Sundara Perumal Koil wears a new look, Consecration after 80years

New look Raja Gopuram, Gold plated Vimanam, Repaired Vahanas but the HR & CE has taken back all the Utsava idols to Kumbakonam preventing the conduct of the processional utsavams!!!

Historical house of the priest has been brought down with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!!

For a long time, Sundara Perumal Koil located about 10kms west of Kumbakonam had remained in a dilapidated condition. A few years ago, ‘Bhagavathar’ Aravamudhan took charge of the temple as the priest after quitting his corporate job. Since then, activities have heightened at the temple with the revival of utsavams and crowds coming back to the temple in good numbers especially during the mandalabhisekam phase.

The Raja Gopuram that had a dilapidated feel about it has received a fresh coat of paint and wears a new colourful look. The young priest managed to rope in a donor to gold plate the kalasam for the inner Gopuram and also a gold plate for the Perumal Vimanam.  Taking away the historical feel, the entrance to the Andal Sannidhi has been replenished with new marble flooring. 

A Priest who served for five decades

In October 2009, this section had featured a story on the handsome lord at Sundara Perumal Koil but after the passing away of Sundara Raja Bhattar who had served as the priest for five decades from the early 1960s, the temple had been without a priest for almost a decade before the young Aravamudhan took over.  In the century gone by, Perumal provided Garuda Sevai on Tamil New Year’s day. There were also processions on the occasion of Krishna Jayanthi and on the Kanu day in Thai. 10 day Navarathri Festival too was celebrated in a grand way with Horse Vahana Procession on Vijayadasami. There was a four kalam pooja every day with sacred food presentations to the Lord that included Curd rice, Sundal and Sweet Pongal. In the outer prakara was a huge Nandavanam that was filled with different varieties of Jasmine trees. The Lord and Thayar were draped with beautiful garlands especially on festive occasions.

When this writer visited the temple in 2009 to meet Sundara Raja Bhattar, he was residing in the first house opposite the temple on the Sannidhi Street. The Mei Kavalar resided in the next house. Unfortunately, both these houses have been brought down this year with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!! One wonders as to why the houses that had historically been the residence of the priest and the Mei Kavalar will be converted to a Kalyana Mandapam.

A Grand Revival by a young priest

For the first time in decades, Perumal went on a street procession on the newly repaired Horse Vahana on the occasion of Vijayadasami earlier this month. Garuda Sevai also took place this year after several decades following the consecration. The priest, who also doubles up as the cook at the madapalli, has also managed to revive the Navarathri Utsavam for Thayar bringing in good crowd that had been hitherto missing. Thayar also presented Oonjal Sevai over nine days. He also organised the Anna Kooda Utsavam on a Saturday in Puratasi. The Thaligai presentation to Perumal too has been revived and during the utsavams this year, good quantity of Thaligai has been presented and distributed among the devotees, much to the delight of the local residents.

A devotee from Chennai has come forward to take care of the accommodation for the priest and his young family. The HR & CE too has almost trebled the salary of the priest this year.

Utsava Idols taken away to safe custody in Kumbakonam

However, the HR & CE has taken away all the utsava idols back to the Ramaswamy temple in Kumbakonam despite the presence of safety lockers at the Sundara Perumal Koil. This has meant that no processions can take place every month on sacred occasions and these are possible only when the idols are brought from Kumbakonam for select festivals.

After all the efforts to undertake the restoration efforts, this has come as a dampener to the residents as well as the priest. It is hoped that the HR & CE will hand back all the utsava idols to the temple so the processions can take place for Thayar, Perumal and Azhvaars and Acharyas.

Colourful Nandavanam

The nandavanam too is now abound with colourful flowers that are knotted and presented to the deities every day. However, the pathway around the outer prakara has been stopped half way by the HR & CE thus preventing the devotees from performing a pradakshina around the prakara. It is hoped that they will soon resume this work and complete the pathway.

Despite these challenges, good times are back at the historical Sundara Perumal Koil. And a lot of the credit for this revival should go to the young priest who has enthusiastically taken up the restoration work engaging with local residents, the HR & CE and the devotee donors.

Moolavar Sundara Raja Perumal is seen in a handsome standing posture.

How to reach

Sundara Perumal Koil is located 10kms West of Kumbakonam on the Thanjavur Highway near Papanasam. Buses between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur stop near the railway level crossing at Sundara Perumal Koil. Passenger Trains stop at Sundara Perumal Koil Railway Station. The temple is about half a km from the Railway station / Gate.

When here, visit Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/05/kalinga-narthana-temple-oothukadu.html) - 10kms from here.

Sarangapani Koil Vedantha Desikar Utsavam 2024

Cauvery Theerthavari in the morning rain, a vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Satru Murai event in the evening mark a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai

A feature of the annual Vedantha Desikar Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai is that it starts on Puratasi Shravanam and runs for ten days. The Sannidhi archakar, Sudarshan Bhattar, who also doubles up as the Maniyakarar at the temple is at the Desikar Sannidhi at 8am. There is a small devotee crowd trickling in on this misty Monday morning that also turns out to be a muhurtham day. As is the case in temples in remote towns, the archakar has to wait for everyone to come in. The Nadaswaram player is missing as he is out at a wedding. 

It is past 9am when Vedantha Desikar starts on the procession through the western entrance of the temple.  The archaka and the Veda Ghosti personnel take to their two wheelers to ride their way to the Cauvery while the Kainkaryapakas who don the role of the Sripatham carry their Acharya from the temple to the Southern Banks of the Cauvery wading through the busy bazaar street and past the Chakrapani temple.

Grand Thirumanjanam

It is a once in a year event for Vedantha Desikar on the banks of the Cauvery and it really was a grand Thirumanjanam with the Vadakalai Acharya being anointed with fruits, honey and sandalwood. The Cauvery river bank reverberated with Vedic recital even as a few ladies who had gathered to watch the Thirumanjanam almost in happy tears watching their acharya's face and body turn from Turmeric paste to Sandalwood paste. It is past 10am and the slight drizzle has turned into a heavy rain but unmindful of this, the Kainkaryapakas bring several Kudams of water from the Cauvery for the Thirumanjanam.

Shortly after, scores of them make their way down the steps and enter the Cauvery in pouring rain for the Theerthavari. Devotees are excited to dip into the river in this Thula month on the auspicious occasion of their Acharya’s Theerthavari.

Following the Theerthavari, Sudarshan Bhattar along with Vedic Pundit Kesavan, also an alankaram expert, decorate the Acharya for half an hour following the Theerthavari. Kesavan's aged amma is caught in the rain and unable to leave the mandapam. She is 'happily angry' with her son as she remarks that he was unlikely to finish the alankaram soon as he gets himself lost when he is with the Acharya.

It is 11am when Vedantha Desikar makes his way back to the temple through the flooded streets with  the Sripatham showing great commitment to carry the Lord back in the rain that did not seem to relent.

Thiru Mangai's special love for Kudanthai Lord

For Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, Thiru Kudanthai was a location that seemed to be close to his heart. He found great joy in presenting a separate Prabhandham on Lord Aaraavamudhan at this temple and the Prabhandham Ghosti brought this to life with their presentation of Thiru Kurungthandagam, Thiru Nedunthandagam and Thiru Ezhu Kootrurukkai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html) with Vedantha Desikar seated in front of the Perumal Sannidhi and listening with joy to this rendition.

நால் திசை நடுங்க  அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி

நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி

ஒரு தனி  வேழத்து அரந்தையை

ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை

After Mangalasasanam at the Andal Sannidhi, Vedantha Desikar returned back to his abode near the eastern entrance of the temple where devotees were served with Chakkarai Pongal and Puliyotharai.

A Decoration that delights devotees

Past 1pm, Komalavalli Thayar and Sarangapani Perumal made their way to the Desikar Sannidhi bringing to end the morning event. After attending a wedding in the first half, Soundararaja Bhattar(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html), known for his great devotional attachment to Sarangapani Perumal, arrives at the Desikar Sannidhi and for the next three hours is involved in decoration of the Divine Couple and the Acharya.

By 5pm, devotees have gathered in front of the Desikar Sannidhi to have a first look at the alankaram. And they are not disappointed. None of them are able to take away their eyes from the delightful decoration of the Divine Couple who are to provide darshan for the next four hours at the Desikar Sannidhi.

Vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti

At 6pm, the Prabhandham Ghoshti began their slow rendering of the tenth Canto of the Tiruvoimozhi followed by a fast paced presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthi. By 8pm, the devotees had flocked in good numbers ahead of the Satru Murai. By now, Karunakarachariar, who is closely associated with this temple, too joined the Ghoshti. 

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில் 

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில் 

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம்  கோயில் 

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில் 

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து  சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும்  தீர்க்கும் கோயில் 

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே 

After Paatraachar presented Sarangapani Perumal’s parivattam to Vedantha Desikar, the Prabhandham recital reaches its peak with the Ghoshti members presenting Adikara Sangraham, Prabhandha Saaram and Pillayanthaathi in high pitched voice much to the delight of the devotees.

It had been a long day for the personnel at the madapalli. Accolades poured in from the devotees after they taste the multiple sweets, Kaaram, hot Pongal and Puliyotharai that is served to them at 10pm. 

Karunakarachariar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/karunakaran-swamy-president-award.html) is particularly happy at the way the Satru Murai of Vadakalai Acharya has been celebrated at the Sarangapani Koil. The decoration of Perumal, Thayar and Desikar, the presentation of the Prabhandham and Veda Ghoshti and the quality of the sacred food makes him feel good in the way tradition has been followed on this evening. He stays back till 11pm and as he walks alongside Komalavalli Thayar on the procession from the Desikar Sannidhi to her abode makes the remark that it is always the Thayar who makes her way back first. 

Mosquito Menace - A challenge for all

Late into the night, he is critical of the mosquito menace at the temple on this evening and bemoans the absence of the HR & CE EO at this grand celebration and the lack of steps to control the mosquitos that too were present in good numbers alongside the Kainkaryapakas and the devotees.

Sarangapani Perumal's return procession to his Sannidhi past 11pm marked the end of a celebratory day at Thiru Kudanthai. It had been a long day for the Kainkarayapakas but the devotees who had gathered at the temple to watch the events unfold on the Satru Murai day of Vedantha Desikar Utsavam seem to have enjoyed the celebration.

Kapali Panguni Utsavam 2024 Nadaswaram artistes not paid after 7months

Pending Payment to Nadaswaram Artistes seven months after the Panguni Utsavam shows the HR & CE and the Kapali Temple administration in poor light

"We are not asking HRCE for a favour, We only want the money promised. They are insulting traditional artistes from remote towns by making us follow up" - Artistes who performed at the Kapali Panguni Utsavam 2024

Almost, seven months after the Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, the Nadaswaram artistes who presented during the street processions have not been paid their dues. As per the invitation (photo attached below) of the Utsavam, P Vijayakumar Reddy, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the temple and Preetha Reddy sponsored these artistes at the utsavam. They have been the sponsors for several years.

A couple of years ago as well, this writer wrote a story on delayed payments. That year, it was a matter of a couple of months but this time, almost 7 months have passed but the payments have not been made. 

This section had featured a story in April this year about the pending payment. Half a year has passed since then but the payment to these traditional artistes continue to remain pending. Interestingly, the same sponsor at the same temple made immediate payment to high profile artistes who presented Kutcheries at the Navarathri Mandapam soon after the completion of the Panguni Utsavam, as part of the Vidayatri Series. 

One wonders as to why the traditional artistes performing at the sacred street processions have been given this second-hand treatment and their payment held back for so many months.

Minister promises to solve this issue

When this writer brought this to the notice of the HR & CE Minister PK Sekar Babu over the weekend, he promised to take care of this issue and said that he would ensure that this long pending payment would be made. 

Artistes left saddened and disappointed

In April, Ayyappan, hailing from Mei Thiru Gnanam, one of the artistes who presented at the street procession told this writer that all that they are asking for is to be respected as a traditional artiste “The Sambhavanai is a mark of respect to the artistes who presented before the Lord. We console ourselves that we were blessed enough to present in front of Kapaleeswarar and that feeling is unmatched.”

Another artiste, Murugavel from Sithakadu, had performed on the day of the Adi Kaara Nandi utsavam. He had told this writer in April that not receiving the Sambhavanai even after one month was saddening but they have no complaints about that “as the satisfaction for us is from the performance and happiness that we saw on the faces of the devotees.”

Paid my personal money to my team members!!!

45 year old TPN Ramanathan also hails from Thiru Mei Gnanam and he presented on the second day at the street procession in March this year. On Tuesday morning, he told this writer that he feels very aggrieved and disappointed at the poor treatment of the artistes “Since my team members should not suffer financially, I have paid my personal money to them. Most of them are from mayavaram and around and not being given the promised Sambhavanai is very unfair. I followed up with Kapali Temple’s Mohan Dass anna for many months but he too has no answer. He keeps saying the same thing that they will receive the money but even he does not know when. What option is there for us other than to wait endlessly and hope that the Kapali Temple administration would pay us one day for our services.”

“I have worked hard for this. We are not asking for favour from the Kapali Temple administration or the HR & CE. They invited us to perform at the utsavam and we are only asking for what is due to us.”

Feel shy and embarrassed to ask but it is an insult to traditional artistes

54 year old  TPJ Selvarathinam hails from Thiruvisa Nallur  (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/04/thiru-nallur-sundareswarar-temple.html) has a doctorate in music. He came along with his troupe by train from Kumbakonam spending his own money. On a rainy Tuesday morning, the day when the North East Monsoon hit Chennai, he told this writer that he feels shy and embarrassed to even be talking about the pending payment. “We came only because Asthana Vidwan Mohan Dass Anna invited us. He was keen for us to present as he wanted traditional artistes from remote towns to perform at the procession. 8 of us came from Kumbakonam. Not only did we spend our own money for the train trip, but we also had to take care of our food and all other expenses. The temple administration did not give us anything – not even water during the long two hour presentation or after", he said in a very sad tone at the way the artistes have been treated.

"As a traditional artiste who performed at the annual utsavam of such a large temple, I feel embarrassed to even ask for this money but at the same time, my mind has been continuously questioning the fact as to why a the temple administration would show such disrespect to  traditional artistes who performed during the street procession on their invitation. We feel deeply saddened that such an administration would ill-treat traditional nadaswaram artistes by making us follow up for our payment. This poor treatment meted out to us would definitely bring a bad name to this temple administration at the way they are insulting nadaswaram artistes from remote temple towns", Selvarathinam told this writer.

One does not know why the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Kapaleeswarar Temple does not want to pay the money to these artistes after putting his name as the sponsor in the utsavam Nadaswaram programme invitation. Will the HR&CE minister intervene in this as promised and ensure that the payment is made to the artistes. Else this poor treatment meted out to the Nadaswaram artistes is likely to bring a bad name to the HR & CE department.

This section will track the developments on this front.