Sankara Mutt Thiruvanaikaval Patshala Ramji Ganapadigal

Periyava's direction leads Allur Ramji Ganapadigal to Thiruvanaikaval Sankara Mutt Patshala to revive Krishna Yajur Veda

In 2018, this section featured a story on the revival of the Patshala in Pazhur, anchored by the then 30 year old Neelakantan Sastrigal. This story is about Ramji Ganapadigal, who similar to Neelakantan Sastrigal, was roped in by Periyava this time to revive the Krishna Yajur Veda at the Sankara Mutt Patshala in Thiruvanaikaval, just under 10 kms east of Pazhur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/pazhur-patshala-revival.html).And just like Neelakantan Sastrigal, Ramji Ganapadigal is also one who has stuck to traditions all his life so much so that he is strict on his students performing Sandhyavandhanam every single day, almost as a pre condition to them joining his class. Such sticklers to tradition are hard to find in this day and age when one finds compromised solutions even in the traditional space and most leaders going with the flow and the current trend.

Ramji Ganapadigal belongs to a Niyama Adyayanam family where the tradition is for the father to pass on his learnings to the son. In line with that model, he discontinued academics after class VII to be initiated into the Vedas in the Gurukulam style by his appa, Seshadri Ganapadigal at the Patshala in Allur. It was in Allur where in the Patshala blessed by Maha Periyava his grandfather, Yegneshwara Sastrigal had for many decades taught students Vedas and created the next generation of Vedic Scholars.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

An enjoyable childhood in Allur

Ramji Ganapadigal recounts with joy those enjoyable teenage years at Allur “Well over two decades ago, there were a number of young boys at the Agraharam in Allur and we would be together all the time sometimes playing tennis ball cricket and at other times chatting up amongst ourselves sitting on the banks of the Cauvery. We would be taught for around 2 hours every morning and had to practice that through the day, a process that helps us remember every single verse even today.”

                             Akilandeswari

The Kasi Meeting with Periyava that changed his path

After the completion of his 10 year Vedic studies that included Krishna Yajur Veda and Ganantham, Ramji Ganapadigal spent a while in his late 20s presenting Veda Parayanam at temple events and elsewhere in the Trichy region while continuing to be based in Allur. For over 60 years, the life of this family had centered around Vedic teachings at the Allur Patshala and Ramji Ganapadigal believed that it would be his way of life too but that was until he met the Periyava at the Chaturmasya trip in Kasi in 2023.

Kanchi Periyava's direction

Ramji Ganapadigal vividly remembers that day in 2023 in Kasi where he went with his family to be part of Periyava's Chaturmasya trip. “Periyava called us (my wife and me) and expressed his interest to revive the Krishna Yajur Veda at the Sankara Mutt in Thiruvanaikaval, one that had been integral to the Patshala in the century gone by. And he wanted me to be the teacher to lead that revival. I had lived almost all my life at Allur and my wife and our children too had settled down well there in a quiet life in that remote town and I was initially reluctant to leave my parents and make the move”, he told this writer this Wednesday evening even while directing his students to perform Sandhyavandhanam.

A life changing move to this Paadal Petra Sthalam

However, he realised soon that Periyava had identified him as the chosen one for the task of reviving the Krishna Yajur Veda at Thiruvanaikaval and this devout disciple of Periya could not refuse the orders of his acharya. Exactly two years ago, he moved to the Mutt opposite the Akilandeswari Sannidhi at Thiruvanaikaval with his young family to kickstart the revival process. This revival initiative started off with three students initially and has since more than doubled to seven students. 

The first phase of two years

He says that the first set of students is always a big challenge for the entire process has to start from scratch and put in place one for the students to follow. He follows an open line of communication with his students and tells them how they should live their live in the phase and the reasoning behind that process. During this entire phase of the last two years, he has always been with his students guiding them each day of the year so much so that even when he makes a trip to visit his parents in Allur, he takes them along seeing them as being part of his family.

செம்பொன் மேனிவெண் ணீறணி வானைக்

 கரிய கண்டனை மால்அயன் காணாச்

சம்பு வைத்தழல் அங்கையி னானைச்

 சாம வேதனைத் தன்னொப்பி லானைக்

கும்ப மாகரி யின்னுரி யானைக்

 கோவின் மேல்வருங் கோவினை எங்கள்

நம்ப னைநள் ளாறனை அமுதை

 நாயி னேன்மறந் தென்நினைக் கேனே

Motivated by the students' early enthusiasm

After spending over three decades in Allur with his parents, these last two years have been a new experience for Ramji Ganapadigal for he has had to start on his own initiating these young students on dharmic aspects and getting them to live a traditional way of life, in addition to teaching them the Vedas. The good news for him is that he has found them to be enthusiastic and energetic and that has been a big boost to his revival efforts. Like his own teenage days, he is happy to see that they too have begun to mingle well with each other playing a bit of cricket in their free time and spending time with the few cows that they have for company at the Patshala. These young kids also get devotionally excited when they see Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari making their way on to the North street on a procession led by the temple elephant and to the beating of the drums. 

Much against the current trend, the 36 year old Vedic Acharya has received great support from his wife (daughter of Ayyappan Sastrigal) who has been backing him to the hilt in this endeavour to create the next generation of Krishna Yajur Vedic Scholars.  Though she had lived her entire first phase of life in Mylapore around the Kapaleeswarar temple, she was comfortable moving into a remote town as Allur and now to Thiruvanaikaval, away from the round the year devotional buzz that she had experienced around the Mada Streets in her teenage phase and quite surprisingly in this day and age has a traditional old fashioned simplistic way of life leaving everything to the blessings of Periya and now to the divine couple of Thiruvanaikaval. 

It is an interesting phase in Ramji Ganapadigal's life. For 30 years, he had spent a life in Allur under the guidance of his appa and now he is all on his own reviving a Veda as desired by Periyava with the entire onus on him to get the first batch of students to graduate in a period of 8 years (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/04/iyyappan-sastrigal-muttam-kattu-mannar.html). No more does Ramji Ganapadigal go for outside events as he used when he was in Allur despite the fact that the financial returns as a Vedic Acharya is no where near best in class. His entire focus is only on these children at Thiruvanaikaval and his only focus is to make this vision of Periyava a success and to help these young children master the Krishna Yajur Veda. And in this endeavour, he is blessed to have a wife who backs him completely in this way of life. 

Thiru Mandangudi Thondaradipodi Giri Bhattar

From Selling Petrol to Archaka Kainkaryam

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

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

பச்சை மா மலை போல் மேனி 

பவளவாய் கமலச் செங்கண்

அச்சுதா அமரர் ஏறே, 

ஆயர் தம் கொழுந்தே என்னும்

இச்சுவை தவிர யான் போய்

இந்திர லோகம் ஆளும்

அச்சுவை பெறினும் வேண்டேன்

அரங்க மா நகருளானே

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Legendary Tale

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

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

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

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

மனத்தில் ஓர் தூய்மை இல்லை 

வாயில் ஓர் இன்சொல் இல்லை 

சினத்தினால் செற்றம் நோக்கி 

தீவிளி விளிவன் வாளா 

புனத்துழாய் மாலையானே 

பொன்னி சூழ் திருவரங்கா 

எனக்கு இனிக் கதி என் சொல்லாய் 

என்னை ஆளுடைய கோவே 

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

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

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

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

கதிரவன் குணதிசைச் சிகரம் வந்து அணைந்தான் 

கனை இருள் அகன்றது காலை அம் பொழுதாய் 

மது விரிந்து ஒழுகின மா மலர் எல்லாம் 

வானவர் அரசர்கள் வந்து வந்து ஈண்டி 

எதிர்திசை நிறைந்தனர் இவரொடும் புகுந்த 

இருங் களிற்று ஈட்டமும் பிடியொடு முரசும் 

அதிர்தலில் அலைகடல் போன்றுளது எங்கும் 

அரங்கத்தம்மா பள்ளி எழுந்தருளாயே 

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

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

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

Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar Brahmananda News Network

Sanyasi turns a Journalist 

Torch Bearer of Kapali Temple is back in the NEWS after a 18 month hiatus this time launching a News Network!!!

For a couple of years, former World Bank staffer and consultant to the PMO, Sanyasi 'Brahmanandha' Ramkumar was the most renowned devotional face at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore. After having let go of the corporate life that had taken him to many overseas locations, Ramkumar sole destination in life became this legendary temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar as one having utsavams round the year.

As he settled down into the temple as a devotee who inspired others to read devotional books and to follow a certain path within the temple, he found the absence of a permanent torch bearer during the processions and decided to take it upon himself. He would ride early in the evening on his old two wheeler from his home in Kodambakkam on the days in the month when there was a street procession. On other days, he would be in time for the Artha jaama pooja.

His contribution assumed great significance during the annual panguni utsavam when he stayed in a room on the south mada street and arrived at the temple at 3am to don an early morning role of carrying the Theevatti to the Yaaga Salai and then stayed back for the vahana procession in the morning. He came back in the evening carrying the Theevatti through the entire length of the 2-3 hour procession and stayed back at the temple till after midnight.

Even as he was performing this duty at the Kapaleeswarar temple, a high profile engagement of a Consultant to the PMO came his way. And for over a year, he straddled between the street processions and working on the digitisation of temple records.

Kapali Temple to the Banks of Ganga

In Karthigai of 2024, he came up and told this writer in front of the Murugan Sannidhi at the Kapaleeswarar temple that he was ending both his engagements – the one at the temple where he had become the face of the street processions with his vocal conversations with devotees as well as the engagement with the PMO and that he was heading into a saintly life.

And all of a sudden much to the shock of the devotees of Kapaleeswarar temple, he left the temple one night to never return. He initially reached the banks of Cauvery in Mayiladuthurai and then went to historic sacred places across the country and to Nepal as well. He was mostly out of sight and available only to some of his close devotee mates with whom he had built a devotional engagement at the Kapali temple.

The Sanyasi Journalist

In this phase he told this writer that disengaging with the worldly life including the bonding with Kapaleeswarar was his next phase of devotional enlightenment. Now, over 18 months after he quit the worldly life, he is back in the limelight with Brahmanandha News Network that he says is an independent editorial platform dedicated to verified, curated and meaningful journalism!!! He says that it was born from a vision of culture, truth, dharma and nation first and is hoping that this will be trusted source for balanced, indepth and inspiring news across India and World. He has a morning, midday and prime time bulleting.

Interestingly, he is going deep into understanding AI and how it can be used to disseminate insightful information to the readers. He says that AI assisted human curated news sets BNN apart. Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar who acquired Deekshai and is now known as Brahmanandha also has on offer weekly specials on wide ranging topics. He calls himself the Editor in Chief!!!

In his life, Kapali Theevatti Ramkumar had donned various roles – from overseas corporate engagements in the 2000s to being a consultant to the World Bank and then moving completely away to the devotional world and to a daily life at Kapaleeswarar temple to then disengaging his bonding with Kapali to move on a path of a rishi. Now after all these, Ramkumar (Brahmanandha) has got into journalism and with AI as an important assistant, he is confident of taking on the best in the business to provide news promising depth with clarity, truth with responsibility and speed with accuracy.

In his more recent roles over the last decade or so, he has managed to capture the imagination of people and more often than not became the centre of attraction. When the devotees of Kapaleeswarar thought that they had lost him forever, he is back with a bang proudly announcing on social media about his launch. There is also a Brahmanandha Bhakthi Network (BBN) that will provide info on events and the happenings at temples

One long standing devotee of Kapaleeswarar told this writer at the Singar temple over the weekend that Theevatti Ramkumar’s launch could even give the CNN a run for its money – for a start at least the name 'BNN' sounds so.  It is just over a month since the launch and Ramkumar is highly active on the social media including on his instagram page as he looks to take the news consumers by storm like he did with his 'Theevatti' engagement and his digitisation role with TN temples. 

This section will track the developments at the BNN and BBN. Till this weekend he has not been back at the Kapaleeswarar temple after his sudden exit after the Murugan procession on the Karthigai evening in 2024.

Best wishes to Brahmanandha News Network!! 

Vandiyur Veera Raghava Perumal Sundararaja Bhattar

Poverty Sticken childhood to a popular Bhattar in Vandiyur

Two decades of tireless solo effort leads to a grand consecration at the Veera Raghavan Perumal temple in Vandiyur

51 year old Sundararaja Bhattar  has been serving as the sole archakas at the Veera Raghava temple in Vandiyur for 27 years having taking over the role in 1999 at a time when the temple was in a dilapidated state. On this Saturday ( June 20) morning, he sports a happy smile looking at the Raja Gopuram whose construction he has anchored. The consecration took place under a year ago after a gap of almost 30 years. Every devotee that passes by this morning wish him well and exchange pleasentries with him enquiring about his well being, a testimony to the huge devotee network he has built over the last couple of decades.

This assumes even greater importance as he spent his entire childhood in poverty. His appa performed Sannidhi paricharaka kainkaryam at the Sundararaja Perumal temple in Thiru Maliruncholai. Sitting outside the Veera Raghava Perumal Sannidhi, he recounts to this writer his life during his schooling phase “Me and my siblings would have our meal only after our appa returned from the temple with the Thaligai. Sambhavanai was almost non existent with devotees being few and far between in the 1970s. We were dependent entirely on the temple food and grew up eating Sambhaa Satham and Ven Pongal.”

Paricharaka at Azhagar Koil

After class X, he learned the Pancharatra Agama at the Kuppan Iyengar Patshala in Srivilliputhur and began performing Paricharaka service at Azhagar Koil in the 1990s. He says his Chittappa had 15 day paricharaka service but did not have descendants and thus the Kainkaryam fell on him. 

Rangaraj Pandey's jeweller family

He recounts his association with Rangaraj Pandey’s family in those years “We were in such dire straits that my appa pledged jewels at Rangaraj Pandey’s appa jewellery shop to run the family. Later he sold historic lands to organise family functions. It was a terrible phase for the family, financially.”

The one silver lining was that though many of the kainkaryaparas went through a challenging life, they were all united and supported each other in whatever way they could. That unity is now missing at a time when all the Kainkaryaparas in temples are amassing wealth. When they were in financial trouble, they were united. Now when they are all rich, one is jealous of the other, says Sundararaja Bhattar pointing to the way temple service personnel have changed for the worse in recent times.

Sundararaja Bhattar would carry several Kudams of water from the sacred tank in Srivilliputhur every morning and would be paid 50 paise for his service. 

Azhagar Koil Bhattars inspire him

He credits Ambi Bhattar and his appa Paraswamy Bhattar of Azhagar Koil for taking care of him as one in their family after he made his way to Madurai to perform Paricharaka service at Thiru Maliruncholai, especially at a time when his appa and amma passed away one after another in quick succession when he was still in his teens. He recalls not having money even to perform their final rites such was the financial state of the family in the 1980s.

To Vandiyur for archaka service

In 1999, the Veera Raghava Perumal temple lay in a dilapidated state. The previous Bhattar who had performed selfless service for many years left the temple. That was when Sundararaja Bhattar was roped as the archaka by the HRCE at a salary of Rs. 1000!!!

Azhagar's Chitrai trip to Vandiyur

He was clear that the devotees had to form an integral part of the temple and began building that network. He was an extrovert right from his childhood and mingled well with people. He was also vocal with his views. He recalls how the Ekantha Sevai of Kallazhagar at the Veera Raghava Perumal temple attracted very few devotees for most of them went away after he stepped into the Vaigai. “Most of them did not understand the significance of the entire trip of Sundararaja Perumal from Thiru Maliruncholai to Madurai for it was to liberated Manduka Maha Rishi from his curse and to provide him with Moksham” says Sundararaja Bhattar looking back at that early phase at the Vandiyur temple. 

In that early phase, he would cycle from Simmakkal where he lived in a small rented house to perform kainkaryam every day at Vandiyur.  

Building a friendly devotee network

As more devotees pass by on this Saturday morning, one gets an indication of the positive vibrancy Sundararaja Bhattar has created at the temple as each one of them recall the role he played in restoring this temple to its historic glory. He worked tirelessly for many years and through contributions from devotees built the Thayar, Chakkarathazhvaar and Hanuman Sannidhi assigning one archaka to man each of these sannidhis. Through the devotee donors, he also built the Raja Gopuram that had remained half built during the Thirumalai Nayakar period.

With Kallazhagar having given him the early boost in the 1990s, he continues to go there during all the festivals to support Ambi Bhattar with whom he shares a close bonding (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/06/azhagar-koil-ambi-bhattar.html).

As clock ticks to 9am on this Saturday morning, a parent reach out to him to present their son to Veera Raghava Perumal and look up to Sundararaja Bhattar for the process to hand over their son to the perumal of Vandiyur. 

The Face of Vandiyur

For the residents of Madurai, Sundararaja Bhattar is the most renowned face at Vandiyur for he has created positivity in 1000s of devotees and the belief in them that sincere prayers will be answered by Veera Raghava Perumal. And in return, they listen quietly to everything he says and support him in all his devotional endeavours.

It has been a remarkable turnaround at this temple one that has been made possible through the sole efforts of Sundararaja Bhattar. With things looking up for him, he has managed to build a own house at Vandiyur. But despite the financial turnaround, almost every single day he looks back at his childhood days to remind himself of the humble background that he had risen from, a phase when he did not know when the next meal would come. Recalling this background from his life in the 1970s and 80s, he says he will forever remain firmly grounded and perform a lifetime of service to Veera Raghava Perumal.

Azhagar Koil Ambi Bhattar

An Engineering Dream shattered but a devotional transformation beckoned

This 58 year old Alankara Bhattar has gone on to become the Most Popular priest of Madurai

This section has featured many stories on how the scenario in TN temples had turned for the worse in the 1970s. It was no different at the Sundararaja Perumal Kallazhagar temple in Thiru Maliruncholai, one praised by multiple Azhvaars. While this family of priests had been carrying on the hereditary service for generations, this young boy just into his teens in the early 1980s was completely dejected with the way things had deteriorated in the temple space and how the devotees saw the priests of Azhagar Koil. This led him to focus on academics and he was keen to become an Engineer but his appa’s advise in the summer of 1985 transformed his outlook to life and he has for the last 35 years been performing the role of ‘Alankara Bhattar’ at this Divya Desam praised in exaggeration by Periyazhvaar as everything in 1000s - 1000s of lakes, streams and flower groves, Lord with a 1000 arms, 1000 shining crowns and One residing on a snake with 1000s of hoods. Here’s the story of Ambi Bhattar.

 

ஆயிரம் தோல் பரப்பி முடி ஆயிரம் மின்னிலக

ஆயிரம் பைந்தலைய அனந்தசயனன் ஆளும் மலை

 ஆயிர  மாருகளும் கணைகள் பல வாயிரமும்

ஆயிரம் பூம் பொழிலுமுடை மாலிருஞ் சோலையதே

Early Sporting interest

Sundara Narayana Bhattar popularly known as ‘Ambi’ Bhattar in temple circles in Madurai had his schooling at American College HSS. He was proficient in his academics and was also the leader of the Scouts. In those early years, he was also interested in football. His appa Paramaswami Bhattar was into the 26th generation of the hereditary archaka service at the Sundararaja Perumal Kallazhagar temple in Thiru Maliruncholai, on the Northern outskirts of Madurai.

His forefathers also performed archaka service at Adhi Jagannathan Perumal temple in Thiru Pullani, the Veera Azhagar Perumal temple in Manamadurai, the Sundararaja Perumal temple in Sivaganga and the Thallakulam temple in Madurai. The bleak scenario at TN temples led him to let go off the archaka service at Thiru Pullani, Manamadurai and Sivaganga. In the centuries gone by, his forefathers had been bestowed with huge tracts of land towards performing this Kainkaryam and thus they led a financially stable life. Paramaswamy Bhattar too was academically inclined and when his appa tried to keep him away from academics trying to lead him into temple service, he went to far away Gwalior for his graduation. Later he had a double MA and LLB degrees. 

Paramaswamy Bhattar was a renowned priest of the time and so graciously would he give away sambhavanai to those around him that he came to be called ‘Minor’ Bhattar. 

Challenging Phase growing up in the 1970s

Ambi grew up in challenging times for the temples in TN. As he moved into his teens and began absorbing more closely the happenings at Azhagar Koil, he was devastated by what he saw. 

On a Tuesday (June 9) morning when he handed over the Moolavar Sannidhi service to the other priest of the temple after having served over the previous 10 days, he recounted to this writer on what happened during his teenage years that put him away from temples for a brief period of time “My appa would bring back the Thaligai from the temple in the afternoon after his Kainkaryam. Much to my shock, I saw devotees passing sarcastic remarks about his tummy and how he was taking back the sacred food. The devotees would come to the temple to invoke the blessings of the Lord and my appa would perform archanai praying for their wellbeing. And yet, he would have to hear such remarks from passers-by. It was a phase when archakas in TN temples were disrespected on the back of the anti bhakthi movement.”

Comments such as these left strong early scars in the mind of the the teenaged Ambi. And that led him even more into the academic path.

The Transformational year - Summer of 1985

The year was 1985. Ambi had taken to the first group and completed his Class XII Boards that summer. The scars of people’s remarks about the Kainkaryam lay strongly entrenched in his mind and he was keen on becoming an Engineer and expressed this wish to his appa. An engineering seat was assured but before he took a final call, his appa made an appeal to him.

Expressing his grievances to his appa

His appa, Paramaswamy 'Minor' Bhattar was known to be vocal and strict but he also asked for the views of others including his children and would listen with intent. Frustrated at the way the life of this archaka’s son had gone in the schooling years, Ambi expressed himself vehemently on one such occasion. 

A most popular priest now, Ambi Bhattar recalls that conversation with his appa well over four decades ago even as scores of devotees wish him on this Tuesday morning on their way to the temple for darshan, an indication of the huge network he has built during his service at this temple. 

“In those decades, new dresses were bought only on select occasions and only one dress at that. On Deepavali day and on my birthday, my appa never saw me wear the new dress for he went away to the temple before I could wear and by the time he came home tired after half a day of temple service, I was back into my old dress”, says Ambi Bhattar with a tinge of sadness on how he missed his appa during the big moments in his life.

The Chitrai Utsavam has grown into such popularity now that several lakhs visit Madurai during this festival. It was one of the biggest fests even at that time when he was a school boy and his family had three mandagapadis. “While the entire city was enjoying the utsavam, I was not a witness to all the different days of the fest including the Horse Vahana entry into the Vaigai, the Vandiyur trip following that and the Dasavatharam darshan, for my appa was on duty on those days and as a young boy, I could not be taken care of during those high profile days", I told my appa as a teenager, says Ambi Bhattar on the grievances he raised.

There was minimal thattu kaasu, embarrassing abuses from devotees about priests, no home functions with appa’s presence for he was always at temple kainkaryam. All these left him aggrieved and was vocal about becoming an Engineer and not wanting to take to ‘alankara’ Bhattar kainkaryam that his forefathers had performed for so many centuries.

Multiple Azhvaars praised Temple

Azhagar Koil is a Divya Desam praised by several Azhvaars in all its glory 1000s of years ago. In a much earlier praise in the Paripatal belonging to the Sangam period, Thiru Malirun Kunram finds a detailed praise (http://prtraveller.blogspot.in/2015/11/paripatal-maliruncholai-balarama.html). The most fascinating description of Thiru Maliruncholai in the Paripatal is of Balarama and the extent of worship dedicated to him in this region, the reference to his chest ornaments and the beautiful single ear pendent. The devotees who throng the roads to the hill are advised to worship the hill itself as it is seen as the seat of the God who removes all worries and destroys the sins of devotees.

Koodal Iyizhaittal – A historical game at Thiru Maliruncholai

Andal, in the Nachiyar Thirumozhi, provides insights into the astrological predictions referred to as Koodal Iyizhaithal. She presents to us a historical system that was in vogue during her time. In  Koodal Iyizhaithal, one looks at the set of lines to decide the fate of the lovers. She addresses the angel and asks if the omens are good for her to unite with her beloved.

அழகனார் அணியாச்சியர் சிந்தையுள் 

குழகனார் வரில்

கூடிட கூடலே

Historically shells were used in a game through one of the two processes – either by putting them together in small groups or by drawing a number of concentric circles and seeing them in twos. If the final result ended in even number, it was seen as a Good Omen and the wishes of the lover was said to be fulfilled. Koodal Iyizhaittal was a historical game played by young girls who were looking to be united with their beloved. By the end of the game based on the result, they get an indication on whether they would unite with their lover. This is a game of dots and lines drawn to see if the final formation ends in a good omen.

Andal invokes the blessings of the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai to ensure that the lines drawn will form the right concentric circles so it ends up in a good omen.

Answering the son's grievances

After having listened to all of his teenaged son’s grievances, appa Paramaswamy Bhattar patiently answered him one by one.

"There are crores of people in the state. Only a few are born as Vaishnavites. Among them, even fewer are Vaikanasa agama archakas. Unfortunately, the two born before you (sisters) cannot crossed the Kulasekara Padi. So, you are bestowed with the unique opportunity to be the one carrying our hereditary service into the future. I give you one day’s time for you to think through this. If you decide on becoming an Engineer and taking to that as your way of life, I would accept that but touching Sundararaja Perumal through your lifetime is a blessing that very few have", Paramaswamy Bhattar told his 17 year old son Ambi Sundara Narayanan in very polite and kind words.

Sundara Narayanan becomes 'Ambi' Bhattar

Within 24 hours, Ambi, the young teenager was transformed. From his much cherished dream of becoming an engineer, he had decided to turn into ‘Ambi Bhattar’. When he came back to his appa the next day to convey his decision on giving up the engineering seat that had come his way and to take to Bhattar Kainkaryam, little did he realise that decades later, he would become one of the most popular bhattars of this historic city and one who is identified as the Golden Horse Chitrai Utsavam Bhattar of Madurai.

He joined BA and began learning the Vaikanasa Agama from his Amma’s appa Ramaswamy Bhattar who performed Kainkaryam at Thuraiyur. Ambi Bhattar joined his appa in temple kainkaryam in 1991 after he married the daughter of the Dikshithar of Tirupathi.

1995 at Tirupathi - Vajra Kreedam

Exactly a decade after the decision to skip Engineering, he went to Tirupathi and anointed the Lord with Vajra Kreedam along with his Father in Law, who was the Chief Priest of the temple. He says that it was on that day that he realised the value of his appa’s advise in 1985 “The then President of the country Sankar Dayal Sharma visited the temple for Garuda Sevai and there I was placing the Kreedam on the Lord’s head before providing darshan to the President. Even the PM and the Prez of the country can only stand a few yards away whereas the archakas are blessed with the rights to touch and decorate the Divya Desam Lord.”

Golden Words - The Bhattar with the Golden Horse Vahana at the Chitrai Utsavam

And then back at Azhagar Koil, over the last couple of decades he has been the priest seen with Kallazhagar during the now globally renowned Chitrai Utsavam. Every time Ambi Bhattar is atop the Lord during the entry of the Golden Horse into the Vaigai, he remembers those Golden Words of his appa from 1985 “I had gone and complained to my appa as a school boy that I had not been able to have darshan even of our own Mandagapadis. Having taken to ‘alankara bhattar’ kainkaryam following his advise, I am now carried by 20 Sripatham Thangis and hold Sundararaja Perumal tightly every time they present a fast run. From the grievance of not having had darshan to being the one to touch and hold on to the Lord through the most popular festival of the year, it has been a blessed feeling and I have realised the value of those golden words of my appa only after experiencing the utsavam as the Bhattar of the Golden Horse Vahana procession.”

A Life Lesson - Handling devotees at crowded events

His appa’s public pulling him up three decades ago has remained entrenched in his memory every time he handles devotees. “During Kallazhagar’s trip to Vandiyur decades ago when I was still very young, I asked sambhavanai from a devotee who asked for flowers. My appa was a disciplinarian and was not lost on words when he saw his son go down the wrong path. He almost kicked me in front of everyone and gave me a stern warning on my conduct. He asked me if I paid and bought the flowers and that I should not transact with the flowers that were actually presented by the devotees themselves. That day, I promised to myself that it is my Bhattar duty to offer flowers to devotees irrespective of the sambhavanai they present. It was yet another great life lesson passed on by my appa to me and it has stood with me ever since over the last three decades.”

 

Ambi Bhattar's fav Utsavam - Noopura Gangai Thailakkappu

While the Chitrai Utsavam and Kallazhagar entering the Vaigai is seen as the most popular utsavam of Azhagar Koil, Ambi Bhattar’s favourite is the Thailakkappu utsavam in Aippasi when the Lord makes his way atop Thiru Maliruncholai to Noopura Gangai where the Bhattar anoints him with a sacred oil bath (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/11/azhagar-koil-noopura-ganga-aippasi.html). “It is a great feeling to be providing Perumal with this oil bath from the sacred waters flowing down at Noopura Gangai.”

Artha Jaama Pooja provides peace

He also finds great peace in performing the Kainkaryam during the Artha Jaama Poooja “It is the time of the day late in the evening when I invoke the blessing of the Lord asking for forgiveness for any wrongs done by him during the day. It is a quiet time and the Ekantham with Sundarara Raja Perumal provides me with great happiness and leads me to a peaceful sleep in the night.”

Ambi Bhattar has for long been the face of Azhagar Koil having built a great network with the devotees of Madurai. It is no wonder then that every devotee walking in to the temple wishes him and enquires about his wellbeing. Once again, he recalls the words of his appa from that early phase in his kainkaryam. “The devotees come for a one minute darshan carrying all their sadness with them. We will know their difficulty only if we stand in hours in the queue and then have a few seconds darshan in front of the moolavar Lord. Hence, always be kind and polite with them and help them have a good darshan” Ambi Bhattar told this writer on how he tries to conduct himself as an archaka.

Interestingly, and coincidentally at the time of writing of this story, Ambi Bhattar’s son, who has a MBA degree, has taken a big call to quit the corporate world where he was working in the IT sector. At 29, he too has decided to join his appa in Kainkaryam at Azhagar Koil much to Ambi Bhattar’s delight.

The Victory Hill - Kallazhagar answers devotee's prayers

Ambi Sundara Narayana Bhattar could have easily lost his Kainkaryam to the Engineering World had his appa not reasoned out to him the greatness of this Divya Desam service. From the time he was 17, he has not looked back once on the decision to skip his dream of becoming an Engineer for he has now realised all these years later as to how the feeling of being the ‘Alankara Bhattar’ at this Divya Desam praised by Periyazhvaar as the ‘Victory Hill’ is unmatched. Tears roll down Ambi Bhattar’s cheeks when he recounts yet again the blessed feeling of being the one holding on to Kallazhagar every time he enters the Vaigai with lakhs of devotees shouting out the name of the Lord and creating a great positive vibration. 

அலை வலைமை தவிர்த்த

அழகன் அலங்காரன் மலை

குல மலை கோல மலை

குளிர் மா மலை கொற்ற மலை

நில மலை நீண்ட மலை

திரு மாலிருஞ் சோலை யதே

At 58, after having performed the Kainkaryam at Azhagar Koil for three and a half decades, Ambi Bhattar has quite a physical issues born out of standing long including during the street processions but he continues to remain devotionally passionate about his favourite Sundararaja Perumal and says that just standing in front of the Lord takes one to a different world, one of unending bliss where he loses himself completely to the Lord of Thiru Maliruncholai. Till the final moments of his life, he hopes to continue this hereditary Kainkaryam that his forefathers had been performing for over 25 generations. His son joining him in Kainkaryam is a big boost to Ambi Bhattar and he believes he will be able to continue to perform this Kainkaryam with renewed vigour.

Nachiyar Koil Srinivasa Perumal Thoppu Restoration

The huge 4.5 acre Perumal Thoppu at Nachiyar Koil has been restored to its ancient glory

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Thiru Naraiyur as one with Banana Plantations and Jack Fruit groves where Peacocks danced with joy - EO Prabhakaran is trying to evoke memories of those verses with the restoration of this Thoppu 

Into the second half of the previous century, things began to deteriorate at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam in Thiru Naraiyur. While Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised this temple as one having utsavams round the year, many of the historical festivals came to a halt even as original inhabitants began to leave their home to larger cities in search of jobs following the anti devotional movement that hit the state. The Nandavanam inside the temple lay into a dilapidated state and the Vasantha Utsavam when Srinivasa Perumal makes a trip to the Vasantha Mandapam at the Western entrance around the Nandavanam too had come to a halt.

ஆளும் பணியும் அடியேனைக் கொண்டான்

விண்ட நிசாசரனைத் 

தோலும் தலையும் துணிவெய்தச் 

சுடு வெம் சிலைவாய்ச் சரம் துறந்தான் 

வேலும் சேயும் அனையாரும் 

வேல் கணாரும் பயில் வீதி 

நாளும் விழவின் ஒலிஒவா 

நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பியே 

It was in the 1990s that a 7week Prarthana pooja for Kal Garuda was initiated that signified the first signs of some sort of revival in the fortunes of the temple. Following the devotional wave that has been striking TN temples over the last decade or so, a number of utsavams have been revived with the twice a year Kal Garuda Sevai becoming popular with devotees thronging the temple on that evening. The grand consecration that followed a major multi crore restoration exercise a few years back saw a new look physical infrastructure inside the temple complex but the huge Thoppu South of the temple remained deserted and in a dilapidated condition. 

It is in light of this background that the contribution of Executive Office Prabhakaran assumes significance. He is completing 4 years at this temple usually a period when HRCE EOs get transferred to another temple. As he walks around the Thoppu on a pretty hot day in April, the 36 year old Prabhakaran told this writer as to how he was keen to restore the Thoppu to its old glory before the end of his term at this temple.

Right from his early teenage years at his home town in Thiruthuraipoondi, he had developed a great interest in tree plantation and during his late schooling and college years, planted a number of saplings in his house that became the cynosure of all eyes in that town as in the years that went by, these small saplings had grown into tall trees. His early interest in nature and protection of greenery also led this Engineer to do a Masters in Social Work. 

In the period he has been the EO in temples in the Chozha region, he has gone about planting saplings in and around the temple.

Till about a few years ago, the Thoppu at Nachiyar Koil was unknown to most with even the Kainkaryaparas at the temple not visiting the place for it was deserted and wore a ‘forest’ like look. EO Prabhakaran who has been studying the temple records right from the time he took charge spotted the presence of a Thoppu for Srinivasa Perumal. Curious to know its current state, he walked to the Thoppu only to find it in a deplorable state. Thankfully, there were no encroachments that had taken place in the previous years and that gave him confidence to initiate steps towards its restoration.

As he set foot for the first time into the forest like 4.5 acres, he needed an ally who would assist him in the restoration. And he found one in Rajasekar, a HRCE staffer at the temple who also doubles up as Sripatham during the processions. Prabhakaran says that Rajasekar has been the man on the ground who has been responsible for carrying out the restoration as directed by him. 

Over the last couple of years, a wide-ranging set of trees have planted including Semmaram, Veppam, Neermaruppu and Naaval. Interestingly, a 100 Ilaippu trees too have grown into a good size.

Buoyed by the successful restoration of this Thoppu, EO Prabhakaran has now identified another 5 acres temple land for planting more trees in this region. Aggressive on recovery of temple lands, he has just helped secure back a Rs. 12crore worth land belonging to the Ramanathaswamy temple in Thiru Naraiyur.

It is now a decade since he began maintain proper records of his tree plantation activities and says that he on his own has planted over 2 lakh saplings since his teenage years. During his time, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar found Thiru Naraiyur to be abound with banana plantations and jackfruit groves where honey dripped down from the trees. In his own way, Prabhakaran is trying to get back those trees into this Thoppu as praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar.

சுளை கொண்ட பலன்கனிகள் தேன் பாய 

கதலிகளின் திளை கொண்ட பழம் கெழுமித்

திகழ் சோலை திருநறையூர் 

வளை கொண்ட வண்ணத்தன் 

பின் தோன்றல் மூவுலகோடு 

அளை வெண்ணை உண்டான் தன் 

அடி இணையே அடை நெஞ்சே 

So impressed was the Forest officer headquartered in Kumbakonam with the initiative of EO Prabhakaran that he directed his team to send him a 1000 saplings to be planted by him in this Thoppu as part of their support. It is from this Thoppu that rose garland knotted by Thoppu Kaaval Rajasekar goes to Perumal. Wide ranging fruits too have begun to spring up and these too are presented to Perumal. 

Being with nature in the midst of peacocks and chirping birds is a big stress buster for Prabhakaran. It sets him with positive thoughts and heads back to the temple with renewed energy. He says that living with nature helps one find inner peace and understand life better. In the time he has been at Nachiyar Koil, he has taken revolutionary steps something that previous EOs had refrained from. 

EO Prabhakaran with Thoppu Kaaval Rajasekar

Bold step to stop theppotsavam

He directed the stopping of the Theppotsavam after he found contaminated water from the residential areas coming into the sacred temple tank. Despite pressure from multiple sources, he refused to allow Perumal to step into the tank that had polluted water. Even the politicians or the collector could not get him to revise his decision.  He told this writer that there are many processions inside the temple and on the streets but the Theppotsavam is very special. He is inside the temple tank one day in a year to provide darshan to devotees. His view is that the sanctity of such an utsavam cannot be undermined. It is something that Srinivasa Perumal enjoys but as an EO ‘I cannot permit Perumal to enter contaminated and polluted water’.”

This issue has now gone to court and he is hopeful that sometime in the near future, there will be a solution found to redirect the drainage water away from the sacred tank into another outlet.

A Model thoppu

Many EOs from temples in the Chozha region have visited the Nachiyar Koil Perumal Thoppu and this now serves as a model for other EOs to implement in the Nandavanam and Thoppu in their respective temples. Veppam and Puli Trees have grown tall and present a beautiful picture against the setting sun on this Wednesday evening. Orange, Lemon and Citron (Narthangai) trees too have come up well that EO Prabhakaran believes the next gen of Kainkaryaparas at Nachiyar Koil now popular for Kal Garuda Sevai will reap.

உறியார் வெண்ணையுண்டு உரலோடும் கட்டுண்டு 

வெறியார் கூந்தல் பின்னை பொருட்டு ஆன் வென்றான் ஊர் 

பொறியார் மஞ்சை பூம் பொழில்தோறும் நடமாட 

நறு நாண்மலர்மேல் வண்டிசை பாடும் நறையூரே

Reminding one of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's verses

Thiru Naraiyur is one of the only two temples that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had showered with over a century of verses. In his praise, he refers to Peacocks dancing to the tunes of the bees in the fragrant groves. It has been another energy sapping summer's hot day with temperature nearly touching 40 degrees at Thiru Naraiyur but EO Prabhakaran is full of positive energy and bullish on the prospects of the future of this Thoppu and the presence of a few peacocks making sweet noises in the evening and dancing around the Thoppu fluttering their wings enthralls him further.  

Revival of Utsavams, Recovery of Temple Lands and Restoration of Nandavanam and Thoppu runs on the top of his mind all the time. The Vasantha Utsavam was revived a few years ago with Srinivasa Perumal going through the Nandavanam to the Vasantha Mandapam in Vaikasi. 

At Thirukurungudi Divya Desam, following the restoration exercise (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-nandavanam.html), Nambi makes a trip to the Thoppu during the Vaikasi Vasantha utsavam. Having restored this 4.5 acre Thoppu, Prabhakaran is hopeful that one day into the future, Nambi of Nachiyar Koil too will make an annual trip to His Thoppu like he once used to on the Kanu day, for the chirping birds to have the sacred food.

Srirangam KSB Sampath Bhattar@80

High on Devotional Energy and fully committed to 'devotee happiness', this Octogenarian Bhattar is focusing all his attention on serving Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar in this second phase of his life

K Sampath Bhattar (KSB to those in the temple circles) celebrated his 80th birthday all alone at the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi (he lost his wife 8 years ago and does not have a child). He is now in his 25th year of service at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and is enjoying every minute of it. After an engineering degree, he joined the Bhabha Atomic Energy in the late 1960s while his appa the renowned Krishnan Bhattar was continuing the hereditary archaka service at the Srirangam temple. It was a quiet phase for temples in Tamil Nadu as seen in many previous stories in this section and that led Sampath Bhattar to take to a career in the corporate space.

After 7 years at the Atomic Energy research in Bombay, there rose an opportunity at BHEL Trichy and he moved back to his home town in 1977, where he continued to work for over two decades.

கங்குலும் பகலும் கண்துயில் அறியால் 

கண்ண நீர் கைகளால் இறைக்கும் 

சங்கு சக்கரங்கள் என்று கை கூப்பும் 

தாமரைக் கண் என்றே தளரும் 

எங்கனே தரிக்கேன் உன்னைவிட்டுட்டு  என்னும் 

இரு நிலம் கை துழா இருக்கும் 

செங்கயல் பாய் நீர்த் திருவரங்கத்தாய் 

இவள் திறத்து என் செய்கின்றாயே 

Always prompt in his presence at Kainkaryam

It is a very hot summer’s day in Srirangam but KSB is at the Ranganayaki Thayar sharp at 9am on this Wednesday (April 22) morning, the day of Ramanuja’s annual Thiru Nakshatram. When he has archaka service at the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil, east of Srirangam, he is there at 4.25pm to welcome the devotees into the Sannidhi right on the dot at 4.30pm. When this writer asked him shortly after his 80th birthday on that evening at Singar Koil, KSB replied in the same way that he has seen his archaka service since the time he took over 25 years ago “I had been in the corporate space for well over two decades and the divine couple brought me back to the temple in the 2nd half of my life. There are only a select few who have been blessed with the opportunity to touch and serve them in this legendary Divya Desam. I have been one of those chosen few and I have to consider that the greatest gift I have secured in this life. On your service day, you have to consider Perumal and Thayar as your own child and take care of him/her in a way you would take care of your child.”

Positive words - Focus on Devotee Happiness

On this Summer’s day in April, he places the Shatari on the devotee non stop for two hours without a break with his favourite blessing ‘Ayushman Bhava’, ‘Sumangali Bhava’…. At 80, does he not get physically tired of this “The devotees enter the temple with different kinds of challenges and they are looking to head back from the Sannidhi with happiness.  An archaka blessing with the Shatari gives them that positive feel and I feel I am duty bound to provide them with that joy.”

Way back in 1999, his amma lay on his lap after drinking the morning coffee and soon passed away that had his showering lavish praise on him “My appa told me that I had served my amma as a dutiful son and hence she passed away quietly by my side.”

Wife's Invaluable contribution

A few years later, his appa Krishna Bhattar too passed away leaving KSB and his wife all alone at their home on North Chitra Street. His wife’s passing away in 2018 was a big blow to him and he recalls her invaluable contribution to this writer sitting in front of the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi “As a youngster, I was timid and lacked a bit of confidence because of my squint eye. My wife was well educated and forward looking. It was she who boosted my confidence and lifted my spirit when others would pull me down pointing to my physical shortcoming. It was her consistent messages day in day out that helped me perform my service with confidence.”

Divine Couple's blessing -Rise to the top

When he came back to archaka service after a VRS at BHEL, his colleagues at the temple would often rag him like one would of a newly joined college student “I had learned the Agama for over 5 years but then I had been in corporate service for a few decades and away from the daily kainkaryam. Hence when I took over the reigns from my appa, I had to encounter numerous challenges with many questioning my ability to perform the traditional activities of an archaka.”

உந்திமேல் நான் முகனைப் படைத்தான் 

உலகுண்டவன் எந்தை பெம்மான்

 இமையோர்கள் தாதைக்கு இடம் என்பரால் 

சந்தினோடு மணியும் கொழிக்கும் புனல் காவிரி 

அந்திப்போலும் நிறத்தார் வயல் சூழ் தென் அரங்கமே 

When he joined the archaka service, he was at the bottom of the list as a newcomer in his 50s!!! He recounts how he shot up the archaka ladder in the decade after. “I told myself that I could perform the  Thirumanjanam in the most traditional way and I did that. Adyayana Utsavam is a big challenge and Namperumal stood by me and gave me the confidence that I could handle this too. As time went by, I managed the Yaaga Salai,  Theppotsavam and Pavitrotsavam.”

When an occasion warranted, he performed Thirumanjanam thrice on a single day. 

From a 30th ranked Bhattar, he shot up the list in a short period of time. A fortnight from today, he will be the Raksha Bandana Bhattar at the Chitrai Brahmotsavam that starts on May 6 “I performed a hattrick of this at the Chitrai Brahmotsavam and till date have donned the role of Raksha Bandana Bhattar 7 times. I have also performed the Theerthavari over a dozen times. And been the anchor Bhattar at the Pavitrotsavam as well.”

Dikshai to upcoming next gen Bhattars

He has performed Dikshai for many of the upcoming bhattars at the Srirangam temple and it is with his blessings that the next generation of bhattars have taken to archaka service at this temple.

Credits the Divine Couple for standing by him everyday

Repeatedly turning his face towards Ranganayaki Thayar, he reiterates the point that as an archaka ‘I have to realise that it is all her blessings. I cannot chest thump that I have achieved something in life all of my own. When I took over from my appa, Perumal and Thayar accepted me and guided me every single day and kept me grounded. I have been given an opportunity to perform this kainkaryam and I have seen as my duty to discharge this function as devotionally as possible and in as committed a way that I can’.

ஆறாத அருள் அமுதம் பொதிந்த கோயில்

அம்புயத்தோன் அயோத்தி மன்னற்கு அளித்த கோயில்

தொலாத தனிவீரன் தொழுத கோயில் 

துணையான வீடணற்கு துணையாம் கோயில்

சேராத பயன் எல்லாம் சேர்க்கும் கோயில்

செழுமறையின் முதல் எழுத்து சேர்ந்த கோயில்

தீராத வினை அனைத்தும் தீர்க்கும் கோயில்

திருவரங்கம் எனும் கோயில் தானே

Unflinching faith in Divine Couple

At 80, KSB is physically and mentally energetic and there is a lot of positive vibration when he is at the Perumal and Thayar Sannidhi. He continues to make the trip to the east end of Srirangam to serve as an archaka at the Singar Koil where the devotee crowd has shot up dramatically. KSB has also been bestowed with the responsibility of letting go off the arrow on the Vijayadasami evening when Namperumal is at the Singar Koil.

With the growing number of Bhattars, there are those looking for additional kainkaryam days. KSB has always been happy to hand over his Kainkaryam to the next gen Bhattars for them to take forward the service into the next phase. He says that the Divine Couple has taken care of him well in this life and that he has thoroughly enjoyed this experience of serving as a priest at the Ranganathaswamy temple over the last 25 years.

High Devotional Commitment @ 80

He has finished the Uchi Kaala pooja and the Mangalaarathi at the Ranganayaki Sannidhi. With the clock ticking to 1.30pm, this energetic Octogenarian Bhattar, who has been at the Sannidhi for over 4 hours refuses the drop offered by this writer instead choosing his own way back home in the scorching hot sun, a day ahead of the TN assembly elections. It is that self confidence to handle himself and to perform his duty to the best of his ability that has kept him in good spirits at this age. He continues to keep himself abreast of the atomic scenario in the country but outside of this his whole life at 80 centers around Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar. He came back to the Ranganathaswamy temple almost as a novice 25 years ago and with the grace  and blessing of the Divine Couple he has been able to continue this Kainkaryam into his 80th year.