Thiru Vahindrapuram Andhra Priests 10 years

When this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple was going through tough times, the HR & CE, in an unprecedented move, roped in two archakas from Andhra Pradesh 

10 years later, the ‘Outsider’ tag has been dealt with successfully and the two have made the Deiva Nayakan Perumal temple their own with sincere devotional service

Well over a decade ago, this section had featured a story on Thiru Vahindrapuram Devanatha Perumal Divya Desam where Neela Megha Bhattar, the then 76 year old had performed archaka service for several decades. However, things took a turn for the worst. The retirement of the aged priest followed by issues relating to his son Narasimha Bhattar meant that this historical Divya Desam was short on priests. The authorities searched across the state but did not find takers given some of the challenges that priests faced at this Divya Desam. Shaken by this bizarre scenario of not finding priests for such a historical Divya Desam, they finally they moved states and extended their search to Andhra. And there they found a couple of well-trained agama experts who were willing to wet their feet at this temple praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and one where Vaishnavite Acharya Vedanta Desikar resided and composed verses of praise on Deiva Nayakan and Hayagriva. An inscription dating to the rule of Kulotunga III refers to a gift of a gold necklace to Deiva Nayagan and another one refers in simple terms to the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram as ‘The Standing Vishnu’.

It is now ten years after the now 34 yera old Ranga Sai Bhattar took over along with his brother Seshu Bhattar as the new priests at Thiru Vahindrapuram. Here’s a look back at how his life has changed over the decade and how for the first time in recent history archakas from outside the state have played a prominent role in reviving a Divya Desam whose future did not look bright in the not so distant past.

Hailing from Machilipatnam, Ranga Sai had moved to Hyderabad where he did his schooling. While his parents were keen for him to continue his academics, Ranga Sai much against their wishes discontinued his schooling and joined the Patshala in Dwaraka Tirumala where he learned Krishna Yajur Veda. He followed this by learning the Vaikanasa Agama from Agnihotri Srinivasachar at the same place.

From Consecration Events to Divya Desam Archaka Service

For a few years, he went around the country including to temples in Maharashtra, UP, MP performing Consecration events and anchoring Brahmotsavam and Pavitrotsavam. After a tiring six hours on a Thursday morning with huge crowd thronging the Hayagriva Sannidhi at Thiru Vahindrapuram, he recounts the surprise and a most unexpected call he received from this Divya Desam “I had performed several consecrations and been part of utsavams in temples across the country. Looking at the way the archakas were treated, I was not keen in taking up archaka service and believed at that time that my future lay in continuing to perform consecrations.”

But how things changed beyond his wildest imagination. He says that the temple authorities reached out to the Tirupathi Vedic University to explore priests who would be interested to take up service at Thiru Vahindrapuram “They reached out to my uncle who was a chief priest at Mangalagiri temple and he suggested my name along with my brother’s.”

No Daily Thiru Aradhanam, Conversion to Pancharatra?

He was still not keen on taking this up but what turned his thought process most dramatically was the meeting with the EO of the temple and the HR & CE Commissioner “They told me that there were no priests at the temple and even to perform the daily Thiru Aradhana was proving to be a challenge and if it continued in the same way it was likely that the temple would be converted to Pancharatra Agama.”

The scenario as described by the authorities left him saddened and he decided to explore this. He went through the interview process and was given the appointment order. As with his quitting academics and taking to Patshala education, he took his own call on becoming an archaka and did not discuss this with anyone including his family and friends.

Thirumangai Azhvaar refers to Deiva Nayakan 

In his Periya Thirumozhi verses, Thirumangai Azhvaar refers to Lord of Thiruvahindrapuram as Deiva Nayakan. He considered it a blessing to serve at such a Divya Desam. 

வையமேழும் உண்டாலிலை வைகியமாயவன் 

அடியவர்க்கு மெய்யனாகிய தெய்வ நாயகனிடம் 

மெய்த குவரைச்சாரல் 

மொய்கள் மாதவி சண்பகம் முயங்கிய முல்லையன்கொடியாட 

செய்ய தாமரை செழும்பணை திகழ்தரு திருவயிந்திரபுரமே 

While he was well off financially performing the consecrations and being involved in annual utsavams in temples, the challenging state of a Divya Desam led to a change in his outlook and he agreed to taking up this challenging role of a priest at Thiru Vahindrapuram. He categorically states that money was not a motivating factor to taking this challenging role and the only reason that he accepted this was after hearing that even daily Thiru Aradhanam was becoming a challenge at this Divya Desam.

The Rank Outsider Tag- A Challenge

When he agreed, he clearly knew the challenges ahead of him for he was a rank outsider from another state. And that was exactly the way it turned out “The locals did not accept me easily and for a long time, I was made to feel that I was an outsider and that I did not belong to this temple. But it did not matter to me, for having accepted the appointment I wanted to discharge my duty to the best of my ability.”

To start with, Ranga Sai Bhattar and his brother Seshu Bhattar along with Jayaprakash ‘Mapillai’ bhattar, who was already present at the temple, were to take care of 10days each at the Perumal, Thayar and Hayagriva Sannidhis. But over time, Seshu Bhattar and Mapillai Bhattar agreed to perform 15days each at Devanatha Perumal and Shengamala Thayar Sannidhi, while Ranga Sai Bhattar performed service at Hayagriva Sannidhi through the entire month. Devotees see this as a Prarthana sthalam for ‘Good Education’ and to cure ‘speechless children’. 

“My great grandfather was a great devotee of Hayagriva and as I turn back the clock, it looks like I was destined to follow in his footsteps and perform service for Hayagriva”, he says on why he felt blessed to take up service at the Hayagriva sannidhi. 

It took him about a year to understand the processes at this Divya Desam but he learned it pretty quickly and has been enjoying his service at Thiru Vahindrapuram including the grand Brahmotsavam and the annual Desikar utsavam.

Grand Festivals - Sacred Bath for Deva Nathan

An Inscription records minute details like taking care of God's bath during his processions on Festive occasions when he leaves the temple premises. One such inscription records an order communicated to the trustees of the temple granting lands and a garden, free of taxes, for expenses of taking God for a sacred bath to the sea near Nissankhamallan Pattinam on the Maasi Magam day.

No Grand Desikar Utsavam Celebrations this year - Processions after Balalayam?

While he faced initial hurdles and overcame that, certain challenges remain. Balalayam was performed recently and the temple will be seeing renovation exercise that will culminate in Samprokshanam. There are sections of the temple service personnel who want procession of Perumal and Thayar to take place at least inside the temple and are not happy with the priests not agreeing to this. But Ranga Sai Bhattar is clear in his thought process “It has been the historical practice in this temple to not have processions after Balalayam till the time the consecration takes place.”

He talks with extreme clarity and points to a judgment in the late 1990s when the court directed the temple to not change the historical practices and says that the practice here has always been to not have processions during the renovation exercise.

There will be no processions during the Desikar Utsavam next month but Ranga Sai Bhattar assures that the Consecration will take place within the next year and the Utsavam will be back in 2024 in its full grandeur with the temple sporting a new look.

Historical Inscriptions

While inscriptions record gifts of lands and villages for offerings and worship to the Lord, gifts of sheep and cows for perpetual lamps, gift of ‘Kasu’ for feeding the Vaishnavas at the temple Mutt and for providing offerings to God on the 8th day of the festival, one of the lengthier inscriptions found on the West Wall of the Prakara that dates back to 1232 AD to the rule of Raja Raja Chola III records the process of securing the release of the Chola Emperor from Kapperunjinga.

When King Vira Narasimha Deva heard that Kapperunjinga had captured the Chola Emperor at Sendamangalam, he vowed to vindicate his title as the leader of the Chola Country. Starting from Dorasamudra, he uprooted the Makara Kingdom, while his two generals destroyed Ellers and Kalliyurmulai village.  On their way, they offered their prayers to the Lord at Ponnambalam following which they went on to destroy Tondaima Nallur.

They then camped at Tiruppadiri Puliyur (today’s Cuddalore) before the Hoysala army marched on to Thiru Vathigai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/07/thiru-vathigai-sara-narayanan.html) destroying that village.  Finally, they reached Sendamangalam forcing Kopperunjinga to release the Chola Emperor. Celebrating the release, the Chola Emperor was accompanied by the army into his dominion. On the Western Gopuram, at the entrance, there is a reference to Tondaiyar Koman Adaiya Valaindapiran and his heroism in battle.

Vishnu, Brahmma and Shiva

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to the Lord as Moovaraagiya Oruvan, a manifestation of Vishnu, Brahmma and Shiva, in his praise in the Periya Thirumozhi.

மூவராகிய ஒருவனை மூவுலகுண்டுமிழ்ந்த அளந்தானை 

தேவர் தானவர் சென்று சென்று இறைஞ்ச தன்திருவயிந்திரபுரத்து 

மேவு சோதியை வேல் வலவன் கலிகன்றி விரித்துரைத்த 

பாவு தண்டமிழ் பத்திவைப்பாடிடப் பாவங்கள் பயிலாவே

Ranga Sai Bhattar's Best Phase in Life

He has completed a decade of archaka service at this Divya Desam and it has been the real high point in his life, an opportunity that had come out of the blue. The ‘Outsider’ tag has finally been set aside. On a crowded Thursday morning, devotees throng the Hayagriva Sannidhi asking for archanai to be performed. It is non stop work for six hours but not once did Ranga Sai Bhattar shrug his face performing archanai with the same devotional intensity at noon just as he had at the beginning of the day. He sees performing archaka service in a Divya Desam where Vedantha Desikar, resided for so many decades, as a God sent opportunity that very few in the world are blessed with “Into my 20s, I never visualized performing daily archaka service and definitely not in a great Divya Desam as this. This opportunity came on its own and I have enjoyed every minute of the last decade serving the devotees of Hayagriva as best as I could.”

Despite the local resistance he has had to face, Ranga Sai Bhattar is friendly with everyone – the HR & CE officials, his archaka colleagues, the Veda Parayanam and Divya Prabhandham Ghosti members and most importantly with the devotees who all sport a smile when they meet him. There is a certain devotional energy when they interact with him and they all go back from the sannidhi with renewed confidence. 

From the uncertainty just a decade ago, the presence of the two ‘Outside’ archakas from Andhra Pradesh has led to a refreshing change at Thiru Vahindrapuram. It may be a first for a TN Divya Desam to have roped in Chief Priests from outside the state but Ranga Sai Bhattar and his brother Seshu Bhattar have come through unscathed and for a large part been able to silence the opposition. They continue to be cheerful in carrying out the service assigned to them having tackled the controversial issues with a sense of devotion.

It has been a Sea Change at the Devanatha Perumal temple in Thiru Vahindrapuram. The long standing priests from the decades gone by are no longer there (Neela Megha Bhattar passed away recently and his son Narasimha Bhattar is fighting a legal battle with the HR & CE) and the new ones have instilled a sense of freshness to this Divya Desam. Finally it is the devotion that counts. And that Ranga Sai Bhattar displays immeasurably. He is in here for the long run and is committed to keep the greatness of this Divya Desam going.

Thiru Vahindrapuram is located 5kms West of Cuddalore on the way to Panruti. Auto from Tiruppadiripuliyur Railway Station costs Rs. 100.  The temple is open from 6.30am to 12noon and from 4pm to 9.30pm

Thiruvallikeni Prabhandham Adyapaka Sekar

Elevation on the back of his over four decades Devotional Prabhandham Ghosti Service 

On the 10th day of the Narasimhar Brahmotsavam, this Thursday (July 6) at the Parthasarathy Perumal temple, even as all the Lords, Azhvaars and Acharyas congregated at the West end of the temple, there was a visible and refreshing addition to the Adyapakars team. P Lakshminarasimhan (Sekar to those in the temple circles) was seen alongside Adyapaka members to receive the Muthal Theertham and Shatari. Along with Singan Srinivasan, another long standing Ghosti member, Sekar was inducted into the Adayapaka team on this Dwadasa Aradhanam day following the instruction from the newly appointed EO to the Maniyakaarar. 

Hailing from Pilappur, near Chengalpet, Sekar’s forefathers moved to Thiruvallikeni. As seen in several stories earlier in this section, the 1960s and 70s marked a slowdown in the devotional movement and original inhabitants moved to cities in search of jobs (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/therazhundur-divya-desam.html). It was the beginning of the reduction in strength of the Prabhandham and Vedic members in most temples in TN. Sekar’s early childhood was no different and he had no inclination towards the sacred verses until the transformational change brought about by MA Venkatakrishanan in the 1970s. 

Inspired by MAV's teachings

A couple of days after his induction as an adyapaka into the popular Thiruvallikeni Ghosti team, 64 year old Sekar recounts the memorable contribution of MAV “My amma’s appa was a Maniyakaarar at the Sriperambudur temple. During the annual holidays, when I went there, he would carry me and have me seated beside the Vahana during the Brahmotsavam. That created my first interest in processions but even then being initiated into the Prabhandham was not in the plans. I learned the Thiru Kurungthaandagam and Thiru Nedunthaandagam from Vijayaraghavan Swami (Kanchi) but it was then that MAV Swami took over and the entire experience turned transformational.”

This section had earlier featured a story on how MAV was the architect the Divya Prabhandham revival at Thiruvallikeni (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/thiruvallikeni-prabhandham-ghosti.html). Sekar was a student from that first batch and one of those who stayed the entire course.

While Sekar was disinclined towards the sacred verses end of the 1960s, by the 2nd half of the 70s, he had become greatly interested in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham that even he could not believe the transformation that MAV had brought in him. By this time, he had also stood first in the Iyarpa recital competition organized by Southern Cultural Academy and proudly received the away from Annankarachar Swami.  “MAV Swami was a great motivator. He would take us on trips and make us recite the sacred verses in those Divya Desams. Every morning, the classes would start sharp at 6am. He began with the Moonraam Thiruvanthathi and even as a teenager, I had begun reciting these verses in street processions”, Sekar told this writer extolling the greatness of MAV and how he created an everlasting interest in him in the sacred verses of the Saint Poets.

                 Photo Courtesy: Insurance Sampath Kumar

Declines a lucrative Job offer from TVS

It was that extraordinary interest in arulacheyal that led to Sekar declining a lucrative job offer away from Madras “In the mid 1980s, I received an offer from TVS for their plant in Hosur. My interest in Prabhandham had become so intense that I told my appa that I wanted to be part of the Ghosti through my life and that I did not want to go outside of Madras.”

Adyapaka rights remain intact

The adyapaka service has seen several twists and turns in the century gone by. Leader MA Venkatakrishnan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/05/ma-venkatakrishnan-thiruvallikeni-divya_16.html), who has ensured that the Prabhandham Ghosti at Thiruvallikeni has remained strong and united, told this writer ahead of the procession on the 9th evening of the Narasimhar Brahmotsavam that despite all the challenges that they have had to face, the rights and powers of the Adyapakas of Thiruvallikeni have remained intact and has in fact become stronger and clearer with each court verdict. 

He said that exactly a 100 years ago, when the then trustees of the temple sought to get the Adyapakas under their control and also to appoint the Ghosti members, the Thengalai Sri Vaishnava Brahmin residents secured a decree (a copy of which is available with this writer) that only they had the right to initially appoint the Ghosti members.  This order restrained the trustees of the temple from interfering in the appointment of the Ghosti members.

While this went on well for several decades, half a century later in 1972, a few members of the Prabhandham Ghosti went to court seeking powers for the Thengalai Vaishnava Brahmins to appoint Ghosti members. Further adding strength to the Adyapakas, the court restrained the Thengalai Vaishnava Brahmins from having such rights and directed that the rights to appoint or add Ghosti members lay solely with the senior members of the Adyapakas and not with the general body of the Thengalai Vaishnava Brahmins.

Later soon after MAV began creating the next gen of Prabhandham members, the Bhagavathas took to the court for rights in Theertham and Shatari. Once again, the court conferred the special first rights to the Adyapakas followed by others.

Emoluments to the Adyapakas 

The Adyapakas have an exclusive right in the emoluments attached to their service. Among other benefits, they are entitled to one fourth Pongal Thaligai for the morning service, Iyalpadi two cakes offered at Thiruvanthi Kaappu, Holi water, Sri Sadagopam, Thulasi, Sandal, Manjal, Garlands, betal leaves and dakshinas. On the Yaanai Vahanam days during the Brahmotsavam, two Umbrellas are to be taken in advance of the Adyapakas at the street procession. They are also entitled to sweet cake during the Manavala Mamuni Utsavam, Oil on Thiru Karthigai and Emperumanar Satru Murai days and One Thaligai of Chakkarai Pongal on Thiru Pallandu Thodakkam day. The leader of the Ghosti for that day also has the right to receive the Swathanthrams kept apart and separated to be appropriated for the said Adyapaka service.

Each Adyapaka is assigned certain dates in the month for 'Thodakkam' service.

Eligibility criteria

The  appointment itself goes through a process with the senior members of the Adyapaka team discussing within themselves. At the moment, among a few other conditions, only those that have not travelled overseas, those that have resided for a certain period of time in Thiruvallikeni and ones with recital knowledge of a certain minimum number of verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham are eligible to become an Adyapaka.

No Ice Creams/ Cold Juices

Sekar joined a local firm in Parrys working on import billing in the shipping sector. His interest in Prabhandham recital and an eagerness to be part of the ghosti during the processions led him to take auto from his office in the evening so he could be on time. He felt he had been blessed with a special voice and  protected his voice by letting go of ice creams or cold juices for a major part of his life. 

It has been that over four decades long commitment to the devotional recital that led MAV to push him into the Adyapaka team. 

“While my office offered me an extension and asked me to work even during the Pandemic, MAV Swami was keen to recognize my contribution and he asked me to sport a tuft. When he broke the news to me that the Senior Adyapaka members had agreed to add him to their team, I felt it a great honour.”

                       Photo Courtesy: Insurance Sampath Kumar

A Special feeling - Darshan as an Adyapaka from close range

On Friday and Saturday, he was part of the Ghosti at the Thirumanjanam and felt a completely different experience “Suddenly as an Adyapaka, I was standing so close to Perumal and could see him from almost touching distance. It gave me a great feeling. I immediately thanked MAV Swami for providing me with such an opportunity to experience Narasimhar from close range.”

Sekar has been part of the Thiruvallikeni Ghosti from the 1970s and his elevation, this week, to the post of an Adyapaka is a great reward for his devotional commitment and service over these 4+ decades. 

This section wishes Sekar the best in his new role as an Adyapaka at the Thiruvallikeni Divya Desam.

Thiru Ninravur Bhaktavatsala Perumal Kainkaryapakas

Dasa Nambi Veera Raghavan performed Kainkaryam of lighting lamps and carrying Theevatti for over six decades till well into his 80s

Madapalli Srinivasan is carrying his family's tradition of serving at the Madapalli

Octogenarian Veera Raghavan has lived all his in Thiru Ninravur with his entire life revolving around service to Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Unnai Petra Thayar. In the 1960s, life for Kainkaryapakas turned for the worse in temples across TN.  Most original inhabitants began leaving their home town in search of a job in the corporate world. This was the case in Thiru Ninravur too. By the early 1980s, historical theppotsavam came to a halt. Hereditary priests gave up their service at the temple and moved away from this Divya Desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar.

Six+ Decades carrying the Theevatti

Veera Raghavan joined the temple in the late 1950s when there was still vibrancy in the agraharam. His monthly salary in the first decade was Rs. 3/50.  He has seen three Samprokshanams during his time at the temple, the earliest being in 1962. Now aged 84, he stepped aside last year following the Pandemic but continues to visit the temple every day for he has known nothing else in life other than service to the Lord. He looks back at his first decade at the temple “All the four Mada Streets were full of original inhabitants. All the Utsavams were celebrated in a grand way. There was a certain positive vibrancy when one entered the temple.”

As seen earlier in this section in many other Divya Desams in TN, there was a drastic reversal in fortunes starting the late 1960s arising out of the new political climate. He looks back with sadness the fate of this Divya Desam in the 1970s and 80s “Most of the iyengars in this Divya Desam left seeking greener pastures and the streets wore a deserted look. There was no income at the temple till the 1990s. Temple used to close by 7.30pm. The streets were dark and one feared walking around after 7pm. Devotees were very few in numbers and we were always looking for the next set but most times it proved elusive.”

It was a financially challenging life for Veera Raghavan but his devotion to Perumal and Thayar led him to light the lamp in every sannidhi every day over the last 65 years without a break. He also carried the Theevatti during every procession at the temple during these six decades even though his salary did not increase meaningfully even after several decades of service. He recounts the torrid decades of the 70s and 80s “We ate only minimal food through those decades. There was no income and we did not have enough to even buy rice.”

Theppotsavam has come to a halt in the early 1980s and he is saddened that this historical float fest has not taken place for four decades now with the tank turning dilapidated and contaminated water entering the tank.

Despite all the financial challenges, Veera Raghavan feels totally blessed at having had the opportunity to serve Bhaktsavatsala Perumal for over six decades. When he bid adieu last year, his salary after 65 years had increased to Rs.2000!!!!

Continuing Madapalli Service

35 year old P Srinivasan joined the Madapalli at this Divya Desam a dozen years ago to continue the service that his grandfather Krishnamachari had performed for several decades. As with Dasa Nambi Veera Raghavan, Krishnamachari too was unmindful of the low salary (Rs. 60) and performed this as a service to Bhaktavatsala Perumal. After he passed away in the late 1990s, his son Parthasarathy took over at a salary of Rs. 600.

Srinivasan had worked in a private firm for a few years but his mind was with Bhaktavatsala Perumal for he had grown up in this temple having studied in the Government school in Thiru Ninravur. And soon he quit the corporate job and joined the Madapalli in 2010. He is proud to continue in the traditional way of cooking “We still use firewood here and well water for cooking and am happy that I am able to continue the traditional service that my father and grandfather had performed here. We adhere to the six kaala service at the Madapalli.”

The Brahmotsavam attracts huge number of devotees especially for Garuda Sevai and the Chariot day. He says that the ten days of the festival is the period when he is at his busiest "I make 100 dosais and 50 Vadais each day in addition to Pongal for Thirumanjanam Sevai and Sundal.”

On the Garuda Sevai morning (March 12 this year), he is at the temple at 3am to prepare kesari, sundal, dosai and vadai.

He says that being at the madapalli and preparing the sacred food for Perumal and Thayar gives him a blessed feeling. “My parents were keen for to continue the madapalli service at this Divya Desam. I have found great peace in the time I have been here and it has been a devotionally enjoyable experience. My wife too has been encouraging of me to carry out this service.”

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's Praise

When Thiru Mangai Azhvaar chose to give Thiru Ninravur a miss, Ennai Petra Thayar requested Bhaktavatsavala Perumal to get the Azhvaar to sing praise of this place.  Perumal finally located Thiru Mangai Azhvaar at Thiru Kadal Mallai and got him to refer to his visit to Thiru Ninravur:

“நீண்ட வாத கருமுகிலை எம்மான் தன்னை 

நின்றவூர் நித்திலத்தொதார் சோலை 

காண்டவத்தை கனலேறிவாய் பேய்வித்தானை 

கண்டது நான் கடல் மலை தலசயனத்தே ”

When Perumal came back to Thirunanravur with just a single paasuram, Thayar wanted him to get more. And he went back again to track Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. At Thiru Kanna Mangai, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar welcomed him thus:

“ஏற்றினை மைதுலேம் மீசனை 

இமையை மறுமைக்கு மருந்தினை...... 

நின்றவூர் நின்ற நித்திலத்தொத்தினை 

காற்றினை புனலை சென்று 

நாடி கண்ணமங்கையுள் கண்டு கொண்டேன்”

Bhattars - From Hereditary Service to Salaried Appointment 

While Dasa Nambi carried out Theevatti service for over six decades and the madapalli family have been here for three generations, the hereditary bhattars let go their service at the turn of the century for the low salary had taken a toll on them. Initially, the hereditary bhattars gave up their hereditary rights and took a monthly salary. When an overseas opportunity came his way, the then existing bhattar let go his appointment at this Divya Desam. And thus, a completely new set of Bhattars came into this Divya Desam this century

Exclusive Perumal Sannidhi Bhattar

Therazhundur’s Manivannan Bhattar had been working in a construction firm in Nanganallur. His forefathers had been the hereditary priests at the Pallikonda Perumal temple in Therazhundur but given the challenging financial conditions, like so many others in remote temple towns, he chose to move to Chennai and into the corporate world. For the last two decades, he has been the chief priest at the Bhaktavatsala Perumal Sannidhi with a salary that interestingly is multiple times higher than those in remote Divya Desams.

With his experience in construction, he wanted his son too to continue in the real estate space and hence led him into BE-Civil. However, his son has shown interest in the temple space and is inclined to perform service at this temple.

A new Exclusive Bhattar for Thayar Sannidhi

43 year old Balaji Bhattar hailed from Raja Mannargudi. While his grandfather Kannan Dikshithar had performed service at the Rajagopalaswamy temple, his appa moved into corporate life given the same financial challenges that most priests experienced in the second half of the previous century. Balaji Bhattar too began on the corporate path in Madras and did design work at a printing press for a few years but he did not quite enjoy the corporate work and his mind was inclined towards temple service. When Tirumala Periya Jeer who administers the temple (along with HR & CE!!!) offered him a posting at the Thayar Sannidhi, he grabbed it with both hands and moved full time to Thiru Ninravur a dozen years ago.  Now, he is keen for his 17 year old son to join a Patshala so he can continue the temple service.

Renovation after two Decades

It has been a couple of decades since the previous consecration. The Raja Gopuram wears a faded look. Plans are afoot to start a renovation exercise later this year. The exercise is also expected to include refurbishing the temple tank. It is hoped that following the consecration, the Theppotsavam will be revived after a break of four decades.  

The temple is open from 730am-12noon and 430pm-830pm. Contact: Manivanna Bhattar @ 93805 16055 / Balaji Bhattar @ 72000 13191

Thiru Kannangudi Prabhu Bhattar

After a dozen years at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam, the priest gets a daily wage of Rs. 100

Earlier he performed archaka service at Nathan Koil for a decade

It is hoped that relief to such low paid priests will come through the HC 'minimum wages' case filed by Mannar Koil's Periya Nambi Narasimha Gopalan

                            Prabhu Bhattar

This is yet another case of a Divya Desam bhattar not getting his financial due. 43 year old N Prabhakaran (Prabhu) Bhattar was roped into the Thiru Mangai praised Damodara Narayana Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Kannangudi, located about 8kms West of Nagapattinam, off the Thiruvarur Highway, a dozen years ago. There are no buses to this Divya Desam even today.

வங்கமா முந்நீர் வரிநிறப் பெரிய வாளரவின் ஆணை மேவி 

சங்கமார் அங்கை தடமலர் உந்திச், சாம மா மேனி என் தலைவன் 

அங்கமாறு அந்தவேள்வி நால்வேதம் அருங்கலை  பயின்று 

ஏரி  மூன்றும், செங்கையால் வளர்க்கும் துலக்கமில் மனதோர் 

திரு கண்ணங்குடியில் நின்றானே

Thiru Kannangudi was without an archaka at that time. Having performed service for over a decade at Nandipura Vinnagaram, at Nathan Koil, another remote Divya Desam earlier, he agreed and moved to Thiru Kannangudi at a monthly salary of Rs. 600. It had been a dilapidated temple at that time. Roads leading to the temple were muddy. It was no different from the scenario at Nathan Koil. Devotees were limited. There was not much Thattu Kaasu for the archaka. In both the temples, he was the sole archaka taking care of all the sannidhis. 

Revival of Utsavams

In the period he was at Nandipura Vinnagaram, he performed a Samprokshanam. Here too at Thiru Kannangudi, he anchored a Samprokshanam three years ago that saw a dilapidated Ramanuja Sannidhi and the Madapalli seeing a revival. The Brahmotsavam too has been revived over the last decade. The utsava deity now makes an annual trip to the sea shore on the occasion of Maasi Magam.

Forefathers in archaka service

Prabhu Bhattar’s forefathers hailed from Nandivanam, east of Nathan Koil. They performed archaka service at the perumal temples in Nandivanam, Nandipura Vinnagaram Divya Desam and also at Tippirajapuram. His grandfather Seshadri Bhattar performed service for decades at the feet of Nandinatha Perumal and Shenbagavalli Thayar at Nandivanam. Into the second half of the previous century, when his appa Neelamegham Bhattar was performing service at Govindaraja Perumal Sannidhi in Chidambaram, he was roped in by Pachu Bhattar of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam to perform service for 10 days every month.

Appa Neela Megha Bhattar, Nachiyar Koil

Decade long serice at Nathan Koil

Prabhu Bhattar spent his childhood in Nachiyar Koil. He had been devotionally attached right from his school days and spent a lot of his time helping his appa in service at Nachiyar Koil. He learned the pooja kramam from his thatha and joined service at the Vanamamalai administered Nathan Koil Divya Desam when he was still in his teens. There too the temple had been without an archaka and  he took charge at Nandipuram Vinnagaram in the late 1990s. He enjoyed his stay there though devotees were quite limited in those days. In 2005, he anchored the Samprokshanam at the Divya Desam. Financially, his life continued to be challenging as there was neither a good salary nor thattu kaasu to keep his life stable.

Kannangudi - His 2nd remote Divya Desam service

For three years, he came over to Madras to perform service at the Anjaneya temple in Nanganallur but soon made his way back to another remote Divya Desam after being invited to perform service at Thiru Kannangudi, one of the Pancha Krishna Kshetrams where Moolavar Loganathan is seen in an East facing standing posture. There is a separate sannidhi for Loganayaki Thayar. The Lord of Thiru Kannangudi has been praised in each of the verses by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi as one who is seen in a grand standing posture. 

                            Loganayaki Thayar

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's praise

He describes Thiru Kannangudi as a place with huge mansions with walls that were so high that they seemed to touch the moon. He praises the temple as being surrounded with ripe paddy fields, water tanks that were filled with different kinds of lilies, lotuses and many varieties of flowers and lush orchards that produced fruits such as bananas, jack fruits and mangoes among others. He also describes the place as being home to peacocks that flocked in big numbers and danced around the Lord. 

Unlike in other Divya Desams where Garuda is seen with folded hands, he is seen here with his hands around his body.

                                 Garuda in special posture

Dilapidated State to Complete Restoration

In the period he has been at Thiru Kannangudi, he has captured the hearts of the villagers as a devotionally committed Bhattar. He is the lone Bhattar at the temple managing all the sannidhis and the utsavams. Broken Walls, Falling Azhvaar idols, Shattered Vimana and Rats inside the Madapalli symbolized the state of the temple soon after he had taken over at the start of the previous decade but has transformed the temple over the last decade. With support from devotee donors, the Ramanuja Sannidhi that had been in dilapidated state has been restored as has been the Madapalli that was falling off in the not too distant past. 

He has also managed to secure Abaranams for Perumal and Thayar. Currently, he is working on a special Horse Vahanam for the annual Brahmotsavam that too has been revived during the time he has been here.

However, for all his services, he still does not have a permanent job and is only handed ‘daily wages’ of just Rs. 100. But he has rarely complained “God has given me an opportunity to perform service in a Divya Desam. The villagers respect me for my service to Damodara Narayana Perumal. I have had the opportunity to perform consecration in two remote Divya Desams. While financial stability is required in life, not many get an opportunity to serve at the feet of Divya Desam Lord through a life time. I have spent over half of my life time in two Divya Desams praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. And that I consider as a blessing.”

Since the Pandemic, life has not yet come to normal at the temple, in terms of devotee crowd. As is the case with most HR & CE administered temples, the lack of income at the temple (Hundi income) has meant a low salary to the archakas. Prabhu Bhattar has felt comfortable in a remote location performing quiet and sincere service to the Divya Desam Lord.  He is hopeful that God would bless him one day, financially, and get him the permanent job from the HR & CE. 

In recent times, Periya Nambi PS Narasimha Gopalan of Mannar Koil Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy temple (Transforming Mannar Koil) has filed a contempt petition in the High Court against the HR & CE for not implementing the court's direction to paying a reasonable and fair salary to the service personnel in temples at least in line with the amount prescribed in the Minimum Wages Act. This could provide a lifeline for priests such as Prabhu Bhattar. One will have to wait and watch. 

Irrespective of the job status, he is devotionally committed to perform a lifetime of service to Damadora Narayana Perumal at Thiru Kannangudi Divya Desam.

The temple is open from 8am-12noon and 4.30pm– 9pm. Contact Prabhu Bhattar  @ 99431 38591 / 99408 11701.

Thiruvallikeni Sripatham Thangis

Renowned for the Vibrant Prabhandham Ghosti, Parthasarathy Perumal temple in Thiruvallikeni has seen a transformation in the Sripatham service over the last decade

Devoted Teenagers taking to the Sripatham Service in good numbers augur well for the future

It is the 9th morning of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam at the Madhava Perumal Koil, Mylapore. On the final stretch of the procession on the Madhava Perumal Koil street the Sri Patham personnel made a fast paced return pushing aside the Prabhandham members in the process and racing past them. Later in the evening, ahead of the Kodi Erakkam event, the Sripatham Thangis started a procession from inside the temple to the flag post and positioned the Lord near the flag post even while the Prabhandham members were reciting the Thiru Nedunthandagam verses. In both instances, the Prabhandham members were helpless (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/05/madhava-perumal-temple-kodi-erakkam.html).

On the 11th day of the Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, the Sripatham personnel made an almost one hour halt in front of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan…Reason – it was the collection day for the work they had rendered over the previous 10days. Every year, on the 11th night of the utsavam, the procession does not return to the temple until the completion of the ‘collection’ formalities from almost every shop on the four Mada streets.

A similar scenario existed at the Parthasarathy Perumal temple in Thiruvallikeni in the not too distant past. Just under 25years ago, the procession during the Brahmotsavams in Chitrai and Aani did not stick to a time bound schedule. Collection exercise was part of the agenda of the Sripatham Thangis.  They did not always turn up on time but the traditionalists were helpless. 

A Vibrant Prabhandham Ghosti

With MA Venkatakrishnan taking over charge of the Prabhandham Ghosti and anchoring the team management at a very early stage in his life, the recital of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham had remained vibrant at the Thiruvallikeni Divya Desam through the second half of the 20th century, one that has continued to this day. He brought together school students in the 1970s and 80s to learn the sacred verses of the Azhvaars in the process also ensuring that their academic focus was not affected (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/thiruvallikeni-prabhandham-ghosti.html). 

While this was so with the Prabhandham Ghosti, the traditionalists could not breakthrough the stranglehold that ‘others’ had on the Sripatham service. They were outnumbered towards the later part of the previous century and had to bear the brunt quietly.

Transformational Change

The scenario had looked bleak back then in the 1990s and early 2000s, but the turnaround has been quite remarkable with a transformational change that has come about over the last decade. 

It’s Saturday (July 9) morning and day 3 of the Narasimhar Brahmotsavam, the occasion of the Garuda Sevai and Esal.  Well over a hundred Sripatham personnel in their traditional attire have gathered at the Western Raja Gopuram just after 5.30am. For the next couple of hours, one saw team work at its best and they delight the huge devotee crowd that has specially come in to watch the performance of the Esal.

 

Photo: S Sampath Kumar (Insurance)

Way back in early 1990s, a group of traditionalists started the Thennacharya Sripatham Sabha but it could not make significant inroads into the Sripatham service for close to 15years. R Lakshminarasimhan, now Mestri, told this writer in a conversation in November 2017 that when they brought a few Sripatham members from Srirangam in the late 1990s, objections were raised and the team backed out. It was a defensive phase as they watched from the sidelines the in-disciplined functioning of the then personnel.

EO Pon Jayaraman makes a big call

When Pon Jayaraman took over as the EO of the temple, he was not pleased with the way the Sripatham were conducting themselves. By this time, the traditionalists had gathered in strength and could garner over 40members for the big occasions. For a decade until then, the Sripatham had been paid close to Rs. 10Lakhs annually for their service by the HR & CE department. The traditionalists whose focus was to carry Perumal and Azhvaars as a Kainkaryam cut down on the fee quite significantly and ‘bagged’ the rights to carry the Lord through the year. Ever since, there has been a dramatic revival with Sripatham personnel in traditional attire carrying the Lord in all the processions. 

Looking back at the functioning of the then Sripatham soon after he took charge, Pon Jayaraman told this writer that he found that devotion was lacking in the Sripatham personnel at that time. “They came in shorts. I did not find them having the right process. Discipline to stick to a timeline was lacking. It was a haphazard way of functioning. I wanted to streamline the entire process.”

“I found that there were a lot of Vaishnavites in Thiruvallikeni and was keen that they take over this service. I motivated them to take this up and backed them completely. While it was not a large team back then, they have now built it into an outstanding team that is fully committed to the Sripatham service.”

“This move gained acceptance among devotees who clearly preferred the traditional Vaishnavites carrying the Lord on their shoulder.”

Teenagers now an integral part 

During this period, the Sripatham team has strengthened significantly with the size having quadrupled. A pleasing feature is the emergence of school and college boys in good numbers and they now constitute almost half of the team. Kedayam and Azhvaar Pallakku serve as the training ground for the beginners and then they graduate to the small vahanas before becoming ‘eligible’ to perform service on the big vahana days.

For 18 year old V. Yathindrapravanan, a second year Engineering Student, while recital of the Vedas and Prabhandham is of prime importance, he makes time every now and then to carry the Lord on his shoulders out of devotional interest. For teenagers like him, performing the Sripatham service also helps builds unity and great team bonding that is likely to hold them in good stead later in life. Working together with such a large team during the utsavams also leads to improvement in their communication skills early in life with many of these youngsters turning extroverts.

This large team bonding has also resulted in forging life time friendship among the members.

All of them are also unmindful of the physical pains that the ten day brings. The swollen shoulders pales into insignificance when compared to the satisfaction they derive from performing this service.

US returned G Parthasarathy is at his best when reciting the Divya Prabhandham and has a differentiated voice. He too offers his services to the Sripatham team and is ever willing to pitch in to carry the Lord on processions when the Sripatham are short on personnel on certain days.

There are auditors, engineers and the self employed among them. All of them make time away from their work schedule to perform this service all through the year.  The work is also not restricted to just the procession, there is a lot pre and post procession work that the Sripatham personnel undertake.

Through a large part of this transformational phase, Ramanujam (Gatting) played an important part ideation and providing solutions to challenges that have come up from time to time over the last 15 years. Despite health challenges, he continues to perform Sripatham service including during the current Brahmotsavam.

From Bangalore for the Big Utsavams

The devotional commitment to the Sripatham service can be seen from the trips Sravankumar Sriram has made in the last many years from Bangalore where he is employed.  During the Brahmotsavams, he is a regular member of the team carrying the Lord on the vahana processions. Presence of service oriented devotees like him have strengthened the Sripatham team in recent years.

All the way from Nanganallur every morning and evening

Soon after the Sabha took over the service, there has been a conscious effort to scale up the team size. As one of the measures, they welcomed Sripatham personnel from Mylapore and Nanganallur.

30 year old Anirudh K Murthy, a MBA from IIT Madras, is a Product Manager in a start up firm. A resident of Nanganallur, he has been performing Sripatham service at Lakshmi Hayagriva temple there from the time he was a school boy. He has been part of the Sripatham team in Thiruvallikeni from 2010 after the Thennacharya Sripatham Sabha took over the Sripatham service there.  

Photo:  S Sampath Kumar

On Saturday morning, he and his Nanganallur team mates made the 18km trip starting at 5am to be on time for the Garuda Sevai procession.  While he began making trips during the two Brahmotsavams a dozen years ago along with a couple of others from Nanganallur, more members have joined in now and on the big days like Garuda Sevai and Yaanai Vahanam procession, there are 15 of them from Nanganallur.

On works days during the Brahmotsavam it is quite challenging for Anirudh for he has to travel back an hour in traffic to Nanganallur after the morning procession and then make his way to work ‘I have sensitized my office regarding the big Utsavam days and to the fact that my presence was likely to be a bit erratic during the Thiruvallikeni Brahmotsavam. I consider it a blessing that just like the Sripatham team members in Thiruvallikeni, the office team mates too have been very considerate that has allowed us to perform this Kainkaryam.”

He looks back with delight at the way the service personnel from Nanganallur have been welcomed “We see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord. Praveen (anna), Gatting (anna) and his team have been open hearted. After a dozen years with them, we feel like we are like their brethren. Every time, we are there for the Brahmotsavam, Praveen (anna) ensures that we are well fed after the procession. Rarely does he allow us to leave without eating food.”

Mylaporean service over the last dozen years

Mylapore resident 29year old Baradwaj has a Masters in Sanskrit and is currently a Sanskrit teacher in a School in the city. He was formerly a cricket coach at the VB Chandrsekar academy and is also a scorer with the TNCA. He has been performing Sripatham service in Thiruvallikeni since the time he was a school boy. 

He is an integral part of the Prabhandham Ghosti at the Madhava Perumal temple in Mylapore but whenever opportunity presents itself, he is in Thiruvallikeni for the Sripatham service “It’s a great blessing to be carrying Parthasarathy Perumal and Thelliya Singar on your shoulders and I am in Thiruvallikeni for all the big Utsavams. We are treated as one among them and its very satisfying that those from Mylapore (there are a few others as well who have been performing this service coming from Mylapore for a long time) have become an integral part of this team.”

From the Temple for their Service

In the decades gone by, the Sripatham personnel used to be presented with a few hundred kgs of rice annually for their service though this has been stopped since 2018. They are also presented with Pongal on most of the mornings of the Brahmotsavam. On the fifth day, on the occasion of Nachiyar Thirukolam, they are presented with Laddu, Vadai and Dosai for their service. 

As the thought process of the traditionilists has been that they are performing this as a service and not for financial remuneration, the Sripatham team has converted the annual payment received from the HR & CE into jewels for Perumal and Thayar including Pathakams and Udiyanams.

Personal accident insurance cover

A few years ago, Insurance expert S Sampath Kumar mooted the idea for an insurance cover for the Sripatham Personnel and helped implement the insurance plan. While this had not been renewed through the Pandemic period, the Sabha is looking to renew the plan once again this year. On occasions like Garuda Sevai and Yaanai Vahanam, the Sripatham Personnel are subject to serious physical injury. Also once a year they carry Parthasarathy Perumal on a long trip to Ekkattuthangal. The insurance cover would provide for any untoward events that occurs during the rendering of their tireless service.

Photo: S Sampath Kumar

Now as strong as the Prabhandham Ghosti 

In the 1990s and 2000s, while the Prabhandham Ghosti was seen in good numbers through the year in all the utsavams, the traditional feature was missing in the Sripatham service. But they have come back with a bang over the last decade or so with a team that is growing in size. A pleasing feature of the trend is the enthusiasm of the teenage boys in taking up the service. Just into their teens, the traditional boys of Thiruvallikenni are being initiated into this service with their parents and family members playing an important part in motivating them towards this devotional service. Early training at this age is ensuring that they are all set, both in terms of physical strength as well as expertise, to carry the Lord on the big vahanas once they are into the late teens. 

From the time, the Vaishnavite Sripatham were outnumbered, they have come a long way building a strong team of around 200 who perform this service for close to 300 days in a year. At a time when the Lord is now carried on wheeled tyres in most Divya Desams including during the annual Brahmotsavam, it is a redeeming feature that historical tradition of the Lord being carried by the Sripatham on their shoulders is being followed to this day in Thiruvallikeni Divya Desam. And with the new gen coming in good numbers to continue this service, it augurs well for the traditional Sripatham Service.

Thiruvahindrapuram Malola Kannan

Back to roots – Covid's Second Wave drives renowned Prabhandham Presenter to his hereditary home at the historical Divya Desam

After 27 long years, Malola Kannan has packed his bags for good and headed back this month to Deiva Nayakan Divya Desam in Thiruvahindrapuram where his forefathers had performed daily service for several centuries

I am looking forward to offering my daily service to Devanatha Perumal and Hayagrivar for the rest of my life - Malola Kannan

In a sudden and unexpected development, the intense second wave and the consequent lockdown in Madras has driven 45 year old Malola Kannan, a world renowned Prabhandham presenter back to his roots at Deiva Nayakan Perumal Divya Desam in Thiruvahindrpuram to perform service to Moovaraagiya Oruvan and Hayagrivar at the historical temple. While reverse migration is currently being spoken about in the corporate world, this one is probably the first in the temple circles of a renowned full time city based Vedic Scholar returning to his hereditary temple town with his entire family. His father, TE Krishna Desikan, now aged 86, was a renowend scholar at this Divya Desam in his hey days and performed service till recently. However, his health has suffered in recent times, is currently immobile and needs personal care. It is great delight to the father that his son has returned to their hereditary home and is now commited to performing daily service at the temple for the rest of his life.

இருந்தண்  மா நிலம்  ஏனம் அது ஆய் 

வளை  மருப்பினில் அகத்து ஒடுக்கி 

கருந்தண் மா கடல்கண் துயின்றவன் இடம் 

கமலநல் மலர்தேறல் அருந்தி 

இன் இசை முரன்றுஎழும் அளிகுலம் 

பொதுளி அம போழிலூட 

செருந்தி நாள்மலர் சென்று அணைந்து உழிதரு 

திருவயிந்திரபுரமே - Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

After early Vedic Initiation from his father, Malola Kannan left the Divya Desam as an eighteen year old to pursue higher Studies in Sanskrit. In the mid 1990s, he studied Mimamsa at the Sanskrit College in Mylapore. Later he pursued MA Sanskrit at the Presidency College and M. Phil at the Madras University. Currently, he is in the final stages of his P. hd at the Tirupathi Vidya Peetam.

                                          TE Krishna Desikan

Talking to this writer from his historical home a few yards from the Devanatha Perumal Temple, Malola Kannan said that till the end of 2020, returning to Thiruvahindrapuram had not been in his plans.

"While I had come to the city to pursue my Sanskrit education, the need for financial stability led me to continue my life in Madras in the 1990s."

However, the intensity of the second wave and the extended lockdown led him to this sudden decision to return ‘HOME’.

“Even in January and February this year, when things were seemingly returning to normal and weddings were back in full swing, I had no plans to return to Thiruvahindrapuram. But finally, the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram has used the intense second wave of Covid-19  and the stringent lockdown in Madras to instill the thought in me that it’s time I returned to my roots and performed daily service here.”

He says he is delighted to return to his home town after close to three decades and to now be able to perform every day service to Devanatha Perumal and Hayagrivar.

Hayagrivar

Malola Kannan belongs to the tenth generation of Vedic Service Providers at this Divya Desam. His daily service at the temple includes presenting flowers to the Lord, reciting the Vedas every morning and evening both at the Perumal Sannidhi as well as at the Hayagriva Sannidhi atop the hill and being present at Satru Murai. 

Popular Prabhandham CDs

Just over 15 years ago, it was Malola Kannan who roped in Navalpakkam Ranganathan (Rangappa) for the presentation of the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham and for its launch in CD format at that time. Prior to that, he had already rendered the entire Vedantha Desikar Stotrams in a solo presentation. He has also presented with Rangappa the now globally popular Desikar Prabhandham and launched in CD format.

Over the last couple of decades, he has also been a much sought after 'Brihaspathi' at Weddings and other functions.

While this section has in the past written several stories on original inhabitants leaving their hereditary towns seeking greener pastures in cities, this move of Malola Kannan to his home town to perform daily service at the Deiva Nayakan Divya Desam.                                                            

Interestingly over the last decade, his elder daughter, Chandmaye, has developed great interest in football and is currently pursuing a worldwide course in Football Analytics (Chandomaye Football). For many years now, his son, Kosagan, just into his teens, has been a full time resident at the Karpagambal Veda Gurukalam in Mylapore and is being initiated into the Vedas by Kannan Ganapadigal.

                   Bespectacled Kosagan is second from right

Malola Kannan has a huge clientele in Madras and says will continue to perform wedding ceremonies “I am only three hours away from Madras and will continue to serve those who have used my services over the last couple of decades. But it is a great feeling to be back at the home where I grew up in the late 1970s and 80s. While I had been here for all the big utsavams in the decades gone by, the opportunity to serve every morning and evenings at the Sannidhi is devotionally exciting.”

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi refers to the Lord of Thiru Vahindrapuram as ‘Moovaraagiya Oruvan’ (Thiru Vahindrapuram Divya Desam).

This move of Malola Kannan to Thiru Vahindrapuram is great news for historical temple towns. A few years ago, this section had written about original inhabitants of Therazhundur Divya Desam (Therazhundur) expressing intent to return to their roots. Hopefully, this move of Malola Kannan will lead a wave of traditionalists returning to their home town for good. 

This section will track the developments on that front.