Nidamangalam Santhanaramar Koil Azhvaar Acharya Utsavams Revival

Celebrating Desikar, Ramanujar and the Azhvaars

Narayanan Bhattar drives revival of Acharya and Azhvaar utsavams after several decades

15 years ago, when Narayanan Bhattar quit the Ramar temple in Tambaram to take over the reigns of archaka service from his appa, the Santhanaramar temple in Nidamangalam was in a dilapidated state. Most of the utsavams had stopped. Almost all the original traditional inhabitants had left this town to larger cities in search of greener pastures. There were no devotees at the temple. Narayanan Bhattar had been earning well at the temple in Chennai and he returned to Nidamangalam for a monthly salary of just over Rs. 1000.

He had a lot of experience in handling devotees at the temple in Chennai and was determined to turnaround the fortunes of this temple but he found it a bigger challenge than he had visualised. He had to double up as the cook at the madapalli too straddling between providing darshan to the few devotees who were beginning to turn up at the Ramar Sannidhi and to managing the boiling Pongal at the sacred kitchen.

The physical infrastructure was restored through support from devotees and consecration performed. During this period, he also revived the annual utsavams including the vahana processions at the Panguni Brahmotsavam.

The temple is said to date back to the Chozha period with the Garbha Graha having existed then but the current structure goes back to the late 18th century and the construction by the Thanjavur king Pratap Simha.

The Lord appeared in the dreams of the King and asked him to look for an idol of Ramar at this location. The King and his wife Rani Yamunambal were childless. He came here and found the idol beneath the eart. After invoking the blessings of the Lord, she gave birth to a child. Hence the Lord is referred to as Santhana Ramar, a unique name for Lord Rama. This location was historically referred to as Yamunambal Puram. 

The belief is that those who invoke the blessings of Lord Rama and Sita Devi will be blessed with a child. Every Rohini, there is a Putra Santhana Gopala homam. This is a very special event at the temple and devotees visit in good numbers on the Rohini day every month.

Muthuswamy Dikshithar has presented a song in praise of Santhanaramar in Hindola Vasantha Ragam. The famous Tavil Vidwan Meenakshi Sundaram belonged to this place. 

After recovering from a knee surgery a couple of years ago, Narayanan Bhattar has this month revived the monthly Thirumanjanam for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar on the Karthigai day in Chitrai through support from a Bangalore based devotee. Just over a fortnight from now, he is also planning to revive the monthly Thirumanjanam for Vedantha Desikar on the Shravanam day in Chitrai through a support from a Chennai based devotee. These are two big milestones in his service as an archaka at the Santhanaramar temple for these events had long stopped and he did not visualise a revival of these.

On Sunday (April 19) morning, he came to the temple early in the morning to prepare Kesari and Puliyotharai ahead of the Thirumanjanam for Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. Through a tech savvy college student, Narayanan Bhattar has been updating details of the upcoming utsavams and that has led to local devotees making it to the temple to experience the Thirumanjanam that this generation of residents in Nidamangalam had not experienced.

At 9am, in the presence of a few local devotees, he began the Thirumanjanam of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. Being all alone at the temple, he also trebled up as a vedic member and a prabhandham member reciting Periyazhvaar's verse on the oil bath

வெண்ணெய் அலைந்த குணுங்கும் 

விளையாடு புழுதியும் கொண்டு .....

எண்ணெய் புலிப் பழம் கொண்டு

எத்தனை போதும் இருந்தேன்

On a hot Sunday morning, he cooled Thiru Mangai Azhvaar with Coconut water, Sandalwood Paste, Tumeric Paste and Panchamritham.

காயய்சின நீரோடு நெல்லி கடாரத்தில் 

பூரித்து வைத்தேன்………………………….. 

மஞ்சளும் செங்கழுநீரின் வாசிகையும் 

நாறு சாந்தும் அஞ்சனமும் கொண்டு வைத்தேன் - Periyazhvaar on Oil Bath

Much to the delight of the local devotees, he also took Sankalpam from each of them and presented an archanai. An hour later, he handed over Puliyotharai and Kesari to the devotees who were all praise of the commitment of Narayana Bhattar in the way he has gone about reviving the utsavams without too much physical support.

While in Phase 1 of his taking over the reigns from his appa, he saw to the restoration of the physical infrastructure and the revival of the big annual utsavams, in this current phase, after his own recovery from a knee surgery, he is committing himself to revival the azhvaar and archarya utsavams so these legends are remembered at least once a month on their star birthdays and their verses presented on these days. And days such as the one today with a Thirumanjanam and Garuda Sevai procession on the occasion of Akshaya Trithiyai.

It is through the efforts of committed priests such as Narayana Bhattar that remote temples in Tamil Nadu are continuing to survive with the historical events being organised as best as possible in the scenario that exits today.

The temple is open from 7am-11am and 5pm-8pm. Contact: Narayanan Bhattar @ 94448 54208.

Nidamangalam Santhanaramar Panguni Brahmotsavam

Grand Revival of Utsavams - It will be a big three days for Narayanan Bhattar who has anchored the revival

Santhanaramar will provide Garuda Sevai on Monday evening, be atop his favourite Hanuman on Tuesday and enjoy the marriage celebrations with Sita Devi on Wednesday

                         Narayanan Bhattar after Sesha Vahana alankaram

Narayanan Bhattar, then in his 30s, had been performing Thiru Aradhanam at the Rama temple in Tambaram (Sanatorium) and was enjoying a financially healthy life. When his appa, Santhanaramar Bhattar was getting on age, Narayanan Bhattar decided to move back to Nidamangalam to continue the hereditary archaka service that his forefathers had performed at the centuries old Santhanaramar temple and thus made his way back to Nidamangalam in 2012.

தெரிந்த கருங்குழல் மடவாய் 

நின் அடியேன் விண்ணப்பம் 

செறிந்த மணி முடிச்சனகன் 

சிலை இறுத்து நினைக் கொணர்ந்தது 

அறிந்து அரசு களைகட்ட 

அருந்தவத்தோன் இடை விலங்கச் 

செறிந்த சிலைகொடு தவத்தைச் 

சிதைத்தும் ஓர் அடையாளம் - 3.9.1 - Periyazhvaar Thirumozhi

The 2nd half of the previous century had been a dark phase for this temple with many of the utsavams had come to a halt on the back of an anti-devotional movement. When Narayanan Bhattar took charge as the archaka, his first focus was to revive all the historical utsavams. The original inhabitants of Nidamangalam had long gone but that did not deter Narayana Bhattar from making an attempt to revive the utsavams.

This week is a big one for him in the year with Garuda Sevai on Monday, Hanuman carrying Santhanaramar on Tuesday evening and Thiru Kalyanam on Wednesday evening one that attracts a big crowd as part of the Panguni Brahmotsavam that began on the Rama Navami day on March 27.

For a large part of the year, he is all alone straddling between Thiru Aradhanam and devotee darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi and cooking Thaligai at the madapalli. This solo effort for many years took a heavy toll on his knees and he had to undergo a surgery a couple of years back. But he is now fully fit and back to his old devotional energy and excitement.

Chozha Period temple

The Santhanaramar temple is said to date back to the Chozha period with the sanctum having existed then but the current structure goes back to the late 18th century and the construction by the Thanjavur king Pratap Simha. The Lord appeared in the dreams of the King and asked him to look for an idol of Ramar at this location. The King and his wife Rani Yamunambal were childless. He came here and found the idol beneath the earth. After invoking the blessings of the Lord, she gave birth to a child. Hence the Lord is referred to as Santhana Ramar, a unique name for Lord Rama. 

Prarthana Sthalam for childless couples -Rohini Star Pooja

This location was historically referred to as Yamunambal Puram. The belief is that those who invoke the blessings of Lord Rama and Sita Devi will be blessed with a child.  Every Rohini, there is a Putra Santhana Gopala homam. This is a very special event at the temple and devotees visit in good numbers on the Rohini day every month.

Muthuswamy Dikshithar has presented a song in praise of Santhanaramar in Hindola Vasantha Ragam. The famous Tavil Vidwan Meenakshi Sundaram belonged to this place.

On Sunday evening, Narayana Bhattar was a bit more relaxed than he would be on the next three evenings. It was the day of the big Chariot Procession at the Thiruvarur Thyagaraja Swamy temple and the devotee crowd from this region had all made their way to the legendary Saivite temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/12/thiruvarur-thyagaraja-temple.html).

Sesha Vahana Procession

On this third evening of the Brahmotsavam, Santhana Ramar was decorated atop the Sesha Vahana. Narayana Bhattar is an alankaram specialist and takes great pains paying attention to minute details of the alankaram. It had been his dream to get the grand alankaram back on his favourite Ramar that had been missing for a few decades previously given the slowdown in temples at the end of the previous century.

Also, over the last decade, he dreamt of colourful serial lights across the temple complex and atop the Raja Gopuram like is seen in many temples during the Brahmotsavam. And this Brahmotsavam, he has been able to fulfil that long cherished dream with the entire temple complex wearing a bright look.

மண்ணு புகழ் கௌசலைதன் மணிவயிறு வாய்தவனே 

தென் இலங்கை கோன் மமுடிகள் 

சிந்துவித்தாய் செம்பொன்சேர் 

கன்னிநன் மா புடைசூழ் கணபுரத்து கருமணியே 

என்னுடைய இன்னமுதே ராகவனே தாலேலோ - 8-1-1 - Kulasekara Azhvaar

A couple of Prabhandham members had made their way from Mannargudi and they present the Satru Murai of Moonram Thiruvanthathi and the third canto of Tiruvoimozhi. The Vadakalai members then presented the Satru Murai of the Desikar Prabhandham.

Narayanan Bhattar has built a great relationship with the devotees in the time he has been there in Nidamangalam and he goes to each of the visitors to the temple on this evening to take sankalpam and performs an archanai much to their delight. He presents each of them with a banana, flowers and Tulasi and one could instantly see the happiness in the faces of the devotees. He announces to all of them that the special occasion of Garuda Vahana procession is to take the next evening and asks all of them to take the blessings of Santhana Ramar at the Garuda Sevai.

He was also keen for a good quantity of Thaligai to be presented during the Brahmotsavam and he ensures that every visitor to the on this Sunday evening enjoys Upma and Sundal. 

A delighted amma

Narayanan Bhattar’s amma, who has been a resident of the East Raja Veethi for the last 55 years, watched the way his son was carrying out the activity at the temple on this Sunday evening and expressed happiness to this writer about his son having returned from Chennai to continue the hereditary archaka service, even though there is not much of a salary at this temple. She said that he placed more importance to continuing the service than the financial returns and that drove him back to the temple here.

                     Selvar procession- Bhattar's amma in the background

As is the case in many remote temples, Perumal was ready for the street procession by 7pm with the presentation of Thaligai, Satru Murai and Selvar procession inside the temple but the Sripatham personnel were missing. 

It is a day of utsavams at three temples in Nidamangalam and the Sripatham Personnel are busy at the Mariamman temple. Narayanan Bhattar makes frenetic calls to them asking them to come so the street procession could start. The clock had ticked to 8pm when the Sripatham Personnel presented a Voyali walk towards the Raja Gopuram carrying Santhana Ramar on their shoulders. 

Narayanan Bhattar had performed Thiru Aradhana at the Ramar temple in Tambaram Sanatorium and after his departure, another priest replaced him. Jagan Bhattar made his way for this utsavam from Tambaram and was the one who accompanied Santhana Ramar atop the Sesha Vahana taking Thattu from the residents of Nidamangalam who invoke the blessings of Santhana Ramar.  Narayanan Bhattar's brother, who performs Thiru Aradhanam at the temple inside the SSN School in Perangalathur is a pillar of strength as he is here for all the utsavams - this section had featured a story on that's school owner supported Kurugai Kavalappan temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/07/kurugai-kaavalappan-koil.html) though it took a different turn later.

தளை அவிழும் நறுங்குஞ்சித் தயரதன் குல மதலாய் 

வலய ஒரு சிலையதனால் மதில் இலங்கை அழித்தவனே 

களை கழுநீர் மருங்கலரும் 

கணபுரத்தென் கருமணியே 

இளையவர்கட்கு அருள் உடையாய் 

ராகவனே தாலேலோ 

The railway gate remained locked for 20 minutes with the Chemmozhi Express having arrived from Mannargudi on its way to Coimbatore with the engine having to be moved to the west end. Those at the gate had a surprise darshan of Santhana Ramar cooling them instantly from their anger of the longish closure of the gate. 

A Grand Revival of the Brahmotsavam

Narayanan Bhattar is now a known face to every resident and at every shop in Nidamangalam and each of them exchange pleasantries with him during the procession as he walks ahead of the deity. Santhana Ramar moves on to the North Raja Veethi even as the train leaves the Nidamangalam station for Thanjavur. It is almost 10 pm when the Lord makes his way back to the temple after providing darshan around the temple tank.

                            Jagan Bhattar from Tambaram Ramar Koil

On each of these three evenings, it has been a pretty late night for Narayanan Bhattar for there is work for the archakas long after Perumal has returned to the temple from the street procession. He once again alerted the Sripatham personnel that every delay from their side for the start of the procession would take him that much longer in the night to complete his post procession work and asked them to be on time for the Garuda Sevai Procession on Monday evening.

It is because of the devotional commitment of those like the now 53 year old Narayanan Bhattar that remote temples in Tamil Nadu are able to continue the historic traditions such as conducting the centuries old utsavams. There is a sense of satisfaction that one can see in the face of this Bhattar in the way the Brahmotsavam has taken of this year but for the moment he is not basking in that glory for there are three big days coming starting with Garuda Sevai on Monday evening even as he heads back home late on Sunday night with his thoughts centered around the alankaram for the Garuda Sevai.

Thanjavur Big Temple Chitrai Rishabham

Sani Pradosham overshadows the Rishabha Vahana procession on the final evening of the Chitrai Festival as devotees throng the Brahadeeswarar temple in thousands for the Nandi Abhisekam

40 years ago, when the current Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle took over the reigns of the Big Temple in Thanjavur, almost all the utsavams had come to a halt. There was not enough money to take care of the temple expenses and the income from the close to 100 temples under the Prince’s administration had dwindled in the decades gone by. The Periya Koil lay deserted most of the time and the priests were always awaiting the next set of devotees but the wait was to no avail. Pradosham was not an event that had been marketed as has now been over the last decade or so. Even subsequently, the Pradosham abhisekam was performed only for the small nandi and there was not enough milk for the abhisekam!!

On Saturday (May 10) evening, one got a glimpse of the transformational turnaround at the Brahadeeswarar temple. It was Sani Pradosham and against the backdrop of the setting sun and the beautiful lights that lit up the towaring structure, devotees thronged in thousands taking early vantage positions to have darshan of the abhisekam for the Big Nandi. 

The trend has been such that Pradosham in general and Sani Pradosham specifically has over shadowed everything else. And this Saturday evening was a prime example of that. It was the final day of the long Chitrai Festival that had begun three weeks ago with Peruvudayar and Periyanayaki set to provide darshan on the Rishabham Vahana.  Even as the Nandi Abhisekam was being performed, a set of priests were working on decorating the Pancha Moorthies. 

                 Bringing down the Flag - End of Chitrai Festival

Post 6pm, following the Abhisekam, devotees continued to perform pradakshinam around the Nandi and visit the Swami and Ambal Sannidhi completely unaware of the Rishabha Vahana procession that was to begin shortly. There was a sizeable crowd listening to the Thirumurai presentation of the Othuvar while the flag was brought down shortly after 630pm in the presence of Pillayar marking the end of the Chitrai Festival. 

The Big Temple wore a festive look on Saturday evening but not because of the Chitrai Festival but the Sani Pradosham. As the clock ticked past 7pm, 30 year old G Sukumar, who has been blowing the trumpet at the festival procession for over two decades, blew the Ekkalam once again as the Priest presented the big Deeparathanai ahead of the procession. 

                                   Sukumar - Ekkalam Kainkaryam

Sukumar told this writer that he has been playing the Ekkalam at the Artha Jaama Pooja and at all the street processions since the time he was a young school boy. He says that in the centuries gone by there had been loads of kainkaryaparas playing different kind of musical instruments at the processions but with the service personnel dwindling in numbers, the instruments too had come down. But he along with a few other college going boys continue to do their bit every evening during the Artha Jaama Pooja and during such important street processions.

Divine Couple around the Prakara on the Rishabham

Shortly after 7.30pm, Swami and Ambal made their way around the prakara on the Rishabham led by young boys playing the Udal. While the divine couple made their way to the entrance, visiting devotees captured photos and videos of the Rishabha Vahana procession but most of them continued with their walk to the Big Nandi.

The traffic jam that had begun early in the evening had not subsided and with Pancha Moorthy purapadu entering the Periya Koil street, it was difficult for the deities to wade through the Saturday evening traffic. It was past 8pm when Swami and Ambal made their way on to the West Street behind the Thanjavur Palace. Once in a while, a couple of devotees picked up the sacred ash from the priest but for a large part the procession on tyred wheels moved fast. 

Around the traffic filled streets!!!

At this temple, as with many remote temples in the state, the Sripatham carry the deities on the shoulder and mount it on to the Wheeled Chapparam and the procession on the four streets around the Palace takes place on these Tyred Wheels. 

Maathu Sri Kaamatchi Bai Saheb's Rishabham

It is interesting that the final Pancha Moorthy procession of the Chitrai Festival at the Brahadeeswarar temple has Swami and Ambal atop the Velli Rishabham. Prince Babaji Bhonsle told this writer that his great great grand mother had built the Velli  Rishabham a couple of centuries ago and in her memory the final procession of this 18 day Chitrai Festival takes place with Swami and Ambal atop the Rishabham (Earlier on Monday, the divine couple had provided darshan on Rishabham in the Olai Chapparam procession around the Palace streets).

This Saturday evening provided yet another indication of where the devotion is headed with Pradosham taking centre stage. All through the evening, road side vendors made brisk business, there was no space to park vehicles anywhere around the temple complex with the huge parking space completely filled up. 

As part of the new devotional wave, the belief has been completely ingrained in the devotee that a darshan of the Nandi Abhisekam on the Sani Pradosham will solve one’s problems and this has led them to throng temples on Pradosham evenings. After the 2020 Kumbabhisekam, devotee crowd has grown manifold and during the summer vacation as one witnessed this Saturday evening, the temple is drawing crowds that would have been beyond the Prince's wildest dreams in the 1980s (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/02/thanjavur-big-temple-kumbhabhishekam.html).

For Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html), this positive turnaround through a Pradosham event is something he would not have visualised four decades ago when he took over but it is an event that is helping strengthen the finances of the temple and providing a positive vibration that had been missing in the second half of the previous century.  From a phase of no devotees and no income, Sani Pradosham is drawing huge crowd to the Big Temple bringing cheer to the Prince for all his hard work through the late 1980s and the 90s is now paying off for him.  

Tail Piece: Ramanathan Gurukal, who passed away in January 2022 after serving as an archaka for four decades during the Big Temple's most challenging phase, would be delighted and showering his blessings from high above at such a turnaround in fortunes driven by Sani Pradosham!!! (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/01/thanjavur-big-temple-ramanathan.html)

Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Panguni Garuda Sevai

Rajagopalaswamy goes on a night long procession around the Mada Streets providing Garuda Sevai

It’s just after 7.30pm on Wednesday (March 22), the 12th day of the 18 day Panguni Brahmotsavam and a few rounds of fire crackers have gone up around the temple complex alerting the residents to the start of the much awaited Garuda Sevai procession at the Rajagopalaswamy temple in Raja Mannargudi, referred to as Dakshina Dwaraka. It is a temple where many  physically challenged Dikshithars have been performing service for decades (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/mannargudi-rajagopalaswamy-temple.html).

53 year old Nattaamai Murugaiyan arrives at the temple leading a team of 40 Sripatham members. He has been at the temple since the time he was 8 years old. His Grandfather, uncles and his appa had performed the Sripatham service and his family has performed the role of the leader of the Sripatham team for several generations. He himself has been carrying Rajagopalaswamy on his shoulders since the time he was 18 years old.

Garuda Vahana Alankaram

Earlier in the day, the set of hereditary priests, comprising of those in their 20s and a few in their 60s and 70s, worked for hours to get the Lord decorated atop the Garuda Vahana. It is an alankaram that each of them take great pride in. From the crown to the vastram, from the glittering kaasu maalai to the large flower garlands, they pay attention to minute aspects to beautify the already handsome perumal. At 6pm, when the screen opens for devotees to have their first look at Rajagopalaswamy atop the Garuda Vahana, one spots a certain delight in each of the priests having worked on this special presentation.

Huge Crowd inside the temple complex

It is a huge temple with 7 prakarams, 16 towers, 18 Vimaanams and 24 Sannidhis housed in 33 acre area with an equal area (33 acres) for the temple tank. A majestic looking moolavar Para Vasudevan seen with a conch, maze and discus and a beautiful and alluring utsavar Rajagopalaswamy with dangling Kundalam in one ear and an earring in the other ear keep the devotees devotionally glued.

The lights have gone up at the Rajagopuram and the entire place wears a grand festive look. A loud devotional cheer erupted when the Sripatham lifted the Lord for the night long procession. Devotees had lined up the entire long pathway to the Eastern Raja Gopuram, among the tallest in TN at 154 feet. The Deepaarathanai at the Raja Gopuram is an important moment at the start of the procession and the faces of devotees lit up as the Bhattar’s hands went up.

The biggest crowd of the evening was at the Theradi where devotees in several hundreds thronged for the darshan of the Twin Kudai being posted atop the Lord. Every year, this is a location where Rajagopalaswamy stops for close to an hour but with the makeshift bus stand that has come within 50 yards, he made a move quite quickly into the busy bazaar street.

Much to everyone’s surprise he was at Pandaladi at the East end of bazaar street by 9.30pm. It is the location where the Garuda Sevai devotee donors are provided a special darshan and mariyathai.

The big team of Sripatham personnel take a well earned rest after a 90 minute procession through the crowded bazaar street.  Nattaamai Murugaiyan is seen mingling with his team members. He is a Mason by profession but has been performing this as a Kainkaryam for almost five decades now. He looks back at the Garuda Sevai evening from almost five decades ago “People think that this is big and unmanageable crowd but when I was young, this day would attract devotees from all the surrounding villages. There would be no place to stand from the Sannidhi to end of the Bazaar street. This was the big day in the year for them as they all came here ahead of the procession to have darshan of the Moolavar Lord and then of Rajagopalaswamy on the Garuda Vahana. Now most of the original inhabitants have migrated to cities and the Garuda Sevai crowd is not like what it was in the past. People now watch the procession on social media (whats app videos and so on) and they don’t make the time to spend the night through the procession.”

“It was a nightmare for Sripatham back then as we had to wade through the huge crowds in those decades.”

Performing as a Kainkaryam

Each of the Sripatham members get paid Rs. 700 for a procession.  But Murugaiyan says that for him and his team members, this is service to Lord. "A lot of the members are farmers and masons and we do this as a Kainkaryam carrying on the service that our forefathers had performed and passed on to us.”

Murugaiyan’s sons too have shown interest in the Sripatham Service and they too are keen to carry on the kainkaryam into the future.

Garuda Sevai on the Chapparam

Past 10.30pm, the street lights in Mannargudi are switched off, an indication that that the tall Chapparam is ready to make its way from the Raja Gopuram to Pandaladi.  By 11pm, the Sripatham personnel mounted Rajagopalaswamy on to the Chapparam in the same way the personnel at Thiru Kannapuram Divya Desam did on the Garuda Sevai night in Maasi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/03/thiru-kannapuram-maasi-garuda-sevai.html) and Perumal began his night long procession on the Chapparam via the Four Mada Streets. 

Back on those streets, where in the century gone by traditionalists lived in thousands, ladies are drawing devotional white kolams in front of their homes to welcome the Lord on this Garuda Sevai night. The entire South street is dotted with pulli kolams late into the night. The noise from the huge crowd at 8pm has transformed to silence with residents waiting quietly in front of their homes to present coconuts and fruits to Rajagopalaswamy and to have a peaceful darshan on this 'dark' night following the Ammavaasai.

Time is up for Nattaamai Murugaiyan and his team members for the night and they are back home for a well earned rest as the Chapparam turns on to the Mada Street. For the 40 members, the next service starts early next morning when the Lord makes his way on the Chapparam to the Theradi for them to carry Rajagopalaswamy back to his abode via the Raja Gopuram.

For Chief Murugaiyan, it is all about leadership and team work and he is seen motivating his members to perform this service to the best of their ability as he heads back for a well earned night’s rest. 

Thirumazhisai Jagannatha Perumal Thai Garuda Sevai

Reviving Utsavams and Bringing back the lost Vibrancy

Two longtime devotees of Thiruvallikeni have made their way back to their ancestral home in Thirumazhisai to spend the rest of their lives in Kainkaryam to the Azhvaar 

This section has featured many stories on how the original inhabitants had left their ancestral temple towns in large numbers since the 1960s leading to severe challenges in ancient temples. In the recent past, there have been a few instances of those that left earlier returning to these temple towns. On the fifth day of the Thai Avathara Utsavam in Thirumazhisai, there was a twin treat for the devotees late in the evening on Thursday with Jagannathan Perumal providing Garuda Sevai darshan and Thirumazhisai Azhvaar on a Hamsa Vahanam.

From Thiruvallikeni Madapalli to Thirumazhisai

46 year old Aravindan had spent his entire schooling years in Thirumazhisai in the 1980s and had watched the temple activities from close quarters. Into his 20s, he moved to Thiruvallikeni working in the computer hardware space. For 15years, he performed service at the Parthasarathy Perumal Divya Desam where he also built a huge network of friends. While he felt blessed to be performing Paricharaka support kainkaryam, there was an inner feeling to come back to his hereditary location and resume service at the feet of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar. The renovation exercise and the subsequent consecration event at the Jagannatha Perumal temple coincided with the arrival of the Pandemic. The Thiruppani activities required service personnel at Thirumazhisai and Aravindan chose the occasion to head back to his home town “It was a difficult decision to leave Parthasarathy Perumal for performing service there and being with the best friends of my life was one of the most enjoyable experiences. In the period that I was in Thiruvallikeni, there was not a moment of rest. There were round the year utsavams and friends to meet with every hour of the day.”

“For anyone, it would be a dream come true to be offered the opportunity to perform service at Parthasarathy Koil. But for me equally big is this current opportunity to serve at birth place of an Azhvaar, where I grew up.”

At Thiruvallikeni, there was a vibrant atmosphere. He recalls as to how there were so many Aravindans that he came to be called as Azhvaar having come from an Azhvaar’s birth place. He sees as a big task bringing back the vibrancy around this temple “I made 100s of friends there at Thiruvallikeni. Here at Thirumazhisai there are only a few traditional families left, many of the utsavams had stopped and most of the time we were short on service personnel. So it is a completely different challenge here. We want to bring back as many utsavams as possible.”

From the Corporate World to Thirumazhisai

56 year Thirumazhisai RS Kannan had been in the corporate world for three decades having worked in National Panasonic and TTK. He chose the occasion of the marriage of his daughter to take the big call to quit the corporate world and return to his ancestral home in Thirumazhisai to perform service at the Jagannathan Perumal temple. He too had been in Thiruvallikeni for 15years and had also performed service of video recording utsavams and sending it to TTD Channel for telecast. In the past he would always be present for the annual avathara utsavam in Thai but otherwise his entire focus had been on his office work.

Revival of utsavams

He has been in Thirumazhisai for just under 2 years and says that it has been a delightful experience at the temple “We have been able to revive the monthly star celebrations of all the Azhvaars. Thayar procession every Friday had come to a halt decades ago. This has now been revived with the support of devotees.”

This section had featured a story last month of the revival of utsavams in Mangai Madam, where too utsavams had come to a halt decades ago (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/12/mangai-madam-utsavam-revival.html). It is definitely a positive development that utsavams are being revived by like minded devotees in historical temples.

Kannan has been participating in the temple activities in every possible way. He lights the lamp in the sannidhis and presents dhoopam, deepam to the archakas during Thirumanjanam. During the Avathara Utsavam, he has joined hands with a few others in Thirumazhisai to organize Thathiyaarathanai for all devotees visiting the temple over the ten days. 

Another new initiative in the recent past has been the special Thaligai every Saturday that is distributed to the devotees who have now increased in numbers.

Sripatham Service

On Thursday evening, both Kannan and Aravindan performed Sripatham service during the Pathi Ulathal carrying Thirumazhisai Azhvaar from the temple to the Alankara Mandapam opposite the Raja Gopuram.

             Kannan and Aravindan carrying Thirumazhisai Azhvaar

Kannan says that in the initial phase after his return to Thirumazhisai he was apprehensive of the longevity of his stay here after several decades of fast paced city life. But much to his surprise he has found a dramatic positive change in his health “BP and Sugar have all vanished since I began to perform service at this temple” he says of his new found happiness in rendering Kainkaryam at the feet of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar.

Annual Trip to Avathara Sthalam Mandapam

The area around the Avathara Sthalam of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar located under half a km South of the temple had been under the threat of encroachment. Kannan has brought together around 50 devotees to light lamp at the avathara sthalam every Sunday to keep the positive vibration at that sacred location and also to ensure that there are no encroachments around the avathara sthalam.

On the 10th day of the Thai Avathara Utsavam, Thirumazhisai Azhvaar makes a trip to the Avathara Sthalam, where a Thirumanjanam is performed. This will take place next Tuesday.

At Thiruvallikeni, it was competition for Kainkaryam. Here at Thirumazhisai, it is a big responsibility for there is always a shortage of service personnel. The two have renovated and reconstructed their hereditary homes and are here to stay for the long term. They are keen to revive utsavams and attract more devotees to this avathara sthalam of Thirumazhisai Azhvaar. With the network of friends, they are now able to reach out to their friends in the Divya Desam for any support for utsavams.

On Thursday evening, Prabhandham members from Thiruvallikeni were part of the Ghosti that presented the sacred verses and the completion of ‘Muthal Aayiram’.

Garuda Sevai Darshan

Madhava Perumal temple’s young archaka Ashwin Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/madhava-perumal-temple-next-gen-bhattar.html)  made a long trip from Mylapore to deck Jagannatha Perumal for the Garuda Sevai. He has taken special interest in alankarams and this was yet another opportunity for him to showcase his skills. His younger brother, Sudarshan, who is now learning the agamas, too joined in for the joint street procession (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/08/madhava-perumal-mylapore-next-gen.html).  At last year's Brahmotsavam at the Madhava Perumal temple in Mylapore, the bhattar from Thirumazhisai had come all the way and supported the priests there.

Shortly after 7pm, devotees gathered in large numbers near the Raja Gopuram to watch Thirumazhisai Azhvaar’s Pathi Ulathal and Voyali as he made his way from the temple complex to the mandapam opposite the Raja Gopuram where he was mounted onto the Hamsa Vahanam. 40 Sripatham personnel arrived at the temple around 8pm. 

Around 50 devotees from Vijayawada were present on the occasion of Garuda Sevai Procession. Bhagavathas presented bhajans for over an hour leading to the procession and they continued their songs during the Mada Veethi purappadu.

The big moment of the fifth evening of the utsavam came when Jagannathan Perumal on Garuda Vahana came face to face with Thirumazhisai Azhvaar on the Hamsa Vahana in front of the new look Raja Gopuram.

The utsavam is seeing devotees turn up in good numbers. At the Moolavar Sannidhi, there was a stead stream of devotees through the evening that kept the archakas busy.  

The revered Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/therazhundur-vasan-bhattar.html) has often expressed to this writer that the greatest need in historical temple locations is the presence of traditional devotees in good numbers to participate and support the Bhattars both in their daily activities as well as during the utsavams. The return of this traditional duo from Thiruvallikeni is certainly a step in that direction and will make a big difference to the Jagannatha Perumal temple in Thirumazhisai in the long run. It is hoped that more such devotees will take the big call sooner than later to return to their hereditary locations to help in the return of the vibrancy in the historical temple towns. 

Kapali Brahmotsavam off

Kapali Thiruvanaikaval Brahmotsavam called off, Street Processions / Panguni Uthiram off at Srirangam Panguni Utsavam
Pradhosham this weekend at Kapali Temple will be one without devotees

The virus that is bringing the country to a standstill has resulted in the calling off of one of the biggest Utsavams in the Temple calendar in Madras, the annual Panguni Brahmotsavam at  the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore. This was confirmed by a temple official a short while back. Talking over phone to this writer, the person said that the Utsavam has been officially cancelled. The Chariot Procession attracts tens of thousands of devotees as does the procession of the 63 Nayanmars. The Utsavam was scheduled to start March 28.

If the situation improves, the temple could consider holding the festival next month with Thiru Kalyanam taking place on Chitrai Pournami. But that is a long shot for now as the scenario looks quite bleak at the moment.

The Pradhosham which falls this Saturday will also be a quite event with only the Priests and the Othuvars involved in the Pooja process/ Thevaram recital.

The Brahmotsavam that began on Thursday at Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval too has been called off.

Long Trips across the Cauvery
The Panguni Utsavam at the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam scheduled to start next weekend is one of the four Brahmotsavams at the temple and is the one in the year when Lord Namperumal goes on his two longest processions of the year. The big highlight of the Panguni Utsavam is on the Panguni Uthiram day when Lord Namperumal makes his way to the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi for the only day in the year when he provides a joint darshan through the night at the Serthi Mandapam. This is scheduled of April 6 this year.

No Street Vahanam Processions at Srirangam Panguni Utsavam

While Pon Jayaraman, the JC of the Temple said that the temple has called for a meeting of the service personnel tomorrow and that an official decision regarding the Panguni Utsavam would be taken after the meeting, a senior priest at the temple said that there would be no outside procession this year at least till 31st March. As per the Government directive, not more than 30 people can assemble. At the moment, on the first three days of the festival, Lord Namperumal would come to the Vahana Mandapam / Ranga Vilas Mandapam where he would be mounted on the Vahana of the day and remain stationary there to listen to the Ghosti presentation. At least for the first three days of the festival i.e till 31st March, there would be no devotees allowed inside the temple.

While the festival may not be called off like in Kapali temple, the night long annual trip to Jeeyapuram (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/03/srirangam-namperumal-jeeyapuram-utsavam.html) and another trip  to Uraiyur for the Serthi Utsavam at hte Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/05/108-divya-desam-uraiyur.html) crossing the Cauvery are unlikely to take place this year. Both of these trips require the support of over 100 Sri Patham Thangis to carry the Lord during the procession that lasts several hours and that kind of large gathering is currently against the Government directive.

( The entire Panguni Utsavam has been called off on Monday March 23 including Panguni Uthiram)

Panguni Uthiram (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/04/panguni-uthiram-debate-srirangam.html) attracts at least one lakh devotees and runs through the night with Lord Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar providing Serthi Darshan. It is the one day in the year when Lord Namperumal makes his way to the Thayar Sannidhi. The morning after the Serthi Lord Namperumal goes around the Chitra Streets on a Chariot Procession. Given the current scenario in the country, it is almost certain that these two events in Panguni will not take place this year. Even if it does, it is likely to be only a toned down version.

The annual Brahmotsavam at Pullam Bhoothangudi Valvil Ramar Divya Desam and at Ramaswamy Temple Kumbakonam will be among the many Rama Navami Utsava processions that will be called off.

Ramanuja Avathara Utsavam Sriperambudur

Ekantha Sevai at 430am, Ramanuja's Special Varisai Walk in front of Lord Rama and presenting milk in a conch shell to child Ramanuja marked this Tuesday's Avathara Utsavam Celebrations at Sriperambudur

One of the biggest contributions Saint Philosopher Ramanuja made was his all inclusive approach to apportion activities in temples including at the Lord Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. It was the 999th birthday at the Aadhi Kesava (Basyakarar) Perumal temple in Sriperambur this Tuesday
(10 May). 

And I watched in shock the turn of events at the start of the morning street procession. As the ghosti was about to commence, a 50+ Vadakalai devotee came and stood on the road (North Mada Street) just behind the Ghosti Group.

No sooner had he stood, a member of the Ghosti who stood between the Jeer and Sri Parthasarathy (former Dharma Kartha of the temple) gave a big shout asking this Vadakalai man to go further behind and not to come anywhere near the group. It left me stunned. 

Ramanuja advocated an all inclusive approach and here on his birthday, they were asking one of the devotees to get out. The tone and the manner of the message gave a feeling that this man was an outcast. If this was bad, what followed was worse. 

A school boy from Triplicane (who also carries Lord Parthasaray on processions) came up to this elderly person and in a tone that was completely unsavoury hit out at this man to send him rocking back on the road. The elderly man was almost in tears but bore the shouts and left the place shortly. 

The same boy later that afternoon during the 'conch milk feeding event' shouted out in an unruly manner at another devotee for taking photo with his phone. Just a couple of months, his father was talking non stop over the phone while performing pradakshanam around the Thayar Sannidhi at the Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane. During the Voyyali in front of the Ramar Sannidhi, his mother remarked that the phones should fall of the devotees' hands when they are thus taking photo during the special walk. Indeed that was a fair comment. But I hope and wish that she would also talk to her husband and ask him not to do pradakshanam inside the Parthasarathy temple while talking on the phone. 

While the Vadakalai v Thenkalai fights are in the public domain with any number of instances at Thiruvahindrapuram, Srirangam and Triplicane, one would have hoped that such an ugly incident would not have taken place on the birthday of the great Saint Philosopher.

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The clock had just ticked past 3am this Tuesday (10 May) morning when Ramanuja made his way back to the Aadhi Kesava Perumal Temple in Sriperambudur after a three hour procession on a pushpa pallakku. The entire temple reverberated in bhakti with the recital, by around 50 Prabhandham experts, of devotional hymns from the final verses of Thiru Mangai Azhwar’s Thiru Nedunthandagam leaving Ramanuja visibly happy.

He was even more delighted when these experts, many of whom had come from Thiruvallikeni (Chennai), in a sweet rendering presented the 9^th Canto of Nam Azhwar’s Tiruvoimozhi, one that went up to almost 430am.

Ekantha Sevai – 16 days in a Year

It was now time for the Ekantha Sevai to conclude the 9^th day of Ramanuja’s avathara utsavam. In pin drop silence, Ramanuja made his way to each of the inner Sannidhis of the temple first providing his blessings to Nam Pillai and Vedanta Desikar and then receiving blessings from Nam Azhwar, Andal, Aadhi Kesava Perumal, Thiru Kachi Nambi and Alavanthar. In front of each of these deities, the relevant praise highlighting their greatness and achievements was presented.

Several centuries ago Sriperambudur Embar Jeer created 16 days of a special Ekantha Sevai at the Aadhi Kesava Perumal temple to be presented on select occasions annually. These comprise of 9 days during the Ramanuja Avathara Utsavam, 3days in Thai, 1 day on Koorath Azhwan, Pillai Lokacharya and Manavala Munigal Avathara Utsavam, with the final one on the last Thiruvathirai of the year in Panguni.

Birthday Celebrations

The 10^th day Utsavam and his birthday - the Thiruvathirai star in Chitrai - celebrations began after 8am with Ramanuja presenting a special walk in front of Lord Rama. The story goes that Lakshmana (Ramanuja is seen as his incarnation) had a beautiful grace in his walk but the Lord had never been able to experience this as his younger brother had always walked behind him. As his special birthday treat, Ramanuja presented a special ‘Voyyali- Varisai’ walk providing the Lord with a full long view of his ‘brother’s’ walking grace  and one could visualise the joy and happiness on Lord Rama’s face that seemed to lend a smile in appreciation of this exclusive presentation before him.

Presenting Milk to Child Ramanuja in a Conch Shell

It seemed even the Rain God wanted to wish the Acharya on his birthday for soon after the three hour morning procession, he presented the town with light showers.

And then the big moment of his birthday arrived. Ramanuja was brought to the location of his birth opposite the temple that has been converted to an ‘Avathara Mandapa’. Here, taking the devotees back in time to the day of his birth, he was placed in a cradle (Oonjal) and presented with milk in a conch shell. He was also presented with butter as tears of joy rolled down the eyes of hundreds of devotees present inside the mandapa. 

As part of the birthday celebrations,Garland and Parivattam that had come in from various Divya Desams were presented to Ramanuja. The birthday was also marked by recital of Ramanuja’s Gadya Trayam, a Thirumanjana and street procession in the night.

THIRUVARANGATH AMUDHANAR'S RAMANUJA NOOTRANTHATHI

Ramanuja Nootranthathi is the only composition in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham that has the unique distinction of being written by one who was a contemporary and one who watched the daily activities of his Acharya from close quarters. Ramanuja was not keen on a work that just had his praise alone. Hence he directed his disciple Thiruvarangath Amudhanar to compose a work that included praise of the Azhwars and the Divya Desams.

In 108 verses of praise, Amudhanar brings out the great noble qualities of his acharya and his concern for the weak and the masses. Referring to Ramanuja as the king of ascetics and as one who took birth to counter the destructive powers in this Kali Yugam, Amudhanar assures the devotees that just chanting the name of Ramanuja will create a Bhakthi path in one’s mind. Each verses of this composition thus has the name of Ramanuja.

It was Ramanuja who helped ordinary people understand the philosophical aspects of life for he had the ability to transform even wicked people. Citing his own example, Amudhanar provides insights into the contribution of his acharya in transforming him towards the noble path. Ramanuja considered devotees performing service with true devotion to the Lord as very close to him and instilled the need to use every part of the body to do some service related to God. 

‘Compassion is one of your greatest qualities. Is it not a great example of your compassion that you made a true human being out of me? My body that was previously enjoying the pleasure of life has now come to perform noble activities after having come under your influence’ thus praises Amudhanar in the Nootranthathi.

Ramanuja dedicated his knowledge and learning to the cause of uplifting the devotees. Just like Rama followed every direction of his father, Amudhanar too followed Ramanuja to the full with the confidence that his acharya would not ask him to do anything that was not for the good of the world. Those who do not change themselves for the better by following his teachings are likely to come under the negative influence of Kali. But to all those people who believe in Ramanuja’s teachings, Amudhanar commits his self to serving them at all points of time without displaying any tiredness.

Amudhanar says that even if Ramanuja were to show him the Lord himself he would not see anything but his acharya’s compassionate heart and places one final request to Ramanuja that if he were to be born again, he should be born as one with utmost bhakti with a mind on serving the devotees and says that such selfless service is better than a service performed even to the Lord at Vaikuntam.

Kumbeswarar Temple Maha Magam

Where Shiva appeared as a Hunter – Kiratha Moorthy

The Maha Magam is celebrated on the day when Jupiter and the Moon are in Simharasi and the Sun in Kumbharasi on the full moon day in Maasi. 

The legend

Anticipating the deluge that would destroy the world, a worried Brahmma sought the help of Lord Shiva who created a pot containing nectar and the seeds of creation (Jeeva Raasis). Brahmma decorated the pot with coconut, darbha, mango leaves, sacred thread, vastram and vilvam and placing the pot atop the Meru Hill (Chikkam) performed pooja reciting the Shristi Bheeja mantras. When the deluge struck, the pot was driven down the stream and finally came to rest in Thiru Kudanthai.

Lord Shiva appeared as a hunter and shot an arrow to break open the pot from where nectar dispersed in different directions and emerged as sacred Theertham in Potramarai Tank (Sarangapani temple) and Maha Magam tank.

The nose of the pot fell at Kudaivasal (currently about 15kms from Kumbakonam). The nectar also spread across 5 kms from here and is referred to as Pancha Krosa Sthalam.

In a thanking gesture, Brahmma renovated and decorated the Maha Magam tank, created a Theertham for himself and worshipped Kumbeswarar and treated him to a ceremonial bath. The Maha Magam tank also comprises of Theertham relating to the Lords of the eight frontiers, nine maidens of the sacred rivers and celestials such as Kinnaras and Gandharvas.

Shiva mixed sand with the nectar to create a lingam and worshipped it himself and later merged with it. This was the first creation after the deluge and hence this temple is referred to Aadhi Kumbeswarar (Oozhi Muthalvar). This Kiratha (hunter) idol is a special feature at this temple.  The Peedam contains 72000 mantras. The Magam festival is a celebratory event to honour the contribution of the presiding deity of the Kumbeswarar temple. Performing pooja on Magam star for Lord Kumbeswarar is believed to bring about husband- wife unity, help in progeny and liberate one from previous birth’s curse.

The nine sacred rivers in order to extricate themselves of the burden of sins were directed by Lord Shiva to visit the Maha Magam tank once in 12 years to take a ceremonial bath on the Maha Magam day.

Parvathi came in search of Lord Shiva and pleased with her visit, he made her sit near him and requested her to provide darshan as Mangala Peedeswari and to bless them with all Mangalam.

There is no Abhishekam for the Lord as he is not of the granite stone idol. Every Monday and on Pradosham, he is anointed with Ashta Gandham - 8 fragrant items. Lord Kumbeswarar presents himself in a soft form here unlike his normally ugra posture.

Special Number 12

Maha Magam is said to happen once in 12 years. In reality it is celebrated after 4332 days (total of these is 12). The difference between these two: 4380 days (365daysx12years) and 4332 days is 48, the total of which is also 12 (4+8)!!!

Brahmotsavam in Maasi

Rudra Abhishekam takes place a day before the flag is hoisted and the theertham is taken to Maha Magam tank and poured there. It is in the Rishaba Lagnam- the one that has no Dosham out of the 12 Lagnams- that Kumbeswarar enters the Maha Magam tank for the Theerthavari Vaibhavam.

Roles interchanged at Thiru Kudanthai

Typically Brahmma is the creator, Vishnu the protector and Shiva is the destroyer. But here in Thiru Kudanthai, the roles were interchanged as seen from the legend relating to the Magam festival. Brahmma protected the pot given by Shiva (Vishnu’s role). Following the deluge, Shiva re-created the world by breaking open the pot containing the nectar (Brahmma’s role). And Vishnu struck the Sudarshana Chakra at the Sun God (Chakrapani temple) by taking on the Samhara role (Shiva’s role).

Maha Magam Message from Periva Sri Jayendra Saraswathi

This is an occasion that happens once in 12 years when all the sacred rivers in our country visit the Maha Magam in Thiru Kudanthai. The devotees need not worry that they have not been able to visit each of those sacred rivers individually. Just bathing at the Maha Magam tank during this period will secure them Punyam which will cleanse them of their sins. Once the sins go away, difficulties will vanish and one will find happiness all around.

When happiness grows and develops, the devotees tend to get peace of mind. Only if one has peace of mind, will life have found its merit for we should realise how blessed we are to have been born as a human being. Only those who are born as humans have this privilege of bathing in the Maha Magam tank.

It is important for us to keep doing good things in this life on a daily basis to accumulate Punyam and thus make ourselves worthy.

Brahmotsavam specially for the Maha Magam

Maasi is usually the time for Theppotsavam at the Sarangapani Divya Desam. However, this month, as part of the Maha Magam festival, a special Brahmotsavam is being celebrated. The Grand 10 day festival started last week, with the Garuda Vahana procession taking place on Wednesday evening.

As part of the Maha Magam celebrations, on Monday morning, Lord Sarangapani will be joined by Lords from the four other ancient Perumal temples in Thiru Kudanthai – Ramaswamy, Chakrapani, Rajagopalan and Aathi Varaha Perumal - on a joint procession to the banks of the Cauvery for Theerthavari.

Maasi Magam and an Exclusive Chakrapani Temple

When the Sun Lord’s heat had once become unbearable due to his arrogance of being the only one to provide shining bright light, Lord Vishnu, to teach him a lesson, hurled his chakra forcing the Sun Lord to go into hiding. It was on the Maasi Magam day that the Sun God first performed pooja invoking Lord Vishnu’s blessings and requested him to provide darshan to devotees as Chakrath Azhvaar. In memory of this event, the Chariot Festival is celebrated at the Chakrapani temple on Maasi Magam every year. 

Azhvaars praising the Cauvery in Thiru Kudanthai

The Maha Magam festival is about cleansing one’s sins by bathing in the sacred theertham. Three Azhvaars have praised the sacred role of Cauvery in the lives of the people of Kumbakonam.

Thirumazhisai Azhvaar refers to Thiru Kudanthai temples reverberating with Vedic chanting by scholars who were seen with folded hands. He praises Cauvery as one with gushing waters. The presence of the Lord seen relaxing in the special slightly raised reclining posture was indeed a boon to the Vedic Seers of Thiru Kudanthai. The ever flowing water that was streaming down the Cauvery kept the town cool at all times.

Nam Azhvaar praises Lord Aravamudhan as shining amidst the fertile waters of the Cauvery. It is the water from the Cauvery that has helped the growth of huge quantity of paddy and the blooming of large Lotus flowers seen all around Thiru Kudanthai.

In his verses, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar refers to Betel that Kumbakonam is now famous for. He specifically praises Thiru Kudanthai as a place where one finds huge fragrant Betel Creepers receiving cool water from the Cauvery.

Maha Magam Celebrations

There will be a Pancha Moorthy Chariot Festival starting from the Kumbeswarar temple this Saturday and Sunday (20/21 Feb). On Monday (22 Feb), on the occasion of Maha Magam, Lord Kumbeswarar along with deities from 12 other Shiva temples will enter the Maha Magam tank for the celebration of Theerthavari Vaibhavam between 12noon and 1pm.

( A part of this story featured today in The Hindu Friday Review)