Tears after six decades of Kainkaryam
Started at a salary of less than Rs. 20 and retired six decades later at an unpaid monthly salary of Rs. 450!!!
After over six decades of unflinching selfless solo Bhattar Kainkaryam at a monthly salary that did not top Rs. 500 anytime in that phase, O.S Seshadri Bhattar has retired from service at the Moopanar administered Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kapisthalam at the age of 84. He started out at a monthly salary of Rs. 17 in the early 60s and ended up 60+ years later at a salary of Rs. 450!!! While devotees are constantly hitting out at the HRCE administration for their treatment of kainkaryaparas, this temple serves as an example of private administrators being no different in terms of treatment to archakas.
கூற்றமும் சாரா கொடுவினையும் சாரா
தீ மாற்றமும் சாரா
வகை அறிந்தேன்
ஆற்றங்கரை கிடக்கும் கண்ணன்
கடல் கிடக்கும் மாயன்
உரை கிடக்கும் உள்ளது எனக்கு
A highly respected Priest in the Kumbakonam region
In the second half of the previous century, Seshadri Bhattar was one of the most respected priests in the region for he had learned the Vedas and Agamas for a decade from the revered Oothukadu Sankara Ganapadigal at the renowned centuries old Raja Patshala in Kumbakonam. He wanted to become a teacher and that may have given him financial stability in his life but the sudden death of his appa meant that the responsibility of the Divya Desam service came to him at a very young age when he was still in his teens.
That decade, in the 1960s, he ran a Patshala in Kapisthalam, a temple on the Northern Banks of the Cauvery, teaching over 20 students and creating the next generation of agama experts. Most of his students have done financially well in their lives but very few have come to serve their Guru or help him financially in his tough times.
Shockingly at the time of his retirement, his salary remained unpaid for several years. All through his service phase, he remained quiet bearing the pain of inhuman treatment without ever raising his voice against the high profile political figures, performing the archaka service at this Divya Desam all alone.
Legendary temple
The story goes that Vishnu devotee Raja Indirajimnan would be so immersed in his prayers that he often forgot the world around him. On one such occasion, he incurred the wrath of Sage Durvasa known for his instant anger by continuing to be in his prayers and making the Sage wait outside. He was cursed thus - “The fact that you are a great devotee has made you arrogant and you have disrespected a Sage, who has come to meet you. May you turn into a mad elephant.”
Realising his folly, Indrajimnan begged for forgiveness. The Sage who is also know for showing sympathy agreed to reduce the impact of the curse stating that he would continue to be devoted to the Lord as ‘Elephant Gajendra’ and that he would one day be relieved of his curse by Vishnu himself.
Another story goes that Asura Guhu once playfully pulled the legs of Sage Agastya while he was having bath. Angered at this act, the Sage cursed him instantly turning the Asura into a Crocodile.
Vishnu, on his Garuda Vahana rescued Elephant (King) Gajendra from the clutches of the Crocodile (the Asura) on the banks of the river by hurling his Chakra at the crocodile and killing it. Thus the king was rid of his curse and attained Moksham. This Gajendra Moksham episode is enacted here every year in Panguni (March-April).
Severe Health Issues into his mid 80s
He had always taken happiness from the fact that he was blessed to be performing Kainkaryam in a Divya Desam with such a legendary tale. But the financial challenges and later on the physical state of his son took a heavy toll on him.
Following his retirement and being away from Gajendra Varadar, whom he had served so devotionally for decades, has led to a deterioration in Seshadri Bhattar’s health. He had spent almost his entire life at the feet of Gajendra Varadar and the feeling of not being able to serve him anymore has left him emotionally drained leading to health issues. He was bedridden for a few weeks and is just in the process of recovering.
This year, his medical expenses has mounted and the financial scenario at home does not allow for such a huge cash outflow. He continues to sleep on a decades old cot under a decades old fan.
His wife had been a pillar of strength during his troubled times backing him to continue the Kainkaryam despite the low salary but she too has become immobile of late, while his son is physically challenged (can’t hear or speak). There is not too much of support around with the temple administrators turning a blind eye to his financial troubles. For many decades, he was the most recognisable face at the temple but the administrators have had the least sympathy for his current state of life of someone who had single handedly managed the temple since the 1960s.
Since the time he quit his service, many archakas have come and gone with the stint of each being quite short lived. He has not entered the temple for months for he is not wanted anymore by the administrators
Way back in 1963, when he was just 21 years old, Thiru Kudanthai Andavan of Andavan Ashram conferred the title of ‘Mantra Mani' for his rendering of Vishnu Homam for 20 hours nonstop in Kumbakonam without a water or a toilet break. But financial rewards have eluded Seshadri Bhattar all through his life.
On this Monday afternoon, he has nothing left in him other than the tears that roll down his cheeks looking back at his six decades Divya Desam Kainkaryam. Outstation devotees who visit this temple continue to pay regards to him by visiting his home opposite the temple for he was the most recognisable face for so many decades and the one who was available to them any time of the day. His memory remains sharp and is able to recollect those glory days in his youth when there were sthaneegam, paricharakars and sthalathars at this temple but most of them left long ago and he has remained the sole kainkaryapara for decades.
Unmindful of the personal challenges in his life, his has been a life of complete dedication to Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal of Kapisthalam. Seshadri Bhattar had been one of the very few Octogenarian priests performing Kainkaryam in a Divya Desam in Tamil Nadu. With the private administrators looking the other way, the pain had become too unbearable for him to continue. He now spends most of his time at home on the decades old cot remembering the glory days of his Kainkaryam to Gajendra Varadar.
One hopes that sometime in the near future, GK Vasan and co would at least pay him the salary dues that have been pending for years. And may be for the selfless solo archaka kainkaryam of 60+ years, they can surprise him with a bonus that will sustain him and his family for the rest of his life!!!
Seshadri Bhattar can be reached on: 9585085619
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