A dozen years of Divya Desam archaka kainkaryam with one leg
Srikanthan Bhattar is anointed with a ‘Kainkaryam Saagaram’ award by Sholingur’s Doddacharya for his committed archaka service at Kripa Samudram temple
In 2013, Srikanthan Bhattar, then just in his 20s, was knocked down by a speeding bus, an accident that took away his left leg. He was in the hospital for over a month. For an archaka, a leg is an important asset for he has to accompany Perumal through the processions. The loss of a leg would have crushed the heart of any other person but not Srikanthan Bhattar.
In the Periya Thirumozhi, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that those who worship the Lord’s feet seeking a change of heart, Sirupuliyur, where the Lord resides in Salasayanam, is the place to be.
கள்ளம் மனம் விள்ளும் வகை,
கருதிக் கழல் தொழுவீர்
வெள்ளம் முதுபரவைத் திரை விரிய
கரை யெங்கும் தெள்ளும் மணி திகழும்
சிறுபுலியூர் சலசயனத் துள்ளும்
எனது உள்ளத்துள்ளும்
உறைவாரை உள்ளீரே
On a quiet Monday (March 16) evening at the Kripa Samudra perumal temple in Sirupuliyur two days after receiving the coveted Kainkarya Saagaram award from Doddacharya in Sholingur, Srikanthan Bhattar told this writer the inspiration behind his strong comeback “My immediate reaction after the accident was one of apprehension as to whether I could ever make it back to the temple and if I could continue the Kainkaryam like before. But when I was in bed at the hospital in Puducherry for well over a month, I saw patients who had lost both legs. There were many others with more serious injuries and were fighting for life. I told myself that I had at least one leg and that turned out to be a big inspiration in my comeback.”
Srikanthan Bhattar was back into archaka Kainkaryam three months after the accident with just one leg in action.
Revival of Utsavams
In the years preceding the accident, with the Sirupuliyur temple in a dilapidated state, Srikanthan Bhattar used to be an active member at temple events across the Chozha region and spent a fortnight every month at utsavams and consecration events under the guidance of the revered Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur, Prasanna Bhattar of Mannargudi, Krishna Kumar Bhattar of Chakrapani Koil (Kumbakonam) and Parthanpalli and Ramudu Bhattar of Thiru Cherai.
The accident meant that his travel on a two- wheeler became restricted (he has since been presented a special purpose TVS Scooty by a Chennai based tech firm’s owner) and he began to spend a lot of time at this Divya Desam. He also takes care of his Octogenarian appa, Venkata Gopalan Bhattar, who had served at this Divya Desam for several decades during the darkest phase when there were no devotees at the temple and no salary or thattu kaasu for the archaka.
Arumakadal Perumal as his only refuge
Srikanthan Bhattar may have lost a leg but as described by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, he sees the feet of Arumakadal Lord as his only refuge. He promised to himself at that time that he would revive the historical utsavams one after another and that is exactly what he has done over the last decade.
கருமா முகில் உருவா கனல் உருவா புனல் உருவா
பெருமாள் வரை உருவா பிற உருவா நினது உருவா
திருமாமகள் மருவும் சிறுபுலியூர் சலசயனத்து
அருமா கடல் அமுதே உனது அடியே சரணாமே
In the dozen plus years since, he has revived the Theppotsavam, rebuilt the Perumal Ther, built a new Ther for Manavala Mamunigal and revived the morning procession during the Brahmotsavam.
Revival of Chariot Procession
He built the Chariot Wheels in 2016 and then completed the entire Ther and the procession was revived during the Brahmotsavam in 2022, after a gap of several decades.
Theppotsavam after a 100 years
The sacred temple tank had seen encroachments and the Maasi Theppotsavam had long come to a halt. It was Srikanthan Bhattar’s initiative that saw the sending back of the trespassers “Till that time, this did not even resemble a temple tank. Once the encroachments were removed, we went about the task of refurbishing the tank that finally led to the revival of Theppotsavam in Maasi just prior to the Pandemic”, says Srikanthan Bhattar recalling the revival after over 100 years.
A Grand Manavala Mamuni Utsavam - Physical Participation of Kainkaryaparas
The Manavala Mamunigal utsavam too had stopped. Srikanthan Bhattar was keen not just to revive this utsavam in Aippasi but to get the disciples of the Thengalai Acharya to come to Sirupuliyur and take active part in the utsavam instead of just transferring funds required for the conduct of the utsavam “I wanted them to physically participate both in the annual utsavam in Aippasi as well as on the monthly star day which too has been revived now. To my surprise, 15 Kainkaryaparas have been participating in Seva Kalam, Procession and Thirumanjanam during the Manavala Maamuni Utsavam over the past 4-5 years.”
Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that those who surrender to the Lord of Sirupuliyur will experience an instant vanishing of their Karmas.
பறையும் வினை தொழுது உய்ம்மின்
நீர் பணியும் சிறு தொண்டீர்
அறையும் புனல் ஒருபால் வயல் ஒருபால் பொழில் ஒருபால்
சிறை வந்து இனம் அறையும்
சிறுபுலியூர்ச் சலசயனத்து
உறையும் இறை அடி அல்லது
ஒன்று இறையும் அறியேனே
New look Raja Gopuram
For several decades, the Raja Gopuram wore a faded look until Srikanthan Bhattar took to the Thiruppani works that resulted in a grand consecration last year. The temple now wears a new fresh look with the colourful Raja Gopuram welcoming the devotees.
Raja Gopuram (Manavala Mamuni gopuram on the right)
The Best Alankaram Bhattar in this region
With the loss of a leg, he has turned into an alankaram expert and is the one who decorates the Perumal atop the Vahanas during the Brahmotsavams and other big utsavams in a number of temples in this region. Vasan Bhattar told this writer during the Consecration event last month at Aamaruviappan temple in Therazhundur that Srikanthan Bhattar is easily the best alankaram bhattar and everyone looks up to him to learn from his style of decorating Perumal atop different Vahanas.
A coveted award for his selfless kainkaryam
On Saturday (March 14), Srikanthan Bhattar was at the Narasimha temple in Sholingur to receive the coveted ‘Kainkarya Saagaram’ award from Doddacharya. The pharmaceutical firm that got him a Jipmer leg are shocked at the way he has been actively walking all through the year at different utsavams with his artificial leg. The recognition is a just reward for this Bhattar who unmindful of the physical pain has served perumal selflessly for the last almost 15 years since the accident and has committed himself to a lifetime service at this Divya Desam.
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