Kapali Temple one year Pushpa Kainkaryam stopped by HRCE

Last month, Kapali temple authorities ruthlessly and indiscriminately stopped the Pushpa Kainkaryam - Despite repeated promises made by the JC, the authorities have not given permission to restart the Kainkaryam inside the temple

On March 4, this section featured a story on the year long Pushpa Kainkaryam that a team of around 30 devotees headed by GG Sivakumar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/kapali-temple-pushpa-kainkaryam-gg.html) had been performing sitting every evening at the Navarathri Mandapam of the Kapaleeswarar temple. Sivakumar also performs voluntary service as a senior member of the Station Vigilance Committee managing crowds during the big utsavams at the Kapaleeswarar temple. 

Chief Priests Venkatasubramanian Shivachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/kapaleeswarar-temple-jayakanthan.html) and Balaji Gurukal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/04/kapali-temple-balaji-gurukal.html) too had played a positive role in the first phase of this Kainkaryam encouraging this team to perform the pushpa kainkaryam and present the flower garlands to be draped on multiple idols at the temple every morning.

ஆமாறு அறியும் பிரானே

அணி அரங்கத்தே கிடந்தாய்

ஏமாற்றம் என்னைத் தவிர்ந்தாய்

இருவாட்சிப் பூச்சூட்ட வாராய்

A Bolt from the Blue to the Kainkaryapakas

Unfortunately, out of the blue, the then Maniyakaarar of the temple (who has since been suspended for 'not maintaining proper records of Ubayadarars') told Sivakumar that one of the trustees had asked for the Kainkaryam to be stopped with immediate effect and that they could no more continue this kainkaryam. When Sivakumar asked the reason, the Maniyakaarar told him that the trustee had said that the navarathri mandapam was left uncleaned!!! 

Every devotee at the temple who has visited the Artha Jaama Pooja over the last year are eyes to the fact that this team keeps the mandapam 'spic and span' after the completion of their knotting work every evening. And how did the trustee suddenly find this as a reason after one year of service!!!

This came as a bolt from the blue to the set of Kainkaryapakas who had been devoting a couple of hours every evening for a year in this service of knotting the flowers at the Navarathri Mandapam and presenting the flower garlands. While a majority of the service personnel were mid aged women, there were also a few like IITian Shiv Priya Viswanathan who saw the pushpa kainkaryam as a great blessing of Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal to be bestowed on her at such a young age. The pulling back of the permission by the HRCE has come as a great shock to all the Pushpa Kainkarya personnel.

Kapali temple Trustees Tirunavukarasu and Arumugam too had been great admirers of this selfless Kainkaryam ever since it began a year ago at the start of the Vasantha Utsavam in 2023. This year's Vasantha Utsavam for Singaravellar is currently on at the Kapaleeswarar temple but sadly for the set of Pushpa Kainkarya personnel who had started this sacred service in Chitrai of last year, it has been an endless wait of over a month hoping each day that the permission for resumption of their Kainkaryam inside the temple complex would come from the temple JC. 

JC Promises to give permission to restart

Earlier this month, this writer met the temple JC Kavenitha to enquire about the reasons behind the stopping of the Pushpa Kainkaryam. She told this writer that she was happy with the way Sivakumar and his team had been performing the service since the time she had taken charge at the temple in June last year and promised to give them permission.

நிச்சிலும் தீமைகள் செய்வாய் 

நீள் திருவேங்கடத்து எந்தாய் 

பச்சைத் தமனகத்தோடு 

பாதிரிப் பூச்சூட்ட வாராய் 

A week later, temple activist and President of the Temple Worshippers Society TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) told this writer that he met the JC in her office reg the Pushpa Kainkaryam issue and she  promised him that she would give Sivakumar permission immediately to continue the great work his team had been doing over the previous year.

Refusal to permit Kainkaryam against fundamental rights

Days passed and when the permission was not granted, TR Ramesh tweeted on his X handle as to how the Kapaleeswarar temple authorities were not even allowing devotees to perform a pushpa kainkaryam inside the temple (https://x.com/trramesh/status/1779411464031261048?s=48&t=7YuQtV1XTGIFP11C5AgPMQ).

On Sunday morning, he told this writer that pious and usable contributions by a devotee cannot be refused by a public temple. "Traditionally and piously strewn garlands within the temple precincts should be encouraged. Flowers are perishables and should be draped on the deities as quickly as possible. Such refusal would go against the fundamental religious rights of devotees guaranteed by the Constitution of India", Ramesh said.

JC cannot interfere in Pooja and Rituals

He added that the JC of the temple has no authority under the HRCE act to interfere in the poojas and rituals and that this selfless service of Pushpa Kainkaryam at the Navarathri Mandapam should be revived immediately.

When Sivakumar met the JC to check regarding the permission earlier this week, she asked him to perform this service sitting on the floor outside the side gate next to the Eastern Rajagopuram near the Pookadai. Sivakumar found this insulting and refused. He told this writer that his team comprised primarily of women members and that he could not ask them to sit between the two side gates on the eastern side to knot the flowers.

அள்ளி நீ வெண்ணை விழுங்க

அஞ்சாது அடியேன் அடித்தேன்

தெள்ளிய நீரில் எழுந்த

செங்கழுநீர் சூட்ட வாராய்

Ruthless and Indiscriminate use of HRCE Power

When the JC and the Board of Trustees should be encouraging such selfless service, especially this one involving presenting flower garland to the deities knotted within the sacred temple complex, they have been dismissive of this Kainkaryam and have ruthlessly used their power to stop this Kainkaryam.

                           Singaravellar - Will HE provide an answer?

The tweet of TR Ramesh last week that had reached the powers that be at the HRCE headquarters and the State Government too seem to have not had the desired effect of reviving this sacred Pushpa Kainkaryam.

The Greatness of Pushpa Kainkaryam

Vaishnavite Acharya Periyaazhvar refers to the greatness of Pushpa Kainkaryam in an entire decad of verses called ‘Poochoodal’(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/krishna-poochoodal.html) and a ten day utsavam is exclusively dedicated to presentation of different varieties of flower garlands by devotees at the Srirangam temple every Chitrai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/poochatru-utsavam-srirangam.html).

கரு உடை மேகங்கள் கண்டால்

உன்னைக் கண்டால் ஒக்கும் கண்கள்

உரு உடையாய் உலகு எழும்

உண்டாக வந்து பிறந்தாய்

திரு உடையால் மணவாள

திருவரங்கதே கிடந்தாய்

மருவி மனம் கமழுகின்ற

மல்லிகை பூச் சூட்ட வாராய்

Sivakumar told this writer on Sunday that till this morning he had not received permission from the temple to resume the kainkaryam within the temple complex. 

After multiple representations and face to face meetings with the JC of the Kapaleeswarar temple, if the permission has not been granted for this sacred kainkaryam, one wonders as to what devotees of temples should do to serve the Lord selflessly.

Will the HR & CE minister PK Sekar Babu (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html) look into this issue immediately and direct the Kapali temple authorities to permit these sincere and committed devotees to continue the Pushpa Kainkaryam. 

Venu Srinivasan Anbil Nambi Temple Restoration

A decade after the massive restoration of the Srirangam temple, Venu Srinivasan is back with another classy restoration - this time at Anbil Divya Desam

Those that had visited the Vadivazhagiya Nambi Divya Desam at Anbil, located 6kms east of Lalgudi, a couple of decades ago would remember and recall the dilapidated state of the temple. Before a battle, Sundara Raja Chozhan, the father of Raja Raja Chozhan, had sought the blessings of Vadivazhagiya Nambi. Emerging victorious, he is said to have come back here and built the temple in its current form. 

A Deserted Temple two decades ago

In the not too distant past, there was a vibrant agraharam in Anbil. A Vedic Patshala was an integral part of the Anbil and a mimaamsa conference too had been held there. Historically, this had been a prosperous temple town, but by the turn of the century, hundreds of original inhabitants had left this Divya Desam seeking greener pastures elsewhere in bigger cities, reducing this ancient temple town to just a few traditional Vaishnavite families.  Things had turned for the worse and there were were very few devotees at the temple. Varadaraja Bhattar, the lone priest of the time, waited endlessly at the entrance for the next devotee to arrive. Many of the historical utsavams too had become a thing of the past. Joint procession of Vadivazhagiya Nambi with Purushottammar of Uthamar Koil to Coloroon on Maasi Magam had been the biggest festival of the year. 

Thiru Mazhisai Azhvaar's praise

It was a real low phase for the temple praised by Thirumazhisai Azhvaar. While referring to Lord Vishnu in his reclining posture, Thirumazhisai Azhvaar talks about Anbil (Sundararaja Perumal) alongside Srirangam Ranganathar, Appaala Ranganathar (Koviladi), Thiru Kudanthai (Sarangapani), Thiru Evvul, Thiru Vekka and Thiru Paarkadal.

நாகத்தனைக்  குடந்தை  வெஃகா  திருஎவ்வுள் 

நாகத்தனை அரங்கம் பேரன்பில் 

நாகத்தனைப்  பாற்கடல் கிடக்கும்

ஆதி நெடுமால் அணைப்பார்  கருத்தன் ஆவான் 

Venu is back in the Srirangam region

After the massive restoration at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html) last decade, TVS’ Venu Srinivasan is back in the region taking up the restoration of the historic Anbil Sundararaja Perumal temple. While the consecration is still sometime away, there is already a positive vibration at the temple. 

Revival of Brahmotsavam and the Chariot Festival

A couple of years earlier, Venu Srinivasan rebuilt the four sacred streets around the temple that too had been in a dilapidated state. This restoration enabled the new Chariot to run during the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam that had been revived after several decades. 

As part of the current restoration exercise, the entire floor both inside the Sannidhi and around the prakaras, has been re-laid with traditional stones. One now finds a beautiful nandavanam similar to the one at Singar Koil, Srirangam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/srirangam-singar-koil-transformational.html). A new electrical system is being installed dismantling the old wires that were hanging all over.

Restoring the dilapidated Madapalli

There is a full time paricharakar to present daily Thaligai to Perumal but he has had to work under stressful conditions as the madapalli was in a dilapidated state. This too is being restored back to its traditional state. The Gopuram and Vimanams have been painted afresh and will be unveiled during the consecration.

From Uthamar Koil to Kandiyur via Anbil Nambi

To find salvation from Brahmma’s curse, Shiva went on a pilgrimage begging for food, with Brahmma’s skull as the begging vessel. Every time someone filled the vessel with food, Shiva found to his horror that it vanished immediately. At Uthamar Koil (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/12/tri-murthy-utsavam-in-uthamar-koil.html), Goddess Lakshmi filled the vessel with food, thus ending Shiva’s hunger. However, to Shiva’s dismay, Brahmma’s skull still lay fixed on his hand. Shiva is believed to have visited this place from Uthamar Koil before going to Kandiyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/04/108-divya-desam-kandiyur.html) where he finally got salvation.

In centuries gone by, devotees used to walk across the Coloroon from Koviladi Divya Desam, a distance of 2 kms.

The Name

Legend has it that Sage Durvasa cursed Mandaka Rishi for making him wait at his ashrama and turned him into a frog. Wanting to get back his human form, Mandaka Rishi underwent penance at this place and his prayers were finally answered, with Vishnu appearing before the Rishi and liberating him from Durvasa’s curse. Hence, this place is called Mandaka (Frog) Puri.

Varadarajan Bhattar was extraordinarily committed to this Divya Desam even though there was not much income during the time he served at the temple.  Unfortunately, he died young leaving the teenaged son to take over from him. He would have been happy at the current transformation at the temple, the pooja kramam and utsavam revival by his son Aravamudhan and the physical infrastructure to its traditional form by Venu Srinivasan.

                                           Aravamudhan Bhattar

The Maniyakaarar of Ranganathaswamy temple R Sridhar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/03/srirangam-temple-time-keeper.html) revived the padippu on the occasion of Kaisika Ekadasi at this temple a couple of years ago. While this Divya Desam is in a remote location, there is already a sizeable increase in the devotee turnout as the devotional feel is back at the temple. Following the consecration, it is likely this number will only go up and the temple will be back to its glorious past with more historical utsavams being revived.

The temple is open from 7am-1230pm and 4pm-8pm. Contact : Aravamudhan Bhattar @ 90034 69591

Manakkal Nambi Varadaraja Perumal Temple

At the historic birth place of Vaishnavite Acharya Manakkal Nambi, this archaka family continues to perform service with devotional commitment

It is 9am on the Rama Navami day (April 17). The Varadaraja Perumal temple in Manakkal wears a deserted look. There are no devotees in sight but inside the Sannidhi Rajagopalan Bhattar is all alone performing a Thirumanjanam with great devotional commitment. His appa Varadaraja Bhattar had served at the temple for several decades till his death in 2011. Most of the original inhabitants have left the Agraharam with Natarajan, formerly of Kothari Sugars and uncle of Sivakumar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/04/sivakumar-infosys-to-namasankeerthanam.html), one of the few remaining old timers in this historic temple town. It is he who has organised the Thirumanjanam on the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami.

Avathara Sthalam of Manakkal Nambi

It was here that Rama Mishrar was born. He went on to become one of the most prominent of the Sishyas of Uyyakondan of Thiruvellarai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/thiru-vellarai-divya-desam.html). When Uyyakondan’s daughters found it difficult to cross the path from Cauvery as it was soggy, Rama Mishrar lay flat and asked them to walk over him.  So pleased was Uyyakondan with his service that he anointed him as ‘Manakkal’ Nambi and designated him as his successor.

Transforms Alavanthar

Similar to Kumudavalli transforming Thiru Mangai Azhvaar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/04/vedu-pari-thiruvali-thirunagari.html), it was Manakkal Nambi who reformed Yamunai Thuraivan. When Alavanthar immersed himself in his kingdom, it was Manakkal Nambi who resurrected him back to true the Vaishnavite way. When basking in power, Alavanthar refused him entry, Manakkal Nambi presented a special vegetable leaf to the kitchen. The food was so tasty that Alavanthar began to consume it every day. When Manakkal Nambi stopped this service, Alavanthar, on enquiry, came to know about the contribution of Manakkal Nambi and provided him a special entry anytime. It was then that Manakkal Nambi took Alavanthar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/07/kurugai-kaavalappan-koil.html) to Srirangam for a darshan of Ranganatha and transformed him providing him devotional enlightenment.

என்னுயிர் தந்த அளித்தவரைச் சரணம் புக்கு 

யான் அடைவே அவர் குருக்கள் நினைவணங்கி 

பின்னருளால் பெரும்பூதூர் வந்த வள்ளல் 

பெரியநம்பி ஆளவந்தார் மணக்கால் நம்பி 

நன்னெறியை அவர்க்கு உரைத்த உய்யக்கொண்டார் 

நாதமுனி சடகோபன் சேனை நாதன் 

இன்னமுதத் திருமகள் என்றிவரை முன்னிட்டு 

எம்பெருமான் திருவடிகள் அடைகின்றேனே - அதிகார ஸங்க்ரஹம் 

Avathara Utsavam on Maasi Magam

At the Varadaraja Perumal temple, the avathara utsavam of Manakkal Nambi is celebrated in a grand way on Maasi Magam with a Thirumanjanam and a street procession of Perumal and Manakkal Nambi. 10 day Gokulashtami is also celebrated at the temple.

Rajagopalan Bhattar has committed himself to continuing the archaka service that his appa and later his elder brother had performed at this acharya avathara sthalam. And that is commendable at a time when most traditionalists are moving away from ancestral locations to cities seeking greener pastures.

The temple is open from 8am-11am and 5pm to 8pm. Contact: Rajagopalan Bhattar @ 94883 91485

Manakkal is one km from Lalgudi on the Anbil route. 

Kapali Panguni Utsavam Nadaswaram artistes Pending Payment

Kapali Temple falters over traditional artistes payment, yet again

Over three weeks have elapsed since the Panguni Utsavam but the Nadaswaram artistes who presented at the street processions have still not been paid their Sambhavanai

Two years ago, this writer featured a story on how the payments to the Nadaswaram artistes including those who came from remote locations to perform during the street processions at the Panguni Utsavam of the Kapaleeswarar temple were unduly delayed. History is now repeating itself with the payment not yet made to the Nadaswaram artistes who performed last month at the Panguni Utsavam.

Many of these artistes had come from outside the city to present at the street processions in the evening. It is now well over three weeks since the completion of the utsavam but these traditional artistes have still not been paid by the organisers of the festivals. The invitation and programme schedule of the Panguni Utsavam says that the Nadasawaram artistes are being sponsored by Preetha Reddy and Vijaykumar Reddy, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kapaleeswarar temple. 

Interestingly, the treatment meted out to the popular and renowned artistes who presented Kutcheris  in front of the Navarathri Mandapam at the Vidayatri Utsavam following the Panguni Utsavam was in complete contrast as they were paid well and immediately!!! Why then this treatment to the traditional artistes who presented at the street processions and delighted thousands of devotees at the utsavam.

51year old Nadaswaram artiste Iyappan who hails from Thiru Mei Gnanam has been presenting Nadaswaram for the last four decades including in early years at the Lalitha Parameswari temple in Thiru Meiyachur and in Thirupengode near Vaitheeswaran Koil. He was devotionally excited along with his brother to present at the Panguni Utsavam this year. His forefathers have been presenting Nadaswaram for 8 generations and the message to the brothers has always been to continue and protect this historic tradition of Nadaswaram at temple utsavams. 

Almost a month after the presentation by the brothers at the Kapali utsavam and Iyappan is saddened at the treatment met out to the traditional artistes who performed at the street processions. He told this writer that Nadam and Vedam are two eyes of the Lord “The Nadaswaram artistes present in front of the Lord while the Vedic Scholars and Thevaram Othuvars follow the Lord during the processions. There is a great Sampradayam about Nadaswaram and temple festivals. My appa and Guru asked us to keep the Nadaswaram alive and protect it during our lifetime. Each Swaram is a Devathai and the belief is that they are listening to our presentation and blessing us from atop.”

"We felt blessed to have performed at the grand Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple in front of so many devotees. We only want to be respected as a traditional artiste. The Sambhavanai is a mark of respect to the artistes who delighted the Lord with their performance. To not be paid after such a long time much after the utsavam has ended is saddening. We console ourselves that we were blessed enough to present in front of Kapaleeswarar and that feeling is unmatched."

Blessed Feeling- Adikara Nandi presentation

55 year old Murugavel hails from Sithakadu. He performed on the Adikaara Nandi day, a day prior to Thiru Mei Gnanam brothers' presentation. He too told this writer on Thursday night that he considers it a blessing to have performed on such a special occasion in front of thousands of devotees. He says that Asthana Vidwan of the Kapaleeswarar temple Mohan Dass, who roped in artistes for the Panguni Utsavam, took great care of them organising food, coffee and water. "But to not receive the Sambhavanai for our performance till date is saddening but that is what Swami has decided and we have no complaints about that. The satisfaction for us is from the performance and happiness that we saw on the faces of the devotees" says Murugavel with a tinge of sadness at the treatment meted out to Nadaswaram artistes at the Panguni utsavam.

"I have presented during the Rishabham procession in the decades gone by at the Panguni utsavam and in those years the payment used to be made on the same day. It is a surprise that recently the temple has been delaying the payment to the Nadaswaram artistes. "

The artistes who performed at the Panguni Utsavam are hoping that the authorities will clear the payment at the earliest.

Srirangam Rama Navami Poochatru Utsavam 2024

On the fifth and final day of the Veli Kodai Utsavam, Namperumal provides darshan with Senkazhuneer flower garland at the Poochatru Mandapam in the Manal Veli

Earlier in the day, on the occasion of Rama Navami, he provide Serthi Sevai with Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar at the Arjuna Mandapam

It is the one day in the year when Namperumal, the utsava deity at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, provides serthi sevai with Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar. Just under a month ago, he provided Serthi Sevai with Ranganayaki Thayyar at the Panguni Uthiram mandapam. On Wednesday, on the occasion of the Rama Navami utsavam, hundreds of devotees lined up in a long queue at the Arjuna Mandapam to have darshan of this once in a year presentation with the daughter of Kulasekara Azhvaar.

Unlike many other Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, the Rama Navami utsavam is celebrated on the Navami (9th day after the No Moon Day) day in Chitrai at the Ranganathaswamy temple. It is the day of the coming together of Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar and Namperumal and the one day in the year when the otherwise secluded and almost unnoticed sannidhi North West of Arjuna Mandapam comes to light. 

Kulasekara Azhvaar's devotion towards Lord Ranganatha

King turned Saint Poet Kulasekara Azhvaar, of Thiru Vanjikalam, was a great devotee of Lord Rama and he had a special liking for Lord Ranganatha. He himself was born on Punarvasu. Relinquishing his kingdom, he came and settled down in Srirangam and was taken over by the idol presented by Lord Rama to the residents of Srirangam.He was so moved by the Lord of Srirangam and the devotion of the residents that he dedicated the first three decads of his Perumal Thirumozhi to the Lord and his devotees at Srirangam. With each passing decad, Kulasekara Azhvaar, from being a new entrant to this temple town showcases how well entrenched he had become at this sacred town and how he now knew the Lord very well.

தேட்டருந்திறல் தேனினைத் தென்னரங்கனை

திருமாதுவாழ் வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை

வாழ்த்தி மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்

ஆட்ட மேவியலந்தழைத்து 

அயர் வெய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள் தம் 

ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல்

அது காணும் பயனாவதே

After thus beginning with three decads to the Lord of Srirangam, Kulasekara Azhvaar ends Perumal Thirumozhi with three decads dedicated to Lord Rama including narrating the entire Ramayana in the final decad of ten verses. So heartwarming was his experience here in Srirangam that he wanted to give the hand of his daughter to the Lord of Srirangam. This episode of Kulasekara Azhvaar’s daughter being seated alongside Namperumal is played out every year on the occasion of Rama Navami utsavam.

Serthi Sevai at Arjuna Mandapam

On Wednesday (April 17) morning, Namperumal,  shining bright with the Rs. 60 Lakhs Kili Maalai that had been presented on the Panguni Uthiram day, made his way from his abode at 7am to the Arjuna Mandapam. Shortly after 3pm, devotees lined up both sides of the mandapam for this once in a year sevai. Chera Kula Valli Thaayar was dressed in a beautiful white silk saree and seated alongside Namperumal. The entire talk on this afternoon was around the daughter of Kulasekara Azhvaar. As the devotees stood in front of the two, one was reminded of the elevation of spirit referred to by Kulasekara Azhvaar in his Perumal Thirumozhi and there seemed to be a mood of true devotion reverberating around the Arjuna Mandapam.

மெய்யில் வாழ்க்கையை 

மெய்யெனக்கொல்லும்

இவ்வையந் தன்னொடும் 

கூடு வதில்லையான்

ஐய்யனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்

மையல் கொண்டொழிந்தேன் 

Adorning the new kili necklace

Kulasekara Azhvaar describes the prayers offered by the people of Srirangam. The residents are seen clapping their hands and singing the Lord’s praise as a group. He finds the loud beating of the drum, a scene probably during a festival. Describing a methodology to invoke the Lord’s blessings, he wants to roll on the ground and dance around in joy praising the Lord.

தூராத மனக் காதல் தொண்டர் தங்கள்

குழாம் குழுமித் திருப்புகழ்கள் பலவும் பாடி

ஆராத மனக் களிப்போடு அழுது கண்ணீர்

மழை சோர நினைந்துருகியேத்தி

எந்தன் மாலுக்கே

After a day long stay at the Arjuna Mandapam, Namperumal began his procession at 6pm to the Manal Veli for the fifth and final day celebrations of the Veli Kodai Utsavam. Being the Rama Navami day, Namperumal is welcomed at the three Rama Sannidhis on his way to the Manal Veli- Mela Pattabhiramar on the Western side, Kulasekara Azhvaar- South facing Kothandaramar Sannidhi and the Keezha Pattabhiramar Sannidhi.

Huge crowds thronged the Ramar Sannidhis on this evening to have darshan of the special alankarams at these sannidhis.

Around 7pm, devotees congregated at the Poochatru mandapam at the Manal Veli for the big event of the evening. Before settling down for over an hour at the Poochatru Mandapam, Namperumal provided darshan to devotees along the manal veli with Sripatham carrying him in a majestic walk to the South end of the Manal Veli and back. 

Saathatha Vaishnava clan's Pushpa Duppatti

Sathatha Vaishanavas (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2014/12/saathaatha-vaishnavas-saathaanis.html), the clan assigned by Saint Ramanuja to perform various services at the temple have also been assigned the task of making the exclusive summer garland for Namperumal on each of the days of the Poochatru Utsavam. Referred to as Pushpa Duppati, the special garland on the occasion of Poochatru Utsavam, involving a special skill and an artistic touch, takes at least three hours to design and create. 

Vaishnavite Saint Poet Periyazhvaar dedicated an entire decad of verses praising the favourite flowers of the Lords in different Divya Desams. In one of the verses, Periyazhvaar lures the Lord of Srirangam, whom he describes as one seen in a Sleeping Posture referring to Iruvatchi flowers.

ஆமாறு அறியும் பிரானே

அணி அரங்கத்தே கிடந்தாய்

ஏமாற்றம் என்னைத் தவிர்ந்தாய்

இருவாட்சிப் பூச்சூட்ட வாராய்

Senkazhuneer Flower Garland

Devotees were curious as to what the flower garland would look like on this 5th evening and the entire manal veli was abuzz with high expectations. And they were not let down with the Saathatha Vaishnavas making it an evening of Senkazhaneer flower garland. The priests draped Namperumal with the heavily weighing Duppati and sprayed the fragrant rose water on the Lord much to the delight of the devotees. Soon after, the Sripatham lifted Namperumal to display the special Pushpa Duppatti of the day to all the devotees gathered at the Manal Veli.

புள்ளினை வாய் பிளந்திட்டாய் 

பொருகரியின் கொம்பு ஒசித்தாய் 

கள்ள அரக்கியை மூகோடு 

காவலனை தலை கொண்டாய்

அள்ளி நீ வெண்ணெய் விழங்க அஞ்சாது அடியேன் அடித்தேன்

தெள்ளிய நீரில் எழுந்த செங்கழுநீர் சூட்டவாறாய்

Historical Poochatru utsavam at 1000 Pillar Mandapam

The Araiyar of the evening, Baradwajan Araiyar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/01/barathwajan-araiyar-srirangam-goair.html), who is also a Pilot, has an interesting view on the Sripatham lifting high the Lord to display the fragrant flower garland. Shortly after this episode, he told this writer at the Manal Veli that historically Namperumal made his way to the Poochatru Mandapam on the East side inside the 1000 Pillared Mandapam 

“At the far east in a now secluded and unvisited corner of the 1000 pillar mandapam was where the Poochatru Utsavam was celebrated historically. The entire East Uthira street comprised of Araiyars and they would present each of the verses of Periyazhvaar’s Poochoodal verses. Delighted at the devotional presentation of the Araiyars, the Sripatham lifted Namperumal high and tall above the huge Eastern wall built by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar so he was visible to the Araiyars through the entire stretch of the Keezha Uthira Veethi. It was also an expression from Namperumal to showcase his special flower garland to the Araiyars and ask them if they liked the ‘Garland of the evening’ as praised by Periyazhvaar."

Araiyar Barathwajan and his appa Krishnan Araiyar presented Periyazhvaar Poochudal verses on the evening at the manal veli.

A heavily weighing ‘Dhindu Thaavadam, Pushpa Duppatti’ and a fragrant Panneer on Lord Namperumal on the occasion of the annual ‘Festival of Flowers’ made it a colourful and devotional evening for the devotees. Sripatham carrying Namperumal with the heavy flower garland for well over an over at the Poochatru Mandapam was a remarkable effort and a display of their unflinching devotion. 

It was almost 8.30pm when the Sripatham presented another special walk from North to South end of Manal Veli providing another darshan to devotees of the Pushpa Duppati before he made his way back to the Santanu mandapam through the Nazhi Keettan Gopura Vaasal bringing to end the Veli Kodai Utsavam.

Well past 9pm and at the end of the day's events, scores of devotees head back to the Chera Kula Valli Nachiyar Sannidhi for one last glimpse of Kulasekara Azhvaar's daughter on this celebratory evening. 

Sivakumar Infosys to Namasankeerthanam

In the last three years, this Chartered Accountant has taken Bhakthi to the masses in a big way through his Namasankeerthanams

He is now planning to launch a Namasankeerthanam programme for students at a Vedic Patshala

Last year, this section featured a story on how Namasankeerthanam in his childhood days in Udumalpet was a big influence on the life of the now popular Upanyasakar Kidambi Narayanan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/09/kidambi-narayanan-upanyasakar.html). This story is about a Chartered Accountant who having begun his career at Infosys is now looking to spread the relevance of Namasankeerthanam to the nook and corner of TN Villages. 

From the legendary temple town of Manakkal

K Sivakumar grew up in Karpagam Gardens, Adyar to the recital of the sacred verses during Rama Navami and Navarathri utsavams with his appa, a Sales Manager at M&M, having moved to the state capital from his home town after his graduation. His forefathers hailed from Manakkal (a town near Anbil Vadivazhagiya Nambi- https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/11/108-divya-desam-anbil-vadivazhagiya.html) famous for the great Vaishnavite acharya Manakkal Nambi, a disciple of Uyyakondan of Thiruvellarai. Interestingly, Sivakumar and his team presented the Namasankeerthanam on the Garuda Sevai evening at Thiruvellarai last month.

என்னுயிர் தந்த அளித்தவரைச் சரணம் புக்கு 

யான் அடைவே அவர் குருக்கள் நினைவணங்கி 

பின்னருளால் பெரும்பூதூர் வந்த வள்ளல் 

பெரியநம்பி ஆளவந்தார் மணக்கால் நம்பி 

நன்னெறியை அவர்க்கு உரைத்த உய்யக்கொண்டார் 

நாதமுனி சடகோபன் சேனை நாதன் 

இன்னமுதத் திருமகள் என்றிவரை முன்னிட்டு 

எம்பெருமான் திருவடிகள் அடைகின்றேனே - அதிகார ஸங்க்ரஹம் 

Childhood - Devotionally Inclined with high academic focus 

His amma (a graduate in music) and patti were devotional singers and that rubbed off on the young Sivakumar in the development of a devotional mindset right from a young age. He actively participated in the Sita Kalyanam celebrations during the Rama Navami utsavam at Karpagam Gardens. He was also a Mridangam player and presented many kutcheris but as was the trend in the 1980s and 90s, the focus through most of his early childhood was to focus on academics and to secure good marks at Sankara School. By the time he graduated in Commerce, he was already well on his way to becoming a Chartered Accountant. 

Two decades as a high flyer in the Corporate world

He joined Infosys in Bangalore soon after his professional degree moving and was with them for close to a decade. Keen to come back to Madras, he quit the Tier 1 IT firm to join Payments Tech provider FSS, where he worked for well over a decade.

The Pandemic in a way came as a blessing in disguise for Sivakumar for it gave him the time to sit back and ponder over his future. Sitting in the prakara of the Anantha Padmanabhanaswamy temple in Adyar, he told this writer that he was keen to move away from a full-fledged corporate life to try and make a more meaningful contribution to the society “Until that point, I had spent over two hours each day commuting to my work place and back. The Work from Home model led me to performing Sahasra Gayathri regularly. That was a turning point in my life.”

Everyone in his family had an interest in devotional songs. “The Rama Navami celebrations that had been organised for several decades could not take place in 2020 due to the Pandemic. I was keen to revive the event the next year and consulted my Guru Panchapakesa Bhagavathar, who guided me through the entire process. I began presenting Ashta Pathi and performed Kalyana Utsavam at home.”

Gives up a full fledged corporate career

This opened the doors for Sivakumar and served as a trigger for him to get out of the mad rush of the corporate world and its hard deadlines that he had been part of for the previous two decades. “I evaluated multiple options including working for large multinational consultancies and taking care of Mutt Administration. And ended up at CFO Bridge, a firm of around 30 partners that offers shared CFO services targeted at SMEs and start up firms. This decision led to a ‘balance’ in my life and that’s when we began presenting the Sampradaya Namasankeerthanam on a regular basis from early 2021”, says Sivakumar looking back at the transformational decision to let go off the corporate career.

His Guru’s son Neela Krishna, now a marketing leader, was Sivakumar’s junior at school and he too had developed interest in Namasankeerthanam “My Guru asked us to present together and we began this exercise to take Bhakthi to the masses spreading the message that Namasankeerthanam is an important way to achieve salvation. It is the one form of Bhakthi where there is no discrimination of caste and anyone can sing. All that is needed is a devotional interest and once they are into Namasankeerthanam, it is likely that the common man will realise as to how it helps transcend oneself to a different level in life.”

Sivakumar is particular happy that there are a lot of youngsters now getting into Namasankeerthanam. While the group comprises of singers, harmonists and mridangists and a couple of them to perform pooja krama, a flautist too has joined them recently and that Sivakumar sees as a positive development.

Sivakumar’s patti, who was into devotional music, had presented Bhajans in the name of Gaana Smrithi Bhajana Mandali. He was keen to revive that and his group of around 10 members have presented over 175 Namasankeerthanams over the last three years under this same banner. The group have been presenting the Namasankeerthanam almost every weekend in recent times and the frequency is only likely to increase, going forward.

Forms of Namasankeerthanam

While Sita Kalyanam, Radha Kalyanam, Parvathi Kalyanam, Sastha Kalyanam and Rukmini Kalyanam are the popular ones, he says that theme based Namasankeerthanam including Guru Keerthanai, Perumal based songs and general devotional songs are also a way to take this form of Bhakthi to the masses. Ayyappa Bhajans are also becoming popular these days.

Devotees are now inviting Sivakumar and his team for namasankeerthanam at home events and this he counts as a welcome move. “This leads to Sathsangam and a positive vibration at homes. Namasankeerthanam should become an integral part of all traditional weddings” says Sivakumar.

A surprise move- Two Sons take to Patshala Education

Most interestingly, his two sons gave up regular academics and have instead opted for Patshala education. His wife Nandini who worked as a journalist with The Economic Times writing on retail and healthcare beats too has now become an integral member of the Namasankeerthanam team. “My elder son, now aged 12, came to me a couple of years back and expressed interest to take to formal Vedic Education at a Patshala. My younger son too has followed in his footsteps. It was a revolutionary and unprecedented step for no one in the family over the last 100 years or so had taken to Vedic Education in this way. The two have committed themselves to spending 8 years at the Patshala”, says Sivakumar expressing great delight at this decision of his two sons.

“This extraordinary interest of our sons in traditional value based education spurred my wife to take an even more active interest in Namasankeerthanam and she now accompanies me at every event.”

Namasankeerthanam as part of Patshala Learning Programme

Like former World Bank consultant Ramkumar who has now taken to serving Kapaleeswarar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/07/kapali-v-ramkumar-world-bank-to-sanyasam.html), Sivakumar too is in that phase to slowly give up the corporate life. As part of his next phase in promoting a traditional way of life, he and his wife have taken to administration of the Patshala. The two are also helping out the students with communication aspects giving them the much needed confidence to express themselves to the outside world. Having now immersed himself almost full time into Namasankeerthanam and spreading Bhakthi through this model of presentation, Sivakumar is now keen for Namasankeerthanam to be introduced as a form of education in Patshala. He is hoping that very soon he will be able to launch a programme at a Patshala. And when that happens it will be a big moment in his life for Namasankeerthanam would have received a formal recognition as an important Bhakthi instrument. 

While the Pandemic has dealt a deathly blow to many in this world, for this couple from Adyar, it has brought about an unexpected transformation towards a traditional way of life. From coats and blazers at the top tech firms in the past, he has now moved full time into sporting a traditional attire. Even as hot sambar rice prasadam is served at the temple after the noon pooja, Sivakumar signs off with a message that this is only the beginning and there is still a long way to go to make Namasankeerthanam an integral form of Bhakthi in the life of the common people. He is confident that with Periyava's blessings and with the guidance of his Guru, he will be able to play a meaningful role in taking this form of Bhakthi to interior parts of Tamil Nadu and to getting people to embrace Namasankeerthanam as a way to reach God.

Kapali Temple Staff Suspension

Unprecedented Development

JC Kavenitha suspends Maniyakaarar and three other staffers 

In an unprecedented move, Kapaleeswarar temple JC Kavenitha has suspended four staffers including the long standing Maniyakaarar.

The long Vasantha Utsavam is just under 36 hours away and on a hot Friday afternoon, Kavenitha, who took over from Hariharan last June, is busy looking into the audit papers for records and accounts. One does not often hear of a suspension of multiple members in one go at a HRCE temple and definitely it has not been seen at the Kapaleeswarar temple in the past. 

An angry JC told this writer at the temple complex that she is tightening the screws at the temple and getting the staff to create registers and records for every activity. These staff members have focused far too much on taking care of VIPs. In the first Panguni Utsavam(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/04/kapali-panguni-utsavam-2023.html) that she experienced recently at the Kapaleeswarar temple, she found many shortcomings and this led to the suspension of the staffers “The post of Maniyakaarar is not just one of power but of great responsibility. I found that there were no registers maintained for any abhisekam or ubayam. There were unnecessary additions to pandals around the Mada Streets during the Panguni Utsavam, many of which were without official permission”, she said explaining the reason behind the suspension of the maniyakaarar who had been holding this post for over a decade at this temple.

In February last year, this writer featured a story on how Maniyakaarar worked 36 hours without a break around the annual Maha Sivarathri utsavam 

“When I found him not carrying out his duties as expected of a Maniyakaarar with processes not being followed and records not being maintained, I decided to suspend him. As an immediate replacement, two staffers have been assigned to this post for the moment. It is a very important responsibility and I am looking to create a separate room for them within the temple complex so that devotees can reach out to them for any ‘Ulthurai’ issues and queries”, the JC said reasoning out the suspension order.

On Friday, he was seen handing out the pending papers to his colleagues at the office.

The JC told this writer that she has also suspended three others pending enquiry for not carrying out their services.

"For long, the staffers at the temple have taken their jobs for granted and felt that it was time for those failing in their duties to be brought to task. The role of the security is to be at the temple entrance. Instead, they are seen doing other work which is not within their purview”, Kavenitha told this writer on how she is keen to bring in transparency at the temple on all fronts.

The JC also said that she has spoken to the chief of the Sripatham on the specifics relating to street processions and to avoid unnecessary and long stopovers during the Swami purapadu.

For long, the EOs at the Kapaleeswarar temple had gone slow on the internal issues. In the past, there had not been a single suspension of a staffer. Kavenitha is clearly taking a tough stance. 

She also said that she has asked for a couple of EOs for this temple so she can focus on replying to RTIs and also legal issues relating to the temple.

It is a welcome development and inspiring to see a JC take a tough stance with her staffers. Recently, she has hired a few staffers who she assigned for the long and tedious ongoing Vastram auction to give them a feel on what temple work entails. "I have told them that this is not a 10am to 6pm job. Being assigned work at the temple is a great blessing and we should not see this as a typical office job looking to leave the work place when the clock ticks to six in the evening."

This story has been edited at 10.30am on Sunday April 14.

Kavenitha said that she is monitoring her staff closely and those failing in their duties will be taken to task. It is a great blessing to be posted at the Kapaleeswarar temple and every staff member has to realise his / her responsibility and carry out their duties diligently, she said. The JC is hoping that these measures will get the staffers to get more serious at the work place.

Manachanallur Bhoominathar temple Giridharan Gurukal

Your House Problems will be solved at this temple

Over the last 15 years, Giridharan Gurukal has successfully created a 'faith' model among devotees to relieve them  from their house related issues 

As with most remote temples in TN, the Bhoominathar temple in Manachanallur, that dates back to Agastyar period, went through a challenging phase in the 1970s and 80s. Original inhabitants had left this town in search of jobs.  Ramani Gurukal did not have money to even pay the son’s education fees. There was no oil to light the lamp, only minimal devotees. Thattu kaasu was non-existent.

Against this background, he asked his son Giridharan to focus on academics. He was also a sportsman and came third in the state athletics tournament in Avadi in the 400 meters in the early 1990s. He has a Masters degree and also pursued a M. Phil. He is now a school teacher in Pettavaithalai.

While he went this way, all along, there was a fire burning inside him that the temple had remained deserted and was keen to bring back devotees to the temple. Like in Nachiyar Koil, where the then bhattars created a Thursday prarthana model for Kal Garuda in the 1990s, Giridharan Gurukal created a prarthana model two decades ago, when he was just 30 years old, that promised to solve house related problems. 

A Namboodari from Kongu Nadu recommended the installation of a Vaastu Yanthram in the Moolavar Sannidhi. And Giridharan Gurukal actively marketed this with devotees.

Devotees throng Bhoominathar

It is just after 9am on Saturday and devotees are thronging the temple in large numbers, contrasted with the scenario a decade ago. Almost all the devotee are there presenting their house related issues to Giridharan Gurukal. He is vocal about the solution and the impact of the prayer in front of Bhoominathar. 

An hour later, another set of families arrive at the temple. These are devotee families whose problems have been solved and there is a certain delight in their faces. They are to perform an abhisekam and present annadhanam as promised earlier when they had come to the Sannidhi with their house related issues. Each of these families are grateful to the Gurukal for solving their problems.

Creates a Vaastu Yanthram Solution Model

Giridharan Gurukal later tells this writer that there was anger building up inside him a couple of decades ago having watched his appa struggle at the temple with no archanai, no money and no devotees.  Ramani Gurukal had served till he was 78 “My appa never displayed any anger at the state of his life and spoke very little. He would go from home to home to collect money for the special pooja every Krithigai. That was about the only day when there was some activity in the temple in those decades. Amma asked me to go to the temple but I told her that there was no income at all at the temple.”

This scenario at the temple and the silent struggles of his appa saw his blood boil “I thought long and hard as to what could be done to revive the temple’s fortunes and came up with this idea of Bhoomi pooja. The Vaastu Yanthram that I installed two decades ago is very powerful. On the first Sunday of Margazhi, I do an abhisekam and Rudra Yaagam for 14 hours. That provides results to devotees through the year.”

His brother Manikandan Sivan is the officially appointed Gurukal at the temple. Interestingly, HRCE manages the morning session while Thiruvavaduthurai Atheenam takes care of the remaining three pooja kaalams each day at the temple. Giridharan Gurukal has received an order from the Mutt to perform special pooja at this temple as a Kainkaryam.

In a dramatic turnaround, there has been at least 5 abhisekams every day in recent years. The scenario is so positive in terms of devotee turnout that Giridharan Gurukal now engages another priest to support him. There is also a person that he engages at the madapalli for neivedyam and anna dhanam. He happily shares his earnings with the service personnel at the temple as he is conscious of the life his appa led and wants those in the temple space to live a financially stable life. 

He is also happy that he has been able to solve the problems of several thousands of devotees each of whom back him ever so strongly. “We were so down with issues relating to our house and did not foresee an end to the problem. The way Giridharan Gurukal gave us confidence that Bhoominathan and Dharma Samvardhani Ambal will take care of us made us believe. And that real faith has helped solve the issue in no time”, a young devotee who is at the temple with his wife and two children told this writer on Saturday just after noon at the temple complex.

No oil to now 'only ghee lit lamps'

Giridharan Gurukal proudly remarks that during his appa’s time, there was no oil to light the lamp. And now ‘we use only ghee to light the lamp’. Driven by his appa’s financial struggles in the final decades of the previous century, Giridharan Gurukal, with creative thinking and a mind that focused on ‘revival’, has fashioned a remarkable turnaround much like the one at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam. Giridharan Gurukal is vocal and open in the way he communicates with the devotees. He asks them to express their concerns and suggests the solution loudly and clearly. From minimal crowd and no thattu kaasu, he has brought in crowds into the temple in large numbers instilling confidence and faith in the devotees and a belief that all their problems will be solved. And they seem to trust him completely.

The annual ten-day Vaikasi Utsavam is also now celebrated in a grand way at the temple. 

The temple is open from 7am to 12noon and 5pm to 8pm. Contact Giridharan Gurukal@ 9344769294