Sriram Krishnamurthy CSK Academy Head Coach Two Years

This man coached Rachin Ravindra in Chennai to a set of series winning knocks late last year in the test series against India. He is now working on getting the next gen of CSK Academy cricketers to the highest level in cricket

Close to 25 centers, strong remote towns presence and an overseas expansion 

It is a Sunday afternoon and those he had coached during his long stint in New Zealand are to take the field in the Champions Trophy final against India. But 38 year old Sriram Krishamurthy makes time at short notice to talk to this writer on how his engagement with the CSK Academy has been. Rachin Ravindra has been in very good form of late and Sriram’s mind tells him that NZ will lift the trophy. In the not too distant past, Sriram Krishnamurthy made an impactful difference and played a major contributory role in New Zealand’s 3-0 demolition of India in the test series. 

Rachin Ravindra scored a century in the first test match and a 60 in the second. For a month prior, he had worked with Sriram at the CSK Academy on the finer aspects of playing in Indian conditions and taking on the Indian spinners and the results were there to see. He has just scored a couple of hundreds in one day cricket in the Champions Trophy to become an important all format player for the Kiwis. Sriram does not talk much about the players he has coached but a lot of the background work on Rachin being mentally and technially prepared for the India battle was done at the CSK Academy nets in Chennai by Sriram. 

Finally an association with cricket in TN

In New Zealand, Sriram Krishnamurthy had worked with the likes of Tim Southee, Kane Williamson and Wagner in addition to Rachin and Devon (Conway). While he enjoyed his overseas stints greats and continues to engage with those, he had always wanted to contribute to cricket in TN. And here he was in early 2023 making a move back to Chennai to fulfil that lifetime wish and to coach at the grass root level with young unknown kids who had not yet made a mark in cricket. “I clearly knew the challenges ahead of me when CSK approached me to take to the role of the head coach of the CSK Academy. They spoke with passion on where they wanted to take the academy and that resonated in me in terms of contributing to TN cricket, something that I had been wanting to do ever since I decided to make cricket my professional career.”

Sriram is also happy that his two young sons will be growing up in a traditional environment in Chennai and that they will get to see our rich culture at an early stage in their life, something that he and his wife really value.

Wants to see his coaches in districts succeed

In the last 2 years, Sriram has hired over 125 coaches many of them aged below 30 to work with kids in the districts and says that his greatest joy has been in seeing his coaches succeed “My biggest happiness as I look back on these two years at the CSK Academy has been the fact that the coaches here are in synch with my vision for the kids. If any of these kids are now beginning to make their way into the age group squads for TN, the credit for that goes to these coaches. From the outset, when we began hiring them, we knew that they have come here for a long term career and that they have to take care of the family. CSK has taken to this completely professionally and have provided the coaches with PF, Gratuity and other long term financial benefits. This is something unheard of in the past for a coaching academy. I believe that the coaches have taken a great step forward in the creating the next generation of cricketers who sometime in the future will play for the state and in other forms of cricket at the highest level.”

Sriram's success at CSK Academy

He is looking forward to the day when the entire coaching eco system at the CSK Academy will function independently without his presence “I have always held that even without my presence the coaches should be able to hold their own in terms of the coaching vision. I think we have been able to make solid progress on this front in the time I have been here.”

Sriram is happy that the impact of this coaching eco system is positively impacting the district cricketers, and boys and girls from remote towns in TN are now making their way into the TN age group squads as can be seen from their contribution in the current season.

Great Exposure for teenaged cricketers

2000 cricketers in TN are now being coached all through the year in the CSK Academy at different locations and a number of them are now getting exposure in league cricket in Chennai. Sriram is happy that some of the CSK Academy students are being spotted and picked by non India Cements team in the first division, an indication of the real progress made by these players. He dispels the myth that the CSK Academy is only about grooming players for the CSK team. “I have often heard this comment that this Academy is all about getting players ready for CSK. But as the Head Coach, my role is to create top quality players who will be ready to take on any challenge on the field.  Once in the auction, any player could be picked by any franchise and hence it is a myth that only CSK will have access to our academy players. They could play for any team in the first division or for any franchise in the IPL but they should be at home anywhere in any team.”

Sriram himself has recently had exposure to the IPL auction with him being present in an internal mock auction of CSK, again something that surprised him as an opportunity.

CSK Academy growing rapidly

When this section wrote a story on Sriram after he decided to move from the Kiwi land to Chennai in early 2023 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/11/sriram-krishnamurthy-head-coach-super.html), CSK Academy had just two centers. But in these 24 months, it is touching on 25 and expanding rapidly including in overseas locations. The academy is focusing on Tier 2 and 3 towns in Tamil Nadu and very soon will expand into more smaller towns.

Sriram is delighted that the CSK Academy management has given him opportunity to even engage in business conversations and that is something he had not expected. He feels that he has been greatly empowered by the CSK management “Kasi (Sir), George (Anna), Louis ( Anna) and the small sized leadership team have given me great exposure by allowing me to engage with prospective franchisees for our academy expansion. And that has been a great opportunity for me to enter into the business side in addition to the coaching aspect that is core to my job. It was yet another occasion when they made me feel that my opinion counts.” 

National Teams- opportunities come his way

During these two years, CSK has given him the freedom and flexibility to coach international teams like he had when he was in New Zealand earlier. In the recent past, Sriram Krishnamurthy has coached the NZ women’s team in Sri Lanka and the West Indian A team. He has also been the head coach of the NZ A team. He also put through a deal between CSK and NZ board that resulted in Black Cap players coming to the CSK Academy to train.

In December last, Sriram was invited by the West Indies board to coach their players at their national camp. Once again, Sriram says that CSK was kind enough to allow him to take up this opportunity and this has allowed him to enjoy the best of both worlds – engaging with international cricketers as well as coaching at the grass roots level in Tamil Nadu. 

Later this year, he will be engaging with the West Indies players during their tour to India.

 

World Class cricket infra in the TN Districts

The CEO of CSK KS Viswanathan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/02/ks-viswanathan-tnca-bcci-ipl.html) is pleased with the progress made by CSK Academy. "In a short period of time, we have been able to attract good coaches as well as students in thousands to our academy. Having come from a small town (Kallidaikuruchi) near Tirunelveli, the cricketing opportunities in South TN were very limited in the 1960s and 70s and I had to come to Chennai to get the much needed exposure. Today through our CSK academy we have been able to take cricket coaching to the interiors of the state and young boys in the districts now have access to the best of cricketing infrastructure and the results are there to see with district cricketers making their way into the state squad in age group cricket."

"Also, as a business opportunity, the CSK brand has been able to attract franchisees in small towns in TN and that has helped expand the CSK Academy network quite rapidly in the last two years."

His Big Cricketing Wish

The India New Zealand final is just a few minutes away and this writer has long overshot his time. Sriram is eager to get to the match and leaves the conversation in a happy frame of mind looking back at what has been a glorious two years at the CSK Academy with a big wish of one day coaching a national team to a World Cup victory. Despite all his achievements, Sriram Krishnamurthy likes to remain low profile focusing on the job at hand. This section will write a story when that big dream becomes a reality some day in the future but for the moment he has moved on to watch Rachin Ravindra in action in the Champions Trophy final.

Thanjavur Railway Station Battery Shuttle service

End of the road for the 'Red Shirted' Porters at Railway Stations

The battery operated passenger ferry service is gaining popularity among train travellers. At the Thanjavur Station, the service that picks passengers especially senior citizens from one platform to another for a fee of Rs. 30 (per passenger) has caught the fancy. 

On any day, each battery cab does at least a 100 drops. The passengers have also found this service useful when their compartment is right in front near the engine while the entrance to the station is at the rear of platform 1. 

The operator told this writer on Thursday that this is particularly popular for passengers boarding the Uzhavan and Chozhan express. 

Also, this service is useful for this alighting at the Thanjavur stations on platforms 2 or 3 for them to make it to the entrance on platform 1. 

In the decades gone by, one had been accustomed to porters in red shirt picking up heavy luggage and taking passengers to the compartments. With the development of technology, porters have been replaced by battery operated shuttle service between platforms, signifying in a way the end of the red shirted porter service. 

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thanjavur-station-retiring-room-bathing.html

Thiruvanaikaval Ko Chenganan Maasi Sathayam

Remembering and Celebrating the Chozha King’s first Mada Koil in a Grand Style with a Royal Procession around the four streets 

On the occasion of Maasi Sathayam, the great Chozha King Ko Chenganan, who built the first of the Mada Koils at Thiruvanaikaval, was taken around on a royal two hour procession around the four streets of Thiruvanaikaval on Friday evening. The recognition of his contribution to Thiruvanaikaval was seen this evening in the way the Sripatham Thangis decorated the palanquin befitting the king who ruled from Uraiyur, where co-incidentally it was the last evening of the ten day Adyayana Utsavam at the Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam. 

The Jambukeswarar temple dating back to the 5th century AD is an architectural marvel with high roofs, five huge prakaras south of the Coloroon, towering Gopurams in the East and the West and Nava Theerthams. Thiruvanaikaval is the first of the ‘Maada Koils’ built by Ko Chenganan Chozha. In recognition of his great contribution to temple architecture and as the one who built the Thiruvanaikaval temple, Ko Chenganan’s idol is seen inside the temple.

அம்பரமும் பெருநிலனும் திசைகள் எட்டும் 

அலைக்கடலும் குலவரையும் உண்டகண்டன் 

கொம்பமரும் வடமரத்தின் இலைமேல் பள்ளி கூடினான் 

திருவடியே கூடாகிற்பீர் 

வம்பவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு 

மணி வண்டு வகுலத்தின்  மலர் மேல் வைகு 

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

High Devotional Fervour on Friday evening

The entire temple complex wore a celebratory look on Friday evening. Grand decorative lights drew an inquisitive enquire from outstation devotees. The Shiva Adiyars gathered at the temple just after 6.30pm and began their recital of the Thevaram verses even as the Sripatham personnel were giving the final touches ahead of the procession. The Udal contingent was present in large numbers at the Western entrance as they began beating the drums even as Ko Chenganan Chozhan made his way from the Vahana Mandapam just after 7pm. As the procession gathered pace, they went into a bliss with their vigour increasing manifold after having a look at Ko  Chenganan in a grand alankaram and the decoration of his palanquin as they beat the udal repeatedly without a break over the two  hours of the procession.

A Royal Procession amidst a huge devotee turnout

Hundreds of devotees raised in chorus the name of this Chozha King praising his greatness. At the Western entrance, Ko Chenganan was moved into the colourful palanquin driven by horses. It is not often that one sees such a huge crowd at Thiruvanaikaval but on this Friday evening, devotees congregated at the western entrance. Young boys presented the ring fire play through the entire procession. 

Even as Ko Chenganan Chozha made his way from the Vahana Mandapam, the Sripatham Kainkaryaparas had climbed on to the roof of the temple and showered flowers from atop on the Chozha King as he passed by each Gopuram.The streets of Thiruvanaikaval were decked with white pulli kolams as residents came out of their homes to pay their respects to Ko Chenganan for his contribution to build the temple with the huge walls similar to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar building the tall walls at Srirangam. After having presented the sacred verses ahead of the procession, Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani, as has been the case in recent times, made his way far ahead of the Udal to present the sacred verses all alone around the four sacred streets.

 

The First Maada Koil

Devotional excitement was palpable among everyone present this evening including a large bunch of overseas visitors who were thrilled to hear the legendary story of Ko Chenganan as to how he built this first Mada Koil at Thiruvanaikaval. 

The story goes that two devotees – Pushpavana and Mayavana were involved in the process of plucking flowers from the Nandavanam and presenting to the Lord. One day, an argument arose between the two as to who had presented more flowers and they ended up killing each other in the fight that ensued. But having been true devotees through their lives, Lord Shiva provided them darshan at Kailasam and blessed them into a birth as a spider and elephant in this Gajaranya Kshetram. Provided with an opportunity to serve the Lord, the Spider provided shade to the Lord through its cobweb, while the elephant performed pooja removing all the dirt around the lord, bringing water for Abhishekam, plucking flowers and fruits and providing sandalwood.

One day, angered at finding a cobweb above the Lord, the elephant swung his tail and hit out at the web as he saw it as dirt. In retaliation, the spider entered the nose of the elephant. Stung with unbearable pain, the elephant died. The spider caught inside elephant’s body too died of suffocation. And thus for the 2nd time, they entered Kailasam. When asked for a wish, the elephant asked for this place where he performed pooja with sincerity to be named after him. Hence this place came to be called Thiru ‘Aanai’ Kaval. The spider asked to be born as a King who would build everlasting temples.

The spider was thus born as Ko Chenganan Chozhan. Ahead of his birth, an astrologer had suggested that if the child was born during a specific time slot, he would become a great king and serve the Lord through his lifetime. Unfortunately, his mother Kamalavathi was slated for a pre delivery. Determined to have the child only during the specified slot, she asked her maids to tie her and hang here upside down till the specified time arrived. And thus she ensured that her son was born only at that specified time. As the blood circulation had been disrupted, the child was born with red eyes. The mother called him ‘Ko’ ‘Chenganan’ (the one with red eyes) and died immediately after his birth. 

Ruling from Uraiyur, the then capital of the Chozhas, Ko Chenganan crossed the Cauvery and found an idol of Shiva beneath the tree. He also remembered his life as a spider when he had provided shade right above. His devotion touched a peak and he built Thiruvanaikoil as his first Saivite temple. With two life time incidents of having fought with the elephant, he carried his anger into this life as well. All of the Saivite temples built by him either had a narrow entrance into the sanctum or a high rise that an elephant could not climb. 

Navarasu is just 20 years old and is in his final year of his learning of the sacred verses at the Patshala in Moolathoppu in Srirangam. He is keen to don the role of an Othuvar soon after he graduates. But on this evening, he donned a prominent and proactive role as a Sripatham during the procession especially when Ko Chenganan was mounted on to the palanquin at the start of the procession and when he alighted well past 9.30pm at the Western entrance.

  

On to the South Ul Veethi, Shiva Adiyars presented fruits and sweets to the devotees in celebration of Ko Chenganan Chozhan. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar delighted with Ko Chenganan

So delighted was Thiru Mangai Azhvaar by the architectural beauty of Thiru Naraiyur that he dedicated a complete decad to praising Ko Chenganan.Ko Chenganan's anger against elephants is reflected not just in Saivite temples but at the Naraiyur Nambi Perumal Temple. In his praise, he refers to the Srinivasa Perumal temple as the first Vaishnavite temple built by Ko Chenganan after the construction of 70 Saivite Maada Koils.

இருக்கு இலங்கு திருமொழி வாய் என் தோள் 

ஈசற்கு எழில் மாடம் எழுபது செய்து உலகம் ஆண்ட 

திருகுலத்து வள சோழன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே 

The elephant may not have been allowed into the inner mandapam of the temple due to Ko Chenganan’s anger but on this special evening for the Chozha King, the elephant seemed to have forgotten the past and led the procession blessing the devotees on the way.

Interestingly, a couple of Shiva Adiyars were delighted to hear the story of Ko Chenganan even building a Mada styled construction in a Perumal Koil. In 2023, when the consecration took place at Nachiyar Koil, the first Perumal Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan, the Shiva Adiyars from Thiruvanaikaval had the privilege of presenting garlands and other Kainkaryams in memory of Ko Chenganan and their presence at Nachiyar Koil was well received the priests of the Divya Desam.

Voyali - The Culminating piece

Devotees continued to stay in good numbers till almost 10pm when Ko Chenganan made his way back to the temple presenting the Voyali near the Dwajasthambam. This procession on Maasi Sathayam has been a great revival at Thiruvanaikaval and on Friday evening to many it brought back memories of Ko Chenganan Chozhan and his contribution to this Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Thiru Kannapuram Vibheeshana Amavasai Sevai

Sowri Raja Perumal presents his 'Walking Beauty' at his Eastern Home and provides Kaithala Sevai to the 'newly crowned' King of Lanka on Maasi Amavasai

It was a special day at the Sowri Raja Perumal temple in Thiru Kannapuram, this Thursday (Feb 27) for on this Maasi Amavasai afternoon at this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam, the Lord presented his special ‘Srirangam Styled’ walk and Kaithala Sevai to Vibheeshana.

75 year old Sowri Raja Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/11/thiru-kannapuram-sowri-rajan-bhattar.html) has been performing archaka service at this temple for over five decades and has been part of this special Amavasai Sevai on hundreds of occasions. He has recently lost his wife but unmindful of the setback, he is just as devotionally committed on this Thursday morning,  as he was decades ago ahead of the Kaithala Sevai. 

Surprisingly for a week day, scores of devotees walk into the temple past 10am. Everyone is looking forward to the Kaithala Sevai and enquire about the Thirumanjanam.

Sowri Raja Bhattar’s son Muralidharan performs a detailed archanai to all the devotees who have come there with the flowers, fruits and coconuts. There is a certain sense of satisfaction among the devotees on listening to this almost rare presentation of such detailed archanai in TN Divya Desams.

Have darshan of my walking beauty at my Eastern Gateway

In yet another long conversation, one of the many that this writer has had with Sowri Raja Bhattar in the decades gone by, he narrates once again the speciality of this day. “After being crowned the king of Lanka, Vibheeshana was presented by Rama with his Thiru Aradhana idol, Lord Ranganatha and he was to carry this from Ayodhya to Lanka. On the banks of Cauvery, in Srirangam, he asked Lord Ganesha to hold the idol so he could finish his morning bath. When Vibheeshana could not return within the limited time that Ganesha had provided, the latter placed the idol there and went atop the Rockfort."

"Lord Ranganatha consoled Vibheeshana that while he will have to remain in Srirangam, he will provide darshan facing Lanka in the South. When the disappointed king of Lanka expressed keenness to have a darshan of his special walk, Lord Ranganatha asked him to the ‘Eastern Home’."

It was on the Amavasai day that Vibheeshana reached Thiru Kannapuram, the Eastern Gateway and his wish was fulfilled for Sowri Raja Perumal presented him with a special walk.

By 11am, a hundred devotees had gathered in front of the Sannidhi to watch the Thirumanajanam of the moolavar as well as the utsavar. 

Muralidharan is in his 30s and has been fighting a battle to secure the hereditary archaka service that his forefathers have been performing at this Divya Desam for centuries but he has not yet got the official permission. Unmindful of this, this being his appa’s service day at the Perumal Sannidhi, he delighted the devotees with a patient presentation of Moolavar Neelamegha Perumal Thirumanjanam. 

Sowri Raja Bhattar then presented the Thirumanjanam for the utsavar deity, Sridevi, bhoodevi, neeladevi thayar and andal. 

Koora Kulothama Dasa, a descendant of one of the 74 of Ramanuja, is now 87 years old and has been performing service at this temple for over six decades. He sees this day as yet another opportunity for him to be at the presentation of the Vedas during the Thirumanjanam. He recites the verses of Periyazhvaar relating to sacred oil bath of the Lord (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/08/krishna-special-oil-bath.html). 

வெண்ணெய் அலைந்த குணுங்கும் 

விளையாடு புழுதியும் கொண்டு 

.....எண்ணெய் புலிப் பழம் கொண்டு 

எத்தனை போதும் இருந்தேன்

In 2016, he had had a long conversation with this writer on this Divya Desam in the decades gone by. He has now aged further but devotion is not lost on him. His thoughts are already on the Maasi Utsavam starting next week and he has conversations with those around on this utsavam.

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar scores a century at Kannapuram

Along with Nachiyar Koil, Thiru Kannapuram is  one of the two Divya Desams where Thirumangai Azhvaar has praised the Lord with a century of verses. The verses from the Saint Poets point to the vibrancy of this Divya Desam a 1000 years ago.Thiru Mangai Azhvaar travelled to temples across the length and breadth of TN to experience both the temple towns as well as the Lord. 

He found something truly special in the people, the festivals and the beauty of the Lord at Thiru Kannapuram for he dedicated a century of verses to Sowri Raja Perumal. He provides great insights into Thiru Kannapuram as a location by the Sea Shore, the unflinching devotion of the people who visited the festivals, the green fields around the temple and the handsome features of the Lord.

Unforturnately, now in remote divya desams such as Thiru Kannapuram, there are not a lot of Kainkaryaparas to support the Chief Priest and those like Sowri Raja Bhattar scout around to get at least a few to support him with preparing the panchamirtham and the like on days like this.

துன்னு மா மணி முடிமேல் துழாய் அலங்கல் 

தோன்றுமால் என்கின்றாளால் 

மின்னு மா மணிமகர குண்டலங்கள் 

வில் வீசும் என் கின்றாளால் 

பொன்னின் மா மணி ஆரம் அணி ஆகத்து 

இளங்குமா என்கின்றாளால் 

கன்னி மா மதில் புடை சூழ் 

கண்ணபுரத்து அம்மானை கண்டாள்கொலோ 

A Grand decoration as described by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

It is just past 1pm on this Maasi Amavasai, when the screen opened and to the delight of the devotees, Sowri Raja Perumal decked in glittering jewellery and a colour flower garland presented the special Kaithala Sevai and his ‘Srirangam Lord’ walk in memory of the historical episode. Four Kainkaryaparas along with Sowri Raja Bhattar and his son standing on each side made a slow and inch by inch walk to the front mandapam carrying Sowri Raja Perumal by their hand.

This amavasai afternoon was one of great happiness for Vibheeshana for he had just had a look at this special walk of Perumal and the Kaithala Sevai, with the Lord keeping to his promise of providing him with the ‘Ranganatha’ walk every Amavasai. With Sowri Raja Perumal standing in front of Vibheeshana, the Lord presented his mariyathai to the King of Lanka blessing him with his Shatari and providing him with a Deepaarathanai.

                          Vibheeshana - Darshan of the Walking Beauty of Perumal

Sowri Rajan - Darshan with a special plait

Also, on this afternoon, devotees were thrilled to have darshan of the special plait on Sowri Raja Perumal's hair.

Legend has it that a king's presentation of a flower garland did not reach Thiru Kannapuram. To save himself from the king's wrath, the priest organized a garland from his house and placed it around the Lord. When the king found a extra hair in the garland, the priest defended saying that the Lord’s own and promised to show the king the next morning as well. In a gesture of the priest's committed service, the Lord saved the priest by displaying his long plait to the King. Hence, the name Sowri Rajan.

This Thursday afternoon was another occasion when Sowri Raja Perumal provided darshan with that special long plait.

Special Pongal every night

A devotee who used to have his daily food only after presenting to the Lord could not present one evening as the temple was closed and hence presented the food from outside the temple. When the temple doors opened the next morning, the entire temple smelt of Sweet Pongal. To mark this episode, Pongal is served every night to the Lord - another special feature at this temple.

The day had been made for the good number of devotees who stayed till past 1.30pm for this special darshan on this Amavasai day. Many aged Senior Citizens too had made their to Thiru Kannapuram this afternoon specially to have darshan of the Kaithala Sevai, this special walk for the sake of Vibheeshana and long plait on the back of Sowri Raja Perumal's hair.

By the time Sowri Raja Perumal made his way to his abode, the cook at the madapalli had prepared a sumptuous meal and the devotees lined up the outer prakara to be served with Chakkarai Pongal, Puliyotharai and Dhadhyonam even as they discussed among themselves the historical episode and the legend relating to this Amavasai Sevai.

It had been a devotionally intense day for the devotees who had come afar for this special Amavasai darshan and they went back after a satisfying darshan and a stomach filling meal.

Sowri Raja Bhattar and his son Muralidharan head back to their home on North Street happy to have presented the Kaithala Sevai to Vibheeshana on this Maasi Amavasai day.  

Thiruvellarai Maasi Theppam revival

Hundreds of devotees had darshan on Sunday evening of the grand revival after over a hundred years of the Theppotsavam at Thiruvellarai Divya Desam

After a gap of over a 100 years, the Theppotsavam was revived on Sunday (Feb 23) evening at the Pundarikakshan Perumal Divya Desam in Thiruvellarai. Excited at the prospect of having darshan of the Theppam that even their forefathers had not witnessed in the previous century, devotees began making their way to the temple through the eastern entrance just after 5.30pm. The main North entrance has been shut with the Raja Gopuram construction work under way in full swing.

 இந்திரனோடு பிரமன் ஈசன் இமையவர் எல்லாம்
மந்திர மா மலர் கொண்டு
மறைந்து உவராய் வந்து நின்றார்

சந்திரன் மாளிகை சேரும் சதுரர்கள் வெள்ளரை நின்றாய்
அந்தியம் போது இது ஆகும்
அழகனே காபிட வாராய் - Periyaazhvaar's Kaapidal

Revival of Theppotsavam in Maasi

Hereditary priest Kamala Malar Kannan Bhattar told this writer that even his thatha, the 90 year old Santhanam bhattar and the senior most archaka at Thiruvellarai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/thiru-vellarai-divya-desam.html), had only heard of his appa telling him about the Theppam at Thiruvellarai and that he himself had not experienced the Theppotsavam even in his childhood. 

In the last couple of years, in a bid to revive the Theppotsavam, the rock at the West end of the temple complex was cut cut and dug deep and thick mud removed to create the tank that devotees saw in its current form last evening. The sacred tank has secured back its historical name 'Ksheera Pushakarani' and the Theppotsavam revived after over a century during the krishna paksha ekadasi (Bandha Kaatchi) in Maasi.

While many have a first glimpse of the utsava deity, others climb the steep steps through the Utharaayana vaasal to have darshan of the Moolavar. As clock ticked past 6.30pm, devotees had gathered in large numbers ahead of the procession. Following the Veda Vinnappam, Pundarikakshan and Shenbagavalli Thayar began the procession to the Theppam with Prabhandham Ghoshti members who had come all the way from Srirangam presenting Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Madal.

மின்னி மழை தவழும் வேங்கடத்து எம் வித்தகனை

மன்னனை மாலின்ருஞ்ச்சோலை மணாளனை 

கொள்நவிலும் ஆழிப் படையானை, 

கோட்டியூர்....

The procession took one back to the historical days of Divya Desam processions as the divine couple made their way around the dark Eastern and Southern Mada streets of Thiruvellarai led by the ghee lit Theevattis. It is 8pm when Pundarikakashan and Shenbagavalli Thayar made their way through the South entrance to near the temple tank. 

The Prabhandham Ghoshti members followed their presentation of the Madal with Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html). By this time a good number of devotees had positioned themselves around the temple tank to welcome Pundarikakshan into the float.  

நால் திசை நடுங்க  அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி

நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி

ஒரு தனி  வேழத்து அரந்தையை

ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை- Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai

For the next half hour or so, the divine couple went around the temple tank in the colourfully lit float much to the delight of the several hundreds of devotees who had gathered to watch the Theppam. There were many who went as far as the western corner of the temple complex to have a close darshan as the divine couple made their way around the tank.

It was past 9pm when Pundarikakshan and Shenbagavalli Thayar made their way back from the float. It was a grand revival of the Theppotsavam at the Thiruvellarai Divya Desam on Sunday evening with devotees heading back home late into the evening delighted at having witnessed the Theppam that no one even in the previous generations had not.

For those like Kamala Malar Kannan (Vinodh) Bhattar, Sunday was a dream come true with the revival of the historical Theppotsavam in their life time.  Having thus seen the Theppam revival, the next big event for the priests of Thiruvellarai will be the completion of the construction of the towering 125 ft new Raja Gopuram on the Northern side.

Appan Koil Sarangan Araiyar

27 year old Sarangan Araiyar is confident of reviving the fortunes of this Avathara Sthalam of Nam Azhvaar

The Thiru Aradhana idol of Nam Azhvaar will provide darshan on the new Golden Garuda Vahana around the streets of Appan Koil during the Panguni Brahmotsavam

It is just past 7am on Friday (Feb 21) morning. 27 year old Sarangan Araiyar of Azhvaar Tirungari is riding his Royal Enfield Bullet to Appan Koil ahead of Nam Azhvaar’s annual visit to the temple on the occasion of Maasi Anusham. Thiru Venkatamudayan, the presiding deity at the temple, is decked with glittering jewellery, a far cry from the decades gone by when this temple was in a dilapidated state. The flower garlands are long and colourful. 

Hailing from Azhvaar Tirunagari, a lady devotee who has dedicated her life to Nam Azhvaar is playing Vishnu Sahasranamam loudly on her mobile phone even as she guides devotees on the event that is set to unfold that morning. The madapalli that has now been restored to its historical glory smells of ghee pongal while Saranga Araiyar is running around to ensure that everything is in order with Nam Azhvaar just a km or so away from reaching the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/02/azhvaar-tirungari-nam-azhvaar-maasi.html). 

Takes charge of Appan Koil from his appa

Saranga Araiyar was not yet 25 when he took over the reigns of Appan Koil from his appa Nathan Araiyar, who had some health issues at that time. He underwent 8 year patshala education in Srirangam where he learned the Vedas and Agamas in addition to Nalayira Divya Prabhandham. He has also been initiated into Tiruvoimozhi Kalakshepam. To further his interest in Vaishnavism, he is planning to take to MA Vaishnavism this year. 

Appan Koil is under the one kalam pooja of the HR & CE and Sarangan Araiyar is paid an accumulated salary once  (around Rs. 3000) every three months for the daily pooja services he performs at this temple.

 

Revival of Panguni Brahmotsavam 

He is all excited about the upcoming Panguni Brahmotsavam when there will be a kalasa Thirumanjanam. This historical temple reverberating once again with Prabhandham Ghoshti is something that Sarangan Araiyar is looking forward to.  The Pavitrotsavam too has been revived and the three day utsavam takes place in Aani. 

New Golden Garuda Vahana

The temple bears no resemblance to what it was 50 years ago.Govindan Bhattar of Thiru Mogur was a regular at Nam Azhvaar's annual Maasi trip to Appan Koil and is delighted in the way Appan Koil has been transformed by Venu Srinivasan from the dark days when he first visited the temple during the Maasi Utsavam in the early 1970s.

In the couple of years since his taking charge, Sarangan Araiyar has used his devotee network to initiate positive developments at this temple. All the vahanas have been refurbished. He has played an active role in building a new Golden Garuda Vahana. At the Panguni Brahmotasvam next month, Thiru Venkatamudayan will provide darshan around the streets of Appan Koil atop this new golden garuda vahana. And in Vaikasi this year, the Moolavar Lord will shine bright with a new Silver plated kavacham. He is also keen to revive the Chariot Festival and the Theppotsavam in the near future.

Venu Srinivasan restores Appan Kol in the 1990s

Venu Srinivasan told this writer on Sunday morning that along with the restoration of the 11 Nam Azhvaar praised Divya Desams in this region in the second half of the 1990s, he was keen to take up the restoration of Appan Koil, for it was here that Kaali Maaran attained Moksham (hence the name Appan Koil). Like his commitment to Nava Tirupathi temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/02/erettai-tirupathi-transformation.html), Venu Srinivasan is delighted to have had the opportunity to be associated with this historical Avathara Sthalam of Nam Azhvaar. 

A major Thiruppani exercise after 25+ years

It is now time for another Thiruppani for which the HR & CE has sanctioned Rs. 6crores. This is expected to commence in May this year and the rebuilding work should see the temple in a new avatar over the next 12 months or so.

Located a few kms off Azhvaar Tirunagari Divya Desam, Appan Koil comes to life thrice a year when Nam Azhvaar from Azhvaar Tirunagari visits this temple. In addition to Maasi Anusham, Nam Azhvaar stays through the day at Appan Koil in Chitrai and Vaikasi. 

Chariot and Theppotsavam to be revived

While continuing to perform the Araiyar Sevai at Azhvaar Tirunagari along with his appa Nathan Araiyar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/how-family-disputein-azhvaar-tirunagari.html), the young Sarangan Araiyar is committing himself to a lifetime of service at Appan Koil and is hopeful that this once neglected temple will start attracting devotees once again like the Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam temples following the large scale Thiruppani this year.  Sarangan Araiyar is also confident that very soon after this Thiruppani, the Chariot will run around the streets of Appan Koil. In the near future, it is likely that Thiru Venkatamudayan will provide darshan on the Theppam.

Soon after the departure of Nam Azhvaar from Appan Koil to Erettai Tirupathi, Sarangan Araiyar dashes off on his Bullet to Aravinda Lochanan sannidhi for the Tiruvoimozhi Prabhandham Thodakkam on Friday morning while his mind continues to work on the revival of historic utsavams at Appan Koil.

Azhvaar Tirungari Nam Azhvaar Maasi Utsavam 2025

On Friday morning, Nam Azhvaar visited his avathara sthalam at Appan Koil before making his way to Erettai Tirupathi to meet his parents on Maasi Anusham

                                          Devapiran

It is just past 5am on Friday (February 20) morning and the occasion is Maasi Anusham when Nam Azhvaar makes his annual trip to Erettai Tirupathi. A day earlier - Maasi Visakam - was the day when Madurakavi Azhvaar found the idol of Nam Azhvaar on the banks of Tamarai Barani and in memory of this episode, Nam Azhvaar had made a trip to the Tamarai Barani on Thursday morning for the Theerthavari utsavam.

Early on Friday morning, the Aathi Nathar temple in Azhvaar Tirunagari is abuzz with a large contingent of Sripatham Thangis at the entrance ready to carry Nam Azhvaar on their shoulder to Erettai Tirupathi on this final day of the Maasi Utsavam. Inside the temple, Bhagavathas and women devotees have lined up for Thiruppavai Ghoshti Theertham and Prasadam with Araiyar Nathan leading the Satru Murai verses. Soon, the Sripatham enter the temple to carry Nam Azhvaar on this long fast paced procession. 

Recalling this day from the 1970s

Govindan Bhattar, who was joined by colleague Ramakrishnan Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/thiru-mogur-kalamegha-perumal.html), is present this morning from Thiru Mogur and walks all the way to Appan Koil. He recalls this trip from his childhood days in the 1970s “This was a big day in the year for me. I was keen to walk alongside Namzhvaar crossing the Tamaraibarani in knee deep water to reach the birth place of Nam Azhvaar at Appan Koil, one that was surrounded by big bushes.”

                           Govindan Bhattar, Thiru Mogur

“Those were glorious days with the presence of hundreds of Vaishnavas at Azhvaar Tirungari and the entire Divya Desam was vibrant during this utsavam but most of them have since left the hereditary location. And it is no more the same.”

Nam Azhvaar sees Devapiran as his parents

Legend has it that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar came to Azhvaar Tirunagari to invite Nam Azhvaar to witness the Adyayana Utsavam in Srirangam in Margazhi, one that had been created and organized by the former in recognition of the contribution of the latter. Having enjoyed the presentation of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham by the Araiyars at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, Nam Azhvaar is believed to have reached Tholai Villi Mangalam on the Anusham day in Maasi to invoke the blessings of his parents. As described in Tiruvoimozhi (6.5.10), Nam Azhvaar saw Lord Devapiran of Erettai Tirupathi at Tholai Villi Mangalam as his mother and father.

சிந்தையாலும் சொல்லாலும் செய்கையினாலும் 

தேவ பிரானையே 

தந்தை தாய் என் று அடைந்த 

வன் குருகூர் அவர் சடகோபன் சொல் 

முந்தை ஆயிரத்துள் இவை 

தொலை வில்லி மங்கலத்தை சொன்ன

செந்தமிழ் பத்தும் வல்லார் 

அடிமை செய்வார் திருமாலுக்கே 

In the decades gone by, prior to Venu Srinivasan's transformation restoration of the twin temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/02/erettai-tirupathi-transformation.html), this annual trip of Nam Azhvaar to Tholai Villi Mangalam was the only festival celebrated at Erettai Tirupathi and hence assumed great significance.

The first stop at Appan Koil

Thiruvenkata Mudayan of Appan Koil was the aradhana idol of Nam Azhvaar’s father. Hence on his way to Erettai Tirupathi, Nam Azhvaar made a halt at this temple evoking memories of his father's sincere devotion rendered to the Lord at this temple. There is a Nam Azhvaar avathara mandapam inside this temple.

Nam Azhvaar was welcomed at Appan Koil by Araiyar Sarangan, the 27 year old son of Nathan Araiyar who has taken over the performance of daily Thiru Aradhana at this temple. There are a couple of mandagapadis in this historic birth place of Nam Azhvaar and it is 8am when he entered the temple for his first stop over on the day.

                         Nam Azhvaar at Appan Koil

It is a temple that has been restored to its historic glory and Govindan Bhattar says that it bears no resemblance to what it was in the 1970s “In addition to the restoration of Nava Tirupathi temples, TVS’ Venu Srinivasan has transformed this temple beyond recognition. From the dark, unlit days in the decades gone by, this is now beautifully maintained” Govindan Bhattar, who performed the role of Ekanki at Tirupathi for a decade and a half before his role as archaka at Thiru Mogur, recalled to this writer at the Appan Koil madapalli on Friday morning.

Hot Pongal is served to the Sripatham Thangis for their early morning 90 minute effort. The Vaishnavas and Bhagavathas too are presented the sacred Thaligai from the madapalli, that too has seen a transformation.

A grand welcome by Aravinda Lochanan 

The energised Sripatham are back to carry Nam Azhvaar to Erettai Tirupathi and first to Aravinda Lochana Sannidhi. The Prabhandham Ghoshti are present in good numbers and for 45minutes they present the tenth canto of Nam Azhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi led by Araiyars Nathan and Sarangan. For the first time, the entire pathway from Aravinda Lochana Sannidhi is decked with pushpa alankaram.

The garland of Aravinda Lochanan is presented to Nam Azhvaar and following the Theertham Prasadam, Nam Azhvaar went South to the Northern banks of Tamaraibarani where Devapiran himself, who Nam Azhvaar saw as his own father and mother, came out of the temple to welcome and receive him. After Nam Azhvaar went around the temple complex, both stationed themselves at the alankaram mandapam bringing to end the morning session.

திருந்து  வேதமும் வேள்வியும்

திரு மா மகளிரும் தாம் மலிந்து 

இருந்து வாழ் பொருநல் வடகரை 

வண் தொலை வில்லி மங்கலம் 

                               Aravinda Lochanan

The TVS touch to Erettai Tirupathi

The devotees are treated to a sumptuous lunch at the Devapiran temple following which quite a few take rest at the office of the TVS. The entire Erettai Tirupathi, the biggest restoration of Venu Srinivasan, has been truly transformed. The cleanliness around the temple, the maintenance of the entire area around the temples, the sign boards at various locations make it a pleasant experience for the devotees.

It is past 3 pm and the devotees are back at the temple to have darshan of the Thirumanjanam for Nam Azhvaar. Araiyar Sarangan presented the sacred sandal wood paste and the Thirumanjanam oil to all the devotees who witnessed the sacred bath of Nam Azhvaar. 

The Prabhandham Ghoshti are present in good numbers and they render the tenth canto of Tiruvoimozhi after the arrival of the Thaligai brought all the way by walk from Azhvaar Tirunagari. To this day, the traditions have been upheld and the sacred food is carried on the head to the beating of the drum all the way from Aathi Nathan temple in Thiru Kurugur (6 kms away) across the Tamarai Barani to the Devapiran temple. While easier options like bringing the food by modern means of transport are possible, it is great credit to the team at Aathi Nathan temple that short cut options to quicken the conduct of the evening utsavam have not been exercised to-date.

                   Father and Son Araiyar at Devapiran Sannidhi

So touched was Devapiran with NamAzhvaar’s sacred verses that he presented his entire garlands to the Saint Poet. By now, Sundararajan Bhattar from Aravinda Lochana Sannidhi, a priest who quit a corporate job to take up archaka kainkaryam(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/01/erettai-tirupathi-sundara-rajan-bhattar.html), has arrived at the Devapiran temple to participate in the presentation of mariyathai to Nam Azhvaar with Araiyars presenting the sacred verses relating to Erettai Tirupathi.

The entire temple resonated with positive vibrancy following the Prabhandham presentation with all the devotees eagerly looking forward to the Theertham and Tulasi prasadam.

It is past 7pm when Nam Azhvaar after an entire day at Erettai Tirupathi bid goodbye for yet another year. In a final emotional move, Devapiran after providing darshan in a grand alankaram presents all his garlands to the ‘son’ and even as Nam Azhvaar makes his return to Azhvaar Tirunagari, Devapiran waits till as far as he can see the great Saint Poet at the western exit of Erettai Tirupathi. Late on Friday evening,  Devapiran returned to his sanctum amidst the chanting of Ramanuja Nootranthathi by the Prabhandham Ghoshti members.

Devotees including Bhagavathas in big numbers enjoyed the experience of the enactment of the legendary episode of Nam Azhvaar making his way to the Northern banks of Tamarai Barani at Erettai Tirupathi after witnessing the Adyayana Utsavam in Srirangam to meet and invoke the blessings of his parents. The series of events on Maasi Anusham also signifies the conclusion of the Adyayana Utsavam in Erettai Tirupathi. 

Srirangam Station New Retiring Rooms Dormitory 2025

New Refurbished retiring rooms and dormitory with ten beds will be reopened in the first week of March

AC Waiting Hall, Car Parking, New flooring on Platforms, overhead roof and an Aavin Parlour form part of the major renovation exercise

Train Travellers visiting the Srirangam Divya Desam this summer will be able to avail of the modern retiring room and dormitory facilities at the Srirangam Railway station. After 18 months of closure, the three retiring rooms and about 10 dormitory beds will be reopened to the train travellers in the first week of March at the Srirangam Railway Station.  These have been completely refurbished with modern toilets, shower and locker facilities within these rooms.

AC waiting hall, Aavin Parlour, Canteen 

The station itself is seeing a total transformation. The flooring on the platforms have been completely redone and new overhead roofs installed. A new car parking facility is coming up at the entrance. Aavin parlour has come up recently with ice creams, juices and badam milk available till 11.15pm every day on platform 1. A new executive lounge, an AC waiting hall, a non ac waiting hall are also part of the renovation on platform 1. The reservation counter also wears a new look and will be more passenger friendly with transparent glass panes.

There is a friendly canteen service available on platform 1 with tiffen available from 6am to 11.15pm every day.

The entrance to the temple has also been rebuilt. Painting work is currently on with the entire renovation work at the station expected to be completed by this month end.

The station in its new look and avatar is expected to be launched on March 6 with the retiring rooms and dormitories thrown open to passengers from that day. Passengers can book these rooms and beds online on IRCTC by entering the PNR number.

A Sour Point - The Railway Gate to Singar Koil

One sour point relating to the Srirangam station is the railway gate leading to the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar koil(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/srirangam-singar-koil-transformational.html). Till about a decade ago, Namperumal used to make his annual trip on the Vijayadasami day through the Singar Koil street that used to take one directly to the temple entrance. However, when the platforms were lengthened a decade ago, this direct route via Singar Koil street was shut and Namperumal in recent years has had to take a detour through the railway gate in the north (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/10/vijayadasami-utsavam-kaatazhagiya.html). 

With the ever increasing number of trains passing through the Srirangam station, this railway gate north of the station shuts many times in peak hours including for around 20 minutes to allow three trains to pass. It is hoped that the railways and the Trichy Corporation would work towards finding a solution to this. May be they could explore an underpass to allow vehicles to go to Singar Koil without being affected by the shutting of the gate at frequent intervals.

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thanjavur-station-retiring-room-bathing.html

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/04/madurai-junction-retiring-rooms.html

Thiruvanaikaval Golden Dwajasthambam

A Rs. 60 lakh contribution from CSK Chief N Srinivasan towards 2 Gold plated Kodi Marams and 8 Copper plated Kodi Marams at this Ko Chenganan Chozhan built Mada Koil

Akilandeswari gets a refurbished star studded Thaadagam from Kanchi Periyava

There has been a certain vibrancy all through this week around the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikaval. The 70th head of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt Vijendra Saraswathi Swami has been present at the Sankara Mutt on the North Ul Veethi, 100 yards from Akilandeswari Sannidhi, from this Monday.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

Under his directions, a refurbished and stone studded Thadagam was presented to Akilandeswari this afternoon after the poornahathi. The earring had been first presented by Maha Periyava in the early 1990s but had worn out and been damaged.  Periyava Vijendra Saraswathi Swami organised the repair of the earring adding colourful stones. 

Located on the Northern banks of Cauvery is the Lord Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval, one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, where Lord Shiva manifests himself as ‘Water’ (among the five elements). Hence this is referred to as a ‘Neer’ sthalam (‘Appu’ in Sanskrit). Thiruvanaikaval is home to Nava Theertham and the belief is that those who bathe in the Nava Theertham on Chitra Pournami and invoke the blessings of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari are said to attain Mukthi.

The temple dates back to the 5th century AD to the rule of Kochenganan Chozha, who ruled from Uraiyur and is an architectural marvel with high roofs, five huge prakaras south of the Coloroon, towering Gopurams in the East and the West and Nava Theerthams.

Throughout this week, scores of devotees visited the Sankara Mutt to have darshan and seek the blessings of Periyava.

On Sunday (Feb 16) morning, several hundreds of devotees gathered in front of the Akilandeswari Sannidhi to watch the 7th session of the homam.

Periyava to the temple 

It’s 11am when phones went up in unison on the North Ul Veethi to take photos and videos as Periyava made his way from the Sankara Mutt to the North Entrance of the temple. Camera shots continued unabated even as Periyava entered the temple. 30 minutes later, following the Poornahathi, the Thaadagam was presented to Akilandeswari as she wore a beautiful smiling look with her new abaranam.

Othuvar's devotional recital

Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/thiruvanaikaval-othuvar-srinivasan.html) is all devotional. Amid all the noise among the devotees and the kainkaryaparas, he presents the sacred verses of the Saint Poets sitting in the middle of the homam kundam. Delighted at his solo devotional presentation the previous evening, Periyava called for him and surprised him by gifting him with a Veshti, Saree and anointing him with a shawl with the message: "You have a great devotional voice. Continue forever this sacred kainkaryam at this historical temple."

Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani presenting the sacred verses

Othuvar Ramani has been the sole Othuvar at this temple over the previous three decades and he presented through all the sessions of the homam since 13th morning.

நசையானை நால்வேதத் தப்பா லானை

 நல்குரவுந் தீப்பிணிநோய் காப்பான் றன்னை

இசையானை எண்ணிறந்த குணத்தான் றன்னை

 இடைமருதும் ஈங்கோயும் நீங்கா தேற்றின்

மிசையானை விரிகடலும் மண்ணும் விண்ணும்

 மிகுதீயும் புனலெறிகாற் றாகி யெட்டுத்

திசையானைத் திருவானைக் காவு ளானைச்

 செழுநீர்த் திரளைச்சென் றாடி னேனே – Thiru Gnana Sambandar

CSK Owner presents 10 New Gold/Copper Plated Kodi Maram

Just past 1pm Periyava Vijendra Saraswathi Swami made his way to Jambukeswarar Sannidhi to bless the new Golden Dwajasthambam presented by CSK (India Cements) owner N Srinivasan. Temple EO Suresh told this writer that the CSK owner had presented all the 8 new copper plated kodi maram and 2 gold plated kodi maram.

              N Srinivasan with CSK CEO KS Viswanathan

The First Maada Koil

Thiruvanaikaval is the first of the ‘Maada Koils’ built by Kochenganan. In recognition of his great contribution to temple architecture and as the one who built the Thiruvanaikaval temple, Kochenganan’s idol is seen inside the temple.

Two devotees – Pushpavana and Mayavana - of Lord Shiva were involved in the process of plucking flowers from the Nandavanam and presenting to the Lord. One day, an argument arose between the two as to who had presented more flowers and they ended up killing each other in the fight that ensued. But having been true devotees through their lives, Lord Shiva provided them darshan at Kailasam and blessed them into birth as a spider and elephant in this Gajaranya Kshetram.

Provided with an opportunity to serve the Lord, the Spider provided shade to the Lord through its cobweb, while the elephant performed pooja removing all the dirt around the lord, bringing water for Abhishekam, plucking flowers and fruits and providing sandalwood.

One day, angered at finding a cobweb above the Lord, the elephant swung his tail and hit out at the web as he saw it as dirt. In retaliation, the spider entered the nose of the elephant. Stung with unbearable pain, the elephant died. The spider caught inside elephant’s body too died of suffocation.

And for the 2nd time, they entered Kailasam. When asked for a wish, the elephant asked for this place where he performed pooja with sincerity to be named after him. Hence this place came to be called Thiru ‘Aanai’ Kaval.

The spider asked to be born as a King who would build everlasting temples.

Ko Chenganan builds

The spider was thus born as Kochenganan Chozhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html) in the Chozha dynasty. His parents were childless. An astrologer suggested that if the child was born during a specific time slot, he would become a great king and serve the Lord through his lifetime. Unfortunately, his mother Kamalavathi was slated for a pre delivery. Determined to have the child only during the specified slot, she asked her maids to tie her and hang here upside down till the specified time arrived. And thus she ensured that her son was born at that specified time. As the blood circulation had been disrupted, the child was born with red eyes. The mother called him ‘Ko’ ‘Chenganan’ (the one with red eyes) and died immediately after his birth. It was his aunt who took care of him through his childhood.

Ko Chenganan built over 70 Saivite temples and is also credited with building Nachiyar Koil, the first Vaishnavite temple built by him. With two life time incidents of having fought with the elephant, he carried his anger into this life as well. All of the Saivite temples built by him were such that the elephant could not enter. It was either a small entrance into the sanctum or a high rise that an elephant could not climb. Such temples with either a narrow passage or high rise are referred to as Maada Koils.

செம்பொன் மேனிவெண் ணீறணி வானைக்

 கரிய கண்டனை மால்அயன் காணாச்

சம்பு வைத்தழல் அங்கையி னானைச்

 சாம வேதனைத் தன்னொப்பி லானைக்

கும்ப மாகரி யின்னுரி யானைக்

 கோவின் மேல்வருங் கோவினை எங்கள்

நம்ப னைநள் ளாறனை அமுதை

 நாயி னேன்மறந் தென்நினைக் கேனே.

Ruling from Uraiyur, the then capital of the Chozhas, Ko Chenganan crossed the Cauvery and found an idol of Shiva beneath the tree. He also remembered his life as a spider when he had provided shade right above. His devotion touched a peak and he built Thiruvanaikal as his first Saivite temple. He then went on to build several more in the Chozha kingdom including the Maada Style temple at Nachiyar Koil that is very different from the typical Vishnu temple in terms of architecture.

A Glorious Development 

This has been a mementos day for Thiruvanaikaval and a significant turnaround for this first Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan. This most expensive donation to the tune of over Rs. 60 Lakhs is also a sign of the changing times and the continuing devotional wave that is sweeping TN temples. The presence of Periyava each day of this week added to the devotional flavour with disciples from across the state visiting the Akilandeswari Sannidhi adding to the crowd.

New EO bets on positive initiatives 

Temple EO Suresh, who took charge only three months ago, is all excited at the prospects of developmental initiatives at this temple and believes that today’s installation is only the first of the many positive developments that are likely to take place at this historical Mada Koil.

And that is a good sign for all the Kainkaryaparas of the temple who for long had been left behind many of their counterparts in more popular temples.