Mannar Koil Pavitrotsavam Revival

A Full Fledged Utsavam Revival after several decades
Homam, Vedic Recital, Divya Prabhandham Presentation, Street Procession and Sacred Food to the Lord mark revival of the three day Pavitrotsavam

Melkote Araiyar serves as a Mentor at the Utsavam

It takes great devotional commitment to be a lone archaka in a huge remote temple that houses the Lord in three tiers in Standing, Sitting and Sleeping Postures and revive historical Utsavams all alone. Not just financial issues, but also physical support to organize a Utsavam is a big challenge in such locations.  Thanks to the single handed effort of the priest Narasimha Gopalan Acharya, a descendant of Periya Nambi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/periya-nambi-narasimha-gopalan-acharya.html), Pavitrotsavam in its full form has been revived this year at the ancient Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannar Koil. A decade ago, his efforts led to the revival of the Theppotsavam that is now celebrated in a grand manner on Maasi Punarvasu, the birthday of Kulasekara Azhvaar who attained Moksham here (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/11/kulasekara-perumal-koil-in-mannar-koil.html).

Kulasekara Azhvaar spent the last years at this place performing daily pooja for Lord Rama, who was his abhisheka deity. To this day, one finds the idols of this Abhisheka idol at this temple.

               Kurungudi Govindan Bhattar

The Utsavam Revival

Narasimha Gopalan manages all the Sannidhis at the temple each day of the year. For the Utsavam, he roped in Govindan Bhattar from Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/thiru-kurungudi-divya-desam.html) to perform the Homam over the three days. For the first time in several decades, Vedic Recital too was revived at the temple.

Divya Prabhandham Scholars presented the sacred verses of the Saint Poets. Delighted on hearing the news of the revival of the Pavitrotsavam to its past glory, Araiyar Sri Rama Sharma, one of the senior most Araiyars, came all the way from Melkote and was an integral part of the three day Utsavam (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/melkote-araiyar-sri-rama-sharma.html).

Avani Thiruvonam
It is just after 6am on the Satru Murai Day (Avani Thiruvonam) of the Pavitrotsavam. It is also the day of the Vaarshika Utsavam, the day the temple was consecrated last.  Prabhandham Scholars from Madras are moving into the temple for the presentation of the verses of Kulasekara Azhvaar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/03/kulasekara-azhvaar-srirangam-ranganatha.html). Young Vedic Pundits are ready too to chant the Krishna Yajur Vedam.

An hour after hot pongal is served as breakfast for the guests, the homam begins at 9am. On the one side, Prabhandham Scholars are seen presenting the Divya Prabhandham verses while on the other, Sri Krishna Ganapadigal is seen leading the Vedic Recital. The local community at Mannar Koil has gathered in good numbers to witness the final day celebrations.

Shortly after noon, accompanied by the beating of the drums, the sacred water is taken in the Kumbham to the Moolavar Lord for 'Prokshanam'. This process is repeated at the Kulasekara Azhvaar Sannidhi too. 

And then the big moment beckons. It is time for Satru Murai. The final verses of Nam Azhvaar's Tiruvoimozhi and Amudanar's Ramanuja Nootranthathi is presented in front of the Lord.

Cook + Archakar through the year
Presentation of sacred food to the Lord in good quantities was also a special feature of the utsavam. This is particularly significant as Narasimha Gopalan also doubles up as the cook at the Madapalli all through the year for he has no one for support at the temple being the lone service personnel. For the festival, he brought in expert cooks to prepare sumptuous meal for the guests. After 5 hours of devotional activity, the prabhandham scholars and vedic pundits sit for a full means that includes a tasty Thirukanamudhu. The guests are delighted at this great revival anchored by Narasimha Gopalan Acharya.

After a sumptuous meal, Govindan Bhattar leaves for Thiru Kurungudi in his car (Yes, there are priests these days in wealthy Divya Desams who travel by car for Utsavams). Vedic and Prabhandham scholars take a two hour break before congregating again at the temple for the Procession.

Rest House in Agraharam for Guests

Prior to the revival of this utsavam, Narasimha Gopalan helped build, through support from devotees, a rest house in the agraharam where visiting devotees could stay. The conduct of the utsavam on a bigger scale was made possible as the Vedic and Prabhandham Scholars could stay near the temple and also consume traditional food.

Melkote Araiyar’s Presence at Pavitrotsavam

76 year old Araiyar Sri Rama Sharma, an expert in agamas and sastras and one who has published over 150 books, made it all the way from Thiru Narayanapuram, Melkote to witness the grand revival of the Pavitrotsavam . Thiru Narayanapuram is one of the only four temples where Araiyar Sevai continues to be presented and his presence at Mannar Koil was an auspicious one for he has been presenting Araiyar Sevai for over six decades, the longest amongst the existing Araiyars. 

His father, Srinivasa Narasimhan Araiyar presented Araiyar Sevai at the temple at Rs. 2.50 per month, receiving an additional 50 paise for Kainkaryam at the Pattabhi Rama Sannidhi and another 25 paise for Parijaraka service. Sri Rama Sharma Araiyar serves at the temple during Thiru Aradhanam, Ubaya Sevai, Padi Etram, Sayana Utsavam and Mattai Adi in addition to the yearlong utsavams. Araiyar Sevai is significant during the three Brahmotsavams as well as during the Adyayana Utsavam.

He has a message for all devotees ‘When someone goes against our sampradaya, it is our duty to proactively correct them and bring them back on track. That is the only way we can prevent adharmic things being done.’

He recited the Vedas and the Divya Prabhandham at the Pavitrotsavam at Mannar Koil.

Veda Parayananam from Chennai Patshala

As part of the revival of the Pavitrotsavam in its full traditional form, 29 year old Sri Krishna Ganapadigal led a small group of upcoming vedic scholars and presented Thatakam, Achitram, Aswamedam, Aruna Prakshanam, Krama and Jata Parayanam. 

His message on making this trip to such a remote temple is clear “Our duty is protect Sanathana Dharma. We try our best to impart knowledge from the Vedic Scriptures and get the traditionalists to follow and implement those in their daily lives. Unfortunately, while Vedic Pundits do have a secure life, financially, parents are not willing anymore to send their sons to Patshalas as they do not see this as respectable. If this scenario continues for another few decades, Vedic Education may be lost to the next generation.”

Sri Krishna Ganapadigal’s father  Rajagopala Ganapadigal has been running a Vedic Patshala in Chennai for the last 20 years. 15 students have just graduated from the Patshala.

Youth Integral to the Festival
Naarasimha Gopalan Acharya has also been proactively roping in school boys in and around Mannar Koil to be an integral part of all the Utsavams at the temple, in the process getting the local community involved in the processions. These young boys support the priest in some of the daily activities at the temple.  As part of this process, they are also inculcated into the dharmic way of life and learn important fundamental aspects of life at a very young age. 

Just after 5pm, these boys gather in front of the temple. Some of them even draw kolams in front of homes in the agraharam. For over an hour, the priests are involved in the decoration of the Lord and Kulasekara Azhvaar. The Grand Revival of the Pavitrotsavam culminated with a joint procession of Lord Rajagopalan flanked by Andal and Garudan, along with Kulasekara Azhvaar around the four streets of Mannar Koil providing darshan to devotees. 

The temple is open from 7am-11 and 5pm-730pm. Contact Narasimha Gopalan Acharya @ 04634 252874

How to reach Mannar Koil

Mannar Koil is just under 40kms West of Tirunelveli near Ambasamudram on the banks of two rivers, Tamarai Barani and Karuna River off the Ambasamudram- Tenkasi Highway. There are direct trains from Chennai Egmore to Ambasamudram. Auto from Ambasamudram to Mannar Koil costs Rs.80/-.

A Young Gurukal returns to his roots in Ambai

R Muthukrishnan holds a Masters Degree in Engineering and was drawing a good salary as a lecturer at an Engineering college in Madurantakam. However, something was missing from his life and he did not feel comfortable in his lecturer’s role. While he was making trips for the big Utsavams to the Sankara Narayana Temple in Ambasamudram, where his forefathers had been performing pooja for several decades, he felt it his duty to perform daily service at the temple. His father had cycled 10kms each day to perform pooja such had been his commitment. 

Couple of years ago, he took the big call to quit his post as a lecturer and returned to Ambasamudram to take up full time service at the temple. Decorating the Lord is his special area of interest. 

Muthukrishnan, who learnt Agamas from the renowned Chellamani Bhattar in VK Puram (Papanasam), should be an inspiration for more from his generation to return to their hereditary roots “While the income as a Gurukal is substantially lower than what I drew as salary as a lecturer and there are financial challenges, the satisfaction that I get from performing daily pooja for the Lord is unmatched. The financial issue pales into insignificance when compared to joy of performing service to the Lord.”

( A version of this story featured in today's The Hindu Friday Review)