Srirangam Station New Retiring Rooms Dormitory 2025

New Refurbished retiring rooms and dormitory with ten beds will be reopened in the first week of March

AC Waiting Hall, Car Parking, New flooring on Platforms, overhead roof and an Aavin Parlour form part of the major renovation exercise

Train Travellers visiting the Srirangam Divya Desam this summer will be able to avail of the modern retiring room and dormitory facilities at the Srirangam Railway station. After 18 months of closure, the three retiring rooms and about 10 dormitory beds will be reopened to the train travellers in the first week of March at the Srirangam Railway Station.  These have been completely refurbished with modern toilets, shower and locker facilities within these rooms.

AC waiting hall, Aavin Parlour, Canteen 

The station itself is seeing a total transformation. The flooring on the platforms have been completely redone and new overhead roofs installed. A new car parking facility is coming up at the entrance. Aavin parlour has come up recently with ice creams, juices and badam milk available till 11.15pm every day on platform 1. A new executive lounge, an AC waiting hall, a non ac waiting hall are also part of the renovation on platform 1. The reservation counter also wears a new look and will be more passenger friendly with transparent glass panes.

There is a friendly canteen service available on platform 1 with tiffen available from 6am to 11.15pm every day.

The entrance to the temple has also been rebuilt. Painting work is currently on with the entire renovation work at the station expected to be completed by this month end.

The station in its new look and avatar is expected to be launched on March 6 with the retiring rooms and dormitories thrown open to passengers from that day. Passengers can book these rooms and beds online on IRCTC by entering the PNR number.

A Sour Point - The Railway Gate to Singar Koil

One sour point relating to the Srirangam station is the railway gate leading to the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar koil(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/srirangam-singar-koil-transformational.html). Till about a decade ago, Namperumal used to make his annual trip on the Vijayadasami day through the Singar Koil street that used to take one directly to the temple entrance. However, when the platforms were lengthened a decade ago, this direct route via Singar Koil street was shut and Namperumal in recent years has had to take a detour through the railway gate in the north (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2011/10/vijayadasami-utsavam-kaatazhagiya.html). 

With the ever increasing number of trains passing through the Srirangam station, this railway gate north of the station shuts many times in peak hours including for around 20 minutes to allow three trains to pass. It is hoped that the railways and the Trichy Corporation would work towards finding a solution to this. May be they could explore an underpass to allow vehicles to go to Singar Koil without being affected by the shutting of the gate at frequent intervals.

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/thanjavur-station-retiring-room-bathing.html

https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/04/madurai-junction-retiring-rooms.html

Thiruvanaikaval Golden Dwajasthambam

A Rs. 60 lakh contribution from CSK Chief N Srinivasan towards 2 Gold plated Kodi Marams and 8 Copper plated Kodi Marams at this Ko Chenganan Chozhan built Mada Koil

Akilandeswari gets a refurbished star studded Thaadagam from Kanchi Periyava

There has been a certain vibrancy all through this week around the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikaval. The 70th head of the Kanchi Sankara Mutt Vijendra Saraswathi Swami has been present at the Sankara Mutt on the North Ul Veethi, 100 yards from Akilandeswari Sannidhi, from this Monday.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

Under his directions, a refurbished and stone studded Thadagam was presented to Akilandeswari this afternoon after the poornahathi. The earring had been first presented by Maha Periyava in the early 1990s but had worn out and been damaged.  Periyava Vijendra Saraswathi Swami organised the repair of the earring adding colourful stones. 

Located on the Northern banks of Cauvery is the Lord Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval, 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 (‘Appu’ in Sanskrit). 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 are said to 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.

Throughout this week, scores of devotees visited the Sankara Mutt to have darshan and seek the blessings of Periyava.

On Sunday (Feb 16) morning, several hundreds of devotees gathered in front of the Akilandeswari Sannidhi to watch the 7th session of the homam.

Periyava to the temple 

It’s 11am when phones went up in unison on the North Ul Veethi to take photos and videos as Periyava made his way from the Sankara Mutt to the North Entrance of the temple. Camera shots continued unabated even as Periyava entered the temple. 30 minutes later, following the Poornahathi, the Thaadagam was presented to Akilandeswari as she wore a beautiful smiling look with her new abaranam.

Othuvar's devotional recital

Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/thiruvanaikaval-othuvar-srinivasan.html) is all devotional. Amid all the noise among the devotees and the kainkaryaparas, he presents the sacred verses of the Saint Poets sitting in the middle of the homam kundam. Delighted at his solo devotional presentation the previous evening, Periyava called for him and surprised him by gifting him with a Veshti, Saree and anointing him with a shawl with the message: "You have a great devotional voice. Continue forever this sacred kainkaryam at this historical temple."

Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani presenting the sacred verses

Othuvar Ramani has been the sole Othuvar at this temple over the previous three decades and he presented through all the sessions of the homam since 13th morning.

நசையானை நால்வேதத் தப்பா லானை

 நல்குரவுந் தீப்பிணிநோய் காப்பான் றன்னை

இசையானை எண்ணிறந்த குணத்தான் றன்னை

 இடைமருதும் ஈங்கோயும் நீங்கா தேற்றின்

மிசையானை விரிகடலும் மண்ணும் விண்ணும்

 மிகுதீயும் புனலெறிகாற் றாகி யெட்டுத்

திசையானைத் திருவானைக் காவு ளானைச்

 செழுநீர்த் திரளைச்சென் றாடி னேனே – Thiru Gnana Sambandar

CSK Owner presents 10 New Gold/Copper Plated Kodi Maram

Just past 1pm Periyava Vijendra Saraswathi Swami made his way to Jambukeswarar Sannidhi to bless the new Golden Dwajasthambam presented by CSK (India Cements) owner N Srinivasan. Temple EO Suresh told this writer that the CSK owner had presented all the 8 new copper plated kodi maram and 2 gold plated kodi maram.

              N Srinivasan with CSK CEO KS Viswanathan

The First Maada Koil

Thiruvanaikaval is the first of the ‘Maada Koils’ built by Kochenganan. 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.

Two devotees – Pushpavana and Mayavana - of Lord Shiva were involved in the process of plucking flowers from the Nandavanam and presenting to the Lord. One day, an argument arose between the two as to who had presented more flowers and they ended up killing each other in the fight that ensued. But having been true devotees through their lives, Lord Shiva provided them darshan at Kailasam and blessed them into birth as a spider and elephant in this Gajaranya Kshetram.

Provided with an opportunity to serve the Lord, the Spider provided shade to the Lord through its cobweb, while the elephant performed pooja removing all the dirt around the lord, bringing water for Abhishekam, plucking flowers and fruits and providing sandalwood.

One day, angered at finding a cobweb above the Lord, the elephant swung his tail and hit out at the web as he saw it as dirt. In retaliation, the spider entered the nose of the elephant. Stung with unbearable pain, the elephant died. The spider caught inside elephant’s body too died of suffocation.

And for the 2nd time, they entered Kailasam. When asked for a wish, the elephant asked for this place where he performed pooja with sincerity to be named after him. Hence this place came to be called Thiru ‘Aanai’ Kaval.

The spider asked to be born as a King who would build everlasting temples.

Ko Chenganan builds

The spider was thus born as Kochenganan Chozhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html) in the Chozha dynasty. His parents were childless. An astrologer suggested that if the child was born during a specific time slot, he would become a great king and serve the Lord through his lifetime. Unfortunately, his mother Kamalavathi was slated for a pre delivery. Determined to have the child only during the specified slot, she asked her maids to tie her and hang here upside down till the specified time arrived. And thus she ensured that her son was born at that specified time. As the blood circulation had been disrupted, the child was born with red eyes. The mother called him ‘Ko’ ‘Chenganan’ (the one with red eyes) and died immediately after his birth. It was his aunt who took care of him through his childhood.

Ko Chenganan built over 70 Saivite temples and is also credited with building Nachiyar Koil, the first Vaishnavite temple built by him. With two life time incidents of having fought with the elephant, he carried his anger into this life as well. All of the Saivite temples built by him were such that the elephant could not enter. It was either a small entrance into the sanctum or a high rise that an elephant could not climb. Such temples with either a narrow passage or high rise are referred to as Maada Koils.

செம்பொன் மேனிவெண் ணீறணி வானைக்

 கரிய கண்டனை மால்அயன் காணாச்

சம்பு வைத்தழல் அங்கையி னானைச்

 சாம வேதனைத் தன்னொப்பி லானைக்

கும்ப மாகரி யின்னுரி யானைக்

 கோவின் மேல்வருங் கோவினை எங்கள்

நம்ப னைநள் ளாறனை அமுதை

 நாயி னேன்மறந் தென்நினைக் கேனே.

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. He then went on to build several more in the Chozha kingdom including the Maada Style temple at Nachiyar Koil that is very different from the typical Vishnu temple in terms of architecture.

A Glorious Development 

This has been a mementos day for Thiruvanaikaval and a significant turnaround for this first Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan. This most expensive donation to the tune of over Rs. 60 Lakhs is also a sign of the changing times and the continuing devotional wave that is sweeping TN temples. The presence of Periyava each day of this week added to the devotional flavour with disciples from across the state visiting the Akilandeswari Sannidhi adding to the crowd.

New EO bets on positive initiatives 

Temple EO Suresh, who took charge only three months ago, is all excited at the prospects of developmental initiatives at this temple and believes that today’s installation is only the first of the many positive developments that are likely to take place at this historical Mada Koil.

And that is a good sign for all the Kainkaryaparas of the temple who for long had been left behind many of their counterparts in more popular temples.

Srirangam Temple Abaranam shortfall Priests' letter

The Hereditary Priests of the Ranganathaswamy temple have today written to the HR & CE EO requesting him to source the Original Abaranams that can be used on specific occasions during the Utsavams

Will the JC take immediate action to get the original decorative ornaments for the utsava deity

During the Era Pathu utsavam last month at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, issues were raised about priests using artificial decorative ornaments on Namperumal against the historical practice. When the issue was thus raised in public, the HR & CE representatives, as has been the case in the past, passed on the responsibility to the priests. When this writer enquired about this during the Era Pathu utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/12/srirangam-era-pathu-vedu-pari-2023.html), a hereditary priest said that original decorative pieces were not available at the temple. 

In response to the issues raised during the Adyayana utsavam, the hereditary priests of the temple today (Saturday - Feb 15) sent an official letter to the EO of the temple. In the letter,  the priests have pointed out the list of decorative ornaments that are not part of the jewellery kit and the originals of those that have to be sourced.

HR & CE to source original ornaments

Some of these include original kavariman sowri, Chandira-Surya Netri Chutti (an ornament on the forehead), Netripattai, Muththupattai, Kondaipattai for Perumal and Nal Muthu Paavadai for Ranganayaki Thayar. 

Previous Priests' letters went unattended!!!

This is not the first time that the hereditary priests have brought this to the notice of the HR & CE officials. Even in the past, in the years goneby, they had pointed out to the JC of the temple about the shortfall in ornaments that are draped on Namperumal on specific utsavam occasion but the HR & CE did not take any action on this front.

This Saturday evening, the priests have once again officially requested the EO of the temple to source the specific original ornaments for Namperumal and Ranganayaki.

While the HR & CE officials have conveniently passed on the buck to the priests when issues are raised by the public regarding alankaram of Namperumal during processions, they have not acted upon the requests of the very same priests in the past. 

In the recent past, two exorbitantly expensive kreedam and diamond necklace (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-panguni-uthiram-2024.html) were presented to the temple and those were draped on Namperumal on the occasion of Kaisika Ekadasi and the 2nd day of the Era Pathu utsavam.

It is hoped that JC Mariappan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/12/srirangam-temple-jc-mariappan.html) who has generally been swift in taking appropriate action will initiate the process of sourcing the ornaments immediately so the original ornaments can be draped on Namperumal and the priests can be saved the embarrassment of facing awkward questions from the devotees. 

The HR & CE has also been silent in the recent past on the delayed conduct of utsavams and return of Namperumal arising out of longish presentation of Veda Vinnappam, the most recent being on the 7th day (night!!!) of the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal.

This section will track the action of the HR & CE on this front.

Srirangam Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal 2025

Namperumal enjoyed Prabhandham Ghoshti's Ramanuja Nootranthathi presentation sans musical instruments around Srirangam's Uthira Streets 

On Tuesday evening, he made a rare entry via Periya Vachan Pillai Sannidhi and strode alongside the 1000 pillared mandapam to reach the Ramanuja Sannidhi

Its Thai Poosam, a day when Samayapuram Mariamman (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/12/samayapuram-mariamman-temple.html) made her way to the banks of Kollidam and received gifts from her brother Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Its also the final day of the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal utsavam at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. It’s a day marked by a street procession sans the nadaswaram and all other musical instruments with Namperumal listening to the presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthathi by Prabhandham Ghoshti members led by Kapisthalam Sampath Ramanujam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/03/srirangam-prabhandham-adyapaka-leader.html) around the four Uthira streets.

Four trips to Thayar Sannidhi

Its an utsavam when Namperumal had already made it to the Thayar Sannidhi on three days staying through the day at Navarathri Mandapam on day 2, the Karuthurai Mandapam directly opposite Ranganayaki Thayar on day 3 and almost through the night at the Panguni Uthiram Mandapam on the 7th day of the utsavam after he confirmed the measurement of Paddy earlier in the evening.

On this 10th and final day of the utsavam, shortly after 6pm, the Prabhandham Ghoshti members began presentation of the Ramanuja Nootranthathi verses in front of the Ranga Ranga Gopuram. Unlike the previous days of the street processions, there were no elephants or horses in this evening's procession. Neither were there the Nadaswaram artistes. It was an exclusive evening for the Prabhandham members rendering the sacred verses of Thiruvarangath Amudanar much to the delight of Namperumal. 

பூ மன்னு  மாது பொருந்திய மார்பன் 

புகழ் மமலிந்த பாமன்னு  மாறன் அடிபணிந்து உய்ந்தவன்

பல்கலையோர் தாம்மன்ன வந்த ராமானுஜன் 

சரணாரவிந்தம் நாம்மன்னி  வாழ 

நெஞ்சே சொல்லுவோம் அவன் நாமங்களே 

Maniam Sridhar loses his voice

The chilly early morning weather over the last ten days (on most days the procession from Kannadi Arai to Vahana Mandapam was at around 4am) combined with non stop shouting during the utsavam procession, both morning and evening meant that Maniam Sridhar had lost his voice by the start of this procession on the tenth day. And he used his hand to direct the Sripatham to stop and restart the procession at various stop overs on this Tuesday evening.

Ramanuja welcomes Namperumal

Following the procession around the Uthira streets, Namperumal, for the fourth time during the utsavam made his way to the Thayar Sannidhi, this time to the Kambar Mandapam, where he was presented with a Thiruvanthikaappu. 

For a few decades, like that Azhvaan Thiruchutru, the pathway from the Thayar Sannnidhi to the 1000 pillared mandapam had lay defunct, until the restoration exercise last decade by Venu Srinivasan revived this historical route (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). The beautification of this path led to a lot of greenery but since the restoration this has remained locked most of the time.  On this Tuesday evening, following the Thiruvanthikaappu, the gates in front of Periya Vachan Pillai Sannidhi opened as Namperumal made a majestic walk alongside the 1000 pillared mandapam to be welcomed by Ramanuja in front of his sannidhi just after 7.30pm.

With hundreds of devotees witnessing this grand spectacle, Namperumal was presented with coconut water, to quench his thirst after having provided darshan over the previous ten days around the streets of Srirangam. Soon after, Ramanuja waited back to see Namperumal off till he reached the Karthigai Gopuram Vaasal.

Prabhandham Members' devotional presentation 

It was there that the prabhandham ghoshti presented the final verses of Ramanuja Nootranthi bringing to end the sacred recital at the Thai Brahmotsavam. It had been a commendable effort over the ten days of the utsavam by the Prabhandham Ghoshti with the members reciting the Iyarpa verses even while Namperumal was behind the screen at the Vahana Mandapam after the evening street procession. And they presented the sacred verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar through the Chariot procession on Monday morning. 

Padippu - A Thanking Gesture to Namperumal

The Padippu, a thanking gesture for the smooth conduct of the utsavam, too was revived after decades as part of Venu Srinvasan’s restoration and revival exercise. A HR & CE staffer was identified and assigned the task of presenting the Padippu on the final day of the Brahmotsavams. Sridhar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/02/srirangam-brahmotsavam-padippu-sridhar.html) has now become synonymous with Padippu and he began reading out the greatness of Lord Ranganatha and this historical temple and the utsavams with Namperumal enjoying his praise standing in front of the Dwajasthambam.

After 9 days at the Kannadi Arai, Namperumal finally made his way back to his abode just before 9pm on Tuesday bringing to end the Thai Bhoopathi Thirunaal utsavam.

Thiruvanaikaval Thai Theppotsavam Rishabha Vahana Procession

Jambukeswarar and Akilanda Nayaki provide Rishabha Vahana darshan around the four sacred streets of this historical Ko Chenganan Chozhan built temple

Ahead of the Theppam next Monday at the Ramar Theertham, Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari provided darshan atop the Silver Rishabha Vahanam around the four big Mada streets on the fifth day of the Thai Theppotsavam at Thiruvanaikaval, the Neer Sthalam among the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, on Tuesday evening.

The Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval 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 (‘Appu’ in Sanskrit). 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 are said to attain Mukthi.

The temple dates back to the 5th century AD to the rule of Kochenganan Chozhan 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.

50 year old Othuvar Srinivasan Ramani has been all alone at this Paadal Petra Sthalam for almost three decades. Even as the priests were given the final decorative touches to Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari, he was seen explaining the distinctive features of this Mada Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan, the first of the 71 he built and one specially designed so elephants cannot enter the sanctum. He told them that the inner most Gopuram could be seen only from where they were standing on the Southern side of the 2nd prakara.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

As the clock ticked to 7pm, the big screen opened for the devotees to have a first glimpse of the grand alankaram of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari, decked with beautiful flower garlands atop the Rishabha Vahanam. Othuvar Ramani, in a highly devotional pitch, presented the sacred verses on Thiruvanaikaval, one of the five Kka sthalams (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/08/thiru-nellikaval-nellivananathar-temple.html). He then asked the devotees to repeat a verse after him even as the devotional fervour shot up. After the deeparathanai and the presentation of Puliyotharai, the procession began around the third prakara.

நசையானை நால்வேதத் தப்பா லானை

 நல்குரவுந் தீப்பிணிநோய் காப்பான் றன்னை

இசையானை எண்ணிறந்த குணத்தான் றன்னை

 இடைமருதும் ஈங்கோயும் நீங்கா தேற்றின்

மிசையானை விரிகடலும் மண்ணும் விண்ணும்

 மிகுதீயும் புனலெறிகாற் றாகி யெட்டுத்

திசையானைத் திருவானைக் காவு ளானைச்

 செழுநீர்த் திரளைச்சென் றாடி னேனே – Thiru Gnana Sambandar

It is past 7.30pm soon after the temple elephant had paid its respect to Jambukeswarar when the Divine couple made his way to the fourth prakara to the loud beating of the Periya Udal by youngsters who for the next hour relentlessly played the drums. 

On to the North Ul Veethi, devotees welcomed the pancha moorthies with large sized kolams. The Vedic students at the Sankara Mutt Patshala came out in good numbers along with their acharya, the eldest brother of Neelkantan Sastrigal of Pazhur Patshala (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/06/neelakanta-sastrigal-pazhur-patshala.html). 

Devotees came out in large numbers through the North street to have darshan of the Rishabham procession. Half way into the East street in front of the now closed Eastern Raja Gopuram, Jambukeswarar, Akilandeswari and Murugar provided darshan together much to the delight of the devotees. Shivanadiyars in good numbers followed the procession and presented the sacred verses through the 90 minutes of the procession.

By this time, Othuvar Ramani (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/thiruvanaikaval-othuvar-srinivasan.html) reciting the sacred verses of Sundarar had gone far ahead into the South Ul Veethi away from the deafening noise of the Udal artistes. For well over 25 years, the Othuvar has been able to keep his devotional spirit going despite being the lone Othuvar at this historical temple. 

In a chat with this writer on the South Ul Veethi, he said that he had realised long ago that Jambukeswarar had blessed him to be the designated one to present the sacred verses before him each day of the year in this lifetime and hence nothing distracts him from this honour to sing the sacred verses of the Saivite Saint Poets, not even the health issues that have troubled him in recent times.

Every time when the Udal noise gets loud, he remains calm and quiet and go well ahead to continue his recital on the street without ever complaining. He sees as his role singing the greatness of ‘Aanaikka’ and he devotionally says that nothing can stop him as it is Jambukeswarar’s decision.

செம்பொன் மேனிவெண் ணீறணி வானைக்

 கரிய கண்டனை மால்அயன் காணாச்

சம்பு வைத்தழல் அங்கையி னானைச்

 சாம வேதனைத் தன்னொப்பி லானைக்

கும்ப மாகரி யின்னுரி யானைக்

 கோவின் மேல்வருங் கோவினை எங்கள்

நம்ப னைநள் ளாறனை அமுதை

 நாயி னேன்மறந் தென்நினைக் கேனே.

In April 2018, this section had featured the devotional presentation of the Udal during the Pancha Prakara utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/04/thiruvanaikaval-pancha-prakara-utsavam.html) but on this Rishabha Vahana evening, they were too close to the elephant and Murugar. Despite requests to move well ahead of Murugar and the elephant, the artistes continued to play the loud drums very close to the deities. Kainkaryapakas, who this writer spoke to on Tuesday evening at the procession, said that they have tried many times in the past to get the Udal players to move away from the idols but they have not been successful. The Mahout himself was not pleased as his elephant found the high levels of the drums too loud for its liking.

It was 8.30pm when the Divine Couple made their way back into the temple even as scores of devotees prostrated on the ground in a thanking gesture for having delighted them with the Rishabha Vahana procession.

Sarangapani Koil Thai Amavasai Serthi Sevai

Sarangapani Perumal and Komalavalli Thayar provide Serthi Sevai at the HR & CE office

The speciality of this day is that Thayar is seen with a Kodukku Mudi Alankaram with her long Jadai knotted in such a way that the far end reaches out to Lord Sarangapani

It is just past 3pm on Wednesday (January 29). Two Bhattars are decorating Sarangapani Perumal and Komalavalli Thayar inside the HR & CE office near the towering Raja Gopuram at the eastern entrance of this Divya Desam in Thiru Kudanthai.  The erstwhile Ekadasi Mandapam houses the HR & CE office. 

For long it has been a tradition for the Perumal Koils in this region to open only at 5pm in the evening. Scores of outstation devotees have arrived at the Raja Gopuram at 4pm to have darshan of the moolavar Aravamudhan seen in a sleeping posture but are disappointed to hear that they have to wait out an hour for the temple to open and they head to the nearby Kumbeswarar temple.

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)

It is just past 5pm when the Prabhandham Ghoshti members arrive at the HR & CE office for the Seva Kalam. A few among the first set of devotees are surprised to hear of the divine couple being present at the HR & CE office but Thai Amavasai is the one day in the year when Sarangapani and Komalavalli Thayar provide darshan in the evening at this location that was once the Ekadasi mandapam.

It is also the Shravanam day in Thai and devotees are delighted to have darshan of the Divine Couple as well as Vaishnavaite Acharya Vedantha Desikar.

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 

For an hour, the Prabhandham members present the sacred verses from the Tiruvoimozhi, Ramanuja Nootranthathi as well as Desikar Prabhandham. Just past 7pm, a sizeable crowd has gathered in front of the HR & CE office for the Satru Murai verses following which they have one more close look at Komalavalli Thayar providing Kodukku Mudi Sevai in its current form!!! While historically the speciality of the day was the Kodukkumudi Sevai with the long Jadai of Komalavalli Thaayar knotted in such a way that the far end reaches out to Lord Sarangapani. Today’s alankaram was of Thayar in a simple knotted style on the head.

Clock has ticked past 8pm when Sarangapani Perumal began his procession making his way around the Potramarai Kulam. At the Western entrance, Komalavalli Thayar and Vedantha Desikar welcome him back into the temple even as the Prabhandham members recite the first decad of the Periya Thirumozhi verses. Led by Vedantha Desikar, Sarangapani Perumal and Komalavalli Thayar make their way around the outer prakara to the eastern entrance listening to the presentation of the Thiru Neduthandagam by the Prabhandham Ghoshti.

By this time, a good number of devotees have gathered in front of the Thayar Sannidhi ahead of the ‘Maalai Maatral’ event. It is almost 9pm when after having bid goodbye to Vedantha Desikar at his Sannidhi, Sarangapani and Komalavalli Thayar enacted the Maalai Maatral drama with Paatrachar representing Perumal and the erstwhile Maniyakarar of the temple representing Thayar. Devotees were delightful dance of Paatrachar as he presented Perumal’s flower garland to Komalavalli Thayar.

Following this, Thayar made her way to her Sannidhi while Sarangapani made his way to his abode through the northern entrance bringing to end the Thai Amavasai Kodukku Mudi utsavam. 

Srirangam Sripatham Kannan

Transformation Change from Software Engineer to Sripatham Thangi

The devotional Sripatham experience through the Vethal service in his teenage years led this Software Engineer to quit an IT job and move full time as a Sripatham Thangi in 2022

The Pandemic came as a blessing in disguise for SA Kannan as it paved the way for his transformational change from a Software Engineer in a Multinational firm to a Sripatham Thangi at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. After six years in the IT firm in Chennai, the national lockdown in March 2020 got him to head back to Srirangam for a Work from Home model and that phase deepened his involvement with the temple service. A year after the lockdown, when the temple was looking for a Sripatham Thangi, Kannan grabbed it with both hands and became a full time Kainkaryapaka at this Divya Desam. It has since been a devotionally fulfilling 2 ½ years for him and he now spends his entire time in temple Kainkaryam in Srirangam.

Early Vethal Service drives his devotional interest

His appa, SNR Arangarajan, was into civil construction in Chennai but when an opportunity came up in Srirangam during one of his visits to Dasavatharam Sannidhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/dasavatharam-temple-in-srirangam.html) he took to it and later settled down here. While there was no family background in temple service, Kannan had a devotional attachment to carrying the Lord on his shoulders right from his early teens. 

Sitting in front of the Ranganayaki Thaayar Sannidhi on the fourth day of the Pagal Pathu utsavam for Thaayar, Kannan told this writer on the man who was a major influence on him taking to Sripatham “N. Vainadeyan taught me the finer aspects of Sripatham service during my initial days as a Vethal Kainkaryapaka. It was during that phase that I promised to myself that I would dedicate my entire life to Sripatham Kainkaryam. I was also influenced by the way Pichu Kutti performed his role as a Sripatham.”

Moves to Chennai and the Corporate world

But as has been the trend over the last few decades, he too graduated as a software engineer and moved to Chennai after a campus placement in 2014. He rejected many of the overseas onsite opportunities that came his way for his mind was fixed on temple service as a way of life. Namperumal's blessings seemed to have been with him even in that phase. He is grateful to his boss for being flexible with him all through his work life in Chennai “I had a Christian boss but he was very understanding of my devotional interest in temple service and always allowed me to go to Srirangam to carry Namperumal on my shoulder especially during the four big Brahmotsavams. That brought me even closer to the divine couple and my interest in Sripatham service increased manifold during the years I was in the corporate world though I continue to don the role of a full time software engineer in Chennai.”

This section has featured many stories over the last decade on how traditional service personnel in temples are finding it challenging to lead a family life and how that is leading them into the corporate world away from temple service (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/bhattars-gurukals-move-away-from-temples.html). In line with that trend, most of his friends including those within the temple warned him against quitting a high paying corporate job and moving into an uncertain temple environment but Kannan found an unlikely support in his wife and he counts that as his greatest blessing “My wife had spent her first two decades in Chennai and was used to the fast-paced city life. But she has been fully supportive of my interest in temple service and it was her backing that led me to take the big call to quit the IT job and move into Sripatham service.”

In September 2022, Kannan received the official appointment order as a Sripatham Thangi and quit the IT job for good.  He says that  it has been his most enjoyable phase in his life “Since my entire thoughts lay centered around carrying Namperumal and Thayar, the financial aspect has never been an impediment to my service. I was also clear in my mind that if your entire mind is focused on and dedicated to the Lord, then he would take care of you. My Sripatham team members have been fully supportive and taught me the finer and technical aspects.”

A surprise additional Kainkaryam

15months ago, he was blessed with another great Kainkaryam opportunity that he had not foreseen. He was given the additional responsibility of taking care of the Azhvaar Sannidhi and this has provided a new and unforgettable opportunity "I was initially apprehensive and shy of some of the Kainkaryam involved in managing the Azhvaar Sannidhi but over these last 15 months I have gained a lot of confidence. I now decorate Nam Azhvaar during the annual ten day utsavam in Vaikasi as well as during every Visakam and these have given me a great deal of satisfaction.”

But what has given him the biggest happiness in this Sannidhi Kainkaryam has been the fact that it is he who has been donning the role of Madapalli cook at the Nam Azhvaar Sannidhi and preparing the sacred food each day of the year, one that includes Chakkarai Pongal, Ven Pongal and Puliyotharai.“It has been a great learning experience to start from scratch and now be blessed as the one who presents the sacred food every day to Azhvaar. There is a divine and unmatched feeling in preparing this and presenting to the Azhvaar every morning” says Kannan, even as the Sun gets hotter on this mid afternoon in January.

Family delighted at his Sripatham Service

His young school going daughter is delighted watching her appa carrying the Lord on his shoulder. His amma proudly tells everyone that his son is a Sripatham Thangi. Kannan is particularly happy that his in-laws too have been supporting “I did consult my in laws before taking the call to quit the corporate job and they felt really happy that their son in law would be a Sripatham Thangi at the Ranganathaswamy temple. The family support has been a big boost to me in performing this Kainkaryam."

He and his wife are particularly happy that their daughter is growing up in a traditional temple town environment and imbibing all the positive aspects relating to a traditional way of life, something that would have been unlikely in a larger city.

To further his devotional interest, he is also now learning the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham.

Kannan is hoping that more corporate staffers would consider temple kainkaryam as a way of life and make their way back to their hereditary location. But for the moment, Kannan is preparing himself for the procession during the five day Era Pathu utsavam for Ranganayaki Thayar that starts this Sunday evening and for the upcoming Thai Brahmotsavam next week.

Veenai Ekantham Ranganathan CA rank holder

The All India CA rank holder is looking to take forward the historical Kainkaryam assigned by Ramanuja into the next phase at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam

He is keen to turn a Veenai Teacher to inspire the young ones to take to this mesmerizing instrument 

It is just past 10pm on Pongal evening and a few hundred devotees have gathered inside the Nazhikettan Vaasal to watch the one hour Veenai Ekantham presentation by the Veenai Vidwans of Srirangam. G Ranganathan was just ten years old when this writer wrote a story on the unique standing Veenai presentation during the Era Pathu utsavam in 2009 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/veena-ekantham-at-srirangam-ranganatha.html) and last night he was alongside his appa Govindan and his uncles to present this sacred Veena Ekantham in front of Namperumal. The devotional mind of this All India CA rank holder, who is currently with ICICI, is all on continuing the kainkaryam assigned to the Sathya Koota clan by Ramanuja and taking over, along with his cousins, the historical service from his appa and uncles.

Early Veena Initiation by his Thatha

Ranganathan had a great mentor in his thatha, the revered and respected G Rangarajan, the former principal of National College. Late into the 2nd half of the previous century, as was the larger trend in those decades, two of Rangarajan’s sons had moved from Srirangam to Chennai into the corporate world, the first in the family to move away from this Divya Desam. To generate an early interest, Rangarajan would often travel to Chennai to initiate Ranganathan into the art of playing the Veena.

        Renowned Veenai Rangarajan

Sitting at the Sesha Rayar mandapam, the morning after he had presented the Veenai Ekantham, Ranganathan recounts those early years of his life and how his Thatha created an ever lasting bond for him with the Veena “I was just four years old when my Thatha initiated me into the Veena. Having been a lecturer and later the Principal, he was so understanding of the young mind. He would allow to play with my friends to my heart’s content and when I was in the right frame of mind, he would begin his Veenai lessons. We had a small veenai in those days and it was with that I first started my practice. Every weekend I would practice together with my appa.”

Solo Presentation at 13 in front of Ranganatha

He was just in class VIII when he got an unexpected opportunity to perform at the Vishroopam in front of Ranganthaswamy “My patti had passed away and my appa and uncles could not perform and all of a sudden I was all alone (without appa or uncles by my side) in front of Lord Ranganatha with a big devotee crowd around me at the Vishroopam early in the morning. I realised that morning that actual presentation in front of a crowd is quite different from practicing at your home. I was quite nervous and felt like a duck out of water but that morning went on well and that solo presentation when I was just 13 years old gave me a lot of confidence.”

After the early initiation and mentoring, his thatha sent him to Mudikondan S. N. Ramesh for indepth lessons in the Veena. “My Guru taught me with Sahityam for seven years and my knowledge of the Veena deepened and expanded thanks to his teachings.”

                  Mudikondan Ramesh

During his learning phase, he also had a carnatic music tutelage for 12 years from Vidhwan Senthagudi Jayaraman at Krishna Gana Sabha, T.Nagar which helped shape his initial understanding of music. 

He says that the foundation laid by him has been crucial in his development. 

Also, for a few years, he learnt songs from Vidwan Akila Siva, an initiative that helped him connect with the Veenai presentation.

Utsavam Keerthanais and Paasurams

He also learned the utsava sampradaya keerthanais and the sacred verses of the Azhvaars that his forefathers usually presented. He made his debut at Veenai Ekantham at the Era Pathu Utsavam when he was just 16 years old “That experience of presenting Veenai Ekantham was such an eye opener. The standing presentation meant that we cannot see the Veenai and perform. Our great grandfather was a disciple of Mysore Veena Seshanna and we follow his finger splitting style of presentation. In the standing posture, there is a weight to handle, the duration is quite long (one hour in standing posture with Veenai tied to you) and we are looking at Namperumal through our presentation. It was an unforgettable experience.”

10 year old Ranganthan seen in the middle ahead of the Veenai Ekantham in Dec 2009

While his Thatha and his parents did not push into securing high marks, they were keen for him to explore a professional degree. "My thatha seeded the thought in me that a professional degree would give me the flexibility to alternate between an income generating profession and continuing the Veenai Kainkaryam. I liked commerce and hence thought CA would be a good option.”

All India 10th Rank in CA

In 2019, he prepared hard for four months ahead of the CA final with his intention being just to clear the exam and be certified as a CA.  He looks back at that tense phase “I did not want to let anyone down and did not want to be the one black mark in the family as my relatives were all academically well qualified. And despite the preparation and efforts, I was quite nervous ahead of the Direct Tax exam though I liked this subject a lot. In that phase (and I still have it to this day), I had a message written on my white board which read ‘God gives those who deserve and not those who desire’. That gave me a lot of confidence that my hard work of four months would not go waste.”

A couple of days after Pongal of 2020 and just a couple of months before the Pandemic hit the world, he was on a train when he heard the news that he had cleared CA “I was relieved that I had passed and did not pay too much attention to the marks I had scored. But it was my appa’s firm’s auditor who remarked that it was likely that I would have secured a rank based on my marks.”

Looking back on that day when he found that he was ranked tenth all India and second in TN, he says that it was a humbling experience “When I prepared and wrote the exam, I did not aim for any rank. My focus was on becoming a CA. I would have been happy with a 400+ but I ended up with close to 500 marks. I felt that the Divine Powers had played a role in my life.”

There was a campus placement for rank holders and he was picked up by ICICI in early 2020. It has been a roller coaster ride ever since for Ranganathan in the last four years at the bank.

Into the future, Ranganathan is keen to don the role of a Veena teacher to pass on this art to the young ones. And to this end, he is fine tuning his own learnings from his appa Govindan and uncle Srinivasan who he counts as a great teacher and a role model.

He is particularly interested in Muthuswamy Dikshithar’s Keerthanais, especially those containing the Kshtram Paadals and Thyagarajar’s Pancha Ratna Keerthanais on Srirangam. He is excited about presenting these during the Vishroopam in the years to come. 

Ranganathan flanked by Anna and Appa

The veena vidwans also present Veenai ekantham at the Thayar sannidhiand at Uraiyur during the Era Pathu utsavams there.

Full time Daily Kainkaryam at Srirangam

His appa went the full distance in the corporate world and retired at 60. But 26 year old Ranganathan is hoping that he will get back to Srirangam lot earlier, so he, along with his brother and cousins, can taken over from his appa and uncles for the daily presentation as well as during the Era Pathu utsavam and continue this kainkaryam at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam for he believes that no amount of money in the corporate world can equate with the opportunity to present in front of the Lord of Srirangam. He is happy his brother and cousins are all keen and interested to continue this service.

Ranganathan, the 48th descendant of the Sathya Koota clan, will soon tie the wedding knot and this section wishes him a happy married life.

Nachiyar Koil Kal Garuda Sevai 2025 January

Beautiful Alankaram, a Delightful Voyali by Sripatham, Unprecedented crowd and a through the night street procession mark the Kal Garuda Sevai at Thiru Naraiyur Divya Desam

It is just past 4pm on Monday evening and a big day for the young 34 year Mechanical Engineer P Prabhakaran, who is the EO of the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur. Along with long standing priest Gopinathan Bhattar, Prabhakaran was instrumental in ensuring that the Thiruppani works were completed in a record period of just 9 months and the consecration took place at this historical temple after 18 years.

A big crowd has already gathered around the Dwajasthambam and Prabhakaran expects this to swell in the next hour or so. It is a highly challenging task for the EO  to both manage the huge crowd and help them enjoy a good darshan of the popular Kal Garuda procession while at the same assist the Sripatham Thangis to have an smooth path from the moolavar Sannidhi through the steep steps of this first Mada Perumal Koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/ko-chenganan-and-nachiyar-koil-divya.html).

வம்பு அவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு

மணி வண்டு வகுளத்தின் மலர்மேல் வைகு

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணான் சேர்ந்த கோயில்

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே

While Prasanna Bhattar is decorating Kal Garuda inside the Sannidhi, EO Prabhakaran is having conversations with the police personnel who too have gathered in good numbers to manage the crowd and finalising the plan for the procession from the Garuda Sannidhi to the Vahana Mandapa.

No VIP Tickets- a welcome initiative

From earlier years, he has initiated a big change in plan in terms of crowd presence during the procession. While there was ticketed service (including Rs. 500) that allowed devotees to come up to the Garuda Sannidhi, this EO who has been at this temple for just over a couple of years has done away with paid tickets foregoing the collection for HR & CE on this crowded evening. Instead, he devised a plan whereby only the Ubayadarars, Mutt Kainkarayaparas and high end VIPs were allowed in front of the Garuda Sannidhi. Prabhakaran is seen going up to every devotee inside the Sannidhi to enquire about their well being and comfort on this crowded evening. He is keen for the devotees to have a happy experience despite the seemingly unmanageable crowd inside the temple complex.

An hour ahead of the procession, a few hundred devotees were allowed to stand in front of the Rama Mandapa while the majority of the crowd were stationed in front of the Dwajasthambam to have a long view of Kal Garuda making his down the steps. 

A Delightful fast paced voyali

Past 6pm, the District Judge makes his way to the Sannidhi and soon after the Sripatham Thangis dressed in bright yellow shirts make their way to carry Kal Garuda out of the Sannidhi. By 6.30pm, thousands of devotees have made it to the temple. Unlike in the past, the path from Garuda Sannidhi to the Dwajasthambam is clear thanks to the crowd management and the Sripatham personnel stride away majestically carrying the heavy Kal Garuda on their shoulder. And as they near the Dwajasthambam, they present several fast paced voyali much to the delight of the devotees before placing Kal Garuda inside the vahana mandapa.  

There is a Nadaswaram Kutcheri and a Namasankeerthanam performance in a specially erected stage opposite the vahana mandapa and devotees spend the next two hours listening to these (wish the volume of the speakers was turned down a bit for it was too loud for one’s liking especially inside a temple complex!!!) while the Bhattars are busy decorating Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda. Thousands of devotees have also lined up (and this went up past the Raja Gopuram) to have darshan of Moolavar Perumal and Thayar and this goes on till well past 9pm. On this special evening, the temple has organised a sumptuous dinner for the Sripatham Thangis ahead of the long street procession.

It is almost ten pm when Vanjula Valli Thayar on an Anna Pakshi Vahana followed by Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda make their way out of the vahana mandapa. As is the trend these days, phones and go up for the first pictures and videos of this popular event. The huge crowd has stayed back for the start of this joint procession and it is 10.30pm when they make their way into the Sannidhi street.

End of the street, there is a chapparam waiting and Perumal and Thayar are mounted on to that and the rest of the procession takes place with the divine couple moving around the streets providing darshan on a wheeled chapparam. The procession around the streets of Thiru Naraiyur goes on through the night as the residents stay awake late into the night welcoming the deities to their homes and presenting them with coconuts and flowers.

A sleepless night for EO Prabhakaran

Like with Gopi and Prasanna Bhattar, it is a sleepless night for  EO Prabhakaran too. It is an unprecedented decision and one not seen in any other Divya Desam. EOs in the past have not stayed back past the start of the procession. Prabhakaran told his family that he would not be returning home till the deities are safely back at their abode and thus spends the entire night at the temple.  Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar are foremost in his mind and he credits their blessings for a most successful consecration that took end of 2023, the scale of which has not been seen at this Divya Desam.

Late into the night, he tells this writer about the satisfied feel after having ensured that every single devotee had a happy darshan on this evening. In and around Nachiyar Koil, he has anchored restoration of 25 temples where consecration have taken place in the last year or so.

He is keen to take up next the thiruppani works at the historical Siddanatha temple in Thiru Naraiyur, a temple that is in poor shape. 

Engineer Prabhakaran also has a Masters degree in Social Work and in line with that degree, he has passionately involved in the planting of saplings for the last many years. At Nachiyar Koil, he has made it a point to plant one new sapling a day and the huge Nandavanam in the outer prakara wears a beautiful look.  He has thus far planted over one lakh saplings in his life including in every temple location in the last seven years where he has been an EO. He sees this environment protection as an integral part of his life and he and his wife have made a separate financial allocation every month for this green exercise. 

He also feels blessed that he has had a proactive priest as Gopi Bhattar to work with at Nachiyar Koil as he has been able to implement many of his ideas and initiatives through the experienced and enterprising Bhattar.

As the EO of this historical temple, he has seen as his duty to push for collection from temple lands and over the last couple of years, he has taken it upon himself to visit every lease holder to collect all the pending payment relating to the temple land. And his relentless endeavour on this front has helped boost the income at this temple.

For the moment, Prabhakaran is thankful to Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjula Valli Thayar for having presented him with the opportunity to participate in the huge Thiruppani works and the consecration in 2023 that has seen the crowd swell at this temple. He also feels blessed as an EO to be a tool in helping devotees have a happy darshan on the Kal Garuda Sevai darshan at this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam. 

Young and energetic EOs like Prabhakaran at HR & CE administered temples offer positive hope to devotees for the future.