Thiru Indhalur Parimala Ranganathar Consecration 2026

This Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Divya Desam is at its best in many decades following a mega restoration exercise over the last few years and the recent consecration

It has been a long time coming. Two decades after the previous consecration, the Parimala Ranganatha temple in Thiru Indhalur (Mayiladuthurai), praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, is wearing a new look on a back of a Rs. 1.5crore renovation exercise. Amid the controversies over the last many years surrounding the suspension of a couple of the priests who had been performing service for decades, the consecration earlier this month comes as a breath of fresh air, especially ahead of the Brahmotsavam that will take place next month. It is easily the best that this temple has looked in the last many decades.

எந்தை தந்தை தம்மான் என்றென்று

எமரேழ்  ஏழளவும்

வந்து நின்ற தொண்டரோர்க்கே வாசிவல்லீரால்

சிந்தை தன்னுள் முந்தி நிற்றீர்

சிறிதும் திருமேனி

இந்த வண்ணம் என்று காட்டீர் இந்தளூரீரே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Elastromeric Painting for the first time

A well networked sripatham team along with Sridhar Bhattar and the Sthalathars have worked together in this large scale exercise. The outcome is for all to see and the first fortnight after the consecration has been one of positive feedback from long standing devotees. 

The painting work has been outstanding. One of the sripatham members who runs a tech firm in Mayiladuthurai told this writer that Elastomeric paint was used in this renovation exercise to provide it an everlasting strength.

The entire electrical connection has been redone to match with the new technology. The entire temple complex now shines bright with LED lights, quite contrasted with the darkish zone in the past. 

The roof above the Moolavar Sannidhi has been strengthened to prevent leaks during the rains which the temple experienced in the past. The flooring around the prakara too wears a new look. It is the cleanest that the temple has been in years. The external walls had been in bad shape with broken pieces. These too have been completely repaired and the temple complex presents a bright picture.

The Vaikunta Ekadasi, Panguni Uthiram and Vahana Mandapams had all been in damaged condition and each of these has been repaired.

Chandran’s Curse 

The story goes that Chandran (Moon God) fell in love with his preceptor Brihaspati’s wife Tara and eloped with her, in the absence of his Guru. When Brihaspati found his wife missing, he sought the help of Brahmma who asked Tara to return to her husband. Later, when Tara’s pregnancy came to light, a furious Brihaspati cursed Chandra to deformity saying that the biggest sin of life is to caste one’s eyes on another’s spouse and that Chandran would have to undergo the full severity of the curse for having cast his eyes wrongfully on another's wife.

Another story goes that Dakshan was so taken in by Chandran’s handsome features that he decided to make him the suitor for his 27daughters. However, Chandran was interested only in one of the daughters, Rohini and mockingly ignored the others. Dakshan found that the handsome looks had made Chandran too arrogant and cursed him to immediately lose his youth and his strong luring features.

Repenting for wrongly casting his eye on another man’s wife, Chandran requested Brihaspati to provide him an opportunity for performing parikara that could help him cleanse his grave sins.

3Phased Parikara

As part of the 3 fold parikara, Chandra undertook penance here at Thiru Indhalur after bathing at the sacred Theertham, invoking the blessings of Lord Vishnu. Answering his prayers, Lord appeared before him and agreed to liberate him from part of the sins.(The story goes that Chandran went to Thalai Changa Naan Mathiyam, another Divya Desam about 15 East of Thiru Indhalur, where he was fully liberated from his curse and dosham).Pleased with being partly liberated from his curse, Chandran (another name of Chandran is Indhu) requested that this place be called Indhalur in his memory.

Restoration of the Madapalli

The madapalli had been in a bad shape in the past. This too has received a facelift with new flooring. At a time when historical temples are facing challenges relating to the presence of a full time madapalli cook, Kumar has been a strong presence at the Madapalli over the last dozen plus years. Hailing from Thiru Nangur, he had been initially supporting the temple during the big utsavams in Panguni and Aippasi. Impressed with his commitment, the temple roped him for a full time role at the Madapalli. He has learned on the job and now makes a wide ranging variety of sacred food during the big utsavams in addition to the Thaligai each day of the year. 

He told this writer that he is happy that he has been blessed with a Divya Desam Kainkaryam. From a monthly salary of under Rs. 1500 over a decade ago, he now receives a sizeable salary much to his delight. He resides in a temple quarters opposite the temple which is another positive as there is no travel time involved in arriving at the temple on important festive occasions.

Argument between Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Lord Parimala Rangan

When ThiruMangai Azhvaar reached Indhalur, Lord Parimala Rangan shut the door on him reasoning that he was late. Upset at this, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar argued vehemently with Parimala Ranganatha. When a friend keeps a thing that we want and does not want to share with us, we typically say ‘Keep it to yourself’ in jest. Similarly, here, with the Lord not allowing Thirumangai Azhvaar an entry into the temple, the Azhvaar asked Parimala Rangan to keep all his beauty to himself and to enjoy it on his own.ThiruMangai Azhvaar goes on to argue that the world would talk about the Lord in bad light as he shut the door on him.

Despite repeated attempts to impress the Lord to allow him an entry, Parimala Rangan maintains his silence. A dejected and frustrated Thiru Mangai Azhvaar decided that he would leave the place as the Stubborn Lord was permitting Darshan.

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says ‘வாசி வல்லீர் இந்தளுரீர் வாழ்ந்தே போம்நீரே….’ to mean that ‘I am leaving, you yourself live here and enjoy life’.

Sensing that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar would actually leave the place without praising him enough, Lord Parimala Rangan tries to prolong the argument and asks him to sing praise of him. Thiru Mangai Azhvaar replies saying “How can I shower praise on you when you do not allow me to see you”. Lord Parimala Rangan says “You who have sung praises of other Lords, sitting in your place, do sing praise of me too so I can happily listen to your sweet songs.” Thiru Mangai Azhvaar finally fell for it and composed verses of praise on Parimala Rangan.

In this new phase for this Divya Desam, R Parimala Ranganathan (Sukumaran) Dikshithar from Mannargudi who had been away in Bombay and other temples across the country for three decades has made his way back to Thiru Indhalur and well into his 70s now shares the monthly service with Sridhar Bhattar, who had played second fiddle to Ranga Mapillai Bhattar and Muralidhara Dikshithar for many years.

சொல்லாது ஒழியகில்லேன் அறிந்த சொல்லில்

நும்மடியார் எல்லோரோடும் ஓக்க எண்ணியிருந்தீர் அடியேனை

நல்லார் அறிவீர் தீயார் அறிவீர்

நமக்கு இவ்வுலகத்து எல்லாம் அறிவீர்

ஈதே அறியீர், இந்தளூரீரே

Two Priests carrying this temple in its new phase

Sukumaran Dikshithar underwent agama initiation at Tirupathi and Srirangam Patshalas before learning the practical lessons from the revered Kannan Bhattar (Vasan Bhattar’s appa) of Therazhundur Divya Desam. Following these, he joined Thiru Indhalur Divya Desam in 1969 a couple of years after the Samprokshanam and performed archaka service for close to 25years. In the early 1990s, given the extreme financial challenges at this Divya Desam, he moved to Thiruchanur to perform service there and then later performed service at Andavan Ashramam administered temples in Bombay, MP, UP and Bihar and was thus away from this Divya Desam for over 25years before his return to Thiru Indhalur following the suspension of his nephew Muralidhara Dikshithar last decade. 

Hailing from Thiru Nangur, Sridhar Bhattar too went to the Patshala in Srirangam and Kanchipuram to learn the Pancharatra Agama. While he had remained in the background for a long time, his many years of quiet and selfless service is now paying rich dividend and he now plays a lead role at the temple along with Sukumaran Bhattar.

These two priests are now taking this temple into this glorious phase where the temple is seeing a positive revival both in terms of infrastructure as well as devotee support.

Parimala Ranganatha temple is located 2kms North of the Mayiladuthurai bus stand on the Northern banks of Cauvery. This is a Pancha Ranga Kshetram where the Lord is seen in a grand Veera Sayana Posture displaying his four hands. The other Pancha Kshetrams are Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Srirangapatnam Ranganatha, Koviladi Appaala Ranganatha and Kumbakonam Madhya Rangam (Sarangapani temple).

An Auto from the bus stand will cost Rs. 80/- and from the Railway station, the usual charge is around Rs. 120. Contact:8122235403

Cab around Mayiladuthurai divya desams: jayaraj@ 97887 76365

Chidambaram Divya Desam Brahmotsavam Revival

HR & CE Minister Sekar Babu is keen to revive the Brahmotsavam at Govindaraja Perumal Temple in Chidambaram but Temple Activist TR Ramesh is clear that the Utsavam cannot take place at the temple owned by Pothu Dikshithars

In early 2018, this writer was at the through the night procession from the Govindaraja Perumal temple in Chidambaram to Killai, 15kms away for the Theerthavari Utsavam on the occasion of Maasi Magam Utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/04/chidambaram-maasi-magam-utsavam_13.html). It is the longest street procession at this Divya Desam , with Perumal leaving the temple at 6pm with the Theerthavari at Killai at 6am the next morning. The then 85 year old Theerthakarar Prof AV Rangachari had told this writer that he was delighted that this historical utsavam could take place and the night long procession could be continued at this point of time. Six months prior, in a long chat with this writer in front of the Thayar Sannidhi, he had also expressed as one of his life time wishes the revival of the Brahmotsavam that had not been conducted in the 20th Century.

Prof AVR has several accomplishments to his credit at the Govindaraja Perumal temple where he had been closely associated for over seven decades but the non-conduct of the Brahmotsavam has always remained a sore point for him. He had made several attempts but the Brahmotsavam did not seem to be in sight.

ஊன்வாட உண்ணாது உயிர் காவல் இட்டு

உடலில் பிரியாப் புலன் ஐந்தும் நொந்து

தாம் வாடத் தவம் செய்ய வேண்டா

தமதா இமையோர் உலகு ஆளாகிற்பீர்

கான் ஆட மஞ்சைக் கணம் ஆட மாடே

கயல் ஆடு கால் நீர்ப் பழனம் புடைபோய்த்

தேன் ஆட மாடக்  கொடி ஆடு

தில்லை திருச்சித்ரகூடம் சென்று சேர்மின்களே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

HRCE Commissioner order the Conduct of the Brahmotsavam

After several years of back and forth on this issue, the Commissioner of the HRCE (while the Sabanayakar temple is managed by the Pothu Dikshithars, the Perumal Koil is administered by the HRCE) issued an order, in February, for the conduct of the Brahmotsavam with the dates for the ten day utsavam being fixed for this Vaikasi (May 20 to 29).

Minister keen to revive the Brahmotsavam

HRCE Minister PK Sekar Babu has been at loggerheads with the Chidambaram temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/chidambaram-dikshithars-hrce-battle.html) in recent times including on the issue relating to public darshan at the Kanakasabhai. This section had featured a story on that issue in July last year. He has now taken special interest in the revival of the Brahmotsavam at the Perumal temple and is keen for this to be conducted from this year. 

He told this writer on Friday morning that this is a temple praised by the Vaishnavite Saint Poets and the temple had seen glorious times in the past “Should a Brahmotsavam not be conducted in a Divya Desam like this. Is it not good for this historical temple? Devotees have asked me as to why the big annual utsavam is not conducted in this temple and that is the reason for my interest to revive the Brahmotsavam at this Divya Desam.”

The start of the Utsavam is just a fortnight away as per the order of the Commissioner but there are already several challenges including question marks over the very conduct of the Brahmotsavam.

Brahmotsavam cannot be conducted- TR Ramesh

Temple Activist and President of the Temple Worshippers Society TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) was instrumental in securing back for the Pothu Dikshithars their ownership rights of the Sabanayakar temple over a decade ago. He has filed a case in the Madras High Court against the utsavam being commenced now and is clear that one point alone is enough for the Brahmotsavam to not be started now or anytime in the future “In 1918, representatives of the Govindaraja Perumal temple filed a case regarding issues relating to keys of the temple gates being with the Dikshithars and the resultant challenges in them being able to perform poojas during utsavam times. After hearing all the parties on this issue, the court issued an order in 1920 wherein it said that the Brahmotsavam had not been celebrated in recent memory. In fact, in 1860, the Perumal temple authorities had given up the right of celebrating the Brahmotsavam. This is mainly a Saivite temple and the Dikshithars would open and close the gates for utsavams as existing at that point of time (in 1920)."

As per this 1920 judgement, the festivals of the Perumal temple had been finalised and the civil right of both sides clearly demarked. At that time there was no Brahmotsavam and as per the judgement, no new utsavams involving long street processions that go into late night could be conducted. No one went on appeal for any length of time after this judgement. Matter had been finally decided in 1920 and this cannot be reopened now after over a100 years”, Ramesh told this writer on Friday.

As an additional point to strengthen his argument, he said that a temple practice that was not in vogue in 1947 cannot be started afresh now. "No new innovation is possible in temples and for that reason, the Brahmotsavam cannot be newly initiated now.”

மூவாயிரம் நான்மறையாளர் 

நாளும் முறையால் வணங்க

அணங்கு ஆய சோதித் 

தேவாதிதேவன் திகழ் கின்ற 

தில்லை திருச்சித்ர கூடம் சென்று சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

செந்தளிர்வாய் மலர் நகை சேர் செழுந்தண்  சோலைத் 

தில்லை நகர் திரு சித்திரகூடந் தன்னுள் 

அந்தணர்கள் ஒரு மூவாயிரவர் ஏத்த 

அணிமணி ஆசனத்து இருந்த அம்மான் தானே- Kulasekara Azhvaar

No place for Perumal Vahanas inside the temple complex

There are other issues as well. The priest at the Govindaraja Perumal temple told this writer earlier this week that all the vahanas are at the Ramar temple on the West Street “We need a place for the Vahanas to be kept inside the temple complex and Pothu Dikshithars have to provide us that space.”

Why is the activist stopping the Brahmotsavam in a Divya Desam

Like he has in the past, Sekar Babu hit out at the temple activist when talking to this writer this morning “If we get the Brahmotsavam going at the Chidambaram Perumal temple, it will be seen as us working towards the welfare of the Hindu devotees as well as the development of the temples in TN. The temple activist does not want us to revive this utsavam as it will be an important positive development for this Divya Desam and a success for the HR & CE. But we will ensure that this utsavam takes place with the appropriate order of the High Court.”

Ramesh told this writer this week that this is Pothu Dikshithar’s temple and they hold all the rights at this temple. “Any activity within the temple can be done only with their permission" says Ramesh.

He is clear that the HR & CE cannot go ahead with the Utsavam as per the Commissioner’s order “They have no right to conduct the utsavam and I will not allow that to happen.”

The court case was slated for this week but has now been adjourned to May 10, just ten days before the Brahmotsavam is expected to begin.

While the recital of the Prabhandham and Vedas is an issue at the upcoming Vaikasi Brahmotsavam at the Varadaraja Perumal Divya Desam in Kanchipuram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/11/108-divya-desam-thirukachi-athigiri.html), the very conduct of the Brahmotsavam at the Govindaraja Perumal temple in Chidambaram is an issue that will soon come up at the court. Both these issues are likely to see some decisions at the court over the next fortnight.

Ramesh willing to help Chidambaram Perumal Trustees

While the conduct of the Brahmotsavam is a specific pooja - utsavam related issue at the Chidambaram Perumal temple with the HRCE minister keen for the utsavam to be revived, Ramesh has a larger goal in sight. He told this writer that he is eager and willing to help the trustees of Govindaraja Perumal temple and free them from Govt control just like he had done a decade ago at the Sabanayakar temple. And then the Pothu Dikshithars and the Perumal Bhattars can work closely amongst themselves. While the immediate task for the Perumal temple priests and trustees is to see if the Brahmotsavam can be revived for the devotees to enjoy Vahana processions, Ramesh has given them something to ponder over and for them to see if they would like to take his offer to help them.

This section will track the developments at the Chidambaram temple.

Thiru Indhalur Divya Desam Priests

The two dominating priests of the last two decades at Parimala Ranganathar temple in Thiru Indhalur have had to take a back seat in recent times 

Sridhar Bhattar, who played second fiddle for two decades, takes over the reign at this historical temple

Hailing from Thiru Nangur, Sridhar Bhattar quit school when he was ten years and went to the Patshala in srirangam to learn the Pancharatra Agama. He also learned the agama in the Patshala in Kanchipuram. Given the challenging times in Indhalur, he spent his early years at temple in Bombay and other locations. His uncle had no son and handed over his archaka kainkaryam to him. For almost two decades, Sridhar Bhattar played second fiddle to Ranga Mapillai Bhattar and Muralidhara Deekshithar until things turned for the worse for this Divya Desam last decade. First, Ranga Bhattar and more recently Muralidhara Deekshithar had to make their way out following court cases against them.

சொல்லாது ஒழியகில்லேன் அறிந்த சொல்லில் 

நும்மடியார் எல்லோரோடும் ஓக்க எண்ணியிருந்தீர் அடியேனை 

நல்லார் அறிவீர் தீயார் அறிவீர் 

நமக்கு இவ்வுலகத்து எல்லாம் அறிவீர் 

ஈதே அறியீர், இந்தளூரீரே 

In this same phase, Muralidhara Deekshithar’s uncle R Parimala Ranganathan (Sukumaran) Dikshithar from Mannargudi who had been away in Bombay and other temples across the country for three decades made his way back to Thiru  Indhalur. The suspension of Muralidhara Deekshithar led to Sukumaran Bhattar returning to pick back his archaka service at Parimala Rangan Divya Desam that had until then been taken care of by the former.

It was Ranga Bhattar who brought in devotees to the temple at the turn of the century and revived interest in this divya desam.  Muralidhara Deekshithar slogged his way at the temple and everything seemed in order until the court case against them took a turn for the worse.

Sridhar Bhattar now plays the lead role

While Sridhar Bhattar was present all through these two decades, he remained in the background. And now for all his silent service, he has become the lead priest at this Divya Desam performing 15days service at the Perumal sannidhi and another 15days at the Hanuman Sannidhi opposite the temple. He says that his responsibilities have suddenly increased for he has to now rope in devotees for utsavams and to support the Go Shala at the temple but he is geared for this role. It has been over two decades since the last consecration and Balalayam has just been performed. Sridhar Bhattar will also have to bring in devotees for the renovation exercise. He is confident that he will be able to handle this as well. His son who has completed his graduation and is currently undergoing agama initiation at the Nangur Patshala, decorates Parimala Ranganathar during the Utsavams. Sridhar Bhattar is hopeful that his son will soon join him at the Divya Desam Kainkaryam. He himself wants to spend the rest of his life at this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple. 

Sukumaran Dikshithar  goes North in the 1990s

Parimala Ranganatha ‘Sukumaran’ Dikshithar underwent agama initiation at Tirupathi and Srirangam Patshalas before learning the practical lessons from the revered Kannan Bhattar (Vasan Bhattar’s appa) of Therazhundur Divya Desam. Following these, he joined Thiru Indhalur Divya Desam in 1969 a couple of years after the Samprokshanam and performed archaka service for close to 25years. It was a financial struggle in that phase “There were no devotees but all the priests were devoted to Parimala Rangan." 

He had to take care of five daughters and the financially situation was getting extremely challenging at Thiru Indhalur. In the early 1990s, he moved to Thiruchanur to perform service there and then later performed service at Andavan Ashramam administered temples in Bombay, MP, UP and Bihar and was thus away from this Divya Desam for over 25years. 

எந்தை தந்தை தம்மான் என்றென்று 

எமரேழ்  ஏழளவும் 

வந்து நின்ற தொண்டரோர்க்கே வாசிவல்லீரால் 

சிந்தை தன்னுள் முந்தி நிற்றீர் 

சிறிதும் திருமேனி 

இந்த வண்ணம் என்று காட்டீர் இந்தளூரீரே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Back at the Divya Desam after almost three decades

Now in his 70s, Sukumaran Dikshithar is back at this temple to perform archaka service once again. A lot has changed at the temple from the time he first took over in the late 1960s. Most of the original inhabitants have left this Divya Desam. There are only a couple of adyapakas and theerthakarars who are now permanent residents. Ranga Bhattar and Muralidhara Dikshithar are under suspension. The popular Tula Utsavam in Aippasi will not see street processions this year as the renovation exercise is on.

It is interesting times for this Divya Desam praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi and one would have to wait and watch as to how the court case unfolds and if the suspended priests will make a comeback someday. Until then, Sridhar Bhattar will enjoy a full-fledged role at this Divya Desam with all the responsibilities bestowed on him. He had been serving silently since the time he joined this temple over two decades ago. His elevation and now playing the lead role is a way of Parimala Ranganathar blessing a sincere kainkaryapaka who performed his archaka service for a long time almost unnoticed.

Sirkazhi Thadalan Temple Sudarshan Kainkaryapaka

Sudarshan joined Badri Narayanan Bhattar at Kazhi Cheerama Trivikrama Divya Desam from Kalyanapuram and has been his right hand man for the last 20 years

Two decades ago, the then 20 year old Sudarshan was sent by his appa Kannan to Nachiyar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/12/thiru-naraiyur-nachiyar-koil-utsavam.html) to perform support services at the consecration event. Hailing from Thuraiyur near Thiru Vellarai Pundarikakshan Divya Desam and having had his education at the Oriental school in Madurantakam, he was performing service at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Kalyanapuram at that time along with his appa. 

In those few days, Gopinathan Bhattar of Nachiyar Koil (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html) was impressed with the selfless service efforts of Sudarshan at the Samprokshanam and directed him to Thadalan Divya Desam where Badri Narayanan Bhattar was performing archaka service all alone without any support.

From Kalyanapuram to Thadalan Divya Desam

And thus quite unexpectedly and out of the blue, he moved to Sirkazhi for Divya Desam kainkaryam. Since then he has been the right hand man for Badri Bhattar. Sudarshan credits Badri Narayanan Bhattar for everything in his life “He taught me the agamas and the Thiru Aradhanam Kramam. I have stayed in his house for the last 20 years and he has seen me as an integral member of his family. ”

He takes care of the daily aradhanam at this Divya Desam whenever Badri Bhattar is away at Utsavams and consecrations in other temples. During this phase, he has also become an alankaram expert and takes great pride in decorating Thadalan Perumal during the Vaikasi Brahmotsavam. When he was in his teens, Sudarshan did not visualize a lifetime of Kainkaryam at a Divya Desam. Today, at 40, he does not have a life outside of Kainkaryam at the feet of Thadalan Perumal for he is fully immersed in his service at this Divya Desam.

Sirkazhi Thadalan Divya Desam Badri Narayanan Bhattar

Following in the footsteps of his forefathers, Badri Bhattar has been performing archaka service for almost three decades at the Trivikrama temple

Right from his childhood, Badri Narayanan Bhattar had become devotionally attached to the Kazhicheerama Vinnagaram Divya Desam. His appa the legendary Seshadri Bhattar had performed Kainkaryam through the dark decades in financially challenging times but despite that gave him a stern message before he took the call to don the role of an archaka “Remember that Trivikrama had crushed Bali in a fraction of a second. Perform kainkaryam with sincerity all through your life and always remember that Perumal is watching over you from not far. There may be ups and downs in life. This is a public place. Devotees may criticize you sometimes even unfairly but you should continue to perform your service to the Lord in the same way unmindful of praises and criticisms that come your way. If you are ready to follow this all through your life, I will hand the keys to you. Else, you can find another field to work” Badri Narayanan Bhattar told this writer on a weekday when there were just a couple of devotees through the entire morning session. 

"I was just a teenager and this strong message from my appa had a big positive impact on me. I nodded to him that I would follow his instructions. From the time I took up the role of an archaka at this Divya Desam, I took the oath in front of Perumal that I will perform my Kainkaryam sincerely every day of my life and that I would take the highs and lows in my stride", he says looking back with great delight on the day his appa handed over the reigns to him.

Forefathers took over in the 19th century

Badri Bhattar’s forefathers hailed from Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam about 10kms east of the Trivikrama temple. When they were in need of a priest, Chola Simhapuram Koil Kanthaadai Chantamaarutham Swami Dhoddayacharyar(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/03/sholingur-narasimha-at-thiru-kadigai.html), who are the hereditary trustees of the temple, reached out the Great Great Grand Father of Badri Bhattar asking if he would take charge as the priest. And that’s how he has come to be the fifth in their generation to perform archaka service at this Divya Desam. 

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's praise

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, who was about ten kms from here at Thiru Kuraiyalur, referred to the Lord as Thaadalan in his ten verses of praise in the Periya Thirumozhi.

ஒரு குறளாய்  இரு நிலம் மூவடி மண் வேண்டி 
உலகு அனைத்தும் ஈர் அடியாள் ஒடுக்கி ஒன்றும் தருக
ஏனா மாவழிய சிறையில்  வைத்த 
தாடாளன் தாள் அணைவீர் 

தக்க கீர்த்தி அரு மறையின்
திரள் நான்கும் வேள்வி ஐந்தும்
அங்கங்கள் அவை ஆறும் இசைகள் ஏழும்

தெருவில் மலி விழா வளமும் சிறக்கும்
காழிச்சீராம வின்னகரே சேர்மின் நீரே  Periya Thirumozhi 3- 4-1

Early initiation into Vaikanasa Agama

He learned the Tharka Sastra at the Oriental school in Madurantakam and later Vaikanasa Agama from his appa who certified scores of archakas across the region on the agama. Badri Bhattar’s anna Pichumani Bhattar was the one, along with Gopinathan Bhattar, who created the special seven time parikara pooja for Kal Garuda at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam. Unfortunately he died of a heart attack in the 1990s. Badri Bhattar took charge of the Trivikrama Sannidhi in his late teens.

Doddacharyas take good care of the archaka and paricharaka

The trend from the 1970s and 80s continued into the decade when he took over. There was no crowd and no Thattu Kaasu. The streets around the temple was full of Vaishnavites but they had all long gone. They sold their ancestral homes in the agraharam and went away seeking greener pastures. Financially well off now, they want to buy back their traditional homes but there are no sellers!!! 

When this priest family took charge, the Doddacharyas, who hail from Sholingur Divya Desam had given them a house on the South Street. The temple prasadam was also in good quality in those days and thus the priest family lived a contended life. "Doddacharyas have been very kind to our family. Though there is not much income from the temple, they have taken good care of us over the last 150 years" says Badri Bhattar.

His appa was a legend in Vaikanasa Agama and every budding priest looked up to him for training. He had anchored over fifty Samprokshanams during his lifetime.

                                      Seshadri Bhattar

Badri Bhattar’s clan have been the Vaideeha Archaka at Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam and all the big Utsavams there have been anchored by Badri Bhattar over the last two decades. He also dons the role of Vaideeha archaka in around 20 temples in the region and the Sambhavanai from those annual utsavams keeps him going financially. He has also anchored over 50 consecrations in Perumal temples.

No Crowd but he has a Thiru Aradhanam to perform

It’s a Thursday and there are not more than two devotee families since the time he entered the temple in the morning. Badri Bhattar points to this writer that this has been the trend for the last three decades since the time he took over but he continues the Thiru Aradhanam and presentation of Thaligai in a devotional way “Till under two decades ago, there were not even those who visited ‘Divya Desams’. Now there are devotees on Friday and Saturday but for rest of the week there only is very minimal crowd and I sit in front of the Sannidhi waiting endlessly for the next devotee. That for most part remains elusive on weekdays.”

Thai Amavasai, the day of the 11 Garuda Sevai in Thiru Nangur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/thiru-nangur-11-garuda-sevai.html), Vaikunta Ekadasi, the only day when the devotees are able to have darshan of the Standing Perumal's feet, the enactment of Vedu Pari at Thiruvali Thirunagari (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/04/vedu-pari-thiruvali-thirunagari.html) and Puratasi Saturdays are the big days in the year when there is a sizeable crowd at this temple.

A devotionally committed Madapalli Paricharakar

Interestingly, unlike many other remote Divya Desams, he has had a long standing Paricharaka, Ravi, who has been here for the last dozen years undertaking the sacred role at the madapalli. Badri Bhattar is delighted that cooking continues to take place in the traditional way using the firewood. After performing his kainkaryam in the morning at this temple, Ravi Paricharakar goes around in his two wheeler to ten other nearby village temples before returning to this Divya Desam for Uchi Kaalam Thaligai.

Thadalan blesses decades long Bhagavathar

Badri Bhattar narrates an episode from the decades gone by to reiterate the power of Thadalan “Govindarajan Bhagavathar was most devoted to Trivikrama Perumal and performed pushpa kainkaryam for over five decades. He would go around in his cycle every morning and bring back flowers that he would knot and present to the Lord. A day before his death, the TVS family had darshan here and presented huge garlands. When his grandson came that morning and informed about the death, I presented that huge garland to be placed on him. It was Thadalan’s way to recognize his decades long Kainkaryam.”

Family Support

He married the sister of Gopi Bhattar of Nachiyar Koil (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/nachiyar-koil-gopi-bhattar.html), who is single handedly anchoring the renovation exercise there, when he was still in his late teens. He says that she has been a great support in his devotional endeavour and motivated him to remain committed to Thaadalan Perumal even during the financially tough times. She told this writer that they are also encouraging their teenage daughter to be as traditional as possible and devoted to the Perumal.

Utsavams Continue without a break

Despite the financial challenges, the utsavams had continued without a break through the second half of the previous century. In addition to the Brahmotsavam, the avatharam days of all the azhvaars and acharyas are celebrated at this temple. Badri Narayana Bhattar expresses delight at this "This temple and Thiruvali Thirunagari have been the only two temples in this region where the Brahmotsavam had not come to a halt even during the lowest phase. Doddacharya's message has always been that every historical utsavam should take place without a break."

Thirumangai’s 8 different names referred here at this place

From the sacred verse in the Periya Thirumozhi relating to this Divya Desam one gets the eight different names of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar - Aali Naadan, Arul Maari, Aratha Mukki, Adayar Seeyam, Kongumalar Kuzhaliyar Vel, Mangai Venthan, Parakaalan and Kaliyan.

“…..ஆலி நாடன் அருள் மாரி  அரட்டு அமுக்கி 

அடையார்  சீயம் கொங்குமலர்க் குழலியர் 

வேள் மங்கை வேந்தன் 

கொற்ற வேல்

பரகாலன் கலியன் சொன்ன………" Periya Thirumozhi 3-4-10

Thiruppani Works

Its been over two decades since the last consecration. The Raja Gopuram wears a faded look. The huge tank at the West end too is in a poor condition. The repair works at the temple will cost well over a crore. The entire flooring has to be replaced. The refurbishing of the sacred tank alone is expected to cost around Rs. 30Lakhs. The Chariot had become dilapidated and stopped running around the four streets a few decades ago. A new chariot is currently being built and hopefully the Chariot Festival will be revived in the near future. Velukkudi Krishnan is a disciple of Doddacharya.  Badri Bhattar says that he is hopeful that the Popular Upanyasakar will take care of a large part of the restoration exercise that is expected to start in early 2024.

Devotionally Committed to Thadalan

It is 12noon and he performs the Uchi Kaalam Pooja at Perumal, Thayar, Andal and Manavala Mamuni Sannidhis. There is no devotee in sight as he shuts the door at the temple and heads back home. He has long got used to this daily routine. But as committed to his appa three decades ago, crowd or the lack of it, praise or criticism, Badri Narayanan Bhattar goes about his Kainkaryam without any fuss. In many remote temples, the priests have made their way away from their hereditary locations and many are feeling a shortage of quality archakas. Right from his childhood, Thaadala Perumal had meant everything to Badri Bhattar. In a couple of years, he will turn fifty and would have served full time at this sannidhi for three decades. He says that till the time his body allows him, he will carry out this Kainkaryam in the same devotional way his forefathers had for well over a century. 

Chidambaram Divya Desam Next Gen Govindarajan Bhattar

Commerce Post Grad lets go Auditor dream to take up Hereditary Archaka Service at Govindaraja Perumal Sannidhi

At a time when the next gen is moving away from temple service into the corporate world, a young 22 year old Post Grad has bucked that trend and taken a big call to continue the family’s hereditary archaka service. As a teenager he wanted to become an auditor, but Govindarajan Bhattar has let go of that dream and joined his appa Balaji Bhattar at the Govindarajan Perumal Divya Desam in Chidambaram. Interestingly, his parents have also found a traditional girl from Nanguneri Divya Desam who was willing to marry a Bhattar with a tuft. 

It was not all rosy for the family in the past. Balaji Bhattar’s great grandfather had been an archaka at the Kaazhicheerama Vinnagaram Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/05/kaazhicheeraama-vinnagaram.html) and came to perform service at Govindaraja Perumal Sannidhi a century ago when this Divya Desam was short on priests. Historically, there were two archaka clans – one interestingly from Thiru Vahindrapuram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/08/thiru-vahindrapuram-andhra-priests-10.html) and the other from Chidambaram Devasthanam. In the early 1980s, the Devasthanam Murai priests gave up their service and went away seeking greener pastures.

A Double blow to Balaji Bhattar

Balaji Bhattar’s appa Krishnamurthy Bhattar took charge of the Devasthanam days of service. By the end of that decade, Balaji Bhattar had completed diploma in Civil Engineering and much like his son, a few years ago, wanted to get into the corporate world, given the financial challenges relating to temple service. It had been tough times at the temple in the 1970s and 80s and his appa had taken loans for the marriage of his daughters. As was the trend then, Balaji Bhattar too wanted to move away from temple service. But his appa suffered a heart attack and passed away when he was just 52years. A month later his amma too passed away. It was a double blow to the young teenager and he put aside his corporate plans to continue the hereditary service.

ஊன்வாட உண்ணாது உயிர் காவல் இட்டு

உடலில் பிரியாப் புலன் ஐந்தும் நொந்து

தாம் வாடத் தவம் செய்ய வேண்டா

தமதா இமையோர் உலகு ஆளாகிற்பீர்

கான் ஆட மஞ்சைக் கணம் ஆட மாடே

கயல் ஆடு கால் நீர்ப் பழனம் புடைபோய்த்

தேன் ஆட மாடக்  கொடி ஆடு

தில்லை திருச்சித்ரகூடம் சென்று சேர்மின்களே- Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

He had learned learned the agamas from Manivannan Bhattar,  Pooja Kramam from Seshadri Bhattar of Thadalan Divya Desam, Sirkazhi and Suktas from Kasturi Sastrigal. For almost 15years, Balaji Bhattar performed service at this Divya Desam before a big tragedy struck for the second time in his life.

Balaji Bhattar loses his leg

At the turn of the century, when things were just beginning to look up at the temple with the devotional wave catching up in TN temples, Balaji Bhattar suffered another blow and lost his right leg in a road accident. Like Srikanthan Bhattar of Sirupuliyur Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/08/sirupuliyur-divya-desam.html), he fixed an artificial leg but his movement was severely restricted. 

Balaji Bhattar credits Trustee AV Rangachari (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/chidambaram-thillai-thiru-chitrakoodam.html) for reposing the faith in his devotional service “The trustees had a discussion about the future of my temple service and AVR insisted that I continue the service. It was he who had the faith in my ability to discharge my duties as an archaka. I appointed assistant priests to support me and that is how it has progressed over the last two decades.”

Challenges in the archaka space

Right from his childhood, motivated primarily by his amma, Govindarajan Bhattar had been supporting his injured appa in temple service. But as has been the trend in TN temples in recent decades, he too was keen on exploring a career outside of the temple space given the uncertainty of the archaka role and the constant external threat. It is also a physical demanding exercise.

Balaji Bhattar, who has continued for over two decades despite his physical challenges says that archaka service takes a physical toll on the body over time "With huge crowd visiting the Sannidhi now, it becomes very tiring for a priest to be present non stop for six hours from 6am. On Thirumanjanam days, especially when there was a shortage of priests, we were completely drained out. Having seen my appa in service and having myself experienced this over a long three decades period, I was keen for my son to go the corporate way as I believed that it would lead long term financial security."

Son surprises his appa

But much to his surprise, his son has chosen to continue the hereditary service and eased himself into the traditional attire. 53 year old Balaji Bhattar has initiated his son into the Koil Kramam and he is now fully equipped to perform Kalyana Utsavam as well as take care of other Utsavams on his own at this Divya Desam. There is no Brahmotsavam at this Divya Desam but there are utsavams round the year including the night long trip to the Eastern Sea Shore in Maasi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/04/chidambaram-maasi-magam-utsavam_13.html) and the Navarathri Celebrations in Puratasi when on the last day, Thayar goes to the Perumal Sannidhi for the only time in the year. Dolotsavam in Aipasi, Panguni Uthiram, Gokulashtami and Aani Jeshtabhisekam are also celebrated in a grand way at the temple.

3000 Vedic Seers at this Divya Desam

This is a Divya Desam where over a thousand years ago, 3000 Vedic Seers offered worship every day at the feet of  Lord Devathi Devan here at Chidambaram as seen from the verses of praise by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Kulasekara Azhvaar.

மூவாயிரம் நான்மறையாளர் 

நாளும் முறையால் வணங்க

அணங்கு ஆய சோதித் 

தேவாதிதேவன் திகழ் கின்ற 

தில்லை திருச்சித்ர கூடம் சென்று சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

செந்தளிர்வாய் மலர் நகை சேர் செழுந்தண்  சோலைத் 

தில்லை நகர் திரு சித்திரகூடந் தன்னுள் 

அந்தணர்கள் ஒரு மூவாயிரவர் ஏத்த 

அணிமணி ஆசனத்து இருந்த அம்மான் தானே- Kulasekara Azhvaar

A sudden transformation

Govindarajan Bhattar is happy with the self transformation that saw let go his interest in a corporate career. He says that though he wanted to become an auditor, he realised by the time he completed his graduation that service to Govindaraja Perumal and Pundarika Valli Thayar was bigger than any other work. It was this realisation that led him to give up his dream of working in the audit space and taking to service at the feet of the Divya Desam Lord "There was the temptation earlier when I was in my teens to get into the financial sector but by the time I turned 20, I found clarity in my thought process and decided that archaka service was going to be my way of life and there was nothing bigger than Divya Desam Kainkaryam. I am now fully involved with my  role as an archaka with 30 days of service at the Perumal Sannidhi followed by a full 30days at the Thayar Sannidhi."

While his forefathers went through financially challenging times in the century gone by, Govindarajan Bhattar is happy with the way Thillai Chitrakoota Perumal has taken care of him "We are financially well off and service at the feet of Perumal & Thayar has provided a great deal of satisfaction and contentment. My wife has also been a great motivator and her backing has made me even more confident that I have made the right choice."

Earlier this year, the next gen (son of the priest) at Thiruvali Thirunagari Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/11/thirunagari-thirumangai-azhvaar-utsavam.html), not far from here, made his way into a multi national firm after completing his Engineering. Likewise in other temples too in Tamil Nadu, the next gen is taking to professional degrees in academics and moving into the corporate world.  But there are still a few like Govindarajan Bhattar who are choosing archaka service as a way of life and that is heartening for devotees (Rahul Bhattar of Thenthiruperai is another -https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/thenthiruperai-rahul-bhattar.html). With him at the helm, the Thillai Chitrakootam Divya Desam in Chidambaram is likely to see through another generation of traditional service carrying forward the greatness of this Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Kulasekara Azhvaar praised Divya Desam.

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.

Sirupuliyur Divya Desam

One Legged Srikanthan Bhattar has been instrumental in the revival of this once prominent Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised temple 

He serves the Lord each day of the year with an artificial leg 

The Entire Sacred Tank Zone on the Western Side has been illegally occupied preventing the conduct of the Theppotsavam at this Divya Desam

Till half a century ago, Sirupuliyur, a Divya Desam gloriously praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, was so prominent among the temples in the erstwhile Chozha kingdom, that it was the main supplier of archakas to other Perumal temples in the region. Such was the vibrancy in the agraharam that this temple town reverberated with Prabhandham Recital and Vedic Chanting all through the year. There were 365 acres of land belonging to the temple and rice was available in plenty at the temple for food presentation to the Lord.

During the time of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, it stood out as a devotional location for he praises it as one where Vedic Seers chanted the Vedas continuously. It is hard to believe that the sea shore would be so close to Sirupuliyur as it now at least 25 kms away!!! But Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to gems being washed all across Sirupuliyur from the eastern sea shore. He says that the temple was surrounded by green fields on one side and by the ocean on the other.

பறையும் வினை தொழுது உய்ம்மின்

நீர் பணியும் சிறு தொண்டீர்

அறையும் புனல் ஒருபால் வயல் ஒருபால் பொழில் ஒருபால்

சிறை வந்து இனம் அறையும்

சிறுபுலியூர்ச் சலசயனத்து

உறையும் இறை அடி அல்லது

ஒன்று இறையும் அறியேனே

As with many other remote Divya Desams, the changing political climate in the State in the 1960s and 70s led to a dramatic downturn in this temple town, one that lasted 3 decades.

G Venkata Gopalan Bhattar is 77 years old now and still active at the temple. He was in his prime when the political take over and HR &CE’s ascendancy to power hit temples across Tamil Nadu. His grandfather had served at the temple for many decades in the glory days in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. His father Govinda Bhattachar too served at the temple for several decades till his death in 1968.

Moves away from Sirupuliyur

Soon after his thread ceremony, Venkata Gopala Bhattar began learning agamas from Srinivasa Bhattar at Thiruvazhundur Divya Desam in the early 1950s. With the overall negative scenario at Sirupuliyur that also included strong opposition to temple activities from the non-traditional residents, he moved to Kuttalam (near Therazhundur Divya Desam) about 25kms West of Sirupuliyur to perform services at the Aadhi Kesava Perumal temple where he remained for three decades performing pooja at a salary of a couple of hundreds. His three sons grew up in Kuttalam.  

Right from his school days in the early 1990s, Srikanthan Bhattar, the 2^nd son, began supporting his father at the temple in Kuttalam. After his school, he would go to Therazhundur to learn agamas from the revered Kannan Bhattar (father of Vasan Bhattar) who passed away a few years ago. Even back then, as a young boy, Srikanthan Bhattar’s mind was set on reviving Sirupuliyur Divya Desam where his forefathers had served for so long and he missed being at his hereditary location.

Grim Situation at the Divya Desam

The once vibrant agraharam looked deserted. Samprokshanam had been performed in 1973 but that was just white washing the outer walls. The Brahmotsavam came to a halt in the 1970s including the once popular chariot festival. Over time, the two chariots, one for Perumal and another for Manavala Mamunigal, suffered damage. During those dark decades, almost all the festivals came to a standstill. There were just three utsavam days - Vaikunta Ekadasi, Panguni Uthiram and Vaikasi Hastham- in the entire year. 

By the 1980s, the entire lot of the traditional residents of the agraharam had left Sirupuliyur seeking greener pastures. There was just one man left - the accountant at the temple. There had been no processions for two decades. The entire complex was dark with no lighting. There were no personnel in the madaipalli. No one could adapt to the traditional lifestyle at an ancient temple town. Even today there is none. Seeing the deplorable state of this Divya Desam, the now renowned Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur, then in his 20s, used to cycle 15kms from Therazhundur to perform aradhana for the Aruma Kadal Lord at Sirupuliyur.

On AV Rangachari’s (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/08/chidambaram-thillai-thiru-chitrakoodam.html ) request, Venkata Gopalan Bhattar came back to Sirupuliyur in the late 1990s at a salary of Rs. 300 per month. By then, his elder son had moved to Banaswadi Perumal Koil, in Bombay.

Life Changing Story

When Srikanthan Bhattar was growing up in the late 1980s and 90s, even 10-15 rupees brought home by his father would delight the family as it helped in the everyday sustenance. The key was Srikanthan Bhattar did not choose to go away in frustration. Instead he chose to remain devotional committed to Kripa Samudra Perumal who his forefathers had served and one that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had praised as the ‘Lord in my Heart’ and as one who provides the devotees with a positive change in life.

கள்ளம் மனம் விள்ளும் வகை,
கருதிக் கழல் தொழுவீர்

வெள்ளம் முதுபரவைத் திரை விரிய

கரை யெங்கும் தெள்ளும் மணி திகழும்

சிறுபுலியூர் சலசயனத் துள்ளும்

எனது உள்ளத்துள்ளும்

உறைவாரை உள்ளீரே

Srikanthan Bhattar, then not even in his teens read a story in the 1990s narrating the pitiable state of the Sirupuliyur temple. Citing the scenario of even Oil and Thiri not being available to light even a single lamp, the story requested devotees to present these at this divya desam so at least one lamp could be lit. Srikanthan promised that day that he would serve the Lord of Sirupuliyur for the rest of his life and would work towards reviving the Divya Desam. Ever since, his sole aim in life has been to get the temple back to its past glory.

It was Vasan Bhattar who helped anchor the revival of the utsavams, first with a five day Brahmotsavam. He was a mentor to many of the archakas in the region and he played an active role at Sirupuliyur in supporting the initiatives of Srikanthan Bhattar.

Letting go one’s EGO

The legend of this Divya Desam relates to a story on the letting go of one’s ego. Believing that he was closer to the Lord and performing better service to the Lord, Garuda questioned the role and service contribution of Adisesha. When the latter sought the help of the Lord, HE provided darshan here at Sirupuliyur in a Bala Posture like a young boy and slept atop Adisesha. Humbled at the lesson, Garuda realized his mistake and stood on the ground. Hence at this Divya Desam, Garuda is seen in a unique posture of standing low on the ground. From a devotion point of view, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar says that not just humans but also Gods in large numbers visited Sirupuliyur to have darshan of Sala Sayana Perumal who he praises as one seen in a sleeping posture atop the five hooded Adiseshan.

Referring to the kid like image of the Lord, he says that he not seen any Lord like this anywhere else. And as an indication of the two rishis at the feet of the Lord, he says that those who worship the Lord’s feet at Sirupuliyur will find a positive change of heart towards devotion. He asks the devotees to surrender to the Salasayanam Lord and see for themselves as to how their sins are cleansed. 

Every day when Srikanthan Bhattar narrates the Sthala Puranam to devotees and presents aloud the verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar from the Periya Thirumozhi, he remembers the legend and the tale of the temple town that once was and reminds himself to dedicate his life to the Lord and to seek nothing else. And that’s how he has lived the last two decades at this Divya Desam.

The Revival over the last decade

When he joined the temple just under two decades ago as a teenager, his first priority was to provide basic amenities to visiting devotees- bath and toilet facilities outside the temple. In those days, his mother, who sported a smile all the time (she passed away all of a sudden over a decade ago) played a great host to all visitors to this Divya Desam feeding them to a sumptuous meal despite a financially challenging situation in the family.

He then went about reviving the utsavams. In 2007, Srikanthan Bhattar revived the Pavitrotsavam with the help of Vasan Bhattar who has been an integral part of the transformation at this temple. Earlier this decade, the temple saw a full scale renovation for the first time in a century giving it a fresh look. While the samprokshanam in 1973 was followed by two dark decades, this samprokshanam 4 decades later in 2012 led to a complete revival of the temple. Brahmotsavam was restarted with vahana processions.

However, in the decades of the slowdown, the Entire Sacred Tank Zone on the Western Side and the South Western Side came to be illegally occupied. Challenges in evicting them has meant that the temple has not been able to conduct the Theppotsavam at this Divya Desam. It is hoped that the authorities will take steps to clear the zone and help revive the Theppotsavam.

Last week in recognition of Vasan Bhattar’s three decades of support, Srikanthan Bhattar, in a thanking gesture, posted a large banner outside the temple during the Pavitrotsavam.

A road accident that took away a leg

In February 2013, a bus ran over Srikanthan Bhattar’s legs and he lost a leg in the accident. HR & CE and the TN Government did nothing to compensate. It was Vasan Bhattar who through devotees helped him have an artificial leg planted. For six years, he has continued to serve the Lord in the same devotionals manner as before despite getting a salary of just around Rs. 1000 per month, an amount completely inadequate these days. Srikanthan Bhattar is currently in the process of building two new chariots, one for Perumal Brahmotsavam and another for the Manavala Mamunigal utsavam at a cost of over Rs. 30 Lakhs. Srikanthan Bhattar and his father also double up as the cook in the madapalli. Srikanthan Bhattar is also the one who over the last decade has decorated the Lord ensuring a certain grandeur in terms of jewels and vastrams. 

It is solely due to the efforts of such devotionally committed Bhattars that remote Divya Desams have stayed alive and continued into the next generation.

Kripasamudram Perumal Divya Desam in Sirupuliyur is open from 730am-12noon and 5pm to 830pm. Contact Srikanthan Bhattar @ 91598 67324.

How to reach Sirupuliyur

Sirupuliyur is 2kms from Kollumangudi and about 10kms from Mayiladuthurai on the Tiruvarur highway. Auto from Kollumangudi will cost Rs. 75.