Kumbakonam Ramaswamy Koil Navarathri Utsavam

Soundar Bhattar has revitalised devotee interest at the Ramaswamy Temple by restoring damaged dolls and creating a theme based Ramayana story each day of Navarathri

The Pandemic Phase led him to a creative idea of creating a new set of dolls sculpted by Lakshmana Sthapathi to tell the entire Ramayana story from Rama's birth to Pattabhisekam

Soundararaja Bhattar is easily one of the most-friendliest of Bhattars in the Kumbakonam region with his ever smiling welcome of the devotees and is ever amenable to their ideas. On Sunday (Oct 18) evening on the 8th day of the Navarathri Utsavam at the Ramaswamy temple in Thiru Kudanthai Hundreds of devotees were taken back to Lord Rama’s return trip from Lanka on the Pushpaka Vimana and the sumptuous meal Rama and his retinue had at the Baradwaja Ashrama. 

As the alankara mandapa opened for darshan at 6pm, the utsava deities of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were flanked by 16 dolls that told this story of Rama fulfilling his earlier promise to Baradwaja Rishi.

மைத்தரு மா மலர்குழலாய் வைதேவீ விண்ணப்பம் 

ஒத்த புகழ் வானரக்கோன் உடன் இருந்து நினைத் தேட 

அத்தகு சீர் அயோத்தியர்கோன் அடையாளம் இவைமொழிந்தான் 

இத் தகையால் அடையாளம் ஈது அவன் கைம் மோதிரமே -Periyaazhvaar

Hearing the devotee voice

When Kalyanaraman, an auditor-devotee from Kumbakonam suggested the idea of telling the Ramayana story during the utsavam a decade ago, Soundar Bhattar became excited. “Kalyanaraman’s appa was a disciple of Krishnapremi Anna and had performed 1000 Pattabhisekams. Kalyanaraman wanted me to present the Ramayana Alankaram so as to instil bhakthi among devotees through this story telling model”, Soundar Bhattar told this writer on Sunday evening at the Ramaswamy Koil.

          Soundar Bhattar 

Restored damaged dolls to devotees' delight

As he searched around the temple complex, he found 16 large sized wooden dolls in damaged condition. Soundar Bhattar restored these dolls and over the last decade as part of the Navarathri Utsavam he has converted these dolls into Ramayana artistes with one story theme presented on each day of the utsavam. 

கற்பார் இராம பிரானை எல்லாம் மற்றும் கற்பரோ 

புற்பா முதலாப் புல் எறும்பு ஆதி ஒன்று இன்றியே 

நற் பால் அயோத்தியில் வாழும் சராசரம் முற்றவும் 

நற் பாலுக்கு உய்த்தனன் நான்முகனார் பெற்ற நாட்டுளே - Namazhvaar

Baradwaja Rishi hosts Lord Rama

On this 8th day, the theme was the hosting of a meal by Baradwaja Rishi on Rama’s victorious return trip after defeating the Lankan King Rama. The story goes that Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stayed at Baradwaja Ashrama after being banished from Ayodhya. Baradwaja Rishi considered it a great blessing to host Rama and was keen to present a great meal but Rama rejected the offer as he had decided to consume only select food during the Vanavaas and promised the Rishi that he would definitely with his wish the next time he was there. 

Fulfilling that promise, Rama with the Vanaras and the new Lankan King landed at Baradwaja Ashrama from the Pushpaka Vimana much to the delight of the Rishi.  This episode of Rama consuming a meal at the Ashrama along with his retinue was captured through the creative depiction of the dolls much to the delight of the devotees. Also, in line with the theme of the day, wide ranging sweets were presented to Rama as was the wish of Baradwaja Rishi.

Through the evening, the young next gen Sathyavasan Bhattar briefed the devotees on the theme of the alankaram leaving them thrilled with the depiction.

சுற்றும் எல்லாம் பின் தொடர்ந்த தொல் கானம் அடைந்தவனே 

அற்றவர்கட்கு அருமருந்தே அயோத்தி நகர்க்கு அதிபதியே 

கற்றவர்கள் தாம் வாழும் கணபுரத்து என் கருமணியே 

சிற்றவைதன் சொற் கொண்ட சீராமா தாலேலோ - Kulasekara Azhvaar

When the Pandemic struck six years, activities slowed down at the temple. That phase got Soundar Bhattar thinking as to how more devotees could be attracted to this temple. That’s how he got to the idea of telling the entire Ramayana story in one zone inside the temple complex. 

Ramayana through sculpted dolls

When this story idea struck him, he immediately called upon Lakshmana Sthapathi and told him that he was keen to tell the Ramayana story during the Navarathri Utsavam. Soundar Bhattar told this writer that he gave the sthapathi an end to end story of the Ramayana sharing with him the detailed list of the kind of dolls he wanted to create in order to tell the legendary epic. “The Sthapathi would come up with a drawing and a sketch and I would make some corrections. He would then buy barrel of fibre and finish that set in one go. It took us 9 months to create a new set of dolls that narrates the story from the birth of Rama to his Pattabhisekam.”

Soundar Bhattar's alankaram

It's the first day of the Tula month on Sunday and Soundar Bhattar is at the Sarangapani Koil in the first half of the day for his kainkaryam there. After 1pm he is at ramaswamy koil to decorate Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. As the Kannadi arai opens at 6pm, the devotees not only get a snippet, through the restored dolls, of Baradwaja Rishi's great penchant for playing a host, but also Soundar Bhattar's attention to details wit his alankaram that touches their devotional hearts.

A special visitor on this evening was upanyasakar Dr. Venkatesh who enjoyed and experienced the day's theme as his eyes stayed glued to the beautiful thematic presentation of Soundar Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/09/dr-venkatesh-thiru-kudanthai-upanyasakar.html).

Soundar Bhattar is thrilled that this has captured the imagination of the devotees and he sees many parents narrating the Ramayana story to their children taking them through each doll and character in the Ramayana. On this Sunday evening, he points to that ‘story zone’ next to the alankara mandapam to show this writer the kind of devotee crowd that visits that area each evening of the utsavam.

While Soundar Bhattar vehemently opposes devotees taking their own photos along with the idol (selfies inside temples and during utsvams), he is excited at the outcome of how devotees have video captured this Ramayana story depicted through beautifully sculpted dolls and this creative idea at the Ramaswamy temple having gone viral across the world.

By the end of the evening, a number of children were seen talking about the fighting spirit of bird Jatayu who gave his life trying to rescue Sita from Ravana, Guha ferrying Rama, Sita and Lakshmana across the river on his boat, the defining friendship of Rama and Sugreeva, dutiful Hanuman carrying the entire Sanjeevani hill when he could not find the herb and finally the slaying of the ten head Ravana by Rama.

This Navarathri Utsavam shows as to how a highly devoted and committed Bhattar can draw devotees to the temple through a simple creative process. Soundar Bhattar converted the period of the sadness of the Pandemic into a creative phase that is now drawing devotees from across Kumbakonam specifically to the Ramaswami temple to watch the Ramayana ‘Theme of the Day’.

A story on Soundar Bhattar, Thiru Kudanthai: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html

Dasavathara Temple Srirangam Sudarshan Bhattar

From Coffee Manufacturing to Archaka Kainkaryam at the feet of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s favourite Narasimha idol

              Karthigai Procession - Sudarshan Bhattar is seen in the middle

It has been three years since Sudarshan Bhattar took over the mantle as the sole archaka at the Dasavathara temple in Srirangam, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar performed Thiru Aradhana for Lord Narasimha. In his five decads of praise on Srirangam, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has reserved a decad for the Dasavatharam Lords with a verse each for them in his Periya Thirmozhi. This phase following the Pandemic has been a most satisfying one for Sudarshan Bhattar with him being bestowed the responsibility of carrying out the year-long renovation works that concluded earlier this year at this Ahobila Mutt administered temple.

ஏனாகி உலகிடந்து அன்று இரு நிலனும் பெரு விசும்பும் 

தானாய பெருமானை தன் அடியார் மனத்தென்றும் 

தேனாகி அமுதாகித் திகழந்தானை 

மகிழ்ந்து ஒரு கால் 

ஆனாயன் ஆனானைக் கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே 

Electronics Engineering

With his appa Srinivasan working in the Defence sector in Bangalore, Sudarshan took to his early education at the Sainik School in the Cantonment area. After class X, he underwent a three year diploma course in electronics and telecom engineering and then pursued a two year pharmacology course. In that phase, he also learned the agama at the Sripuram Andavan Ashram in Bangalore under the mentorship of Vadugu Nambi.

Right from an early age borne out of disciplined education at Sainik School, Sudarshan was enterprising and energetic. Out of his teens, he set up a coffee manufacturing unit and ran it for a few years in Bangalore before he migrated to the Sannidhi street in Kanchipuram.

Enterprising Personality

On this Swathi morning in Puratasi, he was up at the temple early morning for Thiru Aradhana for Narasimha swami at the Dasavathara temple following which he told this writer as to how he shifted to Kanchi after spending the first 30 years of his life in a very cosmopolitan environment in Bangalore “My appa retired from defence service and was keen to move to a temple town. I was under the PM employment generation project and that meant I could move only within a 350 km radius and hence we chose Kanchi.”

At Kanchi, he continued the coffee manufacturing business for 8 years before having to shut shop following the Pandemic in 2020. He also encouraged and promoted women entrepreneurship organising micro finance for them and getting them to produce traditional food products.

Into Temple Kainkaryam

During that phase in Kanchi, he began performing full fledged Kainkaryam at the Vaikunta Nathan perumal Koil, a remotely located abhimana sthalam in Magaral, about 15 kms from Kanchi. He also performed Kainkaryam at the Parakala Mutt in Thoopul, Kanchi. 

வளர்ந்தவனைத் தடங் கடலுள் வலி உருவில் திரி சகடம் 

தளர்ந்துதிர உதைத்தவனை

தரியாது அன்று இரணியனைப் பிளந்தவனை 

பெரு நிலம் ஈர் அடி நீட்டிப் 

பண்டொருநாள் அளந்தவனை 

யான் கண்டது அணி நீர்த் தென் அரங்கத்தே 

He then founded a Trust (FEDSED) in an endeavour to convert semi skilled workers to skilled workers with support from the Central Government.  Over the next one year, he is hoping to launch a Vocational training institute in Srirangam (Trichy) to fulfil this dream of his. He says that it will serve as an incubation center, Train them on business and help prospective entrepreneurs set up a small scale business.

Oriental Coaching for Patshala Students

For the Vedic Patshala students, his dream is to provide oriental training to educate them on Science, Maths, Astrology and Astronomy. He says there is a Central Government thrust towards this and he wants to do his bit on this front as well. 

His aunt lived in Srirangam and during his childhood years he would often visit this legendary temple town. Those trips created an early liking for him for Srirangam and following the Pandemic he moved to the madapalli at the Ranganathaswamy temple. 

And then in 2023, came the opportunity at the Dasavathara Sannidhi. He told this writer that he considers it a great blessing to be performing Thiru Aradhana for Lord Narasimha, one for whom Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had performed.

தம் சினத்தைத் தவிர்த்து அடைந்தார் 

தவ நெறியை 

தரியாது அன்று உலகம் உண்டு உமிழ்ந்த கற்பகத்தை 

வெம் சினத்த கொடுந் தொழிலோன் 

விசை உருவை அசைவித்த 

அம்சிறை புள் பாகனை யான் கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே 

The walls of the Dasavathara Sannidhi, the Prakaras and the structure of the tower are an indication of the history of this temple. The rectangular shaped Vimana is special. Also, there are 10 Kalasam for the 10 Dasavathara Idols, another unique feature at this temple. In the 2nd tier below the Vimana, there is a sculpture of Lakshmi Narasimha as well as an Oonjal Chain- an indication that there may have been an Oonjal Utsavam at this temple. Beginning Kaisika Ekadasi, there are five festive days in the Karthigai month. On the Thiru Karthigai day, the Lord is taken on a procession around the 8 streets- 4 Chitra streets and 4 Uthara streets.

Since his arrival at the Dasavaratha temple, he has created a two kaala full fledged Thaligai and a sumptuous Thathiyaaraathanai at least twice a month (Dwadashi). When it was time for Thirupanni works to start in 2024, the CEO of the Ahobila Mutt in Srirangam assigned Sudarshan Bhattar the entire responsibility to undertake the repair works that culminated in a grand consecration earlier this year. 

நீரழலாய் நெடுநிலனாய் நின்றானை 

அன்று அரக்கன் ஊர் அழலால் உண்டானை 

கண்டார் பின் காணாமே 

பேரழலாய் பெரு விசும்பாய் 

பின் மறையோர் மந்திரத்தின் 

ஆரழலால் உண்டானைக் 

கண்டது தென் அரங்கத்தே 

He says that him being the chosen one for the renovation works and taking on the mantle as the anchor person for the consecration event gave him a great bit of satisfaction. The devotee crowd has increased at the Dasavathara Temple this year following the consecration and there is a steady stream of devotees having darshan each day. He is quiet most of the time and goes about his Kainkaryam without attracting attention. Through his service, he has attracted a few devotees in Srirangam who are at the Dasavathara Sannidhi every morning to support him in every way possible. Over these three years, he has doubled up both as the archaka as well as the cook at the madapalli. The sacred food presented to the Lord has been at its peak at this temple reminding one of the decades gone by in temples in Tamil Nadu.

               Thiru Mangai Azhvaar on Karthigai

When he was manufacturing coffee 20 years ago and running a hugely successful business in Bangalore providing employment to several people, he may not have foreseen a phase when he would perform Kainkaryam in a legendary Thiru Mangai Azhvaar related Sannidhi. But its been a transformational phase with him being the sole Thiru Aradhaka at the Dasavathara Sannidhi in Srirangam. For the 45 year old Sudarshan Bhattar, it has been an enjoyable three years so far at Srirangam and he says that he will continue this Kainkaryam as long as possible and as long as the Ahobila Mutt wants him to. It had always been his appa’s dream to create an entrepreneurial culture in this country and he says that he will continue to work on the social development initiatives that he has embarked on.

Thenthiruperai Kannan Kainkaryapara Boost to Archakas

From TVS Motor Hosur to Thenthiruperai Kainkaryam

62 year old Kannan has returned to his ancestral location to perform Kainkaryam at the Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan Divya Desam 

The Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan Divya Desam in Thenthiruperai sports a new look following the consecration earlier this year. The Nandanam in the outer prakara has a never before look with beautiful plants that are now growing into tall trees. The Go Shala building in the South Prakara that was set to come up was stalled last year and Nikara Mugil Vannan, the utsava deity, actually went through the outer prakara after many decades during the consecration event (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/04/thenthiruperai-ananthu-bhattar.html).

While the physical infrastructure wears a refreshing look, there has been a positive addition to the Kainkaryapara team that could become a great source of strength in the future. Kannan joined erstwhile Ind (TVS) Suzuki (a motorcycle that was quite popular in the 1980s and 90s) in 1986 and worked at the Hosur Plant of Venu Srinivasan’s TVS Motor for 3 ½ decades in the Production, Planning and Control section.

Following his retirement, he chose to return his home town of Thenthiruperai where he had grown up to perform Kainkaryam at the Divya Desam. A Krishnaswamy had served at the temple for over a decade as an archaka supporting the anchor Ananthu Bhattar but when he decided to move to Kanchi following health issues, there was a shortage of service personnel at the temple.

It was then that Kannan offered his services to the temple and Ananthu Bhattar was delighted that an old timer of Thenthiruperai had come forward to contribute in some way. “I knew his father very well and had great regard for him. Hence, when Kannan Swamy offered to support, we were happy to make him an integral part of the Kainkaryapara team” Ananthu Bhattar told this writer on Thursday.

It was a morning when the grand daughter of K Ranganayaki made her way to the temple and presented a devotional song in front of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan. Exactly a decade ago, this section had featured a story on Ranganayaki, who passed away a few years ago,  and her childhood memories of Thenthiruperai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/thenthiruperai-divya-desam.html). She was a great devotee of the temple and would not miss a single day of darshan even in her old age such was her affection of the Lord of Thenthiruperai.

வெள்ளைச் சூரி சங்கொடு ஆழி ஏந்தி 

தாமரைக்கு கண்ணன் என் நெஞ்சினூடே 

புன்னைக் காடாகின்ற ஆற்றைக் காணீர் 

என் சொல்லிச் சொல்லுகேன் அன்னைமீர்காள் 

வெள்ளச் சுகம் அவன் வீற்றிருந்த 

வேத ஒலியும் விழா ஒலியும் 

பிள்ளைக குழா விளையாட்டு ஒலியும் ஆறாத் 

திருப்பேரெயில் சேர்வான் நானே - Thiruvoimozhi ( 7.3.1)

It is also a morning when the three year old son of Rahul Bhattar presents the Enganeyo paasuram on Thiru Kurungudi in front of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan. At 3, he recites Pallandu Paasuram in full and a few other verses too, an endorsement of great parenting creating that early devotional interest in the child. He is making a lot of noise inside the temple leading one to be reminded of the first verse of Nam Azhvaar on Thenthiruperai where he says that he could hear the playful tones of young children of Thenthiruperai. 

Rahul Bhattar - with his mentor Ananthu Bhattar

While the son is thus devotionally engaging himself, Rahul Bhattar explains the legendary posture of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan showing each part to the devotees much to their delight. A few minutes later, when a set of Telugu devotees arrive, Rahul Bhattar is just as fluent in his description of the Lord's majestic posture and handsome features. Such devotional presentation contributes to positive vibration inside the temple and creates a devotional mood among devotees to know more about the temple. 

Kannan was assigned the role of supporting Paricharaka Balaji and he has been carrying this out in recent times. After having reached the temple just after 7am and carrying out the early morning paricharaka service including presenting Tulasi, Theertham and Manjal to devotees who came in steady stream through the morning, Kannan told this writer that he did not visualise a period of Kainkaryam at this Divya Desam but when he returned to Thenthiruperai soon after his retirement in 2023-24 for the Adyayana Utsavam, a few days at the temple captivated his devotion and there has been no looking back since. “The satisfaction of the Kainkaryam alongside the selfless and highly devoted Ananthu Bhattar was unmatched and I found great peace of mind here.

Temple Audit - Cleanliness Aspects

As an extension of his Kainkaryam at Thenthiruperai, Venu Srinivasan assigned him on an audit engagement with the Nava Tirupathi temples as well as a few other temples that the industrialist has restored in TN. Kannan says that the audit of temples on metrics such as cleanliness of Sannidhi, prakara and Madapalli, among others, has led to a dramatic improvement in aesthetics of the temple and one finds the temples restored by Venu Srinivasan lot more cleaner than many other temples that he has visited.

காலம் பெற என்னைக் காட்டுமின்கள் 

காதல் கடலின் மிகப் பெரிதால் 

நீல முகில்வண்ணத்து எம் பெருமான் 

நிற்கும் முன்னே வந்து என் கைக்கும் எய்தான் 

ஞாலத்து அவன் வந்து வீற்றிருந்த 

நான்மறையாளரும் வேள்வி ஓவா 

கோலச் செந்நெற்கள் கவரி வீசும் 

கூடு புனல் திருப்பேரெயிற்கே 

Venu Srinivasan is now implementing the Japanese model of JH (an integral component of TPM in auto sector) in temples leading to higher standards of cleanliness in every corner of the temple. For example, there is now a lot more focus on storage of provisions inside the madapalli while in most temples one would find provisions kept in one place and not in air tight containers raising the question of health safety.

Kannan is particularly delighted that he has got an opportunity in the Thenthiruperai Divya Desam for he considers this the best among the Nava Tirupathi temples both in terms of archaka service as well as the upkeep of the temple premises.

What particularly touched Kannan was the fact that Venu Srinivasan came from nowhere to restore such remotely located temples and gave it a new lease of life. This has thrust a great responsibility on the Kainkaryaparas to take care of these temples that were once in dilapidated state and to make it a highly devotional experience for the devotees who visit the temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

As recent as the first Puratasi Saturday, Kannan suggested to Venu Srinivasan’s temple service team to build a fence near the Dwarapalakas at the Nigaril Mugil Vannan temple so the devotees thronging the temple on Saturdays don’t spill the Manjal on the walls and sculptures. He says that the TVS team immediately implemented this and the impact was seen on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays as there have been no spilling of Manjal on the sculptures.

For a few days every month, Kannan travels around the state to audit a few temples restored by Venu Srinivasan like Padai Veedu, Thiru Kurungudi and the temple at Hosur. And then he is back at Thenthiruperai for the rest of the month to support Ananthu Bhattar and his team.

நகரமும் நாடும் பிறவும் தேர்வேன் 

நாண் எனக்கு இல்லை தோழிமீர்காள் 

சிகர மணி நெடுமாடம் நீடு 

தென் திருப்பேரெயில் வீற்றிருந்த 

மகர நெடுங்குழைக் காதன் மாயன் 

நூற்றுவரை அன்று மங்கா நூற்று 

நிகரில் முகில் வண்ணன் நேமியான் 

என் நெஞ்சம் கவர்ந்து எனை ஊழியானே 

His wife has been a great pillar of strength and support in his transformation from a corporate worker of four decades to a temple Kainkaryapara in a Divya Desam. Kannan is clear that service at the feet of Makara Nedung Kuzhai Kaathan at Thenthiruperai is where his future is and he is gearing himself for a full fledged active every day role in the future supporting Ananthu and the young Rahul Bhattar. 

While devotee donors have been coming forward with financial contributions in recent years, the remote temples have been feeling the pinch of shortage of service personnel. Those like Kannan returning to their ancestral locations serves as a big boost to the archaka team for whom a highly devoted Kainkaryapara adds great value in them carrying out their everyday activities.

Thiru Indhalur Parimala Ranganatha Next Gen Balaji Bhattar

This 24 year old underwent Agama training under Prasanna Dikshithar at Nangur Patshala and is now all set to take over the archaka mantle from his appa Sridhar Bhattar

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar threatened to give the Parimala Ranganatha temple in Thiru Indhalur a go by. Devotees have done so for a long time with minimal crowd witnessed here most of the weekdays. Two Bhattars who had been the face of the temple for a long time made their way out after suspension. During a lot of the lows, Sridhar Bhattar, now 57, struck a low profile staying in the background and performing Thiru Aradhanam at the Hanuman temple opposite the Parimala Ranganatha temple. The devotees saw him as donning a support role to the other two priests. 

ஆசை வழுவாதேத்தும் எமக்கு இங்கு இழுக்காய்த்து 

அடியோர்க்குத் தேசம் அறிய உமக்கே ஆளாய்த் திரிகின்றோமுக்கு 

காசின் ஒளியில் திகழும் வண்ணம் காட்டீர் எம் பெருமான் 

வாசி வல்லீர் இந்தளூரீரே வாழ்ந்தே போம் நீரே 

Pancha Ranga Kshetram

Appa Sridhar Bhattar is at the Moolavar Sannidhi on this Tuesday morning and to the steady string of devotees who are at the temple, he describes Parimala Ranganatha as being the final destination in the  list of Pancha Ranga Kshetram where the Lord is seen in a grand Veera Sayana Posture displaying his four hands with conch and chakra, a unique one for a sleeping lord.  The other Pancha Ranga Kshetrams are Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangapatna Ranganatha, Koviladi Appaala Ranganatha and Kumbakonam Madhya Rangam Sarangapani Koil.

                                         Appa Sridhar Bhattar

Since the time the two priests were suspended and with no signs of them returning to the temple, Sridhar Bhattar has been the face to the devotees in the last few years. He is at the temple every morning at 6am and stays there till well past noon and comes back in the evening and takes care of the devotees with great patience. 

For a major part of the last three decades, Sridhar Bhattar faced financial challenges but his great devotional commitment is finally paying dividend now for he has now become the face of the temple to the devotees at large. He has been anchoring the big utsavams in the last few years and also played an active part in getting devotee donors for the Thirupanni works ahead of the consecration that took place earlier this year.

எந்தை தந்தை தம்மான் என்றென்று

எமரேழ்  ஏழளவும்

வந்து நின்ற தொண்டரோர்க்கே வாசிவல்லீரால்

சிந்தை தன்னுள் முந்தி நிற்றீர்

சிறிதும் திருமேனி

இந்த வண்ணம் என்று காட்டீர் இந்தளூரீரே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

The good news for the temple is that his young son is keen to take forward the Archaka Kainkaryam at this Divya Desam following in the footsteps of the father. Balaji Bhattar has learned the Pancharatra Agama from Prasanna Dikshithar at the Nangur Patshala administered by Muralidhara Swamigal. 

Right from his school days, he would join his appa at the utsavams heading to the temple every evening. Over the last decade or so, he learned the art of alankaram from the one legged Srikanthan Bhattar of Sirupuliyur Divya Desam (about 15 kms from here). In that phase, he has performed Kainkaryam alongside the revered Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur, Ramudu Bhattar of Thiru Cherai as well as at the Nangur Divya Desams.

சொல்லாது ஒழியகில்லேன் அறிந்த சொல்லில்

நும்மடியார் எல்லோரோடும் ஓக்க எண்ணியிருந்தீர் அடியேனை

நல்லார் அறிவீர் தீயார் அறிவீர்

நமக்கு இவ்வுலகத்து எல்லாம் அறிவீர்

ஈதே அறியீர், இந்தளூரீரே

He has had some health issues of late and is currently in the process of recovering from that. He is clear in his mind that temple Kainkaryam is where his future is. His appa struggled financially for a period of time during Balaji Bhattar’s childhood and for several years played second fiddle to the other priests who were dominant at the temple but that hasn’t deterred him from wanting to continue the Divya Desam Kainkaryam though one is seeing a lot of the next gen making their way out of the temple space into the corporate world.

Parimala Rangan as Thiruvallikeni Parthasarathy in the Tula Utsavam

Chandran liberated from Brihaspati's curse

The legendary story goes that as part of a 3 fold parikara for casting his eyes on his preceptor's wife, Chandran undertook penance at Thiru Indhalur after bathing at the sacred Theertham. Answering his prayers, Lord appeared before him and agreed to liberate him from part of the sins. The story goes that Chandran went to Thalai Changa Naan Mathiyam, another Divya Desam about 15 East of Thiru Indhalur, where he was fully liberated from his curse and dosham.

The 24 year old Balaji Bhattar is excited at the prospect of picking up the Kainkaryam mantle from his appa and is confident of taking forward the Mirasu archaka service into the next phase at this legendary Divya Desam. He has a special liking for decorating the Lord and is hoping to present his favourite Parimala Ranganathar at his best in the upcoming Tula Utsavam that starts on November 8. For the moment, he heads back into the Sannidhi for the Uchi Kaala Pooja.

Parimala Rangan Perumal temple in Thiru Indhalur is located 2kms North of the Mayavaram bus stand on the Northern banks of Cauvery

Srirangam Ranganatha Temple Sannidhi Timings Issue

Perumal, Thayar, Chakkarathazhvaar and Dhanvatri Sannidhis are closed between 8am and 10am leaving outstation devotees helpless

Will the HRCE Minister Ramesh who has promised devotee friendly initiatives look into this and rework the darshan timings at the Srirangam Temple

It is less than 24 hours since the suspension of a staff of the HRCE for improper conduct with the devotees of the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam. It is just after 8.30am on this Sunday morning and a family of devotees from Coimbatore are frustrated and pointing fingers at each other for not having been able to have darshan in any of the Sannidhis as they now head to Thiruvanaikal in the hope of having darshan of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari.

So what’s the issue with the darshan timings at the Srirangam temple. This devotee writer has over the last one year brought this issue to the attention of JC Sivaram Kumar but he has pleaded helplessness. However good and professional he is in wanting to improve the service to the devotees, he has been rendered ‘weaponless’ with his inability to intrude into the internal Sannidhi affairs at the temple. He has made efforts over the last year to try and bring about some changes but the answer has been the same that HRCE cannot interfere in the ‘Ulthurai’ management of the temple and thus he has been kept at bay

                    Photo taken by this writer in 2008

The Perumal Sannidhi closes at 7.15am after the morning Vishroopam Sevai and reopens at 9.30am with Mangalaarathi but the non VIP devotees can begin to have darshan every day only from around 10am. The Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi closes at 8am and while mangalaarathi takes place at 9.45am, the darshan inside the Sannidhi for devotees starts only at around 10am. This is exactly the scenario at Chakkarathazhvaar and Dhanvantri Sannidhi as well.

Unfortunately, this devotee family from Coimbatore reached the temple just after 7.30am on this Sunday morning and found that the Ariya Bhattal Vaasal was closed after the early  morning Seva. By the time they walked to the Thayar Sannidhi, it was 8am and that too was closed. They tried Chakkarathazhvaar and the met with the same fate. Finally, they hoped to invoke the blessings of the God of Medicine, Dhanvantri, but that Sannidhi too was closed. 

Having travelled 250 kms to have darshan at Srirangam, they found just after 9am that they could not have darshan in any of the main Sannidhis. This is not an exception. This writer has brought to the attention of the JC multiple times this year that outstation devotees who reach the entrance of the Perumal Sannnidhi after 7.30am find themselves in a situation of not being able to have darshan till 10am there, at the Thayar Sannidhi, Chakkarathazhvaar or Dhanvantri Sannidhi and most of them break the heads not knowing what to do for the next two hours.

                       A helpless JC Sivaram Kumar

Absence of Timings Board in any Sannidhi

This writer has also brought to the attention of the JC that there are no timings board in any of the Sannidhis except the Perumal Sannidhi. One wonders as to why the HRCE cannot have a proper timings board in front of the Thayar Sannidhi or Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi instead of devotees having to keep asking people about the reopening of the Sannidhis. Why would the HRCE be so poor in its communication on this front. All outstation devotees having to ask others to get know of the timings of the Sannidhis is a deplorable state of affairs at this temple at a time when we are erring so much on over communication.

Since these sannidhis are closed for about 2 hours at the peak time in the morning when devotees typically have darshan in all temples in Tamil Nadu, the crowd builds up in each of the sannidhis at 9.30am and one finds long queues. There is also a scramble as to which Sannidhi they should go to at 9.30am since the main Sannidhis had been closed in the hour gone by. 

Unfortunately for the JC of the temple, every time he hopes to bring this issue with the concerned Kainkaryaparas, he is pushed back many a mile with the standard message ‘This is a historical tradition that cannot be changed now’.

A 1000 years ago, there would have been local residents as devotees for a major part. Now there are 1000s of outstation devotees reaching Srirangam in the morning. Those that reach the Perumal Sannidhi at 7.30am remain a frustrated lot for they miss darshan in all the main Sannidhis for the next 2.5hours.

It is a similar scenario in the evening as well when at the peak time for darshan these main sannidhis are closed from 5.30pm to around 7pm.

It is saddening to see the helpless state of the JC of the temple with his hands being tied resulting in his inability to be more devotee darshan friendly. When devotees raised issue on Saturday about the unfair treatment meted out to them by the HRCE staff, there was action taken immediately by the JC but on the issue of opening and closure of the sannidhis and hardship caused to outstation devotees, he has not been able to initiate any positive devotee friendly action. 

Nava Tirupathi-  a prime example 

At Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam, a set of 9 temples either side of tamaraibarani, following the massive restoration undertaken by TVS' Venu Srinivasan in the mid 1990s, the timings of the temples have been devised (revised) in such a way that devotees are able to have darshan of all temples by 3pm every day starting the day at 7am. Four of the nine temples are open through the day 9am to 5pm with a one hour break in the middle while the rest follow  a 7am-12noon schedule. And timings of all the temples are displayed prominently in each of these temples so the devotees are clear on how and when they should visit these temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

Will the new HRCE Minister S Ramesh who has repeatedly promised devotee friendly initiatives look into this, engage with the kainkaryaparas of the Srirangam temple and rework the Sannidhi timings so outstation devotees, who now throng the temple in large numbers, are able to have darshan at least in 2 of the main sannidhis at any point of time. Also, he should understand as to why Thayar Sannidhi or Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi should be closed for over 90 minutes in the morning and as to what happens in the Sannidhi during that period. If he personally visits the temple during this period, he will be able to better understand the issues of the devotees. 

Well past 9.15am on this Sunday morning, the devotee family from Coimbatore leave the Srirangam temple through the North Gate angry at the way the Ranganathaswamy temple functions and pointing out that they have not experienced such closure at peak morning time in any other temple in the state.

Sarangapani Koil Madapalli Srinivasan

From Ordinance Factory to Thaligai for Lord Aaravamudhan

This section had earlier featured a story on a person making the transition from working in late night shifts a manufacturing firm in Trichy  to carrying Namperumal on his shoulder. This story is of another person who worked in a manufacturing firm, again in Trichy to now preparing the sacred food for Lord Aaravamudhan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/11/srirangam-sripatham-chakrapani.html).

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே  - Thiruvoimozhi (5-8-1)

63 year old N Srinivasan has received a new lease of life years after his retirement from manufacturing defence equipment at the Ordinance factory in Trichy. Hailing from Kumbakonam, Srinivasan, who holds a diploma in Electrical Engineering, belonged to the phase when temples in TN witnessed a severe slowdown arising of the anti bhakthi movement of the 1970s. As was the case with many service personnel of the time, he too sought greener pastures elsewhere away from a life at the temple that was very close to his heart during his entire childhood and teenage years. 

He went into the manufacturing space and was involved in the manufacture of defence equipment. Over the last few years, he has been an integral part of the Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Sarangapani Koil. 

This section has featured stories on the issues that Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu are facing in terms of shortage of personnel at the Madapalli and the substantial lowering of Thaligai for Perumal. At the Sarangapani Koil, the man who was managing the Madapalli decided to head overseas leaving the temple in disarray and that’s when the services of Srinivasan was sought. 

An Unexpected Opportunity

Into his 60s, this was a completely unexpected invitation from the temple and he has grabbed it with both hands. He is at the madapalli preparing akkara vadisal and tells this writer that he considers a great blessing to be the one preparing the sacred food for Aaravamudha Perumal and presenting it each day over the last couple of months.

வாரா வருவாய் வரும் என் மாயா மாயா மூர்த்தியாய் 

ஆரா அமுதாய்  அடியேன் ஆவி அகமே தித்திப்பாய் 

தீரா வினைகள் தீர என்ன ஆண்டாய் திருக்குடந்தை 

ஊரா உனக்கு ஆள் பட்டும் அடியேன் இன்னம் உழல்வேனோ 

He is still in his early days at the madapalli but he has enjoyed every minute of it though he misses the recital of the Prabhandham during the utsavams including the just concluded Vedantha Desikar utsavam of which he had been an integral part in the last few years.

Prabhandham Ghoshti Srinivasan in far left - Desikar Utsavam 2021

Much to his surprise, he has already received positive feedback from the devotees and the locals have been enjoying the prasadam prepared by this new man at the madapalli.

Miniscule daily wages

As is the case at HRCE temples, the salary is miniscule and Srinivasan is working at a daily wage of Rs. 300. Even at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, the authorities are finding it difficult to find service personnel for the madapalli and there is a severe shortage there. While the financial part is frustrating, Srinivasan is enjoying the mantle of being the sole man in charge of every day Thaligai. It is a challenging task to be preparing multiple food at different times of the day ranging from Puliyotharai to Chakkara Pongal and Dhadhyonam to Kathamba Saatham but he is up for it and like his Prabhandham recital is doing this with great devotion.

குன்றா மது மலர்ச் சோலை வண்கொடிப் படப்பை

வரு புனல் பொன்னி மா மணி அலைக்கும்

செந்நெல் ஒண்  கழனித் திகழ் வனம் உடுத்த

கற்போர் புரிசைக் கனக மாளிகை

நிமிர் கொடி விசும்பில் இளம் பிறை துவக்கும்

செல்வம் மல்கு தென் திருக்குடந்தை

அந்தணர் மந்திர மொழியுடன் வணங்க- Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai

For a temple of its size and the round the year utsavams, having just one person at the madapalli is an indication of the current 'Kainkaryapara' scenario in historic temples and from that point of view having the 63 year old Srinivasan at this point of time at the madapalli away from his favourite prabhandham recital is indeed a boon for the temple. Devotees are hopeful that he will be in this for the long haul though the remuneration is abysmal considering the long hours of duty at the madapalli. He himself does not know what plans Aaravamudhan has for him but at the moment he considers this one of the greatest blessings of his life to be assigned the task of managing the madapalli all alone.

Nageswaran Temple Kumbakonam Restoration

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.