Thiru Lokki Sheeraabdhi Sayana Narayana Perumal

Unmindful of the finally challenged state, a Priest Family hailing from Innambur has been performing archaka service for the last 100 years at Thiru Lokki

A Temple that is believed to bring together separated couples, Archanai with Vilvam Leaves is a specialty at this temple

Priest and Support Staff have not received Salary for the last five years from the HR&CE - yet another case of 'No Income for the temple - No Salary to the Priest'

Varadaraja Bhattar is 72 years old and is up at the temple early in the morning on the first Puratasi Saturday to carry out the aradhanam at the Pallava period Sheeraabdhi Sayana Narayana Perumal Temple in Thiru Lokki (Trilokki), a historical temple town surrounded by beautiful green fields on all sides. The Lord seen in an anantha sayanam posture is devotionally irresistable and that is what lured his forefathers who belonged to Innambur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/08/ezhuthurai-nathar-temple-innambur.html) to move here over a hundred years ago. They have been performing service at this remote temple ever since.  

Financially Challenged Phase

His father Gopalan Bhattachar had performed service from the time he was a teenager for over six decades till he passed away at the age of 82. The Thirupanandal Mutt, that had adminstered the temple till just over half a century ago, presented one bag of Paddy to Gopalan Bhattachar every month and he ran his big family with that. Varadaraja Bhattar recalls a financially challenged childhood in the 1950s and 60s “Appa supported us (me and my brothers) till SSLC. Throughout my childhood, I would be given one new shirt only once a year. We would use that till the next Deepavali.  We lived a contended a life despite the financial challenges. Appa dedicated his entire life to Sheeraabdhi Narayana Perumal performing aradhanam every day even though there were no devotee crowd at this temple and he was almost all alone at that time performing service.”

Once upon a time, there were beautiful agraharams and also chariot plying Mada Streets in this remote temple town but not anymore. 

HR & CE take over means no salary to the priest

Once the HR&CE took over, things worsened for the temple. There was no oil to light the lamp for several decades. Even the bag of paddy that was handed out earlier to the priest became almost a thing of the past. Currently, Varadaraja Bhattar has not received his monthly salary (paddy) for the last five years but he or his forefathers did not take to this service for financial returns. The support staff too have not got their measure of Paddy for the last five years with the HR & CE citing the lack of income at the temple as the reason for the non payment, though the temple has 14acres of land under its custody. But it is the same story here as well of not recovering the rental income.

The priest and the service personnel see it as the God having given them the opportunity to serve the Lord seen in an Anantha Sayanam posture in their lifetime.

Even today there are minimal public transport facilities available to this historical temple town. When Varadaraja Bhattar was growing up, there were no buses, autos, two wheelers seen in this town. Those who had to make to this temple had to walk 10 kms from Thiru Velliyankudi Divya Desam or about 5kms from Thirupanandal. Even today there are no bus or auto facilities from Thiru Velliyankudi to this temple.

Utsava Deity taken away to Kumbakonam

Varadaraja Bhattar recalls Uriyadi Utsavam and Thirumanjanam on Shravanam star every month being celebrated during his appa’s younger days in addition to the procession on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi. But even those stopped after the takeover by the HR &CE. As with many other remote temples, the utsava processional idol had been taken away years ago and placed in safe custody in Kumbakonam.This has meant that the devotees have not been able to have darshan of the utsavar nor have any processions taken place.

Given almost the poverty stricken life, Varadaraja Bhattar himself could not continue the service and went out in search of jobs and found himself in petty small time jobs in different firms. He did not find a bride till he was 35!!!

Dilapidated State in the late 20th Century

The temple disintegrated in the second half of the 20th Century and was seen in a dilapidated state.  There was no electricity connection and not even ghee lit lamp burned in the Sannidhis. Falling roof and the dark sannidhis meant a threat to Gopalan Bhattachar’s life but he was unmindful of these challenges for his mind was set on performing daily aradhanam to Sheerabdhi Narayana Perumal.

At the turn of the century, with the devotional wave striking temples in Tamil Nadu and the temple almost in a state of ruin, a renovation exercise was undertaken and the temple was saved thanks to the initiatives of the priests.

Now into his early 70s, Varadaraja Bhattar is happy and leads a contended life spending every day of the year performing aradhanam for Sheeraabdhi Sayana Narayana Perumal. He has brought together the devotees from Thiru Lokki and the nearby villages and they now contribute towards oil packets that help light the lamp for the Lord and Thaayar. 

Lakshmi's Penance under the Vilvam Tree

The Legend of the temple goes back to the period of Markandeya Rishi, who directed Goddess Lakshmi, then in conflict with Sriman Narayana, to undertake penance under the Vilvam tree after seeking the blessing of Sundareswarar and Akilandeswari on the Rishabaa Roodar (there is a historical Sundareswarar temple just a few hundred yards North West of this temple). It was then that she came here, had a bath at the sacred Theertham, now referred to as Sheera Theertham and Paarkadal Theertham, and undertook penance under the Vilvam Tree.The Chathurbhujam Lord provided darshan in an Anantha Sayanam East facing posture with Conch and Chakra, the head in the South and feet placed in the Northern direction. Sri Devi, Bhoo Devi and Brahmma too are seen inside the Moolavar Sannidhi in a beautiful stone carved structure. 

A Temple to reunite separated couples

Following her penance and as per her wish, he agreed to have her in his chest ever after and never to separate again. Hence one finds Sheerabdhi Nayaki on the chest of the Moolavar who is seen in a beautiful Sayana Kolam atop the five hooded serpent similar to the posture in Thirupaar Kadal. Sheera Nayaki is seen in a separate sannidhi in the South West corner of the temple. Belief is that those who invoke the blessings of Sheera Nayaki and Sheeraabdhi Narayana Perumal will regain the lost spouse. Presenting milk at this temple is believed to be special. 

Instead of Thirumanjanam for the Moolavar idol, the Lord is anointed with Sambrani Thailakaapu during Vishnupathi Punya Kaalam when the Lord is seen with huge Flower and Tulasi garlands.

Vilvam Archanai

The Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam. The three leaves – Ida Kalai, Pingh Kalai and Sozhi Munai- emerged from the Vilvam Tree for the first time at Thiru Lokki and these turned into Thiruthala Vilvam Trees. A specialty at this temple is that archanai is performed with Vilvam leaves. 

Varadaraja Perumal

There is also a separate sannidhi for Chathurbhuja Varadaraja Perumal at this temple. On Vaikunta Ekadasi and Puratasi Saturdays, there is a Thirumanjanam for Varadaraja Perumal.

There is a sannidhi for Vishnu Durgai who is seen facing the South, which is considered sacred. Tradition has been to present Dhal and Kozhakattai for Garudan and this is followed by the devotees to this day. 

Thryambakeswarar Siddhar came here and was in a yogi posture invoking the blessings of Sheerabdhi Sayana Narayana Perumal and Sheera Nayaki and attained Moksham here.

This is also a temple for liberation from the sins of not performing Pitru Kaaryam. 

The temple is open from 9am to 11.30am and from 5pm to 7.30pm. Contact Varadaraja Bhattar @ 9487031630. Those who want to visit may call him in advance.

How to reach

Thiru Lokki is 5kms South West of Thirupanandal, 10kms East of Thiru Velliyankudi Divya Desam (via Manikudi) and just under 15kms North of Aduthurai. There are infrequent buses from Thirupanandal. Auto service available from Thirupanandal.

When here, also visit the historical Sundareswarar Temple North of this temple and Thiru Velliyankudi Divya Desam