Temple Priests Next Gen Mismatch Societal Impact

Temple Priests sending their daughters to Engineering Colleges and sons to Agama Patshalas is creating a severe mismatch and will hurt our society big time in the coming decades

If corrective steps are not taken now, it is likely that the Patshala bred boys in the next gen will not find acceptance among the next gen corporate girls even from traditional temple households

         One of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams

A trend has been emerging in the temple circles in Tamil Nadu in recent years which is likely to have a  massive societal impact in the coming decades. Almost without fail, the female descendants of the priests have been getting into Engineering colleges while a good number (though not in large percentage) of the male descendants of the priests have joined the agama patashalas for initiation into traditional pooja processes.

With the trend unfolding, the female descendants after four years of professional degree have been getting into corporates including many taking the overseas offers.  As contrasted with the above, the boy after completing 8-12 years of Patshala education joins his father in continuing the hereditary archaka service in a remote temple location

It has emerged that almost none of daughters of the archakas are agreeing to marry a boy from the traditional archaka household for they are now well settled in the corporate world. 

2021-22: Daughter heads Madras Engg College, Son to Remote Agama Patshala

This academic year, a priest from a famous Saivite Saint Poet praised temple location in a bid to fulfil the academic wishes of his daughter searched across the state and finally managed to find a seat in a private engineering college in Madras. His son not yet into his teens has discontinued his school education and moved into 8 year agama patshala education in a remote location.

                      

In the last couple of years, a priest with over four decades of service in a Paadal Petra Sthalam (one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalam) approached a priest of his age in one of the most famous Saivite temples in Tamil Nadu asking for the hand of the latter’s daughter for his son. This was summarily rejected by the girl’s priest father. 

One of a kind - Pazhur Patshala's Neelakanta Sastrigal

Five years ago, Neelakantan Sastrigal who quit a high paying patshala in Madras to move to Pazhur on the western outskirts of Trichy to restore the Patshala that was lying in a dilapidated condition told this writer that he would lead his two daughters in the traditional path and hand them to a traditional household. That is a big step in the right direction but Neelakantan is a rare exception in every aspect of life(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/pazhur-patshala-revival.html).

Despite being fully aware of the likely mismatch and the negative impact for their own sons, the priests of many historical temples have over the last few years taken the step to send their daughters into Engineering Colleges. While we are just beginning to see the trend of priests’ daughters exploring the corporate path in their lives and consequently rejecting boys from a temple background, an environment that they had grown up with during the first 17years of their lives. 

In light of this scenario, the male descendants too have in recent times been pursuing academics and the engineering path to overseas jobs. 

But for those male descendants who are pursuing patshala education, it is likely that even the daughters of the traditional priests will give them a pass when it comes to marriage.

If a large percentage of the daughters of priests in historical temple locations make the move this decade into engineering colleges, it is likely that by the turn of the next decade the sons of the priests, if they take to agama education and join the hereditary temple service, will have little hope of finding a bride. Some of the priests in remote temples in TN have in recent times gone searching for bride in other states including in the temple towns of Karnataka and the North.

There is an increasing trend towards daughters of priests getting into corporates and sons continuing the hereditary temple service.

As yet another service to the society and in the interest of their own sons, it would make sense for all the priests in Divya Desams and Paadal Petra Sthalams to send their daughters into traditional education say Sanskrit, Art and Crafts, Vaishnavite and Saivite Courses. That way the women from the next gen of the priests’ family can stay back in temple locations and their hand given to the next gen priest.

Else, it is likely that most of the next gen priests will remain unmarried in the decades that follow.

Ayyur Varadaraja Perumal Temple Restoration

The dilapidated temple is set for a complete restoration exercise

Maha Mandapam, Madapalli and Outer Walls set to be rebuilt - Balalayam fixed for March 13 on Maasi Punarvasu

Will the Priest's salary be increased from Rs. 100 after the Consecration?

Following a story in this section in the first week of October last year on the dilapidated state of the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Ayyur, near Katchanam (Tiruvarur) and the subsequent tweet of the story by TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) directed at the HR & CE Minister and the Commissioner, the HR & CE department has acted swiftly in taking steps towards restoration of the temple.

Pending Salary paid

Within weeks of Ramesh’s tweet, the four year salary of the priest Sowri Rajan Bhattar that had been pending was paid in full. The debris that had accumulated over a long period of time was removed from the Maha Mandapam. Later a bull dozer was brought in to remove the bushes around the prakara and to flatten the pathway. 

This week the HR & CE has approved a full fledged restoration exercise and fixed the Balalayam date for March 13. The restoration exercise is likely to be taken up by a devotee donor from Chennai and is estimated at around Rs. 1crore. HR & CE has directed the donor to complete the entire exercise within three months from the date of the Balalayam.

The devotee is roping in Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur Divya Desam 

(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/therazhundur-vasan-bhattar.html) to perform the rituals relating to the Balalayam.

Once upon a time in the not too distant past there was a big sized Granary where Paddy was stored and measured. There was also a fully functional Madapalli to the South of the Raja Gopuram. Service Personnel including paricharakars were active at this temple. There was a huge Nandavanam in the outer prakara but with the lack of attention it had turned into a mini forest. In fact shortly after this story had featured in September, Sowri Rajan Bhattar had a huge snake next to him when he entered the temple. The devotees who had gathered at that time directed it away from the temple. 

The temple has been in a dilapidated state with Thiru Kottaram and Madapalli almost unrecognisable with fallen roofs and walls. The restoration will include building the outer walls on all the four sides, reconstructing the madapalli, rebuilding the Maha Mandapam from scratch and bringing back the huge granary to shape.

One will have to wait and watch as to what will happen to the dilapidated Raja Gopuram – if it will be brought down and reconstructed from scratch or if there will be a restoration of the existing structure.

Since October, devotees have made contributions towards oil to light the lamp every day at the sannidhi and to present Thaligai to the Lord. Some of the important days in the month such as Shravanam have also seen renewed sacred activities with Thirumanjanam being performed. Former corporate staffer SV Badri ( father in law of cricketer Abhinav Mukund) of Bombay also organised mega support bringing together devotees from across the Country.

Father and Son have performed archaka service at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Ayyur for six decades at a salary that has not topped Rs. 100 

               Rajagopalan Bhattar

86 year old D. Rajagopalan Bhattar, appa of the current Bhattar, who had performed service for over four decades cycling 7kms twice a day from Pinna Vaasal, had told this writer in October last that he wanted to see the  consecration of the restored Temple before he attained Moksham.  There was a 5 veli land belonging to the temple and the festivals and daily poojas were managed out of the income accruing from the temple land. Hereditary Trustee Pankaja Ammal took care of the temple management. “Utsavams were celebrated in a grand way, devotees came in from the agraharam for darshan and processions of Varadaraja Perumal around the four streets were well supported by the devotees. The hereditary trustee of the time well over 50 years ago ran the temple well.” 

While he is now enduring a poor eyesight, he expressed delight on hearing that a restoration exercise was taking place at the temple where he had performed service with such great commitment for several decades.

It is hoped that as part of the restoration exercise Sowri Rajan Bhattar’s salary will be increased from the current Rs. 100 per month. It is also hoped that with the consecration of the temple the once grand Brahmotsavam and Garuda Sevai on Vaikunta Ekadasi will be revived.  

Ayyur is 3kms South East of Katchanam off the Thiruvarur- Thithuraipoondi Highway. Regular buses ply every half hour between Thiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi. 

October 2021 story : https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/pinna-vaasal-sowri-rajan-bhattar.html

Thiru Kudanthai Soundar Bhattar

Chellappa Bhattar's Son Transforms Ramaswamy Koil - Brings back Grandeur to the Annual Utsavams

For over a decade, he has been Velukkudi Krishnan’s favourite  ‘Alankaram’ Bhattar on his national devotional trips

Contentment and Devotional Commitment a distinguishing feature of Soundar Bhattar's Kainkaryam at Thiru Kudanthai

The 1970s was a terrible decade for priests in Tamil Nadu temples. 1960s-80s marked the phase when original inhabitants moved from their hereditary locations to larger cities in search of greener pastures. For the priests who stayed back in the temples where their forefathers had performed archaka service, it was one of the most challenging phases. Devotees moved away from temples, Utsavams came to a halt and the priests were left waiting at the entrance of the Sannidhi for that elusive devotee. In the backdrop of this, with the financial scenario having turned sour, many among the priests sent their next generation into academics and a life away from temples. 

Sarangapani Koil’s Soundarrajan Bhattar, now 52, is one who belonged to the generation that was born in that phase. Interestingly, very early on his school life, he chose a life dedicated to archaka service despite having spent his entire childhood in a hut house on Iyengar Street behind the Ramaswamy Temple. Throughout the first 15years of his life, there had been no fan at home.  On most days, he only ate temple prasadam. On non festival days, Chellappa Bhattar would rarely get any Thattu Kaasu. However, despite the severe financial challenges of the time, Soundar Bhattar decided very early on that he would not move away from the hereditary service at the temple.  

Devotionally attached to Sarangapani from a young age

His grandfather Lakshmana Bhattachar had served at the temple as archaka for almost four decades from the 1930s. In the decades that he performed archaka service, there was a vibrant agraharam right opposite the Eastern Entrance with about 30 traditional families residing there. There were 200 scholars presenting Veda Parayanam and Divya Prabhandham recital on big festive occasions. Villagers walked from distant locations to be present for the big chariot festival. Leading into Thiru Kudanthai, one found greenery all around. He was also the Sthaanegam at the Ramaswamy Temple.

            Lakshmana Bhattachar

Chellappa Bhattar - A respected Priest in the 1960s/70s

From the time he was a five year old boy, he accompanied his appa, L Srinivasa Bhattar (Chellappa Bhattar), to the temple. Chellappa Bhattar performed service for three decades. In those decades over half a century ago, the temple comprised of 5 trustees - 3 Vadakalai, 1 Madhwa and 1 Konar- and they managed the Utsavams well during those decades. There were 16 Sri Patham Thangis who committed themselves to carrying the Lord on their shoulders on all the utsavams including the big Vahana processions during Brahmotsavam. During the early phase of Chellappa Bhattar, the Ghosti and Vedic scholars were in such large numbers that he often ended up with a swollen hand as he had to place the Shatari on 200 heads in a most traditional way on multiple occasions each day during these festivals. Back then, it was not like the current period when Bhattars rush through the Shatari process in a matter of minutes almost as an exercise to complete and the shatari process itself would take a long time.

      Srinivasa (Chellappa) Bhattar

Early Devotional Bonding with Lord Aaravamudhan

Even while he was studying at the Town High School in the 1970s, Soundar Bhattar's mind was ever focused on Aaravamudhan and he would often make his way to the temple in morning and evening to support his appa in the Kainkaryam.  Soundar’s elder brother Sudarshan (who passed away a decade ago in the flight tragedy at Salagramam) completed his collegiate education but not for him pursuing academics and a corporate job. He quit school before he was into his mid teens and moved to Guindy, Madras to be initiated in the Pancharatra Agama by the revered Mannargudi Yagnam Ramaswamy Deekshithar (Sona Deekshithar) later renowned for writing a letter to the then CM of TN MG Ramachandran to alter the date of the Raja Gopuram Samprokshanam in Srirangam in the 1980s.

Intensive coaching under Sona Deekshithar

For three years in the early 1980s, he spent every single day with Sona Deekshithar, who was then performing archaka service at the Ramaswamy temple in Guindy. Alongside agama initiation, he also gained invaluable practical experience at this temple. Unfortunately, Soundarrajan’s appa passed away while he was still a young boy suffering a heart attack and collapsing while in service at the Chakrapani temple in Kumbakonam. It was massive setback for Soundarrajan  and he returned to Thiru Kudanthai where he spent the next few years learning Agamas and Alankaram under Brahmma Koil Kannan Bhattar and the Vedas at the Raja Veda Patshala. The renowned Raghunatha Sharma, then 70, was an acharya at the Patshala and he took a special liking for the young Soundarrajan. Every day Soundar Bhattar would go there at 3pm and be initiated into Kaavyam and Sastras. "I consider it a great blessing to have learnt under the mentorship of Raghunatha Sharma."

He also learned the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham and Sastras under the guidance of Srivilliputhur Aravamudhan Iyengar.

In this mentally challenging phase for Soundar Bhattar, it was grandfather (amma’s appa), a priest at the Saranathan temple in Thiru Cherai Divya Desam, who served as the mentor “My patti would be with me almost every day and played a great supportive role” says Soundar Bhattar of his tough times in the 1980s.

At the Andavan Ashramam, Dombivili

A Brahmachari could not perform service at the Sarangapani temple and hence he could not immediately take over there following the death of his appa. After completion of his agama and vedic education, he was roped in by Patrachar (Theerthakar of the Sarangapani Koil) who was then the Chief Priest at the Andavan Ashramam, Dombivili and Soundarrajan Bhattar moved to Bombay to perform archaka service there.  While it was a great experience there and financially self fulfilling as well, his mind was on continuing the service that his forefathers had performed at the Sarangapani Koil.

Soundar with Patrachar, former Chief Priest, Andavan Ashram, Dombivili

Back to Thiru Kudanthai for lifelong service 

Following his wedding, he moved back to Kumbakonam in the late 1990s. After obtaining Deekshai from the revered Seshadri Bhattachar of Parthanpalli Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/10/parthanpalli-nangur-divya-desam.html), he joined the Sarangapani Koil just under 25years ago. The 1990s had been a tumultuous period at the Sarangapani Koil. Following the Balalayam, there was a dispute relating to the renovation exercise and for a large part of that decade there were no processional utsavams at the temple. Coincidentally, the utsavams returned only after Soundarrajan Bhattar joined the Sarangapani Koil to continue the hereditary service.

Alankaram Specialist

Even as a teenager, he had taken to special interest in decorating the Lord and his alankarams have always had a differentiated feel. Velukkudi Krishnan, who visited Divya Desams at the turn of the century, was so impressed with the alankaram for Sarangapani, that he made Soundarrajan Bhattar as his Asthana Alankaram archakar during his devotional trips across the country. Soundar Bhattar recalls with devotional delight his experiences "When he has narrated Divya Desam stories on his long trips, I decorated the Lord on that day in the way that specific Divya Desam Lord would look so devotees are able to relate to the tale narrated by Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy.”

Over the last decade, Soundarrajan Bhattar has made several trips to Ayodhya and Brindavan accompanying Velukkudi Krishnan as the alankaram specialist. The devotional engagement with God has led to several opportunities for him. Krishnapremi Anna, who has a special liking for Aaravamudhan, has used Soundar Bhattar as the anchor at many temple consecrations. So has Velukkudi Krishnan. 

Devotional Archanai Presentation

In October last year, Paravakottai Chinna Andavan Swamy of Poundareekapuram Ashram was completely moved by Soundar Bhattar's archanai presentation at the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi on the occasion of the birthday celebrations of the Vaishnavite Acharya that lasted almost ten minutes, such is his devotion. Every time he stands at the feet of Lord Aaravamudhan, he takes the devotees back in time to the period of Thiru Mazhisai Azhvaar and his experience at this temple presenting his paasurams on Thiru Kudanthai Lord and explaining the significance of the sleeping posture.

Transforms Ramaswamy Koil

The historical Velli door at the Sarangapani Koil had remained in a broken state. It was Soundar Bhattar who organised the restoration of the door  through Chaturvedi  Swami who he says is one of the few people who he has seen converse fully in Sanskrit. Alongside his hereditary role at the Sarangapani Temple, Soundarrajan Bhattar also took charge of the Ramaswamy Temple in Thiru Kudanthai and has anchored all the prominent utsavams at that temple in the last two decades. While like Sarangapani Koil, the Ramaswamy Koil too is administered by the HR & CE. However, it is Soundar Bhattar who has almost single handedly managed all the utsavams there.

If Utsavams such as the 10 day Rama Navami and Navarathri have transformed into Grand events at the Ramaswamy temple, almost the entire credit goes to Soundar Bhattar. During the 10day Rama Navami, he has carved a niche for himself with an alankaram each day based on a story from the Ramayana. Devotees have gathered in large numbers just to look at the ‘Alankaram of the Day’.

Contented Selfless Service

The tireless nature of his service has kept the archakas together as a well knit unit in Thiru Kudanthai, all of whom look up to him for guidance. This week on Thursday on the occasion of the Theppotsavam at the Sarangapani Temple, he was with the Lord for almost 18 hours without a break. 

Soundar Bhattar is a contented man today and happy at the way the last 25years has gone for him. He says that God has given him everything that he could have asked for. Soundar Bhattar lived in a hut house without a fan during the first 15years of his life and it would have been understandable had he moved away from Thiru Kudanthai given the financially challenges that his family had undergone in the 70s and 80s but the devotional attachment right from his childhood kept him tied for life to Sarangapani Perumal. In his almost 25 years of full fledged service at Thiru Kudanthai, Soundar Bhattar has never sought financial glory instead focusing all his attention on archanai and alankaram. He has also made it a practice to perform Japam when ever time permits. Every time a devotee praises him for his archanai or alankaram, he fondly remembers the teachings of his mentors - Sona Deekshithar and Raghunatha Sharma.

His selfless service, the rendition of the archanai and a special liking for alankaram has created a strong bonding with the devotees over the last two decades. He has already initiated his son into the traditional learning process and the 14year old is currently learning the Vedas at the Raja Patshala in Kumbakonam.  Soundar Bhattar's message to his son is clear "You have to continue the hereditary service at Sarangapani Koil where our forefathers have been performing Kainkaryam for generations." 

That's real good news for the three historic temples in Thiru Kudanthai.

Thiru Kudanthai Maasi Magam Utsavam

It was an eventful day at three Perumal temples on the occasion of Maasi Magam

Grandeur back at Sarangapani Koil Theppam

It is just past 5am on Thursday (Feb 17). Chakrapani Perumal has already made his way to the East end of the Raja Gopuram and mounted atop the decorated Chariot. Following the Horse Vahana procession that went late into Wednesday night, the priests spent a couple of hours well past mid night decorating the Lord for the Chariot Procession as part of the 10 day Maasi utsavam at the Chakrapani temple in Kumbakonam. Kannan Bhattar and his son Sathyavasan, who has joined the temple recently after Patshala education, welcomed the early morning devotees to the Chariot.

A few hundred yards west of the Chakrapani temple, hereditary priest Kumar Bhattar, who also takes care of the Parthanpalli Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/10/parthanpalli-nangur-divya-desam.html) in Thiru Nangur and his son in law Baradwaj Deekshithar are performing the formalities ahead of the Theerthavari utsavam at the Aathi Varaha Perumal temple. 

At the Sarangapani Koil, Soundarrajan Bhattar after visiting Chakrapani Perumal atop the Chariot just after 5.30am, is decorating the Lord at the Mandapam North of the Sanctum for the final day of the Theppotsavam, one on which Sarangopani Perumal is inside the Potramarai tank, west of the temple, for almost 12hours, a unique feature for a Divya Desam. 

Back at the East Street of the Chakrapani Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/02/kudanthai-chakrapani-koil.html), devotees stream into a final glimpse of the beautifully decorated Chakrapani before the Chariot begins its two trip around the four street just after 8.30am. Several hundreds of devotees have lined up to pull the chariot with the announcer atop the chariot making period announcements on the protocol for the procession and guiding the devotees as they pull the chariot on to the South Street. 

                            Chakrapani Ther

Sarangapani to the Theppam to Koil Periya Thirumozhi Verses

Following the presentation of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Vadinen Vaadi Paasuram, Sarangapani Perumal made his way through the towering Eastern Raja Gopuram for his street procession. Only a handful of devotees were in for the start of the procession. By the time, Sarangapani, led by the Prabhandham members’ recital of Koil Thirumozhi verses, made his way to the entrance of the Theppam just after 10.30am, there were a few more devotees to welcome him but not enough and there were murmurs on whether there would be a good crowd for the Theppam in the evening.

Kumbeswarar on a procession to the Maha Magam

It is a big day for devotees in Thiru Kudanthai with Saivite Lords from over 15 temples making their way to the Maha Magam Kulam for Maasi Magam Utsavam. There were traffic diversions around the popular kulam. While the initial word had been that the devotees would not be allowed entry into the tank for the sacred bath, they were finally allowed much to their delight as several thousands of them witnessed the processions of Saivite Lords from across the temple town.

Just after 11am, with Sarangapani in the float, at the South end, Kumbeswarar made his way to the Maha Magam Kulam. A few devotees moved out making their way for a darshan of the Theerthavari at Aathi Varaha Perumal(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/aathi-varaha-perumal-kumbakonam.html). There were also those who were keen on a darshan of Chakrapani at the Chariot.

                   Aathi Varaha Perumal

After an hour of the float, Sarangapani Perumal took to the Neeraatam Mandapam with Soundarrajan Bhattar presenting Kadamba Saatham and Dhadhyonam to the Lord just after 1pm. If one thought he would return home for a well earned rest on a day that had begun for at 5.30am, he had a different role to play in the next few hours. 

It is the duty of the Bhattar of the day to take care of Perumal inside the Neerattam Mandapam. This Magam day, each year, there is the Chariot festival at Chakrapani temple and Theerthavari at Aathi Varaha Perumal. Also, with the Magam Utsavam at Maha Magam Kulam, each of the Perumal Sannidhis are usually crowded on this day and hence no substitutes are available for the Bhattar. 

                       Chakrapani Perumal

Soundarrajan Bhattar's day out at the Theppam

Having started out at 5.30am, Soundarrajan Bhattar continued to remain all alone inside the Neerattam Mandapam through the 2nd half of the day while all the devotees and other service personnel had left after the morning session. And then after 4pm, he began another hour long Alankaram of Sarangapani for the evening Theppam. At 6pm, the Prabhandham members gathered at the Mandapam and as the screen unveiled, they began their presentation of Thiru Kurunthandakam and Thiru  Nedunthaandakam.

Devotee Crowd back again at Temple Fest

While there was minimal crowd in the morning for the traditional one round on the float, the evening crowd took everyone by surprise. Devotees were allowed into the float for a closer darshan of Sarangapani and several hundreds of them queued up for this at 8pm taking the float managers by surprise. For over an hour, the devotees took turns to have darshan and the float did not start on the first of the three rounds till after 9pm on Thursday.

After the unlocking of the temple festival restrictions, it was the first big day of devotee crowd at Sarangapani Koil utsavam. Clock had ticked past 10pm and devotees streamed into the float, unabated. This time for the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the float devotees were allowed to remain inside the float and it was packed with people on all four sides. Soundarrajan Bhattar was kept on his toes presenting prasadam to all the devotees who entered the float.

For those that stayed through the evening, prasadam comprising of Puliyotharai and Dhadhyonam was presented at the Andavan Ashram.

Saivite Lords meet with Sarangapani

On the second round of the float, the Saivite Lords who were making their return trip from the Maha Magam met with Sarangapani with them providing a joint face to face darshan. Devotees were delighted to have darshan of the exchange of garlands between the Saivite Lords from the Kumbesawarar South Street and the Sarangapani inside the Theppam.

The presentation of devotional songs for over 3 hours by the Nagaswaram troupe was much appreciated by the devotees who finally at 11pm made their way out of the temple tank.

A Team Photo - One for the Album

The day was not yet done though for Soundarrajan Bhattar as formalities remained for him. He presented flowers to the float personnel who had worked tirelessly through the day in helping manage a smooth sail. In a great gesture, Soundarrajan Bhattar brought all the priests, many of them from the next gen, who worked along with him through the five days of the Theppotsavam for a photo shoot inside the theppam making it one for the album.

A unique through the day presence at Potramarai Kulam

Unlike most other Divya Desams where the Theppam takes place only in the evening, Sarangapani Perumal stays within the Potramarai Kulam through the day for almost 12hours on the occasion of the Theppotsavam with one round in the float in the morning and three rounds late in the evening. It was almost 11.30pm when Sarangapani began, led by the Prabhandham members in the front and the Vedic recital at the back, his return trip to his abode through the TSR Big Street (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/tsr-co-legendary-enterpreneur_19.html). After the Prabhandham members completed their recital as the clocked ticked past midnight, it took another hour for Soundarrajan Bhattar and his team to finish their kainkaryam  and return home bringing to end the five day Theppotsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai!!! It had been a great team effort on the day and the contribution of the next gen, most of them having joined after completing the Patshala studies, was particularly commendable and augurs well for this historical Divya Desam.

Rajesh Kannan Ranji Debut

His State ambitions remained unfulfilled as a player but he is now set for a long second innings in Cricket

In the mid 90s, after a terrific start to the 1st division league season, Rajesh Kannan was on the verge of a debut in the Buchi Babu and had nourished dreams of making it to the Ranji squad but his name was knocked out at the last moment. Just over 25 years later, he is set to make his Ranji debut in his second innings in cricket later next week.  Over the fortnight, he is likely to umpire three Ranji matches in the group phase including at the Eden Gardens, Calcutta. It is a great recovery of sorts mentally for him after having gone through a tumultuous phase in the last two years. 

Rajesh kannan had slogged for over two decades first as a player and then as a manager of the Bank’s team. Later when he took to umpiring and began officiating in lower division league matches, he would get back to his branch at the end of a long day on the cricket field to complete his bank work for the day though he was on leave that day. That was his commitment to the bank. 

The passion that existed while playing continued once he took to umpiring. His love for the game once again took over and with great sadness he called it a day at the Bank. This writer was also present at his farewell function (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/bcci-umpire-quits-iob-after-25years.html). 

But as luck would have within six months of him quitting the bank, the Pandemic struck and he had to make do with long walks with this writer at the Nageswara Rao Park (the above photo was taken during one of those walks). For the best part of two years, most of the age group matches had been cancelled leaving Rajesh Kannan wondering often in his terrace about his decision to quit the bank. He was literally counting the stars.

However for a man who had always placed his employer above everything else and the kind of feedback he received from the customers of the bank over a long period of time, good luck had to come back. And his patience and perseverence has been rewarded this February with the call from the BCCI and the posting for the league phase of this year’s Ranji matches. 

A couple of years back he had moved into the top  80 in the BCCI list of umpires and after a clean chit in the few matches he did in 2020-21, his performances warranted a move further up on that list leading to this Ranji call.

Though he cherished dreams of playing for the state, he had to be contented with match winning performances for the bank in a phase when they won the Palayampatti shield and were strong contenders in the one day format. 

He need not any longer rue his decision to quit the bank and wonder if it was an (in) appropriate call. Rajesh Kannan continued to dream big in cricket and the call to officiate in the Ranji Trophy is the first big moment in his umpiring career. If the commitment that he showed as a player for IOB over a long two decades period is any indication, it is likely that he (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/06/rajesh-kannan-bcci-board-umpire.html)will go up the ladder in his umpiring career. 

Rajesh Kannan has come up the hard way slogging his way to the top. His graduation to the Ranji Panel is a reward for his commitment to cricket over the last thirty years.

This section will track his performance this Ranji season.

Tiruvannamalai Veda Vidya Patshala

Hari Kumar Ganapadigal has taken to Veda Parayanam and service at the feet of Arunachaleswarar as his way of life

He is now initiating 17 students from across the Country into Vedic Education through the Gurukulam Model in Tiruvannamalai

As a young school boy in the 1980s he watched the Veda Parayanam presented by renowned scholars on the occasion of the Karthigai Brahmotsavam at the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. The decade saw traditionalists moving away from their hereditary locations as well as the traditional services rendered by those from his forefathers’ generation being dispensed with in ancient temples. His two elder brothers pursued academics and went their own way - one to the Corporate World in Madras and the other as a research scholar in Chemistry. But this young boy not yet 10 was so devotionally inspired by the vedic chanting during those ten days each year that he took the call even before he entered his teens that service at the feet of Arunachaleswarar would be his way of life. 

S Hari Kumar was proficient in academics and earned a distinction in Class X. His amma was keen that he pursue academics and move into a life like his elder brothers into the corporate world especially given that the decades of the 1970s and 80s had seen a sweeping move away from devotion.  A century ago, his great grandfather Arunachala Sastrigal had performed daily parayanam offering the vedic presentation as his one kaalam kainkaryam each day at the temple. He used to feed visiting devotees. Satsung during utsavams was also a regular feature in the first half of the previous century. For close to 150 years, there had been Veda parayanam on the Ayyankulam Agraharam during the Karthigai Brahmotsavam.  That was the biggest early inspiration for Hari Kumar as a school boy. His appa Subramanian, who worked in the Court, took him during those 10 days to listen to the parayanam. The top notch scholars from TN were present on the occasion. He listened with great interest and that created an everlasting feeling in him. The vidwans were already into the 80s and the next generation was missing for they were all on their way to a life in the city. 

The late Nannilam Brahmashri Rajagopala Ganapadigal (who passed away all of a sudden a couple of years back) was a great source of motivation for the young Hari Kumar to take to Veda Parayanam. He asked the 14year old Hari Kumar to join the patshala in Mylapore in the early 90s but they rejected him as he was over aged to start Vedic Education. A dejected Hari Kumar returned to Tiruvannamalai but Rajagopala Ganapadigal had created a burning interest in him to learn the Vedas and this rejection motivated him to master the Vedas. 

The young boy had made up his mind when Mahadev Ganapadigal of Chidambaram made his way to yet another Karthigai Brahmotsavam Parayanam. Much to the acharya’s surprise, the teenager asked if he could adopt him as his disciple and initiate him into the Vedas. The acharya was not sure if this was just an instinctive reaction or if the young boy was indeed serious. 

The Chidambaram Nataraja Inspiration

When the boy remained steadfast in his pursuit through the ten days of the festival, the acharya told him that he would return to Chidambaram and think this through. Before Margazhi had been born, Hari Kumar received a surprise hand written letter from the revered Parameswaran Ganapadigal, Mahadev Gandapadigal’s appa appreciating his vedic interest and asking him to come over to Chidambaram. Hari Kumar did not take the Class XII exam and moved to Chidambaram. When he watched the Veda Parayanam in front of Nataraja during Margazhi Tiruvathirai, he told his acharya that he wanted to present similarly in front of Arunachaleswarar during Karthigai Brahmotsavam.

For the next dozen years, he stayed back full time in Chidambaram to learn Krishna Yajur Veda. The acharya was so touched by his devotion that he also initiated him into Maitrayani Samhita Hari Kumar recounts that great moment just over 15years ago “Maitrayani Samhita was facing extinction for there was just one scholar in Nasik in the second half of the last century. My acharya went to Nasik and learnt them. He was so convinced with my interest that he took the call to pass this on to me. And thus I became one of the very few in the country to be initiated into this at that time.”

In addition to learning Krishna Yajur Veda from Mahadeva Dikshithar, he was also initiated into Atharvana Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda and Maitrayani Samhita by legend Parameswara Dikshithar. “I consider it a great blessing that my acharya chose me as a student for Maitrayani Samhita initiation" says Hari Kumar Ganapadigal.

Exposure to Veda Parayanam

During this 12 year period, he made several trips with his acharya to Paadal Petral Sthalams and Divya Desams presenting Veda Paratyanam in those historical locations. Following these highly devotional trips, he was clear that he would not monetize his learnings that even left Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal stunned “When I gave my Ganam exam at the Kanchi Mutt, Periyava remarked that I was the first to do so from North Arcot. After I had taken the exam, Periyava asked me about my future plans and if I would be getting into a city life having done so well in the Vedic Exam. He was taken aback when I said that my objective in life was to present the Vedas in front of Arunachaleswarar and to share my knowledge with the next generation.”

Dramatic Revival of the Damaged Vocal Cord

In the middle of his tenure as a student his loud and nonstop recital had led to him damaging his vocal cord. Doctors in Chennai gave him no chance of recovery and suggested to discontinue the recital for the cord was deteriorating fast. He came back to Tiruvannamalai and with the fullest faith in Arunachaleswarar drank the abhiseka theertham invoking the blessings of his favourite Swami. His unflinching faith in Swami produced results beyond his wildest imagination. Two decades later he is still reciting the vedic verses and his vocal cord has been revived.  This episode brought him even closer to Arunachaleswarar.

Launches Gurukulam in 2008

In 2008, two students from Polur came up to him asking if he could initiate them into the Vedas taking him by surprise. Hari Kumar Ganapadigal looks back at this unexpected event,  one that he considers as Arunachaleswarar’s blessings “Years ago, their parents had watched my Veda Parayanam in various temples. They told me that they had decided then that if they were blessed with a son, they would send him to me for Vedic studies. It was a truly blessed feeling that two students came out of nowhere.” 

Tragic Death

And thus in 2008, he began the Gurukulam model of Vedic Education from his home on Ayyankulam Agraharam in Tiruvannamalai with two students. But he has had to face severe challenges in his life. In the same year of the launch, he lost his appa to ill health. And then an even bigger tragedy struck him. His elder brother Manikandan, a P. hd in Chemistry lost his life in 2016 at the Theerthavari utsavam drowning in the tank due to overcrowding right in front of his eyes. 

Hari Kumar recalls the role of Manikandan in the formative years of the Patshala and earlier “Manikandan had been a mentor to all the students and was a loved personality in the temple circles in Tiruvannamalai. It was he who performed lakshaarchanai on his own to support my endeavour in Veda Adyayanam helping me overcome the Vocal Cord issues. He presented Veda Parayanam at the temple each day till his death and performed daily Thiru Aradhanam with great devotion.  He could interact with Vedic Vidwans, with Kalpakkam atomic scientist (he himself was a P. hd in Chemistry) and equally well with financially challenged people. He touched everyone’s lives with his conduct.” 

Following the tragedy, his eldest brother Ganesan has been a pillar of strength. He credits Ganesan for helping wade through that challenging phase “Ganesan has been my guiding force all my life. While he may seem to be away in Madras, he is the one who has been the inspiration for all of us to continue our service to Arunachaleswarar. For decades, he has been a great source of motivation during the Karthigai Brahmotsavam. Soon after Manikandan's untimely death, Ganesan's contribution in terms of providing mental strength to all of us has been immense. Financially, he sends a lot of his earnings to my amma and that’s how we run the family. Without him, it would have been difficult for the Gurukulam to have survived this long.” 

Hari Kumar Ganapadigal has been able to move since that tragic evening when he too was inside the tank and just about survived. He now has 17 students learning under him and is just as devotionally excited as the 17 students in this transfer of the vedic knowledge. The youngest of the lot Srinath has just joined from Delhi aged just 6 and it is a delight to watch him wake up early on a chilly morning to following the traditional processes that have been laid out for the students in the Patshala.

His elder brother Gurunath too had joined when he was six.  He is all of 11 but there is delight in his face as he talks about the Veda Parayanam in front of Arunachaleswarar “We play tennis ball cricket in the evening. Chess is another game we play during our free time. But the satisfaction from learning the Vedas and presenting it in front of Arunachaleswarar every Monday is unmatched."

The oldest of the lot at 17 is Sabararish from Karaikudi. Just like how he was taught the Maitrayani Samhita by his acharya, he has begun teaching 16 year old Tarun from Rajasthan into this. Two students have completed their full course in Atharvana Veda. There are three different batches running now. His five year old son too has joined in, though not full time yet.

Hari Kumar Ganapadigal himself follows a rigorous traditional practice each day of the year including a ritualist Thiru Aradhanam. There aren’t too many these days following all the traditional practices each day of the year but he has been a stickler for traditional practices all his life. He has been conducting Chaturveda Parayanam during the Karthigai Brahmotsavam over the last decade or so. 

Revival of Jata Ganam

During Aadi Pooram, he presents Jata Ganam following the message of Maha Periyava “During his time, Jata Ganam had reduced. He had wanted this to be revived at least in the temples that had four Raja Gopurams. At Tiruvannamalai this had been started over four decades ago and I am continuing that tradition during the Karthigai Brahmotsavam.”

No promotion of the Patshala

43 year old Hari Kumar Ganapadigal has never gone out of Tiruvannamalai seeking financial remuneration. Not once has he solicited money or donations for the Gurukulam. There are no brochures or pamphlets or a website to promote his Gurukulam. He has never had an income and expense statement at his Patshala.  He sees the future as being no different. The Patshala does not have a brand name like the ones run by bigger institutions and Mutts. Just his devotional commitment to Arunachaleswarar has brought in students from Rajasthan, Kasi, Delhi, Vijaywada and Hyderabad in addition to those from TN.  The next generation of Chidambaram Dikshithars is learning from him. 

Challenging Financial Situation 

He is not unduly worried that there is no monthly salary like that paid to acharyas in Patshalas run by Mutts and private institutions. Sishyas have come on their own accord and are all devotionally excited. Not for them watching TV or playing with the mobile phones. As they gather as a group, the happiness at being alongside their acharya Hari Kumar Ganapadigal is palpable and they feel the positive vibration at this place. His wife has become deeply attached to the Gurukulam on her own and has been showering her love and affected on his students. His amma too has been appreciative of his endeavour though she had been apprehensive during his teenage years. Despite all the challenges that life has thrown at him, he has been able to keep the Gurukulam going for almost 15years and the student strength has been increasing. He sees all these as God’s blessings. He has utmost faith in Annamalayar and believes that his way of life has always been decided by the Swami of Tiruvannamalai and that he will forever act as dictated by the Lord. Financial challenges remain but for now nothing matters other than engaging intensely with his students and rolling out the next generation of top notch students from this historical temple town. 

Sri Arunachala Veda Vidya Patshala is located on Ayyankulam Agraharam very near the Eastern Rajagopuram of the Arunachaleswarar Temple. 

Hari Kumar Ganapadigal can be reached on 99940 46545

Thiru Pazhanam Devotees' Neglect

The Saint Poets praised historical temple near Thiruvayaru finds itself neglected 

Brahmotsavam halted, Uriyadi Utsavam has lost its grandeur, Priest's salary has not been paid for years

Unmindful of the financial challenges, Swaminathan Gurukal continues the service that has been passed on to him by his forefathers

43 year old Swaminathan Gurukal (Raja to those in the temple circles) has been at the Abath Sahayeswarar temple, one praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Thirunavukarasar (Appar), since the time he was a school boy in the 1980s. His appa Jeppeswar Gurukal performed archaka service at this Paadal Petra Sthalam for over five decades at a time when the temple was invaded by snakes, water logging a common feature during monsoon rains and power facilities not yet installed. As a young school boy, he would walk along with his appa from their home in Thiruvayaru to the temple for the morning pooja. Later his appa cycled to the temple with the young boy seated behind. After Swaminathan Gurukal discontinued his school education on completion of Class X, he began a stringent five year agama initiation under his appa.

Golden Period 

It was a practical initiation into the temple processes for him. Very early on, he learned the devotional process of an abhisekam as well as the specific pooja to be performed in each of the Sannidhis. In the evening after coming back from school, he would light oil lit lamp in the Sannidhis. Till the early 1990s, the temple was under the administration of the relatives of the Prince of Thanjavur.  Historically, the priest was handed 56 Kalam Paddy. It was a golden period when Jeppeswar Gurukal was at the temple, especially the early years of his service. There was a vibrant agraharam east of the temple and they were an integral part of the temple festivities. The Saptha Sthanam Utsavam in Chitrai was another big utsavam at the temple with devotees gathering in good numbers. The archakas were supported well by the service personnel – Mei Kavalar, Kothanar, Flower maker and Sirpanthigals. 

Jeppeswar Gurukal lived a contented life. For a large part the family lived in a hut house in Thiruvayaru. He did Japam each day of the year at the temple. He himself washed the vastrams of the Lord. Son Raja Gurukal recounts his childhood days with his appa at the temple “He used only well water for all the sannidhis throughout his five decades at the temple. He would carry one Kudam on his shoulder and one in his hand. He cooked food at the huge 2000 sq ft madapalli and presented Neivedyam to the Lord. The sacred food was distributed to the service personnel.”

A variety of food would be cooked in each of the Kaalams, presented to the Lord and distributed to the devotees, who all considered it a blessing to be here. Even as a 12 year old, Raja Gurukal himself  carried heavy weight Kudams with the well water to the Sannidhis.

“Appa’s lessons were the real lessons of my life. He had a cane and I would be whipped for any wrongs. He taught me everything – the temple processes, devotees, madapalli. More importantly he taught contentment. It was this early initiation that helped me stick to this temple. One week before his death in 2016, he took a promise from me that I will not leave this temple under any circumstances. He was my acharya and his words have been strongly inscribed in my heart” says Raja Gurukal.

Uriyadi Utsavam - Joint Shiva Vishnu Procession

There is a separate sannidhi for Venugopalan right behind the Moolavar Sannidhi. In centuries gone by, Uriyadi Utsavam was a popular festival here with Lord Venugopalan and Lord Abath Sahayeswarar providing darshan on a Sesha Vahana around the streets of Thiru Pazhanam. Hence there are two Sesha Vahanas here. 

Utsavams lost

Unfortunately as with most other agraharams in the state, the original inhabitants made their way out of this temple town in the 1970s selling away their traditional homes. Not a single one is left now. The vibrancy of the agraharam made a big difference. They took care of the temple mandagapadis and the priests. Soon after they quit the agraharam, the utsavams came to a halt. Devotee crowd began to dwindle. After a decade long case, the temple changed hands and the HR & CE has been administering the temple since the mid 1990s. The grand utsavams of the decades gone by have now become a thing of the past. The Brahmotsavam has come to a halt. Even the grandeur of the Uriyadi Utsavam has been lost with the going away of the agraharam residents.

Enter HR & CE, Gurukals off to Mauritius

A year after the HR & CE took over Jeppeswar Gurukal made his way to Mauritius to perform pooja there. After his return three years later and at the turn of the century, son Swaminathan Gurukal too went there for three years. He continued to get offers from overseas temples but has chosen to remain at Thiru Pazhanam.  Of Course, he was an active participant at Kumbabhisekam events and that made up for the financial challenges at the temple. Today, he makes his way from Thiruvayaru on a majestic Royal Enfield bike and says that God has taken care of him financially.

Like minded devotees can have a role to play at the temple. The Nandavanam does not resemble anywhere close to what it once was with thick bushes. The pandemic has led to shortage of oil to light the lamp. 

Original Inhabitants are looking to come back

As with many other historical temple towns, here too the original inhabitant are looking to make their way back to the town where they had spent their childhood all those decades ago. Raja Gurukal almost laughs at the new trend that one is witnessing “The original inhabitants are returning to the agraharam but most of them are above 60. They narrate old stories about their lively childhood days in the agraharam but that is of no use. They failed to initiate their next gen into a life around the temple. The traditional way of life is gone. Contentment is not there anymore.”

The role of an Adhi Saivar

Raja Gurukal is now taking on the temple from where his appa had left. He is looking to fulfil the promise handed to his appa just prior to his death of dedicating this life to the service at the feet of Abath Sahayeswarar. The trip to Mauritius and the income from Kumbabhisekams have kept him financially well off in the years gone by and the lack of income from the temple does not worry him much.

 His appa’s salary was pending for many years at the time of his death in 2016 and Raja Gurukal’s salary too has likewise been pending now. But he is unfazed.  He says that the role of the Adhi Saivars is to dedicate their lives to Shiva Kainkaryam. “I cannot do anything else. My duty is to perform pooja for the welfare of the world. I consider it my blessing to be performing service here at a temple sung by Saint Poets. Each day I remember the lesson that out of all those in this world, God has chosen me as the designated one to serve at this historical temple.”