhattar has been instrumental in the revival of this once prominent Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple 

He serves the Lord each day of the year with an artificial leg 

The Entire Sacred Tank Zone on the Western Side has been illegally occupied preventing the conduct of the Theppotsavam at this Divya Desam

Till half a century ago, Sirupuliyur, a Divya Desam gloriously praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, was so prominent among the temples in the erstwhile Chozha kingdom, that it was the main supplier of archakas to other Perumal temples in the region. Such was the vibrancy in the agraharam that this temple town reverberated with Prabhandham Recital and Vedic Chanting all through the year. There were 365 acres of land belonging to the temple and rice was available in plenty at the temple for food presentation to the Lord.

During the time of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, it stood out as a devotional location for he praises it as one where Vedic Seers chanted the Vedas continuously. It is hard to believe that the sea shore would be so close to Sirupuliyur as it now at least 25 kms away!!! But Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to gems being washed all across Sirupuliyur from the eastern sea shore. He says that the temple was surrounded by green fields on one side and by the ocean on the other.

பறையும் வினை தொழுது உய்ம்மின்

நீர் பணியும் சிறு தொண்டீர்

அறையும் புனல் ஒருபால் வயல் ஒருபால் பொழில் ஒருபால்

சிறை வந்து இனம் அறையும்

சிறுபுலியூர்ச் சலசயனத்து

உறையும் இறை அடி அல்லது

ஒன்று இறையும் அறியேனே

As with many other remote Divya Desams, the changing political climate in the State in the 1960s and 70s led to a dramatic downturn in this temple town, one that lasted 3 decades.

G Venkata Gopalan Bhattar is 77 years old now and still active at the temple. He was in his prime when the political take over and HR &CE’s ascendancy to power hit temples across Tamil Nadu. His grandfather had served at the temple for many decades in the glory days in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. His father Govinda Bhattachar too served at the temple for several decades till his death in 1968.

Moves away from Sirupuliyur

Soon after his thread ceremony, Venkata Gopala Bhattar began learning agamas from Srinivasa Bhattar at Thiruvazhundur Divya Desam in the early 1950s. With the overall negative scenario at Sirupuliyur that also included strong opposition to temple activities from the non-traditional residents, he moved to Kuttalam (near Therazhundur Divya Desam) about 25kms West of Sirupuliyur to perform services at the Aadhi Kesava Perumal temple where he remained for three decades performing pooja at a salary of a couple of hundreds. His three sons grew up in Kuttalam.  

Right from his school days in the early 1990s, Srikanthan Bhattar, the 2^nd son, began supporting his father at the temple in Kuttalam. After his school, he would go to Therazhundur to learn agamas from the revered Kannan Bhattar (father of Vasan Bhattar) who passed away a few years ago. Even back then, as a young boy, Srikanthan Bhattar’s mind was set on reviving Sirupuliyur Divya Desam where his forefathers had served for so long and he missed being at his hereditary location.

Grim Situation at the Divya Desam

The once vibrant agraharam looked deserted. Samprokshanam had been performed in 1973 but that was just white washing the outer walls. The Brahmotsavam came to a halt in the 1970s including the once popular chariot festival. Over time, the two chariots, one for Perumal and another for Manavala Mamunigal, suffered damage. During those dark decades, almost all the festivals came to a standstill. There were just three utsavam days - Vaikunta Ekadasi, Panguni Uthiram and Vaikasi Hastham- in the entire year. 

By the 1980s, the entire lot of the traditional residents of the agraharam had left Sirupuliyur seeking greener pastures. There was just one man left - the accountant at the temple. There had been no processions for two decades. The entire complex was dark with no lighting. There were no personnel in the madaipalli. No one could adapt to the traditional lifestyle at an ancient temple town. Even today there is none. Seeing the deplorable state of this Divya Desam, the now renowned Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur, then in his 20s, used to cycle 15kms from Therazhundur to perform aradhana for the Aruma Kadal Lord at Sirupuliyur.

On AV Rangachari’s (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/chidambaram-thillai-thiru-chitrakoodam.html ) request, Venkata Gopalan Bhattar came back to Sirupuliyur in the late 1990s at a salary of Rs. 300 per month. By then, his elder son had moved to Banaswadi Perumal Koil, in Bombay.

Life Changing Story

When Srikanthan Bhattar was growing up in the late 1980s and 90s, even 10-15 rupees brought home by his father would delight the family as it helped in the everyday sustenance. The key was Srikanthan Bhattar did not choose to go away in frustration. Instead he chose to remain devotional committed to Kripa Samudra Perumal who his forefathers had served and one that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had praised as the ‘Lord in my Heart’ and as one who provides the devotees with a positive change in life.

கள்ளம் மனம் விள்ளும் வகை,
கருதிக் கழல் தொழுவீர்

வெள்ளம் முதுபரவைத் திரை விரிய

கரை யெங்கும் தெள்ளும் மணி திகழும்

சிறுபுலியூர் சலசயனத் துள்ளும்

எனது உள்ளத்துள்ளும்

உறைவாரை உள்ளீரே

Srikanthan Bhattar, then not even in his teens read a story in the 1990s narrating the pitiable state of the Sirupuliyur temple. Citing the scenario of even Oil and Thiri not being available to light even a single lamp, the story requested devotees to present these at this divya desam so at least one lamp could be lit. Srikanthan promised that day that he would serve the Lord of Sirupuliyur for the rest of his life and would work towards reviving the Divya Desam. Ever since, his sole aim in life has been to get the temple back to its past glory.

It was Vasan Bhattar who helped anchor the revival of the utsavams, first with a five day Brahmotsavam. He was a mentor to many of the archakas in the region and he played an active role at Sirupuliyur in supporting the initiatives of Srikanthan Bhattar.

Letting go one’s EGO

The legend of this Divya Desam relates to a story on the letting go of one’s ego. Believing that he was closer to the Lord and performing better service to the Lord, Garuda questioned the role and service contribution of Adisesha. When the latter sought the help of the Lord, HE provided darshan here at Sirupuliyur in a Bala Posture like a young boy and slept atop Adisesha. Humbled at the lesson, Garuda realized his mistake and stood on the ground. Hence at this Divya Desam, Garuda is seen in a unique posture of standing low on the ground. From a devotion point of view, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that not just humans but also Gods in large numbers visited Sirupuliyur to have darshan of Sala Sayana Perumal who he praises as one seen in a sleeping posture atop the five hooded Adiseshan.

Referring to the kid like image of the Lord, he says that he not seen any Lord like this anywhere else. And as an indication of the two rishis at the feet of the Lord, he says that those who worship the Lord’s feet at Sirupuliyur will find a positive change of heart towards devotion. He asks the devotees to surrender to the Salasayanam Lord and see for themselves as to how their sins are cleansed. 

Every day when Srikanthan Bhattar narrates the Sthala Puranam to devotees and presents aloud the verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar from the Periya Thirumozhi, he remembers the legend and the tale of the temple town that once was and reminds himself to dedicate his life to the Lord and to seek nothing else. And that’s how he has lived the last two decades at this Divya Desam.

The Revival over the last decade

When he joined the temple just under two decades ago as a teenager, his first priority was to provide basic amenities to visiting devotees- bath and toilet facilities outside the temple. In those days, his mother, who sported a smile all the time (she passed away all of a sudden over a decade ago) played a great host to all visitors to this Divya Desam feeding them to a sumptuous meal despite a financially challenging situation in the family.

He then went about reviving the utsavams. In 2007, Srikanthan Bhattar revived the Pavitrotsavam with the help of Vasan Bhattar who has been an integral part of the transformation at this temple. Earlier this decade, the temple saw a full scale renovation for the first time in a century giving it a fresh look. While the samprokshanam in 1973 was followed by two dark decades, this samprokshanam 4 decades later in 2012 led to a complete revival of the temple. Brahmotsavam was restarted with vahana processions.

However, in the decades of the slowdown, the Entire Sacred Tank Zone on the Western Side and the South Western Side came to be illegally occupied. Challenges in evicting them has meant that the temple has not been able to conduct the Theppotsavam at this Divya Desam. It is hoped that the authorities will take steps to clear the zone and help revive the Theppotsavam.

Last week in recognition of Vasan Bhattar’s three decades of support, Srikanthan Bhattar, in a thanking gesture, posted a large banner outside the temple during the Pavitrotsavam.

A road accident that took away a leg

In February 2013, a bus ran over Srikanthan Bhattar’s legs and he lost a leg in the accident. HR & CE and the TN Government did nothing to compensate. It was Vasan Bhattar who through devotees helped him have an artificial leg planted. For six years, he has continued to serve the Lord in the same devotionals manner as before despite getting a salary of just around Rs. 1000 per month, an amount completely inadequate these days. Srikanthan Bhattar is currently in the process of building two new chariots, one for Perumal Brahmotsavam and another for the Manavala Mamunigal utsavam at a cost of over Rs. 30 Lakhs. Srikanthan Bhattar and his father also double up as the cook in the madapalli. Srikanthan Bhattar is also the one who over the last decade has decorated the Lord ensuring a certain grandeur in terms of jewels and vastrams. 

It is solely due to the efforts of such devotionally committed Bhattars that remote Divya Desams have stayed alive and continued into the next generation.

Kripasamudram Perumal Divya Desam in Sirupuliyur is open from 730am-12noon and 5pm to 830pm. Contact Srikanthan Bhattar @ 91598 67324.

How to reach Sirupuliyur

Sirupuliyur is 2kms from Kollumangudi and about 10kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Tiruvarur highway. Auto from Kollumangudi will cost Rs. 75.

Thirumeni Azhagar Temple Mahendra Palli

Thiru Gnana Sambandar praised the Lord as ‘Azhagar’ and compares the Lord to the ones at Thiru Kailayam, Thiruvarur and Thiruvanaikaval 

As with other HR & CE administered temples in TN, the priest, whose family had served the Lord through the 20th Century, is now paid a daily wage of Rs.20!!

10kms East of Achalpuram off the Alakkudi road on the banks of Kollidam is the ancient Thiru Gnana Sambandar praised Thirumeni Azhagar (Sundareswarar) temple in Mahendra Palli. This is the farthest location in the East in the region and there is no path across the Kollidam to reach the other side.

In his verses of praise on Mahendra Palli, Thiru Gnana Sambandar compares the greatness of this temple with Thiru Kailayam, Thiruvarur and Thiruvanaikaval.

A Vibrant Thevaram Sthalam

Till half a century ago, the Lord provided darshan to devotees on different vahanas. One finds a big temple tank at the Eastern end where Theppotsavam was conducted till the 1960s.

Senthil Gurukal has been performing pooja at the temple for over three decades and now gets just Rs. 20 per day as salary from the HR&CE but he continues to perform service to the Lord with sincerity. His father and grandfather had taken care of the temple for almost 100 years at miniscule salary. 

Special Features

Between the 7^th and 13^th day in Panguni, the Sun’s rays fall directly on the Lord. A unique feature at the temple is that Nandi’s neck is slightly tilted to the left.

The Saint Poet, who attained Mukthi near here at Achalpuram, has praised the beauty of the Lord and refers to him as ‘Thirumeni Azhagar’, the one with handsome features.  He also refers to Indra, Chandra, the Sun God and the great rishis as having performed pooja at Mahendra Palli.

 சந்திரன் கதிரவன் தகுபுகழயனெடும்

இந்திரன் வழிபட இருந்தவெம் இறையவன்

மந்திர மறைவளர் மயேந்திர பள்ளியுள்

அந்தமில் அழகனை யடிபணிந் துய்ம்மினே

There are still a few traditional houses in the agraharam that was once home to Saivites and Vaishnavites. There is also a big Perumal temple in Mahendrapalli, that has been recently renovated.

Dilapidated State

Such a historical temple with distinguishing features is now seen in a bad shape. Most of the Vahanas had been damaged and for decades there have been no vahana processions at this temple. 

The Temple tank is now dry with the Theppotsavam not having taken place in the last 50 years. The outer walls of the temple are seen in a broken state. The madaipalli has been non functional for a long time. In the middle of all this, the Gurukal is seen performing the daily service to the Lord with utmost commitment having imbibed the values from his forefathers who too served without much financial returns. 

It is hoped that the HR & CE will restore this historical temple to its past glory and also revive the grand utsavams. It is also hoped that the HR & CE will increase the salary of the priest to a fair level in line with the current cost of living.

The temple is open from 7am -1130am and from 5pm-730pm. Contact Senthil Gurukal @ 97511 00938.

How to reach

Mahendrapallil is 15kms East of Kollidam ( Chidambaram-Sirkazhi Highway) and 10kms East of the Thiru Gnana Sambandar Mukthi Sthalam of Achalpuram

(http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/06/thiru-gnana-sambandar-mukthi-utsavam.html)

Buses ply every hour between Kollidam and Mahendrapalli along a winding road amidst green fields. Auto at Mahendrapalli - Palani @ 90473 47357.

A version of this story featured in The Hindu Friday Review

Thiru Kannangudi Divya Desam

Renovation of the Damodara Narayana Perumal Divya Desam at Rs. 1 crore but Bhattar’s Salary remains in Three Digits

Prabhakara Bhattar's devotional commitment keeps him all alone at the Thiru Manai Azhvaar praised temple near Nagapattinam

Not too long ago, the Damodara Narayana Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Kannangudi praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar was in a dilapidated condition. The Thiru Madaipalli was crumbling down as was the Azhvaar Sannidhi. The worst of the lot was the Ramanuja Sannidhi at the Eastern Entrance of the temple. Ahead of the 1000^th year, the sannidhi lay in a completely damaged condition with the entrance to the sannidhi dug up. Conflicts between HR & CE, donors and the general public delayed the renovation efforts. Just a couple of years ago, one wondered if the renovation would see the light of the day such was the scenario then.

Praises the Divya Desam as one with Mansions and High Walls

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised the Lord as on in a Standing Posture before whom Vedic Seers chanted the sacred mantras. The temple during this period was surrounded by high walls and mansions, paddy fields and water tanks where different coloured lillies and lotuses were seen in large numbers. 

வங்க மா முந்நீர் வரி நிறப்  பெரிய 

வாள் அரவின் அணை மேவி 

சங்கமார் அம் கைத்தட மலர் உந்தி 

சாம மா மேனி என் தலைவன் 

அங்கம் ஆறு ஐந்து வேள்வி நால் வேதம் 

அருங் கலை பயின்று எறி மூன்றும் 

செங்கையால் வளர்க்கும் துளக்கம் இல் மனதோர் 

திருக்கண்ணங்குடியுள் நின்றானே 

Bananas, Jack Fruits and Mangoes were found among the numerous trees around the temple where peacocks danced happily to the tunes of the bees. 

கான் உலா மயிலின் கணங்கள் நின்று ஆடக் 

கண முகில் முரசம் நின்று அதிர 

தேன் உலாம் வரி வண்டு இன் இசை முரலும்

 திருக்கண்ணங்குடியுள் நின்றானே 

The mansions and the high walls as described above seem to be a thing of the past. There are no buses or any form of public transport to this Divya Desam. An auto from Azhiyur bus stop costs Rs. 50. 

While the major repair works were delayed for many years, the Raja Gopuram was painted as were the Vimanams. And yet other sannidhis remained in dilapidated state. Subsequently, caught in the middle of this fight and unable to proceed with the consecration, the then EO of the temple quit the Divya Desam. Twice Samprokshanam date had been fixed but was postponed. The priest remained a silent spectator amidst all this drama with his views on agama and the need for consecration falling on deaf ears. Thiru Koshtiyur Madhavan had taken up the renovation at the Divya Desam but there was opposition to his continuing the service. This too delayed the repair works. By this time, the paint in the Raja Gopuram had faded and wore an old look!!!

Finally, earlier this year, the temple authorities decided to speed up the final phase. And Samprokshanam was performed last month after almost two decades.

A Grand New Look

The temple now wears a never before seen fresh look. The Raja Gopuram and the Vimanams have been repainted.  The previously damaged sannidhis have been restored to old glory. It is the best this temple has looked for many decades. There is a certain positive vibration inside the temple especially watching the devotional commitment of Prabhakara Bhattar who has been managing the aradhana and utsavams all alone for the last 10 years.

Renovation at Rs. 1crore, Monthly Salary in the 100s- Why?

As is the case with many Divya Desams, despite this renovation of the temple complex and the sannidhis at a cost of almost Rs. 1 crore, the salary of the priest remains in three digits. How would a single Bhattar manage an entire Divya Desam and multiple sannidhis all alone at a three digit monthly salary?

He is now in the middle of the 48 day mandalabhishekam. For a fortnight now, he has been having his first meal of the day at 2pm but no one really cares. Devotees are impatient and want a quick darshan of Perumal and Thayar for they are keen to move on to the next Divya Desam. 

HR & CE officials have done the renovation work through the donors and they are basking in glory of the new look. New hundials have been placed all along the Perumal Sannidhi. 

Long Hours at the Temple at minimal salary

6 hours in the 1^st half and 4+ hours in the 2^nd half, day in day out through the year without any substitutes and all for a few hundred rupees. That's the life of Prabhakara Bhattachar at the Kannangudi Divya Desam. For one who had previously served at the Nandipura Vinnagaram Divya Desam at Nathan Koil for a decade, it is all down to the presentations in the Thattu by devotees to help him see through each day. 

How to reach

Thiru Kannangudi is just under 10kms from Nagapattinam off the Tiruvarur Highway. Get down at Azhiyar to reach the temple (2kms) by auto or walk. When here, also visit Pancha Narayana Kshetram (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/08/anantha-narayana-perumal-aabaranadhari.html).