Sundara Perumal Koil Papanasam Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar is back at the Sundara Perumal Koil after several decades but like he was in London, he has become a Museum artefact with the HRCE locking him inside the temple and taking away the keys with them    

Will the HRCE Minister direct his staff to unlock Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and also hand back the Perumal Utsava Idol to the Sannidhi where he belongs - Priest's salary remains unpaid for months

Thiru  Mangai Azhvaar is back at the Sundara Perumal Koil after several decades but soon after his return, the Vaishnavite Saint Poet who sung over a 1000 verses of praise finds himself inside the locker room without a pooja and a week old flower garland. Just 10kms east, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had dedicated an entire Prabhandham to the Lord of Thiru Kudanthai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html).

செல்வம் மல்கு தென் திருக்குடந்தை

அந்தணர் மந்திர மொழியுடன் வணங்க

ஆடு அரவு அமளியில் அறிதுயில்

அமர்ந்த பரம

ஜி

The newly appointed HRCE minister Ramesh made a big noise about securing the idol of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar that had been taken away to the overseas market long ago but a week after the idol made its way back to the temple with much fanfare and a procession around the streets of Sundara Perumal Koil, it lay idle inside the locker room at the temple with the keys taken away by the HRCE.

ஆளும் பணியும் அடியேனை கொண்டான் 

விண்ட நிசாசரனை 

தோளும் தலையும் துணிவெய்தச் 

சுடு வெம் சிலைவாய்ச் சரம் துறந்தான் 

வேலும் சேயும் அனையாரும் 

வேல்கணாரும் பயில் வீதி 

நாளும் விழவின் ஒலி ஓவா 

நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பியே 

Surely this cannot be the way the HRCE minister wants to treat an Azhvaar who went around temples of Tamil Nadu and outside to sing praise of Perumal in over 80 temples. During this week, the lone priest Aravamudhan has not been able to perform any pooja for the new entrant at the temple and he has not even been able to place a garland around the Azhvaar after the initial hype by the HRCE.

The huge posters in front of the temple make it seem that the new Government was instrumental in securing the idol back from London. Such credits they may take to showcase themselves in positive light but the HRCE minister should also ensure that proper treatment is meted out to the Azhvaar and at least a Thirumanjanam and Thaligai is performed every Karthigai on his monthly birthdays.

Perumal Utsavar too locked away in Kumbakonam

Interestingly, the utsava idol of Soundararaja Perumal too has been lying in safe custody in the lockers in a temple in Kumbakonam, over 10kms away from Sundara Perumal temple for the last many years with the young and enthusiastic priest invoking the blessings of the Moolavar Lord to secure the utsava idol too back into the temple so monthly utsavams can be organised at the temple. This will also help devotees come back to the temple in larger numbers.

                    2009 photo of Perumal utsavar inside the sannidhi

Just under two decades ago, this section had featured a story on the dilapidated state of the temple with the utsavams having long stopped and the consecration having been last performed in the first half of the previous century. The long standing priest who had served all alone passed away and the temple had been without a priest for a while. Way back in 2009, when this writer wrote the story on the temple, the photo records the presence of the utsavar but in the time that has passed by and post the consecration, the utsava idol has been taken to safe custody in Kumbakonam. 

The story goes that cursed by a rishi, Indra was struck with an illness. To relieve himself from the curse, he came here and undertook penance under the Vanni Tree in Sundara Perumal Koil. He was to donate pumpkins to Brahmins but when he could not find a Brahmin, it is believed that Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin and appeared here before Indra.

Later, Lord Vishnu provided darshan to Indra as Soundara Raja Perumal and relieved him of his curse. In a thanking gesture, Indra installed the idol of Soundara Rajan and built this temple. Sundara Raja Perumal is believed to be the Abhimana Lord for Pulla Bhoothangkudi Rama, Lord of Azhagar Koil and Oppiliappan. 

துறப்பேன் அல்லேன் இன்பம் துறவாது 

நின் உருவம் மறப்பேன் அல்லேன் என்றும் மறவாது 

யான் உலகில் பிறப்பேன் ஆக எண்ணேன் பிறவாமை பெற்றது 

நின் திறத்தேன் ஆதன்மையால் திருவிண்ணகரானே 

Now the young Aravamudhan Bhattar, who received Samasrayanam from Periya Nambi Acharya of Srirangam, has displayed great interest in reviving the utsavams that had once been integral to the temple activities but without the utsava idol his hands have been tied. His salary too has not been paid for months.

With the return of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, it had been hoped that there would be some action around the Azhvaar’s monthly birthday but by locking him up in a room the HRCE is sending out a message that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has only moved from a museum (in London) to another in the temple where he originally belonged.

It would be nice if the HRCE minister sends a direction to his staffers to unlock Thiru Mangai Azhvaar  and to organise poojas for him every month on his birthday on Karthigai. The minister should also direct his staff to hand back the utsava idol of Perumal to the temple so the priest can revive the utsavams at the temple. The electrical systems too are in a bad shape inside the temple and the HRCE should take a look at this aspect as well. The unpaid salary to the Bhattar is also a concern. At a time when there is a severe shortage of service personnel in temples, on the back of low salaries, HRCE's careless approach in not paying even the miniscule salary to the priest raises questions about the new ministry!!!

This section will track if the new HRCE minister takes positive action on this front.

Sundara perumal koil is 10kms West of Kumbakonam and 5kms East of Papanasam 

Thiru Mandangudi Thondaradipodi Giri Bhattar

From Selling Petrol to Archaka Kainkaryam

For over two decades, this priest hailing from Kandiyur has been performing archaka service for 18 days every month also doubling up as the madapalli cook

It is a quiet Tuesday (July 14) morning at the avathara sthalam of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar in Thiru Mandangudi, 1km west of Pullam Bhoothangudi Divya Desam. Giri Bhattar has been at the temple from 6am and over the first three hours there are hardly any devotees. This is a daily scenario that he has experienced over the last two decades that he has been at the temple. Two Divya Desams – Pullam Bhoothangudi and Thiru Athanur – are nearby almost at walking distance and yet devotees rarely make it to this historic temple town. Half a km to the south is the factory of Thiru Arooran Sugars. Neither the locals nor outstation devotees make it to this temple and for Giri Bhattar it is usually a long wait until a car applies the brake at the entrance of the temple making him sit up gleefully for he sees it as an opportunity to present the greatness of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and his devotional attachment with Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

பச்சை மா மலை போல் மேனி 

பவளவாய் கமலச் செங்கண்

அச்சுதா அமரர் ஏறே, 

ஆயர் தம் கொழுந்தே என்னும்

இச்சுவை தவிர யான் போய்

இந்திர லோகம் ஆளும்

அச்சுவை பெறினும் வேண்டேன்

அரங்க மா நகருளானே

On this Tuesday, there is one family that has made it way to this temple from Bangalore albeit as a mistaken identity. The lady at a fellow in a University in Bangalore is doing research on Araiyar Sevai and wanted to go to Pullam Bhoothangudi but on her way from Athanur she missed the Valvil Ramar Divya Desam and made her way to Thiru Mandangudi.

For over half an hour, Giri Bhattar took them to the Ranganathaswamy Sannidhi, then to Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and finally to Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi presenting the sacred verses of the Azhvaar and explaining them the significance of this historic temple town. There is not much of a thattu kaasu on offer but for Giri Bhattar it is the opportunity to describe the devotional greatness of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar to the devotees that gives him happiness.

The Thirumalai and Thiruppalli Yezhuchi verses have so touched these devotees from Bangalore that they recite alongside him in each of the sannidhis. Suddenly, Giri Bhattar is full of energy mingling with these new set of devotees from another state. He tells them as to why Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is seen with a flower basket much to their delight. Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is seen alongside Lords of two different Divya Desams - Tirupathi Balaji and Thiru Maaliruncholai Soundararajan Perumal and Giri Bhattar also narrates the reasoning behind that. The story goes that both of them had heard of some beautiful early morning songs in praise of Ranganatha and wanted to listen to Thondaradipodi Azhvaar’s Thirupalli Ezhuchi and are believed to have made a trip to Thiru Mandangudito be treated to those sweet ‘wake up’ verses of Thondaradipodi.

His forefathers had been associated with temples in their times but with the slowdown in the 2nd half of the previous century, this family moved away from temples into farming in Kandiyur near the Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal temple.

On this hot July morning, when the Cauvery water has still not reached Kandiyur for their farming operations to start, Giri Bhattar recalls to this writer as to how he made it to this unlikely location in Thiru Mandangudi. The financial scenario had not been great with farming largely dependent on the release of the Cauvery water and this led to the teenaged Giri quitting academics after Class X. His appa got him into retailing of Petrol and Diesel “It was a period when fuel was not available in the Thiruvayaru region and one had to go to Thanjavur to find a fuel station. We retailed petrol and diesel and that made good business. It was the way my life was headed when shortage of priests opened up an unlikely opportunity for me.

As has been the scenario in many remote temples in the state, there was an urgent need for a priest to take over at this avathara sthalam in Thiru Mandangudi. His relative who was the trustee at this temple approached him to join as an archaka and quite reluctantly he made his way to this temple town.

Till then, he had spent almost all his life in Thiru Kandiyur around the Hara Sabha Vimochana Perumal temple but suddenly he was thrown into a space that he had not experienced earlier. There was an opportunity presented to him to perform Kainkaryam in this avathara sthalam on Thondaradipodi Azhvaar. The financial return was just in three digits and that was not luring for him to make the switch but the opportunity of an Azhvaar Sthalam kainkaryam got him interested. 

Since then, just over two decades ago, he has performing archaka kainkaryam at this temple for 18 days every month staying alone in this remote location for more than half a month before returning to Kandiyur to be with his family.

Legendary Tale

Born in Thiru Mandangudi, Thondaradipodi Azhvaar (his original name was Vipra Narayanan) was lost in love for Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. Very early in his life, he moved from Thiru Mandangudi to Srirangam and mastered himself in Vedas. His devotion was so enduring that he thought of none but Ranganatha. This devotion meant that he decided to sing praise only of the Lord of Srirangam and of no other Lord. Dedicating his life to the service of Lord Ranganatha, he created a beautiful Nandavanam in Srirangam and with a basket in hand immersed himself in collecting flowers and making beautiful garlands for the Lord every day.

Having heard of the Lord accepting Thirumazhisai Azhvaar’s request to come out of the kingdom in Thiruvekka near Kanchipuram and provide a special Maaru Sayanam posture there on his return, and another special posture in Kumbakonam with his Uththana Sayanam as Aaravamuthan, Thondaradipodi was keen that he too be given a special darshan from his favourite Lord Ranganatha.

Ranganatha promised him to provide such a darshan but asked him to go to his birth place at Thiru Mandangudi. Unwillingly, he left Srirangam and reached Thiru Mandangudi. To his surprise, he saw Lord Rangantha waiting for him in a special and rare standing posture to provide darshan along with Sri and Bhoo devi.

As Lord Ranganatha surprised Thondaradi Podi Azhvaar with this special standing darshan at his very own birth place, he is referred to as ‘ Varam Tharum’ Perumal and is believed to accede to and grant the sincere prayers of the devotees who visit this temple at Thiru Mandangudi.

மனத்தில் ஓர் தூய்மை இல்லை 

வாயில் ஓர் இன்சொல் இல்லை 

சினத்தினால் செற்றம் நோக்கி 

தீவிளி விளிவன் வாளா 

புனத்துழாய் மாலையானே 

பொன்னி சூழ் திருவரங்கா 

எனக்கு இனிக் கதி என் சொல்லாய் 

என்னை ஆளுடைய கோவே 

20+ years later and with Giri Bhattar now into his 50s, the monthly salary remains abysmally low at Rs. 2000. This temple does not attract devotees like those in the heart of Kumbakonam and hence thattu kaasu is not in line with what priests get in temples in bigger towns. That’s not something Giri Bhattar has taken to heart for every time a new devotee enters the temple his eyes light up as he gets into the groove of presenting the sacred verses to them narrating the tale of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and creating a devotional bonding for them with this Azhvaar. 

Every morning and evening, in addition to the Thiru Aradhanam and taking care of devotee darshan, Giri Bhattar also doubles up as the cook in the madapalli preparing and presenting the sacred food.

The consecration event took place in late 2024 and the temple complex now wears a colourful fresh look, so different and bearing no resemblance to what it was 15 years ago when this writer featured a story on the temple. The Kettai day in Margazhi marking the birthday of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar is celebrated in a grand way with a Garuda Vahana procession around the streets of Thiru Mandangudi on that morning. Pavitrotsavam is another utsavam that is celebrated at this temple. 

It is almost close to noon and Giri Bhattar is back sitting in front of the sannidhi waiting to see if another devotee will arrive at the temple before the temple closes for the first half. He is just left in the company of the trustee who are present at the temple on this hot day to oversee some of the repair activities. Giri Bhattar also performs Thiru Aradhanam at their house following which he distributes the daily Thaligai to anyone present at the temple. 

கதிரவன் குணதிசைச் சிகரம் வந்து அணைந்தான் 

கனை இருள் அகன்றது காலை அம் பொழுதாய் 

மது விரிந்து ஒழுகின மா மலர் எல்லாம் 

வானவர் அரசர்கள் வந்து வந்து ஈண்டி 

எதிர்திசை நிறைந்தனர் இவரொடும் புகுந்த 

இருங் களிற்று ஈட்டமும் பிடியொடு முரசும் 

அதிர்தலில் அலைகடல் போன்றுளது எங்கும் 

அரங்கத்தம்மா பள்ளி எழுந்தருளாயே 

Like this verse of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar in Thirupalliezhuchi, he is hopeful that one day his financial darkness too would be dispelled. But till then, unmindful of the low salary, Giri Bhattar is looking to continue to enjoy this experience of donning the role of an archaka at this birth place of Thondaradipodi Azhvaar and being the one presenting the legendary tale of this Azhvaar to the devotees who make it to the temple every now and then. The presence of devotees revitalises his energy and he has narrated this devotional tale so many times over and over again to those who have made it to the temple. And the one to the devotee family from Bangalore this morning was another occasion that brought cheer to him as he saw it as yet another opportunity to narrate this temple's story and to get devotees excited towards Thondaradipodi Azhvaar.

While the low salary is a worry, Giri Bhattar has another way back in Kandiyur. The cauvery water has not yet been opened into the second week of July, a time when his family should have begun harvesting for the new season. That source of income too hangs in the balance!! 

Tailpiece: All those who for years have been hitting out at the HRCE on low salaries to priests should visit this temple Nd see the plight of the archaka, a temple where the private hereditary trustee pays the priest Rs. 2000 after almost 25 years of archaka service.

Thoothukudi Sankara Rameswaram Koil Shanmugham Gurukal

From Dindigul to Thoothukudi to continue hereditary archaka service

It is a Sunday morning and different sets of people are reaching out to 43 year old Shanmugha Sundara Bhattar, one of the only two priests at the centuries old Sankara Rameswaram Koil in Thoothukudi. His work load is quite high on most days. His relative, the only other official priest at the temple is at the moolavar sannidhi while he is making arrangements for the Abhisekam this morning. Devotees have brought the Abhisekam items and reach out to him to confirm its correctness. The support priests, most of them his relatives have arrived at the temple to help him on the morning both with the Abhisekam as well as managing the other sannidhis at the temple. While once upon a time, the priests at this temple performed as hereditary service passing on from generations, over the last five decades or so, this has become a HRCE appointed post. And hence, he has to go and sign the register first up in the morning!!! Like in many other temples in TN, the devotional wave is bringing in big crowd into this temple and the income has shot up in recent years. While the second half of the previous century had been challenging for Shanmugham Gurukal’s uncles who performed archaka service at this temple, things have turned around, financially, with the return of the devotees. And it has been an enjoyable 15 years for him as a full time priest with this reversal in fortunes, despite the high work pressure.

From Dindigul to Thoothukudi

Shanmugham Bhattar had his schooling in Dindigul where his appa has been performing archaka service at the Abirami temple. Into his late teens, he began learning the Saiva Agama and undertook that for five years. His uncle who had been performing archaka service at the Sankara Rameswaram temple was looking for a successor to take over the reigns from him, he reached out to Shanmugham Gurukal who agreed to move from Dindigul. For a few years from 2005, he performed service without salary and then officially joined the temple as a temporary archaka in 2009. Two years later, he received a permanent posting and has since been performing service here. His relatives support him both in daily service as well as the utsavams like during the Chitrai Brahmotsavam that is currently on at the temple.

Pandya Period Construction

The story goes that Kashyapa Muni installed the lingam while king Sankara Rama Pandya built the temple in its current form with his brothers Kulasekara Pandya and Parakrama Pandya having built the Sankaran Koil and Kasi Viswanathar Koil (Tenkasi) respectively. To the south of the Siva temple is the Vaikunta Natha Perumal temple.

Shanmugham Gurukal’s forefathers had worked at a sub Rs. 100 salary that later went up to Rs. 3000. He is pleased that while they had served in challenging times, their selfless Kainkaryam of many decades is now paying rich dividend with him now getting a monthly pay of Rs. 30000 given the rapid rise in the fortunes of the temple.  

Thiru Kalyana Utsavam in Aipasi, Kantha Sashti Utsavam and Margazhi Thiruvathirai all attract big devotee crowd at this temple as has the current Chitrai Brahmotsavam. As with most other temples, Kainkaryaparas are in short supply given the work load but that is something the current generation of priests have to live with for many in the previous generation have moved far away from temple service and even those undergoing Patshala Agama initiation are looking at outside events as a career as against full time archaka service in historic temples. For the moment, Shanmugha Sundara Bhattar is enjoying his role as the lead priest at this temple anchoring the daily pooja as well as the utsavams.

Thanthonimalai Kalyana Venkatramanaswamy Consecration

From being a deserted temple in the past, devotees have been thronging the temple in large numbers

Rs. 5 crores spent on Golden Vimana and renovation works leading to the Consecration event this Wednesday

When this section featured a story on Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy temple in Thanthonimalai just under 15 years ago, there was minimal crowd at the temple with devotees visiting the temple for specific Prarthana and on select days. The forefathers of hereditary priest Harish Bhattar, now 42 and with 15 days archaka service in a month, had performed service at the temple during challenging times when Thattu Kaasu was minimal. Given the dark decades from the second half of the previous century, he had taken to MBA in Trichy and was planning to get into the corporate space when his thatha was undergoing health challenges. His appa had passed away earlier. This family scenario led him to rethink his plans to join the corporate space and about two decades ago, he decided to join the temple and continue the hereditary service that his forefathers had been performing for six generations and more.

From no income at the temple, only local devotees and minimal thattu kaasu in the not too distant past, a devotional wave has struck the temple over the last decade culminating in a grand consecration this Wednesday (Jan 28) that saw a huge devotee crowd. The poojas that take place as per Vaikanasa Agama saw Gopinathan Bhattar come all the way from Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam ahead of the consecration to decorate the deities for the event (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html). The renovation works that started last year in Avani saw the Vimana turn Gold. The repair works, that also involved expanding the madapalli, were undertaken at a whopping cost of Rs. 5crores.

Maasi and Puratasi Brahmotsavams

Two Brahmotsavams every year - one in Maasi with Chariot procession on Magam and Theppam two days after and the other one in Puratasi with Chariot procession on Shravanam have also attracted devotee donor interest in a big way. The Chariot and temple tank too were refurbished as part of the consecration event ahead of the Theppam and Chariot procession in Maasi. Pavitrotsavam takes place in Avani. 

Street Processions

Srinivasa Perumal comes out on a procession and provides darshan on the occasion of Sankaranthi, Sri Jayanthi, Karthigai, Thai Ratha Sapthami and on the first day of Panguni and Chitrai. 

Daily Kalyan Utsavam and Thirumanjanam

Thiru Kalyana Utsavam is a special feature at this temple and takes place every evening between 4pm and 5.30pm. There is also a Thirumanjanam every day for the Moolavar.

Majestic Standing Posture of the Moolavar

The majestic 10feet Swayambu Moolavar Kalyana Venkatramanaswamy is seen in a West Facing Standing Posture with Mahalakshmi on his chest. There are over 15 specially carved sculptures inside the Sannidhi.

Piece of Rock falls at Thanthoni Malai

When a fight broke out between the Serpent King Adhisesha and the Wind God Vayu as to who was stronger and played a more important role, Lord Vishnu asked Adhisesha to hold on to the Tirumala Hills and Vayu to try and remove the hills from the clutches of the Serpent Lord. In the ensuing fight, one of the pieces of the rock fell at Thanthoni Malai with Perumal providing darshan here as Kalyana Venkatramana Swamy, says hereditary priest Harish Bhattar. Devotees have to climb 36 steps to reach the Sannidhi. As part of modern technology, there is also lift to reach the temple.

6Generations of Hereditary Archaka service

Harish Bhattar learned the Vaikanasa agama from his grandfather and father following which he has been performing service at this temple over the last two decades. He has service for 15 days every month at the Perumal Sannidhi and for the balance 15 days in the month he performs service at the Abaya Pradhana Ranganatha Perumal temple in Karur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/08/abhaya-pradhana-ranganatha-temple-karur.html). There are three other priests who perform service in the other fortnight every month. The madapalli too has traditionalists preparing the sacred food and presenting to Perumal.

He proudly says that his father and grandfather had performed service at this temple during a challenging phase when there were very few devotees but they focused on selfless service at the feet of Kalyana Venkatramana Perumal as a way of life and lived with great contentment. His grandfather had performed archaka service at this temple for over six decades. And he was an inspiration for him to continue this hereditary service.

He says that there has been a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of the temple since the previous consecration in 2014. On each of the Saturdays in Puratasi, the temple sees a devotee crowd of over 5000. This consecration too has found great support from devotee donors.

The temple, located 4kms from Karur on the Dindigul highway, is open from 6am-1pm and 4pm-8pm. 

Kozhikuthi Vaanamutti Perumal Varadaraja Bhattar

The 50 year old Bhattar anchors a grand revival of utsavams at this historic Chozha Period Temple

Devotees throng to have darshan of 'Athi Varadar'

Till the turn of the century, the now 50 year old Varadaraja Bhattar was spending time at Tiruvottiyur in North Madras alternating between archaka service in a local temple there and pursuing his astrological interests. And then a phone call from his ancestral temple town transformed his life.

Dilapidated state two decades ago

The historical 12th century AD Chozha Period Vaanamutti Perumal temple in Kozhi Kuthi, 5kms west of Mayiladuthurai had been in a dilapidated state in the second half of the previous century. Except for the tall standing Moolavar idol, most of the temple lay in a damaged condition. There was not much of an income at the temple for the salary to be paid to the then priest who had been taking care of the temple. All the utsavams had come to a halt. Only one time pooja was being performed every day. 

Chozha Period Inscriptions

There are three separate inscriptions inside the temple. One of the inscriptions refers to the process of liberation from Sani Dosham detailing the presentation of Anna Dhanam to 10Brahmins on 51 Saturdays. The process details having a head bath, presenting Nallennai in a bronze vessel with four vegetables and one green (Keerai) vegetable.

Relief from Skin Diseases

This temple is a Parikara Sthalam for liberation from Skin Diseases. Belief is that if one visits the temple, has bath at the Vishwa Pushkarani and offers his sincere prayers to Vaanamutti perumal, he will be relieved from any kind of skin disease.

The priest of the time decided to let go of his services and quit the temple. It was then that the services of Varadaraja Bhattar was sought. His forefathers had performed archaka service in the past and his appa was keen for him to return to the temple. 

It is Thai Amavasai and Varadaraja Bhattar is at the temple early on Sunday (Jan 18) morning to decorate Abaya Srinivasa Perumal, the utsava deity, atop the Hanumantha Vahana ahead of the street procession on this third day of the Thai Brahmotsavam. After anointing Perumal in the Ramar Thiru Kolam, he sat down to recall that phase when he took the call to return to Kozhukuthi “I had not visualised a life of temple service in this remote town but Vaanamutti Perumal decided otherwise. My appa was keen for me to continue the Vaikanasa Agama Kainkaryam and that led me to return to Kozhi kuthi.”

Restoration Exercise

The temple was being rebuilt from scratch and his first challenge was to rope in devotee donors to complete the construction of the temple. Except for the sanctum, there was work to be done everywhere. A Raja Gopuram was built at the Eastern entrance as was the flag post. A maha mandapam, madapalli and the outer walls too were newly constructed. The restoration exercise had taken a few years and the consecration was performed in 2007.

Having got the basic physical infrastructure of the temple in place, he went about reviving the utsavams. Three day Pavitrotsavam in Avani, five day Brahmotsavam in Thai, Inner Prakara procession on the occasion of Vijayadasami and Vaikunta Ekadasi and Thirumanjanam every Shravanam of the year were all revived. 

Varadaraja Bhattar went back to historical donors who had been contributing to some of these utsavams and checked their interest to be part of the revival. He also reached out to new devotee donors for the other utsavams. He built new vahanas for the street processions during the Brahmotsavam.  

Darshan of Athi Varadar

The Moolavar, a Mooligai Varna Kala idol, is seen in a gigantic 14 feet standing posture. Over the last two decades, the temple has seen a remarkable transformation. The revival and a new vibrancy was further driven by the renewed interest in Athi Varadar. “Those who could not make it to Kanchipuram came here to have darshan of the one of its Kind Athi Varadar” says Varadaraja Bhattar. 

In 2022, he performed another consecration following the laying of a Karungal Prakara and painting of the temple complex. 

Legendary Tale

King Nirmalan, who ruled the Kodagu hills, developed a certain skin disease with rashes all over his body. The king moved out of the kingdom to find a solution to his troubles. Narada Rishi took the form of a hunter, met the king and explained the sins of his previous births.  In one of his previous births, as a Brahmin, he had not performed the Pitru Karma and had hence developed the 'Go-Hathi' Dosham.

Narada directed the king to undertake penance at the foot of the Kodagu Hills.  Later, an invisible voice asked him to move from the foot of the hills to bathe along the banks of the Cauvery.

When he reached Moovalur, 2kms South of here, and had bath in the Cauvery, Lord Shiva provided darshan and asked him to go North and undertake penance to invoke the blessings of Lord Vishnu. As Shiva directed and showed the King the way to cleanse himself from his sins, the Lord at the temple in Moovalur is referred to as Maarga Sahaya Vazhikaattum Nathan.

When King Nirmalan continued his penance here, Pleased with his penance,   Lord Vishnu appeared before the king in a form of a fig tree and provided darshan from the middle of the tree on the Shravanam Amavasya day in Thai. The four leaves became the four hands of the Lord and another set of leaves turned into an umbrella with the root of the tree being the feet of the Lord.

With King Nirmalan touching the root of the tree - the feet of the Lord, the place to the East of where the temple is currently turned into a Vishwa Pushkarani, the sacred tank. After having bath here at the Pushkarani, he was liberated from Pitru Sabham and was relieved from his skin disease.

Having had darshan of Lord Vishnu and Mahalakshmi Thaayar, King Nirmalan became a rishi and undertook penance on the banks of the Cauvery. Staying here, Pippalla Maha Rishi composed a sloka on liberation from Sani Graha Dosham

Later he attained Moksham at this place. To this day, in memory of this event, one can see a mandapa of Pippalla Rishi.

The Name of this place

As he was also liberated from Kodi Hathi Dosham, this place came to be referred to as Kodi Hathi Paapa Vimochana puram which in course of time became Kozhi Kuthi, the name by which this place is referred to now.

Rejects lucrative overseas offers

Varadaraja Bhattar had learned the Vaikanasa Agama from Kaladi Bhattar in Tiruvottiyur as well as his appa at Kozhi Kuthi. There had been several lucrative overseas offers over the last two decades of his service at the Vaanamutti Perumal temple but Varadaraja Bhattar rejected it all “I did not return to Kozhu Kuthi for money. It was a Vaikanasa Agama temple and I wanted to continue the kainkaryam when no other priest was ready to take up service at this temple. Hence, I let go off the financial temptations and focused on how I could create an interest for devotees at this temple.”

Given the low salary on offer, the paricharakars and other service people who had been part of the temple in the past too have quit the temple and Varadaraja Bhattar is all alone at the temple doubling up as the priest and the cook at the madapalli. His elder son, who is completing his Class XII this year, has learnt the Vaikanasa Agama and pooja krama from him and supports him at the utsavams. He is particularly interested in decorating Perumal and pays attention to detail in his alankaram as was seen this morning ahead of the Hanumantha Vahana procession.

Thai Brahmotsavam - Hanumantha Vahana

By 11am, the homam for the morning is complete and Abhaya Srinivasa Perumal is ready for the procession around the four sacred streets of Kozhi Kuthi. The sripatham personnel have gathered in good numbers and they mount the perumal on to the wheeled tyres. Residents await in front of their homes with coconuts, fruits and flowers and they present it to Srinivasa Perumal. Varadaraja Bhattar’s two young sons don the role of the archakas during the procession and they present karpoora aarathi at each of these stop overs around the four streets. 

After an hour’s procession, Srinivasa Perumal is back at the eastern entrance where the sripatham personnel perform the Voiyali much to the delight of the devotees present on the occasion. They present another Voiyali inside the temple complex before the morning’s events come to a close. 

Varadaraja Bhattar has a wide variety of prasadams for the devotees, ubayadarars of the day and for the sripatham personnels and this is distributed to all of them.  There are happy set of faces all around something that did not seem possible a couple of decades ago when the temple had been in a dilapidated state. But Varadaraja Bhattar’s devotional commitment has led to a grand revival in this remote temple town. From the time, the only vastram for the Lord was torn and there was no oil or ghee to light the lamp, he says that there are silk vastrams for Perumal and he is decked with glittering jewellery during the utsavams. He is also happy that his two sons have shown early interest in Kainkaryam to Perumal. For the moment, his attention shifts back to his service ahead of the Yaanai Vahana procession and Maalai Matral event in the evening. 

It is thanks to those like Varadaraja Bhattar that temples in remote towns have survived the test of times.

Tail Piece

For a change, devotees did not pull out their phones on the opening of the screen for photo and video shots of Perumal atop the Hanumantha Vahana (Photo above) and each one of them was seen with folded hands invoking the blessings of Srinivasa Perumal.

The temple is open from 8am-12noon and 430pm-8pm. Contact  Varadaraja Bhattar @ 97872 13226

How to reach

From Mayavaram Bus Stand, drive on the Kumbakonam Highway, take a right at Moovalur (2kms from Railway station) and drive North 2kms to reach Vaanamutti Perumal temple in Kozhi Kuthi. Alternately, from Mayavaram take the Poompuhar- Kallanai road (North of Railway station) to take a right at Chozhapettai to reach Vaanamutti.  Auto from railway station to the temple will cost Rs. 180.

Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Next Gen Sundar Bhattar

This Young Vaikanasa Agama Priest is following in the footsteps of his father and great grand father committing to a lifetime archaka service at this historic temple for Kalinga Narthana

The Perumal temple at Oothukadu is a legendary and one of its kind temple dedicated exclusively to Kalinga Narthana, located just under 15kms from Kumbakonam off the Avoor – Melattur- Thittai Highway. It was here that Venkatakavi composed many of his memorable compositions.

Legendary Tale

Legend has it that this was once a Pushpa Vanam. Residing at the Kailasanatha temple in Aavoor, Nandini and Patti, the children of Kamadhenu, were providing milk to the Lord. Every morning, the two would also graze across to the nearby Oothukadu Village (2kms away) and collect flowers for the Lord from the Pushpa Vanam.

On one such occasion, the two little ones listened to Sage Narada’s narration of the story of Lord Krishna and his Kalinga Narthana. Hearing the story of the five year old (Child) Krishna taking on the poisonous asura snake (Kalinga) and performing the Kalinga Narthana, Nandini and Patti are said to have broken out into tears for the hardship and the onerous task imposed on the little boy Krishna.

Worried about her children, Kamadhenu approached Krishna at Vaikuntam seeking a solution to her children’s shocked state of mind. Responding to her request, Krishna appeared here at the Pushpa Vanam at Oothukadu and performed yet again, with ease, the Kalinga Narthana in front of a delighted Nandini and Patti thus convincing them that this was a child’s play for him.

Wanting all the devotees to enjoy this unique form of Krishna, Narada requested the Lord to be present here at Oothukadu as Kalinga Narthana. Narada is believed to have installed the idol of Krishna as Kalinga Narthana with Nandini and Patti standing on either side of the Lord in front of him and referred to this place as ‘Then Gokulam’.

Dark Years

In the 1990s, when Jayaraman Bhattar took charge as the archaka of this historic temple at a monthly salary of Rs. 37, it was in a terrible state. He recounts to this writer on his early experience at such an historic temple “There were no devotees at the temple, no thattu kaasu and no salary to the priest in the 1980s and the early 90s. Multiple priests had come and gone. My Thatha had performed Thiru Aradhanam at this temple before the temple turned for the worse in the 2nd half of the previous century. The outgoing priests were keen for me to take up the archaka service but I was hesitant given the state of the temple at that time.”

Jayaraman Bhattar had been working in the corporate space for a few years when a Kainkaryam message from his appa was to transform his life towards devotional service at the feet of Kalinga Narthanar, for ever.

Perform Archaka Service, Not my final rites!!!

“The scenario at the temple was bleak and it had been locked for a few months with no archaka forthcoming to perform service. When my appa heard this news, he asked me to quit my job and take up archaka service at Oothukadu. I repeatedly refused citing the poor financial scenario at the temple and the lack of devotees.”

“Finally he came up to me and said that Kalinga Narthana Perumal had fed the family for several decades through the service of his appa. And that it was okay even if I did not perform his final rites but that I should take up a lifetime of Kainkaryam at the Oothukadu Perumal temple. He said that I could forego anything in this life but not the Kainkaryam to Kalinga Narthanar.”

Unique Posture of the Lord

An interesting feature at this temple is the posture of Kalinga Narthana - his left leg is seen on top of the Asura Snake but not touching the snake. His left thumb alone is holding the tail of the snake with none of his other four fingers in contact with the tail!! His right leg is seen above the ground in a dance posture. On a close look, one can find the scars on his leg below the knee, the result of his fight with Kalinga.

That message turned out to be transformational as Jayaraman Bhattar quit his job and joined the temple as an archaka at a monthly salary of Rs. 37!!! But as the Bhattar recalls, his appa made a futuristic financial commitment to him “He told me and my brother that if I take up this temple service during the dark years at the temple he would give me additional assets whenever his savings was split between my brother and me, sometime later in life.”

His appa passed away a couple of months ago at the age of 97 but as committed, he did provide an additional share to Jayaraman Bhattar for his selfless kainkaryam during the bleak period at the temple.

In that early phase, he also received a sambhavanai from the Venkatakavi Trust in Mylapore.

The great Venkata Kavi lived here

The Kalinga Narthana temple at Oothukadu has a significant connection with the music world. It was living here in Oothukadu that Venkata (Kavi) Subba Iyer composed many of his memorable and to-date unforgettable songs on Krishna including specific ones on Kalinga Narthana of Oothukadu.

Jayaraman Bhattar recounts the first day he entered the Sannidhi as an archaka just over three decades ago “There were cobwebs, rats and cockroaches inside the sanctum. There was no oil to light the lamp and I would light one ‘agal vilakku’ and use that to present at all sannidhis and then switch off so that I could use it again the next day. The vastrams of the deities were torn. The temple was dark after 6pm. And there were no devotees or thattu kaasu. Thirumanjanam had long stopped. And utsavams too.”

Luring Devotees Back 

All these saddened him and having taken the decision to perform the Kainkaryam, he took to reviving the temple. The madapalli was in a terrible state and he made ven Pongal from his house in Haridwara Mangalam and presented it to Perumal at Oothukaadu. He describes at the way he went about it “The most important aspect at that stage was to get devotees back into the temple. And I thought about how I could do that. I approached prominent astrologers across the state and requested them to direct their customers to this temple. I went to multiple cities in the state and met the owners of temple travel agencies and asked them to consider including Oothukadu in their Chozha temple trip schedule.”

He was buoyed by the fact that devotees actually went back and wrote postal letters as to how a wedding had taken place when it had earlier seemed unlikely and how there was childbirth in their house after sankalpa archanai at the Sannidhi. “Only then I realised the greatness of Kalinga Narthana and what a blessed state I was in to be performing Thiru Aradhanam at this temple” says Jayaraman Bhattar sitting at his house that he rebuilt last decade.

These two initiatives led devotees to visit the temple. When devotees reaped success from the sankalpa archanai, they spread the word to other devotees. And thus by the turn of the century, a regular stream of devotees began visiting the temple. It also coincided with the devotional wave that was striking TN temples.

For the visiting devotees, his wife cooked homely food and served lunch as this was a remote temple and there were no restaurants available in the near vicinity in those days. This friendly initiative too struck a chord with the devotees.

Getting Ubayadarars back - Revival of Utsavams

He then looked at the list of historical Ubayadarars who had been associated with the temple during his Thatha’s Kainkaryam days and tried to reach out to them. Many of them were now in high paying jobs and they expressed happiness to be reassociated with the temple.

Monthly Thirumanjanam began to become a regular feature. He then went about reviving the Krishna Jayanthi utsavam starting off on a small scale. Following this, he revived the Uriyadi utsavam bringing the local community together for the event.

During the dark years at Oothukadu and after seeing him perform kainkaryam at this temple, there were overseas archaka service offers for Jayaraman Bhattar but having committed to his appa to a lifetime service to Kalinga Narthanar, he rejected those lucrative offers.

In the initial phase of his temple kainkaryam, he would cycle 12 kms from Haridwara Mangalam, where his appa resided performing Kainkayaram in the Varadaraja Perumal temple there “In that period, when the cycle tyre punctured, I did not have money and paid the shop in instalments. Such were the financial challenges at that time.”

Massive Restoration Exercise

Having fully entrenched himself into the temple activity, he decided to take up the renovation work at the temple. The physical infrastructure at the temple had been poor for a long time and he began reaching out to devotees to contribute to the renovation exercise. And the ensuing consecration just over a decade ago saw a remarkable transformation of the temple with a beautiful Sannidhi for Venkatakavi, a stage for musicians and dancers to showcase their artistic skills, depicting Krishna’s legendary childhood tale in the form of painting around the Sannidhi (a story on this by this writer featured in The Hindu Friday Review at that time).

The Krishna Jayanthi Utsavam has now turned into a grand celebration with annadhanam for several hundreds of devotees. Every Rohini, there is a Thirumanjanam. The devotee numbers have shot up as well since the consecration. This margazhi devotees have come in good numbers early in the morning to recite Thiruppavai and for the Pongal from the now restored Madapalli.

Prarthana Sthalam

This temple is believed to be a Prarthana Sthalam for upcoming music and dance artistes. Kalinga Narthana is said to fulfill all their prayers and bring them success in their art. This is also believed to be a Prarthana Sthalam for the unmarried as well as childless couples. A visit to the Kalinga Narthana temple will liberate one from Rahu and Kethu doshams and Sarpa Dosham as well.

While Jayaraman Bhattar himself was a reluctant entrant into the temple in the early 1990s, having experienced Kalinga Narthanar, he was keen for his son to follow in his footsteps and moved him into the Madurantakam Patshala/Oriental school after his class V. And then for a brief period to the Dayananda Saraswathi Vaikanasa Agama patshala in Kudavasal. But the most important agama and life lessons came from his thatha as the now 32 year old Sundararaman Bhattar recounts “My thatha (Rajam Bhattar) was a Vaikasana agama expert and he was renowned for the way he performed consecrations in the traditional way. I was blessed to have been personally initiated into the agama by him through a Gurukulam model of learning. He knew the sastras inside out, believed, practiced and shared it with those following the Vaikanasa agamas.”

While he went out for consecration, Brahmotsavam, Pavitrotsavam and homam events over the last decade, he has now committed himself to being full time as an archaka at the Kalinga Narthana temple following in his appa’s and great grand father’s footsteps. There was money to be earned in those events outside but he has put those aside now to focus all his devotional energy on Kalinga Narthana even though his monthly salary is only Rs. 1000!!! Even that was possible only due to the efforts of the then EO Prabhakar, now at Nachiyar Koil.

His devotional attachment with Kalinga Narthana Perumal led him to go deep into the scriptures on Vyasa’s teachings and based on his research, he has now got into Pravachanam on the legendary tales of Radha and Krishna through his youtube channel – Krishnanandham.

Unfortunately, there is a lingering issue for those like him in remote temple towns, one that does not seem to have an immediate solution. Parents of prospective brides are not coming forward to hand their daughters to priests who are committing a lifetime service to historic remote temples. While his parents have cast their net wide, daughters of priests and even his own relatives are unwilling to take this positive step forward.

Sundar Bhattar is unmindful of this and says his focus is on performing Kainkaryam at the feet of Kalinga Narthanar all through his life. And that’s great commitment from a youngster at a time when those even in Divya Desams are heading Northwards into the corporate space and away from temples.

How to reach Oothukadu

Buses every half hour between Kumbakonam and Aavoor. The temple is about 2kms from Aavoor. Auto from Kumbakonam Railway Station/Bus stand costs Rs. 500.

The temple is open from 8am-1230pm and from 5pm-8pm.

Gopurapatti Adhi Nayaka Perumal temple HRCE takeover

The temple where Namperumal had resided during the Muslim Invasion has now been taken over by the HRCE after the Chief Priest of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple restores and performs two consecrations

Murali Bhattar, the Chief Priest of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam was saddened by the plight of Adhi Nayaka Perumal when he visited Gopurapatti just under a couple of decades ago. The temple was in ruins with the moolavar deity in a damaged condition. There were heavy bushes and snake pits inside the temple complex. The significance of Gopurapatti dates back to the Muslim Invasion of the 14th century when Namperumal stayed here before returning to Srirangam. 

He organised the restoration of the temple at a cost of around Rs. 1crore though the original plan was to organise repair works for around Rs. 20000. Just over a dozen years ago, the temple had been completely turned around with a restoration exercise anchored by Murali Bhattar. The temple complex wore a new look and this writer had featured a story in The Hindu Friday Review on the facelift the temple had received. 

He organised a priest for the initial phase as well as secured the services of a devotee donor for the maintenance of the temple. Vahanas too were built for processions to be revived.

In 2018, he roped in KS Abiraman of Manachanallur as the priest and he has been performing daily Thiru Aradhanam over the last 7 years and has been instrumental in the devotees coming back to the temple in good numbers especially during Puratasi and Margazhi. 

And recently, Murali Bhattar also organised a 2nd consecration and expressed happiness at not only having restored the temple from a dilapidated state but also at being able to perform consecration twice in the space of 12 years. 

The Villagers have been managing the temple activities and the utsavams collecting funds from donors since the restoration of the temple.

HRCE takeover

And now, the HR & CE has taken over the administration of the temple. They have placed a banner inside the temple to inform the devotees as to who will be administering the temple from now on. Murali Bhattar feels blessed that he has been able to play a role in the restoration of a historic temple where devotees continue to perform tharpanam on Aadi Amavasai for the forefathers who passed away in the Muslim Invasion.  But he says that he will be taking a back seat for now with the taking over of the temple by the HR & CE. Murali Bhattar had been paying the salary of the priest since the restoration and also been doing his bit for the maintenance of the temple and has been responsible for the complete makeover of the temple but with this takeover, one will have to wait and watch as to how things pan out at the  Adhi Nayaka Perumal temple in Gopurapatti.

Ayyur Varadaraja Perumal Revival 2025

Prabhandham and Vedic Recital every month at the once dilapidated temple near Tiruvarur

It is Thursday (November 20) morning and the sun has been beating down after a couple of days of heavy rain in the Tiruvarur region. The green fields around Katchanam are water logged. Yathulan (Srinivasan) Bhattar has made his way to the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Ayyur after riding over 20 kms from Rayanallur, where he serves as a priest, for presentation of Nalayira Divya Prabhandham and Desikar Prabhandham along with the Vedas. He is joined by two other priests from Srinivasa Perumal temple in Kottur and Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kadanthethi, near Thalai Gnayiru (the place where the idols of Vaduvur Ramar were found by the Thanjavur Prince). 

A twin turnaround

This day was remarkable on two counts. One, not so long ago the Ayyur temple was in a dilapidated state with bats and snakes being the sole inhabitants. The priest, Rajagopalan Iyengar, who passed away last year, aged 89, had been performing Thiru Aradhanam at the temple for many decades riding 8 kms in his cycle from Pinna Vasal (Mavur) though he did not receive any salary from the HRCE department, that administers the temple. His son Sowri Rajan Bhattar has been performing pooja over the last decade and more. In those dark days, each time he opened the lock of the Raja Gopuram, his first look was to see if there was a snake around for that had been the way he had been welcomed in the past. From a temple that had been in ruins, this has been a transformation of a rare kind for such a remote temple. Sowri Rajan Bhattar now performs Thirumanjanam every Hastham for Varadaraja Perumal presenting Thaligai that the villagers are grateful for.

The other is the parayanam initiative by Yathulan Bhattar, who after completing a decade of Vedic Education under Desikacharya and Govindan at the Vaduvur Patshala, has been taking care of the Varadaraja Perumal temple at Rayanallur(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/03/rayanallur-varadaraja-perumal-yathulan.html). Over the last 18 months, he has brought along a couple of other young priests from different remote temples around Thiruthuraipoondi to present parayanam in 7 remote temples in the region, every month without a break.

Devotees Dasarathi turns up and restores the temple out of nowhere

Following a story in this section in 2021 on the dilapidated state of the centuries old temple in Ayyur(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/pinna-vaasal-sowri-rajan-bhattar.html), Dasarathi, a devotee from Chennai, came forward to take up the restoration all on his own and within a year delighted the entire village with his rebuilding of the temple. He told this writer on Thursday that he had never visited any of these temples around Tiruvarur and had not even heard of these remote ancient temples prior to reading the story on the then sad plight of this temple and the once poverty stricken life of the priest and his family.

Dilapidated temple in 2021

It is now just over three years since the consecration of the temple and there is a certain vibrancy around the temple complex with the Vedic and Prabhandham recital every month. The Prabhandham members presented Koil Thiruvoimozhi, Ramanuja Nootranthathi, Adailakapathu and Pillayanthathi while Yathulan Bhattar sat all on his own for the Vedic recital. 

                                     New Look - November 2025

It is almost 1pm when they present the Satru Murai in front of Varadaraja Perumal. From no oil to even light the lamp, the Lord wore a handsome look with a beautiful big and colourful flower garland. On the days of the Parayanam, Yathulan Bhattar in addition to presenting the Prabhandham and Vedic verses also doubles up as the Madapalli cook preparing and presenting Kesari. 

A dark and neglected temple not so long ago, the villagers now visit the temple every day and are happy that they are even able to hear the Vedic sounds that reverberates around this small and remote village. Sowri Rajan Bhattar had made Ghee Pongal on this morning and distributes this along with the Kesari brought by Yathulan Bhattar. Two dogs serve as security guards at the temple and they too enjoy the Pongal and Kesari.

Yathulan and his team have to now ride back over 20 kms to their respective temples while Sowri Rajan Bhattar shuts the Sannidhi and heads back with a big smile pleased at the turnaround. It is just over a year since his appa passed away and every time Sowri Rajan Bhattar enters the temple, he remembers the decades when his appa so selfless cycled his way to the temple to perform Thiru Aradhanam. Devotee Dasarathi, one with a broad mind, felt that just restoring the dilapidated temple was not enough. He had read about Rajagopalan Bhattar’s had served for several decades when his family was in a state of poverty living in an old house in the Agraharam in Pinna Vasal, a house that too was in a dilapidated state. As part of his restoration initiative, in which he was already spending close to a crore towards the temple reconstruction, Dasarathi also rebuilt the Bhattar’s house from scratch much to the delight of Rajagopalan Bhattar. 

                               Devotee Dasarathi 

Sowri Rajan Bhattar told this writer that in his final days, his appa reiterated the message that sincere and committed Kainkaryam to Perumal will always be answered by him someday in life. And that the restoration of both the temple and his house was testimony to this. 

Tail Piece

While the Varadaraja Perumal has been restored, the villagers are hoping that someone would take up the restoration of the Krishnan Koil that has been in a dilapidated state for a few years now.

Sowri Rajan Bhattar performs daily Thiru Aradhanam there as well and he is confident that just like the Varadaraja Perumal temple, Krishnan Koil too would one day be restored to a time from the past and that there too the Vedic and Prabhandham recital would be heard sometime in the near future.

Ayyur is about 5kms south east of Katchanam and 15 kms North East of Thiruthuraipoondi.