No Full Time Priest, Restoration Efforts have hit a roadblock, All Utsavams have been stopped
Raja Gopuram sports a worn out look with the last renovation having taken place in 1939
The centuries old HR & CE administered Abhimana
Sthalam at Sundara Perumal Koil, where Sundara Raja Perumal is seen in a
handsome standing posture, has been in a discarded state for many years. Long
time residents of the town who had seen Grand Utsavams in the decades gone by
say that the last Samprokshanam was performed 80 years ago in 1939.
Long Serving Priest
Sundararaja Bhattar had served at the temple as the
priest for 50 years from the early 1960s. For decades, he was paid a salary of
just Rs. 300 which at the time of his death in 2014 had gone up to Rs. 1200 per
month. That salary too remained unpaid for several months on the grounds of
lack of income from the temple. Sundararaja Bhattar served at the temple with
great devotional commitment even in the decades when there was no power
connection in his house and when Rs. 200 was deducted from his salary as house
rent.
Once Vibrant Utsavams
In the decade that Sundararaja Bhattar joined the temple, the agraharam
was vibrant. Festivals were a regular feature including Garuda Sevai on Tamil
New Year’s day.
There were also processions on the occasion of Krishna Jayanthi
and on the Kanu day in Thai. 10 day Navarathri Festival too was celebrated in a
grand way with Horse Vahana Procession on Vijayadasami. There was a four kalam
pooja every day with sacred food presentations to the Lord that included Curd
rice, Sundal and Sweet Pongal. In the outer prakara was a huge Nandavanam that
was filled with different varieties of Jasmine trees. The Lord and Thayar were
draped with beautiful garlands especially on festive occasions.
Current Scenario
Since the passing away of the long serving priest, the
temple has seen a drastic deterioration with all the utsavams coming to a halt,
with the utsava deities having been moved to ‘safe custody’ in Kumbakonam.
Balalayam had been performed 7 years ago and repair works began. However, it
came to an abrupt halt with only a couple of Vimanams and the outer walls being
painted. The Raja Gopuram at the Eastern Entrance wears an old worn out look,
having not been painted for 80 years. The Nandavanam that also had mango and
coconut trees is almost non-existent now.
With the salary being at an abysmally low level, the
descendants of Sundararaja Bhattar were not keen on continuing the services at
the temple. For the last seven years, Kalyanasundaram, a Saivite has been
performing a onetime pooja every day initially starting off with a salary of
just Rs. 1000 a month. This has since been increased to Rs. 1500. The security
is paid a salary of just Rs. 900 per month. Asks Kalyanasundaram, “How can one
run a family with a salary of just over Rs. 1000. Expenses are mounting but the
salary is just too low for a priest here.” He comes once a day for about an hour or so.
Madapalli Shut, No Theertham,Thaligai
There is darkness inside the temple with the old
electrical wiring not having been upgraded for several decades. The Vahanas are
in dilapidated condition and need to be repaired. For the last 7 years, there
have not been any processions at the temple. The temple well is dirty and needs
to be refurbished. With no water available at the temple, the madapalli has
remained shut with the Lord not having been fed for many years. With the well
in an unusable state, there is no ‘Theertham’ to perform the daily poojas.
It is hoped that the HR & CE will take immediate
steps to restore the temple to its ancient glory. Devotees also hoping that the
HR & CE will pay a fair salary in line to the priest and the security. A
cook has to be appointed for the madapalli. Vahanams have to be repaired and the historical utsavams revived. But for this to happen the HR
& CE has to take steps towards performing the Samprokshanam that has been
pending for a long time.
How to reach
Sundara Perumal Koil is located 10kms West of
Kumbakonam on the Thanjavur Highway near Papanasam. Buses between Kumbakonam
and Thanjavur stop near the railway level crossing at Sundara Perumal Koil.
Passenger Trains stop at Sundara Perumal Koil Railway Station. The temple is about half a km from the Railway station / Gate.
When here, visit Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/05/kalinga-narthana-temple-oothukadu.html) is just over
10kms from here.
The Scenario a few decades
ago
Garuda Sevai on Tamil New Year
Horse Vahana on Vijayadasami
Grand Navarathri Utsavam
Daily Food presentations to the Lord
Restoration Needs
Repairs to the Vahanams
Introduce New Electrical System
Refurbish the Temple Well
Paint the Raja Gopuram
Recreate the Nandavanam by planting sacred
saplings
Appoint Full time priest and cook at a fair
salary
Bring the Utsava Idol back to the temple/ Revive the Utsavams
Bring the Utsava Idol back to the temple/ Revive the Utsavams
4 comments:
its really pathetic to see the state of the sannidhi..can we get the archaka number and temple timings sir..so that we shall try to pay a visit and have perumal darshan...also from kumbakonam is it accessible or from mayavaram
Regards
Ranga
its very pathetic to see the condition of perumal..can we get the archaka phone number also the timing of the temple..we shall plan to pay a visit..also is it accessible from mayavaram?
regards
Ranga
Mei Kavalar is available in the first house opposite the temple. They will open the temple. They will also call the priest, who resides near the temple.
Prabhu
Last week we group of tourists visited the temple and felt very bad after seeing the pathetic condition of the beautiful temple. Trust concerned authorities do the needful to restore the glory of the temple
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