For over 40 years, Venkatesan has been the sole man preparing the sacred food for Lakshmi Narasimha at Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil Madapalli
It is ticking to 4am on this Pongal (Jan 15) morning and it is another chilly morning in Srirangam. For the 31st day in a row, S Venkatesan, the Maniyakaarar and Chief Cook at the Madapalli at the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil in Srirangam, is at the temple for the final Thaligai of the month. With Andal’s Thiruppavai playing on the temple’s loud speakers around the temple complex, Venkatesan, as the lone man at this hour at the temple madapalli, is preparing ‘Paal Payasam’ as the final sacred food for Narasimha in this Margazhi month. Through each day of Margazhi, he has woken up at 2.30am and been at the temple madapalli at this early hour to prepare the sacred ‘Thirupalliezhuchi’ food for Lakshmi Narasimha presented just after 6am each morning of the month.
Rains over the past few days meant that it took longer for the firewood to heat and that added to Venkatesan’s early morning challenges this Margazhi. But he has always been one with patience and he demonstrated that in adequate quantity during the rainy days as well.
He has been the sole cook at the Singar Koil for over four decades and has set expectations so high with the quality of his Ven Pongal and Chakkarai Pongal that there was a long queue each morning of the month to taste the sacred delicacy just after it’s been presented to the Lord. Many of the devotees came back a second time in the queue to pick up another ‘Thonnai’ of the hot and tasty Pongal.
This is a far cry from what the scenario was in the early 1980s when Venkatesan joined the Singar temple. He looks back at those dark early years of his association with this temple “It was really dark around the temple and inside as well. I would pick up some ghee and oil every morning to light the lamp at the temple. We would wait endlessly till after noon for the next devotee but there were hardly any. There was absolutely no income.”
Dark decade - The 1980s
As the Maniyakaarar in charge of the temple service and poojas, Venkatesan was not able to give even 25paise a day to the archakas for their service in those early days, such was the financial state of the temple.
In addition to housing Lord Azhagiya Singar, the temple played home to venomous snakes, Udumbu and deadly big Scorpions. Cook Venkatesan had to contend with snakes that were an integral part of the dark prakaras in those decades. He has recalled many times to this writer as to how a venomous snake just missed biting him outside the madapalli when he was washing the vessels.
அங்கண் ஞால மஞ்ச அங்கு ஓர் ஆள் அரி ஆய்
அவுணன் பொங்க ஆகம் வள் உகிரால்
போழ்ந்த புனிதன் இடம்
பைங்கண் ஆனைக் கொம்பு கொண்டு பத்திமையால்
அடிக்கீழ்ச் செங்கண் ஆளி இட்டு இறைஞ்சும்
சிங்கவேழ் குன்றமே - Periya Thirumozhi - 1-7-1
Till about a few decades ago, there were no houses in the area. The temple was flanked by a burial ground in the North and green fields in the East and South. There were no lights anywhere in the vicinity of the temple. The only noise came from the steam engines that passed through the Srirangam station. There were even skeletons seen around this ancient temple that pre dates the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.
Devotional Commitment - The Saviour
For over a dozen years, it was a very challenging life for Venkatesan as there were ' No devotees- No income' and it had become a way of everyday life in that early phase. While it may have been disheartening, I always remembered my appa’s message to have a firm believe in Narasimha and to perform our duty with utmost sincerity” Venkatesan recalls on the most important message of his life.
“Despite the financially stressed life, my appa Srinivasa Iyengar’s consistent message to me throughout my childhood was to give positive messages to devotees who came to the Lord with problems and to create the belief in them that the Lord would take care of them if they invoked his blessings with sincere devotion. It is our duty to make them happy when they are here at the temple and that is what I have tried to instil in them all through the last four decades” says Venkatesan.
That’s easily Venkatesan’s biggest differentiator. At a time when there are shortage of cooks at the madapalli even at Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, Venkatesan has been a lone hand at Singar Koil having prepared the Thaligai each day of the year for over 40 years leaving long standing devotees bewildered at his devotional commitment.
Devotional Wave - Surge in 'Narasimha' belief
With the devotional wave striking TN temples and the belief in Lord Narasimha as one who answers a devotee’s sincere prayers, Singar Koil has seen a remarkable turnaround with Pradosham and Swathi days every month seeing high turnout of devotees. On Aani Swathi in 2025, the annual birthday of Periyazhvaar, the devotee queue extended to the main road with thousands of them lined through the evening for a darshan of Lakshmi Narasimha. Similar was the crowd during the Saturdays of Puratasi.
From a time when he awaited the next devotee to present his Thaligai, it has reached a phase now when devotees have to return disappointed without tasting Venkatesan’s Pongal. On days such as Swathi, Venkatesan prepares multiple dishes including melagorai, kesari bath and dhadhyonam. Paanagam is another hit among the devotees on Pradosham days.
பள்ளியில் ஓதி வந்த தன் சிறுவன்
வாயில் ஓர் ஆயிற நாமம்
ஒள்ளியவாகிப் போதவாங்கதனுக்கு ஒன்று மோர் பொறுப்பிலனாகி
பிள்ளையை சீறி வெகுண்டு தூண் புடைப்ப
பிறை எயிற்றின ல் விழிப்பேழ்வாய்
தெள்ளிய சிங்கம் ஆகிய தேவை
திருவல்லிக்கேணி கண்டேனே - Periya Thirumozhi - 2.3.8
It is past 7.30am on this Thursday morning and one can see the joy and a bit of relief in Venkatesan’s face having successfully prepared the sacred food each morning of Margazhi and to have satisfied the taste buds of the devotees. Almost all the devotees wondered this morning as to how he has been able to do it all alone through each morning of the month when the weather is quite chilly. Forty years ago and now, his answer has always been the same. It is Lord Lakshmi Narasimha who is his sole guide and the one who has helped him wade through the most challenging times at the temple instilling in him the belief that there will be a big turnaround one day in his life provided he serves the Lord with sincerity each day of his life.
As one goes around Perumal temples in Tamil Nadu, one finds the priests struggling to find those for the Madapalli and there are many temples where the priest doubles up as the madapalli cook as well. At Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil, Venkatesan has been the most striking and familiar face to a large number of Narasimha devotees.
The temple is open between 6.15am and 12noon and between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. There are special poojas and Thirumanjanam organised every month on the Swathi Nakshatram and Prathosham days. Also, Saturday is an auspicious day to visit this temple.
Devotees wanting to present Pongal, Dhadhyonam, Panagam and other sacred dishes to Lakshmi Narasimha including on Swathi and Pradosham may contact Venkatesan on 6379277677
No comments:
Post a Comment