Srirangam Prasadam Stall High Court raps HR & CE

The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has directed the HR & CE to not commercialise the 'sacred food' and to not lease out Prasadam Stalls through auctions 

Six years after this section featured a story on the HR & CE converting ‘Sacred Food’ into a lucrative business inside the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed the HR & CE to not commercialise 'Prasadam' and to not lease out the Prasadam to outside individuals through auctions. In that story in September 2018, this section had highlighted the fact that the food Counter had been auctioned for around Rs. 1crore at the Srirangam temple,  a mind boggling Rs. 30000 a day while at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, it had fetched the HR & CE Rs. 65 Lakhs. This section had in that story brought to light the fact that food made outside the Madapalli and not presented to the Lord was being wrongfully sold as ‘Prasadam’ https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/srirangam-prasadam-stall.html).

Historical Practice at the Srirangam Temple

Till the 1970s, paniyaram at the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam was presented to the Lord and brought to Sri Pandaram(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/sripandaram-krishna-jayanthi-utsavam.html), where it was given to the devotees.  In that story, this section had stated that it was a tradition for the food presented to the Lord to be distributed amongst the devotees present based on the quantity available. It had also been a historical tradition and belief that prasadam of the God is to be consumed in minimal quantity and devotees typically shared even this minimal quantity handed to them with other devotees who missed out. The traditionalists who understood the process waited near the flag post at the Ariya Bhattal Vaasal and picked up the real ‘hot’ prasadam. 

With the HR and CE gaining dominance in the 1970s, the sacred food began to turn commercial. The focus shifted to generating revenue out of the open spaces in the temple. Out of nowhere, a small 200 feet space opposite the Garuda Sannidhi was converted to a food counter disguised as a Prasadam stall. But even the HR and CE would not have visualized the potential of this new revenue model, one that was to turn into a big money spinner for them across the large temples in Tamil Nadu. 

As decades passed by, the value of the stall went through the roof. The menu on offer had a luring element to it, so as to entice the devotees into believing that this was from the God. The devotees fell for it, the young and old, the modern and the traditionalist. Laddu, Athirasam, Chakkarai Pongal, ‘Mysore’ Paakku and Puliyotharai gave devotees the feel that it was Prasadam. Little did they know that this was food that was neither made at the Madapalli nor presented to the Lord. 

Sales sky rocketed and the HR and CE cashed in heavily on this opportunity to bolster its income from the temple.  It had become a full fledged business inside the temple. Over a 3-4 decade period, the HR and CE, across all temples in Tamil Nadu, coined the vulgar title of ‘Prasadam’ stall misguiding devotees to consume outside made eateries as the Lord’s Prasadam.

First the Devotional Wave, Now the Food Wave

Wrongs over several decades have now been formalized as the rights of the temple and have become part and parcel of the system, misguiding the devotee in the process. But like so many other twists that have happened inside temple in recent decades, the concept of prasadam and the way it has been positioned and now viewed too has undergone a dramatic change. A temple trip is now incomplete without the consumption of the now popular delicacies of the respective temple. A long distance had been travelled since the 1970s and this section had said in September 2018 that it would require a herculean effort to undo the wrongs that had become an integral part of everyday life at the temples in Tamil Nadu. 

That herculean effort has come now in 2024 thanks to a case filed interestingly by one who was refused the right to participate in the auction at the Ranganathaswamy temple. Last fortnight, the judge made the same point that this writer had highlighted in the story in 2018 and rapped the HR & CE on its knuckles by questioning the department's practice to commercialise the sacred food by leasing it to private individuals where those that are selling are doing it as a commercial activity to make money.  The court noted that whatever is offered in the temple as prasadam must have its own unique identity and a tradition as 'Prasadam' refers to the blessings of the deity. The court also questioned the quality of the so called prasadam.

This Wednesday on the occasion of Uriyadi Utsavam, a cook who prepares the sacred food at the Srirangam temple told  this writer that only Sun Flower oil is being used for preparation of the dishes that are sold at the Prasadam stall, a live testimony to the issue of quality of these prasadams. 

In response to the court's direction, the HR & CE has promised the court to look into the possibility of preparing the prasadam on its own through the sacred madapalli without outsourcing to private individuals.

This section will track the developments.

Srirangam Temple Popular shops shut down

Around 30 shops near the Ranga Vilas Mandapam at the Ranganathaswamy Temple have been sealed giving visibility to Thirupaan Azhvaar, Vittal Krishnan and Natha Muni Sannidhis

The shutting down of these shops is likely to help devotees have better darshan

       Thirupaan Azhvaar Sannidhi

The shops around the Ranga Vilas Mandapam that had become popular among devotees over the last 50 years have been shut down paving the way for better darshan for devotees. This follows a court order after the fire accident at the Meenakshi Amman temple a few years ago. 

JC Mariappan, who took over a year ago, has been strict in taking action on many aspects at the Ranganathaswamy temple and this is one such where he has gone ahead and implemented the order when many efforts in the past had failed.

Over the last decade or so, efforts had been made to vacate the shops that numbered over 30 but as has been the case in most temple locations, the shops managed to get a stay. But this time, under the supervision of the JC, all the shops that had been selling toys, devotional items and kitchen utilities have been sealed. It had become a practice among the outstation devotees to buy something from these shops after they have had their darshan and while making their way back from the temple.

Had been a good source of income to the temple decades ago

Located at the entrance of the Ranga Ranga Gopuram, these were too tempting for the devotees and the shops have been doing good business over the last few decades. These shops had come at a time when there was not much income at the temple and the rental income from these shops served as a boost to the temple at that time, several decades ago. 

           Vittal Krishnan Sannidhi

But after these shops came up in good numbers, the visibility to Thirupaan Azhvaar and Vittal Krishnan Sannidhis had reduced. Similarly, the shops selling kitchen utilities either side of the Natha Muni Sannidhi blocked the visibility to that Sannidhi located on the western side of the Ranga Ranga Gopuram.

 Natha Muni Sannidhi

A facelift to Natha Muni Sannidhi

With the sealing off of these shops, the Natha Muni Sannidhi has received a facelift and devotees have begun visiting the Sannidhi that had not been the case previously.

Former CFO of Wheels India S Srivathsan 

(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/srivathsan-cricket-to-tvs-cfo.html) has been a regular at the Ranganathaswamy temple over the last few years with his now 95 year old amma residing all alone on North Adayavalanjan street. 

He told this writer that though he is upset that the shops have been sealed and the shop owners will face financial hardship, he has suddenly begun having darshan at the Natha Muni Sannidhi in the last few days “I did not even know the presence of the Sannidhi in the past as the shops blocked the view but with all the shops sealed on either side of the Sannidhi, it has now received a facelift and more devotees are now likely to visit the Sannidhi.”

The physical structure of the shops next to the Ranga Vilas Mandapam will have to be removed for Thirupaan Azhvaar and Vittal Krishnan Sannidhis to receive the visibility. It is likely that action will take place once the shop owners take back all the items from their shops. This is also likely to make it easy for the Sripatham personnel to make their way through this stretch to the Ranga Ranga mandapam. 

If it happens soon enough, more devotees may visit the Vittal Krishnan on the occasion of Sri Jayanthi next week. 

The shops in the stretch leading to Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi that sold Thiruman and photo frames, among other items too have been sealed off.

A couple of weeks ago, the JC had made an attempt to similarly seal off shops in front of the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi and near the Jeer Mutt but with the shops asking for more time, he put off the decision to seal off but it is likely that in the near future those shops too would be sealed off.

It's unlikely that devotees, especially outstation ones, who visited the temple would not have bought something from these shops sometime in their life over the last few decades, such was the experience that these shops provided. 

These shops played a part in the devotees' temple experience for many decades and made good business but it's now time to bid goodbye to that 'shopping experience' inside the Srirangam temple. 

Panniru Thirumurai Raja Raja Chozhan episode Kapaleeswarar Temple

The legendary episode of Raja Raja Chozhan and Nambi Andar Nambi securing Panniru Thirumurai verses was played out at the Kapali temple on the first Sunday of Avani

As per the  Vaishnavite legend, it was after listening to the devotees' recital of Nam Azhvaar's sacred verse 'Aaraavamudhe' (Tiruvoimozhi 5.8) on Thiru Kudanthai (Kumbakonam) Sarangapani Perumal koil and after being totally swarmed by its content "Aayirathil Ippathe"( these 10 verses of the 1000) that Natha Muni wanted to listen to the 1000 verses of the Divya Prabandham (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/10/108-divya-desam-thiru-kudanthai.html).

The devotees themselves did not know the whereabouts of the other verses and not knowing where to go to collect the entire Prabandham verses, he invoked the blessings of Lord Aaraavamudhan of Thiru Kudanthai who directed him to go to Azhvaar Tirunagari, near Tirunelveli, to locate and compile the works of the Divya Prabandham. Having searched for the 1000 verses, Natha Muni managed to compile the entire 4000verses (Nalaayira Divya Prabandham).

Similarly in the Saivite legend as well, the Thirumurai had been lost. Raja Raja Chozhan, who built the Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/02/thanjavur-big-temple-kumbhabhishekam.html), was a great Saivite devotee and would often immerse himself in devotion while listening to the Thevaram verses presented in his court by devotees. Like the Vaishnavite legend, when he asked them for the entire collection, they said they knew only those select verses and were clueless about the remaining verses. 

He invoked the blessings of Lord Shiva who directed him to Nambi Andar Nambi, a great devotee of Pillayar. The ‘Elephant headed’ Lord pointed Nambi to Chidambaram and he took Raja Raja Chozhan to Thillai. When Thillai Moovaayiravars informed the king that they could open the Chamber only in the presence of the Saivite Saint Poets, Raja Raja Chozhan invoked the blessings of Thillai Nataraja placing the idols of the Saint Poets in front of the Lord (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/07/chidambaram-aani-thirumanjanam-2024.html).

The Chamber then opened and thus Raja Raja Chozhan was able to secure the Thirumurai for posterity. Like Natha Muni, it was Nambi Andar Nambi who compiled the entire collection of the Thirumurai – the first three of Thiru Gnana Sambandar, the next three of Thirunavukkarasar and the seventh one relating to Sundarar. He also added the compositions of Manikkavachakar and other Saivite Saint Poets and completed the Panniru Thirumurai with the composition of Sekkizhar.

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

Having thus secured the Panniru Thirumurai, Raja Raja Chozhan made copies of these and ensured that this reached the masses so Saivism was spread across the globe. He was keen that the recital is not restricted to a select few and wanted all the devotees to immerse themselves in devotion like he did in his court when listening to the recital.

This legendary episode was played out at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore on Sunday (August 18). Following an abhisekam, the four Saivite Saint Poets went around on a procession inside the temple at 9.30am before positioning themselves in front of Lord Nataraja.

Othuvar Sathgurunathan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/othuvar-sargunathan-kapali-temple.html), who organised two dozen presentations of the Thevaram verses over the previous 12 days by Othuvars from across the state, presented a verse from each of the Thirumurais in front of Nataraja with devotees in good numbers glued to his recital. He has been organising this Panniru Thirumurai Vizha in a grand manner over the last two decades with the legendary episode being enacted on the first Sunday of Avani every year.

Othuvars this year included Tiruttani Swaminathan Othuvar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/othuvar-tiruttani-swaminathan.html) and Subramanyam Othuvar  who served for many decades at the Kutralanathar temple in Courtallam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/07/kutralanathar-temple-hereditary-priests.html).

A One of its Kind procession

As a mark of respect to this great collection, the sacred Thirumurai books were taken out on a one of its kind procession on an elephant vahana around the four Mada streets starting at 10am.

Consultant to the PMO and ‘Sanyasi’ V Ramkumar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/kapali-theevatti-pmo-consultant-v.html), who has been carrying the Thee Pandham during every procession at the Kapali temple over the last couple of years, had been on official duty to temples around Kumbakonam this week. He returned in time to carry the Theevatti at the Sani Pradosham procession on an evening that saw a huge crowd at the Kapali temple till well past 9pm. Having spent 5 hours at the temple on Saturday evening, he was back again on Sunday morning to carry the Thee Pandham around the Mada Streets leading the Yaanai Vahana procession ensuring that vehicles were by the side during the hour long procession.

After a Maha Abhisekam of the Naalvar just after 4pm, hereditary priest Venkatasubramanian (Jayakanthan) Shivachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/kapaleeswarar-temple-jayakanthan.html), led his team for an hour long alankaram of the four famous Saivite Saint Poets. Just after 8pm, Sundarar led the procession from the temple complex followed by Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Thirunavukkarasar and then Manikkavachakar to the entrance of the 16 Pillar Mandapam where they were pooled together in a wheeled vehicle for the procession around the Mada Streets with a colourful canopy atop them. The procession was led by a new group of adiyars playing the Udal.

பித்தா  பிறைசூடி பெரு மானே  அருளாளா

எத்தால் மற வாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னை

வைத்தாய்  பெண்ணைத் தென்பால் 

வெண்ணை நல்லூர் அருட்டுறையுள் 

அத்தா உனக் காளாய் இனி

அல்லேன் எனல் ஆமே - Sundarar's first verse

Naalvars' return to the temple at 9.30pm brought to an end this year's Panniru Thirumurai Utsavam with the devotees who witnessed the enactment of the legendary episode recalling the event from a 1000 years ago.

If the adiyars followed the Yaanai Vahana procession in the morning around the Mada streets reciting the sacred verses of the Saint Poets, they owe its compilation to the great Raja Raja Chozha and Nambi Andar Nambi. The first Sunday of Avani every year is a fitting tribute to those two for their great contribution to the Saivite World.

Srirangam Temple Moolavar Photoshoot without Vastrams

The archakas have been directed by the HR & CE to remove all the vastrams and kavachams of the deity to facilitate a photo shoot

The HR & CE has ordered taking photographs of the Moolavar deity at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam without any vastram. The order requires the archakas to remove all the vastrams and kavachams of Moolavar and Utsavar in order to facilitate the photoshoot. 

In the order, a copy of which is available with this writer, a warning has been issued to those (read archakas!!) trying to prevent the photo shoot “Those trying to prevent the photo shoot and not adhering to this direction will be taken to task and severe action taken against them” says the order of the JC.

The JC states that this decision to take photographs of the Moolavar without any vastram is as per the court order.

It may be recalled that activists have been pursuing the case in the High Court of the idol of Namperumal being replaced during the previous consecration as well as changes having been made to the Moolavar Vigraham a decade ago.

Those in the know at the temple expect the photographer(s) to do the photo shoot at the Moolavar Sannidhi without any vastrams on the deity sometime in the near future.

As has been the way in the recent past, there are not too many voices within the Kainkaryaparas at the Srirangam temple opposing the moves of the HR & CE though one person that this writer spoke to earlier today (Sunday Aug 18) is apprehensive about this photo shoot becoming a reality and said that there would not be ‘Ekantham’ any more if all the vastrams are removed of the moolavar and utsavar and a photo shoot is done.

Over the last decade, this writer has written many stories on the trend of photo and video shoots at temple utsavams and expects photography at all zones within temples to become a reality in the future.

This section will track the developments.

Kapisthalam Divya Desam Seshadri Bhattar Devotional Commitment

The Octogenarian priest, who has served as an archaka for six decades, continues to live in perpetual fear of the Moopanars

Salary in the 100s, Breathing Issues, Wife on a walker, a Physically Challenged Son – Unmindful of these, he performed a Thirumanjanam, cooked and presented Thaligai on Aadi Pooram 

O. S. Seshadri Bhattar is now into his 80s and has served the Gajendra Varadar Perumal Divya Desam in Kapisthalam for over six decades as an archaka having joined this temple in the early 1960s. Five years ago, this section had featured a story on his devotional commitment amid terrible conditions. While the devotional wave that has struck the TN temples over the last decade or so has revived the fortunes of most priests in the state and the Divya Desams are now in a financially healthy state, things have worsened for this Octogenarian priest and he is still looking up for a turnaround in his fortunes.

In the second half of the previous century, Seshadri Bhattar was one of the most respected priests in the region for he had learned the Vedas and Agamas for a decade from the revered Oothukadu Sankara Ganapadigal at the renowned centuries old Raja Patshala in Kumbakonam.  He wanted to become a teacher and that may have given him financial stability in his life but the sudden death of his appa meant that the responsibility of the Divya Desam service came to him at a very young age when he was still in his teens.

That decade, in the 1960s, he ran a Patshala in Kapisthalam, a temple on the Northern Banks of the Cauvery, teaching over 20 students and creating the next generation of agama experts. Most of his students have done financially well in their lives but very few have come to serve their Guru or help him financially in his tough times.

Way back in 1963, when he was just 21 years old, Thiru Kudanthai Andavan of Andavan Ashram conferred the title of ‘Mantra Mani' for his rendering of Vishnu Homam for 20 hours nonstop in Kumbakonam without a water or a toilet break. But financial rewards have eluded Seshadri Bhattar all through his life.

Serious health issues but performs Thirumanjanam and Thaligai!!!

Recently, he has had serious health issues with breathing trouble and had to use a nebulizer for a brief period. Unmindful of the health challenges, he continued to perform pooja including celebrating utsavams. Last week, on the occasion of Aadi Pooram, he performed a Thirumanjanam. He has also been doubling up as a cook at the madapalli and presented a Thaligai on August 7 having woken up early to prepare the sacred food. During this month of Aadi, he has also been performing Thirumanjanam every Friday.

கூற்றமும் சாரா கொடுவினையும் சாரா 

தீ மாற்றமும் சாரா 

வகை அறிந்தேன் 

ஆற்றங்கரை கிடக்கும் கண்ணன்

கடல் கிடக்கும் மாயன் 

உரை கிடக்கும் உள்ளது எனக்கு 

A paltry salary - Poor Treatment meted out to him

Having started out with a salary of Rs. 16, he is still being paid a paltry sum in the hundreds and even that is paid only once a year. But despite the treatment meted out to him over the last many decades by the Moopanar family that administers the temple, he refuses to speak a single word against them and has been living in perpetual fear. He lives in a small old model house that is messy for most part. He has refused any large scale renovation of the house and continues to sleep each day on an old cot beside a table fan!!!

His wife who has been a pillar of support standing by him over the last several decades is also facing health issues and now walks inside the house with the help of a walker. His son has been physically challenged from birth and cannot hear or speak. If this was not enough, in recent months, he has lost the sense of ‘touch and feel’ and does not react even when he is pinched adding to Seshadri Bhattar’s woes.

Priests in TN shy away from this Divya Desam

This year, he tried to rope in young priests to support him but none of them have stayed over a month. The sub 1000 salary and having to cook in the madapalli as a priest would not excite any young priest especially at a time when there is lot on offer for them at consecration events and performing homam. 

Rides a TVS XL at 82 on the Kumbakonam highway!!!

Seshadri Bhattar makes both ends meet by performing pooja in two village temples. Into his mid 80s, he continues to go on a TVS XL bike on the Thiruvayaru – Kumbakonam highway riding 5kms to these temples leaving his wife and local residents worried.

Over the last decade, activists in the temple space have taken on the HR & CE administration in the poor way they have managed the temples. This Divya Desam is an example of how a privately run temple that is in the hands of the wealthiest is no better in terms of taking care of a priest who has served them and taken care of the pooja every day for the last six decades.

Tears tell a tale

On a hot Monday afternoon this week, Seshadri Bhattar wears a tired look and has no words to offer on the way his life is going. Lost for words, tears roll down his cheeks as he faces financial insecurity and wonders as to what the future holds for his physically challenged son. His wife gathers a bit of strength and says that her husband has lived almost his entire life performing Thiru Aradhanam for Gajendra Varadar and till the time his body allows him to walk to the Sannidhi, he will continue to serve the Lord at this Divya Desam, irrespective of the financial and health challenges that are hurting them.

This Octogenarian Priest serving at this Pancha Krishna Kshetram definitely deserves to be treated better.

Aravoor Karkodakeswarar temple restoration 2024

In a dilapidated state two years ago, this Kaala Sarpa Dosha Nivarana temple has seen a remarkable turnaround with like minded devotees coming forward to keep the HR & CE at bay and revive its fortunes with a Thiruppani that cost over a crore

Santhanam Gurukal is touching 70 and is a delighted man. It is exactly a month after the consecration (July 12) of the Mangalambika Samedha Karkodakeswarar temple in Aravoor, near Nidamangalam. In December 2021, this section had featured a story on the dilapidated state of the Mangalambika Samedha Karkodakeswarar temple in Aravoor(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/aravoor-karkodakeswarar-temple.html). 

At that time, the outer walls had been completely damaged, there was no electricity inside the temple and the prakara was abound with bushes. There was a thick growth of plantation atop the Ambal and Swami Sannidhis. The brick walled madapalli was in ruins. There had been no repair works of any kind for several decades and consecration had not taken place in a century. Adding to the woes was the fact that the HR & CE was pushing hard to take over the temple from the Thanjavur based trustees.

                                  Santhanam Gurukal (Aug 12)

From no hopes to a Grand Revival

At that time, Santhanam Gurukal did not labour positive hopes of this kind of a turnaround for he had multiple battles on hand and did not foresee an immediate resolution. He himself was living in an old house that dated back to the middle of the 20th century. But this Monday morning (August 12), he sported a big smile as he opens the Sannidhis. The 48day mandalabisekam is still on and is busy with the pooja activities in this phase. The good news for him is that the crowd is back at the temple bringing back positive vibration to this remote village temple. His forefathers had performed pooja at this temple for a century and he is delighted that he has been able to see the consecration in his time.

Taking this writer around the temple on a morning when the sun is out early, he says that there are at least a 100 people for the Pradosham. He expects a full four Kaalam pooja through the night for the Maha Sivarathri in 2025. Neivedyam is being presented every day for the deities in good quantity with the once dilapidated madapalli now sporting a new look. 

The village is named as Aravoor (aravam for snake in tamil) and he says that after the Mandalabishekam, devotees are likely to visit for Rahu-Kethu Parikaram as well as Kaala Sarpa Dosham Nivaranam. 

A Devotee undertakes the entire Thiruppani responsibility

His namesake Mayil Udayar Santhanam, a long-time resident of Nidamagalam belonged to a team of temple service personnel under the leadership of former Chief Election Commissioner Gopalswamy and this team had restored a 100 temples in the region and in 2021 had come forward to take up the restoration exercise of this temple too. He has been a resident of the East Sannidhi street at Nidamangalam, where he had supported and renovated the Santhana Ramar temple earlier. When this writer met him in December 2021, he was vocal that the trustees from Thanjavur should hand him the renovation orders so his team could get it back to shape.

                                New Temple Entrance - August 2024

It was he who convinced one of the trustee brothers (Sundara Murugan) regarding the importance of the revival of this temple both for his family as well as for the villagers. The Gurukal had stuck to the temple during its darkest decades and devotee Santhanam was keen to give this temple a new look to also make the Gurukal happy.

Devotees contribute their bit

It was also Santhanam and his team that kept the HR & CE at bay having had experience of having handling renovations in many temples. He too sports a happy smile on this morning as he sits at his home opposite that of the Bhattar of the Santhanarama temple in Nidamangalam and talks to this writer on how he went about organising the renovation activities “Devotees from across the region contributed whatever they could to this Thiruppani. There were those who donated in lakhs and several of them in hundreds and thousands. Every contribution was important for this Thiruppani to become a success. Interestingly, almost all the farmers in the Aravoor belt donated their bit and were keen for the temple to be revived."

He says that he has to now take care of the archaka salary and the monthly maintenance expenses "Our immediate next plan is to create a Nandavanam so flowers can be presented to Swami and Ambal every day and we are working towards that.”

                                           Devotee Mayil Udayar Santhanam

Rebuilding Gurukal's home

Devotee Santhanam is also keen to rebuild the archaka’s house for him to have a comfortable life at this old age “Santhanam Gurukal has been the backbone of this entire exercise. He stood by us and gave us the confidence that we could do this. This temple is very close to his heart having been associated for over half a century and he wanted the festivities to be revived.”

Dilapidated temple complex in Dec'21 - Swami Vimana, Madapalli, temple entrance

Karungal Thiruppani

In 2022, the entire dilapidated temple was brought down and over the last two years it has been rebuilt from scratch. The Karungal stones, that were an integral part of the temple, have been restored as is with a stapathy from Thoothukudi taking care of the Karungal Thiruppani. 

There had been parts of the temple that were brick construction including the Madapalli. Those zones in the temple complex have been restored in its same form.

Narayana Bhattar of Santhanarama Temple, Nidamangalam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/nidamangalam-santhanaramar-temple.html), who has just had a knee replacement, performed the consecration of the Rama and Lakshmana Sannidhi devotionally bearing the severe leg pain he has had over the last couple of months (this temple houses historical centuries old idols of Rama Sita and Lakshmana as well as Hanuman).

                              New Temple Complex - August 2024

The Pillayar Sannidhi too had been completely damaged and this too has been rebuilt. As this is a temple for Sarpa Dosha Nivarthi, there has been a new idol installed at the entrance of the Swami Sannidhi. There is also a separate sannidhi for Hanuman, Bairvar, Maha Lakshmi and Murugar.

Next Year's Maha Sivarathri

Santhanam Gurukal is already looking forward to a big night on Maha Sivarathri next year and believes devotees from all the neighbouring villages will congregate for the Utsavam "There were at least 25 archanais for the previous Pradosham, an indication that devotees are coming back to the temple."

Continues to live in a small old styled house

He had been given a large tract of farming land in this village in the last century and he continues to cultivate paddy there. He and his wife lead a contended life with performing pooja being at the core of his life “My appa passed away when I was in Class VI and I have been performing pooja ever since for the last six decades. My entire life has centered around this temple even when it had become dilapidated.”

The fortunes of this temple has been turned around similar to the one at the Varadaraja Perumal temple, Ayyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/08/ayyur-varadaraja-perumal-samprokshanam.html) with the renovation of both these being anchored by devotees. The home of Sowrirajan Bhattar at Pinna Vaasal had been completely refurbished by a devotee. It is hoped that Santhanam Gurukal’s home too would be rebuilt for it is he who has stayed through the entire dark phase for this temple in the late 20th Century and through the first two decades of this century.

The Gurukal's current focus though is on seeing through the mandalabishekam over the next fortnight as he heads back to prepare one padi Chakkarai Pongal Neivedyam for Swami and Ambal on this Monday morning.

The Karkodakeswarar temple in Aravoor is yet another case of how a real threat of a HR & CE take over has been kept away in a remote village through the efforts of like minded devotees who came together along with the trustee to restore this historical temple pooling together Rs. 1.10crores to undertake a two year restoration exercise.

Aravoor is four kms North East of Nidamangalam off the Tiruvarur highway. An auto from Nidamangalam costs Rs. 150 (Ph.: 75025 44840).

Devotees wanting to visit the new look temple may call Santhanam Gurukal on @ 9790473398 in advance.

Srirangam Harish Bhattar

This Mechanical Engineer was the first of the new gen Hereditary Bhattars to return to the temple from the corporate world

His move, in 2015, to quit a high paying banking job at 27 is prompting other hereditary priests to take a similar call at the Ranganathaswamy Temple 

The 1960s-80s had been a challenging phase not just for priests in remote temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/temples-lockdown-1960s-70s.html) but also for those at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, now one of the richest temples in Tamil Nadu. This section has featured many stories on the trend of the next gen priests moving away from hereditary service to jobs in the corporate world (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/bhattars-gurukals-move-away-from-temples.html). It was no different with those at the Srirangam temple as well. In March this year, this section featured a story on Aravindan Bhattar who continues to work in the IT sector with a high pay package (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-aravinda-bhattar-it-director.html). This story is about a priest who was the first among the next gen at the Ranganathaswamy temple to give up the corporate job and get back to the temple to continue the hereditary service. That decision is paying off well with the temple now in a glorious phase on the back of a devotional wave that has been hitting the TN temples over the last decade or so.

Stars in Academics, Turns an Engineer

Srivathsan Bhattar, popularly known as Harish Bhattar, performed creditably in academics. As seen in many stories in this section, sons of priests have tended to get into patshala education to learn the agamas but with close to 90% marks in class X (including 100 in Maths) , he was encouraged to pursue academics, and moved to a hostel in Thiruchengode taking up the first group (Computer Science) in Plus 2 with the family members and well-wishers feeling he had a bright academic future. Over a 1000 marks in Class XII Boards led him to an Engineering college and he was away for four years at Thiruvannamalai. With an early interest in finance, he then did a MBA from a college in Coimbatore. All these indicated a move into the corporate world and a life away from temples.

His appa, Murali Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/01/murali-bhattar-srirangam-temple-chief.html), had been in a Government job at BHEL for several decades and in line with the then trend, was keen for his son to have a secure corporate job. Harish Bhattar told this writer on a day when Namperumal made his way to Amma Mandapam on the Northern Banks of Cauvery for the Aadi Perukku utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/08/aadi-utsavam-in-srirangam.html) that most of his seniors and relatives were for him to continue to work in the corporate set up “The future for priests in TN temples had been uncertain. There had been talks in the air of taking away the Thattu Kaasu from priests. The prospects for those with Hereditary Service in temples did not seem too bright and ‘anyone’ could become a priest was becoming the order of the day. Given all these, everyone around suggested to a life away from temple service. Even the previous generation had been working in educational institutions, banks and in govt service for financial security as the scenario had been bleak in that period.”

Rises to Dy. Manager in the bank

Harish Bhattar worked for a brief period in an engineering firm in Trichy before his Masters in Finance led him into the Banking Sector. He joined a private bank where he was involved in selling Mutual Fund and Insurance Products, among other services. His passionate interest and in-depth knowledge in finance made it easy for him to convince customers in Srirangam and around and there was a rapid increase in the customer base, a performance that saw him quickly rise to the post of Dy. Manager. 

                                                 Appa Murali Bhattar

Quits Corporate life at 27, heads to the temple to continue hereditary service

While he was doing really well in his job and there was a fast paced banking career growth beckoning, he was contemplating quitting the corporate life for the requirements of aggressive pitching of  products was not to his liking. His early interest in the financial services space had led him to make strategic personal investments in Mutual Funds and he had amassed a fair degree of 'profitable investments' that, he was confident, would take care of his future, financially. His appa too was facing health challenges in the middle of the last decade with the doctor advising not to stand for long hours, a pre requisite in archaka service. A combination of  factors led him to quit the banking job soon after his marriage a decision that was not convincing to most around him “My appa told me that he himself did not have the confidence during his time to quit the Government job and get back full time into temple service and asked if I had the confidence to let go of a financially lucrative job where the future was bright and in an uncertain temple environment” Harish Bhattar told this writer looking back at the phase when he took the decision to quit.”

“I was also newly married and my wife was pregnant with our first child. She too was apprehensive at me quitting a bank job at this early stage in life with a young family and moving full time into temple service. And so were many of my seniors and relatives. No one in my generation had quit a high paying corporate job to move back to hereditary service. I was the first one to take such a call and hence there were doubts all around if this was the correct decision. But I had already made good investments with my savings from the previous years and I was confident that the Divine Couple would take care of my future. Right from my childhood, I was keen on spending my life in Srirangam and that made it easy for me to take this call.”

மறம் திகழும் மனமொழித்து வஞ்ச மாற்றி

ஐம்புலன் களடக்கி இடர்ப்பாரத் துன்பம்

துறந்து இரு முப்பொழுதேத்தி எல்லை இல்லாத்

தொன்னெறிக்கண் நிலைநின்ற தொண்டரான

அறம் திகழும் மனத்தவர் தம்கதியைப் பொன்னி

அணியரங்கத் தரவணையில் பள்ளிகொள்ளும்

நிறம் திகழும் மாயோனைக் கண்டு

என் கண்கள் நீர்மல்க என்று கொலோ நிற்கும் நாளே- Kulasekara Azhvaar on Devotion at Srirangam

He donned the role of Raksha Bandhana Bhattar even before he had turned 30 by when he had already quit the Bank job.

Challenges aplenty in such a large temple

Of course, with the huge crowd (it goes up to well over 50000 on big festival days) thronging the Srirangam temple, it is no easy task for any priest to manage the Sannidhi as Harish Bhattar found out at the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi on the eve of the Aadi Perukku utsavam. A visit of a former Chief Minister to the Sannidhi led to mayhem and the huge crowd became restless on Aadi Velli and Harish Bhattar was the one who had to bear the brunt of the crowd's anger.                               

Enjoys performing the Thirumanjanam

This is not a one-off episode. He has stood firm over the way he performs the Thirumanjanam and other pooja kramas. Far too detailed presentation of the poojas consumed lot of time something this writer has seen has not always gone well with others at the temple at a time when patience is at a premium. When the return of Namperumal from a procession overshot the scheduled time resulting in delay in the start of the Thirumanjanam, Harish Bhattar went ahead with his usual complete performance that further delayed the events of the next morning leading to the cancellation of (morning) vahana processions on a few occasions during the Brahmotsavams in recent years. This has led to him getting memos (a common feature these days in HR & CE temples!!!) from the HR & CE. But he is unmindful of these as he believes in performing his service in the way it should be “My Thatha has written and recorded in such depth every activity for a priest at this temple and that is the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) I follow. I gained the entire theoretical knowledge of daily as well as utsava pooja kramas from my thatha and the practical experience watching my appa perform from an early age even as a school boy. My process has been to follow those with unwavering faith.”

At the receiving end of activists

Activists too had been hitting out at him on many of the pooja aspects at the temple. Harish Bhattar is unfazed at such criticisms “If I have done a wrong as an archaka, I should correct myself and not repeat it again and should be thankful to those who help me correct myself. If I have not done any wrong, I need not be worried about any criticism.”

That is a model he has followed in recent years though in the initial phase he did find it challenging at the non stop criticisms that he had to encounter.

Childhood exposure helps

Even as a young teenager, Harish Bhattar had begun supporting his appa in temple Kainkaryam. He says exposure to Kainkaryam at an early age had given him the much needed experience. Also, since he had been at the temple from his time as a student at the Govt Boys School, all  the kainkaryaparas have been known to him for a couple of decades and that too helped when he took charge full time as an archaka “Teenage phase is an age when you are able to learn fast and are also not worried about the ‘shouting’ from others. My performing Thiru Aradhanam at Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi and Singar Koil as a teenager holds me in good stead today as it gave me a lot of experience and helped me build a long standing relationship with all the Kainkarayaras at the temple.”

Taking care of cows

For close to two decades, he has also been taking care of cows. Starting with just one in 2006, it grew manifold to 30 at its peak but when he decided to take to full time archaka service he gave away a majority of them to another Go Shala leaving him with just four. But this has once again grown now to 16. “I did not want to create a Trust and seek donations for this. I maintain it myself but it is labour intensive and requires personal attention. The Go-Samrakshanam activity gives a lot of satisfaction and I spend a lot of time with the cows, outside of my temple service” says Harish Bhattar on his devotional love for cows.

Hereditary Priests are making their way back to the temple

In the second half of the previous century, a generation of priests had moved out of temple service but with the return, in a big way, of the devotional wave in TN temples, the money is back in temples for archakas and that is driving many of them, especially in large temples, back into temple service. It is no more an uncommon sight to find a priest in a TN temple ride the high profile bullet and new gen cars on the streets of historical temple towns. 

As a front runner, Harish Bhattar has served as a successful role model for those priests in Srirangam who had taken to the corporate world over the last couple of decades. Another priest has followed in his footsteps quitting an IT job and taking up the hereditary service while one other priest who has joined a start up IT firm at a huge pay package told this writer that he too will be quitting the corporate job and getting back to full time archaka service that his Thatha had performed in the century gone by. And that is good news for the Ranganathaswamy temple. 

At the turn of the century, Harish Bhattar had spent close to a decade away from Srirangam  and then a few active years amidst the highly competitive financial services sector but had not enjoyed that life for his mind was always to serve at the feet of Ranganatha. 

Almost every day service through the year

He has a whopping over 250 days of service in a year in multiple sannidhis (including at Singar Koil and Uraiyur) and is fully engaged in this Kainkaryam alternating between daily poojas and utsavam duty. In addition, the temple (HR &  CE) has in its fold a few hundred days of service (those handed back by hereditary priests from the earlier generation) and a sizeable portion of that too comes the way of Harish Bhattar. While a two - three decade period during the peak of his appa's service was a dark phase for priests with those in his appa's generation having to work full time outside to make both ends meet, the clock has turned back a full cycle for this family and it is back to glory days as an archaka for this 37 year Bhattar as devotees throng this historical Divya Desam all through the year.

A star studded Necklace for Namperumal

Earlier this year, he had the opportunity to decorate Namperumal with a new diamond studded Kili necklace, one that he had suggested to a devotee who wanted to present an offering to the Lord "What I experienced in the corporate world in those few years after completing my studies and what this service at the feet of Lord Ranganatha has offered over the last decade have been at two extreme ends. Even if I were to have had an opportunity to rise to the level of a CEO of a company, it would have been insignificant compared to this Kainkaryam opportunity that several generations of my family who performed archaka service here have bestowed on me. There is a great deal of satisfaction in this service and the peace of mind is unmatched” says Harish Bhattar as he signs off moving back to Thayar Sannidhi Kainkaryam on a crowded Saturday evening.