Anbil Divya Desam Consecration Issue April 2025

Srirangam Chief Priest raises serious violation issues on this week's Anbil consecration 

Updated Tuesday 1.30pm: Following the discussion this morning with JC at the forefront of the decision making, it was agreed that the Srirangam temple priests would perform pooja at the main Kundam plus two out of a total of five kundams!!!!

This section has featured multiple stories on the restoration and revival initiatives at the Vadivazhagiya Nambi Divya Desam in Anbil. Venu Srinivasan who anchored the biggest transformation at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam has been involved in the restoration exercise over the last couple of years at Anbil as well (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/04/venu-srinivasan-anbil-nambi-temple.html) but he has chosen to remain the background quietly carrying out the task of getting the temple to its pristine glory. The young priest Aravamudhan Bhattar who was appointed as an archaka at the temple following the sudden death of his appa has taken several steps in the last few years including restoring the Chariot and reviving the Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/03/anbil-divya-desam-brahmotsavam-revival.html).

Consecration fixed for May 4

While the final stages of the restoration works took longer than expected, Aravamudhan Bhattar had told this writer on the evening on March 12 when Sundararaja Perumal made his way to the Kollidam banks for the Maasi Magam Utavam that the consecration date was finally fixed for May 4.

நாகத்தனைக்  குடந்தை  வெஃகா  திருஎவ்வுள் 

நாகத்தனை அரங்கம் பேரன்பில் 

நாகத்தனைப்  பாற்கடல் கிடக்கும்

ஆதி நெடுமால் அணைப்பார்  கருத்தன் ஆவான்

Chief Priest of Srirangam raises two big issues

While the temple wears a new look and all seemed to be set for the consecration, on Monday (April 28) on the final day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam at the Ranganathaswamy  temple in Srirangam, the Chief Priest Murali Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/01/murali-bhattar-srirangam-temple-chief.html) raised a couple of big issues relating to the Consecration. Throwing doubts about the event.

In a letter to the newly appointed JC Sivaram Kumar, who has just moved back to Srirangam from Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, he asked as to how the date of the Consecration was fixed without consulting the Asthana Astrologer of the Srirangam temple. 

                    Murali Bhattar

The Sundararaja Perumal temple in Anbil comes under the administration of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and hence it is the role of the astrologer of the Srirangam temple to suggest the date and time of the consecration. 

Also, historically, it is the priests of the Srirangam temple who perform the sacred activities relating to consecration of Anbil temple. Murali Bhattar questioned the JC as to how he was not even informed prior to the fixing of the date and how the priests of Srirangam who have the rights to the consecration in terms of pooja relating to the Kundams were not even consulted on this.

Unfortunately, the new JC is under a month old at the Srirangam temple and the date was finalised prior to his arrival.

Interestingly, in January this year, this writer had a two hour late night conversation with the EO of the Anbil Perumal temple, Venkatesan regarding the delay in the completion of the restoration works.

Within hours of Sivaram Kumar's appointment as the JC of the Srirangam temple, this section featured a story on him being a no nonsense and an action oriented officer (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/srirangam-temple-new-jc-sivaram-kumar.html).

Sivaram Kumar, JC, Srirangam Temple

This writer had had a long conversation at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram in 2023 on the many development initiatives he took there against all odds. He is a tough nut to crack and a hard task master. He takes all challenges head on and looks for immediate remedial action (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/05/dhanushkodi-rama-temple-shiva-lingam.html). When an issue relating to the pooja timings at Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil was brought to his notice last week, he took action within hours by checking with Murali Bhattar.  

On Monday evening, he immediately summoned the Anbil EO Venkatesan and took him to task on these two issues raised by Murali Bhattar relating to the consecration. 

Srirangam Maniam's Anbil connect

The Maniam of the Srirangam temple Sridharan who was at the Pushpa Pallakku procession late into the evening on Monday has a close connection with the Anbil temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/03/srirangam-temple-time-keeper.html). Sridharan is known to follow the historical practices and hence it is a surprise that he did not raise these two issues much earlier with the archaka of the Anbil temple, where he has had a close connect in the past. 

When he was relieved of the Maniam posting at the Srirangam temple a few years ago, he would make a daily trip to Anbil and was instrumental in the revival of the Padippu on the Kaisika Ekadasi day through Aravamudhan Bhattar. His nephew is also the one who takes care of the Madapalli at Anbil. On Monday, Murali Bhattar alerted Maniam Sridharan on the violation of the historical practices and rights of the Srirangam Bhattar.

In the past, he has told this writer that he has been in close touch with the Anbil temple and serves as a guiding force to the young archaka and the madapalli cook.

                          Aravamudhan Bhattar

The Kundam Management rests with the Srirangam priests

The start of the pre consecration events is only a few days away but finalising of the date and time without consulting the Asthana astrologer of the Srirangam temple and not getting the priests of Srirangam to anchor the Kundams at the consecration has angered the priests of the Ranganathaswamy temple.

Murali Bhattar says that he was the one who was involved with the previous consecration when Aravamudhan Bhattar’s appa Varadaraja Bhattar was the archaka at the Anbil temple. Also, when the Chariot was being restored, it was to Murali Bhattar that Aravamudhan Bhattar looked up to.

Unfortunately things have taken a turn for the worse and the priests of Srirangam have been wrapped on the wrong side when they consider that they hold the rights of the consecration at the Anbil temple.

Srirangam JC Sivaram Kumar is not known to mince words and has been quite sharp in his actions in the past. Unfortunately, the consecration invitation was printed and distributed without the knowledge of the Chief Priest of the Srirangam temple was done. It is now too late to reconsider the date in case the Asthana astrologer of the Srirangam temple considers the fixed date and time as not being auspicious for this consecration. On that point, Murali Bhattar questioned the purpose of having an official astrologer at the temple when his views are not sought for such a sacred event.

It is heard that the Asthana astrologer too is quite upset at not being the one who fixed the date for this consecration when it was meant to be his role.

What is the HR & CE doing?

There is a meeting between the hereditary priests of Srirangam, Aravamudhan Bhattar (who is a salaried archaka under the HR & CE) and the JC of Srirangam on Tuesday (April 29) to arrive at a last minute solution to this issue raised by the Chief Priest of Srirangam. While the HR & CE including the minister Sekar Babu (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html) boast of a huge number of consecrations in the last few years across temples in TN, they would have to look deep into the tradtional processes and practices and how they have allowed for such violations at a historical Divya Desam right under the nose of their parent temple at Srirangam.

Will the new JC take a tough stance on the violations?

Whichever way it turns out Tuesday, it is yet another sour turn of events for the Vaishnavites. But into the future, JC Sivaram Kumar would have to take tough steps on violations in the temples under his purview. 

This section will track the developments.

Thenthiruperai Panguni Garuda Sevai

It was a night when old time residents congregated and mingled with each other at this Divya Desam for the biggest utsavam of the year 

A sleepless 24 hours for Ananthu Bhattar, a beautiful decoration by the young Rahul Bhattar

It has been over 25 years since Ananthu Bhattar has been anchoring the Garuda Sevai in Panguni at the Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kathan Divya Desam in Thenthiruperai.  Over the last few years, he has had the support of the young Rahul Bhattar, hailing from this historical Nam Azhvaar praised temple town. While it may not seem believable, during this entire phase over the last two plus decades Ananthu Bhattar has not gone home during the Brahmotsavam and spends the entire day and night at the temple. 

On Tuesday (April 15), it was no different. The fifth day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam is the biggest day in the year at Thenthiruperai with a lot of the original inhabitants making it to have darshan of Nigaril Mugil Vannan atop the Garuda Vahana.

The presentation of Nachiyar Thirumozhi verses as part of this fifth day event did not end till late afternoon and soon after Ananthu Bhattar, Rahul Bhattar along with the support team got down to the task of decorating Nigaril Mugil Vannan as well as Thiruperai Nachiyar atop the Hamsa Vahana.

வெள்ளைச் சூரி சங்கொடு ஆழி ஏந்தி 

தாமரைக்கு கண்ணன் என் நெஞ்சினூடே 

புன்னைக் காடாகின்ற ஆற்றைக் காணீர் 

என் சொல்லிச் சொல்லுகேன் அன்னைமீர்காள் 

வெள்ளச் சுகம் அவன் வீற்றிருந்த 

வேத ஒலியும் விழா ஒலியும் 

பிள்ளைக குழா விளையாட்டு ஒலியும் ஆறாத் 

திருப்பேரெயில் சேர்வான் நானே - Thiruvoimozhi ( 7.3.1)

Nam Azhvaar describes the fields around the temple as being fertile with big growth of Paddy. The huge tanks were filled with water to the brim. Thenthiruperai was so prosperous that there were huge mansions all around the place.

Into the evening, devotees began thronging the temple in good numbers. The Thiruvoimozhi Pillai descendants came from Azhvaar Tirunagari to support the temple priests with one helping out with the alankaram and the other taking care of darshan for the devotees at the Moolavar Sannidhi.

Just after 9pm, Upanyasakar and a prominent face at this Divya Desam Aravinda Lochanan, who spent his entire childhood from the late 1970s at Thenthiruperai, arrived at the temple with the decoration still continuing.  Over the last two plus decades he too followed the trend and moved to Chennai. 

This section had featured a story in 2016 on how this temple town had been a vibrant one in the past (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/thenthiruperai-divya-desam.html). Ranganayaki, who had been the the oldest resident of Thenthiruperai passed away a few years ago but she would have been delighted at her Scientist son Kannan staying all through the Garuda Sevai procession donning an active role as a kainkaryapar. 

Aravinda Lochanan has always been closely attached to this temple and recalled to this writer his memories from his early schooling days “This is a temple town of Sama Veda residents. Till the 1970s, the Agraharam and the Mada streets were vibrant with vedic and prabhandham scholars. We would swim regularly in the Thamarai Barani and climb trees. These gave us strength and confidence. We also moved along with the river flow to reach Erettai Tirupathi Divya North of the Thamarai Barani. However, the 70s and 80s was a phase when most of the original inhabitants left this temple town seeking greener pastures in bigger cities and hence it was a slowdown period for the temple in terms of the grandeur of the utsavams over those two decades. But over the last 25 years the utsavams are back to its vibrant best especially on this fifth day of the Brahmotsavam when a lot of the old time residents come back for the Garuda Sevai.”

He points to his centuries old traditional house on North Chariot street and is delighted at how the old traditional constructions were.

At the temple, just after 10pm, a good sized prabhandham members had gathered at the eastern entrance. To Thiruviruttam Thodakkam, the screen opened with hundreds of devotees having a first glimpse of the beautifully decorated Perumal and Thayar.

Rahul Bhattar is just 26 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/thenthiruperai-rahul-bhattar.html) and is devotionally excited about his role during alankaram on such utsavam occasions. After he completed his agama initiation, he had lucrative offers to move to bigger cities but right from his childhood he has been devotionally attached to the Perumal of Thenthiruperai and he had no second thoughts about spending his entire life here at this Divya Desam. It is now a few years since he joined this temple and has always been thinking about making every decoration a better one. 

 Through the year he has been looking at decorations across Divya Desams to see how the decoration of his own Perumal and Thayar can be improvised. One such was ten parrots that Nigiral Mughil Vannan donned as part of the alankaram. All the flower garlands were large sized and in many different varieties. 

While the Moolavar has received golden kavachams over the last few years, the utsava deity shone brightly with sparkling ornaments. 

For the next couple of hours, the divine couple received vastrams and flower garlands.  Every single flower garland that was presented on the night during the Garuda Sevai procession was fully draped on Perumal and Thayar and remained on them through the night long procession. Every activity was unhurried with the priests taking time to place the flower garland and the vastram on the deities as well as presenting the Deeparathanai after the presentation of the Thattu.

It has been a historical practice for a devotee to burst a huge quantity of fire crackers in the first part of the procession and it was no different on this night though the procession moved on quicker than in earlier years. 

The trio at Thenthiruperai 

Sannidhi paricharakar is carrying the sacred theertham at the procession. He is part of the formidable trip at this Divya Desam.

It was midnight when Nigaril Mughil Vannan made his way to the Eastern Entrance after the procession around the four inner Mada Streets. Following the historical tradition of alerting the residents of the Lord making it to the Sannidhi Street, the drums specialist was heating up his two drums even as the Lord turned on to the East Mada Street. And once in front of the temple, he played this distinctive drum with Perumal presenting a special walk making his way towards the Sannidhi street. 

Soon after, devotees gathered in large numbers on the Sannidhi street as the white canopies went up on both Perumal and Thayar. And for the next hour, Perumal and Thayar stopped in front of every single house with devotees presenting flower garlands and vastrams.

For the first two hours, Ananthu Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/thenthiruperai-ananthu-bhattar.html) donned the role of placing the garlands and vastrams on the Lord. And now past midnight, the descendant of Thiruvoimozhi Pillai took over alongside Rahul Bhattar with Ananthu Bhattar walking along with Perumal on the procession. 

Even as Nigaril Mughil Vannan made his way to west end of the South Chariot street, the cracker devotee made his disappointment known to Ananthu Bhattar of cutting short the cracker time and the procession moving on. Ananthu Bhattar, as has been his way all these years, told him point blank at the instruction received from the officials and the direction for Perumal to not stop indefinitely in front of any one house.

The streets for a brahmotsavam procession 

It is the biggest festival of the year at this Divya Desam and the chariot procession is only a few days away but the Chariot streets are in terrible condition with the Sripatham and Kainkaryaparas finding it challenging to wade through the streets filled with sharp, hard stones. There are no HR& CE officials present during the procession and they may not even be aware of the hardships of these tireless Kainkaryaparas given the state of the sacred streets!!!!

Procession continues after 2am

It is 2am when Perumal made his way to the North Chariot street with Aravinda Lochanan welcoming the Lord in front of his house with his Thattu. He is just back in Thenthiruperai after a Ramayana Upanyasam in Chennai to mark the Rama Navami utsavam there. He is all praise of this Panguni utsavam and what it means to the residents here “This is the only Divya Desam where Perumal presents himself in an Azhvaar Thiru Kolam during a Brahmotsavam. On the second day, Nigaril Mughil Vannan provides darshan in Nam Azhvaar Thiru Kolam.”

Historically, the Garuda Sevai procession used to start only at midnight and would go on till 5.30am when the Sun God’s rays falls on his brother Garuda when the Lord makes his way back into the Sannidhi streets, Aravinda Lochanan tells this writer.

Thankfully, it's been a much earlier start these days though in the times to come one has to introspect the part about perumal staying in the street till 3am. Across Divya Desams, this trend of through the night procession has been coming down and it is hoped that in the near future, here too the street processions including the garuda sevai ends before midnight.

Will the trend be reversed?

While the residents present the thattu in front of their homes and go back inside, the sripatham and archakas have to carry on till very early the next morning by when they already have to start preparing for that morning's procession!! 

Also, it is hoped that the residents would be more empathetic regarding the historical trend of perumal stopping every few yards  at every single house. It is time that in such remote temple towns where there is severe shortage of service personnel, residents agree in unison to present thattu in select locations on the sacred streets instead of making the lord stop in front of every single house. Time will tell if the residents in such towns become more considerate and understand the challenges of Kainkaryaparas.

The streets are packed with cars, an indication of the Lord taking care of the well being of the old time residents of Thenthiruperai. A Kainkaryapara told this writer that this being seen as a Sukra Sthalam, Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kathar has ensured that his devotees are spread far and wide around the world pointing specifically at a Rs. 15 lakh car bought by an old time resident of this temple town.

Back on to the Sannidhi street, the devotees gather for the Thiruviruttam Satru Murai and Prasadam. Aravinda Lochanan, along with Vedic members present the Vedas. 

It had been a fulfilling 5 hours around the streets of Thenthiruperai and devotees are seen talking about the decoration and its grandeur. Late into the night, the consensus was that this was a beautiful decoration of the two deities with the devotees expressing that they have just not been able to take their eyes away from the divine couple of Thenthiruperai on this night.

From 10pm to 5am without a break

Ananthu Bhattar presented a flower garland to each of the nadaswaram and melam artistes followed by parivattam and flower garlands to the donors of this utsavam. Rahul Bhattar and Ananthu Bhattar spend the best part of the next hour getting Perumal and Thayar ready for the ekantha sevai procession even as most of the devotees returned home for a short rest. They had already working on the alankaram from the previous evening and it is now almost 12 hours when they performed Kainkaryam without a break.

It is past 5am when Thiruperai Nachiyar seated in front of Nigiral Mughil Vannan, both now without the grand ornaments and flower garlands of the night, presented a slow Ekantha Sevai procession back to the Sannidhi watched by around 50 devotees who stayed back well into the morning to this special procession, a distinctive feature after the Garuda Sevai.

A Special Puttu

It has been over 24 hours since Ananthu Bhattar and Rahul Bhattar have slept but there is still some work left for them.  A special Puttu, another distinctive feature at this Divya Desam, is distributed by Rahul Bhattar to the devotees who stayed back for Ekantha Sevai and all of them return home with great happiness of having had darshan of the Garuda Sevai. 

Aravind Lochanan turns nostalgic looking forward to the next few days “On the 7th day, when Thiru Kalyanam is celebrated, the deities wear Manjal Vastram. During my childhood days, it was a special delight to see residents in every house splashing a Kudam of Manjal water on the kainkaryaparas. The belief was that this would remove all the sins that we commit in our lives.”

There is a twinkle in his eyes when he talks about the Horse Vahana “Devotees in several hundreds would come here on a bullock cart from Valliyur for the Horse Vahana and the Chariot procession. Their belief is that all the problems would be solved if they seek the blessings of the Lord on this occasion.”

Ananthu Bhattar has seen from close quarter every year in the last 25 years. He says that they would roll themselves around the chariot streets similar to an anga-pradakshinam mode such is their devotion and belief in this Perumal.

 

For Ananthu Bhattar, the attention moves back to the 7.30am procession on the 6th day of the utsavam and there is no sleep for him as he gets once again into the procession mode even though it is just an hour since the Lord made his way back to the Sannidhi.

There is a sense of satisfaction within him at the devotees presenting positive feedback about the alankaram and the way the procession was organised but there is lot more to do with another long procession on the Horse Vahana day followed by the Chariot Festival.

Azhvaar Tirunagari Panguni Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai

Polintha Ninra Piraan atop the Golden Garuda Vahana and Nam Azhvaar atop the Hamsa Vahana provided darshan around the streets of Azhvaar Tirunagari on Sunday evening

It is 5pm on Sunday (April 6) evening and the priests have begun working on the alankaram of Nam Azhvaar atop the Hamsa Vahanam and Polintha Ninra Perumal atop the Golden Garuda Vahana on the fifth day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam at the Aathi Nathar Divya Desam in Azhvaar Tirunagari, Thiru Kurugu but surprisingly there is no crowd at all at the Moolavar Sannidhi. For the first week of April, there has been rain through the week at Azhvaar Tirunagari and it had begun to drizzle starting 4pm worrying the temple personnel if the Garuda Sevai procession would take place but the peacocks seen inside the temple complex in large numbers seemed to enjoy the drizzle and danced around in a group.

It is also Panguni Punarpoosam and on the occasion of Rama Navami the prabhandham members were reciting Kulasekara Azhvaar’s Perumal Thirumozhi verses on the mike at the nearby Thiru Venkatadamudayan Sannidhi.

மெய்யில் வாழ்க்கையை மெய்யெனக் கொள்ளும் 

இவ்வையம் தன்னொடும் கூடுவது இல்லையான் 

ஐயனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன் 

மையல் கொண்டொழிந்தேன் எந்தன் மாலுக்கே - Kulasekara Azhvaar

As the clocked ticked to 6pm, devotees began to trickle into the moolavar Sannidhi for darshan of Aathi Nathar.

The prabhandham members arrived including the Jeer and those from the Thiruvoimozhi clan for Thiruviruttam Thodakkam. With the opening of the screen at 6.45pm, the devotees had a first glance of the beautifully decorated Polintha Ninra Piran even as Nam Azhvaar made his way out of the Eastern Gopuram for Ethir Sevai.  And then the big doors closed. At around the same time, far away at Srirangam, Namperumal had made his way out of the Ranga Ranga gopuram also atop the Garuda Vahana for a procession around the Chitra Streets on the fourth day of the Panguni Aathi Brahmotsavam there. 

                                           Nam Azhvaar

By now, devotees had gathered in good numbers and eagerly awaited the opening of the doors for Deeparathanai as Polintha Ninra Piraan made his way out of the temple atop the Garuda Vahana for the procession first around the Ul Mada Veethis.

பொய் நின்ற ஞானமும் பொல்லா ஒழுக்கும் அழுக்குடம்பும் 

இந்நின்ற நீர்மை இனியாமுறாமை உயிரளிப்பான் 

என்நின்ற யோனியுமாய்ப் பிறந்தாய் இமையோர் தலைவா 

மெய்நின்று கேட்டருளாய் 

அடியேன் செய்யும் விண்ணப்பமே - Thiruviruththam

Right at the start of the procession on the East Ul Mada Veethi, Araiyar Sarangan waited outside his house with his family to present flowers and coconut to Polintha Ninra Piraan. He then joined the Prabhandham Ghoshti for the Thiruviruttam presentation around the four streets. Devotees waited in front of their homes to present the Thattu. A disturbing feature in remote temple towns that continues to this day during such processions is the fact that even with each of the houses built so close to each other almost with a common wall between them, the residents expect the Lord to stand in front of each of their homes to present the Thattu instead of 3-4 of the residents coming together to present each of their Thattu in front of one of their homes. What this means in such processions is that the Sripatham personnel have to stop the Lord every few yards so the Thattu can presented in front of every home. This was seen earlier this Panguni at the Five Garuda Sevai procession in Thiru Kurungudi and the same is likely to be the case at next week’s Garuda Sevai at Thenthiruperai Makar Nedung Kaathar Divya Desam.

It is hoped that the residents of historical divya desams would be more understanding and come together to present Thattu instead of making the Sripatham stop in front of every home on the four streets.

ஒன்றும் தெய்வம் உலகம் உயிரும் மற்றும்

யாதும் இல்லா அன்ரு

நான்முகன் தன்னொடு  

தேவர் உலகோடு உயிர்படைத்தான்

குன்றம் போல் மணிமாட நீடு, 

திருக்குருகூர் அதனுள்

நின்ற ஆதிப்பிரான் நிற்க , 

மற்றைத்  தெய்வம் நாடுதிரே - Tiruvoimozhi 4-1-1

It is past 715pm when the white canopies go above Polintha Ninra Piran and Nam Azhvaar at the entrance of the temple after they have made their way around the four streets. It is now time for the procession to continue around the four Chariot streets. At the Sannidhi street, it is no different as the Lord stops in front of every house for the presentation of Thattu.

From IT firm to the Garuda Sevai

Balaji is working in a Tier 1 IT firm in Chennai and makes his way to his hereditary location during the utsavams. He likes to decorate the Lord during the big processions and it was he who played a big role in the alankaram on this evening as well. His appa, Raju bhattar had been a hereditary priest at this temple for many decades and stepped aside only after he encountered health  issues. 

The procession was quite fast, with clouds overhead and rain in the offing. While the rain stayed away during the procession, South TN received sizeable amount of rainfall late on Sunday night giving a respite to the residents from the scorching heat of the week.

                                 

On to the West Ratha Veethi and behind the temple complex, the 90year old senior most member of the Thirvoimozhi Pillai clan made his way from his Thirumaligai on a wheel chair for darshan. Both here and a few stops on the North Chariot street, Nam Azhvaar who came behind Polintha Ninra Piraan through the procession, joined the Lord for the Theerthakarars to have a sevai of the two of them together. The canopies were removed half way into the North street and it was past 8.15pm when the two made their way back into the temple. 

Tail Piece

The prabhandham members along with Azhvaar Tirunagari Jeer were ready for the Saatru Murai verses of Thiruviruttam at the eastern entrance and following Theertham and Shataari, the Jeer made his way back from the temple. And minutes later, the Jeer from Thiru Kurungudi made his way into the temple and presented fruits and a Parivattam for Polintha Ninra Piraan.

ஈனச் சொல்லாயினும் ஆக ஏறிதிரை வையம் முற்றும் 

ஏனத்து உருவாய் இடந்தபிரான் இருங் கற்பகம்சேர்  

வானத்தவர்க்கும் அல்லாதவர்க்கும் மற்றெல்லாயவர்க்கும் 

ஞானப்பிரானை அல்லால் இல்லை நான் கண்ட நல்லதுவே -Thiruvirutham

The understanding at this temple is that no two Jeers can be inside for Mariyathai at the same point of time!!! And hence Thiru Kurungudi Jeer waited for Azhvaar Tirunagari Jeer to exit before he made his entry into the temple at 8.30pm – after the completion of the street procession and the Saatru Murai!!! Even during the now popular Vaikasi Utsavam when devotees come in several thousands to watch the 9 Garuda Sevai (Wednesday June 4 this year), there are specific mariyathai days for each of the Jeers and they will be accorded that special treatment only on those days.

Srirangam Railway Gate

For over a dozen years, this gateman has been manning the railway gate at Srirangam including three nights a week

                                      

Very soon, railway gates in Tamil Nadu could become automated taking away the manual process from the traditional gateman who have been manning the gates over the last several decades. 47year old R Balakrishnan has been at the Srirangam Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil railway gate for over a dozen years now. In addition to two 12 hour days, he is at the gate thrice a week during the night making it a 60 hour work week for him.

He began his railway career at the Ernakulam station and then moved to Tiruchirapalli division as a gateman at the north end of the Srirangam Railway Station.

On Wednesday (April 2) night, he signed in at 8pm for a 12 hour schedule. With the dramatic increase in train services over the last few years, there is very little rest for him through the night.

This section had featured a story in 2017 on Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/10/kaattu-azhagiya-singar-srirangam.html), a couple of hundred yards away from this gate on how dangerous snakes made the temple their homes in the decades gone by. For Balakrishnan, it has been no different at this gate number 244 where he has seen any number of snakes making their way to the gate office in the night. He also has to make do with mosquitos through the night but cannot take his eyes and ears off even for a few minutes during the peak time between 9pm and 2am.

The Gateman's role

It is just past 11.15pm and Chennai Egmore bound Rockfort express makes its way past the gate after having stopped at the Srirangam station. He recounts the process for him to close the gate even as the train that left Tiruchirapalli Junction at 10.50pm has passed the Ariyamangalam gate after Ponmalai “The station master at Srirangam calls me on the traditional magnetic phone to inform me of the upcoming train and informs me that the alarm signal will go off now, an indication that I will have to close the gate within 2 minutes. Only after I close the gate will the signal clear for the train to cross Ariyamangalam on the South side and Valadi on the North side.”

The clock has ticked to 11.35pm and he is back on the magnetic phone with the Station Master who tells him that the Nagercoil bound express from Tambaram will be the next on the track and that he will have to close the gate after the red alarm alert goes off at the gate. He goes and operates the gate boom lock that results in the closure of the gate and it getting locked.

What does he look for in every train

With every passing train, he has to look at multiple aspects. He has to direct the white lit torch on himself (photo above) when the train passes. He has to see if the driver is showing the green light towards him and if the guard is doing the same. He has to look at the wheels of the coaches and has to immediately inform the station master if there are any shortcomings. Also, he has to see if the brake rod is functioning and the sound of the wheels is consistent in all the coaches

He has a whistle that he blows when he sees coach related issues including when passengers are hanging outside the train in any of the coaches. When the train has passed the gate, he has to see that the red light is flickering on the back of the last coach for night trains. 

In a matter of a few seconds, the gateman has to perform all of these actions and for each and every train that passes the gate.

                                   

Strikes the Gate Boom lever

It is 11.45pm and the call from the station master asks him to be ready for 22657 Nagercoil Super Fast to pass through the gate in the next 5 minutes. He pushes the lever that ensures that no one can lift the gate. And then pushes another lock that results no one being able to do anything with the action at the gate till the train passes. 

Once the train passes the Srirangam station, the danger light at the gate turns to orange and it is time for Balakrishnan to head back to the lever to open the gate. 

Abuses from the road users

After a dozen years, he is saddened that he continues to receive abuses from the road users “The question that is often thrown at me is the closing of the gate even when the train that is to stop at Srirangam has not even entered the station. The flower and milk vendors are always in a hurry as are the school and college going students. And there are the devotees going to the Singar Koil. Almost all of them are impatient and I have to bear the brunt of their fury.”

He explains the process to this writer but says he cannot engage in conversations and explanations every time with road travellers “This is an inter linked system. Only after I close the gate will the trains receive the green signal at Valadi (on the north side) and at Ariyamangalam/Town (on the south side).

Also, he says that the train can enter the Srirangam station only if 120 meters in front of him is free for train to pass “This is particularly significant because if the train’s brakes fail at any point of time, then the train has to have the freedom to keep moving past the station and for that reason the gate has to be closed much before a train arrives at the Srirangam station.”

                                       

It is now midnight and the magnetic phone rings again – this time for the Pandyan express towards Chennai Egmore. And he heads back to close the gate. In the next 20 minutes or so he goes back and forth closing and opening the gate in repeat processes for Ananthapuri, Pearl City and Pothigai Express.

In the decade gone by, there have been times when he has worked non stop for 48 hours at the gate when his colleagues have had to take off. As the clock ticks past 1am, Gateman Balakrishnan sees off Silambu Express and then both up and down of Nellai Express (first going towards Tirunelveli and soon after the one coming from Tirunelveli to Chennai Egmore).

Maintaining a record of every passing train

He also records the train number, the time of passing the gate in a note that serves as a daily record. Over 20 trains have passed since he joined duty at 8pm on Wednesday. He says that he has dinner at home at around 7pm and makes it to the gate from Malai Kottai where he lives. He does not eat anything through the night. Neither does he drink coffee or tea during his period of duty in the night.

Many Challenges

Not many know the severe challenges that those like Balakrishnan have to face at the gate. He shows a mark in his face that occurred when a passenger in a train threw a water bottle from inside the coach. The wind led it fast in the direction of the gateman and struck below his eye. Passengers also throw food packet from the window of the train after they have finished eating and these too have flown towards the gateman in the years gone by. While bio toilets in most trains are now helping, in the past the gateman had to encounter bad odour when passengers used the toilet while passing through the gate. 

                                         

It is now past 2am and time for Pearl City towards Chennai Egmore. Balakrishnan shows no signs of tiredness as he goes back to swing the gate boom lever to close the gate. While there are not many vehicles in sight after midnight, he has to go through the motion every time a train is to pass irrespective of the vehicles on the road. "I have to close and open the gate every time. I cannot keep the gate closed once the danger light near the gate has turned to orange. A complaint from even a single road traveller with a photo or video of a closed gate when the signal light is in orange can lead to suspension of the gateman for a few days” he tells this writer after the passing of Pearl City.

"Similarly if I do not repeatedly pick up the magnetic phone with two rings and do not close the gate within two minutes of the danger signal at the gate turning to red, the railway police and doctor will be at the gate to inspect and confirm that all is well with the gateman." 

He now awaits the Pandyan Express towards Madurai following which he gets a rest for around 45minutes before the arrival of the next train – Thiru Kural Express.

It has been an 'active-no rest' few hours for Gateman Balakrishnan with trains passing the gate at frequent intervals. But it is a job he has got used to and something he likes. Once in six months, he has to encounter a snake but this too he has got used to. He also has to push away the cattle, goat and horse that make their way on to the railway track. 

Balakrishnan is very confident about his role as a gateman and hence has remained here for over a dozen years at this same gate. It is quite lonely for he is all alone with his work with no teammates around unlike those working at railway stations but he thoroughly enjoys what he does as a gateman and it keeps his mind sharp for he has to focus on multiple aspects every time a train passes. Those like him usually get transferred after three years but Balakrishnan has been so passionate about his work that he has not requested for a transfer and the authorities have been happy with him that they have kept him at this gate number 244 for over a dozen years.

He heads back home at 8am on Thursday after a satisfying 12 hours at the gate for a well earned rest.