Thiru Pullani Next Gen Anantha Narayana Bhattar

From the Corporate Sector to Archaka Kainkaryam at a Divya Desam

A Decade of fulfillment and Satisfaction for Anantha Narayanan Bhattar at Thiru Pullani

Anantha Narayanan Bhattar is completing ten years at the Aadhi Jagannathan Perumal temple in Thiru Pullani. He was not yet 30 when he decided to quit his high paying corporate job in the Middle East and made his way to this Divya Desam to perform kainkaryam as an archaka. His bosses in the Gas Firm tried their best to convince him to continue in the job where he was growing well but right from his childhood he had had a devotional attachment with Rama and he decided that he would spend the rest of his life performing service at this temple.

This section had featured a story in 2017 as to how the original inhabitants of Thiru Pullani had left this historic Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple town making their way to bigger cities in search of greener pastures even as devotee crowd dwindled at this temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/thiru-pullani-divya-desam.html). 

His Uncle initiates him into Agama Education

Anantha Narayanan belonged to a generation that had begun to focus on academics and getting into corporates as a way of life and for their career growth. His uncle, Varadarajan, was a Vaikanasa Agama Bhattar at the Mayakoothan Perumal temple in Perungulam, one of the Nava Tirupathi temples near Tirunelveli(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/11/mayakoothan-thiru-kulanthai.html).  He served as an early motivation to Anantha Narayanan after the sudden passing away of his appa in an accident when the latter was still in his early teens.

தன்னை நைவிக்கிலேன்  வல்வினையேன் தொழுதும் எழு

பொன்னை நைவிக்கும் அப்பூஞ் செருந்தி மண நீழல்வாய்

என்னை நைவித்து எழில் கொண்ட அகன்ற பெருமான் இடம்

புன்னை முத்தம் பொழில் சூழ்ந்து அழகாய புல்லாணியே

It was that drive that led him to quit academics after class X and join the Vaikanasa Agama Patshala in Nanguneri where he guided and mentored by the revered Agama expert Govindan. He also learned the agama from his Grand Father’s brother who was a Vaikanasa Agama vidwan at the Venkatachalapathy temple in Gunaseelam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/gunaseelam-pichumani-bhattar-hereditary.html) and at the Thanthorimalai temple in Karur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/08/thanthoni-malai-kalyana-venkatramana.html).

Overseas Corporate work after his graduation

During this phase of his life, he also graduated in Commerce and picked up a diploma in mechanical engineering. Soon after like many from his generation, he set foot into the corporate set up joining as a steno at a private bank in Karur. In the brief period that he worked there, he also performed the service as an archaka at the Kothandarama temple there. And then, he accepted an overseas engagement in a gas firm that took him to the middle east for around 8 years.

The Transformation at Thiru Pullani

His Vacation in 2016 led him to Thiru Pullani Divya Desam, one that transformed his life and turned him into a path of devotional archaka service at this temple. His Patshala mates Navaneeth and Sowmya

Presented to him the improved scenario at the temple and how his joining the temple would strengthen the archaka team.

He tested out  for ten days and decided immediately to join the temple. His bosses with whom he had built a good relationship were keen for him to return but he had made up his mind to spend the rest of his life in archaka kainkaryam. 

He joined at Rs. 1500 per month a miniscule part of the lakhs that he was earning in his corporate job. But he is unfazed at the financial aspect “My wife said that she would manage the household even if I brought in just Rs. 5000, such was her support”, he told this writer on Wednesday in between serving devotee couples who had come in with prarthana for child birth.

This prarthana for child birth is leading devotees to throng this temple. Even on weekdays there is a sizeable crowd a far cry  from the scenario that existed decades ago as experienced by the priests from the previous generation. 

Most of the senior priests have retired and it is interesting that at this Divya Desam, the priests are all young and in their 20s and 30s, bucking the trend in many perumal temples where the next gen has been looking elsewhere for their livelihood.

Anantha Narayana Bhattar says that he has kainkaryam all days of the month and enjoys sharing the work alongside three other priests between the Jagannatha Perumal, Darbha Sayana Ramar, Pattabhiseka Ramar and Padmasini Thayar sannidhis. 

Unmatched happiness and contentment

He says he has found great peace and satisfaction in performing Thiru Aradhanam at this temple. It is an unmatched happiness that lakhs of rupees every month in the corporate job did not give him. He is living a contented life and enjoying this service alongside his old Patshala friends.

Two years ago, this section had featured a story on another young priest joining this Divya Desam in his 20s. Balaji Neelamegham, son of Jayaraman Bhattar who had served for several decades, has taken over the archaka kainkaryam from his appa and is all excited to be serving alongside priests his age (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/thiru-pullani-next-gen-balaji-bhattar.html). His younger brother too, after completing his agama initiation, has begun supporting him at this Divya Desam.

                   Balaji Neelamegham Bhattar

With the devotional wave that is striking TN temples and crowds thronging places of worship, especially parikara and prarthana sthalams, it is hoped that more from the next gen like Anantha Narayana Bhattar will take to temple kainkaryam as there is currently a severe shortage of service personnel in most remote temples in TN. The presence of next gen priests will definitely help serve the devotees better as has been seen at the Aathi Jagannatha Perumal temple in Thiru Pullani.