Kuchalava Pureeswarar Temple Koyambedu

Unflinching Devotion of Priest carries the historic Ramayana period temple into the next generation

Sarabeswarar Pooja during Sunday Raahu Kaalam is special at this temple

Invoking the blessings of Kurugaaleeswarar and Dharma Samvardhini Ambal is said to result in family reunion and child birth

Sasikumar Gurukal is well past 40 and is one from the 1970s who continues to perform archaka service at a historical temple whose legend dates back to the Ramayana. Right from his school in the 1980s he assisted his appa Sadasiva Gurukal who himself performed service for over four decades at the Kuchalava Pureeswarar  Kurugaaleeswarar Temple in Koyembadu. He sports a tuft, is always seen in a Veshti and the sacred ash is prominent on his forehead. As has become the trend now, the search for a bride has gone on for two decades but has remained elusive. Undaunted and not allowing the frustration to get to him, he has been committed to continue the service rendered by his forefathers. Not only has he shown the devotion to Kurugaaleeswarar and Dharma Samvardhini Ambal, he also performs extraordinary daily service to his aged 84 year old mother at home cooking in the morning and evening and taking care of all the household chores straddling between the pooja service at the temple and the activities at home.

He recalls his appa narrating the story of how Koyambedu was a remote village in the early decades of his (appa’s) life. “There were only a few bulbs inside the temple. There were no tall buildings or tar roads like we see today. Devotees were few and far between, mostly restricted to those residing around the temple. It was financially challenging times in those decades.”

Service at monthly salary of Rs. 22/-

Sadasiva Gurukal had served at the temple at a monthly salary of Rs. 22. After several decades of service, he retired at a salary of Rs. 600!!!

Revival of Brahmotsavam

For decades the Brahmotsavam had been stopped. The Dwajasthambam too had been damaged in the later half of the previous century. Aadi Pooram and Vaikasi Amavasya were the two big annual events in the temple in those decades. It was the only the devotional wave that began in the 1990s and continued into the first two decades of this century that revived the fortunes of the temple. The Kumbabhisekam of 2000 saw the restoration of the Dwajasthambam and the succeeding consecration in 2012 saw the construction of a seven tier Raja Gopuram from the three tier Gopuram that existed earlier. The Chitrai Brahmotsavam too was revived. 

Following his school education, Sasikumar Gurukal was initiated into Saiva Agamas first under the tutorship of KA Sabarathna Shivachariar of Chenna Malleeswarar temple, Parrys and then under Kapali Vaidhyanathan of Kapaleeswarar Temple. Later he also was initiated into Shiva Gnana Botham and Saiva Siddantham by V Somasekara Shivachariar of Shiva Agama Vidya Peetam.

Committed Archaka Service

Despite the challenges relating to finding a bride, Sasikumar Gurukal decided very early on against removing the tuft and getting into a corporate job. He was clear that he wanted to continue the temple service at least for another generation and has now stuck to archaka service for close to two decades, after having assisted his appa informally during the first two decades of his life. 

He was the one who anchored the revival of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam (Theerthavari on Pournami) with street processions of Kuchalavapureeswarar on different vahanas around the four big streets around the temple. 

He officially took over as the chief priest in 2004 and for the next 15years the Rahu Kaalam Pooja for Sarabeswarar every Sunday evening and the two Pradoshams in the month were the 6 days that helped in the financial survival of the priests. 

While the service was going in the right direction till 2019, the Pandemic of 2020 has been a big setback for Sasikumar Gurukal. For long periods the temple has been under lockdown. The street processions have been off for a major part of the last 18months. The Brahmotsavam both in 2020 and this year were conducted as a simple event inside the temple with no vahana street processions. The restriction on devotees’ entry into the temple on Friday and over the weekend has meant that the Sarabeswarar pooja on Sunday evening has been off taking away an important component of archaka’s income in the month.

However, Sasikumar Gurukal’s mind is far away from the financial implications of devotees staying away from the temple. While he is unsure of what is likely to happen after his lifetime, he is determined to continue to serve at the Kurugaleeswarar Temple for as long as he can in as sincere a way as possible.

His younger brother, Vijayakumar Gurukal, too has joined him in temple service and both take care of this large temple assisted by a couple of others.

                 Sage Valmiki, Lava-Kucha at Vaikunta Vaasal Perumal Temple

It was here that Lava and Kucha spent their early childhood along with Sita under the guidance of Sage Valmiki who taught them all the skills. In memory of this, one finds a stone carving of them along with Valmiki at the Vaikunta Vaasal Perumal temple adjacent to the Kurugaleeswarar temple.

When Kulothunga II reached this place, his chariot wheel got stuck and did not move further. When he got down, he found, much to his surprise, a Shiva Lingam beneath the earth.

Special Features of the Temple

Kuchalavapureeswarar is seen in a North Facing direction towards Ayodhya as is Dharma Samvardhini Ambal, in a Thirumana Kolam. Hence this is referred to as Veera Badra Kshetram. Durga is seen in a West Facing posture (she is usually North facing in all temples) while Dakshinamurthy is South facing. 

There is a separate sannidhi for Somaskandar in the Raja Mandapam with a separate Vimanam. Arunagirinathar referred to this place as Kosai Nagar in his praise in Thirupugazh. The temple follows Kaamika Agama model of pooja.

This is a special temple for family reunion and child birth.

The temple is over a thousand years old but today its survival is largely due to the commitment of Sasikumar Gurukal who has promised to dedicate his entire life to the service of the Lord and Ambal at this historic location. Financial returns are not high and there is no family life as well being one with a tuft but what is there is the devotional inclination to serve the Lord and to continue his forefather's hereditary service. There are not too many to appreciate the contribution of those like Sasikumar Gurukal but he is undettered. He shuns publicity and refuses to be photoshot for all he cares for in this life is dedicated daily service to Kuchalava Pureeswarar.

The temple is open from 6.30am to 12noon and from 4.30pm to 8.30pm..