Thottiyam Thiru Venkatam Bhattar

Now touching 60, this Bhattar has performed Kainkaryam at the Veda Narayana Perumal temple for over four decades from the early 1980s 

Unmindful of the low salary in the 80s and 90s, he performed archaka service with great devotional commitment and is looking to serve the Lord for the rest of his life

S Thiruvenkatam was roped in by his uncle Lakshmana Bhattar to the Veda Narayana Perumal temple in Thiru Narayanapuram, 4kms from Thottiyam when he was just 15 years old having just completed his class X at Musiri. In the 1980s, he learned the Pancharatra Agama from Rangaraja Bhattar of Srirangam and the temple pooja kramas from his uncle, under whose tutelage he started out at this temple. 

Once upon a time this temple had been vibrant with Sripatham personnel coming from the Ranganathaswamy temple for the big utsavams but that has now become history. So too have many of the processions that were integral to this temple. There were processions on the occasion of Amavasya, Shravanam and Ekadasi but with the dwindling crowd and with most of the original inhabitants having left the town these have come to a halt.

The few Brahmin families that resided here left this temple town to larger cities in the 1970s and 80s and thus it was a difficult time for the archakas during the phase he joined. There were neither devotees nor much of a Thattu Kaasu in that earlier period of his service at this temple. There was no salary too when he came here to support his uncle in archaka service. It was only in the mid-1980s was he paid a salary of Rs. 300 per month. He stayed at his uncle’s house just opposite the temple on the South Street.

The serene village amidst a lot of greenery attracted the young boy and he has remained here serving Veda Narayana Perumal for over four decades. Unmindful of the financial challenges, it has been Thiruvenkatam Bhattar who has managed the temple for a large part over the last four decades. Performing homam and wedding activities, he managed to secure some additional income needed to run his family.

He is now touching 60 and it will be time for retirement soon but its unlikely the HR&CE will let go of his services for there may not be many who would be interested to perform such Kainkaryam in a remote temple. He told this writer on a quiet Thursday morning at the temple last week that he feels blessed to have got such an opportunity to serve at a historical for four decades without a break “When I was studying in school, I did not visualise that I would be performing archaka service for such a long time in such a historical temple where Veda Narayana Perumal is seen in a unique Sayana Kolam with the four Vedas by his side and the presence of 3 year old Prahalada in a standing posture at his feet. It is really a blessed feeling to have performed Kainkaryam every day for 40 years at this temple.”

Vedic Initiation to Brahmma

Brahmma once turned arrogant as he was the only one who could ‘create’ things in this world. Wanting to teach him a lesson, Lord Vishnu created a unique idol that left Brahmma wondering about its creator. When asked, Lord Vishnu feigned ignorance saying that Brahmma was the only one bestowed with the rights of creation. While agreeing to this, Brahmma questioned the Lord as to who could have created this image and how this could have appeared without his knowledge and approval.

Lord Vishnu brought the truth before Brahmma and a message to the people at large saying that we should do what is expected of us. However, we should not become arrogant as a result of the exclusive/ special powers given to us. Realising his folly, Brahmma requested the Lord for the initiation of the Vedas. As he initiated the Vedic lessons to Brahmma, the Lord is referred to here as ‘Veda Narayanan’. 

Pillai Thiru Naraiyur Araiyar Abhimana Kshetram

Thiru Naraiyur Araiyar came here with his wife and 6 children in the hope of finding Moksham. One night, the leaves from the palm tree at the temple caught fire. Shocked at seeing this, Thiru Naraiyur Araiyar immediately threw his 6 children towards the Lord as a cover for him and to protect him from the raging flames. Unfortunately, the Lord continued to burn. Araiyar then threw himself into the flames and hugged the Lord so the fire would not touch his favourite Lord.

Pleased with his devotion, the Lord appeared before him and granted moksham to the entire family of the Araiyar. Hence, this place came to be called Pillai Thiru Naraiyur Abhimana Kshetram.

Festivals- Chariot Procession attracts the biggest crowd

11 day Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi with the Chariot procession on the 9th day, 21 day Adyayana Utsavam in Margazhi and  Navarathri Utasavam in Puratasi take place at this temple. He says that the biggest crowd is seen during the Chariot procession and on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day “On most other days in the year crowd trickled in only in small numbers during the 1980s and 90s. It was only after the Samprokshanam in 2000 did we see the devotee crowd increase. The good news in recent times is that devotees have been visiting for prarthanai for education, wedding and also to have darshan of Anjaneya.” 

As Brahmma himself was initiated with Vedic Education, this is a special temple for those seeking success in education. Students who visit this temple offering their sincere prayers and place their books at the feet of Veda Narayanan are believed to come out with flying colours in their education. This belief is driving a bit of devotee crowd to this temple. 

Despite the challenges faced by him, he has got both his sons to be in the traditional space “My elder son performs archaka service in a temple in Coimbatore while my younger son is into Veda Parayanam in Chennai.”

Mei Kavalar Family for over 30 years

60 year old M Ganesan is now one of the Mei Kavalars at this temple and takes care of the security service. His appa had performed this service for three decades at a salary of Rs. 150 and Ganesan has now taken over after the death of his appa.

Ganesan has pleasant memories of this temple from his childhood days “There is a lot of land for the temple and the income was big in those days in my childhood. Processions were grand with devotees participating in good numbers. There were 35 people working at this temple such was the vibrancy. Madapalli too functioned with the cooks preparing delicious food. Devotees gathered in large numbers for the prasadam.” 

He says that in later years because of the low salary, most of the workers left the town and that led to many utsavams coming to a halt. He continues to live in a hut house and some how manages to run the household at this low salary of Rs. 900 per month.

For Thiruvenkatam Bhattar, the happiness of performing the Kainkaryam at the Veda Narayana Perumal temple is what counts and that is what has kept him going over a long 40 year period. He sees himself continuing to perform the archaka service at this temple for the rest of his life and lives in the hope that one day the devotee crowd will return in large numbers and temple will regain its vibrancy!!!

The temple is open from 730am -1130am and 430pm-8pm. Contact : Thiruvenkatam Bhattar @ 99766 11898