HRCE Minister takes an unprecedented call to suspend an EO citing 'unclean' temple
New EO in temporary charge Prabhakaran turns around the temple complex within a few days
For over 25 years, a largely quiet set of temples during the weekdays would suddenly turn into a rush of activities once or twice a year. It almost always signified the likely arrival of industrialist Venu Srinivasan, the man behind the large scale restoration of Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam. The entire service personnel work round the clock to clean the temples leaving no dirt unturned, even in the most unlikeliest corner of the complex for they knew that he had the uncanny knack of spotting unclean zones in the temple. As devotees, there was always the prayer for him to visit more often so the temples looked spic and span through the year (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).
One would have expected such an exercise ahead of a HRCE minister’s visit as well. When S Ramesh the new minister of less than six months visited Kumbakonam for his first big meeting on the preparations for the 2028 Maha Magam, the EOs of temples in this temple town should have woken up from their slumber. Unfortunately, an EO in one temple in the heart of Kumbakonam did not and the carelessness led to an unprecedented suspension.
தக்கனது பெருவேள்வி தகர்த்தார் போலும்;
சந்திரனைக் கலைகவர்ந்து தரித்தார் போலும்;
செக்கர்ஒளி, பவளஒளி, மின்னின் சோதி, செழுஞ்சுடர்த்தீ,
ஞாயிறு,எனச் செய்யர் போலும்-
மிக்கதிறல் மறையவரால் விளங்கு வேள்வி
மிகுபுகைபோய் விண்பொழியக், கழனி எல்லாம்
கொக்குஇனிய கனிசிதறித் தேறல் பாயும்
குடந்தைக்கீழ்க் கோட்டத்துஎம் கூத்த னாரே- Appar
When minister Ramesh visited the Nageswaran temple last month, a temple praised by Appar, he was shocked to find the shambolic state it was in. The abhisekam water did not have a proper outflow that led to a severe stink in that area arising out of stagnation. There were thick bushes in the prakara. Overall the temple cleanliness standards that the HRCE minister would have expected at this historic temple was missing and he saw as being below par.
In the decades gone by, there have not been too many instances of suspension of HRCE EOs related to cleanliness of temples. But so dismayed was the minister that within 24 hours of his visit the EO was suspended and well over a fortnight later still remains in suspension.
And then what happened at the temple????
EO Prabhakaran restores the temple complex
This section has featured a few stories over the last year or so on the proactive initiatives of EO Prabhakaran of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam, now popular for the Kal Garuda Utsavam. From a massive restoration of the temple complex that saw the rebirth of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who sung a century of verses on the Nambi Lord of Thiru Naraiyur to process driven initiatives to manage the ever increasing crowd on the Kal Garuda Sevai evening, from restoring the Vasantha Mandapam and reviving the Vasantha Utsavam to giving a new lease of life to the dilapidated Thoppu South of the temple, EO Prabhakaran has been impressed the devotees with his administrative abilities (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/05/nachiyar-koil-srinivasa-perumal-thoppu.html).
He had accompanied the HRCE minister during his Kumbakonam visit and soon after the suspension of Nageswaran temple EO, Prabhakaran was handed the additional charge of this temple with an immediate task of undoing the damage caused to the temple brand. And as has been his differentiator, he turned around the temple complex in a matter of a few days removing the bushes, the rumbles inside the complex and creating a free flowing pathway for the abhisekam water to make its way out. The temple complex now bears no resemblance to what it was a month ago.
With Maha Magam just under 18 months away, the Nageswaran temple is due for Thiruppani. Prabhakaran who oversaw the largest restoration exercise in several decades at Nachiyar Koil could be the one undertaking the restoration work at the Nageswaran temple as well though for the moment he is only there for a temporary period taking charge in addition to his full time work at Nachiyar Koil.
Old timers to the temple recall the poorly lit complex in the century gone by. Unfortunately the temple continues to be dark with minimal lighting around the prakara. A look at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore would give one an indication of how well a temple complex can be illuminated.
The temple complex has some impressive historic architecture that dates back several centuries. The Nataraja Sabha aesthetics is as exquisite as the one seen at the Sarangapani temple just a few hundred yards away with horses and elephants pulling Nataraja. Sivakami Ambal plays the Thalam, Lord Vishnu the flute and Kaali is seen watching intensely Nataraja’s dance. The presence of Pralayakala Rudra is another feature at the temple. Nageswaran Swamy is one of the Lords to make the trip to the Maha Magam tank for the Maasi Utsavam.
On the outer temple walls of the Nageswara Swamy Sannidhi, the legend of Ramayana has been sculpted in stone.
Prabhakaran has been the EO at Nachiyar Koil for well over three years which means as per the HRCE practice he is due for a transfer. While he is currently on a short period assignment at the Nageswaran temple, it would serve the temple well if he is handed the full time engagement ahead of the Maha Magam Utsavam especially given that the Thiruppani works are slated to start soon.
But for now, the devotees of the temples count it as their blessing to have him oversee the activities in this phase and to improve the infra within the temple complex. The Navarathri is one of the important festivals in the year and that is just over 10 days away. Devotees are already looking forward to Periya Nayaki Ambal providing darshan in an improved lighting scenario during the utsavam. It is hoped that under EO Prabhakaran's supervision devotees will be able to experience a devotional Navarathri with illuminated lighting.
