Thiruvanaikaval Paricharakar Nagarajan

After a chequered childhood, Nagarajan has seen financially good times at the Akilandeswari Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikal where he has served as a Sannidhi Paricharakar for three decades

Paricharakar Nagarajan wears a worried look on Wednesday (Oct 15) morning at the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi in Srirangam. Having served at the Akilandeswari Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval for the last three decades, he now has only a couple of years of service left. With his daughter is still at school, he is keen for her to study Siddha Medicine, though she herself is interested in IT but is not sure as to how he will fund her collegiate education. 

கையிலுண்ணுங் கையருங் கடுக்கடின் கழுக்களும்

மெய்யைப்போர்க்கும் பொய்யரும் வேதநெறியை யறிகிலார்

தையல்பாக மாயினான் தழலதுருவத் தானெங்கள்

ஐயன்மேய பொய்கைசூழ் ஆனைக்காவு சேர்மினே

Financially Challenged childhood

He had been through a financially challenged childhood with his appa Panchapakesan, who also served at the Thiruvanaikaval temple as a Parichakar, having to take care of four children. “We would get to have upma in the night for dinner only if he received Rs. 2 as Sambhavanai that day at the temple. There was no electricity at home till the 1980s. There was also no proper toilet and bath facilities in the thatched hut that we lived back then.  We did not know if we would get the next meal" he told this writer looking back at the financial struggle during this school days.

As seen in many other stories on remote temples, the salary for the service personnel at TN temples was minimal and devotees had dwindled in the 1970s and 80s. With limited salary and almost a non existent devotee sambhavanai it was a struggle for Parichakara Panchapakesan to take care of a large family.

Quits after Class X, joins his appa at the temple

Nagarajan quit academics at 15 and began to support his appa at the temple watching him perform the paricharaka service. He was appointed as a Paricharaka at the Thiruvanaikaval temple in the 1990s at a salary in the 100s. Since then, he has been donning the role of a Paricharaka, one that entails abhishekam for parivara moorthy, keeping the Sannidhi clean, carrying the canopy for Pandithar during the uchi kaala pooja, support services during six kaala pooja and palliyarai service.

விண்ணின் மாமதி சூடி

 விலையிலி கலன்அணி விமலன்

பண்ணின் நேர்மொழி மங்கை

 பங்கினன் பசுவுகந் தேறி

அண்ண லாகிய ஆனைக்

 காவுடை ஆதியை நாளும்

எண்ணு மாறுவல் லார்கள்

 எம்மையும் ஆளுடை யாரே

Soon after joining the temple, I began to learn Purohitam (Rig Vedas) from Bhavani Maama and went for homam activities in and around Thiruvanaikaval for the much needed additional income.  Through this he built his devotee network. 

Alankaram Expert

At the turn of the century, taking personal interest, he learnt the art of decorating the utsava deities initiated into this highly satisfying activity by Pandurangan, a senior Paricharakar at that time. He became so interested in the alankaram of Swami and Ambal that he took that up as an additional responsibility and has now been decorating the deities ahead of processions for the last two decades. 

“It is a physically demanding and laborious process to decorate the deity but the satisfaction at the end of it is very high. From the attire to the abaranams, one has to pay attention to minute details. You also have to be ready for criticism if devotees don’t like the alankaram or if its below their expectations”, says Nagarajan. 

This has imposed a great deal of responsibility in him to take care in decorating swami and ambal and it is something that has given endless satisfaction and peace of mind. Following the alankaram, he also goes along with the deities on the procession presenting Vibhoothi to the devotees around the four streets. Given this experience, he has now become an alankaram expert at the temple.

Stretching himself - Burdened with expenses

Over the last decade or so, he has also rebuilt the house from the previously thatched hut it was till the end of the previous century.  He and his two brothers and their families continue to live as per the old Joint family system bucking the current trend. His younger brother, Raghavan, too joined him in the Paricharaka service with both of them seeking to continue the service in the footsteps of their father. The elder brother as was the trend in the decades gone by took to the corporate world.

வலங்கொள் வாரவர் தங்கள்

 வல்வினை தீர்க்கும் மருந்து

கலங்கக் காலனைக் காலாற்

 காமனைக் கண்சிவப் பானை

அலங்கல் நீர்பொரும் ஆனைக்

 காவுடை ஆதியை நாளும்

இலங்கு சேவடி சேர்வார்

 எம்மையும் ஆளுடை யாரே

The reconstruction of the house has led to a good percentage of his salary and his savings being taken away towards the home loan repayment.

Better times, financially

Despite the financial challenges of his childhood and the low income in the initial decade of his service as a paricharaka, things have turned around for him with the devotional wave striking TN temples in a big way over the last decade and he feels blessed to have been assigned to perform the paricharaka service at this legendary temple built by Ko Chenganan Chozha.

The Jambukeswarar temple is located on the Northern banks of Cauvery in Thiruvanaikaval and is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, where Lord Shiva manifests himself as ‘Water’ (among the five elements). Hence this is referred to as a ‘Neer’ sthalam. Thiruvanaikaval is home to Nava Theertham and the belief is that those who bathe in the Nava Theertham on Chitra Pournami and invoke the blessings of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari will attain Mukthi. The temple dates back to the 5th century AD to the rule of Kochenganan Chozha, who ruled from Uraiyur and is an architectural marvel with high roofs, five huge prakaras south of the Coloroon, towering Gopurams in the East and the West and Nava Theerthams. The temple has been praised by Appar, Thiru Gnana Sambandar and Sundara Moorthy Nayanar.

While he is hopeful that Akilandeswari, whom he has beautifully decorated on numerous occasions over the last decade, will take care of him just as she has in the times gone by, there is anxiety around his daughter and funding her collegiate education given that he is set to retire in the next couple of years. He heads back to Thiruvanaikaval from the Thayar Sannidhi with the confidence that his selfless service dating back to the 1990s will hold him in good stead in the future.

Paricharaka Nagarajan can be reached on 94864 84545

Pennadam Appar Soola Rishabha Muthrai Temple

Celebrating Appar

The Pralayakaaleswarar temple where Saivite Saint Poet Appar was initiated with Soola and Rishabha Muthrai has received a big facelift and wears a fresh look 

45 year old Karthikeyan Gurukal has been at the historic Pralayakaaleswarar temple for the last decade and a half. It is a temple where Saivite Saint Poet Thirunavukarasarar (Appar) received the Soola and Rishabha Muthrai and was anointed with the sacred white ash as he transformed himself into a great Saivite devotee who went from temple to temple praising Lord Shiva in his different forms. This is also a temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar.

Karthikeyan Gurukal’s forefathers performed archaka service at this temple when the scenario was rather bleak. His appa served at the temple till he was 71 while his thatha had performed service till he was into his 60s, both having started out when they were young. He quit school at 15 and went to the Kanchi Patshala to learn the agamas.

Given the financial challenges and the poor devotee turnout at this remote temple and with his appa continuing his services, Karthikeyan Gurukal was roped in by his uncle for the Draupadi Amman temple in Pudur, Trichy. It was there that he learned the Pooja Kramas and supported his uncle for almost a decade.

With his appa getting old, he returned to Pennadam 15 years ago and has been performing the archaka service since then. It took him almost a decade to secure a permanent posting at the temple after the death of his father. As is the scenario in remote temples, the financial returns are meagre for someone who performs archaka service right through the year for 6hours in the morning and 5 hours in the evening but it is something he has enjoyed right from the time he was a child.

"My appa and thatha performed service at this temple and I wanted to continue that tradition. As you can see, devotees keep coming in small numbers on weekdays and once in a while outstation devotees turn up at this legendary temple where Appar presented three verses and received the blessings of Swami” Karthikeyan Gurukal told this writer sitting in front of the Pralayakaaleswarar Sannidhi. 

Chitrai Sathayam - Celebrating Appar

During his transformational phase to becoming a Saivite, Appar reached Pennaadam and sung three verses of praise. In celebration of the episode marking the anointing of Appar with Soolam and Rishabham Muthrai, the temple comes to life once a year in Chitrai when on the Mrigasheersham day the flag is hoisted for the big festival. On the fifth day, Appar goes on a procession in a grand alankaram along with Pancha Moorthies with Pralayakaaleswarar providing darshan atop the Rishabha Vahana. It is on the Sathayam day in Chitrai that Guru Pooja takes place for Appar.

An Othuvar who makes it specifically for this utsavam presents the sacred verses of Thirunavukarasar in praise of the Lord of Pennadam and after each verse, Appar is anointed with Soola Muthrai, Rishabha Muthrai and the sacred ash much to the delight of the Shiva Adiyars. It is the biggest event of the year and attracts devotees from across the region. While the Vahanas are in place following the restoration of the temple and the Kumbabisekam in February this year, work is currently taking place on two of the three chariots that have been damaged.

In the century gone by, there was also a grand festival for Aadi Pooram but given the financial challenges this came to a halt.

The Legend

Legend has it that the residents of this town invoked the blessings of Shiva to save them from the floods that was threatening to destroy them. The Lord assigned Nandi on this task. He turned his face and absorbed the floods saving the people in this region. Hence, Nandi is seen with his face turned at this temple.

When Indra required flowers for his pooja, he asked Deva Kanni to go and bring flowers for him. She came to this place and found a wide variety of flowers. When her eyes fell on Pralayakaaleswarar, she lost herself in thoughts of him and forgot the purpose of her visit. With Deva Kanni not returning to Indra Logam, Indra assigned Kamadhenu on this task but so moved was the cow with this place that she provided milk for abisekam and stayed put. He then sent his elephant Airavatham but the devotion of this location moved him too and he too remained here. Hence this place came to be known as Penn- Aa- Kadaam which in course of time became Pennaadam. There are several historical inscriptions around the Moolavar Sannidhi.

Moolavar darshan from all four sides

A special feature of the Moolasthanam is that one can have darshan from all the four sides. Another feature at the Moolavar Sannidhi is that the two dwarapalakas are facing each other in a posture ready to permit devotees to have darshan of their swami. 

Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan

The Vimanam of Prayalakalesawar is in the form of an elephant and is referred to as Ghaja Prishta Vimanam. There is a Sundareswarar Sannidhi atop the hill with devotees having to climb about 10 steps – referred to as a Mada Koil one built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan. It was from here that he gave darshan to Anandavalli moved by her unflinching devotion.

அம்பரமும் பெருநிலனும் திசைகள் எட்டும் 

அலைக்கடலும் குலவரையும் உண்டகண்டன் 

கொம்பமரும் வடமரத்தின் இலைமேல் பள்ளி கூடினான் 

திருவடியே கூடாகிற்பீர் 

வம்பவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு 

மணி வண்டு வகுலத்தின்  மலர் மேல் வைகு 

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Kalikampar's birth place

This is the birth place of Kalikampar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, who lived in the street next to the temple. Every day, he would wash the feet of the disciples and treat them to a sumptuous meal, such was his great heart. Once, one of the disciples left this place only to come back later. When Kalikamper continued the service to this disciple, his wife questioned him as to why he would serve one who had left him earlier. In anger, he cuts her hand. Performing penance in front of Pralayakaaleswarar, she gets back her hand. Hence the Lord is also referred to as Kai Vazhangiya Easar.

Continuing the archaka tradition

Karthikeyan Gurukal is continuing the archaka tradition in his family. Over the last 100 years, his father and grand father had performed archaka service in a phase that was not financially lucrative for priests in remote temple towns. His appa had started out at a salary in the low 100s and ended up with around 1000 after several decades of service. 

Once in a while, outstation devotees turn up at the temple for parikara pooja for this is now seen as one for Kettai Star. The good news is that Pradosham has gained importance in Saivite temples as has Krithigai star day in the month. Friday Rahu Kaala pooja is another weekly event that has caught the fancy of devotees. Every Panchami there is a sahasranamam and abhishekam. There is a Go Pooja on the first Friday of every month as well as all the Fridays of Aadi and Thai. And these bring in the much needed additional income to the priest.

The financial returns are not big but he is doing this service to keep it going with his appa having handed it to him to continue this in his lifetime at a temple where Appa received the Soola and Rishabha Muthrai from Pralayakaaleswarar.

The temple is open from 6am to 12noon and 4pm to 9pm

Contact Karthikeyan Gurukal @ 9994088359

Sarangapani Koil Vedantha Desikar Mangalasasanam

The Vadakalai Vaishnavita Acharya goes to 9 different locations on this 9th day of the Avathara Utsavam Celebrations - Energetic and Highly Devotional Sudarshan Bhattar gives it his all for his Acharya

A special feature of the Desikar Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai is that it is celebrated for ten days from Puratasi Shravanam with street procession every morning and evening of the festival.

It is a very quiet Friday (October 10) morning at the temple. There are just a handful of devotees on this ninth day of the Desikar Utsavam. Sudarshan Bhattar, the archaka at the Desikar Sannidhi as well as the Maniyakaarar of the Sarangapani temple is one of the first to arrive ahead of a long day.

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே  - Thiruvoimozhi ( 5-8-1)

Contrasted with the huge Kainkaryapara support last week at the Devanathaswamy temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram Divya Desam, there is a severe shortage of personnel at the Sarangapani temple. Sudarshan Bhattar himself takes the Thaligai to the Thayar and Perumal Sannidhi before coming back to the Desikar Sannidhi. The alankaram for the Vaishnavite Acharya has already been done and he is ready for the long procession.

The Prabhandham members arrive at the temple at 9am but they split themselves!!! All of them head to the Perumal Sannidhi for the daily presentation of Thiruppavai while Patrachar alone stays with Vedantha Desikar.

Sudarshan archakar anxiously awaits the arrival of the Sripatham Personnel and about 5 of them turn up after 9am!!! Ramanujam Patrachar heads to the Ramaswamy temple for the first Mangalasasanam on his two wheeler while Sudarshan Bhattar comes along with his acharya on the procession. Over the next few hours he dons multiple roles such is the shortage of personnel. 

During the procession from Sarangapani Koil to Ramaswamy temple, he carries Desikar on his shoulder while on arrival at the Ramar temple, he turns a prabhandham member alongside Patrachar presenting the mangalasasanam with the verses of Kulasekara Azhvaar on Thiru Chitrakoodam.

செந்தளிர்வாய் மலர் நகை சேர் செழுந்தண்  சோலைத் 

தில்லை நகர் திரு சித்திரகூடந் தன்னுள் 

அந்தணர்கள் ஒரு மூவாயிரவர் ஏத்த 

அணிமணி ஆசனத்து இருந்த அம்மான் தானே- Kulasekara Azhvaar

Given the shortage of sripatham personnel, the pradakshinam around the prakara is done away with and Desikar heads to Andavan Ashram after receiving a flower garland and parivattam from Ramar.

Sudarshan Bhattar - Desikar Sannidhi archakar

Sudarshan Bhattar now turns an aradhakar and performs Thiru Aradhana at the Sannidhi at Andavan Ashram before the Mangalasasanam there. Kesari and hot Dhadhyonam is presented to the few Kainkaryaparas and the sripatham personnel before Desikar makes his way to Ahobila Mutt.

It has been an hour and the Sripatham Personnel leave for a cup of tea after placing Desikar inside the Ramanuja temple on Bazaar street. The ninth day is the Mangalasasanam procession of Desikar but there are no devotees in sight. Tirelessly, Sudharshan Bhattar anchors the event on his own in return for which he receives brickbats from the few kainkaryaparas who are in service today with impatience gaining steam at each destination.

The Patrachar Street - Thiru Kudanthai

The procession moves on to Krishna temple on Patrachar street. On this street, which was once upon a time one of the traditional streets of Thiru Kudanthai, there is some cheer as the residents come out of their home to present thattu and have darshan of Vedantha Desikar.

Desikar moves on to the Aathi Varaha temple after a procession around the temple tank. More prasadam is presented. At this temple, there are a few devotees who have darshan of the Vadakalai Vaishnavite Acharya.

                         Govindan Theevatti

Periyazhvaar's verses at Chakrapani temple

It is 11am and heat is taking its toll on the sripatham personnel. Govindan who has performing Theevatti service for decades and retired recently, continues to perform his service. He is too tired to carry as he turns in the opposite direction to the Chakrapani temple and has to be pulled back by Sudarshan Bhattar.

After the presentation of Azhvaar’s verses on ‘Chakrapani’, Desikar heads to his final Mangalasasanam destination – The Rajagopalan temple on Bazaar street, a temple that was renovated by Karunakarachariar. 

He is already present inside the temple. It has become a tradition now for him to organise a Sadas at the Rajagopalan Swamy Sannidhi when Vedantha Desikar makes his way to the temple on this 9th day of the utsavam in Puratasi. Patrachar is keen for the mangalasasanam event to be completed but Karunakarachariar has his way with Patrachar heading back home citing health reasons – he had been at the temple since 8.30am this morning. But before leaving, he had a request for Karunakarachariar. Desikar’s Chariot procession is to take place only after Komalavalli Thayar’s purapadu for this is a Friday. He asked for Karunakarachariar to finish the Sadas early so Desikar could head back to the Sarangapani temple for preparations to be made for the Chariot procession.

The Sadas lasted till 1pm following which Vedantha Desikar made his way back to the Sarangapani temple after a four hour Mangalasasanam outing.

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில் 

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில் 

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம் கோயில் 

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில் 

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும் தீர்க்கும் கோயில் 

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே 

After the huge Saturday crowd at Oppiliappan Koil and the Thursday crowd at Thiruvahindrapuram temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/10/thiru-vahindrapuram-puratasi-desikar.html) at the utsavams there over the last two weeks, this 9th day fest of Vedantha Desikar proved to be a dampener. Shortage of personnel, splitting of the Prabhandham group (one taking care of the recital inside the temple and the other going with Desikar on the procession), high pressure on Sudarshan Bhattar to manage everything and a non existent devotee crowd for this Mangalasasanam procession to 6 temples and two Mutts left one to wonder if prarthana and parikara events are the ones that receive attention in temples in smaller towns.

Kudos to the young 32 year old Sudarshan Bhattar ( https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/sarangapani-koil-desikar-sannidhi-new.html) for taking a lot on his shoulders and seeing through the entire Mangalasasanam event with a smile.

Srirangam Koil Mahajanam Srinivasan

The untimely death of his appa thrust a great responsibility on the teenaged shoulders - Over the last 15 years, Seenu has devotionally immersed himself in this service that has been assigned to the Madhwas at the Ranganathaswamy temple

Srinivasan (Seenu to those in the temple circles) was preparing hard for his Class XII Board in February 2010 when he heard the news of the passing away of his appa Manirao while performing his service at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. Manirao had donned the role of Koil Mahajanam at this legendary for close to three decades and was well respected by the Kainkaryaparas.

The sudden and untimely death sent shock waves in the family. Srinivasan’s elder brother was in his second year of Engineering at Thanjavur and a sizeable investment had already gone into his education. There was no more money in the family for Srinivasan to continue his academic life.

He told this writer on how that late teenage phase went in his life “I was interested in studies and would have gone into a college had things been normal. My appa’s death led me to quit academics and continue the Kainkaryam that my appa had performed for over 25 years at the Ranganathaswamy temple.”

One month after the passing away of his appa, Srinivasan joined the temple as a Koil Mahajanam for a daily wage of Rs. 100 as a temporary staffer when he was only 17 debuting in the Panguni Utsavam of 2010. Seenu learned the processes as days and months went by “It was a new experience for me. I would write down every activity I performed in a note and memorise these processes. There are utsavams round the year and each of these is unique. So, I had to understand indepth the activities in my role.”

It is the Koil Mahajanam who have to inform the Sthalathars and Maniyakaarar of the Lord’s readiness for the procession. And they lead the Maniyam and the Sripatham Thangis from the Dwajasthambam by striking the ‘Saattai’ on the floor alerting everyone that the procession is going to start shortly.

“It took me about four years to fully understand all the processes end to end and for me to gain confidence in my role as a Koil Mahajanam. The regard the temple authorities had for my appa and his selfless service for so many years and after seeing me perform my role for five years led them to offer a permanent role as the Koil Mahajanam” says as to how selfless kainkaryam pays off in the long run.

As a school boy, Srinivasan was interested in cricket and would play around the temple complex but the death of his appa thrust a great responsibility on his shoulders and he let go of his cricketing interests to fully focus on his role as a Koil Mahajanam.

It has now been 15 long years since the passing away of his appa and Koil Mahajanam Seenu has devotionally immersed himself in his role. At the time he joined in 2010, there was another Koil Mahajanam (Murali) on duty but he retired after a few years leaving Seenu all alone in his role. He looks about at his decade and a half at the temple “I saw as to how my appa was respected in the temple circles for his Kainkaryam. Once I took on this role, I told myself that my entire life would be dedicated to this service and I wanted to do this to the best of my ability and as sincerely as possible. While it took some time for me to understand the processes and my specific role, I have enjoyed every minute of it over the last decade and feel blessed that Ranganathaswamy has assigned me for this Kainkaryam.”

In the last few years, he has been joined in this service by Sudarshan (Pineapple in temple circles) about whom this section had featured a story in July this year (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/07/srirangam-koil-mahajanam-sudarshan.html). Both of them unfortunately lost their appa early in their lives leading them to take responsibility for the financial security in the family at a very young age.  “I see Koil Mahajanam Sudarshan as my younger brother and we work together as a team” says Seenu.

While Srinivasan was saddened in the initial phase soon after his appa’s death, he overcame that gradually over a period of time and the Kainkaryam at the temple has given him a great deal of peace and happiness. Like 'Pineapple' Sudarshan, Koil Mahajanam Seenu sees this service at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam as his only way of life.

Thiru Vahindrapuram Puratasi Desikar Shravanam

The Lord of Education makes it to the top of the devotee list 750+ years after Vedantha Desikar composed the Hayagriva Stotram at Thiru Vahindrapuram as devotees throng the Sannidhi in thousands on Vijayadasami Thursday

3.30am procession to the Hayagriva Sannidhi up the hill - Desikar Disciples carry their Acharya for 8 hours without a break for Mangalasasanam in 9 Sannidhis to celebrate his birthday

It is not something anyone could have visualised or predicted four decades ago when everything was falling off at temples. The infrastructure had been getting dilapidated, devotees stayed away from temples for a large part and the original inhabitants left their temple towns to move away to cities in search of greener pastures for there seemed to be no more the prospect of a livelihood in the remote towns that during the period of the Azhvaars had flourished.

Against the run of play, it has been a remarkable transformation in temples over the last decade or two with money pouring in like never before. While the priests of the 1970s and 80s waited at the entrance of the temple for the next devotee that proved elusive leading to severe financial challenges, the scenario is posing a completely different challenge for the next gen priests in many temples in Tamil Nadu.

தேசத்தார் இல்லை எனும் தெய்வ நாயகா 

வாசல் குழல் மாமலரால் மணவாளர் 

வாசித்து எழும் மன்மதனார் மணல் தோப்பில் 

மாசிக் கடலாடி மகிழ்ந்து வருவாரே- நவமணி மாலை  

It is Thursday (Oct 2) morning at the Devanathaswamy temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram, praised to glory by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar over a 1000 years ago and by Vadakalai Vaishnavite Acharya Vedantha Desikar over 750 years ago. It is the final day of his Avathara Utsavam and controversies and arguments had been going on through the previous nine days of the utsavam.

Why?- This year Puratasi Shravanam fell on Vijayadasami day which it so often does. This time it also coincided with Gandhi Jayanthi – a holiday for all institutions (work and education). That was not the case for arguments. The Vedantha Desikar Puratasi Shravanam happened to be on a Thursday. So what about a Thursday in a remote Divya Desam like Thiruvahindapuram from where a large part of the original inhabitants had left in the second half of the previous century.

When Vedantha Desikar whose annual birthday was to be celebrated on this Thursday composed the Hayagriva Stotram at Thiru Vahindrapuram, he would not have visualised a devotional wave of this scale and magnitude at this Divya Desam invoking the blessings of Lord Hayagriva.

ஞானானந்த மயம் தேவம் நிர்மல ஸ்படிகாக்ருதிம் 

ஆதாரம் சர்வ வித்யாநாம் ஹயக்ரீவம் உபாஸ்மஹே

The combination of Vijayadasami, Gandhi Jayanthi holiday and this being a Thursday had led the HR & CE authorities to expect a sea of devotees on this Shravanam day in Puratasi, one of celebration of Vedantha Desikar. The Kainkaryaparas (Sripatham, Veda Parayanam and Prabhandham Ghoshti) were keen for the procession of their Acharya to start around 5am to the hill temple of Hayagriva while the HR & CE authorities and the priests (now anchored by those from Andhra) were insistent that the procession starts at 3am. The reason- A 5am start for the mangalasasanam would lead to a long wait for the devotee crowd that would become unmanageable and hence they were keen for Vedantha Desikar to return from the Hayagriva Sannidhi by 6am so the Thursday crowd at that Sannidhi could be streamlined.

The Kainkaryaparas comprised of mid aged people and senior citizens as well and with the Chariot day activities (9th day) likely to go on till after 10pm the previous evening, they articulated that it would be difficult to be back again at 3am the next morning.

The Verdict: The authorities and priests stuck to their view that thousands of devotees would be stuck in long queues and it would become unmanageable if the acharya mangalasasanam procession were to start only at 5am.

And here’s the story….

It is just past 3.30am on Thursday (Oct 2). Vedantha Desikar has made his out of the Western entrance glittering with ornaments on the lines of what was inscribed about the Perumal of Thiru Vahindrapuram, a 1000 years ago. An inscription dating to the rule of Kulotunga III refers to a gift of a gold necklace to Deiva Nayagan.

There are scores of Vadakalai disciples who are up the steps to the Hayagriva Sannidhi. The Vedic members follow the acharya. A member of the Accenture team has driven all through the night from Bangalore to reach this Divya Desam just in time. He rues the fact that he missed taking the Panruti Thiru Vathigai route instead taking the Nellikuppam highway to reach Cuddalore. But he is happy that he is able to have an early morning darshan of his acharya right in front of the temple. He is one of the many who have made their specifically for this big day in the year to celebrate the birthday of the acharya.

There is a certain peace at this early time in the morning and there is a certain delight in the faces of the disciples of Vedantha Desikar in being able to be part of this procession. The traditional Vadakalai with large sized Thiruman are carrying their acharya on their shoulders step by step up the hill to the Hayagriva Sannidhi. There are ghee lit Theevattis to provide light to the Sripatham through the procession. The devotees, young and old, are capturing photos and videos of this rare 3.30am procession. They take turns to fan their acharya.

It is well past 4am when Vedantha Desikar makes his way around the Hayagriva temple to reach the aasthana mandapam.

The Vedic members have gathered in pretty large numbers and for the next hour or so, there is the presentation of the Vedas, Upanishad and Desikar Stotram – It was right here at this place where Vedantha Desikar composed the Hayagriva Stotram and he received the first of the flower garlands on this day from the Lord of Education.

As was going to be trend of the day, prasadam is presented to all the disciples following the parayanam. Vedantha Desikar makes his way inside the Hayagriva Sannidhi and takes a pradakshinam before making his way down the hill.

Prabhandham Adyapaka Kannan Swamy, now residing at Mandaveli in Chennai, has been here through the ten days of the Utsavam and he presented a praise of his acharya each step of the way through the downhill procession.

It is 6.30am when Vedantha Desikar has made his way back to the Devanathaswamy temple after a 3 hour trip for the Mangalasasanam at Desikar’s favourite Hayagriva Sannidhi. Going around the temple complex, he was carried to the Perumal Sannidhi by the energetic sripatham kainkaryaparas. The utsavam had begun ten days ago with the prabhandham ghoshti presenting Vedantha Desikar’s praise of Deivanayaka in his Mumanikovai verses. After the Vedic / Upanishad recital, the prabhandham members present their acharya’s praise of Devanathaswamy in front of his Sannidhi.

As expected by the HR & CE authorities and the priests, the devotees began streaming in after 7am. While the Hayagriva Sannidhi was open for them to have darshan, they had to wait a long while to have darshan of Deivanayaka Perumal for the Mangalasasanam at this Sannidhi was a one of its kind for a Divya Desam and presentation was extensive and highly devotional. It is past 8am when the Vedic members present the sacred verses around the inner prakara of the Perumal Sannidhi. There is a certain impatience among the ‘Thursday’ devotees who are in several hundreds. They had begun making their way to the temple after 6am but for over two hours they have not been able to have darshan of Perumal. The queue had been directed to Shegamala Thayar Sannidhi but those that had finished darshan there were now waiting for a darshan of Devanatha Swamy.

It is almost 8.30am when Vedantha Desikar makes his way to the third of the Sannidhis. At the Rama Sannidhi, another of his favourites, the fast paced Raghuvira Gadyam is presented. For the young pavadai clad traditional girls of Thiru Vahindrapuram this is a favourite too and they join in the presentation rendering these verses as devotees in the background. There is great happiness in the faces of all the presenters as they are emotionally highly charged in this recital of Vedantha Desikar’s praise of the greatness of Rama as he narrates every episode in the Ramayana (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/01/vedantha-desikar-mahaveera-vaibhavam.html).

And then the procession to Chakkarathaazhvaar’s Sannidhi, just next to the Rama Sannidhi. And the recital here has become highly popular among the devotees in the last few decades. Sri Sudarshana Ashtakam slokam led all the disciples of Vedantha Desikar to utter alongside the Vedic members.

It is past 9am. The devotees have now been able to make their way to Perumal Sannidhi but there is a co-ordination problem with the HR & CE authorities. The long queue has blocked the way for the Mangalasasanam at the Shegamala Thayar Sannidhi. Malola Kannan, whose heart is very close to this temple, is vocal with the authorities to clear the ‘Thursday’ crowd away from outside the Thayar Sannidhi and he bemoans the fact that there is no one support him. Adyapaka Kannan joins him but their voices are not heart as the HR & CE staff stands firm that the devotees from the Perumal Sannidhi have to make their way through the Thayar side.

பொருத்தம் பொருந்தலும் 

போகும் தவற்றுடன் பொய்ம் மதிமேல் 

விருத்தம் கழித்து உரை மேவும் 

அழல் மதம் வேறினி என் 

திருத்தம் மனத்தினில் சேரா 

எமைத் தெய்வநாயக

 நின் வருத்தம் பொறா அருளால் 

மண் அடைக்கலம் கொண்டருளே 

The Kainkaryaparas give up and their acharya is taken inside the Thayar Sannidhi for the Mangalasasanam and the presentation. The lady devotees hailing from Thiru Vahindrapuram are devotionally excited at this rendering and almost all of them recite the Sri Stuti (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/09/vedanta-desika-sri-stuti.html) while the vedic and prabhandham members present in front of their acharya as he makes his way around the Thayar Sannidhi in a pradakshinam.

கல்யாணாநாம் அவிகலநிதி: காபி காருண்யாஸீமா

நித்யா மோதா நிகம வசஸாம் மௌளி மன்தார மாலா

சம்பத் திவ்யா மதுவிஜயிந: ஸந்நிதத்தாம் ஸதா மே

ஸைஷா தேவீ ஸகல புவந ப்ரார்த்தநா காமதேநு:

Devotional Kainkaryam by the Disciples

Challenges continue to galore as the Thursday devotee crowd on this Vijayadasami day has soared well past 1000. The Kainkaryaparas scramble to clear the barricades and plead with the devotees to make way for their acharya to the Rajagopalan Sannidhi. The return trip from this Sannidhi to Andal and Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi is just as difficult as devotees are stacked in a long queue to have darshan of Perumal and Thayar and those that have are now leaving through the Western exit.

At these final three sannidhis, the Kainkaryaparas who have already served this morning for over 7 hours, have to go in search of the archakas to present the Thaligai at these last few sannidhis and to present the parivattam to Desikar. The crowd has swelled at Perumal, Thayar and Hayagriva Sannidhis and almost all the priests are functioning in those sannidhis trying their best to manage the huge crowd. At each of these last sannidhis, the kainkaryapas make frenetic calls to the priests to get at least one of them to come for the Mangalasasanam activities.

It is past 11am. Vedantha Desikar has received flower garlands and parivattam from Andal and Nam Azhvaar. Godha Stuti is another favourite of the lady devotees and those that have remained all through the morning recite that while the kainkaryaparas present in front of their Acharya. 

The Final Mangalasasanam at Ramanujar Sannidhi

And then the procession moves to the final Mangalasasanam. The Ramanuja Sannidhi is still locked. The barricades are in place. The Kainkaryaparas scramble once again to unlock the Sannidhi and to remove the barricade so their acharya can position himself in front of the Bashyakarar Sannidhi.

And then finally after 8 hours of the most extensive Mangalasasanam at multiple sannidhis, and by this time it is really hot on this late Thursday morning, Vedantha Desikar makes his way back to his Sannidhi from where he had begun at 3.30am.

11.30am, the big screen comes on after Desikar’s Shatari blessings to the Kainkaryaparas. While there is happiness in their faces of this great service for their acharya, there is also a certain sense of relief after the 8 hour ordeal dealing with the devotee crowd, the barricades and the HR & CE.

Sumptuous Lunch for Kainkaryaparas
There is a Thathiyaraathanai organised at the Patshala on the West Street and the Kainkaryaparas move there ahead of their engagement. Even as they complete their meal, there is a call from the temple that Desikar is ready for the Pattina Pravesam, the procession around the streets of Thiruvahindrapuram. But it is 1pm and the Sun is at its peak. 

While on the topic of Thathiyarathanai that was taken care of this Thursday by a devotee couple, historical inscriptions record gifts of lands and villages for offerings and worship to the Lord, gifts of sheep and cows for perpetual lamps, gift of ‘Kasu’ for feeding the Vaishnavas at the temple Mutt and for providing offerings to God on the 8th day of the Brahmotsavam.

Pattina Pravesam in Scorching Heat

The Prabhandham members begin their presentation of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi from where they had left off the previous evening but they are in a hurry as the scorching heat burns their feet. One young kainkaryapara rushes to the entrance of every house to receive and break the coconut that is being presented by the residents of the West street. It is quite a fast paced procession as even ‘non-traditional’ sripatham personnel who are physically well built and strong find it difficult to carry Desikar in the soaring heat.

The procession takes a detour and the kainkaryaparas and Desikar reach his Thirumaligai. There is long presentation of the Vedas and the sacred verses of the sixth and seventh Cantos of Periya Thirumozhi by the Prabhandham members but a lot of it is not heard as both sets of members recite in loud tone stand in rows in front of each other at the Desikar Thirumaligai.

(Periya Thirumozhi is rendered at a certain pace and tone that makes for good listening. Like the prabhandham members of Srirangam who have created a separate tone for Iyarpa verses, those at Thiru Vahindrapuram rendered the Thirumozhi verses in a way quite different from all other Divya Desams that did not seem to do justice to the verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. It is hoped that the Prabhandham members would revert to the standard way of recital of Periya Thirumozhi in the future)

It is 1.30pm and a call is taken to return to the temple via the Sannidhi street letting go of the Pattina Pravesam around the East and South streets. The Thursday crowd continues to remain big on the Sannidhi Street as those that have visited the temple are now busy shopping and sipping cone icecreams on the way back making it difficult for Desikar to wade his way back to the Western entrance of the temple.

வையமேழும் உண்டாலிலை வைகியமாயவன் 

அடியவர்க்கு மெய்யனாகிய தெய்வ நாயகனிடம் 

மெய் தகுவரைச்சாரல் 

மொய்கள் மாதவி சண்பகம் முயங்கிய முல்லையன் கொடியாட 

செய்ய தாமரை செழும்பணை திகழ்தரு திருவயிந்திரபுரமே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

The Prabhandham members present the verses of praise of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar on Aamaruviappan of Therazhundur to end the morning session that had started just after 3am with the focus now shifting to Thirumanjanam at the mandapam near the tank and Theerthavari. 

This being a Theerthavari day for Vedantha Desikar, it is useful to point out inscriptions at Thiru Vahindurapuram that record minute details like taking care of God's bath during his processions on festive occasions. Expenses were sanctioned for providing a sacred bath to the Lord. One such inscription in Tamil on the South Wall of the Prakara records an order communicated to the trustees of the temple granting lands and a garden, free of taxes, for expenses of taking God for a sacred bath to the sea near Nissankhamallan Pattinam on the Maasi Magam day.

The kainkaryaparas went away for some rest even as the Hayagriva devotees continued to make their way to the temple complex.

A few decades ago, there was very minimal public transport from Thirupadiripuliyur (Cuddalore) but on this big Thursday, the state run buses operated Thiruventhipuram specials in big numbers cashing in on the devotion for Hayagriva.

The Devotional Wave- Here to stay

A couple of hundred traditional Vadakalai Vaishnavite devotees had made it to the Devathanathaswamy temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram on Thursday to celebrate their Acharya’s birthday with many of them performing selfless kainkaryam through the day and the rest enjoying the birthday celebrations as devotees. But the winner on the day was the several thousands of devotees who made it on the Shravanam Thursday on the occasion of Vijayadasami and stood in queue for long hours to have darshan of Devanathaswamy, Shengamala Thayar and Hayagriva. It showed the extent of the devotional wave that has struck TN temples and how certain Lords – in this case the Lord of Education – have captured the attention of the devotees and their strong belief that the future will turn bright if they present their sincere prayers on certain days in the month.

Four decades ago, it was unlikely that someone would have predicted such a devotional wave in remote once deserted Divya Desams in TN for most of the original inhabitants had left these temple towns for good with most selling their centuries old properties. While those traditional inhabitants are back in some small numbers for select utsavams in the year – in this case to celebrate the birthday of their Acharya, the larger section of the society has strengthened its belief in prarthana and parikara idols and they genuinely believe that their prayers will be answered and their wishes fulfilled if they visit these temples on special occasions for each of these deities.

அந்தமில்சீர் அயிந்தைநகர் அமர்ந்த நாதன் 

அடியிணைமேல் அடி  உரையால் ஐம்பதேத்திச் 

சிந்தை கவர் பிராகிருதம் நூறு கூறிச் 

செந்தமிழ் மும்மணிக்கோவை செரியச் சேர்த்துப் 

பந்து கழல் அம்மானை ஊசல் ஏசல் 

பரவு நவமணிமாலை இவையும் சொன்னேன் 

முந்தை மறை மொழியை வழி மொழி நீ என்று 

முகுந்தன் அருள் தந்த பயன் பெற்றேன் நானே 

The powers that be succeeded in sending the original traditional inhabitants out of their temple towns into the IT sector globally but they have not been able to kill the devotion of crores of people in TN as this day at Thiru Vahindrapuram indicated. For a majority of those who made their way to this temple on Thursday, they did not have an inkling as to who this ‘birthday’ boy was but they did believe in the fact that this idol that was being carried from Sannidhi to Sannidhi had some special powers as they shouted out the name of ‘Govinda’ repeatedly through the morning session as and when they saw him coming out of each Sannidhi.

Kudos to the Kainkaryaparas who gave their everything for their Acharya Vedantha Desikar on this Thursday at Thiru Vahindrapuram.