Thiru Kurungudi Ramanuja Sannidhi

Maniam Ramanujam has been performing daily Thiru Aradhana and Thaligai Presentation at Emberumaanaar Sannidhi at Thiru Kurungudi for over two decades 

It is just past 6.30am on Sunday (Nov 1) morning. The Maniyakaarar of Azhagiya Nambi temple in Thiru Kurungudi, D. Ramanujam, is already on his way west of this Divya Desam to the historic location on the banks of Nambi River at the foot of the Mahendra Giri Parvatham. For over five decades, his family has been taking care of the Thiru Aradhana at the Ramanuja Sannidhi in this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Nam Azhvaar praised Divya Desam.

Decades of Selfless Service

His appa Deivanayakan had taken care of this Sannidhi at a time when it was in a dilapidated state and when very few devotees visited this Sannidhi. Tears start rolling down his cheeks when he recalls to this writer those financially challenging phase in his childhood “My appa would walk all the way from the Sannidhi street through the Thiruparkadal Nambi temple and I would carry rice and curd and go along with him early in the morning. He would cook Thaligai and present to Ramanuja, perform Thiru Aradhana and come back. It was with that Thaligai that I used to fill my stomach in my school days such was the financial scenario in the family.”

TVS' Venu restores the Ramanuja Sannidhi

Maniam Ramanujam credits TVS' Venu Srinivasan for the transformation at this Sannidhi. "During my appa's kainkaryam decades, this sannidhi was in a dilapidated state. It was Venu Srinivasan who took up the restoration work and transformed this sannidhi. Even more creditable is the fact that after the restoration, he was keen on the maintenance and has been providing provisions for every day Thaligai that has motivated me to continue this Kainkaryam that my appa had done for three decades."

Like he has in many other temples in this region, Venu Srinivasan has created a beautiful Nandavanam right around the complex growing traditional flowers as described by Periyaazhvaar in his verses. For Venu, the consecration that took place in March this year was one of the happiest moments of his life. Restoring multiple sannidhis that had been in dilapidated state and giving a facelift to the huge temple complex meant that his lifetime dream had been achieved (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-temple.html).

His appa was presented with one padi rice and oil for this Kainkaryam. Things have turned around now and carrying forward the service, Maniam Ramanujam is paid a fair sambhavanai both by the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt as well as by Venu Srinivasan.

The Sacred Rock in Thiru Kurungudi

The story goes that Ramanuja went to Thiru Ananthapuram to promote Vaishnavism in that region but was packed off by the Namboodaries who were a dominant force there.

Maniam Ramanujam points to the rock on the banks of Nambi River and narrates as to how Ramanuja landed up here "From Thiru Ananthapuram, he was lifted by Garuda and dropped off here west of Thiru Kurungudi. When he woke up, he called for Vaduka for he did not realise that his disciple was still in Thiru Ananthapuram. Lord Nambi answered his call and performed Kainkaryam to Ramanuja acting as his disciple Vaduka. In the Vaishnava Sampradaya, Acharya performs Kainkaryam at the feet of the Lord but here Nambi himself was performing Kainkaryam."

The huge rock on the banks of Nambi River with Thiruman and Ramanuja

Ramanuja had bath in the Nambi river, sat in the rock and placed Thiruman on his forehead. The balance as was his practice he presented to his Sishya- Nambi Lord in this case. Taking the sacred Tulasi, he asked his disciple to accompany him to have darshan of Lord Nambi. When he reached the flag post, his disciple was missing. When the Sannidhi opened for darshan, Ramanuja saw the wet remains on the forehead of the Lord and only then realised that Azhagiya Nambi himself had served as his disciple. The sacred rock where Ramanuja placed the Thiruman is referred to as Parivattapaarai as the Lord had taken Ramanuja’s Kashaya Vastram, washed it and hung it on the rock.

Doubles up as Madapalli Cook

Maniam Ramanujam doubles up as the Aradhakar as well as the cook at the madapalli. He continues to use the traditional firewood to boil the rice. Past 8am, he presents Dhadhyonam to Udayavar and then heads back to the Azhagiya Nambi temple. There arent any devotees this early in the morning but Ramanujam says that during the course of the day, after they have visited the Nambi Sannidhis, he takes the interested devotees both to the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi as well as here to the Ramanuja Sannidhi.

Just over a year ago, this section had featured a story on the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sannidhi which too Maniam Ramanujam has been taking care of.  In addition to discharging his duty as the Maniam of the Azhagiya Nambi temple, Ramanujam has been the guiding force behind both the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and this Ramanuja Sannidhi taking the visiting devotees to these two locations so they know its historical importance. He says it is a very satisfying experience to be here every morning to cook and present a Thaligai to Emberumaanar. 

Ramanujam had begun his life as a peanut seller in his teenage years in the 1970s and has transformed himself into a responsible Maniyakaarar at this historic Divya Desam. From literally no food days in his childhood, he now now feeds visiting devotees on all festive occasions. 

Kaisika Ekadasi on Nov 20

Just over a fortnight from now, he and his wife will be hosting several hundreds of devotees at their home on the Kaisika Ekadasi and Dwadasi days and treating the guests to traditional food. Last year, the couple had served food to over 300 devotees and even packed food for those who took to the early morning train after having darshan of Kaisika Natakam and Araiyar Sevai on the Kaisika Ekadasi night (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/kaisika-puranam-in-thirukurungudi.html). 

Maniam Ramanujam is looking to the Kaisika Ekadasi utsavam that falls on Friday November 20 this year. He has just painted his house after a couple of decades and also created more cots and beds so the devotees visiting the Kaisika Ekadasi utsavam could rest on the first floor of his house.

Contact Maniam Ramanujam@ 9360548252

Story on Kaisika Ekadasi: 

Kurungudi Thiru Mangai Azhvaar Sanndhi: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/06/thiru-kurungudi-thiru-mangai-azhvaar.html