Temple, Travel and Sport: Uraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar Consecration

Venu Srinivasan restores yet another Divya Desam to its ancient glory
Dark Madapalli, Dilapidated Tank, Stagnating Water, 50 year old outdated Electrical System, Anna Dhanam Koodam at Vasantha Mandapam, Debris in the Nandavanam, Oil and Turmeric Stained Pillars symbolised the Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam in Uraiyur just over a year ago

'I am designated as the Chairman of the Board but in reality I am in Service of the Devotees of the Lord'- Venu Srinivasan

கோழியும் கடலும் கோயில் கொண்ட

கோவலரே யொப்பர் குன்றமன்ன

பாழியும் டோழுமொரே நான் குடையார்

பண்டிவர் தம்மயாம் கண்டறி யோம்

வாழிய ரோ விவர் வண்ண மென்னில்

மாகடல் போன்றுளர் கையில் வெய்ய

அழியோன் றேந்தியோர் சங்கு - Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

The scenario a year ago at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Uraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam, the birth place of Thirupaan Azhvaar (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/03/thirupaanazhvaar.html) seemed a replica of the existing state of temples in Tamil Nadu and resembled the one that existed at the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, prior to 2015. A dark madapalli with very little ventilation, debris strewn all over in front of the entrance to the cooking area, a tank in a dilapidated state, stagnating water across the temple with no system to allow excess water into the tank and a historical mandapam converted into a Anna Dhanam zone. Devotees were no different with little patience to carry the excess Kungumam or Manjal resulting in almost every one of pillars stashed with oil stains and turmeric marks.

Debris at the Madapalli

Centuries ago, such ancient Divya Desams were renowned for Nandavanam, from where sacred flowers were presented to the Lord and Thaayar. Unfortunately, this too was seen in a forlorn state with debris forming a major part of the area, a result of waste from the temple being thrown into this sacred zone. The roof of the temple too required a lot of repair works.

As seen in most temples in recent times, the ancient stone flooring had been converted to cement pasting.

Anyone with an interest in historical structures would have found it distressing after a visit to the Uraiyur Divya Desam a year ago for most of the ancient zones had been converted for more modern purposes.

While the scale of this restoration was nowhere near as massive as the one seen at the Srirangam temple, Venu Srinivasan got down to yet another transformational exercise (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). While his official tag is that of the Chairman Board of Trustees, he refers to himself as one in 'Service of the Devotees' and sees this as an exercise

Anna Dhanam Center cleared

The worst of the deterioration in the last few years was the Vasantha Mandapam which had been converted to an anna dhanam center. By moving it to another location within the complex, the Vasantha Mandapam has been restored to its historical status. Come next year, one will be able to witness the Vasanthotsavam as seen in the past.

Restoring the Madapalli

One of the features of the current exercise has been the restoration of the madapalli to its traditional format. For long, the madapalli had been in a dilapidated condition. The debris has been fully removed. A special arrangement has also been made for storage of provisions at the madapalli. Simultaneously, new personnel are also being hired for the madapalli and sri patham at the temple and are likely to be onboard soon.

Refurbishing the Tank - RWH system

The temple tank was in a poor state filled with filth. This has been refurbished fully and is ready for the Theppotsavam in Maasi. A state of the art rain water harvesting is a new feature at the temple with a system created for redirecting water into the tank. Also, a system has been introduced to direct waste water away from the temple.

New Sacred Flower bearing plants

The Nandavanam too has been restored to its historical looks with the planting of a number of sacred flower bearing saplings as described by the Azhwars. Within the next few months, it is likely the sacred flowers will once again begin to be presented to Azhagiya Manavalan and Kamalavalli Nachiyar from the Nandavanam.

Repair Works

The entire temple complex wears a fresh look. For the first time, the Raja Gopuram at the Northern Entrance has been given a multi colour coating. All the vimanams too have received a fresh coat of painting. All the pillars have been water washed and the oil and turmeric stains removed. Recent additions like cement flooring has been replaced with natural cut stone flooring. A new electrical duct system has been installed across the entire temple complex. A number of damaged tiles have been replaced on the roof. Previously, toilets were inside the temple complex. This has been dismantled completely.

Committed Trustees help in improving Devotional Experience
Dr. KN Srinivasan, an Oncologist and Nuclear Medicine Physician by profession for the last 30 years and a Trustee of the Srirangam temple has been working tirelessly in the last few years at the Ranganathaswamy Temple to improve various service aspects, especially related to the post restoration maintenance activity helping give a better devotional experience. He has also been personally involved in monitoring the disciplinary aspects of the temple personnel which had been an issue for several decades from the 1970s. He was present at the Uraiyur Divya Desam to oversee the final series of activities leading up to the Samprokshanam.

Ranganatha's annual trip to Uraiyur

The legend of this Divya Desam relates to the love story of Kamalavalli Nachiyar and her wedlock with the handsome young lad Ranganatha of Srirangam. Every year in the month of Panguni, a significant event takes place at the Uraiyur temple. Lord Ranganatha, in all his splendour, leaves the Srirangam temple at 4am to take the 6 km journey across the Cauvery in a golden palanquin to meet his beloved Kamalavalli Naachiyar for the ‘Kalyana Utsavam’(marriage festivities). On this auspicious day in the month of Panguni, the entire marriage formalities between Lord Ranganatha and Kamalavalli Nachiyar is enacted at the Uraiyur Temple. Lord Ranganatha takes the trip back to Srirangam across the Cauvery that same night.

Kamalavalli Nachiyar is seen in a grand sitting posture, all set to get married. Being the handsome man in wedding attire, Lord Ranganatha here is called ‘Azhagiya Mana Vaalan’. A speciality of this temple is that this is the only Divya Desam (out of the 108) where the Goddess is facing the Northern direction, in this case in the direction of the Srirangam Ranganatha temple.

The entire restoration works of this historic Chozha Period temple took about a year to complete and is worth a visit to see the transformation of the Divya Desam to its rich historical glory.

The Samprokshanam took place between 830am and 10am last Sunday (Sept 1) morning.