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

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.

Sarangapani koil Desikar Utsavam Chariot Procession

On the 9th day of the Vedantha Desikar Utsavam, the Vadakalai Acharya provides darshan atop the chariot around the four big streets of Thiru Kudanthai

After spending the first half of the day at mangalasasam event in multiple temples and enjoying karunakarachariar's sadas, Vedantha Desikar of sarangapani koil provided darshan around the four big streets atop the chariot in the evening on this 9th day of the utsavam to celebrate his birthday in Puratasi.

This section featured a story last year on the mangalasasanam and the events of the first half of this special 9th day of the Vedantha Desikar Avathara Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai (story link below at the end of this story).

Desikar 9 temple Mangalasasanam in the morning

Sudarshan Bhattar is the archaka at the Desikar Sannidhi and he wears a tired look just after 7pm on Wednesday. It had been a long first half of the day in scorching heat with Vedantha Desikar going on a Mangalasasanam trip to multiple temples starting at 9am. Sudarshan Bhattar led the procession to 9 sannidhis including the Ramaswamy Temple, Chakrapani temple, Aathi Varaha Perumal, Ramanuja and then finally to Rajagopalan Sannidhi where Karunakarachariar was waiting for his acharya to arrive so he could start his annual one hour long Sadas in front of Vedantha Desikar.

Sudarshan Bhattar was keen for Desikar to stay put at Rajagopalan Sannidhi after the Sadas and for him to return in the evening after the heat subsided but the Sripatham personnel were keen to head back to the Sarangapani temple. It was past 2pm when Desikar made his way back to his abode at the eastern entrance.

The Prabhandham members arrived early on Wednesday evening for the presentation of the 9th canto of Tiruvoimozhi and Mummani Kovai and Navamani Maalai verses from the Desikar Prabhandham while Sudarshan Bhattar and his team got on to decorating their Acharya atop the Ther. Just past 7.30pm, Vedantha Desikar looks handsome in a grand decoration glittering with jewellery sporting a sacred look with the colourful flower garlands. The temple complex at the eastern entrance looks equally grand with colourful lighting and shamiana around the Desikar Sannidhi.

அந்தமில்சீர் அயிந்தைநகர் அமர்ந்த நாதன் 

அடியிணைமேல் அடி  உரையால் ஐம்பதேத்திச் 

சிந்தை கவர் பிராகிருதம் நூறு கூறிச் 

செந்தமிழ் மும்மணிக்கோவை செரியச் சேர்த்துப் 

பந்து கழல் அம்மானை ஊசல் ஏசல் 

பரவு நவமணிமாலை இவையும் சொன்னேன் 

முந்தை மறை மொழியை வழி மொழி நீ என்று 

முகுந்தன் அருள் தந்த பயன் பெற்றேன் நானே 

As mentioned in the 2024 and 2025 stories on the desikar utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil, it starts on Puratasi Shravanam and goes on for ten days. Unlike the mangalasasanam event last Tuesday at Devanatha Swamy temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram where the Vadakalayars gathered in large numbers to participate in the Mangalasasanam, it was a bit tepid at the Sarangapani temple. There were the locals who turned up for the start of the procession at 7.45pm with the prabhandham members presenting the Madal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/09/thiruvahindrapuram-desikar.html).

It was Sudarshan Bhattar once again who anchored the procession while the prabhandham members stayed back at the temple to continue their presentation inside the temple complex. A couple of the Vedic members followed their acharya reciting the Vedas through the one hour procession around the four big streets.

There were a couple of residents on the Sannidhi street who presented thattu but otherwise it was a quiet procession with Desikar making a rather lonely trip accompanied only by the loud horns from the moffusil buses making their way towards Thanjavur and Trichy. Near the Ramaswamy temple, the Amul shop, as has become a tradition now, offered juice to the Sripatham Personnel for their service and that led to a 10 minute stopover. 

It was a quiet procession through the Bazaar street and on to the TSR Big street it was only a few staffers from CUB’s headquarters who had darshan of Vedantha Desikar on their way back home. Near the tall Sarangapani Chariot, the local residents presented fruits that the Sripatham enjoyed at this 2nd stopover. By 8.45pm, Vedantha Desikar was back at the towering Eastern Raja Gopuram. In front of the dwajasthambam, the Prabhandham members presented Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Prabhandham on Thiru Kudanthai -Thiru Ezhu Kootrirukkai- composed in the form of a Chariot before Vedantha Desikar came down from the Chariot and made his back to his abode.

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

Patrachariar made an important final announcement to the Prabhandham members. It is Theerthavari day the next morning with Vedantha Desikar set to make his way to the Cauvery followed by a Thirumanjanam at the mandapam on the banks of the river. Patrachariar asked a few of the members to stay back at the temple on Thursday morning for the daily Thiruppavai presentation so the Thiruppavai Satru Murai can take place as soon as Desikar returned from the Theerthavari for it to be followed by the presentation of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Thiru Kurunthandagam and Thiru Nedunthandagam in front of Sarangapani Perumal. 

For Sudarshan Bhattar, it had been a long day with minimal rest. His sacred Thiruman had worn off by the end of the Chariot Procession and he headed back home for a well earned rest.

2024 story on Desikar Theerthavari day: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/10/sarangapani-koil-vedantha-desikar.html

2025 story on Desikar Mangalasasanam: https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/10/sarangapani-koil-vedantha-desikar.html

Sudarshan Bhattar : https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/sarangapani-koil-desikar-sannidhi-new.html

Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam Seshadri Kainkaryapara

After serving at Poundarikapuram Ashram for close to a decade and later helping Ahobila Mutt construct its branch in Thiru Nangur, this 84 year old Vannartrankarai resident is back at the Divya Desam where he spent his entire childhood enjoying the Brahmotsavams and the annual Vedantha Desikar utsavam

Octogenarian R Seshadri is back to where he had enjoyed his childhood in the early independence phase – with the majestic Veera Narasimha Perumal and Vedantha Desikar of Neelamegha Perumal Koil at the Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam at Vannartrankarai (Vannar Banks) on the Northern outskirts of Thanjavur.

It is the third day (Sept 15) of the Vedantha Desikar Avathara Utsavam at the Neelamegha Perumal Koil on the Southern Banks of Vannar and 84year old Seshadri is readying himself for the procession around the streets of Vannartrankarai that during his childhood was brimming with Vadakalaiyars. He looks back on the golden years at Vannartrankarai where he grew up amidst the Vedic and Prabhandham recital. He himself had learnt the slokams and stotras from Devanathachariar who was the Sanskrit pandit at Saraswathi Mahal. His appa Ranganathan was a Purohit in demand and the family was financially well off in those early years. 

எண்தள அம்புயத்துள் இலங்கும் அறுகோணமிசை 

வண்பணிலம் திகிரி வளைவில் வளைவாய் குசலம் 

திண்கையில் அங்குசம் சீர் திகழும் கதை செங்கமலம் 

எண்படை ஏந்தி நின்றான் எழிலாழி இறையவனே 

It is just past 6.30pm and close to ten Prabhandham members are reciting Paramatha Bhangam in front of the Vedantha Desikar Sannidhi at the Neelamegha Perumal temple. Paricharakar Sridhar who works at the madapalli at Veera Narisimha Perumal temple is an alankaram specialist and is the one who has decorated desikar on this third evening of the festival.

Vibrant Vedic and Prabhandham Ghoshti during his childhood

As Seshadri arrives at the Neelamegha Perumal temple for the start of the procession of Vedantha Desikar, there are happy tears in his eyes as he recollects the glorious phase from his childhood “It was my Periappa and appa who put together this festival a 100 years ago pooling together the Ubayadarars for the ten days of the festival and they were the ones who signed these off. There were at least 10 Vedic scholars and 20 Prabhandham members presenting the Parayanam during the Desikar Utsavam and there was positive vibration all around.”

எம்பிரான் எந்தை என்னுடை சுற்றம் 

எனக்கு அரசு என்னுடை வாழ்நாள் 

அம்பினால் அரக்கர் வெருக்கொள நெருக்கி 

அவர் உயிர் செகுத்த எம் அண்ணல் 

வம்புலாம் சோலை மா மதில் 

தஞ்சை மாமணிக்  கோயிலே வணங்கி 

நம்பிகாள் உய்ய நான் கண்டு கொண்டேன் 

நாராயணா என்னும் நாமம் 

As he walks alongside this writer at the start of the procession, he shows to this writer the huge tract of land between Manikundram Perumal temple and Neelamegha Perumal temple that his family had possessed way back in the 1940s and 50s. “We had quite a big house and all around the house was farm land. It was greenery all around the three temples. The South and North streets were full of Vaishnavites with Vadakalayars having a dominant presence. By the time I joined the Muncipal Corporation service in Thanjavur, the original inhabitants had begun leaving this Divya Desam seeking greener pastures in big cities and the Vaishnavite numbers dwindled with each passing decade.”

உடம்புருவில் மூன்றொன்றாய் மூர்த்தி வேறாய் 

உலகுய்ய நின்றானை 

அன்று பேய்ச்சி விடம்பருகு வித்தகனை கன்று மேய்த்து 

விளையாட வல்லானை வரைமீகானில் 

தடம் பருகு கரு முகிலை தஞ்சை கோயில் 

தவநெறிக்கோர் பெரு நெறியை  வையம் காக்கும் 

கடும் பரிமேல் கற்கியை நான் கண்டுகொண்டேன் 

கடு பொழில் சூழ் கடல்மல்லைத் தலசயனத்தே 

Desikar oonjal 

 The pace of the procession is fast and Seshadri is seen repeatedly asking the sripatham personnel to slow down. His is a happy face when he points to the Mandapam where vedantha desikar will enjoy the swing this weekend as part of the 7th day festival, an evening that they have been supporting for decades.

As Vedantha Desikar made his way to the Singaperumal koil North Street, the happy tears turned to sadness. The first thattu of the procession  was at the house of the grandson of Vannartrankarai Acharya, who has been coordinating the utsavam for a few years now. There aren't the traditionalists anymore for the agraharams have become a thing of the past. 

The ancestral house and large tracts of land were sold off when the family members of Seshadri moved out of this Divya Desam. Seshadri picked up a house on the Singaperumal Koil South Street where he now resides. This South Agraharam was once vibrant with Vaishnavites forming a large part of this long street but there are just a couple of them outside of Seshadri on this street. He has always been a popular man with his vocal views on traditional aspects and as he walks through the procession, the residents of this Divya Desam enquire about his well being and if he had had his dinner. 

Seshadri was  a Revenue officer in his final years of service in the 1990s, a phase when he had forged a respectful relationship with Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Acharya, the Pontiff of Poundarikapuram Ashramam. He had taken Sanyasam at the Neelamegha Perumal temple and Seshadri recalls walking back from Thanjai Maa Mani Divya Desam all the way to Srirangam. The Pontiff assigned Seshadri to renovate and restore the Narayanaswami Brindavanam in Vannartrankarai that had been in a dilapidated state. 

And then when Paravakottai Acharya went on a yatra, he called on Seshadri to accompany him “I walked with him from Srirangam through Kallanai, Thillaisthanam, Kumbakonam to Mannargudi before making our way back to Srirangam via Thanjavur. It was a great experience. He would not compromise, sticked to traditions, was steadfast on principles. It was those qualities that inspired me to join him a decade later after I retired from my job as a Revenue Officer.”

                    Seshadri with Veera Narasimha Perumal Koil Bhattar

At the turn of the century, soon after his retirement, Seshadri performed daily service at the Poundarikapuram Ashram at the feet of Paravakottai Gopala Desikan Acharya building the Patshala and the room for visitors to the ashram. It was Seshadri who anchored and oversaw the construction of the compound wall for the ashram. In that phase, Seshadri helped in the sale of a building belonging to the Ashram at Thillai Nagar and also secured an apartment for the ashram on the Melur Road through a well wisher of the Acharya.

Seshadri counts that phase at the Poundarikapuram Ashram in service to the Pontiff as a most satisfying phase in his life. Following the passing away of the Pontiff with whom he had had a close association for two decades, Seshadri made his way out of Srirangam.

He had worked for a few years in Sirkazhi before the passing away of his wife in 1994, a period when he had visited the Nangur Perumal temples. After almost a decade long service at the Poundarikapuram Ashram, he made his way to Thiru Nangur to live a quiet life away from the bustling activity he had been through over the previous years at the ashram. 

He was past 70 then when he made his way to Thiru Nangur. He bought a cycle and would visit all the Nangur temples every week. It was a phase when a branch of Ahobila Mutt was being built in Thiru Nangur and Azhagiya Singar assigned Seshadri the task of overseeing the construction. It was quite a rewarding period for him as he completed the construction of the building with Azhagiya Singar making it for the inauguration. 

But by this time into his mid 70s, he had had a bypass surgery and a stent had been inserted. He had had a good three years at Thiru Nangur spending time all by himself cooking each day of the year and making it to the Divya Desams praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. The golden memories from his childhood pulled him back to Vannartrankarai and wanted to spend the rest of his life with the Divya Desam Perumals that he had grown up with in the 1940s and 50s. 

Vedantha Desikar had by now made his way back to Neelamegha Perumal temple where a couple of the vadakalaiyars turn as sripatham members to carry their acharya around the prakara. The Prabhandham members had been reciting the Moonraam Thiruvanthathi and with the completion of the Satru Murai of Pey Azhvaar’s Thiruvanthathi and having had one final darshan on this third evening of the Desikar Utsavam, Seshadri made his way back to his home on Singaperumal South street. 

தொட்ட படை எட்டும் தோலாத வென்றியான் 

அட்டபுயகரத்தான் அஞ்ஞான்று 

குட்டத்துக் கோல் முதலை துஞ்ச குறித்து எறிந்த சக்கரத்தான் 

தாள் முதலே நங்கட்குச் சார்வு 

More devotees came up to him at the temple enquiring about his wellbeing for he has always been a renowned face with his outspoken views on temple activities. There were hard stones on this dark street and as is his wont he made a jocular remark that these are good for his feet. Almost every resident of the street exchanged a few words with him an indication of his longstanding popularity in this Divya Desam. 

It’s just past 7.30pm and he has made his way back home after the four street procession, one that has left him wondering if more of the original inhabitants would make their way back to this Divya Desam comprising of three temples and if they could at least make their way for the annual Brahmotsavams at Narismha Perumal and Neelamegha Perumal temples and for this utsavam of the Vadakalai Acharya. He is hoping that there would be a lot more on the birthday of Vedantha Desikar a week from today on Sept 22 when the Acharya would make his way from Neelamegha perumal temple to Manikundaram and Veera Narasimha perumal temples for Mangalasaasanam. 

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில் 

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில் 

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம்  கோயில் 

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில் 

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து  சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும்  தீர்க்கும் கோயில் 

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே 

His son has always been wanting him to come to Chennai to spend a relaxed life there with the family but Seshadri's heart has always been with the three Perumals of Vannartrankarai and he counts himself blessed that he has been able to make it back to the Divya Desam where he had spent his entire childhood enjoying the vibrant utsavams in those decades and one where he has now been able to contribute his bit as a devotee to the recent consecrations. The experience of the vedantha desikar utsavam this week has once again rekindled memories from his school days when the vaishnavites in the north and south streets came in good numbers to participate in the celebration of the vadakalai acharya.

Kapisthalam Seshadri Bhattar retires at 84

Tears after six decades of Kainkaryam

Started at a salary of less than Rs. 20 and retired six decades later at an unpaid monthly salary of Rs. 450!!!

After over six decades of unflinching selfless solo Bhattar Kainkaryam at a monthly salary that did not top Rs. 500 anytime in that phase, O.S Seshadri Bhattar has retired from service at the Moopanar administered Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kapisthalam at the age of 84. He started out at a monthly salary of Rs. 17 in the early 60s and ended up 60+ years later at a salary of Rs. 450!!! While devotees are constantly hitting out at the HRCE administration for their treatment of kainkaryaparas, this temple serves as an example of private administrators being no different in terms of treatment to archakas.

கூற்றமும் சாரா கொடுவினையும் சாரா

தீ மாற்றமும் சாரா

வகை அறிந்தேன்

ஆற்றங்கரை கிடக்கும் கண்ணன்

கடல் கிடக்கும் மாயன்

உரை கிடக்கும் உள்ளது எனக்கு

A highly respected Priest in the Kumbakonam region

In the second half of the previous century, Seshadri Bhattar was one of the most respected priests in the region for he had learned the Vedas and Agamas for a decade from the revered Oothukadu Sankara Ganapadigal at the renowned centuries old Raja Patshala in Kumbakonam.  He wanted to become a teacher and that may have given him financial stability in his life but the sudden death of his appa meant that the responsibility of the Divya Desam service came to him at a very young age when he was still in his teens.

That decade, in the 1960s, he ran a Patshala in Kapisthalam, a temple on the Northern Banks of the Cauvery, teaching over 20 students and creating the next generation of agama experts. Most of his students have done financially well in their lives but very few have come to serve their Guru or help him financially in his tough times.

Shockingly at the time of his retirement, his salary remained unpaid for several years. All through his service phase, he remained quiet bearing the pain of inhuman treatment without ever raising his voice against the high profile political figures, performing the archaka service at this Divya Desam all alone.

Legendary temple

The story goes that Vishnu devotee Raja Indirajimnan would be so immersed in his prayers that he often forgot the world around him. On one such occasion, he incurred the wrath of Sage Durvasa known for his instant anger by continuing to be in his prayers and making the Sage wait outside. He was cursed thus - “The fact that you are a great devotee has made you arrogant and you have disrespected a Sage, who has come to meet you. May you turn into a mad elephant.”

Realising his folly, Indrajimnan begged for forgiveness. The Sage who is also know for showing sympathy agreed to reduce the impact of the curse stating that he would continue to be devoted to the Lord as ‘Elephant Gajendra’ and that he would one day be relieved of his curse by Vishnu himself.

Another story goes that Asura Guhu once playfully pulled the legs of Sage Agastya while he was having bath. Angered at this act, the Sage cursed him instantly turning the Asura into a Crocodile.

Vishnu, on his Garuda Vahana rescued Elephant (King) Gajendra from the clutches of the Crocodile (the Asura) on the banks of the river by hurling his Chakra at the crocodile and killing it. Thus the king was rid of his curse and attained Moksham. This Gajendra Moksham episode is enacted here every year in Panguni (March-April). 

Severe Health Issues into his mid 80s

He had always taken happiness from the fact that he was blessed to be performing Kainkaryam in a Divya Desam with such a legendary tale. But the financial challenges and later on the physical state of his son took a heavy toll on him. 

Following his retirement and being away from Gajendra Varadar, whom he had served so devotionally for decades, has led to a deterioration in Seshadri Bhattar’s health. He had spent almost his entire life at the feet of Gajendra Varadar and the feeling of not being able to serve him anymore has left him emotionally drained leading to health issues. He was bedridden for a few weeks and is just in the process of recovering.

This year, his medical expenses has mounted and the financial scenario at home does not allow for such a huge cash outflow. He continues to sleep on a decades old cot under a decades old fan.

His wife had been a pillar of strength during his troubled times backing him to continue the Kainkaryam despite the low salary but she too has become immobile of late, while his son is physically challenged (can’t hear or speak). There is not too much of support around with the temple administrators turning a blind eye to his financial troubles. For many decades, he was the most recognisable face at the temple but the administrators have had the least sympathy for his current state of life of someone who had single handedly managed the temple since the 1960s.

Since the time he quit his service, many archakas have come and gone with the stint of each being quite short lived. He has not entered the temple for months for he is not wanted anymore by the administrators 

Way back in 1963, when he was just 21 years old, Thiru Kudanthai Andavan of Andavan Ashram conferred the title of ‘Mantra Mani' for his rendering of Vishnu Homam for 20 hours nonstop in Kumbakonam without a water or a toilet break. But financial rewards have eluded Seshadri Bhattar all through his life.

A 2007 photo taken by this writer that has Lakshmana Moopanar's name on the wall!!!

On this Monday afternoon, he has nothing left in him other than the tears that roll down his cheeks looking back at his six decades Divya Desam Kainkaryam. Outstation devotees who visit this temple continue to pay regards to him by visiting his home opposite the temple for he was the most recognisable face for so many decades and the one who was available to them any time of the day. His memory remains sharp and is able to recollect those glory days in his youth when there were sthaneegam, paricharakars and sthalathars at this temple but most of them left long ago and he has remained the sole kainkaryapara for decades. 

Unmindful of the personal challenges in his life, his has been a life of complete dedication to Gajendra Varadaraja Perumal of Kapisthalam. Seshadri Bhattar had been one of the very few Octogenarian priests performing Kainkaryam in a Divya Desam in Tamil Nadu. With the private administrators looking the other way, the pain had become too unbearable for him to continue. He now spends most of his time at home on the decades old cot remembering the glory days of his Kainkaryam to Gajendra Varadar.

One hopes that sometime in the near future, GK Vasan and co would at least pay him the salary dues that have been pending for years. And may be for the selfless solo archaka kainkaryam of 60+ years, they can surprise him with a bonus that will sustain him and his family for the rest of his life!!!

Seshadri Bhattar can be reached on: 9585085619

HRCE tightens archaka attendance in TN temples

New Digital Attendance Machine installed this week at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam will montior archaka service presence 

It is past 7am on Saturday (June 13) at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyar Koil, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar sung a century of verses in praise of Thiru Naraiyur Nambi. The three HRCE appointed salary paid priests at this temple have this week been asked by proactive and forward looking EO Prabhakaran to follow a new protocol. On this Saturday, only Prasanna Bhattar is present in the morning and he has digitally recorded his presence (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/01/nachiyar-koil-kal-garuda-sevai-2025.html).

கிடந்த நம்பி குடந்தை மேவி கேழலாய் உலகை இடந்த நம்பி 

எங்கள் நம்பி எறிஞர் அரண் அழியக் 

கடந்த நம்பி கடியார் இலங்கை உலகை ஈர் அடியால் 

நடந்த நம்பி நாமம் சொல்லி நமோ நாராயணா - 6-10-1

A new digital attendance machine has been installed at the eastern entrance of the temple and the archakas have to digitally record their attendance each day of the month. In the century gone by, the priests of historic temples followed in the footsteps of their forefathers performing hereditary service. 

Hereditary priests become HRCE staffers

However, towards the end of the previous century, driven by a slowdown in temples and with many hereditary priests moving away from temple service, next gen priests in many temples opted for a fixed monthly salary. While in the past, the hereditary priests had alternating service every month between Moolavar Sannidhi and Thayar Sannidhi in Perumal temples, this system saw a change when they became paid salary staffers of the HRCE.

Paid salary for entire month

EO Prabhakaran of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam clarified to this writer that as per his recorded there are no specific 10-15 service days for these priests like they may have had in the past “They are paid a salary for the entire month and hence each of these priests have to be present at the temple throughout the month.”

Implemented and accepted at Rameswaram 

Another proactive JC Sivaram Kumar who is now at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam implemented this digital attendance system when he was at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram. He told this writer that all the priests of that temple accepted this system and digitally recorded their priest till the time he was at the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/05/dhanushkodi-rama-temple-shiva-lingam.html).

JC Sivaram Kumar 

At the Nachiyar Koil, long standing priest Gopinathan Bhattar, who has been serving at the temple since the 1990s, has been going for events in other temples in the past. Earlier this month, this section featured a story on Nathan Koil Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai where he performed the alankaram of Jagannathan Perumal atop Garuda(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/06/nathan-koil-jagannathan-perumal.html).

The popular Gopi Bhattar 

The new digital attendance machine installed at Nachiyar Koil seeks to keep a check on paid salaried priests constantly being away at events at other temples creating a shortage of archaka kainkaryaparas at their home temple especially on crowded days. 

EO Prabhakaran has this week sent a letter to the archakas on the mandatory requirement to digitally record their presence at least once a day. He has said that failure to record the attendance would accordingly reflect in the salary records at the end of the month.

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே

This is a big step initiated at the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam, a temple now popular for the two Kal Garuda Sevai every year and for the Prarthana Pooja every Thursday for Garuda.

EO Prabhakaran has received informal feedback from devotees on the lack of attention from archakas arising out of absence of the main archakas like it happened on this Saturday when Prasanna Bhattar was the only salary paid archaka at the temple through the entire first half of the day.  He had to manage the devotees both at Garuda Sannidhi as well as Moolavar Sannidhi in addition to also taking caring of the daily Thiru Aradhana and other pooja processes as well as performing Thirumanjanam for Thirumangai Azhvaar on this Karthigai day. Of course he had a couple of outside archakas to support him after 9am.

Nachiyar Koil EO Prabhakaran 

Prabhakaran told this writer on Saturday that the ever increasing crowd especially on Thursdays and during the weekends is necessitating the addition of 1-2 more archakas to take care of the devotee darshan, for even one existing archaka going away puts pressure on the other two.

The EO is hopeful that with the installation of the digital attendance system, there will be an ‘automated’ check on the presence and absence of archakas and this will help the temple authorities to explore the need for adding archakas at the temple, the first Vaishnavite Madam koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan after he had built 70 such Saivite temples. 

முருகிலங்கு கனிதுவர்வாய் பின்னை கேள்வன் மன்னெல்லாம்  முன்னவியச்சென்று 

வென்றிச் செருக்கழுத்துத் ததிறலழிய செற்ற வேந்தன் சிறந்துணிந்தான் திருவடினும் சென்னிவைப்பீர் 

இருக்கிலங்கு திருமொழி வாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில் மாட எழுபதும் செய்து உலகமாண்ட 

திருகுலத்து வளச்சோழன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் திரு நறையூர் மணி மாட சேர்மின்களே 

Well over a decade ago, at another Nambi Divya Desam, this one in the Pandya region at Thiru Kurungudi, when one of the staffers of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt that administers the temple kept going out of the temple by posting a substitute in his place, the head of the Mutt removed him from service pointing out that if for 90% of the days the existing staffer posts a substitute, the Mutt can as well use the service of the substitute full time at the temple. The sacked staff has not been able to make it back to the temple!!!

For the moment it is a bold initiative on the part of EO Prabhakaran to implement this digital attendance system at this Divya Desam. One will have to wait and watch as to how this impacts the presence of archakas.

While there is action on this front in temples where archakas are paid monthly salary by HRCE, this digital attendance system cannot be implemented in temples where they continue to follow the hereditary non salary model.

This section will track the 'digital attendance' impact at Nachiyar Koil in the coming months.

Nathan Koil Jagannathan Perumal Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai

A Grand Alankaram, Wide Ranging Prasadam, Local Residents' Participation

The new archaka team at this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam named after Nandi is reviving the utsavams to its old grandeur

It is a Divya Desam par excellence as praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi, one where Nandi performed service. Built by the Pallava King Nandivarma, the Jagannathan perumal temple in Nathan koil is in the Shenbakaaranya Kshetram, which runs from here up to Mannargudi and was praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar as a location that has no equivalent. He praises this historic temple town as one where the distant beat of the festival drum sounds like monsoon clouds and the peacocks begin to dance in delight in the surrounding groves. 

தந்தை மனம் உந்து துயர் நந்த இருள்  வந்த விறல்

 நந்தன் மதலை 

எந்தை இவன் என்று அமரர் கந்த மலர் 

கொண்டு தோழ நின்ற நகர் தான் 

மந்த முழவோசை மழையாக ஏழுகார் 

மயில்கள் ஆடு பொழில் சூழ் 

நந்தி பணிசெய்த நகர் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே 

That was over a 1000 years ago. But for a long time over the last few decades, this Divya Desam on the southern outskirts of Kumbakonam near Korukkai had remained deserted with very few devotees visiting the temple while most of the other Divya Desams in this region had seen a turnaround. Finally with the arrival of a next gen priest, there seems to be a ray of hope and a revival in fortunes seems to be around the corner with his positive energy and a devotional determination to bring back devotees to the temple.

The young Raghavan Bhattar, along with his appa and brother, took charge of the Jagannathan Perumal temple a couple of years ago and has since been trying to revive the utsavams to some form of its old grandeur.

தீதறு நிலத்தொடு ஏரி காலினொடு 

நீர் கெழு விசும்பும் அவையாய் 

மாசறு மனத்தினொடு உறக்கமொடு இறக்கை

அவையாய பெருமான் 

தாய் செற உளைந்து  தயிர் உண்டு குடம் ஆடு  

தட மார்வர் தகை சேர் 

நாதன் உறைகின்ற நகர் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே 

Alankaram Expert from Nachiyar Koil

It is 3pm on Tuesday (June 2). Raghavan Bhattar has roped in Gopinathan Bhattar from Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam about 10 kms east of Nathan Koil for the alankaram of Jagannathan Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana. Historically, the priests of Nachiyar Koil had been performing archaka service at Nathan Koil but shortage of priests even at Thiru Naraiyar combined with an issue relating to an archaka brought an end to their archaka kainkarayam at Nandipura Vinnagaram a couple of decades ago.

                            Gopinathan Bhattar, Nachiyar Koil

Devotees thrilled at the alankaram

For over two hours, Gopi Bhattar does what he likes best. It is he who has been decorating Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda ahead of the now popular Kal Garuda Sevai at Thiru Naraiyur where he has been performing archaka service since the early 1990s. And when Raghavan Bhattar offered him the alankaram opportunity to present Jagannathan Perumal in a grand manner, Gopi Bhattar could not say no and he along with his Patshala going son, got down to minute details of the alankaram. After the completion of the alankaram, so satisfied was Gopi Bhattar with the decoration and the grandeur of the colourful silk vastrams on Garuda and Perumal that he could not take his eyes off Jagannathan Perumal but it was time for him to head back to Nachiyar Koil and he bid adieu to Raghavan Bhattar thanking him for this blessed opportunity.

New Lease of life for Nathan Koil

A couple of decades ago, Nathan Koil was in a sad state. Minimal devotees, dearth of kainkaryaparas led to a slowdown in utsavams. Multiple archakas had taken charge after the exit of those from Nachiyar Koil but not many survived the slowdown and frustration led by lack of devotees. But the temple has received a new lease of life under the leadership of Raghavan Bhattar who has been initiating activities that will drive devotees back to the temple.

பிறையின் ஒளி எயிறு இலக முறுகி எதிர் 

பொருதும் என வந்த அசுரர் 

இறைகள் அவை நெரு நெரு என வெறிய அவர் வயிறு அழல 

நின்ற பெருமான் 

சிறை கொள் மயில் குயில் பயில மலர்கள் உக அலி முரல 

அடிகொள் நெடு மா 

நறைசெய் பொழில் மழை தவழும் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே 

The Brahmotsavam in Vaikasi is one where he was keen for the alankaram to be grand and for wide ranging prasadams to be prepared and presented in large quantities. Past 6pm, devotees began to trickle in to have a first glance of Jagannathan Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana after the screen opened. Devotees were thrilled to see their perumal in such a grand alankaram decade with colourful tall flower garlands and glittering jewellery shining across his chest. To those coming in early, Kathamba rice was presented.

எண்ணில் நினைவு எய்தி இனி இல்லை

இறை என்று முனி யாளர் திருஆர்

பண்ணில் மலி கீதமொடு பாடி அவர்

ஆடலோடு கூட எழில் ஆர்

மண்ணில் இது போல நகர் இல்லை என

வானவர்கள் தாம் மலர்கள் தூய்

நண்ணி உறைகின்ற நகர் 

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே

While Raghavan Bhattar was overseeing the alankaram and the Yaaga Salai pooja, his 68 year old appa Lakshmi Narasimhan was delighting devotees at the Moolavar Sannidhi with his  loud and clear archanai explaining to them the special features of the presence of Nandi inside the Moolavar Perumal Sannidhi as a differentiator at this Divya Desam.

Legendary Tale of Nandi's service

Legend has it that Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva, wanted to meet Lord Vishnu at Vaikuntam and entered without securing the permission of the security guards (Dwarapalakas) of Vishnu. This angered the Dwarapaalakaas who cursed the Nandi.

Nandi looked up to Lord Shiva for solution, who wanted him to undertake penance at the place, which was South of Kumbakonam, North of Mannargudi, West of OppiliAppan (Vinnagar) and East of Srirangam, one where Goddess Lakshmi herself had undertaken penance previously.

Accordingly, Nandi undertook penance here to seek atonement for insulting the Dwarapaalakaas. Pleased with the prayers, Vishnu appeared before him. Nandi requested Lord Vishnu that this place be named after him and as can be seen from the verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, this place came to be known as Nandipura Vinnagaram. An image of Nandi can be seen on the south wall inside the Sanctum just next to the Moolavar.

Committed Prabhandham members

It was a very hot day in Kumbakonam and as a relief to the Kainkaryaparas there were thick clouds above but it also left Raghavan Bhattar a bit worried about the possibility of the rain that could potentially play spoilsport to the much awaited Garuda Vahana procession.The Kainkaryaparas presented Kattiyam and the Prabhandham members who had begun the fourth canto to Namazhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi earlier in the evening presented the satru murai verses on the Lord of Thiru Kurugur. 

தம்பியொடு தாம் ஒருவர் தம் துணைவி காதல்

துணையாக முன நாள்

வெம்பி எரி கானகம் உலாவும் அவர்

தாம் இனிது மேவும் நகர் தான்

கொம்பு குதி கொண்டு குயில் கூவ மயில் ஆலும்

எழில் ஆர் புறவு சேர்

நம்பி உறைகின்ற நகர் நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே

The Agent of the Vanamamalai Mutt that administers the trust arrived as did the Ubayadarars of the day. Following the mariyathai and sundal and puliyotharai prasadam distribution, it was time for the procession to start.

Archaka Kainkaryam at 70!!

70 year old Kothandaraman Bhattar takes care of the Thayar Sannidhi at the temple and he is the one accompanying Perumal on the Garuda Vahana Procession presenting Deeparathanai at every stop and handing back flowers with blessings to every resident of Nathan Koil.

An excited Sripatham team

The sripatham are all local residents including many young boys. As seen at the Jagarathrakshagan Perumal temple in Thiru Koodalur last week, they are all excited to be the ones accompanying Jagannathan Perumal on this Garuda Vahana procession. . There is a buzz around the streets of Nathan Koil that is otherwise missing all through the year. The Prabhandham Members beginning the recital of the sixth canto of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi praising the Lord of Thiru Vinnagar. Being senior citizen members, they stay back at the temple to continue the recital while Perumal made his way on to the West street. 

உய்யும் வகை உண்டு சொன செய்யில் 

உலகு ஏழும் ஒழியாமை முன நாள் 

மெய்யின் அளவே அமுது செய்யவல 

ஐயன் அவன் மேவும் நகர் தான் 

மைய வரி வண்டு மது உண்டு 

கிளையோடு மலர் கிண்டி அதன்மேல் 

நைவளம் நவிற்று பொழில்  

நந்திபுர விண்ணகரம் நண்ணு மனமே

White Pulli Kolam filled streets

All the streets are dotted with beautifully laid out white pulli kolam and residents of every home come out with flowers, fruits and coconuts seeking the blessings of the Lord for the year ahead. On the North Sannidhi street, the residents are still financially backward and continue to live in hut houses while those in East and South streets bear resemblance to Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s praise of mansions that seemed to touch the Moon. The clouds had scattered and the moon, two days after Pournami was shining bright. 

                                      Raghavan Bhattar

A satisfying evening for Raghavan Bhattar

Clock had almost ticked to 10pm when Perumal made his way back to the temple where the prabhandham members presented the ‘Om Namo Narayana’ satru murai verses on Nachiyar Koil, on an evening when Thiru Naraiyur’s Bhattar delighted the devotees with his alankaram. The sripatham boys have a satisfied look on their faces having performed this service while Raghavan Bhattar and his team are pleased to have got a bit of the grandeur back to the Brahmotsavam though the original inhabitants of Nandipura Vinnagaram are still missing. In remote Divya Desams such as these, the outstation devotees continue to give these utsavams a miss and it is through the individual efforts of Bhattars like Raghavan that the local residents get a flavour of historical utsavams as these. For these local residents around the four sacred streets, the Garuda Sevai during the Brahmotsavam is an important day in the year for they see a darshan of Perumal atop the Garuda Vahana as a great blessing to them that gives them the hope that the financial challenges will be overcome in the year ahead.

Late into the night after unmounting Jagannathan Perumal from the Garuda Vahana, Raghavan Bhattar heads back home with his appa and brother satisfied at the efforts of the evening having brought smiles in the faces of the devotees of Nandipura Vinnagaram.