Kapali Temple Thevaram Kids

Driven by APJ Kalam's inspirational words, a Mylapore School Teacher is now initiating the new gen into the Thevaram Verses at the Kapali Temple

Exactly a month ago, this section featured a story on 50 year old Mannargudi’s Ramkumar, a Kainkaryapara at the Kapaleeswarar temple, who has been performing the Theevatti service at every street procession over the last year. This one is about a 53 year old Mylapore school teacher hailing from Thanjavur who this year has been initiating young kids into the Sacred Verses of the Saivite Saint Poets. 

It is devotionally invigorating watching the tiny tots, most of whom not yet 10, recite the sacred verses at the Kapali temple. The loud recital in this public space is helping them develop their personality, overcoming shyness and any inhibition they may have at this age, in addition to the traditional and cultural aspects.  

Soon after her evening Thevaram teaching engagement with the kids at the Western Prakara, Veda. V. Rasu told this writer that 3 to 7 years is the right age to initiate the dharmic things in children “Early initiation into our tradition and culture will help them retain the right values through their lifetime. This is the age when the child’s brain is like a fresh sponge. If you give the right inputs, especially on our tradition, culture and values, during this early period in their life, it is likely you will see a great outcome.”

The Transformational Moment - A chance meeting with APJ Kalam

Like IITian Ramkumar, who was a consultant with the World Bank (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/kapali-theevatti-pmo-consultant-v.html), Veda too is high on academics with a MA-M Phil in Sociology and a P.hD in Disaster Management. It was a chance meeting with the former President of India, late APJ Kalam that transformed her life. She recounts that day from her life just under 20years ago when she was a freelance teacher “I was at the Anna University for an event and as is my style I was strict with the kids and directing them on the right way to conduct themselves on that great occasion. The President came up to me, congratulated me and asked me create at least four kids for the ‘FUTURE’. And those inspirational words transformed my life completely.”

Following that inspirational moment, she enrolled at the Cambridge University, UK and did a Dip in Teacher Training. And soon after she converted herself from just a freelance teacher and became a full time teacher engaging with young kids all the time “My husband has been of great support encouraging and motivating me all through this phase when I have been involved full time with the kids.” 

Historical Contribution of Saivite Saint Poets

Unfortunately, those in the new gen do not know much about the great works of the Saint Poets and their contribution to the ancient temples. And that is what Veda is aiming to do. She is delighted that within a few months, the parents have seen unbelievable transformation in the kids. Interestingly in addition to the kids, the parents themselves have become part of these sessions and they too are finding great insights from the sacred verses.  

Veda is also inculcating in them a sense of discipline and values that they can take forward in their everyday lives both at home and school. From September 1, she has asked the kids to present themselves in traditional attire for the classes and that will be another significant moment in the lives of these young kids…to actually come to the temple in Veshti and Paavaadai.

How to sport the Vibhoothi

Devotees of the temple were also surprised to see every kid carrying a small dabba. Veda has been teaching these kids the right way to sport the sacred ash on their forehead “I have asked them to open the dabba containing the Vibhoothi, take it with their three fingers without spilling it and apply it by reciting the Panchaakshara Mantra. This is a process that they have now begun to follow at home as well.”

A Letter from the Indian PM

Just this fortnight, one of her Thevaram students received a surprise response from the India PM personally appreciating the young kid of her interest in the tradition and culture at this young age and where he has also spoken about the greatness of Uthiramerur from the standpoint of  democracy. (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/12/uthiramerur-sundara-varadar.html)

A long standing devotee of Kapali Temple

Veda has been presenting the Thaalam at every Panguni Utsavam for almost the last 25years and has been a longstanding devotee of Kapaleesawarar and Karpagambal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/04/kapali-panguni-utsavam-2023.html). Just under a decade ago, following a divine instruction during the Kumbhabhisekam, she began to blow the conch during the Lord’s procession. Like Vilvam Vasudevan Anna (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/03/vilvam-anna-vasudevan-kapaleeswarar.html), Veda too had remained a ‘silent’ devotee inside the Kapali Temple for over two decades before breaking her silence for these young kids.

It was the Pandemic that drove her to initiating the kids into the sacred verses “They lost their sense of discipline during the two years of the Pandemic. The online learning model was not suited to them and they developed poor language and communication skills. As a teacher, it was challenging to handle their new ways after we came out of the battle against Covid.”

To start with, she is trying to bring about a big behavioural change in these 20 kids. She is confident that at this young age, a positive change can happen at a faster pace as was seen in a boy recently. One with a stammering presented himself at a competition as Thirunavukarasar – Appar and the applause he received has instantly boosted his confidence (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/12/thiru-vathigai-veerateswarar.html).

She begins her session with the recital of the Thevaram Verses and ends with a bhajan. An interesting addition last week was the walk around Mylapore's famed Mada Streets. Veda is hoping to make this a monthly feature from September.

Quiz Programmes on the Saint Poets

The main aim with this exercise, she says, is to instill in the young minds the greatness of our tradition and culture by presenting to them the historical role played by the Saint Poets in creating bhakthi. Based on her sessions, she has also begun to assess them through quiz programmes on the Saint Poets and their verses. It is now a delight to the devotees of the Kapaleeswarar temple to watch 5year olds talking about Sekkizhar and the Periya Puranam, singing the first verse rendered by Appar at Thiru Vathigai (Panruti) and the life story of Sundarar.

கூற்றாயின வாறு விளக்ககிலீர்

கொடுமை பல செய்தன நான் அறியேன்

ஏற்றாயடிகே இரவும் பகலும்

பிரியாது வணங்குவன் எப்பொழுதும்

தொற்றாதென் வயிற்றின் அகம்படியே

குடரோடு துடக்கி முடக்கியிட

அற்றேன் அடியேன் அதி கைக்கெடில

வீரட்டானத்துறை அம்மானே– Appar's First Thevaram Song

To make it interesting for these young kids, she organised a fancy dress competition where the boys had to come dressed as Naalvars and the girls as Thilagavathy or Karaikkal Ammayar. She is also organizing a Thevaram competition for these kids to make it devotionally more exciting for them. She wants the kids to celebrate their birthday by lighting a traditional lamp instead of blowing candles on the cake.

பித்தா  பிறைசூடி பெரு மானே  அருளாளா

எத்தால் மற வாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னை

வைத்தாய்  பெண்ணைத் தென்பால் 

வெண்ணை நல்லூர் அருட்டுறையுள் 

அத்தா உனக் காளாய் இனி
அல்லேன் எனல் ஆமே

As directed by the former President, Veda Rasu is beginning to play a transformational role at the Kapaleeswarar temple and clearly the devotional excitement is palpable in the outer prakara. More and more parents are now getting their kids to be part of these evening Thevaram sessions and that by itself is an endorsement that she is heading in the right direction with these kids. The devotional fervour among these kids is becoming louder by the day and the entire temple is reverberating in the chants by these kids of ‘Kootraayina Vaaru’ and 'Pithaai Pirai Soodi' (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/01/thiru-vennai-nallur-kripapureeswarar.html).

Thiru Lokki Sundareswarar Temple

Alala Sundaram Gurukal allocated a salary of Rs. 750 after 30 years of archaka service and even that remains unpaid over the last 12months

Guru Dosham Parikara Sthalam for Wedding Hurdles and Couples Reunion

It is now 50years since the HR&CE took over the Sundareswarar temple in Thiru Lokki located a few kms North of the now popular Kanjanur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/10/kanjanur-sukra-sthalam.html) and Thiru Kodikkaval (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/04/thiru-kodikkaval-brahmotsavam-rishabha.html) temples. 58 year old Alala Sundaram has been following in the footsteps of his forefathers and been performing service as an archaka now for over 25years. His appa Mani Gurukal had performed pooja for several decades at the temple. Five decades after, Alala Sundaram Gurukal now gets a salary of Rs. 750 per month as a sole full time archaka and this too had not been paid for five years. It was only when the sweeper of the temple put out a video on the social media about the non-payment to her of the monthly salary of Rs. 600 for the last five years did the HR & CE clear the pending salaries of both the archaka and the sweeper.

But 12 months later, the same old story has returned to haunt both of them for their salaries have not been for the last year making the sweeper if it is time for her to put another video on the social media, if that is the only way to make the HR &CE pay their miniscule three digit salary.

Till the early 1970s, this temple had been administered by the Kasi Mutt, Thirupanandal before the HRCE took over.

Alala Sundaram Gurukal recounts the challenging times during the phase as a school boy “I walked 5kms every day to the school in Thirupanandal. It was quite a challenging phase financially for the family. There were Sirpanthigal, Mei Kaval, Paricharakar, Thiru Maalai and Melam but with the low salary they all moved out of this town leaving the temple only with the archaka and the sweeper.”

He discontinued academics after his schooling and moved into temple service.

Utsavams come to a grinding halt

Till the middle of the previous century, utsavams had been celebrated in a grand manner with street processions but all these have come to a halt. There were Vahana processions too but most of the vahanas had remained in damaged condition with only Anna Pakshi Vahana now in any shape. For long, the family lived in a hut house opposite the temple

When he joined the temple in 1996 after his appa’s death, he was paid a salary of Rs. 100 per month and a bag of Paddy but even this was converted to a fixed salary of Rs. 750 and the decades long provision of paddy was cut out from his income.

Guru Dosham Parikara Sthalam

Notwithstanding these financial challenges, Alala Sundaram Gurukal has developed the temple over the last two decades. The prodosham now attracts around 50 devotees. It was here that (Navagriha) Guru Bhagawan had darshan of Rishabarootar and is seen in an Anjali Hastham in a separate sannidhi within the temple. Devotees seeking Guru dosham parikaram and those with wedding hurdles and separated couples have also been visiting the temple for specific Guru Homam relating to elimination of the dosham.

The house where the Gurukal Family lived for several decades

Rejects lucrative offer from Suriyanar Koil

It was also through his solo efforts that the consecration was performed at the temple in 2015 after over four decades. His close relative performed pooja at the nearby Suriyanar Koil that has gained great prominence in the last few decades. That temple recovered faster than most others in this region near Aduthurai and he assisted his relative at that temple for additional income. When the relative passed away, he was offered a full time engagement as an archaka at the Suriyanar temple but the Sundareswarar temple in Thiru Lokki has been one where his forefathers have performed service for a couple of centuries and he did not want to let this service go even if his salary continues to be only in three digits.

Interestingly the sweeper lady, Lakshmi, who posted the social media video, too has followed in the footsteps of her family. Her aunt served as a sweeper for several decades at this temple and she is now continuing that role even though her salary is just Rs. 20 a day (which too has not been for the last year).

The Gurukal's son has just completed his graduation and is looking to pursue his post graduate studies. One does not yet know if he will continue the hereditary service rendered by forefathers but what he has seen financially of his appa at the Sundareswarar temple would make him apprehensive of the future as a temple archaka. Interestingly, in a refreshing move, Alala Sundaram Gurukal handed her daughter, an Engineer, to a temple archaka and she too was willing to live a life in an archaka family.

Treatment just as bad at Sheerabdhi Perumal Temple

Just half a km South is the Sheerabdhi Narayana Sayana Perumal temple, where 75 year old Varadaraja Bhattar has been donning the role of archaka for decades having taken over from his appa who too had served for many decades. There too it is the same story with both the archaka and the sweeper assigned the same salary as those at the Sundareswarar temple but there too it has remained only on paper and the archakas and the sweepers in these two temples have survived only through the support of the devotees (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/thiru-lokki-sheeraabdhi-sayana-narayana.html).

Time for HR & CE to pay proper salary

It is saddening that the HR &CE with several thousands of crores in its kitty does not even have the heart to pay a three digit salary to long standing archakas. What put off the sweeper at the Sundareswarar temple in recent years was the statement made by the then EO who told her that the previous EO would not have signed off her salary and the next EO who succeeds him at the temple too would not pay her salary. Service personnel in such remote temples who slog it out to keep the daily pooja going wonder as to how when the EO of such temples are being paid a big amount as salary, why those like them who have been serving for several decades cannot be paid even the miniscule salary that is allocated to their service.

It is time that the HR &CE looks into the plight of the archakas and service personnel in these remote temples in Tamil Nadu and pay them what is due for the service rendered by them every day of the year. 

Will the HRCE minister be more considerate

It is hoped that the HR & CE Minister PK Sekar Babu (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html) will look seriously into the committed service rendered by service personnel in remote temples and direct a reasonable pay to them. In the recent past, he has spoken a lot to this writer about the renewed focus on recovery of temple lands and allocating a lot of money for Temple Thiruppani. As part of this allocation, can he also look into allocating a sum for those that serve in these remote temples for it is because of their selfless service that the poojas have continued into the current generation.

For the moment, it would be nice for the HR & CE to at least pay the salary to the two archakas and two sweepers that has been pending for the last 12months.

Madhava Perumal Temple Mylapore Consecration delayed

No Moolavar darshan since February this year,  unlikely till Karthigai

The Temple authorities' delay in seeking and getting approval for repair works leads to a delay in consecration

The consecration of the Madhava Perumal temple in Mylapore has been further delayed with the temple receiving approval from the renovation committee only now for additional works. This writer had written multiple stories earlier this year that the consecration was likely to take place in Vaikasi or latest by Aani based on the repair works planned at that time. The Balalayam had taken place on February 9 this year and since then devotees have not been able to have Moolavar darshan of Perumal and Thayar.

Venu's Trust completes work in June

Venu Srinivasan’s Trust that had taken up the repair works have received a completion certificate in June from the HR & CE for the works assigned to them but now the temple has received approval  for more repair works and that has meant that the consecration will be delayed by at least another three months. The painting of the Vimanams and the Raja Gopuram has been completed and the EO of the temple had been informed by Venu’s Trust about the completion of the works handed to them and subsequently a certificate too has been handed by the temple to the TVS Trust confirming the completion of the works.

But on Monday evening, the Chief Priest was seen telling devotees that the earliest the consecration could take place was in Karthigai because the roofing work above the Moolavar Sannidhi is likely to take at least one month from the time the work starts. And one does not even know as to who is going to take up this work.

Not able to have moolavar darshan and disappointed with the indefinite delay in the consecration, regular devotees to the temple have begun moving to the Adhi Kesava Perumal temple.

In the meanwhile, next gen priest Ashwin Bhattar, son of Chief Priest Sundar Bhattar, is getting married in the first week of September.

Western Entrance to be re-opened

This writer had also written stories earlier on how the western entrance of the temple was likely to be re-opened after decades as part of the consecration. Devotees to the temple would know that the western entrance opposite the Mundakanni Amman temple has remained shut for decades and they have had to make their way only through the Eastern Raja Gopuram.

The approval order for the fencing of the Nandavanam on the western side as a result of the re-opening of the western entrance too has been received only now.

With the TVS Trust having received the official estimate from the temple authorities for the roofing work only on Monday, it is not known yet if they will take up this work as well (for the original work assigned to them did not include the roofing assignment) or if the HR &CE will do it on their own through their engineers.

No Utsavams, No trip to Avathara Sthalam

Either way, it is unlikely the Samprokshanam will take place in the next couple of months and hence the devotees will miss the Navarathri Utsavam and darshan of the Moolavar on Puratasi Saturdays. This writer had also featured a story earlier on the restoration of the Avathara Sthalam on Arundel street and the annual trip to that location. There has been no progress on that as well in terms of plans to restore the dilapidated mandapam and hence it is unlikely that the historical trip will be restored this year.

Why the temple authorities did not seek approval earlier?

The re-opening of the western entrance after decades and the consequent changes to the Nandavanam on the west side as well as the retiling of the roof above the Moolavar Sannidhi was known ahead of the original renovation exercise. One wonders as to why the temple authorities did not seek approval of these as well with the renovation committee as part of the original repair works and why this has come only now after the TVS Trust has completed the works assigned to them.

This section had only recently featured a story on the fast paced renovation works at the huge Nachiyar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur Divya Desam thanks to the efforts of Gopinathan Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html) and how despite the large scale renovation, the consecration is slated for Aipasi well within a year of the work having commenced. Unfortunately for the devotees at the Madhava Perumal temple in Mylapore, there will continue to be no darshan of the Moolavar till at least Karthigai this year (and that will be a monsoon phase in the city) because of the delay by the temple authorities in seeking and getting approval from the renovation committee. Already, the crowd has dwindled in the last many months as they have missed the Moolavar darshan. It is saddening that a historical temple in the heart of the city and within a few kilometers of the HR & CE headquarters is seeing such slow progress in approvals.

Chidambaram Divya Desam Next Gen Govindarajan Bhattar

Commerce Post Grad lets go Auditor dream to take up Hereditary Archaka Service at Govindaraja Perumal Sannidhi

At a time when the next gen is moving away from temple service into the corporate world, a young 22 year old Post Grad has bucked that trend and taken a big call to continue the family’s hereditary archaka service. As a teenager he wanted to become an auditor, but Govindarajan Bhattar has let go of that dream and joined his appa Balaji Bhattar at the Govindarajan Perumal Divya Desam in Chidambaram. Interestingly, his parents have also found a traditional girl from Nanguneri Divya Desam who was willing to marry a Bhattar with a tuft. 

It was not all rosy for the family in the past. Balaji Bhattar’s great grandfather had been an archaka at the Kaazhicheerama Vinnagaram Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/05/kaazhicheeraama-vinnagaram.html) and came to perform service at Govindaraja Perumal Sannidhi a century ago when this Divya Desam was short on priests. Historically, there were two archaka clans – one interestingly from Thiru Vahindrapuram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/thiru-vahindrapuram-andhra-priests-10.html) and the other from Chidambaram Devasthanam. In the early 1980s, the Devasthanam Murai priests gave up their service and went away seeking greener pastures.

A Double blow to Balaji Bhattar

Balaji Bhattar’s appa Krishnamurthy Bhattar took charge of the Devasthanam days of service. By the end of that decade, Balaji Bhattar had completed diploma in Civil Engineering and much like his son, a few years ago, wanted to get into the corporate world, given the financial challenges relating to temple service. It had been tough times at the temple in the 1970s and 80s and his appa had taken loans for the marriage of his daughters. As was the trend then, Balaji Bhattar too wanted to move away from temple service. But his appa suffered a heart attack and passed away when he was just 52years. A month later his amma too passed away. It was a double blow to the young teenager and he put aside his corporate plans to continue the hereditary service.

ஊன்வாட உண்ணாது உயிர் காவல் இட்டு

உடலில் பிரியாப் புலன் ஐந்தும் நொந்து

தாம் வாடத் தவம் செய்ய வேண்டா

தமதா இமையோர் உலகு ஆளாகிற்பீர்

கான் ஆட மஞ்சைக் கணம் ஆட மாடே

கயல் ஆடு கால் நீர்ப் பழனம் புடைபோய்த்

தேன் ஆட மாடக்  கொடி ஆடு

தில்லை திருச்சித்ரகூடம் சென்று சேர்மின்களே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

He had learned learned the agamas from Manivannan Bhattar,  Pooja Kramam from Seshadri Bhattar of Thadalan Divya Desam, Sirkazhi and Suktas from Kasturi Sastrigal. For almost 15years, Balaji Bhattar performed service at this Divya Desam before a big tragedy struck for the second time in his life.

Balaji Bhattar loses his leg

At the turn of the century, when things were just beginning to look up at the temple with the devotional wave catching up in TN temples, Balaji Bhattar suffered another blow and lost his right leg in a road accident. Like Srikanthan Bhattar of Sirupuliyur Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/sirupuliyur-divya-desam.html), he fixed an artificial leg but his movement was severely restricted. 

Balaji Bhattar credits Trustee AV Rangachari (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/chidambaram-thillai-thiru-chitrakoodam.html) for reposing the faith in his devotional service “The trustees had a discussion about the future of my temple service and AVR insisted that I continue the service. It was he who had the faith in my ability to discharge my duties as an archaka. I appointed assistant priests to support me and that is how it has progressed over the last two decades.”

Challenges in the archaka space

Right from his childhood, motivated primarily by his amma, Govindarajan Bhattar had been supporting his injured appa in temple service. But as has been the trend in TN temples in recent decades, he too was keen on exploring a career outside of the temple space given the uncertainty of the archaka role and the constant external threat. It is also a physical demanding exercise.

Balaji Bhattar, who has continued for over two decades despite his physical challenges says that archaka service takes a physical toll on the body over time "With huge crowd visiting the Sannidhi now, it becomes very tiring for a priest to be present non stop for six hours from 6am. On Thirumanjanam days, especially when there was a shortage of priests, we were completely drained out. Having seen my appa in service and having myself experienced this over a long three decades period, I was keen for my son to go the corporate way as I believed that it would lead long term financial security."

Son surprises his appa

But much to his surprise, his son has chosen to continue the hereditary service and eased himself into the traditional attire. 53 year old Balaji Bhattar has initiated his son into the Koil Kramam and he is now fully equipped to perform Kalyana Utsavam as well as take care of other Utsavams on his own at this Divya Desam. There is no Brahmotsavam at this Divya Desam but there are utsavams round the year including the night long trip to the Eastern Sea Shore in Maasi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/04/chidambaram-maasi-magam-utsavam_13.html) and the Navarathri Celebrations in Puratasi when on the last day, Thayar goes to the Perumal Sannidhi for the only time in the year. Dolotsavam in Aipasi, Panguni Uthiram, Gokulashtami and Aani Jeshtabhisekam are also celebrated in a grand way at the temple.

3000 Vedic Seers at this Divya Desam

This is a Divya Desam where over a thousand years ago, 3000 Vedic Seers offered worship every day at the feet of  Lord Devathi Devan here at Chidambaram as seen from the verses of praise by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Kulasekara Azhvaar.

மூவாயிரம் நான்மறையாளர் 

நாளும் முறையால் வணங்க

அணங்கு ஆய சோதித் 

தேவாதிதேவன் திகழ் கின்ற 

தில்லை திருச்சித்ர கூடம் சென்று சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

செந்தளிர்வாய் மலர் நகை சேர் செழுந்தண்  சோலைத் 

தில்லை நகர் திரு சித்திரகூடந் தன்னுள் 

அந்தணர்கள் ஒரு மூவாயிரவர் ஏத்த 

அணிமணி ஆசனத்து இருந்த அம்மான் தானே- Kulasekara Azhvaar

A sudden transformation

Govindarajan Bhattar is happy with the self transformation that saw let go his interest in a corporate career. He says that though he wanted to become an auditor, he realised by the time he completed his graduation that service to Govindaraja Perumal and Pundarika Valli Thayar was bigger than any other work. It was this realisation that led him to give up his dream of working in the audit space and taking to service at the feet of the Divya Desam Lord "There was the temptation earlier when I was in my teens to get into the financial sector but by the time I turned 20, I found clarity in my thought process and decided that archaka service was going to be my way of life and there was nothing bigger than Divya Desam Kainkaryam. I am now fully involved with my  role as an archaka with 30 days of service at the Perumal Sannidhi followed by a full 30days at the Thayar Sannidhi."

While his forefathers went through financially challenging times in the century gone by, Govindarajan Bhattar is happy with the way Thillai Chitrakoota Perumal has taken care of him "We are financially well off and service at the feet of Perumal & Thayar has provided a great deal of satisfaction and contentment. My wife has also been a great motivator and her backing has made me even more confident that I have made the right choice."

Earlier this year, the next gen (son of the priest) at Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/thirunagari-thirumangai-azhvaar-utsavam.html), not far from here, made his way into a multi national firm after completing his Engineering. Likewise in other temples too in Tamil Nadu, the next gen is taking to professional degrees in academics and moving into the corporate world.  But there are still a few like Govindarajan Bhattar who are choosing archaka service as a way of life and that is heartening for devotees (Rahul Bhattar of Thenthiruperai is another -https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/thenthiruperai-rahul-bhattar.html). With him at the helm, the Thillai Chitrakootam Divya Desam in Chidambaram is likely to see through another generation of traditional service carrying forward the greatness of this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Kulasekara Azhvaar praised Divya Desam.

Thiru Vahindrapuram Andhra Priests 10 years

When this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple was going through tough times, the HR & CE, in an unprecedented move, roped in two archakas from Andhra Pradesh 

10 years later, the ‘Outsider’ tag has been dealt with successfully and the two have made the Deiva Nayakan Perumal temple their own with sincere devotional service

Well over a decade ago, this section had featured a story on Thiru Vahindrapuram Devanatha Perumal Divya Desam where Neela Megha Bhattar, the then 76 year old had performed archaka service for several decades. However, things took a turn for the worst. The retirement of the aged priest followed by issues relating to his son Narasimha Bhattar meant that this historical Divya Desam was short on priests. The authorities searched across the state but did not find takers given some of the challenges that priests faced at this Divya Desam. Shaken by this bizarre scenario of not finding priests for such a historical Divya Desam, they finally they moved states and extended their search to Andhra. And there they found a couple of well-trained agama experts who were willing to wet their feet at this temple praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and one where Vaishnavite Acharya Vedanta Desikar resided and composed verses of praise on Deiva Nayakan and Hayagriva. An inscription dating to the rule of Kulotunga III refers to a gift of a gold necklace to Deiva Nayagan and another one refers in simple terms to the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram as ‘The Standing Vishnu’.

It is now ten years after the now 34 yera old Ranga Sai Bhattar took over along with his brother Seshu Bhattar as the new priests at Thiru Vahindrapuram. Here’s a look back at how his life has changed over the decade and how for the first time in recent history archakas from outside the state have played a prominent role in reviving a Divya Desam whose future did not look bright in the not so distant past.

Hailing from Machilipatnam, Ranga Sai had moved to Hyderabad where he did his schooling. While his parents were keen for him to continue his academics, Ranga Sai much against their wishes discontinued his schooling and joined the Patshala in Dwaraka Tirumala where he learned Krishna Yajur Veda. He followed this by learning the Vaikanasa Agama from Agnihotri Srinivasachar at the same place.

From Consecration Events to Divya Desam Archaka Service

For a few years, he went around the country including to temples in Maharashtra, UP, MP performing Consecration events and anchoring Brahmotsavam and Pavitrotsavam. After a tiring six hours on a Thursday morning with huge crowd thronging the Hayagriva Sannidhi at Thiru Vahindrapuram, he recounts the surprise and a most unexpected call he received from this Divya Desam “I had performed several consecrations and been part of utsavams in temples across the country. Looking at the way the archakas were treated, I was not keen in taking up archaka service and believed at that time that my future lay in continuing to perform consecrations.”

But how things changed beyond his wildest imagination. He says that the temple authorities reached out to the Tirupathi Vedic University to explore priests who would be interested to take up service at Thiru Vahindrapuram “They reached out to my uncle who was a chief priest at Mangalagiri temple and he suggested my name along with my brother’s.”

No Daily Thiru Aradhanam, Conversion to Pancharatra?

He was still not keen on taking this up but what turned his thought process most dramatically was the meeting with the EO of the temple and the HR & CE Commissioner “They told me that there were no priests at the temple and even to perform the daily Thiru Aradhana was proving to be a challenge and if it continued in the same way it was likely that the temple would be converted to Pancharatra Agama.”

The scenario as described by the authorities left him saddened and he decided to explore this. He went through the interview process and was given the appointment order. As with his quitting academics and taking to Patshala education, he took his own call on becoming an archaka and did not discuss this with anyone including his family and friends.

Thirumangai Azhvaar refers to Deiva Nayakan 

In his Periya Thirumozhi verses, Thirumangai Azhvaar refers to Lord of Thiruvahindrapuram as Deiva Nayakan. He considered it a blessing to serve at such a Divya Desam. 

வையமேழும் உண்டாலிலை வைகியமாயவன் 

அடியவர்க்கு மெய்யனாகிய தெய்வ நாயகனிடம் 

மெய்த குவரைச்சாரல் 

மொய்கள் மாதவி சண்பகம் முயங்கிய முல்லையன்கொடியாட 

செய்ய தாமரை செழும்பணை திகழ்தரு திருவயிந்திரபுரமே 

While he was well off financially performing the consecrations and being involved in annual utsavams in temples, the challenging state of a Divya Desam led to a change in his outlook and he agreed to taking up this challenging role of a priest at Thiru Vahindrapuram. He categorically states that money was not a motivating factor to taking this challenging role and the only reason that he accepted this was after hearing that even daily Thiru Aradhanam was becoming a challenge at this Divya Desam.

The Rank Outsider Tag- A Challenge

When he agreed, he clearly knew the challenges ahead of him for he was a rank outsider from another state. And that was exactly the way it turned out “The locals did not accept me easily and for a long time, I was made to feel that I was an outsider and that I did not belong to this temple. But it did not matter to me, for having accepted the appointment I wanted to discharge my duty to the best of my ability.”

To start with, Ranga Sai Bhattar and his brother Seshu Bhattar along with Jayaprakash ‘Mapillai’ bhattar, who was already present at the temple, were to take care of 10days each at the Perumal, Thayar and Hayagriva Sannidhis. But over time, Seshu Bhattar and Mapillai Bhattar agreed to perform 15days each at Devanatha Perumal and Shengamala Thayar Sannidhi, while Ranga Sai Bhattar performed service at Hayagriva Sannidhi through the entire month. Devotees see this as a Prarthana sthalam for ‘Good Education’ and to cure ‘speechless children’. 

“My great grandfather was a great devotee of Hayagriva and as I turn back the clock, it looks like I was destined to follow in his footsteps and perform service for Hayagriva”, he says on why he felt blessed to take up service at the Hayagriva sannidhi. 

It took him about a year to understand the processes at this Divya Desam but he learned it pretty quickly and has been enjoying his service at Thiru Vahindrapuram including the grand Brahmotsavam and the annual Desikar utsavam.

Grand Festivals - Sacred Bath for Deva Nathan

An Inscription records minute details like taking care of God's bath during his processions on Festive occasions when he leaves the temple premises. One such inscription records an order communicated to the trustees of the temple granting lands and a garden, free of taxes, for expenses of taking God for a sacred bath to the sea near Nissankhamallan Pattinam on the Maasi Magam day.

No Grand Desikar Utsavam Celebrations this year - Processions after Balalayam?

While he faced initial hurdles and overcame that, certain challenges remain. Balalayam was performed recently and the temple will be seeing renovation exercise that will culminate in Samprokshanam. There are sections of the temple service personnel who want procession of Perumal and Thayar to take place at least inside the temple and are not happy with the priests not agreeing to this. But Ranga Sai Bhattar is clear in his thought process “It has been the historical practice in this temple to not have processions after Balalayam till the time the consecration takes place.”

He talks with extreme clarity and points to a judgment in the late 1990s when the court directed the temple to not change the historical practices and says that the practice here has always been to not have processions during the renovation exercise.

There will be no processions during the Desikar Utsavam next month but Ranga Sai Bhattar assures that the Consecration will take place within the next year and the Utsavam will be back in 2024 in its full grandeur with the temple sporting a new look.

Historical Inscriptions

While inscriptions record gifts of lands and villages for offerings and worship to the Lord, gifts of sheep and cows for perpetual lamps, gift of ‘Kasu’ for feeding the Vaishnavas at the temple Mutt and for providing offerings to God on the 8th day of the festival, one of the lengthier inscriptions found on the West Wall of the Prakara that dates back to 1232 AD to the rule of Raja Raja Chola III records the process of securing the release of the Chola Emperor from Kapperunjinga.

When King Vira Narasimha Deva heard that Kapperunjinga had captured the Chola Emperor at Sendamangalam, he vowed to vindicate his title as the leader of the Chola Country. Starting from Dorasamudra, he uprooted the Makara Kingdom, while his two generals destroyed Ellers and Kalliyurmulai village.  On their way, they offered their prayers to the Lord at Ponnambalam following which they went on to destroy Tondaima Nallur.

They then camped at Tiruppadiri Puliyur (today’s Cuddalore) before the Hoysala army marched on to Thiru Vathigai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/07/thiru-vathigai-sara-narayanan.html) destroying that village.  Finally, they reached Sendamangalam forcing Kopperunjinga to release the Chola Emperor. Celebrating the release, the Chola Emperor was accompanied by the army into his dominion. On the Western Gopuram, at the entrance, there is a reference to Tondaiyar Koman Adaiya Valaindapiran and his heroism in battle.

Vishnu, Brahmma and Shiva

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to the Lord as Moovaraagiya Oruvan, a manifestation of Vishnu, Brahmma and Shiva, in his praise in the Periya Thirumozhi.

மூவராகிய ஒருவனை மூவுலகுண்டுமிழ்ந்த அளந்தானை 

தேவர் தானவர் சென்று சென்று இறைஞ்ச தன்திருவயிந்திரபுரத்து 

மேவு சோதியை வேல் வலவன் கலிகன்றி விரித்துரைத்த 

பாவு தண்டமிழ் பத்திவைப்பாடிடப் பாவங்கள் பயிலாவே

Ranga Sai Bhattar's Best Phase in Life

He has completed a decade of archaka service at this Divya Desam and it has been the real high point in his life, an opportunity that had come out of the blue. The ‘Outsider’ tag has finally been set aside. On a crowded Thursday morning, devotees throng the Hayagriva Sannidhi asking for archanai to be performed. It is non stop work for six hours but not once did Ranga Sai Bhattar shrug his face performing archanai with the same devotional intensity at noon just as he had at the beginning of the day. He sees performing archaka service in a Divya Desam where Vedantha Desikar, resided for so many decades, as a God sent opportunity that very few in the world are blessed with “Into my 20s, I never visualized performing daily archaka service and definitely not in a great Divya Desam as this. This opportunity came on its own and I have enjoyed every minute of the last decade serving the devotees of Hayagriva as best as I could.”

Despite the local resistance he has had to face, Ranga Sai Bhattar is friendly with everyone – the HR & CE officials, his archaka colleagues, the Veda Parayanam and Divya Prabhandham Ghosti members and most importantly with the devotees who all sport a smile when they meet him. There is a certain devotional energy when they interact with him and they all go back from the sannidhi with renewed confidence. 

From the uncertainty just a decade ago, the presence of the two ‘Outside’ archakas from Andhra Pradesh has led to a refreshing change at Thiru Vahindrapuram. It may be a first for a TN Divya Desam to have roped in Chief Priests from outside the state but Ranga Sai Bhattar and his brother Seshu Bhattar have come through unscathed and for a large part been able to silence the opposition. They continue to be cheerful in carrying out the service assigned to them having tackled the controversial issues with a sense of devotion.

It has been a Sea Change at the Devanatha Perumal temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram. The long standing priests from the decades gone by are no longer there (Neela Megha Bhattar passed away recently and his son Narasimha Bhattar is fighting a legal battle with the HR & CE) and the new ones have instilled a sense of freshness to this Divya Desam. Finally it is the devotion that counts. And that Ranga Sai Bhattar displays immeasurably. He is in here for the long run and is committed to keep the greatness of this Divya Desam going.

Thiru Vahindrapuram is located 5kms West of Cuddalore on the way to Panruti. Auto from Tiruppadiripuliyur Railway Station costs Rs. 100.  The temple is open from 6.30am to 12noon and from 4pm to 9.30pm

Thiru Cherai Venkatesh Bhattar Next Gen

Hindi Knowledge has come in handy for this Next Gen Priest who has leveraged his schooling in Pushkar in the 1990s to build a devotee network that has resulted in him anchoring several Utsavam events in North and Central India Temples

The anti hindi agitation of the 1960s impacted many quite negatively in the temple circles. But for this priest, the learning of Hindi has helped turnaround dramatically the fortunes for his family. 

In the 1980s, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Thiru Cherai Saranathan Divya Desam was in a terrible state. The original inhabitants had moved away from this Divya Desam. There was no salary, no devotees, no thattu kaasu for the hereditary priests. The utsavams too had stopped. And the priests wondered as to what lay in store for them. Their forefathers had served at the temple for several decades earlier but now the situation was so grim that they had to take unprecedented calls. 

In addition to the service at this Divya Desam, hereditary priest Gopalakrishnan Bhattar worked at the nearby textile mills run by the now renowned Raasi Silks. They had a factory near the Saranatha Perumal temple that provided employment to a couple of hundred workers. He received a few hundred rupees there.  Now 67, he recounts that phase in the 1980s at Thiru Cherai “Ours was a large joint family. I also performed Thiru Aradhanam at a few village temples but it was largely a hand to mouth existence in the 1980s.”

கண் சோர வெம் குருதி வந்திழிய

வெம் தழல்போல் கூந்தலாளை

மண் சேர முலை உண்டு மா மதலாய்

வானவர் தம் கோவே என்று

விண் சேரும் இளங் திங்கள் அகடுரிஞ்சு

மணி மாட மல்கு

செல்வத் தண் சேறை எம் பெருமான்

தாள் தொழுவார் காண்மின்

என் தலை மேலாரே – Periya Thirumozhi 7.4.1

Towards the end of that decade, he got an unexpected offer from the Rang Ji Temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan at a salary of Rs. 250. Being an historical location, this temple attracted devotees even back there. He served there for a couple of decades.

                                          Saranatha Perumal

His younger son 34 year old Venkatesh Bhattar who now serves at the Saranatha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Cherai spent his entire schooling life at Pushkar focusing on academics. He credits  the great devotee support in the region for the sustenance there  “My school fees were taken care of by devotees. They also paid for a lot of our expenses.”

Under the mentorship of Therazhundur Bhattars

At the turn of the century, the family returned to Thiru Cherai and immediately Gopalakrishna Bhattar entrusted the then 16year old Venkatesh to Kannan Bhattar and his son Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur Aamaruvippan Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/therazhundur-vasan-bhattar.html). 

Venkatesh Bhattar dedicates his entire life to the two priests at Therazhundur “They took great care of me. I spent an entire decade at their house. Vasan Bhattar saw me almost as his own son. I learned everything relating to Agama from him and his appa serving every day with them since 2005. Ever since, the Perumal of Therazhundur has been very close to my heart. Even today, I spend a lot of time performing service at Therazhundur. What I am today in life is only because of Kannan and Vasan Bhattar.”

At Thiru Cherai, the family has hereditary service of 7 ½ days each at Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi.

Hindi helps him bag big Utsavam Events in the North

His knowledge of Hindi and the network he had built in the North during his first 15years meant he received offers from multiple temples outside of Tamil Nadu. For almost 15years, he has been anchoring the Brahmotsavam at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Amritsar. “I did the Maasi Brahmotsavam in 2009 following the consecration of the temple. The trustees liked my devotion and the way I conducted the utsavam. A big comfort factor for them was the fact that they could converse with me in Hindi. They now see me as one in their family.”

                                  Ujjain Sannidhi

He has also been leading the utsavams at Ramanuja Koodam and Srinivasa Perumal in Ujjain and has been a regular there for a decade. There have also been other opportunities in North and Central India. “It has been a big turnaround, financially. The trustees of these temples treat me really well. They have great regard for our agamic knowledge. We are taken care of well on all fronts including financially.”

His elder brother, Varadaraja Bhattar (Vasanth) learned the agama from Krishna Kumar Bhattar of Parthanpalli Divya Desam and he has been serving at the Rama temple in Delhi over the last decade.

After the exit of Jawahar Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/04/pancharatra-agama-archakar-kannan.html) who had served there for many years, Venkatesh Bhattar and his appa also served at the Appakudathan Divya Desam in Thiruper Nagar, Koviladi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/11/108-divya-desam-koviladi-appakudathaan.html) on the Northern Banks of Cauvery. Almost a decade later, he married the daughter of the Paricharaka of this Divya Desam in a most traditional ceremony at the peak of the Pandemic.

While the move from Thiru Cherai was a tough call for Gopalakrishnan Bhattar back then in the late 1980s, it has now brought a windfall to Venkatesh Bhattar. Growing up in Central India, he took to Hindi almost as first language and became very fluent in conversations. That fluency in Hindi has helped him create a niche for himself through the utsavam opportunities in temples in the North. From the financial poverty in the family in the 1970s and 80s, Venkatesh Bhattar has turned it around and his future as a priest looks rosy. In the process, he has also created lucrative financial opportunities for close to ten other priests in the Chozha region as they too accompany him for the annual utsavams there. 

விளை வயலுள் கரு நீலம் களைஞர் தாளால் தள்ள

தேன் மணம் நாறும்

 தண் சேறை எம் பெருமான் தாளை நாளும்

உள்ளத்தே வைப்பாருக்கு இது காணீர்

என் உள்ளம் உருகும் ஆறே

There was a time in the decades gone by when priests in remote temples including in Divya Desams sat at the temple entrance waiting for a devotee to arrive but on most days in the year that proved elusive and they returned home without any financial returns. But now, this priest has a packed schedule through the year with very little free time. Brahmotsavams and Pavitrotsavams in multiple temples in the North and consecration events in TN temples as part of Vasan Bhattar’s team keep him busy. In addition, over the last decade and half, there has also been a turnaround at the Saranatha Perumal temple in Thiru Cherai with all the utsavams seeing a grand revival. Overall it is a happy state of mind for this young priest.

Thiru Cherai Saranathan Perumal Divya Desam is located just under five kms South of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam. Venkatesh Bhattar can be reached on 96002 46232

Nachiyar Koil Gopi Bhattar

The Largest Renovation exercise at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam is being single handedly anchored by this priest

The shifting of the HR & CE office from Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's Sannidhi will lead to the revival of the utsavam in his celebration every Karthigai star of the month

49 year old Gopinathan Bhattar has been the most recognizable face to almost the entire set of devotees at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Narayur, now popular for the Kal Garuda Sevai. He joined the temple as a teenager in the late 1980s to support his appa Pakshirajan Bhattar, who had served as an archaka at the temple for five decades. When he joined the temple, the scenario was still bleak with very minimal devotees, a low three digit salary and an almost non-existent Thattu Kaasu.

With his thatha and appa having served here for a large part of the 20th century, Gopi Bhattar was keen to continue the service at this temple despite the financial challenges. He discontinued academics in his early teens and learned agama from Seshadri Bhattar of Thaadaalan Divya Desam in Sirkazhi in the 2nd half of the 1980s.

Financial Poverty- Severe Hardship 

In the midst of overseeing every activity at the large scale renovation that is currently on at Nachiyar Koi, Gopi Bhattar recounts the phase when he came back to this historical temple town after his agama initiation “In the late 1980s, there were very few devotees. All the original inhabitants had left the town in search of jobs. Archakas who stayed back were ones for whom kainkaryam was everything. Unlike today, an archaka could spend a lot of time with God performing Thiru Aradhanam.”

"My appa had given up the hereditary service in the late 1960s following the challenging period when financial poverty the family and instead opted for a HR & CE salary. The low income that appa got in those days was not enough to sustain our family."

The Delight when the Outstation devotee arrived

Pakshirajan Bhattar had a 7 ½ days service here at Nachiyar Koil and 20 days at Nandipura Vinnagaram Divya Desam in Nathan Koil. It was with the paddy from the temple that the family survived that phase. In the centuries gone by, this had been in large quantities and that ensured financial security for the priests. But as decades passed by in the 2nd half of the previous century, the quantity began reducing substantially leading to financial challenges for the priest.

“Whenever he received Thattu Kaasu from rare visits from outstation devotees, the family was overjoyed and all of us would count the cash. Three hundred rupees on that rare day felt like a crore of rupees for we had never seen such money for several years” says Gopi Bhattar of those rare days of joy for the family.

The BIG IDEA- 7 week Prarathana at Garuda Sannidhi

One day, when Gopi Bhattar was still in his teens, he pondered over the options to turn around the fortunes of this historical Divya Desam praised in a 100 verses by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who saw Thiru Narayur Nambi as his Acharya. In the past, Nachiyar Koil had been one of the richest temples in the region with over 100 veli of land. Naidus were the ones who managed the temple as trustees prior to the entry of the HR & CE officials in the early part of the 20th century. All the utsavams were conducted by the temple. There was no concept of ubayams and donors. Not one rupee was taken from the donar for the conduct of the festivals. The devotees just had to be part of the festivities and offer their prayers to the Lord and seek his blessings. The trustees acted in a fair and transparent way and there was happiness all around.But in the second half of the previous century, there was a drastic turnaround for the worse. Prabhandham recital had been a daily feature at the temple. Smarthas presented Veda Parayanam every evening at Nachiyar Koil. Theerthakars were also present. Now there are just a handful. There are just a couple of Brahmin families in this once sacred town that had been praised with a century of verses by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar as one that was wealthy and prosperous.

While Gopi Bhattar was engaged in a discussion with Pichumani (Sirkazhi Badri Narayana Bhattar’s brother) on the turnaround strategy, he came up with the idea of a 7 week Prarthana pooja on Thursday for Kal Garuda. The pooja for 7 weeks was priced at Rs. 65. Over the next few years, a few hundred devotees took to this Prarthana and the word spread around about this new offering at Nachiyar Koil and more devotees began to visit the temple on Thursdays. 

While this was resulted in some improvement for the priests, things continued to be bleak at the temple and the finances were just not good enough for the sustenance of his family. Just under two decades ago, he took the overseas offer from Krishnan Koil in Singapore after a lead from Muthu Bhattar of Madras Sanskrit College. It turned around his financial fortunes immediately. In that temple, he earned in one month what would have taken him several years at Nachiyar Koil. Over the next decade, he served at many overseas temples including in Malaysia and Australia “After decades of financial poverty, the devotees’ belief in my selfless service led them to offer me opportunities in multiple countries.”

These stints in overseas temples led him to great financial security. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's scores a Century here

Thiru Narayur is one of the only two Divya Desams where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has sung a century of verses. He was initiated with the Pancha Samskaram and hence saw the Lord as his Acharya. Both the Madals – Siriya and Periya Thiru Madal are also dedicated to the Lord of Thiru Naraiyur. In his praise, he has described the town and its people as it was during his times, the festivals, the greatness of the Lord and has compared the temple with other temples such as Srirangam. He says that he saw the Lord at Thiru Naraiyur as the one he had seen in a handsome standing posture at Thiru  Venkatam.

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே 

The Green Fields of Thiru Naraiyur

During his times, the Lord was surrounded by Areca and Fruit orchards. The fields were fertile and different varieties of fish danced around in the waters. The Cuckoos came in large numbers and pecked on the Mango Trees. Peacocks danced to the tunes of the bees, swans swam in pairs and drank nectar from the lotuses and soon after slept around the lotuses. He also found Jack Fruit with honey oozing out on to the trees. Another stand out feature of Thiru Naraiyur was the huge Plantation fields where huge bunch of bananas were seen slipping out of the branches.

களை கொண்ட பலங்கனிகள் தேன் பரிய

கதலிகளின் தில்லை கொண்ட பழம் கெழுமித்

திகழ் சோலைத் திருநறையூர்

Ripe Paddy grew in the green fields along with beautiful red lotuses. Tall Sugarcane plants were also seen in big numbers in the fields of Naraiyur.

சீர் தழைத்து கதிர்ச் செந்நெல் செங் கமலத்து இடை இடையில்

பார் தழைத்துக் கரும்பு ஓங்கிப் பயன் விளைக்கும் திருநறையூர்

Flowers @ Thiru Naraiyur

Different varieties of flowers were seen in the groves of Thiru Naraiyur. The bees moved from the fragrant Shenbagam and Mullai flowers to the Vakula and Panal flowers. One still finds a huge Nandavanam inside the temple complex with huge trees. 

Mani Mada Koil

A speciality of the 100 verses in the Periya Thiurmozhi is a decad dedicated completely to Ko Chenganan Chozhan in recognition of the beautiful construction of the first Mani Mada Koil in a Perumal temple after having completed the construction of 70 such Saivite temples (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html).

முருகிலங்கு கனிதுவர்வாய் பின்னை கேள்வன் மன்னெல்லாம்  முன்னவியச்சென்று 

வென்றிச் செருக்கழுத்துத் ததிறலழிய செற்ற வேந்தன் சிறந்துணிந்தான் திருவடினும் சென்னிவைப்பீர் 

இருக்கிலங்கு திருமொழி வாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில் மாட எழுபதும் செய்து உலகமாண்ட 

திருகுலத்து வளச்சோழன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் திரு நறையூர் மணி மாட சேர்மின்களே 

Mani Mada Koil is a special type of construction to prevent the entry of elephants anywhere near the sanctum (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2014/12/thiruvanaikaval-jambukeswarar.html).

வம்பு அவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு

மணி வண்டு வகுளத்தின் மலர்மேல் வைகு

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணான் சேர்ந்த கோயில்

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே

Gopi Bhattar takes pride in the fact that Ko Chenganan chose this temple for his praise on Lord Vishnu and that makes it even more special for him. 

Round the Year Festivals

Thiru Naraiyur was a place where there were endless festivities all through the year.  Thiru Mangai Azhvaar makes a specific mention of the festivals there. He praises Thiru Naraiyur as a place where one heard festive sounds emanating from the temple every day of the year and the Lord enjoying the festive beats on the streets. He says that Thiru Naraiyur was a place of ‘endless’ festivals. With the renovation exercise coming to a full completion, all the historical festivals are expected to be revived in all its grandeur.

வேள்வும் விழவும் வீதியில் என்றும் ஆறாத ஊர்

நாளும் நறையூர் நாம் தொழுதும் ஏழு நெஞ்சமே

The BIGGEST RENOVATION EXERCISE AT NACHIYAR KOIL

Over the last six months or so, Gopi Bhattar has been single handedly anchoring the repair works of the large scale renovation that is currently taking place at the temple. His appa had led the consecration in 1972 and 92. Gopi Bhattar was involved in the previous consecration that had taken place two decades ago. But this one- consecration is slated for end of October – is the biggest of them all and will see the temple receiving a big face lift. It is expected that end of October devotees will be in for a big surprise - a completely new look Nachiyar Koil. Following the consecration, it is also expected that a number of the historical utsavams will be revived including the Pancha Parva Utsavam.

As part of the renovation exercise, the entire flooring within the temple complex is being re-laid, a large part of it with traditional Karungal. For the first time, the temple will see modern electrical wiring system. In the past, one had seen wires hanging around every where inside the temple complex but come November, it will all be concealed. The huge tank North of the temple is being completely refurbished.

50 years ago, like in Srirangam, this temple had seen additional construction. The EO is keen for those to be removed for it will bring additional sunlight into the temple as well as provide for more open spaces.  One will know in the next couple of months if these new construction of recent decades will be brought down.

The Brahmotsavam will be back to street processions including the Kal Garuda procession from this Margazhi as also the Theppotsavam in the new look temple tank.

A facelift to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had accorded the greatest praise for the Lord of Thiru Narayur and this temple town. But unforuntately, in the decades gone by, he was relegated to the background and had become almost non existent at this temple for the HRCE office had come to occupy the space in front of his Sannidhi. One found two wheelers parked in front of the sannidhi. In fact, most devotees who have visited the temple in the last few decades would not have known the presence of a Sannidhi for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and the handsome looking moolavar idol. As part of the current renovation exercise, the shifting of the office to another location within the temple complex has meant that the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar sannidhi will wear a new look in the coming months. Every month on the Karthigai start, Perumal and Thayar will make their way to his Sannidhi for Oonjal Utsavam and one can look forward to a full fledged revival of the celebrations of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's greatness and his contribution to this temple. 

A Solo Effort through his huge devotee network

Carrying out such large scale repair works saps one’s energy. Gopi Bhattar has been working tirelessly over the last nine months talking to his huge network of devotees that he has built over the three decades of his service to take up the works. While it is a HRCE temple, it is Gopi Bhattar who is shouldering the entire responsibility both in terms of getting the donors as well as overseeing the renovation works. Not many devotees are aware of the Western entrance at this temple. Gopi Bhattar is also working towards strengthening the western gopuram and maybe someday in the future this entrance too will be reopened for devotees.

While he has been away at overseas temples every now and then over the last two decades and that has helped him financially, Gopi Bhattar's heart has always been with Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjulavalli Nachiyar at Thiru Naraiyur. There is a spark in his face whenever he is here serving the devotees narrating the legendary tale of this Divya Desam, the Mada Koil status accorded to this temple by Ko Chenganan, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar choosing this temple for his century and the like. He has always been a devotee's delight with his friendly approach towards them. For him, serving the devotee has been the top most priority and he has during these three decades ensured that every devotee leaves the temple with a sense of happiness and a good feel. 

When the consecration takes place in the last week of October, the entire credit for this major exercise should go to Gopinathan Bhattar for he has put his life and soul into this large scale project and taken the entire responsibility on himself to manage this end to end without a single rupee of funding from the HR & CE. 

Those interested in supporting the final phase of the renovation and the consecration may contact him on: 94435 97388