Thiruvahindrapuram Vedantha Desikar Utsavam

The Vadakalai Vaishnavite Acharya provided darshan around the four streets on a Hamsa Vahana on Tuesday evening on the first day of the Avathara Utsavam

At the Thiruvahindrapuram Divya Desam, where Vadakalai Vaishnavite Acharya Vedantha Desikar composed the Hayagriva Stotram, the ten day celebrations of his Avathara Utsavam began on Tuesday (Sept 24). With the Desikar Utsavam coinciding with Navarathri celebrations, Devanathaswamy made his way at 4.30pm from his Sannidhi to Shenbagavalli Thayar Sannidhi for Serthi Sevai even as the priests were decorating the acharya at his Sannidhi ahead of the first day procession. 

Traditionalists' Kainkaryam

It was heartening to find the Vadakalai traditionalists gathering in good numbers in their traditional attire on this opening day to perform the Sripatham Kainkaryam as they carried their acharya on their shoulders from his Sannidhi at 7pm. Till the acharya made it to the vahana street procession, they managed and took care of every Kainkaryam inside the temple complex.

அருள் தரும் அடியவர்பால் மெய்யை வைத்து 

தெருள் தர நின்ற தெய்வநாயக 

நின் அருளெனும் சீரார் அறிவையானதென 

இருள்செக எமக்கோர் இன்னொலி விளக்காய் 

மணிவரை அண்ணா நின் திரு உருவில் 

அணி அமராகத்து அலங்களாய் இலங்கி 

நின்படிக்கு எல்லாம் தன்படி ஏற்க 

அன்புடன் நின்னோடு அவதித்தருளி 

வெண்டுறை கேட்டு மீண்டு அவைகேட்பித்து 

ஈண்டிய வினைகள் மாண்டிட முயன்று 

தன்னடி சேர்ந்த தமருணை அணுக 

நின்னுடன் சேர்ந்து நிற்க நின்திருவே

The Priests from Andhra at this Divya Desam

A decade ago, when this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple was going through tough times, the HR & CE,in a first of its kind unprecedented move, roped in two archakas from Andhra Pradesh to carry out the archaka service at this Divya Desam. One such priest is Sesha Bhattar who this evening carried the huge flower garland from the Divine Couple to present to Vedantha Acharya who had positioned himself at the East end of the Thayar Sannidhi. Over a decade later, the ‘Outsider’ tag has been dealt with successfully and the two have made the Deiva Nayakan Perumal temple their own with their sincere and devotional service and have now become an integral part of this Divya Desam. The residents on the North and East streets have a pleasant word or two with Ranga Sai Bhattar who comes along with the Acharya on the procession through these streets (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/thiru-vahindrapuram-andhra-priests-10.html).

Following the Vedic presentation, the Kainkaryaparas and the devotees were presented with Sundal and Pongal in front of the Thayar Sannidhi before Vedantha Desikar made his way to the West end of the temple to be mounted on the Hamsa Vahana ahead of the street procession. The traditional kainkaryaparas then made their way to the Thayar Sannidhi to carry Devanathaswamy back to his Sannidhi after providing joint darshan through the evening.

Next Gen Kainkaryam

19 year old Kosagan, son of the renowned Malolo Kannan, is on the verge of completing his Vedic studies and he was there this evening at the temple. In addition to being part of the Vedic presentation, he also carried the Kudai atop his acharya. He told this writer on Tuesday evening that he has been devotionally attached to this Perumal and Acharya right from his childhood and he does not miss an opportunity to perform Kainkaryam here. “In addition to performing Kainkaryam through this utsavam, I am also here every Shravanam for Desikar’s monthly Thiru Nakshatram celebrations”, he said.

An inscription dating to the rule of Kulotunga III refers to a gift of a gold necklace to Deiva Nayagan and another one refers in simple terms to the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram as ‘The Standing Vishnu’.

It is almost 8.30pm when the screen opened for devotees to have a first darshan of Vedantha Acharya atop the Hamsa Vahana on this first evening of the Avathara Utsavam. The vedic members have arrived in good numbers and they begin the presentation of the Vedas. 

The Prabhandham members gathered at the West Sannidhi street for the Thodakkam of Muthal Thiruvanthathi. Old time residents had left this historic town in the second half of the previous century seeking greener pastures in bigger cities. Many of them have now rebuilt their old styled homes in mansions some of these like the praise in Thiru Mangai’s verses where he described the sugarcane shoots as growing to the sky similar to the mansions of Thiru Vahindrapuram. 

இருந்தண்  மாநிலம்  ஏனமதாய் வளைமறுப்பினில் அகத்தொடக்கி 

கருந்தன் மா கடல் கண்துயின்றவனிடம்  கமலநன்மலர் தேறலருந்தி 

இன்னிசை முரன்றெழும் அளிகுலம் பொதுளி அம் பொழிலூடே 

செருந்தி நாண் மலர் சென்றணைந் உழிதரு திருவஹீந்திரபுரமே

The temple complex including the Gopurams are lit with colourful lights while the streets have been dotted with white pulli kolam. Each of the residents welcomed Vedantha Desikar into their homes presenting coconuts and flowers as the Vaishnavite Acharya made his way through the West street. 

In the Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to Thiruvahindrapuram as a place where bees in large numbers drink nectar from the lotus flowers and then sing and dance amid the dense groves around the temple. This was a location where Shenbagam trees were seen in abundance and Mullai creepers waved in the wind. 

A stopover at Desikar's Thirumaligai

As the clock ticked to 9pm, he made his way on to the North street where there were not too many devotees with Thattu. It was a quick procession through the North and East streets as he made his way on to the Sannidhi street. The procession had a stop over at Vedantha Desikar’s Thirumaligai with the Vedic members presenting the verses there. Following this, another round of prasadam was presented.

It is past 9.30pm when Desikar made his way back to the temple with Prabhandham members presenting the Satrumurai of Poigai Azhvaar’s verses. It had been a long evening for the Kainkaryaparas having to manage both the Navarathri utsavam as well as the Avathara Utsavam of Vedantha Desikar. There was a sense of delight among the Vadakalai Kainkaryaparas on this first evening with the opportunity they had been presented with to perform the Kainkaryam at the start of this utsavam.

Thiruvahindrapuram Krishna Desikan (Kannan), currently a resident of Mandaveli in Chennai, is a senior member of the Prabhandham Ghosti. He told this writer that he considers it a great blessing to be an integral part of this utsavam and to present the sacred verses of the azhvaars and the acharya every day.  Earlier in the morning, to kick off the ten day utsavam, the members began their presentation of the Desikar Prabhandham with the Acharya’s verses of praise on the greatness of the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram (Mummani Kovai)

ஆரணங்கள் தேட அய்ந்தையில் வந்துதித்த 

காரணராய் நின்ற கடல்வண்ணர் 

நாரணனார் இப்படிக்குமிக்கு அன்று எடுத்த பாதம் கழுவ 

மெய்ப்படிக்கம் ஆனது பொன் வெற்பு

Like many others his generation he too had moved to a city life decades ago, but he is hoping that he would return to his hereditary location sooner than later to spend the next phase of his life here at this Divya Desam where his forefathers had performed Kainkaryam and to recite the sacred verses of the Azhvaars and his Acharya every day of the year. For the moment, he will be spending these ten days of the Avathara Utsavam of the Vadakalai Vaishnavite Acharya at Thiru Vahindrapuram reciting the sacred verses morning and evening of the utsavam. 

(The Chariot procession will take place on the morning of October 1 and Vedantha Acharya's birthday through the day on Thursday October 2)

Melattur Varadaraja Perumal Seetharama Bhattar

He saw the mass exodus of Agraharam residents in the late 1970s and early 80s but committed himself to a lifetime service at the Varadaraja Perumal temple as per his appa's wish even rejecting a lucrative archaka service offer from a Singapore temple four decades ago

This family has performed the archaka service for seven generations at the centuries old Varadaraja Perumal temple in Melattur, now famously known for the Bhagavatha Mela. 61year old Seetharama Bhattar has spent over four decades performing Kainkaryam since the time he was a teenager when his appa designated him for archaka kainkaryam and directed him to perform this as a lifetime service. While his elder brothers made their way into the corporate world, Seetharama Bhattar who had developed a devotional attachment to Varadaraja Perumal right for his school days stayed back in Melattur to perform Kainkaryam at the temple.

He discontinued academics after class X and joined the Patshala at Mangudi to learn Vaikanasa Agama. Soon after, his appa, Gopalan Bhattar, asked him to join the temple as support to him. Seetharama Bhattar recounts those early years of his life at Melattur in the 1960s and 70s. “The Agraharam was vibrant with Smartha families forming a major part of the North, South and Sannidhi Street. We were provided paddy for our service and our service each day of the year at the temple provided a lot of satisfaction.”

And then, as with many other small towns in TN, the original inhabitants began leaving their hereditary locations to larger cities in search of jobs that served as a dampener to the spirit of the archaka family. 100s of traditional families left the Agraharam and by the 1990s, only a few families were left. “Devotees dwindled into single digit, there was minimal thattu kaasu and survival became a challenge”, Seetharama Bhattar told this writer looking back at the dramatic turnaround in fortunes at the temple in the later part of the previous century.

Following the mass exodus of the Agraharam residents, Saturdays and the No Moon day have been the only days in the month when there is a reasonable devotee crowd at the temple. “I perform Thirumanjanam for Anjaneya on Saturdays and for Perumal on Amavasya. There is some Thattu Kaasu on these days but otherwise even on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day, there is not more than Rs. 150” says Seetharama Bhattar on how there is very minimal income from the temple.

Rejects Overseas archaka offer

The temple became dilapidated with no financial support to undertake the repair works. With no devotees in sight and father and son jointly performing archaka service, there was not enough income from the temple. Seetharama Bhattar received a lucrative offer for archaka service from the Balaji temple in Singapore but he resisted the financial temptation and stayed back in India. 

For a few years, he provided archaka service support as and when required at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Royapettah, Chennai and at the Devanathan Divya Desam in Thiru Vahindrapuram. “Neela Megha Bhattar, then in his 70s and 80s (he passed away a few years ago) would call me for support on high crowd days and I would go there for a few days every month to perform the role of a support priest for which I was paid some fixed amount by the Bhattar. But after the passing away of my appa over a decade ago, I have not been able to go out of Melattur for there are no substitute priests available here.”

The Fridays in Aadi and Thai too see some crowd and that contributes to some income for the priest.  There is some kind of crowd only in Puratasi and Margazhi says Seetharama Bhattar sitting at the Verandah of his traditional house behind the temple. For a large part of his life, he lived in a mud house. Only recently, has he been able to see cement flooring at his house. The roof continues to be the old styled Agraharam modelled house.

On the positive note, one of his elder brothers has returned recently to Melattur after his retirement and his sister too has made her way back to Melattur with her husband, who offers archaka support service to Gopalan Bhattar at Pullam Bhoothangudi Divya Desam.

Newly constructed temple 

After several decades, Samprokshanam took place in 1980, one that Seetharama Bhattar remembers well “I was not yet 20 at that time. It was a consecration after a long time but it was limited in repair works given the financial scenario of the time. After that for almost three decades, the temple was in troubled times and reached a dilapidated state at the turn of the century. It was then that the original inhabitants who had settled down in larger cities took to the rebuilding of the temple after bringing it to ground.”

A long time provisions shop owner at Melattur bemoans the demolition of the centuries old temple “The old structure was beautiful with a dome shaped roof typical of some of the temples in this region. Unfortunately, the traditional infra has been replaced by tiles and the temple has lost its old flavour.”

Brahmotsavam in the last 15 years

Following the new construction, Brahmotsavam was initiated and a ten day utsavam including vahana procession takes place every year with Theerthavari on Akshaya Trithiya day.  For his Thirumanjanam and Purapadu services during the Brahmotsavam, he is presented with the largest Sambhavanai of the year. 

Despite the minimal income, his appa performed archaka service for over six decades till his death last decade when he was 84. His amma has been bedridden for the last few years and the medical bills have been mounting. Seetharama Bhattar continues to ride the 15+ year old TVS 50XL to buy the medicines from Thanjavur every month and remains committed to taking care of his amma in this phase of her life.

Like his elder brothers, he could have chosen a lucrative financial path had he accepted the offer from the Singapore temple. But despite the financial challenges arising out of living in a remote village, Seetharama Bhattar committed himself to devotional service at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Melattur as per his appa's wish. That financial offer in the 1980s looks a far time back now for he has served at the Melattur temple for over four decades. He has no regrets at rejecting that lucrative offer for he sees acting as per his appa's wish as the greatest blessing and he sees himself serving at the feet of Varadaraja Perumal for the rest of his life at the temple that has meant everything for him right from his childhood.  

Seetharama Bhattar can be reached on 9944994691

Hindu Funeral Final Rites

Former TNCA cricketer and now US IT professional fights for women to perform final rites

Two lady Dentists perform entire final rites of their father in Chennai this week

In the last few years, there have been a lot of initiatives towards women empowerment. Specific seats on the Board of listed companies in India, cricket commentators referring to players (the ones who bat) as Batters (from the previous batsmen), equal rights for daughters in parental properties and priests of historical remote temples in TN sending their daughters to high profile engineering colleges (while their sons continue to go to Patshalas without TV and mobile phones).

This story is about a first of its kind initiative by R Vijayakumar, a former TNCA league and Collegiate cricketer who has been in the IT space in the US for almost three decades. In the recent past, this IT professional now in his mid 50s has been carrying out digital campaigns for the AAP through his twitter handle sitting in the US. During this phase in his life, he has also been advocating a more modern outlook towards life in general and specifically the man’s attitude towards women. And he has been carrying out this campaign within his family members.

As expected a lot of this has not found favour among the senior members of the family who have had a more traditional outlook to life. While the fight for women empowerment conversations have been going on for a while within his larger family most of whom are based in different cities in India, this week he created a flutter in the family with his so called revolutionary idea at a most sensitive time.

Following the sudden death of his brother in law,  Vijayakumar, much to the shock of his family members, pitched for the two daughters, both dentists, of the deceased to perform the entire final rites. His family members as per the custom in vogue in the Hindu community were keen for the son in law to perform the final rites but he would have none of it.

He questioned the fundamental aspects in the scriptures or the practices stating that those were scripted by men and biased in favour of men and asked as to why the loving daughters should not be an integral part of the final journey of their father.

A long standing devotees of the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore, Chennai who is now into Kalakshepams going in-depth into understanding the inner meaning from the scriptures told this writer that these are 1000+ years old well laid out practices based on strong foundations and one should not needlessly question best practices in the name of empowerment. He also said that like the one’s belief in God and His existence, one should not ask for everything to be validated with proof.

Vijayakumar has been vocal with his views with a firm commitment to dispel the long standing position that only men hold rights in certain aspects of life. His view has been that these were made in the past to supress women and keep them under the man’s control.

If the daughters loved their father for three decades of their life and if he meant everything to them, why would they not be allowed to show their love in this final journey, Vijayakumar argued.

And much against the run of play, he won over the hearts of the daughters and overturned the large consensus that stood firm with his family members that the son in law should perform the final rites. 

Centuries old custom in the family had been done away with on Tuesday and the two daughters performed the final rites in Chennai. Vijayakumar lauds the daughters for their fresh outlook to life and accepting his view point and getting the senior members in the family to allow them to perform the ceremony.

It may not be the first in Chennai but it looks like it is the start of a trend where the next gen women believe that they have equal rights in every aspect of life including in events such as these.

The final word on this goes to Hari Pandithar, the priest at the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikal. He told this writer that a lot of these age old practices would have been laid out based on the existing scenario at that time. He points to the widowhood scenario in Bengal in the mid 19th century as an example. “A large number of young widows turned to ‘Daasis’. This didn’t seem heading in the right direction and hence widow remarriage system came into vogue”, said Hari Pandithar.

Similarly, a lot of the historical practices that were established once upon a time would have been a direct outcome of the then existing challenges and the new practices of the time would have been revolutionary at that point of time when it was first set up. And after a few centuries, this would have become the norm. 

He told this writer that the Hindu system has always given the freedom to discuss and debate issues where as other religions do not give that freedom to make easy and immediate violations of centuries old well established practices.

However, once the system has gone global where in the once traditionalists, who lived a different way of life in the centuries gone by, have gone overseas to earn their living and their most fundamental food habits have changed, some of these systems would lose relevance. Given this scenario, it is best to put the deceased to rest in peace and move forward with life instead of fighting over rights over a person’s body. And if the daughters are to perform the final rites, so be it, concluded Hari Pandithar.

Thiruvanaikaval Hari Pandithar

Lalitha Trisati and Saharasnama Rendition

With less than 50 days in a year of Archaka Service, this priest created a niche for himself to remain devotionally attached to Akilandeswari and to perform a lifetime of service at the historic temple in Thiruvanaikaval

The challenging scenario in temples in TN in the 1970s and 80s led his appa to move into the corporate world but K Hari Hara Subramaniya Pandithar ( Hari Pandithar) decided early on that Kainkaryam at the feet of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari at the Saivite Poets praised Thiruvanaikaval temple, one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, where Lord Shiva manifests himself as ‘Water’,  would be his way of life. While his elder brothers took to academics and completed their Masters, Hari Pandithar spent five years at the Sankara Mutt administered Veda Patshala on the North Street opposite the Akilandeswari Sannidhi.

While historically the archaka service was divided among the Gothra descendants, over the centuries various events led this to be distributed among the next gen priests and Hari Pandithar’s Thatha and appa were left with under 20 days of annual service at the temple. 

நன்றும் இழைத்த சிலம்பி வலைப் பரப்பை நாதன் அடி வணங்கச் 

சென்ற யானை அநுசிதம் என்று அதனைச் சிதைக்கச் சிலம்பிதான்

இன்று களிற்றின் கரம் சுலவிற்று என்று மீள இழைத்ததனை

அன்று கழித்த பிற்றைநாள் அடல் வெள்ளானை அழித்ததால்

5th Century AD temple

Thiruvanaikaval is the first of the 70+ ‘Maada Koils’ built by Kochenganan Chozha. Ruling from Uraiyur, the then capital of the Chozhas, Ko Chenganan crossed the Cauvery and found an idol of Shiva beneath the tree. He also remembered his life as a spider when he had provided shade right above. His devotion touched a peak and he built Thiruvanaikal as his first Saivite temple. In recognition of his great contribution to temple architecture and as the one who built the Thiruvanaikaval temple, Kochenganan’s idol is seen inside the temple and his procession around the four streets takes place on the Sathayam day in Maasi every year (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiruvanaikaval-ko-chenganan-maasi.html).

                               Ko Chenganan Chozha

Appa's untimely death leaves him with an uncertain future

When he was still in his late teens, his appa passed away all of a sudden leaving him in a state of shock and an uncertain future beckoned. Soon after his Vedic initiation, Hari Pandithar had to find ways to sustain his service at the temple. It was a phase when he came in close contact with L. Ranganathan, Trichy correspondent of The Hindu. Hari Pandithar recounts as to how his conversations with Ranganathan transformed his way of service at the Thiruvanaikaval temple “To create a niche for myself, he asked me to learn Trisati and this transformed my way of service at the temple. It was Ranganathan’s motivation that helped me serve at the temple at the turn of the century.  My appa’s friend at LIC was the first to reach out to me for four archanai’s every month for which I was paid Rs. 50. I did this for a decade and a half with devotees reaching out to me for special archanai on specific days of the month.”

The Hindu Ranganathan's transforming message

It was also Ranganathan who initiated Hari Pandithar into the newspaper reading habit “I took a special liking to Business Line and he would share the paper every morning and I would read every section of the paper. And then for many years, I bought BL myself and continued the reading process. This helped me with insights into the external world”, Hari Pandithar told this writer at his home on North Car street in Thiruvanaikaval where he has been residing from birth.

Interestingly, another journalist, again from The Hindu (and later PTI) was among the first to reach out to him for this archanai. Hari Pandithar recalls a Vadakalai Iyengar to have also called him for the archanai in that initial phase of his service at the temple. He also recalls devotees reaching out for specific archanai including a few requesting him for Rahu Kaalam archanai on Tuesdays. 

While Hari Pandithar did not have too many days of archaka service in the year, his special devotional rendition of Lalitha Trisati and Sahasranama led devotees to take a special liking for me and this created a big devotional bond between him and Akilandeswari. The Sambhavanai for an archanai and this special rendition was minimal in those days, over two decades and he had to manage the expenses within the Rs. 1500 or so he received every month. A lot of this money went each year to performing his appa’s shraddam every year.

Following his wedding, the number of days of his annual archaka service increased a bit with his aunt, uncle and the HRCE distribution taking this up to close to 50days.

Hari Pandithar has not once gone after devotees for his archaka and every single rendition of the Trisati and Sahasranama archanai has been at the request of the devotees who have reached out to him through word of mouth of his special devotional presentation.

Sundarar’s Thevaram Verse

One of Sundarar’s Thevaram verses on Thiruvanaikka refers to an interesting episode that suggests that every devotee should first offer to the Lord before consuming it. A Queen who was a gifted a set of glittering necklaces adorned herself and showcased it with all joy. After bathing in the Cauvery, she found the necklaces missing. Shocked at this loss, the king and the queen invoked the blessings of Lord Jambukeswarar to help find the necklaces. Shortly after, as the priest provided the Lord with the sacred bath the necklaces were seen on the Lord’s Lingam making them realise that in their hour of joy and greed they had forgotten to first thank him for their state of happiness. This story is beautifully narrated by Sundarar as a message to all devotees that we should not forget the Lord in our hour of happiness.

                                              Sundarar

For almost 15years, he would take the Neivedyam on the day of his rendition and present it at the devotee’s house in different parts of Trichy. Not once did he forget that those initial set of devotees were the ones who gave him an opportunity for this close engagement with Akilandeswari. It was also for this reason that though the archanai Sambhavanai remained stagnant for a decade, he did not once ask for a raise. 

Navarathri Rendition

Over the last two decades, the special archanai during Navarathri has also taken off and it was with the sambhavanai accruing from this that he was able to manage the Deepavali expenses. With devotees coming in good numbers following the Pandemic seeking his devotional presentation and to secure the blessings of Akilandeswari, he was able to buy a new Fridge in 2023!!!

His Trisati and Sahasranama archanai entails him being inside the Sannidhi for over 45 minutes. At the Thiruvanaikaval temple, he is a lone hand with deep interest in such renditions for most other archakas are focused on the routine pooja service and managing the devotee crowd.

Those who have been to the Jambukeswarar Sannidhi would know as to how physically challenging it is for Kainkarayaparas to be inside the Sannidhi for a length of time with the closed walls and lack of fresh air leading to suffocation and over sweating arising of the heat generated there. This temple built by Kochenganan Chozha is such that the elephant would not be able to enter as it a small entrance into the sanctum with a narrow passage.

ஆன செயலால் திருவானைக்கா என்று அதற்குப் பெயராக

ஞானம் உடைய ஒரு சிலந்தி நம்பர் செம் பொன் திருமுடிமேல்

கானல் விரவும் சருகு உதிரா வண்ணம் கலந்த வாய் நூலால்

மேல் நல்திரு மேற்கட்டி என விரிந்து செறியப் புரிந்து உளதால்

Undeterred at low archaka service days

While the less than 50 days in a year of archaka service could have proved as a deterrent and been demotivating to an archaka who looked at temple service as a way of life, Hari Pandithar did not allow this to pull him down. Instead, having decided service at the feet of Akilandeswari as his lifetime commitment, he identified the devotional rendition of Lalitha Trisati and Sahasranama as a way to remain in front of the Ambal of Thiruvanaikaval all the time.  And hundreds of devotees over the last couple of decades have found solution to their problems through Hari Pandithar’s devotional prayers in front of Akilandeswari. 

Great Satisfaction in serving Akilandeswari

At 48, Hari Pandithar looks back with great satisfaction at how blessed he is to have been the designated one to perform this Naamavali for this long a period of time. He lives a simple traditional life continuing to ride the 15year old TVS Scooty around the streets of Thiruvanaikaval. To him, the divine couple of Thiruvanaikaval has meant everything and he has rarely left the shores of Cauvery and Kollidam in the last 25years residing right in front of the Ambal Sannidhi all through his life. In the close to 50 days of archaka Murai in the year, he takes delight in performing the daily pooja krama on those days. To this day, he follows the same model that he started out with – he would not market himself and reach out to devotees asking for archanai. He believes that if he has served Akilandeswari with the truest devotion, she will direct devotees to him and get him to continue to sing praise of her.

At Thiruvanaikaval, Hari Pandithar is a role model for the next gen seeking to enter the temple Kainkarya space in how one can create that special devotional bonding with the Divine Couple through one's service. For the huge number of devotees, he is the anchor to reach their messages to Akilandeswari.

Hari Pandithar can be reached on 9894914466

Nellaiappar Avani Moolam Karuvur Siddhar Darshan

15kms night procession sans devotees

The legendary episode of Nellaiappar providing darshan to an angry Karuvur Siddhar was played out on the occasion of Avani Moolam at Manur on Tuesday morning

It is just past 9pm on Monday (Sept 1) evening. Moorthy Gurukal, the senior priest at the Nellaiappar Gandhimathi temple in Tirunelveli is finishing the final pooja of the day at the Swami Sannidhi. The Shiva Adiyars and the local devotees have gathered in good numbers for the inner prakara procession ahead of the Deeparaathanai. On a normal Monday evening, it would have been curtains for the day but this was a once in a year occasion with the utsava deities of Swami and Ambal set for the longest street procession of the year. 

It is 10pm when Moorthy Gurukal leaves the temple for the night, following which a few electricians get going on the lighting for the utsava deities. Shortly after 11pm, the Sripatham personnel turn up at the temple to mount the utsava deities on the chapparam. 

The Midnight Procession sans devotees

As the clock ticks to midnight, Chandrasekarar and Bhavani Ambal provide darshan at the Eastern Raja Gopuram. The procession is led by parivara moorthies comprising of Kunguli Nayanar, Chandeswarar, Pandya King, Thamaraibarani Ambal and Sage Agasthya.

At the junction of the West and North car street, the procession stops for a while as the service personnel have tea and snacks before resuming the procession that makes its way on to the Netaji Street. Surprisingly there is not a single devotee to welcome the deities even in front of their homes and the lone companion through the procession are the street dogs that walked alongside Swami and Ambal for a few minutes before returning to their homes at each of the street corners.

It is 1am when the deities reached the check post at Raamaiyanpatti and on to the Tirunelveli- Sankaran Koil highway. It is a dark and lonely trip on this highway with a vehicle speeding past once in a while every half hour or so. 

The Matador pulls the deities

Near the corporation dump yard on the western outskirts of Tirunelveli, the sripatham personnel tie the chapparam on to the Matador and for the next ten kms Nellaiappar and Gandhimathi (Chandrasekarar and Bhavani Ambal) are pulled along by the motorised vehicle without the physical push of the Sripatham, who too jump on to the matador for some rest. 

It is past 1.30am when the procession moves past the Veterinary college  and Research Institute in Tirunelveli. It is almost 3am when the first devotee of the procession welcomes the deities in front of the Pillayar temple in Rastha for the first coconut break.  Shortly after, they stop at a roadside tea stall for tea and biscuits. 

Three Generations of Nellaiappar Kainkaryam

44 year old Balasubramanian is the third generation in his family to don the role of the Sripatham head at the Nellaiappar temple. Past 3am he tells this writer as to how in really financially challenging times five decades ago, his thatha anchored this procession. “There was very little money on offer at that time and the roads were in pretty bad shape but my thatha was committed to serving Nellaiappar and Gandhimathi and spent his entire lifetime in service to them” even as he sips a tea at the Iyengar Bakery in Rastha. 

It is now over 25 years since Balasubramanian began performing the daily service at the temple. He has been the man behind organising the Therottam, the alankaram of the chariot and the Pandal in addition to playing the role of the Sripatham head.

He says it is better time now financially for this service than it was during his Thatha’s years of service. But more than the money, he feels blessed that three generations in his family have lived their life at the feet of Nellaiappar and Gandhimathi. 

Swami's 3am halt of Manur Petrol Bunk!!!

The procession has seen almost 15kms on the night and at the entrance of Maanur (Manur), it is time for the Sripatham personnel to have a nap for a few hours. Most of them sleep on the floor at the HP Petrol bunk while the Gurukal who was assigned by Moorthy Gurukal for this procession slept in the Matador in which he had made the entire trip!!!

Three hours later even as the Sun breaks out on Tuesday morning, it is time for the final leg of the procession as the parivara moorthies and the divine couple enter Maanur. Contrasted with the lonely 16kms trip from Tirunelveli town to Manur sans devotees, there are hundreds of them at this historical temple town to welcome Nellaiappar and Gandhimathi. Past 6am, Moorthy Gurukal arrives at Manur in a taxi along with a next gen Gurukal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/nellaiappar-koil-tirunelveli.html). Shortly after the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Nellaiappar temple arrives as does the Chief of Police. As the clock ticks to 7am, the priest of the Ambalavana temple arrives accompanied by the Melam and Vadhyam to welcome the deities to Manur.

                         CBT, Nellaiappar temple seen with folded hands

It has been a tradition to receive and break coconuts from the villagers on the morning of Avani Moolam and Moorthy and Sundar Gurukal patiently break coconuts presented by the devotees whose numbers increased by the minute. Several beautiful flower garlands are presented to Swami and Ambal. Following the mariyathai to the Police Chief, the CBT and the Ubayadarar, the procession makes it way towards the Ambalavanar temple. On the way, more devotees present flower garlands and coconuts. 

Nellaiappar provides darshan to Karuvur Siddhar

The highlight of the utsavam has been scheduled between 7am and 8am and the events go as per plan. Karuvur Siddhar had made it to Manur 24 hours earlier from the Nellaiappar temple and he was decorated early morning on Tuesday.  Past 7.15am, he made his way around the prakara of the Ambalavanar temple to the Sannidhi street that wore a truly festive look.

Hundreds gathered around Swami and Ambal even as Karuvur Siddhar went around the deities thrice with Shiva Adiyars presenting the sacred verses standing behind the palanquin. `

Othuvar's sacred verses - Karuvur Siddhar Darshan

Othuvar Senthil of Nellaiappar temple presented the sacred verses of Thiru Gnana Sambandar and then much to the delight of the big devotee crowd the moment of the utsavam arrived with Sundar Bhattar of Nellaiappar temple presenting the Deeparathanai signifying the long awaited darshan for Karuvur Siddhar. 

The legend has it that Karuvur Siddhar made it to Tirunelveli and chanted the name of Nellaiappar invoking the blessings of Swami but unfortunately when the Swami did not respond to his call, he announced that there was no Swami here and cursed the town to turn into ‘Erukkanchedi’. He headed out of the town towards Manur where Ambalavana Rishi received him and asked him the reason for his anger.  Consoling him, the rishi told him that the Lord of Tirunelveli was only testing his devotion and that he would definitely provide darshan to him.

It was on the Avani Moolam day that Nellaiappar made his way to Manur and provided darshan to Karuvur Siddhar. Delighted at the darshan of Swami, Karuvur Siddhar returned to Tirunelveli that same day and took back his curse that he had inflicted on this town.

Othuvar Senthil presented this legendary tale at the Ambalavanar Sannidhi on Tuesday and this was followed by an abhisekam. As is the trend in such historical utsavams in remote towns, the devotees were treated to a sumptuous meal following the event at Manur. 

Later in the day, Chandrasekar provided darshan in a Silver Horse Vahana at Raamaiyanpatti before reaching his abode in Tirunelveli town on Tuesday evening bringing to end the Avani Moolam utsavam at the Nellaiappar temple.