Uraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar Vasantha Utsavam Transformation

Rajesh Bhattar and Kishore Bhattar work in tandem to provide a happy experience for devotees 

A delightful restoration by TVS' Venu results in a grand historic revival of the Vasantha Utsavam 

It is just past 4pm on Tuesday (June 16) evening. Devaraja Bhattar (Rajesh Bhattar to those in the temple circles in Srirangam) has made his way from East Adayavalanjan  street in Srirangam where he resides to the Kamalavalli Nachiyar temple in Uraiyur, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has referred to this location alongside the praise of Sundararaja Perumal of Thiru Nagai. He has around 50 days of Kainkaryam annually at this Divya Desam and happily for him, one set of those days has fallen on the occasion of the Vasantha Utsavam.

A twin saree alankaram

For an hour, he decorates Kamalavalli Nachiyar, interestingly with two silk sarees- one provided by the devotee donor of the day and the other brought by himself. The contrasting colours look beautiful and catches the eye of the devotees when they have darshan at the Vasantha Mandapam later in the evening.

Like with many Divya Desams in TN, the 1970s and 80s saw a slowdown at Srirangam as well and many in the next gen looked to go the corporate world for their career path while their appa continued the hereditary service at the Ranganathaswamy temple as well as its sub temples nearby. While he had his Deekshai early in his life, Rajesh Bhattar worked in multiple companies in the Paper industry for close to two decades before taking up the hereditary Kainkaryam at the Ranganathaswamy temple a decade ago. 

For this evening, he has roped in his close friend Sundararaja Bhattar (Kishore Bhattar to those in the temple circles) for support. The two of them work closely and support each other in temple events as Kishore Bhattar tells this writer shortly after Kamalavalli Nachiyar arrives at beautiful looking Vasantha Mandapam surrounded by colourful Vritchi flowers in the Nandavanam. “It is Rajesh Bhattar’s service day today at this temple and he called me in for support to be at the Vasantha Mandapam after the 5pm procession. Similarly, when it is my service temple in any of the temples, I rope him in for support. We understand each other well and enjoy working together” Kishore Bhattar narrates to this writer on why he is present at Uraiyur this evening.

Chozha's Capital

Located on the banks of Cauvery south of Srirangam, Uraiyur was the first capital of the Chozhas. The Chozha king Nanda Chozhan had been childless. Pleased with his prayers, Lord Ranganatha asked Goddess Lakshmi to be born as the King’s daughter at Uraiyur. Being born out of the Lotus, the Goddess here is called Kamalavalli Nachiyar [Kamala means Lotus]. As years went by, Kamalavalli grew into a beautiful young girl. One day while she was out with her friends, her eyes fell on a handsome young man and instantly she fell in love with him. The man was none other than Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

King Nanda Chozhan was in a fix as his daughter had fallen in love with the man, who had blessed the king with the child. Once again, the Lord accepted the king’s prayers and accepted her as his bride. Delighted at this, Nanda Chozhan built a temple at Uraiyur to celebrate the (home) coming of Lord Ranganatha to Uraiyur to take the hand of his daughter.

Panguni visit of Lord Ranganatha

Every year in the month of Panguni, a significant event takes place at the Uraiyur temple. Lord Ranganatha, in all his splendour, leaves the Srirangam temple at 4am to take long trip across the Cauvery in a golden palanquin to meet his beloved Kamalavalli Naachiyar for the ‘Kalyana Utsavam’(marriage festivities). On this auspicious day in the month of Panguni, the entire marriage formalities between Lord Ranganatha and Kamalavalli Nachiyar is enacted at the Uraiyur Temple. Lord Ranganatha takes the trip back to Srirangam across the Cauvery that same night.

A transformational restoration by Venu Srinivasan

The Vasantha Mandapam and its surroundings was in a dilapidated state till a decade ago with a lack of attention and with devotees focusing all their attention on the Divine Couple at Srirangam. TVS’ Venu Srinivasan who was the architect of large scale restoration exercise at the Srirangam temple just over a decade ago was invited to restore the Uraiyur Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). 

He was shocked to see the state of the temple infrastructure but as he has in so many other temples especially in the erstwhile Pandya region, he went about providing his magic touch to restoring this temple too in a traditional way with the help of his team of engineers and those well versed in temple restoration. And in a matter of six months, the Vasantha Mandapam had been completely transformed. 

This writer had featured a story in this section in 2019 on the state of the temple and how the Vasantha Mandapam had been converted to an anna dhanam koodam. It was through Venu’s efforts that the anna dhanam koodam was removed and the Vasantha Mandapam was restored to its historic elegance that devotees experienced this evening (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/uraiyur-kamalavalli-nachiyar.html).

Venu Srinivasan had told this writer that he was in 'Service to God' as a devotee and that the restoration exercise in Uraiyur was in line with that thought.

      Vasantha Mandapam area - A decade ago

Sacred food from the madapalli

The restoration of the damaged madapalli and a full time cook has been great news for the kainkaryaparas for they get to eat tasty sacred food in between their service during this fourth evening of the utsavam. The devotees too get a feel of the traditional temple dosai as that is handed out to them late in the evening before the return procession. And each of them seemed to have enjoyed that as much as they enjoyed the presence of Kamalavalli Nachiyar at the Vasantha Mandapam.

A devotionally committed Koil Mahajanam Seenu

Koil Mahajanam Srinivasan (Seenu) has had a 8 hour duty as Sannidhi Vaasal through the first half of the day at the Moolavar Ranganathaswamy Sannidhi in Srirangam. After a short rest, he has driven 10 kms on his two wheeler from Srirangam to Uraiyur to perform the role of the Koil Mahajanam at the Vasantha Utsavam while his junior colleague ‘Pineapple’ Sudarshan donned that role at the Vasantha Utsavam for Ranganayaki Thayar in Srirangam. Interestingly, this year, both the Poochatru Utsavam and the Vasantha Utsavam fell on the same dates for Ranganayaki Thayar and Kamalavalli Nachiyar. Seenu was just into his early years of service as Koil Mahajanam when he experienced the Vasantha Utsavam well over a decade ago at the Uraiyur temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/10/srirangam-koil-mahajanam-srinivasan.html). 

Shortly after Kamalavalli Nachiyar entered the Vasantha Mandapam, he recalled his memories from those early years of his service “The entire location around the Vasantha Mandapam was filled with debris with the processional path in a dilapidated state with stones poking the feet of the Sripatham personnel. It has been a dramatic transformation in the last few years with the Vasantha Mandapam wearing a new look much to the delight of the devotees.”

Thirumangai Azhvaar's reference to Kozhiyur

There’s a belief that an Elephant of a Chozha king, which entered this place, was beaten back by a valiant Hen and had to retreat. Hence, this place is also called Kozhiyoor (Kozhi means Hen in Tamil). 

கோழியும் கடலும் கோயில் கொண்ட 

கோவலரே யொப்பர் குன்றமன்ன

பாழியும் டோழுமொரே நான் குடையார்

பண்டிவர் தம்மயம் கண்டறியோம்

வாழிய ரோவிவர் வண்ண மென்னில்

மாகடல் போன்றுளர் கையில் வெய்ய

அழியோன் றேந்தியோர் சங்கு பற்றி

அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா

Selfless Service by Sripatham

G. Krishnamurthy (GK) was at the purapadu Thodakkam at 5pm playing the role of Maniyakarar while Sridharan Maniam took care of the Ranganayaki Thayar Vasantha Utsavam at Srirangam. After mariyathai at Ramanuja Sannidhi (it was Thiruvathirai and monthly birthday of Ramanuja) and Thirupaan Azhvaar Sannidhi (the birth place of the Saint Poet who sang ten verses of praise of Lord Ranganatha after invoking the blessings from the banks of the Cauvery) in the presence of the Jeer of Azhvaar Tirunagari, Kamalavalli Nachiyar made her way through the colourful lights to the Vasantha Mandapam. There are four HRCE appointed Sripatham at this temple and the rest of the personnel were from the Vethal service, those that perform selfless service during processions. For the next 2 ½ hours, she provided darshan at the Vasantha Mandapam to devotees who trickled in small numbers through the evening. 

As the clock ticked almost to 7pm, Rajesh Bhattar began the Thiru Aradhanam process fanning Kamalavalli Nachiyar on what had earlier been a hot day. The Araiyar from Srirangam too had made it to Uraiyur and he presented the Pallandu verse.

It has been a completed transformation of the Vasantha Mandapam and the Vasantha Utsavam has been revived to its historical beauty, with the plants around the mandapam providing a cool breeze for Kamalavalli Nachiyar to enjoy. 

From Indian Railways to Temple Kainkaryam

While Rajesh Bhattar went away for a while after the Thiru Aradhanam, Kishore Bhattar took over the role of the Vasantha Mandapam archaka aiding devotees with the darshan. Like Rajesh Bhattar, Kishore Bhattar too had been away while his appa continued the temple service. For 25 years, he worked in the railways before quitting the job and taking up the hereditary temple kainkaryam after the passing away of his appa and uncle. 

At the Uraiyur temple, Kamalavalli Nachiyar is seen in a grand sitting posture, all set to get married. Being the handsome man in wedding attire, Lord Ranganatha here is called ‘Azhagiya Mana Vaalan’. A speciality of this temple is that this is the only Divya Desam where the Goddess is facing the Northern direction, in this case in the direction of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple.

It is past 8pm and following the Veda Vinnappam and Theertha Ghoshti, Kamalavalli Nachiyar is all set to make her way back to her abode on this 4th day of the Vasantha Utsavam. Koil Mahajanam Seenu and Maniyakarar GK lead the Sripatham personnel to the Vasantha Mandapam. Rajesh Bhattar is back at the mandapam for the return procession while Kishore Bhattar makes his way to the Madapalli that too has been restored beyond recognition. 

There are just a handful of devotees and each of them enjoy the procession in the quiet and serene prakara. In front of the Ramanuja Sannidhi, Rajesh Bhattar presents the Deeparathanai that is followed by the presentation of Vada Paruppu before Kamalavalli Nachiyar makes her back to her Sannidhi sharp at 8.30pm.

A Revival to Savour

It has been enjoyable evening for both Rajesh Bhattar and Kishore Bhattar working in tandem and they make their way back to Srirangam. For Koil Mahajanam Srinivasan, he dashes back to the Ranganathaswamy temple for the culmination pooja event there. For those that had been witness to the Vasantha Utsavam at the Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam in Uraiyur just over a decade ago, this has been a delightful transformation and for that the credit goes to TVS’ Venu Srinivasan.

HRCE tightens archaka attendance in TN temples

New Digital Attendance Machine installed this week at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam will montior archaka service presence 

It is past 7am on Saturday (June 13) at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyar Koil, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar sung a century of verses in praise of Thiru Naraiyur Nambi. The three HRCE appointed salary paid priests at this temple have this week been asked by proactive and forward looking EO Prabhakaran to follow a new protocol. On this Saturday, only Prasanna Bhattar is present in the morning and he has digitally recorded his presence (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/01/nachiyar-koil-kal-garuda-sevai-2025.html).

கிடந்த நம்பி குடந்தை மேவி கேழலாய் உலகை இடந்த நம்பி 

எங்கள் நம்பி எறிஞர் அரண் அழியக் 

கடந்த நம்பி கடியார் இலங்கை உலகை ஈர் அடியால் 

நடந்த நம்பி நாமம் சொல்லி நமோ நாராயணா - 6-10-1

A new digital attendance machine has been installed at the eastern entrance of the temple and the archakas have to digitally record their attendance each day of the month. In the century gone by, the priests of historic temples followed in the footsteps of their forefathers performing hereditary service. 

Hereditary priests become HRCE staffers

However, towards the end of the previous century, driven by a slowdown in temples and with many hereditary priests moving away from temple service, next gen priests in many temples opted for a fixed monthly salary. While in the past, the hereditary priests had alternating service every month between Moolavar Sannidhi and Thayar Sannidhi in Perumal temples, this system saw a change when they became paid salary staffers of the HRCE.

Paid salary for entire month

EO Prabhakaran of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam clarified to this writer that as per his recorded there are no specific 10-15 service days for these priests like they may have had in the past “They are paid a salary for the entire month and hence each of these priests have to be present at the temple throughout the month.”

Implemented and accepted at Rameswaram 

Another proactive JC Sivaram Kumar who is now at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam implemented this digital attendance system when he was at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram. He told this writer that all the priests of that temple accepted this system and digitally recorded their priest till the time he was at the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/05/dhanushkodi-rama-temple-shiva-lingam.html).

JC Sivaram Kumar 

At the Nachiyar Koil, long standing priest Gopinathan Bhattar, who has been serving at the temple since the 1990s, has been going for events in other temples in the past. Earlier this month, this section featured a story on Nathan Koil Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai where he performed the alankaram of Jagannathan Perumal atop Garuda(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/06/nathan-koil-jagannathan-perumal.html).

The popular Gopi Bhattar 

The new digital attendance machine installed at Nachiyar Koil seeks to keep a check on paid salaried priests constantly being away at events at other temples creating a shortage of archaka kainkaryaparas at their home temple especially on crowded days. 

EO Prabhakaran has this week sent a letter to the archakas on the mandatory requirement to digitally record their presence at least once a day. He has said that failure to record the attendance would accordingly reflect in the salary records at the end of the month.

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே

This is a big step initiated at the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam, a temple now popular for the two Kal Garuda Sevai every year and for the Prarthana Pooja every Thursday for Garuda.

EO Prabhakaran has received informal feedback from devotees on the lack of attention from archakas arising out of absence of the main archakas like it happened on this Saturday when Prasanna Bhattar was the only salary paid archaka at the temple through the entire first half of the day.  He had to manage the devotees both at Garuda Sannidhi as well as Moolavar Sannidhi in addition to also taking caring of the daily Thiru Aradhana and other pooja processes as well as performing Thirumanjanam for Thirumangai Azhvaar on this Karthigai day. Of course he had a couple of outside archakas to support him after 9am.

Nachiyar Koil EO Prabhakaran 

Prabhakaran told this writer on Saturday that the ever increasing crowd especially on Thursdays and during the weekends is necessitating the addition of 1-2 more archakas to take care of the devotee darshan, for even one existing archaka going away puts pressure on the other two.

The EO is hopeful that with the installation of the digital attendance system, there will be an ‘automated’ check on the presence and absence of archakas and this will help the temple authorities to explore the need for adding archakas at the temple, the first Vaishnavite Madam koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan after he had built 70 such Saivite temples. 

முருகிலங்கு கனிதுவர்வாய் பின்னை கேள்வன் மன்னெல்லாம்  முன்னவியச்சென்று 

வென்றிச் செருக்கழுத்துத் ததிறலழிய செற்ற வேந்தன் சிறந்துணிந்தான் திருவடினும் சென்னிவைப்பீர் 

இருக்கிலங்கு திருமொழி வாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில் மாட எழுபதும் செய்து உலகமாண்ட 

திருகுலத்து வளச்சோழன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் திரு நறையூர் மணி மாட சேர்மின்களே 

Well over a decade ago, at another Nambi Divya Desam, this one in the Pandya region at Thiru Kurungudi, when one of the staffers of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt that administers the temple kept going out of the temple by posting a substitute in his place, the head of the Mutt removed him from service pointing out that if for 90% of the days the existing staffer posts a substitute, the Mutt can as well use the service of the substitute full time at the temple. The sacked staff has not been able to make it back to the temple!!!

For the moment it is a bold initiative on the part of EO Prabhakaran to implement this digital attendance system at this Divya Desam. One will have to wait and watch as to how this impacts the presence of archakas.

While there is action on this front in temples where archakas are paid monthly salary by HRCE, this digital attendance system cannot be implemented in temples where they continue to follow the hereditary non salary model.

This section will track the 'digital attendance' impact at Nachiyar Koil in the coming months.

Azhagar Koil Ambi Bhattar

An Engineering Dream shattered but a devotional transformation beckoned

This 58 year old Alankara Bhattar has gone on to become the Most Popular priest of Madurai

This section has featured many stories on how the scenario in TN temples had turned for the worse in the 1970s. It was no different at the Sundararaja Perumal Kallazhagar temple in Thiru Maliruncholai, one praised by multiple Azhvaars. While this family of priests had been carrying on the hereditary service for generations, this young boy just into his teens in the early 1980s was completely dejected with the way things had deteriorated in the temple space and how the devotees saw the priests of Azhagar Koil. This led him to focus on academics and he was keen to become an Engineer but his appa’s advise in the summer of 1985 transformed his outlook to life and he has for the last 35 years been performing the role of ‘Alankara Bhattar’ at this Divya Desam praised in exaggeration by Periyazhvaar as everything in 1000s - 1000s of lakes, streams and flower groves, Lord with a 1000 arms, 1000 shining crowns and One residing on a snake with 1000s of hoods. Here’s the story of Ambi Bhattar.

 

ஆயிரம் தோல் பரப்பி முடி ஆயிரம் மின்னிலக

ஆயிரம் பைந்தலைய அனந்தசயனன் ஆளும் மலை

 ஆயிர  மாருகளும் கணைகள் பல வாயிரமும்

ஆயிரம் பூம் பொழிலுமுடை மாலிருஞ் சோலையதே

Early Sporting interest

Sundara Narayana Bhattar popularly known as ‘Ambi’ Bhattar in temple circles in Madurai had his schooling at American College HSS. He was proficient in his academics and was also the leader of the Scouts. In those early years, he was also interested in football. His appa Paramaswami Bhattar was into the 26th generation of the hereditary archaka service at the Sundararaja Perumal Kallazhagar temple in Thiru Maliruncholai, on the Northern outskirts of Madurai.

His forefathers also performed archaka service at Adhi Jagannathan Perumal temple in Thiru Pullani, the Veera Azhagar Perumal temple in Manamadurai, the Sundararaja Perumal temple in Sivaganga and the Thallakulam temple in Madurai. The bleak scenario at TN temples led him to let go off the archaka service at Thiru Pullani, Manamadurai and Sivaganga. In the centuries gone by, his forefathers had been bestowed with huge tracts of land towards performing this Kainkaryam and thus they led a financially stable life. Paramaswamy Bhattar too was academically inclined and when his appa tried to keep him away from academics trying to lead him into temple service, he went to far away Gwalior for his graduation. Later he had a double MA and LLB degrees. 

Paramaswamy Bhattar was a renowned priest of the time and so graciously would he give away sambhavanai to those around him that he came to be called ‘Minor’ Bhattar. 

Challenging Phase growing up in the 1970s

Ambi grew up in challenging times for the temples in TN. As he moved into his teens and began absorbing more closely the happenings at Azhagar Koil, he was devastated by what he saw. 

On a Tuesday (June 9) morning when he handed over the Moolavar Sannidhi service to the other priest of the temple after having served over the previous 10 days, he recounted to this writer on what happened during his teenage years that put him away from temples for a brief period of time “My appa would bring back the Thaligai from the temple in the afternoon after his Kainkaryam. Much to my shock, I saw devotees passing sarcastic remarks about his tummy and how he was taking back the sacred food. The devotees would come to the temple to invoke the blessings of the Lord and my appa would perform archanai praying for their wellbeing. And yet, he would have to hear such remarks from passers-by. It was a phase when archakas in TN temples were disrespected on the back of the anti bhakthi movement.”

Comments such as these left strong early scars in the mind of the the teenaged Ambi. And that led him even more into the academic path.

The Transformational year - Summer of 1985

The year was 1985. Ambi had taken to the first group and completed his Class XII Boards that summer. The scars of people’s remarks about the Kainkaryam lay strongly entrenched in his mind and he was keen on becoming an Engineer and expressed this wish to his appa. An engineering seat was assured but before he took a final call, his appa made an appeal to him.

Expressing his grievances to his appa

His appa, Paramaswamy 'Minor' Bhattar was known to be vocal and strict but he also asked for the views of others including his children and would listen with intent. Frustrated at the way the life of this archaka’s son had gone in the schooling years, Ambi expressed himself vehemently on one such occasion. 

A most popular priest now, Ambi Bhattar recalls that conversation with his appa well over four decades ago even as scores of devotees wish him on this Tuesday morning on their way to the temple for darshan, an indication of the huge network he has built during his service at this temple. 

“In those decades, new dresses were bought only on select occasions and only one dress at that. On Deepavali day and on my birthday, my appa never saw me wear the new dress for he went away to the temple before I could wear and by the time he came home tired after half a day of temple service, I was back into my old dress”, says Ambi Bhattar with a tinge of sadness on how he missed his appa during the big moments in his life.

The Chitrai Utsavam has grown into such popularity now that several lakhs visit Madurai during this festival. It was one of the biggest fests even at that time when he was a school boy and his family had three mandagapadis. “While the entire city was enjoying the utsavam, I was not a witness to all the different days of the fest including the Horse Vahana entry into the Vaigai, the Vandiyur trip following that and the Dasavatharam darshan, for my appa was on duty on those days and as a young boy, I could not be taken care of during those high profile days", I told my appa as a teenager, says Ambi Bhattar on the grievances he raised.

There was minimal thattu kaasu, embarrassing abuses from devotees about priests, no home functions with appa’s presence for he was always at temple kainkaryam. All these left him aggrieved and was vocal about becoming an Engineer and not wanting to take to ‘alankara’ Bhattar kainkaryam that his forefathers had performed for so many centuries.

Multiple Azhvaars praised Temple

Azhagar Koil is a Divya Desam praised by several Azhvaars in all its glory 1000s of years ago. In a much earlier praise in the Paripatal belonging to the Sangam period, Thiru Malirun Kunram finds a detailed praise (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2015/11/paripatal-maliruncholai-balarama.html). The most fascinating description of Thiru Maliruncholai in the Paripatal is of Balarama and the extent of worship dedicated to him in this region, the reference to his chest ornaments and the beautiful single ear pendent. The devotees who throng the roads to the hill are advised to worship the hill itself as it is seen as the seat of the God who removes all worries and destroys the sins of devotees.

Koodal Iyizhaittal – A historical game at Thiru Maliruncholai

Andal, in the Nachiyar Thirumozhi, provides insights into the astrological predictions referred to as Koodal Iyizhaithal. She presents to us a historical system that was in vogue during her time. In  Koodal Iyizhaithal, one looks at the set of lines to decide the fate of the lovers. She addresses the angel and asks if the omens are good for her to unite with her beloved.

அழகனார் அணியாச்சியர் சிந்தையுள் 

குழகனார் வரில்

கூடிட கூடலே

Historically shells were used in a game through one of the two processes – either by putting them together in small groups or by drawing a number of concentric circles and seeing them in twos. If the final result ended in even number, it was seen as a Good Omen and the wishes of the lover was said to be fulfilled. Koodal Iyizhaittal was a historical game played by young girls who were looking to be united with their beloved. By the end of the game based on the result, they get an indication on whether they would unite with their lover. This is a game of dots and lines drawn to see if the final formation ends in a good omen.

Andal invokes the blessings of the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai to ensure that the lines drawn will form the right concentric circles so it ends up in a good omen.

Answering the son's grievances

After having listened to all of his teenaged son’s grievances, appa Paramaswamy Bhattar patiently answered him one by one.

"There are crores of people in the state. Only a few are born as Vaishnavites. Among them, even fewer are Vaikanasa agama archakas. Unfortunately, the two born before you (sisters) cannot crossed the Kulasekara Padi. So, you are bestowed with the unique opportunity to be the one carrying our hereditary service into the future. I give you one day’s time for you to think through this. If you decide on becoming an Engineer and taking to that as your way of life, I would accept that but touching Sundararaja Perumal through your lifetime is a blessing that very few have", Paramaswamy Bhattar told his 17 year old son Ambi Sundara Narayanan in very polite and kind words.

Sundara Narayanan becomes 'Ambi' Bhattar

Within 24 hours, Ambi, the young teenager was transformed. From his much cherished dream of becoming an engineer, he had decided to turn into ‘Ambi Bhattar’. When he came back to his appa the next day to convey his decision on giving up the engineering seat that had come his way and to take to Bhattar Kainkaryam, little did he realise that decades later, he would become one of the most popular bhattars of this historic city and one who is identified as the Golden Horse Chitrai Utsavam Bhattar of Madurai.

He joined BA and began learning the Vaikanasa Agama from his Amma’s appa Ramaswamy Bhattar who performed Kainkaryam at Thuraiyur. Ambi Bhattar joined his appa in temple kainkaryam in 1991 after he married the daughter of the Dikshithar of Tirupathi.

1995 at Tirupathi - Vajra Kreedam

Exactly a decade after the decision to skip Engineering, he went to Tirupathi and anointed the Lord with Vajra Kreedam along with his Father in Law, who was the Chief Priest of the temple. He says that it was on that day that he realised the value of his appa’s advise in 1985 “The then President of the country Sankar Dayal Sharma visited the temple for Garuda Sevai and there I was placing the Kreedam on the Lord’s head before providing darshan to the President. Even the PM and the Prez of the country can only stand a few yards away whereas the archakas are blessed with the rights to touch and decorate the Divya Desam Lord.”

Golden Words - The Bhattar with the Golden Horse Vahana at the Chitrai Utsavam

And then back at Azhagar Koil, over the last couple of decades he has been the priest seen with Kallazhagar during the now globally renowned Chitrai Utsavam. Every time Ambi Bhattar is atop the Lord during the entry of the Golden Horse into the Vaigai, he remembers those Golden Words of his appa from 1985 “I had gone and complained to my appa as a school boy that I had not been able to have darshan even of our own Mandagapadis. Having taken to ‘alankara bhattar’ kainkaryam following his advise, I am now carried by 20 Sripatham Thangis and hold Sundararaja Perumal tightly every time they present a fast run. From the grievance of not having had darshan to being the one to touch and hold on to the Lord through the most popular festival of the year, it has been a blessed feeling and I have realised the value of those golden words of my appa only after experiencing the utsavam as the Bhattar of the Golden Horse Vahana procession.”

A Life Lesson - Handling devotees at crowded events

His appa’s public pulling him up three decades ago has remained entrenched in his memory every time he handles devotees. “During Kallazhagar’s trip to Vandiyur decades ago when I was still very young, I asked sambhavanai from a devotee who asked for flowers. My appa was a disciplinarian and was not lost on words when he saw his son go down the wrong path. He almost kicked me in front of everyone and gave me a stern warning on my conduct. He asked me if I paid and bought the flowers and that I should not transact with the flowers that were actually presented by the devotees themselves. That day, I promised to myself that it is my Bhattar duty to offer flowers to devotees irrespective of the sambhavanai they present. It was yet another great life lesson passed on by my appa to me and it has stood with me ever since over the last three decades.”

 

Ambi Bhattar's fav Utsavam - Noopura Gangai Thailakkappu

While the Chitrai Utsavam and Kallazhagar entering the Vaigai is seen as the most popular utsavam of Azhagar Koil, Ambi Bhattar’s favourite is the Thailakkappu utsavam in Aippasi when the Lord makes his way atop Thiru Maliruncholai to Noopura Gangai where the Bhattar anoints him with a sacred oil bath (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/11/azhagar-koil-noopura-ganga-aippasi.html). “It is a great feeling to be providing Perumal with this oil bath from the sacred waters flowing down at Noopura Gangai.”

Artha Jaama Pooja provides peace

He also finds great peace in performing the Kainkaryam during the Artha Jaama Poooja “It is the time of the day late in the evening when I invoke the blessing of the Lord asking for forgiveness for any wrongs done by him during the day. It is a quiet time and the Ekantham with Sundarara Raja Perumal provides me with great happiness and leads me to a peaceful sleep in the night.”

Ambi Bhattar has for long been the face of Azhagar Koil having built a great network with the devotees of Madurai. It is no wonder then that every devotee walking in to the temple wishes him and enquires about his wellbeing. Once again, he recalls the words of his appa from that early phase in his kainkaryam. “The devotees come for a one minute darshan carrying all their sadness with them. We will know their difficulty only if we stand in hours in the queue and then have a few seconds darshan in front of the moolavar Lord. Hence, always be kind and polite with them and help them have a good darshan” Ambi Bhattar told this writer on how he tries to conduct himself as an archaka.

Interestingly, and coincidentally at the time of writing of this story, Ambi Bhattar’s son, who has a MBA degree, has taken a big call to quit the corporate world where he was working in the IT sector. At 29, he too has decided to join his appa in Kainkaryam at Azhagar Koil much to Ambi Bhattar’s delight.

The Victory Hill - Kallazhagar answers devotee's prayers

Ambi Sundara Narayana Bhattar could have easily lost his Kainkaryam to the Engineering World had his appa not reasoned out to him the greatness of this Divya Desam service. From the time he was 17, he has not looked back once on the decision to skip his dream of becoming an Engineer for he has now realised all these years later as to how the feeling of being the ‘Alankara Bhattar’ at this Divya Desam praised by Periyazhvaar as the ‘Victory Hill’ is unmatched. Tears roll down Ambi Bhattar’s cheeks when he recounts yet again the blessed feeling of being the one holding on to Kallazhagar every time he enters the Vaigai with lakhs of devotees shouting out the name of the Lord and creating a great positive vibration. 

அலை வலைமை தவிர்த்த

அழகன் அலங்காரன் மலை

குல மலை கோல மலை

குளிர் மா மலை கொற்ற மலை

நில மலை நீண்ட மலை

திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலை யதே

At 58, after having performed the Kainkaryam at Azhagar Koil for three and a half decades, Ambi Bhattar has quite a physical issues born out of standing long including during the street processions but he continues to remain devotionally passionate about his favourite Sundararaja Perumal and says that just standing in front of the Lord takes one to a different world, one of unending bliss where he loses himself completely to the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai. Till the final moments of his life, he hopes to continue this hereditary Kainkaryam that his forefathers had been performing for over 25 generations. His son joining him in Kainkaryam is a big boost to Ambi Bhattar and he believes he will be able to continue to perform this Kainkaryam with renewed vigour.

Nathan Koil Jagannathan Perumal Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai

A Grand Alankaram, Wide Ranging Prasadam, Local Residents' Participation

The new archaka team at this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam named after Nandi is reviving the utsavams to its old grandeur

It is a Divya Desam par excellence as praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi, one where Nandi performed service. Built by the Pallava King Nandivarma, the Jagannathan perumal temple in Nathan koil is in the Shenbakaaranya Kshetram, which runs from here up to Mannargudi and was praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar as a location that has no equivalent. He praises this historic temple town as one where the distant beat of the festival drum sounds like monsoon clouds and the peacocks begin to dance in delight in the surrounding groves. 

தந்தை மனம் உந்து துயர் நந்த இருள்  வந்த விறல்

 நந்தன் மதலை 

எந்தை இவன் என்று அமரர் கந்த மலர் 

கொண்டு தோழ நின்ற நகர் தான் 

மந்த முழவோசை மழையாக ஏழுகார் 

மயில்கள் ஆடு பொழில் சூழ் 

நந்தி பணிசெய்த நகர் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே 

That was over a 1000 years ago. But for a long time over the last few decades, this Divya Desam on the southern outskirts of Kumbakonam near Korukkai had remained deserted with very few devotees visiting the temple while most of the other Divya Desams in this region had seen a turnaround. Finally with the arrival of a next gen priest, there seems to be a ray of hope and a revival in fortunes seems to be around the corner with his positive energy and a devotional determination to bring back devotees to the temple.

The young Raghavan Bhattar, along with his appa and brother, took charge of the Jagannathan Perumal temple a couple of years ago and has since been trying to revive the utsavams to some form of its old grandeur.

தீதறு நிலத்தொடு ஏரி காலினொடு 

நீர் கெழு விசும்பும் அவையாய் 

மாசறு மனத்தினொடு உறக்கமொடு இறக்கை

அவையாய பெருமான் 

தாய் செற உளைந்து  தயிர் உண்டு குடம் ஆடு  

தட மார்வர் தகை சேர் 

நாதன் உறைகின்ற நகர் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே 

Alankaram Expert from Nachiyar Koil

It is 3pm on Tuesday (June 2). Raghavan Bhattar has roped in Gopinathan Bhattar from Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam about 10 kms east of Nathan Koil for the alankaram of Jagannathan Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana. Historically, the priests of Nachiyar Koil had been performing archaka service at Nathan Koil but shortage of priests even at Thiru Naraiyar combined with an issue relating to an archaka brought an end to their archaka kainkarayam at Nandipura Vinnagaram a couple of decades ago.

                            Gopinathan Bhattar, Nachiyar Koil

Devotees thrilled at the alankaram

For over two hours, Gopi Bhattar does what he likes best. It is he who has been decorating Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda ahead of the now popular Kal Garuda Sevai at Thiru Naraiyur where he has been performing archaka service since the early 1990s. And when Raghavan Bhattar offered him the alankaram opportunity to present Jagannathan Perumal in a grand manner, Gopi Bhattar could not say no and he along with his Patshala going son, got down to minute details of the alankaram. After the completion of the alankaram, so satisfied was Gopi Bhattar with the decoration and the grandeur of the colourful silk vastrams on Garuda and Perumal that he could not take his eyes off Jagannathan Perumal but it was time for him to head back to Nachiyar Koil and he bid adieu to Raghavan Bhattar thanking him for this blessed opportunity.

New Lease of life for Nathan Koil

A couple of decades ago, Nathan Koil was in a sad state. Minimal devotees, dearth of kainkaryaparas led to a slowdown in utsavams. Multiple archakas had taken charge after the exit of those from Nachiyar Koil but not many survived the slowdown and frustration led by lack of devotees. But the temple has received a new lease of life under the leadership of Raghavan Bhattar who has been initiating activities that will drive devotees back to the temple.

பிறையின் ஒளி எயிறு இலக முறுகி எதிர் 

பொருதும் என வந்த அசுரர் 

இறைகள் அவை நெரு நெரு என வெறிய அவர் வயிறு அழல 

நின்ற பெருமான் 

சிறை கொள் மயில் குயில் பயில மலர்கள் உக அலி முரல 

அடிகொள் நெடு மா 

நறைசெய் பொழில் மழை தவழும் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே 

The Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi is one where he was keen for the alankaram to be grand and for wide ranging prasadams to be prepared and presented in large quantities. Past 6pm, devotees began to trickle in to have a first glance of Jagannathan Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana after the screen opened. Devotees were thrilled to see their perumal in such a grand alankaram decade with colourful tall flower garlands and glittering jewellery shining across his chest. To those coming in early, Kathamba rice was presented.

எண்ணில் நினைவு எய்தி இனி இல்லை

இறை என்று முனி யாளர் திருஆர்

பண்ணில் மலி கீதமொடு பாடி அவர்

ஆடலோடு கூட எழில் ஆர்

மண்ணில் இது போல நகர் இல்லை என

வானவர்கள் தாம் மலர்கள் தூய்

நண்ணி உறைகின்ற நகர் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே

While Raghavan Bhattar was overseeing the alankaram and the Yaaga Salai pooja, his 68 year old appa Lakshmi Narasimhan was delighting devotees at the Moolavar Sannidhi with his  loud and clear archanai explaining to them the special features of the presence of Nandi inside the Moolavar Perumal Sannidhi as a differentiator at this Divya Desam.

Legendary Tale of Nandi's service

Legend has it that Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva, wanted to meet Lord Vishnu at Vaikuntam and entered without securing the permission of the security guards (Dwarapalakas) of Vishnu. This angered the Dwarapaalakaas who cursed the Nandi.

Nandi looked up to Lord Shiva for solution, who wanted him to undertake penance at the place, which was South of Kumbakonam, North of Mannargudi, West of OppiliAppan (Vinnagar) and East of Srirangam, one where Goddess Lakshmi herself had undertaken penance previously.

Accordingly, Nandi undertook penance here to seek atonement for insulting the Dwarapaalakaas. Pleased with the prayers, Vishnu appeared before him. Nandi requested Lord Vishnu that this place be named after him and as can be seen from the verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, this place came to be known as Nandipura Vinnagaram. An image of Nandi can be seen on the south wall inside the Sanctum just next to the Moolavar.

Committed Prabhandham members

It was a very hot day in Kumbakonam and as a relief to the Kainkaryaparas there were thick clouds above but it also left Raghavan Bhattar a bit worried about the possibility of the rain that could potentially play spoilsport to the much awaited Garuda Vahana procession.The Kainkaryaparas presented Kattiyam and the Prabhandham members who had begun the fourth canto to Namazhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi earlier in the evening presented the satru murai verses on the Lord of Thiru Kurugur. 

தம்பியொடு தாம் ஒருவர் தம் துணைவி காதல்

துணையாக முன நாள்

வெம்பி எரி கானகம் உலாவும் அவர்

தாம் இனிது மேவும் நகர் தான்

கொம்பு குதி கொண்டு குயில் கூவ மயில் ஆலும்

எழில் ஆர் புறவு சேர்

நம்பி உறைகின்ற நகர் நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே

The Agent of the Vanamamalai Mutt that administers the trust arrived as did the Ubayadarars of the day. Following the mariyathai and sundal and puliyotharai prasadam distribution, it was time for the procession to start.

Archaka Kainkaryam at 70!!

70 year old Kothandaraman Bhattar takes care of the Thayar Sannidhi at the temple and he is the one accompanying Perumal on the Garuda Vahana Procession presenting Deeparathanai at every stop and handing back flowers with blessings to every resident of Nathan Koil.

An excited Sripatham team

The sripatham are all local residents including many young boys. As seen at the Jagarathrakshagan Perumal temple in Thiru Koodalur last week, they are all excited to be the ones accompanying Jagannathan Perumal on this Garuda Vahana procession. . There is a buzz around the streets of Nathan Koil that is otherwise missing all through the year. The Prabhandham Members beginning the recital of the sixth canto of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi praising the Lord of Thiru Vinnagar. Being senior citizen members, they stay back at the temple to continue the recital while Perumal made his way on to the West street. 

உய்யும் வகை உண்டு சொன செய்யில் 

உலகு ஏழும் ஒழியாமை முன நாள் 

மெய்யின் அளவே அமுது செய்யவல 

ஐயன் அவன் மேவும் நகர் தான் 

மைய வரி வண்டு மது உண்டு 

கிளையோடு மலர் கிண்டி அதன்மேல் 

நைவளம் நவிற்று பொழில்  

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே

White Pulli Kolam filled streets

All the streets are dotted with beautifully laid out white pulli kolam and residents of every home come out with flowers, fruits and coconuts seeking the blessings of the Lord for the year ahead. On the North Sannidhi street, the residents are still financially backward and continue to live in hut houses while those in East and South streets bear resemblance to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s praise of mansions that seemed to touch the Moon. The clouds had scattered and the moon, two days after Pournami was shining bright. 

                                      Raghavan Bhattar

A satisfying evening for Raghavan Bhattar

Clock had almost ticked to 10pm when Perumal made his way back to the temple where the prabhandham members presented the ‘Om Namo Narayana’ satru murai verses on Nachiyar Koil, on an evening when Thiru Naraiyur’s Bhattar delighted the devotees with his alankaram. The sripatham boys have a satisfied look on their faces having performed this service while Raghavan Bhattar and his team are pleased to have got a bit of the grandeur back to the Brahmotsavam though the original inhabitants of Nandipura Vinnagaram are still missing. In remote Divya Desams such as these, the outstation devotees continue to give these utsavams a miss and it is through the individual efforts of Bhattars like Raghavan that the local residents get a flavour of historical utsavams as these. For these local residents around the four sacred streets, the Garuda Sevai during the Brahmotsavam is an important day in the year for they see a darshan of Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana as a great blessing to them that gives them the hope that the financial challenges will be overcome in the year ahead.

Late into the night after unmounting Jagannathan Perumal from the Garuda Vahana, Raghavan Bhattar heads back home with his appa and brother satisfied at the efforts of the evening having brought smiles in the faces of the devotees of Nandipura Vinnagaram.