Srirangam New Bus Stand on Temple land

Finally a bus stand in Srirangam, but lo its on a temple property

 The huge temple wall in the background of the new bus stand

It has remained a long felt need in Srirangam. Despite the manifold increased in devotee crowd at the Ranganathaswamy temple and several lakhs of people thronging the Divya Desam every year, there has not been a proper and official bus stand in this historic temple town with buses parking on the road, picking up passengers and moving along. 

Finally, when the authorities decided to cater to the ever growing number of passengers and the increasing  bus services, they found only a property belonging to the Ranganathaswamy temple. As seen in the photograph above, the huge wall built by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar is in the background of where this bus stand is now being built!!! And what more, they did not find it relevant and appropriate to get the approval of the temple authorities for this construction. 

As per the process, the HR & CE has sent a notice to the Transport authorities about the illegal construction on temple land without its approval.

The construction is nearing completion and the launch is likely before the end of the year. This new facility will be a mega addition to Srirangam  and is a boon to the bus passengers but the issue is it is on temple property. And thus far there has been no rent paid to the temple for this land on which the bus stand is being built.

It will be interesting to see as to what the response will be to the notice from the temple!!!

Koodal Azhagar Rama Rayar Mandapam Dasavathara Thiru Kolam

Devotees missing at Dasavathara Display

Koodal Azhagar provides Dasavathara darshan at Rama Rayar Mandapam to a handful of devotees on Thursday night

                  Koodal Azhagar Krishna Avatharam - 1am

It is exactly a month since Kallazhagar of Thiru Maliruncholai Divya Desam arrived at  the Rama Rayar Mandapam when the entire area was packed with a sea of devotees 

On this Thursday (June 12) evening, it was a stark contrast and proved anti climatic. Koodal Azhagar had made his way earlier on a horse vahana procession from the temple to the Rama Rayar Mandapam crossing the Vaigai as part of the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam, on the day following the Pournami.

Legendary Divya Desam

There  is no indication of a Perumal from a legendary Divya Desam was at Mathichiyam on the Northern Banks of Vaigai in Madurai. 

Centuries ago, after his Victory in the debate, Periyazhvaar went atop the Royal Elephant of Vallabha Deva Pandya around the streets of Madurai in a Grand Celebratory Event. Lord Koodal Azhagar, appeared on his Garuda Vahana from above the Ashtanga Vimana along with Goddess Lakshmi against the back drop of the clear blue sky providing darshan to scores of devotees that had thronged the streets of Madurai. Worried that evil eyes should not fall on this beautiful Lord, seen in this immaculate posture with his beloved Goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu Chittar falling into a trance, showered Pallaandu verses of praise expressing concern for the Lord’s safety using the bell tied to the elephant as his Thaalam. 

பேர் அணிந்த வில்லிபுத்தூர் ஆணி தன்னில்

 பெருந் ஜோதி தனில் தோன்றும் பெருமானே

முன் சீர் அணிந்த பாண்டியன் தன் நெஞ்சு தன்னில்

துயக்கற மால் பருத்து வத்தை திருமாசெப்பி

வானர மேல் மதுரை வளம் வரவே

வானில் கருட வாகனமாய்த் தோன்ற

வாழ்த்தும் ஈரணி  பல்லாண்டு முதல் பாட்டு

நானூற்று எழுவத்து ஒன்று இரண்டும் எனக்கு உதவு நீயே – Vedanta Desikar's praise of Periyazhvaar's Royal Procession

Jewels arrive in a MNC car!!!

There are only a handful of devotees witnessing the Thirumanjanam at this historic mandapam in Mathichiyam. Even as the Bhattar of the evening leaves the mandapam, a couple of young priests arrive. It is a sign of changing times and the trend among the new gen bhattars that the abaranams for the Dasavatharam thiru kolam was brought in a MNC car with the priest of Koodal Azhagar and a young engineering student and nephew of  Azhagar Koil Ambhi Bhattar landing up at the venue after 8.30pm. It is these the two young bhattars who took over the alankaram aspects in the coming hours. 

Till the end of the last decade, Naidu Venkatesan, who passed away during the Pandemic carried the huge white canopy from the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam to Veereswaram, 3 kms away bare foot ahead of the Garuda Vahana procession during the Thai Procession (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/05/srirangam-temple-naidu-venkatesan.html).  Such was the traditional ways followed during utsavams. But in this historic Divya Desam responsible for the Pallandu Verses of Periyazhvaar, jewels for the night were brought in a car!!!

It is 9.30pm when the first avatharam is unveiled. There are about 50 people who enjoy this first alankaram. Over the next four hours, Koorma, Vamana, Rama and Krishna Avatharam alankarams are showcased inter-wined with Swara alankaram and Muthangi Sevai.

The Rama Avatharam alankaram past midnight draws the biggest cheer on the night as the devotees look at the minute aspects of the alankaram. It is 1.30am when the screen closes for the final time on the night after devotees have had darshan of the Krishna Avatharam alankaram.

Dwindling devotee crowd

Later in the night, a security at the shop at the end of the street told this writer that the previous month there was not an inch of space to move as devotees came in thousands and stayed through the night to have darshan of Azhagar Koil Perumal’s Dasavathara Kaatchi. But on this night, it did not even look like a festival with very few devotees and the loudspeaker music being the only thing signifying an event on the night.  Nearer the Perumal, in between the different alankarams, these devotees presented devotional songs enjoying themselves in the peace of the late night even the moon played hide and seek in the sky. 

A Police on night duty wondered as to why were there so many small houses on all sides of the mandapam and asked as to why the mandapam had come up in the middle of the slum like dwelling only to be told that this is a historic mandapam and that the dwellings have come of late. 

 

Ubayadarar's devotional commitment

The Ubayadarar of the night has come with his family and is the most active devotee on the night. He calls out for the Parivattam, shouts out for the Thaligai at the end of each alankaram and distributes a wide-ranging Prasadam through the night including Puliyodarai as the final one, but for all his devotional commitment and the huge amount of money spent on the utsavam, the vibrancy is missing. 

பருபதுக்கு கயல் பொறித்த பாண்ட்யர் குலபதிபோல்

திரு பொழிந்த சேவடி

என் சென்னியின் மேல் பொறித்தாய் மறு போசிதாய்

என்றென்றும் வாசகமே

உரு பொழிந்த நாவிநேனை உணகுரிதாகினையே

 

There are just a few devotees who have stayed back past 1am to have darshan of the Dasavatharam display of Koodal Azhagar and they sleep on the floor for the next few hours even as the two young bhattars get on to the Mohini Alankaram before they too catch up on some sleep after 3am.

There are fewer devotees early on Friday morning ahead of the Mohini Alankaram Paththi Ulathal in front of the Rama Rayar mandapam but those present sweep the area of the Paththi Ulathal and draw beautiful white pulli kolams shortly 5am.

It is twice in two weeks that this writer has experienced dwindling crowds at Brahmotsavams in Divya Desams in Madurai in late night events. Both here and at the Kaalamegha Perumal temple in Thiru Mogur, there were minimal number of Vaishnavite devotees for a Divya Desam Brahmotsavam and that is a trend that is likely to continue in remote temples in TN (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/06/thiru-mogur-vaikasi-brahmotsavam-garuda.html).  Except for select marketed events like that of Azhgar’s Chitrai Utsavam, one is unlikely to see big crowds in remote temples in the future. But one also has to ask the question as to why amidst such small set of devotees, the alankaram runs so late into the night. When the likelihood of devotees is minimal given that the schools have just reopened and there is an office to attend the next morning, the temple authorities should plan to organise the Dasavatharam darshan in the evening and close by 10pm/11pm to throw open the possibility of a larger number of devotees having darshan.

Bharath Reddy @ 70 Jolly Rovers Success

Best track record in TN Club cricket in the last 50 years

Bharath Reddy's Hunger for more titles remains after clinching a 3rd Palayampatti Shield in a row under Vijay Sankar's leadership

Will the TNCA President Ashok Sigamani consider this 70 year old veteran for a role in the state's hunt for the Ranji Trophy

It is 30 years since India Keeper from the 1979 World Cup Bharath Reddy took to managing the cricket clubs run by Chemplast (Sanmar Group). At 70, he is once again basking in glory this summer after clinching yet another Palayampatti Shield, the third in succession after the passing away of his mentor N Sankar. Before his death, Sankar had told this writer that he had taken a promise from Bharath that he would continue to engage with the club as long as his son Vijay wants him to.  Sticking to his word, he is continuing to show the same passion that has driven Jolly Rovers to innumerable titles over the last two decades and more.

Bharath Reddy sat down on Tuesday morning with this writer to look back at his long and illustrious three decades career  managing the cricket teams at Chemplast and the hunger to continue to win trophies at 70!!!

Summer of 79- 'I will get you one day!!!'

He has a hearty laugh recalling what N Sankar told him soon after he returned from the (disastrous) World Cup and the test series in England in mid 1979 (Bharath Reddy had a great opportunity to become a national hero with India chasing a world record target in the fourth innings of the final test but his captain downed the shutters on him and he had to play out for a draw!!!). “I had three offers that summer. While Sankar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/jolly-rovers-n-sankar-75.html) could not match my financial expectations of the time, he told me (and those words still ring a bell in my ears) ‘I will get you one day’. He was confident even back then that I would be able to make a positive cricketing contribution in his life and that gave me a lot of confidence.”

Sankar did get him in 1982 and Bharath went on to play for Jolly Rovers for the next decade.  By this time, Sankar and Bharath had forged a great cricketing relationship. Soon after hanging his keeping gloves, Bharath was asked to take over the management of the club.

Sankar needed Bharath in the 1990s

Former India Cricketer TA Sekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/ta-sekar-architect-behind-worlds-best.html) played alongside Bharath Reddy for TN for many years and later the two contested the TNCA elections together and were very close for a few years in the 1990s. Sekar told this writer that having engaged with him as a player for a decade, Sankar knew inside out the great strengths of Bharath.  He was a great organiser, could get around all kinds of people, was well networked with the powers that be in Indian cricket and was an ultimate PR man. Sankar identified Bharath's potential early and capitalised on his wide ranging cricketing skills. And Bharath did wonders for him. 

                                              

The Early Phase - Hunger to Win 

While Bharath contributed well as a cricketer in the 1980s for Jolly Rovers, full time round the year team management was a different kettle of fish and he took time to understand that role. He recalls that early phase in the 1990s “I was new to that role and took about 2-3 years to understand what it entailed and how to go about it. But by the end of the 1990s, I had caught on to it and the hunger to win was firmly entrenched in me. The biggest differentiator in that phase was that Sankar gave me all the freedom and rarely said No to me. The amount of trust he placed in me was just unbelievable and gives me goose bumps even today."

Jabbar - A personal favourite

He counts Abdul Jabbar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/02/abdul-jabbar-tn-middle-order-batsman.html) as one of his best early picks as a captain. The two had played together for SBI in addition to being teammates for the state “Jabbar was a personal favourite of mine. Unfortunately, I thought he played in the wrong era!!!  How else would you describe the lack of chances at the highest level. He was everything a teammate could have asked for and would do anything for the captain. His contribution to Jolly Rovers was enormous.”

Spotting outstation talent

Bharath Reddy has been a master at picking outstation talent. Sujith Somasundar (whose wicket this writer once picked in Bangalore!!) was among his first picks from outside the state, one that Bharath cherishes to this day. There were some interesting rules in local club cricket in Bangalore but Bharath used his networking skills to secure the services of Sujith for Chemplast  “I spoke to Brijesh Patel and got his nod for Sujith to play club cricket in Chennai. Soon after, he was picked to play for the country. It is those picks and moments that you relish in your ‘old age’ – those that you spotted and picked early who went on to play for the country.”

Bharath counts Jalaj Saxena (who incidentally has moved on this year) and Piyush Chawla as two other 'great' outstation players who performed outstandingly for Jolly Rovers for many years and played a pivotal role in securing many  titles for the club. 

First win is great but need consistent titles - Sankar tells Bharath

End of the 1990s, Bharath Reddy won the first Palayampatti Shield since taking over the full time cricket management. He recalls the early message from Sankar that drove the winning habit in him. “Sankar repeatedly told me that while it is difficult to win the first championship and appreciated that effort, it was a lot more challenging to keep winning consistently. And for that to happen, retaining cricketers was an important aspect to focus on.”

Finding their cricketing foundation at Jolly Rovers

As he looks back his post playing decades, he is pleased that many cricketers in India have had their cricketing foundation at Jolly Rovers “We gave many a talented cricketer their big early break in first division cricket and got them to experience top class practice facilities for the first time in their life. Round the year practice facilities, new balls at every session and a couple of throwers were big differentiators and we were way ahead of others on these aspects.” 

Bharath rolls out many names - S Badrinath, R Ashwin, L Balaji....for whom this was the real building block in their cricketing lives. It was after the exposure at Jolly Rovers that they scaled the next level in cricket. 

He points to Sai Sudarshan being a most recent testimony to that laying of the early foundation. "From challenging times, he has grown rapidly under the Jolly Rovers' umbrella and has become yet another India cricket that this club has produced. Despite offers from multiple clubs, Sai continues at Jolly Rovers, a team that gave him an early exposure."

Bharath Reddy sees Sai as one of a kind personality “Soon after the IPL, he came back to Chennai to see me and take my blessings ahead of the England tour. How many TN cricketers of this stature would do this.”

The next crop of Roversians

He points out that he has currently laid the foundation for the next crop of players. ‘I pick players based on what I see in them, motivate them and give them all the exposure that they require at an early age. I operate with the highest transparency and tell the players what I think of them on their face. Every single player knows the likely exposure he would get at JR on all fronts - from practice to matches and hence gives his life for the club. The average age in the team is now around 23 and that augurs well for the future.' 

TN Coach/ Mentor - A missing weapon in his armoury

When this writer posed the sensitive question on whether he ever cherished a dream to coach TN / mentor Ranji cricketers into winning ways after all his success at Jolly Rovers, Bharath turns sober and wonders as to what might have been “There is no anger for I have greatly enjoyed my role at Jolly Rovers and the decades long cricketing relationship with Mr. Sankar. But yes, it has been frustrating not to have had the opportunity to be involved with the TN team.”

Bharath Reddy is no more the angry young man that one saw in the decades gone by but when Kerala reached the final this year, a team that TN would beat hands down during his playing days in the 70s and 80s, a sadness of immeasurable depth impacted his mind. Could he have played a role in turning the Ranji fortunes of the TN team. But over the years and more so now than ever before with him turning 70, he has come to accept the fact that despite all the players he has built and created for the state and the country and the innumerable number of trophies in his cabinet and consoles himself that it is unlikely merit will find its way in the state cricket.

But it is clear that deep inside there is sadness within him that merit has not been recognised in the state. 

Wanted to emulate Brijesh but didnt get the administrative opps in TNCA

In the 1990s, Sekar had a couple of years of very close engagement with Bharath and the two discussed many different developmental aspects of TN cricket as part of their role at the TNCA. He says that Bharath has always been a controversial character and a rebellion but to be with one club for over four decades from the early 1980s and to create the kind of legacy he has at Jolly Rovers is a monumental achievement, especially when he has been at a 'disadvantage' for much of his team management years. He has created a cricketing culture at Chemplast and has been a great mentor for many upcoming players in the state.  

He also dreamed big for TN cricket but that has remained unfulfilled. “It was Bharath’s idea to build the AC box at Chepauk and he was also keen on relaying the pitch and the ground in that phase in the 1990s but it did not take off as he did not get the necessary approval at that time. With his all round skills, he would have made for a great administrator better than any other but it was not to be. He wanted to emulate Brijesh (his contribution at the KSCA) and do great work at the TNCA but things did not work out for him in the way he wished.”

Playful and Impish but an observant student of the game

The Hindu's K Balaji (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-blossoming-cricket-career-was-cut.html) has known Bharath Reddy from his schooling days in the late 1960s when his Don Bosco team took on MCC School in local matches. The two went on to play together for city schools, state schools and the University before also being team mates at Ranji. While he himself was an introvert and a reserved boy in his youth, he says that Bharath was an extrovert and would often play prank on fellow cricketers.  "As a teenage boy, Bharath very playful, prankish and impish. That endeared him to many friends even at an early stage. But behind that exterior, there obviously was a sharp cricketing brain, an observant student of the game with a natural ability to absorb small and minute details that others didn’t notice. He had an eye for spotting talent and the ability to develop and convert that raw talent into a strong finished product" Balaji told this writer.

Great Conviction and Belief in himself

"He always went by his conviction irrespective of what others thought of him.  He is very loyal and a true friend though he has own strong likes and dislikes. But he is absolutely frank and you get what you see. There is no talking behind the back with Bharath" says Balaji on how you could trust Bharath on his words. 

Pity TNCA has not utilised this exceptional talent

Balaji has watched a lot of cricket over the last several decades including the World Cup final in 1979 and 83 at Lords (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/10/world-cup-1979-reliving-final-k-balaji.html). "I would say in the decades that I have watched cricket in the country, there is no equivalent to Bharath in 'player and team management' abilities, definitely in TN and only a very few across the country. It is a pity that the state has not utilised his services especially when the stated aim has been to win the Ranji Trophy and Bharath has an unmatched track record in TN club cricket."

Making his Mentor Happy

The trophy cabinet began to fill up from the late 1990s and has continued to this year. On his success mantra, he laughs as to how his outlook to cricket changed after he joined Jolly Rovers “During my playing days, I did not take life seriously and the fighting qualities did not come to the forefront. That’s the reason I did not succeed at the top level. But once I took on the team management role at Jolly Rovers, I realised that I had to be accountable at every step and be outstanding every year. Mr. Sankar trusted me a lot on my decisions and the only way to repay that trust was by gifting him the Palayampatti shield as often as possible.”

"From the day, Mr. Sankar assigned me this task, I wanted to be accountable till my last cricketing day. Choosing the right players, giving them the exposure both at the practice space as well as at the match level and giving them a solid foundation for them to build their cricket career has worked well for me and helped achieved the results that pleased Mr. Sankar right till his end. He always cherished the Palayampatti wins and you could see the delight on his face each time we triumphed.”

Winning Hunger @ 70

So, what keeps him going after 70 for he has won everything on board at the club including two VAP One day trophies after Vijay Sankar took over from his appa. “For one, sticking to my promise and commitment to Mr. N Sankar  to continue the winning legacy for as long as possible and then the unmatched happiness in continuously toppling the decades long rival (India Cements)."

He says that Vijay is even more passionate than his appa Sankar. "He is delighted with us winning three championships in a row in addition to the two VAP trophies. Even in the moments when we are down, he is very encouraging and motivating and has confidence that we will come up trumps. That passion that I have seen in Vijay has helped me come through the low phase after the passing away of Mr. Sankar." 

It's that time of the year when Bharath has tension filled moments picking the best squad that would pitch for the next title. As it happens once in a while, there are those who served him well for many years that would leave and he has to replan, but it is now a phase when Bharath is looking to build a base for the future that would hold the club in good stead in the coming years.

There is a twinkle in his eyes when he talks about young guns such as Vimal Khumar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/01/vimal-khumar-tn-cricketer.html), Andrei Siddharth, Ambarish Deepesh, Sachin and the like. He is hoping that these youngsters would take Jolly Rovers into its next phase of success.

In a long conversation with this writer three years ago soon after taking over as the President of the TNCA, Ashok Sigamani (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/11/ashok-sigamani-tnca-president.html) had said that he would fearlessly do all that is required for the good of TN cricket. In this period, he has seen a hat trick of wins for Bharath Reddy. It is hoped that he would look at utilising the services of Bharath now that he has personally  experienced Bharath's  success and how he has orchestrated trophies consistently in the first division fighting as always with his back to the wall.

Thiru Kurungudi Maniam Ramanujam

From Selling Peanuts in the 1970s to a responsible Maniyakaarar at this historic Divya Desam

No Food days in childhood to now feeding 1000s of Visiting devotees 

Offers resting facilities to visiting devotees feeding them a sumptuous home cooked meal 

Last month this section featured a story on a tech engineer quitting the corporate world to perform service at the Nambi Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-sudharsan-sthaneegam.html). This story is about a Kainkaryapara who began his life as a peanut seller and transformed himself into playing the most coveted role of a Maniyakaarar at this Divya Desam.

The 1970s and 80s were a difficult phase for temple Kainkaryam. D Ramanujam had six other brothers  alongside him and his family led a hand to mouth existence. His appa, Deivanayakan had been the Maniam at the temple. It was a phase when there was little devotee crowd and it was with the daily rice provided by the temple that the large family had their one meal of the day. 

Selling Peanuts and Glucose

His academics had to be cut short and he got into a job when he was still in his teens. He began by selling peanuts for a living. And then joined a company selling Glucose at a salary of Rs. 5!!! 

Joins TVS' Spinning arm

By the time he turned 20, he joined Sundaram Textiles in Nanguneri (headed by TVS' Ramesh) in the spinning department at their plant and worked there for over 15years. Given his minimal academic qualification, the salary was quite limited and he continued to live a financially challenged life. His wife from 1998 was one of over a dozen children and had cherished a dream of being married off into a rich family where she could lead a comfortable life but she ended up at the Sannidhi Street in Thiru Kurungudi. 

From Spinning Mill to Folding Vastrams at Temple 

 At the turn of the century, there was a severe shortage of personnel at the Azhagiya Nambi temple in Thiru Kurungudi and he was roped in by the Pontiff of the Mutt to perform Thiru Mudi Valagam Kainkaryam at the temple. His role entailed bringing the vastrams and Parivattam for the Lord and handing it to the priests. Following the utsavam, he would fold the vastrams and keep it in safe custody.  

பூந் தன் மாலைத் தண் துழாயும்

பொன் முடியும் வடிவும்

பாங்கு தோன்றும் பட்டும்

நானும் பாவியேன் பக்கத்தவே

Maniyam of Divya Desam temple

Also, in that phase, he began donning the responsible role of the Maniam of the temple that he has been performing to this day. It is a challenging role that he found once again during the Panguni Utsavam Garuda Sevai this year when a sudden drizzle drove Nambi to a fast paced procession to the once in a year Malai darshan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-panguni-garuda.html).

Over the last couple of decades, he has also been incharge of the Ramanuja and Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi that are outside of the Nambi temple complex at Thiru Kurungudi and it is Ramanujam who takes all visiting devotees to these Sannidhis providing insights to them on the role of Azhvaar and Acharya at this Divya Desam.

Two Events leading to service offerings to visiting devotees

Two events in that phase led him into a temple associated service that has held him in good stead over the last couple of decades. A set of devotees including senior citizens turned up in the night looking for a rest room and wash facility but could not find one. After offering the facility, it struck Ramanujam that this is an important service that was missing for visiting devotees at Thiru Kurungudi and he immediately began offering this at his home.  

Also, in that phase, another set of devotees were struck with hunger after having darshan of the Lord including Malai Mel Nambi up the hill. Once again, it was Ramanujam who served them with hot food  that delighted the hungry devotees. He recounts that day “We had minimal rice at home but quickly made upma and fed them. I found an instant happiness in their face and decided to offer food to every visiting devotee  from that day so they go back happy with their stomach full.”

It also coincided with the devotional wave that struck TN temples  and the increasing number of devotees to the temple took a liking for the services he offered outside of the temple darshan.  

His wife Geetha told this writer that she had dreamt of leading a luxurious life having also had a financially challenged childhood but Nambi of Thiru Kurungudi decided that it was her role in this life to feed hungry devotees. It is a role she has come to enjoy though initially she had found it very difficult having also to manage a young daughter. 

There are days when she cooks all alone for over 25 devotees and multiple times a day starting from breakfast in the morning to dinner in the night. With devotees thronging the Divya Desam, Geetha’s offering has found a real acceptance and the husband wife duo having been serving traditional home cooked food to scores of devotees. 

Maniyakaarar of the temple

Meanwhile at the temple, Ramanujam took on the highly responsible role of Maniyam bestowed with the duty of ensuring timely conduct of the daily poojas as well as the orderly conduct of the utsavams including the now vibrant Brahmotsavam in Panguni.

எங்கனேயோ அன்னைமீர்காள் என்னை முனிவது நீர் 

நங்கள் கோலத் திருக்குறுங்குடி நம்பியை நான் கண்ட பின் 

சங்கினோடும் நேமியோடும் தாமரைக் கண்களோடும் 

செங்கனிவாய் ஒன்றினோடும் செல்கின்றது என் நெஞ்சமே - Namazhvaar

He looks back with happiness and acknowledges the positive transformation in his life after he joined the Nambi temple “We were in financial distress during my early years but in recent times, it has been a great turnaround. We have been well take care of and are not short of anything in life.”

He credits TVS’ Venu Srinivasan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html) for the turnaround in fortunes of the Kainkaryaparas “The restoration of the temple and the financial security provided by Venu Srinivasan through a monthly Sambhavanai over the last several years has helped the Kainkaryaparas lead a happy peaceful life here at Thiru Kurungudi. It has been the reason we have been able to successfully wade through a difficult phase. Now all the Kainkaryaparas are doing really well on all fronts and have very little reason to complain contrasted with the decades of the 1970s and 80s.”

On a Tuesday afternoon in Vaikasi well over a fortnight after the completion of the Vasantha Utsavam and the schools have re-opened in TN, devotees are still flocking the temple. Maniam Ramanujam himself serves full meals to a set of devotees from Chennai who have just returned after visiting the Malai Mel Nambi Sannidhi. He asks them to take some rest after the lunch and promises to take them to the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Ramanuja Sannidhi at 3pm. 

Hands his daughter to a Divya Desam Bhattar

While it had been a depressing phase in his childhood and during his teenage years, Ramanujam is currently enjoying a glorious phase in his life.  He told this writer that while the 1970s and 80s were real low points in his life, Nambi has showered his blessings on his family and has given him everything that he could have asked for. 

He says that he found his match only when he was working at Sundaram Textiles and not after he joined temple Kainkaryam. Bucking the current trend and in a rare move, he gave his graduate daughter in marriage to a Divya Desam Bhattar much to the delight of the traditionalists (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/thenthiruperai-rahul-bhattar.html).

In recent years, he has built several bath rooms and toilets and set up cots on the first floor of his house on the Sannidhi Street in front of the Eastern entrance for visiting devotees to avail.  Delighted with this service offering, most of them present a solid sambhavanai. The ever increasing crowd at the temple has also benefitted him financially unlike the days decades ago when all the Kainkaryaparas were forever waiting for the next devotee to arrive at the temple.

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும்  உடையார்

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க  நின்ற 

பண்பர் ஊர்போலும்

தக்க மரத்தின் தாழ்சினையேறி 

தாய் ;வாயில் கொக்கின் பிள்ளை 

வெள்ளிர உண்ணும் குறுங்குடியே  -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

His wife sports an ever smiling look greeting every devotee into her home and catering to the hungry stomach. She says that this service has provided her with an unmatched satisfaction and feels blessed that she has been assigned this role rather than the luxurious life she had dreamt of in her childhood.

When he was growing up, there was not enough food to feed his family and for a large part they did not know when they would be able to have the next meal. Today, the 61 year old Ramanujam feeds a number of devotees each day of the year. At the temple he continues to handle and manage four responsible roles – Maniam of the temple, the one who is responsible for the safe custody of the Vastrams and taking care of the Ramanuja and Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhis. It has been a transformational turnaround for him. And to the visiting devotees, this husband - wife duo have been rendering a great service by serving sumptuous meals and they are hoping that they will be able to continue to offer this through their entire lifetime. 

To stay in Thiru Kurungudi and for a home cooked meal, contact Maniam Ramanujam @ 9360548252

TNCA Umpire and Chidambaram Deekshithar Kalyana Venkatesan passes away

Had cherished dream of becoming a BCCI Umpire

Kalyana Venkatesan had played in the TNCA league for R Ashwin's team and had been active in the Deekshithar role almost right till the end

MBA Grad and TNCA Umpire Kalyana Venkatesa Deekshithar of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple passed away this week at a young age leaving the Deekshithars of Chidambaram shell shocked. A couple of years ago he had had a stroke and had lost his taste buds since.

Exactly four years ago, this section had featured a story on how he conisdered it a great blessing to be continuing the hereditary service as a Deekshithar at the historic Chidambaram temple though he did rue missing the opportunity to write the exam to become a BCCI umpire.

As a young school boy, he had been active in cricket and played a number of tennis ball tournaments in Chidambaram. He told this writer in 2021 that he was a medium fast bowler and a middle order batsman and an integral part of the Chidambaram team.  "With our good performances in those tournaments, our team came to be popularly known as the ‘Koil Team’.” While he could not move to Madras as a teenager to explore his cricketing interests, later on he joined the lower division league team Madras Indians, one run by India off spinner R Ashwin and practiced with the team in Madras.

Into his 30s, he had turned into a TNCA Umpire last decade following the seeding of the idea and interest by Ranji umpire Rajesh Kannan(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/rajesh-kannan-ipl-umpire.html) who also mentored him to take up the examination conducted by the TNCA. He would often take a bus from Chidambaram on Friday night, umpire the matches over the weekend and return on Sunday night. and had cherished ambition of becoming a BCCI umpire but a positive turnaround in the fortunes of the Chidambaram temple following the Supreme Court verdict secured through the efforts of temple activist TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) brought him back into temple Kainkaryam. He was an integral part of the committee that handled the Kumbabhisekam a decade ago just when the BCCI umpiring exam was around the corner and hence had to let go of his big umpiring dreams. 

While he was focused on archaka service, once in a while he let his mind get back into memories of the matches he played in Madras for Ashwin’s team and his days on the cricket field as a proud TNCA umpire that had given him a lot of joy. 

Kalyana Venkatesa Deekshithar belonged to the hereditary family of Pothu Deekshithars who have been performing pooja at the Nataraja temple for over 1000 years. His grandfather performed service at the temple for over five decades, while his father Sethu Mahadevan, who initiated a large number of students into Vedas, has continued to perform archaka service also for over 50 years.The Deekshithar's family have around 200days of annual service at the temple.

During the pandemic, he took online Vedic Classes for about 15students to get the next gen entrenched in the Vedas. 

Anirudh Deekshithar, a descendant of the Pothu Deekshithars, told this writer on Saturday that Kalyana Venkatesan Deekshithar had continued to performed Kainkaryam at the temple and was active almost till the end but his untimely death in his 40s has left everyone shocked. 

PS: This writer too had umpiried matches with the Deekshithar in the decade gone by.

Thiru Mogur Vaikasi Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai

Alarming signal for the future

Beautiful colourful flower garlands, glittering jewellery but devotees missing on the big Garuda Sevai evening at Thiru Mogur 

It is the 5th day of the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam at the Kaalamegha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Mogur. The evening’s events at this temple are an indication of the current state of remote temples in Tamil Nadu. Historically, this place was identified as being 1 Yojana from Thiru Maalirincholai and South of the Elephant rock (Astha Giri).

It is past 5pm on Thursday (June 5). Thiru Mogur Aapthan, the utsava deity of the temple is in front of the Ranganathaswamy Sannidhi at the Eastern entrance with Nam Azhvaar alongside him. At this sannidhi, one finds the Lord in a sayana kolam and quite a unique one at that. This posture of the Lord is called ‘Prarthana Sayanam’, where Sridevi and Bhoodevi are seen praying, at the feet of the sleeping Lord. In the Madal, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to the sleeping posture - பள்ளிகொண்ட பாம்பணை திருமோகூர். 

There are two outsourced Prabhandham members presenting the fifth of Nam Azhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi. There are devotees trickling into the moolavar Sannidhi but most of them do not have a clue that it is a Garuda Sevai evening.

தாள தாமரை தட மணி வயல் திருமோகூர் 

நாளும் மேவி நன்கமர்ந்து நின்று அசுரரைத் தகர்க்கும் 

தோளும் நான்குடை சுரிகுழல் கமலக்கண் கனிவாய் 

கால மேகத்தை ஒன்றி மற்றொன்றிலம் கதியே 

As seen in recent times at most Divya Desams, Bhagavathas are the ones who are present in good numbers at the festivals and it was no different here. If the small crowd on such a big occasion was not enough, there was a squabble between the archaka and one bhagavatha on a minor point with each hitting out loudly at the other. The HR & CE officials, whose office is just next to the Sannidhi were silent spectators as they did not know as to who to support. The fight ended with the archaka cursing the bhagavatha- such is the scenario in temples these days!!!!

Govindan Bhattar is manning the moolavar Sannidhi and there is a steady flow of devotees through the evening. After donning the role of ‘Ekaanki’ at the Tirumala Divya Desam for over 15years in the 1970s and 80s, he was roped here by the hereditary priest of Thiru Mogur to support him in archaka service as the Kainkaryaparas were dwindling at this Divya Desam. It was around that point when the Kainkaryam at Tirupathi was turning into a ‘assigned duty’ role for him, something he was not comfortable with.

He told this writer on Thursday evening that though he hailed from Azhvaar Tirunagari Divya Desam, he has been destined to performed archaka service at Thiru Mogur Divya Desam, one that he has been carrying out for over 35 years now. He recounts the challenging phase when he joined this temple “There were no devotees on most days with limited transport service and minimal communication modes. It was a financially challenging period for even at homams and consecrations, the sambhavanai was minimal. We lived a contented life and that is how we survived that phase.”

While there was a revival in fortunes at the turn of the century, things have turned bleak again as was seen on this Garuda Sevai evening. 

The Chakkarath Azhvaar at Thiru Mogur temple is seen with 16 hands and arms. There is an inscription containing 154 letters signifying Hiranya Samhaaram as well as 48 images of different Lords. This is the only Divya Desam with such sacred letters and images inscribed on Chakkarath Azhvaar.

He says that ‘Chakkarathazhvaar’ has emerged in most temples and the devotee crowd has spread across temples leading to a reduction in the number of devotees at this temple. 70 year old Ramakrishnan Bhattar has been the one managing this Sannidhi but he too is missing on the evening for he has made it to his home town of Azhvaar Tirunagari for the Nam Azhvaar utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/thiru-mogur-kalamegha-perumal.html.

தொண்டீர் வம்மின் நம்சுடரொளி ஒருதனி முதல்வன் 

ஆண்ட மூவுலகு அளந்தவன் அணி திருமோகூர் 

என் திசையும் ஈன்கரும்பொடு பெறுந்செந்நெல்  விளைய 

கொண்ட கோயிலை வலஞ்செய்து இங்கு ஆடும் கூத்தே  - Nam Azhvaar

It is past 6.30pm and Govindan Bhattar is called in to bring the new vastram for Garuda. For the next hour, he is involved in decorating the Garuda Vahana along with his team members. Kudamaadu Koothan too has made his way along with Nam Azhvaar to be mounted on the respective vahanas. 

An hour past the scheduled procession start time of 7pm, the screen opens for devotees to have a first glimpse of Perumal on the Garuda Vahana and Nam Azhvaar atop the Hamsa Vahana.

After Nam Azhvaar has made his way out of the temple, the big door closed and shortly after the doors opened for devotees to have a full view of the Lord atop the Garuda Vahana. A few Prabhandham members present the first verse of Thiruviruttam before Thiru Mogur Aapthan made his way into the first mandagapadi opposite the temple tower. And shortly after, he made his way to the Tirupathi Jeer Mandapam on the South Mada street.

For the next hour, he provided darshan around the four Chariot streets on the wheeled tyres with the Sripatham personnel having mounted him atop the tyred vehicle, which has become the trend in most remote temples in the state. Nam Azhvaar was carried on the shoulders by the Sripatham through the eight streets procession. Devotees on the East and South streets welcomed him to their homes with Thattu but it was a quickish procession around the West and North streets that was bereft of devotees. It was 10pm when he made his to the South Mada street.

While devotees came out of their homes to have darshan, there were hardly any devotees through the procession with the Bhagavathas being the only ones to be present through the three hours of the Garuda Sevai. 

Bleak Future

Govindan Bhattar himself wears a tired look on the evening with health issues striking him. He bemoans the scenario at the temple “The youngest priest at the temple is past 40!!! The next gen have made their way elsewhere. There is a shortage of service personnel. And the small crowd on this Garuda Sevai evening is a reminder to all of us as to what the future holds for remote temples including Divya Desams as these.”

With the emergence of parikara and prathana sthalams, devotees are heading towards such temples and hence there is limited crowd at temples as Thiru Mogur even on festive occasions. Sripatham Karthik has been part of the procession for over five years and he is hopeful that there will be a bigger crowd on the horse vahana evening, the 8th day of the Brahmotsavam. It was a quiet end to the Garuda Sevai at 11pm with most of the devotees having left for the day and the Sripatham personnel being the only ones in good numbers.

Nanguneri Divya Desam Vasantha Utsavam

Deivanayakan and Vara Mangai Thayar provide Poochatru Sevai at the Thoppu  as part of the Vasantha Utsavam

Deivanayakan, the utsava deity a the Thothadri Nathan divya desam in Nanguneri, one of the eight sacred Swayam Vyaktha Vishnu Sthalams, was out in the hot summer sun for ten days during the Brahmotsavam the previous month in Chitrai. As a cooling exercise and as part of the Vasantha Utsavam, he made his way to the Thoppu, on the southern side, abound with trees this Vaikasi  for ten days, enjoying the evening breeze and the early monsoon drizzle. 

It is close to 5pm on Tuesday June 4 evening and the priest calls out for Sripatham. There is no full fledged sripatham personnel on this evening and the kainkaryaparas including the madapalli cooks double up as the carriers of the Lord. 

புள்ளின் வாய் பிளந்தாய்

மருது இடை போயினாய்

எருது ஏழ் அடர்த்த என் கள்ள மாயவனே

கருமாணிக்கச் சுடரே

தெள்ளியார் திரு நான்மறைகள் வல்லார்

மலி தண்  சிரீவர மங்கை

உள் இருந்த எந்தாய், அருளாய்  உய்யுமாறு எனக்கே - Tiruvoimozhi (5-7)

The entire Thoppu is decorated with beautiful kolams to welcome Deivanayakan and Srivara Mangai Nachiyar. Shortly after, the Pontiff of the Vaanamaamalai Mutt arrives at the Thoppu for the Thodakkam of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Siriya Thiru Madal.

The flower garlands too have reached the Vasantha Utsavam mandapam and Nambi (Ambi) Bhattar drapes Perumal and Thayar with these garlands even as the Madal is played out the Prabhandham members. 

Following the Poochatru Sevai and the Madal presentation, Puliyotharai Thaligai and Dhadhyonam is distributed to the devotees who have gathered around the Thoppu in good numbers on this evening.

ஆராயில்  தானே  அறம் , பொருள் , இன்பம்  என்று

ஆர்  ஆர்  இவற்றினிடை  அதனை  எய்துவார்

The clock has ticked to 6pm and its time for Perumal and Thayar to go around the Thoppu on a Paththi Ulaathal trip even as a young girl presents a wide ranging set of devotional songs during the procession with Mutt Srikaryam Srikanth anchoring the Sripatham team.

கார் ஆர் குழல் கொண்டாய் கட்டுவிச்சி கட்டேறி

சீர் ஆர் சுளகில் சில நெல் பிடித்து

ஏரியா வேறா விதிர்விதிரா

மெய் சிலிரா கை மோவா

பேர் ஆயிரம் உடையான் என்றால் 

பெயர்த்தேயும் கார் ஆர் திருமேனி காட்டினாள் - Siriya Thiru Madal

It’s an early monsoon phase and the nearby Nambi Divya Desam in Thirukurungudi has received a sumptuous amount of rainfall. The huge Eri on the North side of the temple in Nanguneri is brimming  to the full (as the huge lake around the temple was split into 4 canals, this place was referred to as ‘Nangu’ ‘Eri’) and as the Sun goes down in the West, its time for the decorative lights to take over at the Thoppu.

                        

After the Deepaarathanai, the prabhandham members led by the Pontiff present the ninth canto of Nam Azhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi. About 25kms east at the Aathi Nathan Divya Desam in Azhvaar Tirunagari, the procession around the Mada streets has started on this fourth evening of the Azhvaar utsavam with the service personnel at Nanguneri having already received the photos of the procession. The priest discusses the minute details of the decorative garlands at Azhvaar Tirunagari with a Bhagavatha and takes one look at Deivanayakan and expresses happiness at the beautiful looking Perumal after the Poochatru here.

A devotee presents flowers late into the Prabhandham recital and the priest patiently drapes it much to her delight

As the clock ticks to 8pm, Namazhvaar’s verse on Vaanamaamalai is played out the automated hourly announcement while the Prabhandham members present the Satru Murai verses on Thiru Kannapuram. Following another round of Thaligai distribution, the devotees take one final look at Perumal and Thayar before they head back home chatting amongst themselves on the evening’s alankaram and looking forward to the final day of the utsavam.

மானைநோக்கி மடப்பின்னை தன் கேள்வனை 

தேனை வாடா மலர் இட்டு நீ இறைஞ்சுமின் 

வானை உந்து மதில் சூழ் திருக்கண்ணபுரம் 

தான் நயந்த பெருமான் சரணாகுமே - 9-10-4 - Tiruvoimozhi

The Kainkaryaparas, led by Srikaryam Srikanth, once again double up as Sripatham on the Divine Couple’s return procession to the Moolavar Sannidhi bringing to end the proceedings on this penultimate evening of the ten day Vasantha Utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/03/nanguneri-vanamamalai-divya-desam.html).

The Bhagavathas stay back for the Sayana Sevai and are presented with a tasty Vadai following the final Deepaarathanai of the day. 

IT professional turning Madapalli cook Thothadri Srinvasan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/vaanamaamalai-thothadri-srinivasan.html) returns home after 9pm having donned multiple roles on the day – Cook, Sripatham, Prabhandham member and Prabhandham acharya. Even as he heads back home for a well earned rest, he credits the Srikaryam of the Mutt, Srikanth, who is still sitting at the entrance of the temple, for bringing together the Kainkaryaparas  at this Divya Desam to keep the tradition at the historical utsavams going.

Thothadri Nathan temple in Nanguneri is located about 30kms South of Tirunelveli, off the Nagercoil Highway and about 10kms from Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam