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.

Srirangam Temple Abaranam shortfall Priests' letter

The Hereditary Priests of the Ranganathaswamy temple have today written to the HR & CE EO requesting him to source the Original Abaranams that can be used on specific occasions during the Utsavams

Will the JC take immediate action to get the original decorative ornaments for the utsava deity

During the Era Pathu utsavam last month at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, issues were raised about priests using artificial decorative ornaments on Namperumal against the historical practice. When the issue was thus raised in public, the HR & CE representatives, as has been the case in the past, passed on the responsibility to the priests. When this writer enquired about this during the Era Pathu utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/12/srirangam-era-pathu-vedu-pari-2023.html), a hereditary priest said that original decorative pieces were not available at the temple. 

In response to the issues raised during the Adyayana utsavam, the hereditary priests of the temple today (Saturday - Feb 15) sent an official letter to the EO of the temple. In the letter,  the priests have pointed out the list of decorative ornaments that are not part of the jewellery kit and the originals of those that have to be sourced.

HR & CE to source original ornaments

Some of these include original kavariman sowri, Chandira-Surya Netri Chutti (an ornament on the forehead), Netripattai, Muththupattai, Kondaipattai for Perumal and Nal Muthu Paavadai for Ranganayaki Thayar. 

Previous Priests' letters went unattended!!!

This is not the first time that the hereditary priests have brought this to the notice of the HR & CE officials. Even in the past, in the years goneby, they had pointed out to the JC of the temple about the shortfall in ornaments that are draped on Namperumal on specific utsavam occasion but the HR & CE did not take any action on this front.

This Saturday evening, the priests have once again officially requested the EO of the temple to source the specific original ornaments for Namperumal and Ranganayaki.

While the HR & CE officials have conveniently passed on the buck to the priests when issues are raised by the public regarding alankaram of Namperumal during processions, they have not acted upon the requests of the very same priests in the past. 

In the recent past, two exorbitantly expensive kreedam and diamond necklace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-panguni-uthiram-2024.html) were presented to the temple and those were draped on Namperumal on the occasion of Kaisika Ekadasi and the 2nd day of the Era Pathu utsavam.

It is hoped that JC Mariappan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/12/srirangam-temple-jc-mariappan.html) who has generally been swift in taking appropriate action will initiate the process of sourcing the ornaments immediately so the original ornaments can be draped on Namperumal and the priests can be saved the embarrassment of facing awkward questions from the devotees. 

The HR & CE has also been silent in the recent past on the delayed conduct of utsavams and return of Namperumal arising out of longish presentation of Veda Vinnappam, the most recent being on the 7th day (night!!!) of the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal.

This section will track the action of the HR & CE on this front.

Srirangam Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal 2025

Namperumal enjoyed Prabhandham Ghoshti's Ramanuja Nootranthathi presentation sans musical instruments around Srirangam's Uthira Streets 

On Tuesday evening, he made a rare entry via Periya Vachan Pillai Sannidhi and strode alongside the 1000 pillared mandapam to reach the Ramanuja Sannidhi

Its Thai Poosam, a day when Samayapuram Mariamman (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/12/samayapuram-mariamman-temple.html) made her way to the banks of Kollidam and received gifts from her brother Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Its also the final day of the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal utsavam at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. It’s a day marked by a street procession sans the nadaswaram and all other musical instruments with Namperumal listening to the presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthathi by Prabhandham Ghoshti members led by Kapisthalam Sampath Ramanujam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-prabhandham-adyapaka-leader.html) around the four Uthira streets.

Four trips to Thayar Sannidhi

Its an utsavam when Namperumal had already made it to the Thayar Sannidhi on three days staying through the day at Navarathri Mandapam on day 2, the Karuthurai Mandapam directly opposite Ranganayaki Thayar on day 3 and almost through the night at the Panguni Uthiram Mandapam on the 7th day of the utsavam after he confirmed the measurement of Paddy earlier in the evening.

On this 10th and final day of the utsavam, shortly after 6pm, the Prabhandham Ghoshti members began presentation of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi verses in front of the Ranga Ranga Gopuram. Unlike the previous days of the street processions, there were no elephants or horses in this evening's procession. Neither were there the Nadaswaram artistes. It was an exclusive evening for the Prabhandham members rendering the sacred verses of Thiruvarangath Amudanar much to the delight of Namperumal. 

பூ மன்னு  மாது பொருந்திய மார்பன் 

புகழ் மமலிந்த பாமன்னு  மாறன் அடிபணிந்து உய்ந்தவன்

பல்கலையோர் தாம்மன்ன வந்த ராமானுஜன் 

சரணாரவிந்தம் நாம்மன்னி  வாழ 

நெஞ்சே சொல்லுவோம் அவன் நாமங்களே 

Maniam Sridhar loses his voice

The chilly early morning weather over the last ten days (on most days the procession from Kannadi Arai to Vahana Mandapam was at around 4am) combined with non stop shouting during the utsavam procession, both morning and evening meant that Maniam Sridhar had lost his voice by the start of this procession on the tenth day. And he used his hand to direct the Sripatham to stop and restart the procession at various stop overs on this Tuesday evening.

Ramanuja welcomes Namperumal

Following the procession around the Uthira streets, Namperumal, for the fourth time during the utsavam made his way to the Thayar Sannidhi, this time to the Kambar Mandapam, where he was presented with a Thiruvanthikaappu. 

For a few decades, like that Azhvaan Thiruchutru, the pathway from the Thayar Sannnidhi to the 1000 pillared mandapam had lay defunct, until the restoration exercise last decade by Venu Srinivasan revived this historical route (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). The beautification of this path led to a lot of greenery but since the restoration this has remained locked most of the time.  On this Tuesday evening, following the Thiruvanthikaappu, the gates in front of Periya Vachan Pillai Sannidhi opened as Namperumal made a majestic walk alongside the 1000 pillared mandapam to be welcomed by Ramanuja in front of his sannidhi just after 7.30pm.

With hundreds of devotees witnessing this grand spectacle, Namperumal was presented with coconut water, to quench his thirst after having provided darshan over the previous ten days around the streets of Srirangam. Soon after, Ramanuja waited back to see Namperumal off till he reached the Karthigai Gopuram Vaasal.

Prabhandham Members' devotional presentation 

It was there that the prabhandham ghoshti presented the final verses of Ramanuja Nootranthi bringing to end the sacred recital at the Thai Brahmotsavam. It had been a commendable effort over the ten days of the utsavam by the Prabhandham Ghoshti with the members reciting the Iyarpa verses even while Namperumal was behind the screen at the Vahana Mandapam after the evening street procession. And they presented the sacred verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar through the Chariot procession on Monday morning. 

Padippu - A Thanking Gesture to Namperumal

The Padippu, a thanking gesture for the smooth conduct of the utsavam, too was revived after decades as part of Venu Srinvasan’s restoration and revival exercise. A HR & CE staffer was identified and assigned the task of presenting the Padippu on the final day of the Brahmotsavams. Sridhar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/02/srirangam-brahmotsavam-padippu-sridhar.html) has now become synonymous with Padippu and he began reading out the greatness of Lord Ranganatha and this historical temple and the utsavams with Namperumal enjoying his praise standing in front of the Dwajasthambam.

After 9 days at the Kannadi Arai, Namperumal finally made his way back to his abode just before 9pm on Tuesday bringing to end the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal utsavam.

Thiruvanaikaval Thai Theppotsavam Rishabha Vahana Procession

Jambukeswarar and Akilanda Nayaki provide Rishabha Vahana darshan around the four sacred streets of this historical Ko Chenganan Chozhan built temple

Ahead of the Theppam next Monday at the Ramar Theertham, Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari provided darshan atop the Silver Rishabha Vahanam around the four big Mada streets on the fifth day of the Thai Theppotsavam at Thiruvanaikaval, the Neer Sthalam among the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, on Tuesday evening.

The Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval is 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 Chozhan 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.

50 year old Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani has been all alone at this Paadal Petra Sthalam for almost three decades. Even as the priests were given the final decorative touches to Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari, he was seen explaining the distinctive features of this Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan, the first of the 71 he built and one specially designed so elephants cannot enter the sanctum. He told them that the inner most Gopuram could be seen only from where they were standing on the Southern side of the 2nd prakara.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

As the clock ticked to 7pm, the big screen opened for the devotees to have a first glimpse of the grand alankaram of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari, decked with beautiful flower garlands atop the Rishabha Vahanam. Othuvar Ramani, in a highly devotional pitch, presented the sacred verses on Thiruvanaikaval, one of the five Kka sthalams (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/08/thiru-nellikaval-nellivananathar-temple.html). He then asked the devotees to repeat a verse after him even as the devotional fervour shot up. After the deeparathanai and the presentation of Puliyotharai, the procession began around the third prakara.

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

It is past 7.30pm soon after the temple elephant had paid its respect to Jambukeswarar when the Divine couple made his way to the fourth prakara to the loud beating of the Periya Udal by youngsters who for the next hour relentlessly played the drums. 

On to the North Ul Veethi, devotees welcomed the pancha moorthies with large sized kolams. The Vedic students at the Sankara Mutt Patshala came out in good numbers along with their acharya, the eldest brother of Neelkantan Sastrigal of Pazhur Patshala (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/neelakanta-sastrigal-pazhur-patshala.html). 

Devotees came out in large numbers through the North street to have darshan of the Rishabham procession. Half way into the East street in front of the now closed Eastern Raja Gopuram, Jambukeswarar, Akilandeswari and Murugar provided darshan together much to the delight of the devotees. Shivanadiyars in good numbers followed the procession and presented the sacred verses through the 90 minutes of the procession.

By this time, Othuvar Ramani (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/thiruvanaikaval-othuvar-srinivasan.html) reciting the sacred verses of Sundarar had gone far ahead into the South Ul Veethi away from the deafening noise of the Udal artistes. For well over 25 years, the Othuvar has been able to keep his devotional spirit going despite being the lone Othuvar at this historical temple. 

In a chat with this writer on the South Ul Veethi, he said that he had realised long ago that Jambukeswarar had blessed him to be the designated one to present the sacred verses before him each day of the year in this lifetime and hence nothing distracts him from this honour to sing the sacred verses of the Saivite Saint Poets, not even the health issues that have troubled him in recent times.

Every time when the Udal noise gets loud, he remains calm and quiet and go well ahead to continue his recital on the street without ever complaining. He sees as his role singing the greatness of ‘Aanaikka’ and he devotionally says that nothing can stop him as it is Jambukeswarar’s decision.

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.

In April 2018, this section had featured the devotional presentation of the Udal during the Pancha Prakara utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/04/thiruvanaikaval-pancha-prakara-utsavam.html) but on this Rishabha Vahana evening, they were too close to the elephant and Murugar. Despite requests to move well ahead of Murugar and the elephant, the artistes continued to play the loud drums very close to the deities. Kainkaryapakas, who this writer spoke to on Tuesday evening at the procession, said that they have tried many times in the past to get the Udal players to move away from the idols but they have not been successful. The Mahout himself was not pleased as his elephant found the high levels of the drums too loud for its liking.

It was 8.30pm when the Divine Couple made their way back into the temple even as scores of devotees prostrated on the ground in a thanking gesture for having delighted them with the Rishabha Vahana procession.