Singar Koil Srirangam Madapalli Venkatesan contract extension 2026

At a time when the HRCE is planning to run the Prasadam stall on its own at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, it has extended the madapalli contract of long standing cook Venkatesan at Singar Koil

While the HRCE continues to explore option to run the Prasadam stall on its own at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, on Friday (August 21) it awarded the madapalli contract at Singar Koil to long standing cook S Venkatesan. On Friday morning, soon after an hour long conversation with this writer, JC Sivaram Kumar made his way to the Ranga Vilas mandapam for the auction. An hour later, Maniyakarar and long time sole cook at the madapalli of Singar Koil received a call from the Ranganathaswamy temple to take a Demand Draft for just over Rs. 4 lakhs as part of the extension of his annual contract at the madapalli. There were no other tenders and as someone who had been taking care of the madapalli for over four decades, the JC decided that he should continue the good work he had been doing for long. Given the quality of his cooking, the expectations of the devotees and the shortage of personnel at madapalli including at the Ranganathaswamy temple, the JC took a call to hand over the contract to him at an increase of just Rs. 500 over the previous year.

It’s been a remarkable transformation at Narasimha temples over the last few years. Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil in the eastern outskirts of Srirangam too is riding on this devotional wave. The devotee crowd at Singar Koil has begun to like the sacred food he prepares each day and one finds long queues lining up in front of the madapalli especially on Pradosham and Swathi evenings in addition to Saturdays with Venkatesan preparing a wide ranging dish that is presented to Narasimha at 6.45pm every evening. Not just the devotees, the archakas too come into the madapalli once in a while to have a taste of Venkatesan's sacred food offerings.

A bleak scenario in the 1970s and 80s

This is a far cry from what the scenario was in the early 1980s when Venkatesan joined the Singar temple. It was dark around the temple and he would pick up some ghee and oil every morning to light the lamp at the temple. As with many other temples in the state, he would wait endlessly till noon for the next devotee but there were hardly any. There was absolutely no income and it was a financial struggle back then, Venkatesan told this writer a few years ago.

In addition to housing Lord Azhagiya Singar, the temple played home to venomous snakes, Udumbu and deadly big Scorpions. Cook Venkatesan had to contend with snakes that were an integral part of the dark prakaras in those decades. He has recalled many times to this writer as to how a venomous snake just missed biting him outside the madapalli when he was washing the vessels.

Till about a few decades ago, there were no houses in the area. The temple was flanked by a burial ground in the North and green fields in the East and South. There were no lights anywhere in the vicinity of the temple. The only noise came from the steam engines that passed through the Srirangam station. There were even skeletons seen around this ancient temple that pre dates the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.

அங்கண் ஞால மஞ்ச அங்கு ஓர் ஆள் அரி ஆய்

அவுணன் பொங்க ஆகம் வள் உகிரால்

போழ்ந்த புனிதன் இடம்

பைங்கண் ஆனைக் கொம்பு கொண்டு பத்திமையால்

அடிக்கீழ்ச் செங்கண் ஆளி இட்டு இறைஞ்சும்

சிங்கவேழ் குன்றமே - Periya Thirumozhi - 1-7-1

Five decades ago, Venkatesan’s appa Srinivasan Iyengar had taken up the Madapalli cooking contract at an annual tender of Rs. 200, which was quite a sizeable amount in those days. Last decade, this had gone up to Rs. 1 Lakh. But with the ever increasing devotee crowd at this Narasimha temple, the tender amount had gone up to Rs. 4 lakhs last year. 

Solo Act for four decades

Venkatesan has been the sole man at the madapalli over the last many decades cooking in a traditional way with firewood. This has taken a toll on his health consuming the smoke emanating from the firewood every morning and evening. For some time now, he has been wondering as to how long he would be able to continue this kainkaryam given the fact that he has not even been able to take a day off to check his health. But with the JC insisting that he should continue this year, Madapalli Venkatesan has accepted the offer and much to the delight of the devotees at Singar Koil will be the one who provides them with the sacred Chakkarai Pongal in the evenings.

பள்ளியில் ஓதி வந்த தன் சிறுவன்

வாயில் ஓர் ஆயிற நாமம்

ஒள்ளியவாகிப் போதவாங்கதனுக்கு ஒன்று மோர் பொறுப்பிலனாகி

பிள்ளையை சீறி வெகுண்டு தூண் புடைப்ப

பிறை எயிற்றின ல் விழிப்பேழ்வாய்

தெள்ளிய சிங்கம் ஆகிய தேவை

திருவல்லிக்கேணி கண்டேனே

Devotional Message from his appa

All along this journey, Venkatesan has always remembered the great message from his appa. “While it may have been disheartening in that phase to not have devotees at the temple and to be endlessly waiting for the next outstation visitor, I always remembered my appa’s message to have a firm believe in Narasimha and to perform our duty with utmost sincerity. Despite the financially stressed life, my appa's consistent message to me throughout my childhood was to give positive messages to devotees who came to the Lord with problems and to create the belief in them that the Lord would take care of them if they invoked his blessings with sincere devotion. It is our duty to make them happy when they are here at the temple and that is what I have tried to instil in them all through the last four decades

” Venkatesan recalls on the most important message of his life.

That’s easily Venkatesan’s biggest differentiator. At a time when there are shortage of cooks at the madapalli even at Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, Venkatesan has been a lone hand at Singar Koil having prepared the Thaligai each day of the year for over 40 years leaving long standing devotees bewildered at his devotional commitment.

That long standing unflinching faith of the now 63 year old Venkatesan in Lakshmi Narasimha is finally paying rich dividend. With the devotional wave striking TN temples and the ever increasing belief in Lord Narasimha as one who answers a devotee’s sincere prayers, Singar Koil has seen a remarkable turnaround with Pradosham and Swathi days every month seeing a high turnout of devotees. On Aani Swathi, the annual birthday of Periyazhvaar, the devotee queue extended to the main road with thousands of them lining up through the evening for a darshan of Lakshmi Narasimha. Similar is the crowd during the Saturdays of Puratasi. Each day of the year devotees are calling on him for presentation of sacred thaligai. That's a great reward for someone who for long has remained a great believer in the power of Narasimha of Singar Koil as a protector of the good. Devotees may come and go but one cannot disassociate Madapalli Venkatesan from his favourite Lakshmi Narasimha at Kaattu Azhagiya Singaperumal Koil.

The temple is open between 6.15am and 12noon and between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. Those interested to present Chakkarai Pongal and Ven Pongal Thaligai or Paanagam to Lakshmi Narasimha can contact Venkatesan @ 63792 77677. The sacred food will be distributed to devotees on a Thonnai after presentation to Narasimha.

Srirangam Temple Mobile Ban Sept 1

The ban on mobiles inside the Ranganathaswamy Temple comes into effect on Sept 1

This section expects chaotic scenes in the early phase since the moolavar darshan goes on till well past 9pm while the baggage, chappal and mobile phone counters close by 9pm

The most talked about topic this week in Srirangam is the ban on mobile phones inside the Ranganathaswamy temple that will come into effect from September 1. 2000 mobile storage boxes have been installed at the three entrance points – South, East and North Gates. This section had featured a story on the mobile ban that came into effect at the Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai in July 2018 (story link below at the end).

On this Friday (August 21) morning, soon after making his way to his office, JC Sivaram Kumar is presented with a sketch of how the counters and the entry path to the temple at the Therku Vaasal will look like but he is not happy with the design and the process.

தேட்டருந்திறல் தேனினைத் தென்னரங்கனை

திருமாதுவாழ் வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை

வாழ்த்தி மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்

ஆட்ட மேவியலந்தழைத்து

அயர் வெய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள்

தம் ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல் 

அது காணும் பயனாவதே

Therku Vaasal - Baggage, Chappal and Mobile Counters

At the South entrance opposite the SBI Srirangam branch, there has been in place for many years a baggage cloak counter for a fee of Rs. 5 and a free chappal counter. These two counters work from 5am to 9pm. The issue that this writer has brought to the attention of the JC over the last two years has been the fact that while the counter closes at 9pm the devotees return from darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi well after 930pm because the Ariya Bhattar Vaasal remains open till 9pm and devotees can enter this Vaasal till that time for darshan. But while they enter this point at 9pm, it could take them another 30 minutes to go through the free darshan queue to have darshan of the Lord in Sayana Kolam. On Fridays and over the weekend this could go up to even 945pm and sometimes to 10pm on really crowded days.

Chappals  at the counter thrown on to the street after 9pm!!!

Over the last couple of years, the devotees have found that the chappal they had lodged at the counter at the South entrance has been thrown on to the South Uthira Street and almost every night, it is a normal occurrence for devotees, especially the outstation ones, to search for their pair of chappals on this street. That went fine because the chappals were lodged free and the cost of the chappals may not have not been too high!!! But it may not be the same in case of mobile phones. 

What happens now - Mobiles lodged at 8pm but devotees return at 930pm

When devotees lodge their mobile phones at 8pm from September 1 and go inside for darshan of Thayar and Perumal, it is likely that they would not be able to return back to the mobile counter at the South entrance by 9pm. The staffers at these counters work only in two shifts - 5am to 1pm and 1pm -9pm. This writer posed the question to the JC as to what happens to those devotees who are able to have darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi only after 9pm and return to the South counter at 930pm/945pm. At the moment with just over a week to go, there is no immediate solution on hand and the JC told this writer that he would take it as it comes after seeing the situation on the first few days.

Expect Chaotic scenes at the Therku Vaasal

This writer expects chaotic scenes at the counter starting September 1.  The cloak baggage boxes, the chappal counter and the mobile counter are going to be next to each other. The entry path to the temple from these three counters will be a narrow 6feet one. Another addition to complicate things is the online ticket booking counter (for entry and proof) that will also be housed in this same small complex.

With this work at these counters more than doubling from cloak room baggage and chappals to also include online ticket checking and mobile phones lodging, the issues are likely to complicate starting next week.  JC Sivaram Kumar told this writer that there will be over 10 HRCE staffers posted at these counters from Sept 1. 

But there is likely to be a scenario especially on Fridays and over the weekends when at peak darshan times, there will be well over 200 people depositing and waiting for collection of their mobile phones and chappals and their baggage all in the same complex at the same time. The place does not allow for such huge number of people to congregate at one location to deposit and collect. This will be further compounded by the fact that those depositing their mobile phones at 8pm on any evening could find the counter closed at 9pm while the actual darshan inside the moolavar Sannidhi goes on till 930pm or so. There is also a mangalaarathi darshan at 10pm every night at the moolavar Sannidhi. What happens to the mobile phones of those devotees who stay back for this darshan and return to the mobile phone counter at 10.30pm because the duty of the staff at these counters closes by 9pm!!

Expect a chaotic first few days especially at the south entrance of the Ranganathaswamy temple starting Sept 1.

Local devotees and their darshan

Murali will be touching 80 soon and he has been a daily devotee at the Ranganathswamy temple in Srirangam for the last 15 years residing here after his retirement. He cycles his way thrice each day - once to have darshan of Ramanujar and Chakkarathazhvaar, another time to the Thayar Sannidhi and finally just after 8pm for the third time in the day to have darshan of Ranganathaswamy. 

The mobile phones counter will start charging Rs. 5 for lodging of the phones. When a devotee like him comes thrice a day, it is likely that he will have to shell out Rs. 15 each day. JC Sivaram Kumar told this writer that for the local devotees he would try to have a one ticket a day that they could use for multiple visits in the day so they would not have to pay each time they lodge the mobile phone on the same day.

மெய்யில் வாழ்க்கையை மெய்யெனக்கொல்லும்

இவ்வையந் தன்னொடும் கூடு வதில்லையான்

ஐய்யனே அரங்கா என்று அழைக்கின்றேன்

மையல் கொண்டொழிந்தேன் எந்தன் மாலுக்கே

Devotees have already begun asking the question if the archakas, pandaris and other daily kainkaryaparas will be allowed to bring their phones inside the Sannidhi. One would have to wait and watch as to how that scenario unfolds.

Seen whichever way, the first fortnight of September will be interesting times for the Srirangam temple with the Satru Murai event of Pavitrotsavam set to take place late on Sept 1 evening, the day the mobile ban comes into effect. Will the devotees now not be able to take photos and videos of such utsavams and only a select Kainkaryapara group will have exclusive rights over this. Also, the Krishna Jayanthi and Uriyadi Utsavam processions will take place in the first week of September. How will the mobile phone lodging and collection be implemented when street processions and the utsavar’s return to the Sannidhi happens after 9pm by which time the mobile counters close!!!

At a fee of Rs.5, the mobile deposit could bring in around Rs.5lakhs a month of additional revenue. But during peak utsavam months, this could shoot up many times with devotee crowd of over 50000 a day.

It is really hot in Srirangam, end of August with outside temperature hovering around 40degrees. Come first week of September, it could get even hotter at the mobile counters. This section will track as to how the events unfold in Sept.

July 2018: Mobile ban at Meenakshi Amman temple- https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/meenakshi-amman-temple-cell-phone-ban.html

Srirangam East Gopuram reopening

After many years of Shut Down and devotee harship

The Damodara Krishnan Gopuram East of the Vellai Gopuram at the Ranganathaswamy temple will be reopened to vehicular traffic on Sunday morning

After many years of shut down, the Damodara Krishnan Gopuram on the eastern side of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam is set to reopen to traffic tomorrow Sunday ahead of Aadi 28. This writer had featured a story in The Hindu in December last quoting Dr. Jayapal, the devotee donor who has been undertaking the extensive large scale restoration that the work was likely to be completed by March and that the gopuram would be opened to vehicular traffic but when this process was further delayed, this section featured another story in May this year on the delay after both the donor devotee Dr. Jayapal, who is also constructing the Raja Gopuram at Thiru Vellarai, had confirmed with greater confidence that the East Gopuram would be opened to traffic in Vaikasi. 

The story in May had suggested for the new HRCE minister Ramesh to direct the donor to hasten the pace of completion so the devotees and the residents of the eastern side are not put to further hardship(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/05/srirangam-east-gopuram-reopening-delayed.html).

பூ மன்னு  மாது பொருந்திய மார்பன் 

புகழ் மமலிந்த பாமன்னு  மாறன் அடிபணிந்து உய்ந்தவன்

பல்கலையோர் தாம்மன்ன வந்த ராமானுஜன் 

சரணாரவிந்தம் நாம்மன்னி  வாழ 

நெஞ்சே சொல்லுவோம் அவன் நாமங்களே 

Kainkaryaparas at the Thiruvellarai temple told this writer last month that the minister had had a ‘quiet’ word with the devotee donor to complete quickly the final stages of the Damodara Krishnan Gopuram. Sivaram Kumar, the JC of the Ranganathaswamy temple had told this writer  last month that he was keen for the reopening to take place in early Aadi but the work could not be completed.

இந்திரனோடு பிரமன்

 ஈசன் இமையவர் எல்லாம்

மந்திர மா மலர் கொண்டு

மறைந்து உவராய் வந்து நின்றார்

சந்திரன் மாளிகை சேரும்

சதுரர்கள் வெள்ளறை நின்றார்

காந்தியம் பொது இது ஆகும்

 அழகனே காப்பிட  வாராய்

Over the last fortnight or so, the workers at the Gopuram have been dismantling the bamboo sticks that had been in place on both sides of the Gopuram. On this Saturday morning, the workers were seen clearing the debris on the sides of the Gopuram with the HRCE staffers overseeing the debris clearance after it had been decided to reopen the pathway to traffic on Sunday morning.

The residents of Srirangam expressed happiness on hearing the news of the likely reopening. A lady who sells Dosai Batter on the east side of the Gopuram was relieved after having struggled over the last few years. She told this writer on Friday evening that it was such a tedious task to go to the bank on the east uthira street and to also have darshan of Perumal.

For the students of Srirangam Girls High School to, it will be a big relief come Monday morning as they will now be able to come through east uthira and chitra streets to their school through the Damodara Krishnan Gopuram. Also, the Kainkaryaparas as well as the devotees will now be able to make it through this Gopuram to the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil east of the Srirangam Railway Station.

Minister Ramesh on Sunday morning 

Years ago, even as the work started, two wheelers and walkers were able to go through this Gopuram but on inspection the then collector directed the shutdown of this pathway fearing untoward incidents arising out of the likely falling of stones from above and thus this path has been shut down for years now causing great hardship.

Finally, the day is arriving when the vehicular traffic will be able to pass through the Damadora Krishnan Gopuram on the east side of the Ranganathaswamy temple.

Two years ago, the EO of the temple Venkatesan had told this writer that the breeze emanating from the East through this Gopuram contributed to a positive vibration. He and the scores of devotees coming and going through the eastern side of the temple will be able to experience that vibration from tomorrow (Aug 9).

Kudos to the new minister for hastening the final stages of this process and to getting this reopening in place. But he may have to watch his words in future when he reasons out temple issues. When asked on Sunday morning at the reopening event as to why this work was delayed, he said the previous government were sleeping over many issues without taking action. In this case, the entire responsibility was with Dr Jayabal as both the donor as well as the one undertaking the restoration work!!! On a few other questions too, he hit out at the previous ministry for their inefficiencies. He would do well to focus on the positive initiatives of his department instead of targeting the previous government on every issue.

Even as he left the event just after 9am on Sunday morning, he told the donor that he would like his support at other temple restorations as well.

தேட்டருந்திறல் தேனினைத், தென்னரங்கனை

திருமாதுவாழ் வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை

வாழ்த்தி மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்

ஆட்ட மேவியலந்தழைத்து 

அயர் வெய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள்

தம் ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல் 

அது காணும் பயனாவதே

Next, this section will look to an update on the new model of the prasadam stall at the Ranganathaswamy temple that was to be set in place by the start of Aadi but has been delayed by almost a month now. This section hopes that the minister will also hasten the process to finalise the prasadam stall that will now be managed internally by the HRCE.

(The story has been revised on Sunday after the reopening event)

Srirangam Temple Prasadam Stall Transformation Aadi 2026

HRCE Minister Ramesh has initiated two unprecedented steps that augurs well for the devotees

High Quality Prasadam will now be prepared internally at the Madapalli, and the temple has seen a drastic reduction in 'VIP reference' darshan this month

In his first 45 days as the HRCE Minister, Ramesh has taken two unprecedented positive steps at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. This section had featured a story as early as September 2018 as to how the so called ‘Prasadam’ stall functioned at the temple. And then in 2024, this section featured another story on how the High Court came hard on the HRCE regarding the conduct of the Prasadam stall (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/09/srirangam-prasadam-stall.html).

Minister breaking the flawed model

This writer had said then back in 2018 that the HR & CE had converted ‘Food’ into a lucrative business inside the temple complex with the food counter having been auctioned for around Rs. 1crore at the Srirangam temple, a mind boggling Rs. 30000 a day.In that model, food was made far away from the Madapalli and even brought from outside the temple complex. One did not know when it was prepared and how old the snacks and sweets were.

Hiring Madapalli Paricharakars for Prasadam preparation

As soon as Ramesh took charge, he has gone about initiating two transformational changes. It is Sunday morning (June 28) and the day of Aani Jeshtabhisekam for Ranganathaswamy. The sacred water is brought from Kollidam through the Thayar Sannidhi to the presentation of non stop Nadaswaram by the entire team of artistes at the temple.

Photo credit: Sundar Bhattar

JC Sivaram Kumar is near the Dwajasthambam just past 9am as part of the sacred Kudam's procession on the temple elephant. He tells this writer as to how based on the proactive initiative of Minister Ramesh, the Srirangam temple will see a new model of Prasadam that has not been seen here or elsewhere. “We are hiring specific Parijaraka personnel for the madapalli and have received the requisite certification from the Food quality authorities. We are now in the process of identifying the quantity of ingredients required for the daily preparation and will finalise these over the next fortnight. The contract with the existing prasadam stall ends in the 2nd week of July and we will be preparing the various sweets through our own newly hired Paricharakars from mid July. This is a first of its kind initiative undertaken in TN temples and am happy that it is starting off in Srirangam”, he told this writer even as scores of Nadaswaram artistes play devotional music next to the Dwajasthambam.

The Aadi Start - Minister Ramesh's Prasadam stall direction

Minister Ramesh was keen that every food packet handed to devotees from the Prasadam stall had to have manufacturing and expiry dates. As per his direction, when the sweets get prepared from the paniyaram zone from the 3rd week of July, every packet will have these details. Ramesh is expected to closely monitor this process to ensure that only high quality prasadam is handed out to devotees. Come Aadi, the devotees of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam will experience something that they have not in the last few decades that of tasting high quality food prepared with good quality ghee, oil and other ingredients and with specific deadlines on the wrapperm of the food packets sold.

VIP 'Reference' darshan model on the decline

The Ranganathaswamy temple has been witnessing big crowds on specific festive occasions such Adyayana Vaikunta Ekadasi utsavam, Panguni Uthiram, Puratasi Saturdays and the like. With the taking off of the devotional wave, devotees are now thronging the temple round the year even on non festive occasions to have darshan of the Moolavar Lord in Sayana Kolam. 

For a long time, the VIP darshan model created havoc in the path to the Moolavar darshan. There was very little the local temple authorities could do for every so called VIP dished out a ‘reference’. Soon as Minister Ramesh visited the temple, he was clear that there had to be an end to this model. He backed JC Sivaram Kumar to undertake strict steps and adopt a clear process driven model for darshan. 

Photo credit : Sundar Bhattar

JC Sivaram Kumar told this writer on Sunday morning as to how ‘I know him’ reference of VIP devotees has almost come to an end at the Ranganathaswamy temple. Once into the Aariya Bhattal Vaasal, devotees are directed to the free darshan queue or the Rs. 100 queue. Those continuing to wield VIP reference power have to get a sign off from the JC. Even the Kainkaryaparas who brought in devotees for special darshan have to now make an entry in the notebook placed near the Dwajasthambam signing off with their name and the number of devotees they are bringing for special darshan. This step has drastically reduced VIP darshan at the Moolavar Sannidhi and there is a sense of process now to this approach.

A Refreshing outlook of the new Minister

While the previous HRCE minister focused on ‘Kumbhabhisekam’ target and giving a new look to the temple infrastructure, the new minister is focused on streamlining important processes within the temple so as to create a friendly environment for the devotees who are coming to have darshan of the Lord. The two initiatives Minister Ramesh has undertaken at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam has sent a strong message to everyone at the temple that he would not tolerate anyone wavering from devotee friendly processes.  He has said that he may seem young and inexperienced but he has toiled hard in the background for years to come to this level. With the clarity on what he wants to achieve for devotee welfare, he is taking bold, unprecedented steps that very few at the Ranganathaswamy temple had expected or have experienced in the past. And that is great news for devotees who are thronging the temple from far and wide for a few seconds darshan of the Sleeping Lord.

Uraiyur Kamalavalli Nachiyar Vasantha Utsavam Transformation

Rajesh Bhattar and Kishore Bhattar work in tandem to provide a happy experience for devotees 

A delightful restoration by TVS' Venu results in a grand historic revival of the Vasantha Utsavam 

It is just past 4pm on Tuesday (June 16) evening. Devaraja Bhattar (Rajesh Bhattar to those in the temple circles in Srirangam) has made his way from East Adayavalanjan  street in Srirangam where he resides to the Kamalavalli Nachiyar temple in Uraiyur, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has referred to this location alongside the praise of Sundararaja Perumal of Thiru Nagai. He has around 50 days of Kainkaryam annually at this Divya Desam and happily for him, one set of those days has fallen on the occasion of the Vasantha Utsavam.

A twin saree alankaram

For an hour, he decorates Kamalavalli Nachiyar, interestingly with two silk sarees- one provided by the devotee donor of the day and the other brought by himself. The contrasting colours look beautiful and catches the eye of the devotees when they have darshan at the Vasantha Mandapam later in the evening.

Like with many Divya Desams in TN, the 1970s and 80s saw a slowdown at Srirangam as well and many in the next gen looked to go the corporate world for their career path while their appa continued the hereditary service at the Ranganathaswamy temple as well as its sub temples nearby. While he had his Deekshai early in his life, Rajesh Bhattar worked in multiple companies in the Paper industry for close to two decades before taking up the hereditary Kainkaryam at the Ranganathaswamy temple a decade ago. 

For this evening, he has roped in his close friend Sundararaja Bhattar (Kishore Bhattar to those in the temple circles) for support. The two of them work closely and support each other in temple events as Kishore Bhattar tells this writer shortly after Kamalavalli Nachiyar arrives at beautiful looking Vasantha Mandapam surrounded by colourful Vritchi flowers in the Nandavanam. “It is Rajesh Bhattar’s service day today at this temple and he called me in for support to be at the Vasantha Mandapam after the 5pm procession. Similarly, when it is my service temple in any of the temples, I rope him in for support. We understand each other well and enjoy working together” Kishore Bhattar narrates to this writer on why he is present at Uraiyur this evening.

Chozha's Capital

Located on the banks of Cauvery south of Srirangam, Uraiyur was the first capital of the Chozhas. The Chozha king Nanda Chozhan had been childless. Pleased with his prayers, Lord Ranganatha asked Goddess Lakshmi to be born as the King’s daughter at Uraiyur. Being born out of the Lotus, the Goddess here is called Kamalavalli Nachiyar [Kamala means Lotus]. As years went by, Kamalavalli grew into a beautiful young girl. One day while she was out with her friends, her eyes fell on a handsome young man and instantly she fell in love with him. The man was none other than Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.

King Nanda Chozhan was in a fix as his daughter had fallen in love with the man, who had blessed the king with the child. Once again, the Lord accepted the king’s prayers and accepted her as his bride. Delighted at this, Nanda Chozhan built a temple at Uraiyur to celebrate the (home) coming of Lord Ranganatha to Uraiyur to take the hand of his daughter.

Panguni visit of Lord Ranganatha

Every year in the month of Panguni, a significant event takes place at the Uraiyur temple. Lord Ranganatha, in all his splendour, leaves the Srirangam temple at 4am to take long trip across the Cauvery in a golden palanquin to meet his beloved Kamalavalli Naachiyar for the ‘Kalyana Utsavam’(marriage festivities). On this auspicious day in the month of Panguni, the entire marriage formalities between Lord Ranganatha and Kamalavalli Nachiyar is enacted at the Uraiyur Temple. Lord Ranganatha takes the trip back to Srirangam across the Cauvery that same night.

A transformational restoration by Venu Srinivasan

The Vasantha Mandapam and its surroundings was in a dilapidated state till a decade ago with a lack of attention and with devotees focusing all their attention on the Divine Couple at Srirangam. TVS’ Venu Srinivasan who was the architect of large scale restoration exercise at the Srirangam temple just over a decade ago was invited to restore the Uraiyur Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/venu-srinivasan-srirangam-temple.html). 

He was shocked to see the state of the temple infrastructure but as he has in so many other temples especially in the erstwhile Pandya region, he went about providing his magic touch to restoring this temple too in a traditional way with the help of his team of engineers and those well versed in temple restoration. And in a matter of six months, the Vasantha Mandapam had been completely transformed. 

This writer had featured a story in this section in 2019 on the state of the temple and how the Vasantha Mandapam had been converted to an anna dhanam koodam. It was through Venu’s efforts that the anna dhanam koodam was removed and the Vasantha Mandapam was restored to its historic elegance that devotees experienced this evening (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/09/uraiyur-kamalavalli-nachiyar.html).

Venu Srinivasan had told this writer that he was in 'Service to God' as a devotee and that the restoration exercise in Uraiyur was in line with that thought.

      Vasantha Mandapam area - A decade ago

Sacred food from the madapalli

The restoration of the damaged madapalli and a full time cook has been great news for the kainkaryaparas for they get to eat tasty sacred food in between their service during this fourth evening of the utsavam. The devotees too get a feel of the traditional temple dosai as that is handed out to them late in the evening before the return procession. And each of them seemed to have enjoyed that as much as they enjoyed the presence of Kamalavalli Nachiyar at the Vasantha Mandapam.

A devotionally committed Koil Mahajanam Seenu

Koil Mahajanam Srinivasan (Seenu) has had a 8 hour duty as Sannidhi Vaasal through the first half of the day at the Moolavar Ranganathaswamy Sannidhi in Srirangam. After a short rest, he has driven 10 kms on his two wheeler from Srirangam to Uraiyur to perform the role of the Koil Mahajanam at the Vasantha Utsavam while his junior colleague ‘Pineapple’ Sudarshan donned that role at the Vasantha Utsavam for Ranganayaki Thayar in Srirangam. Interestingly, this year, both the Poochatru Utsavam and the Vasantha Utsavam fell on the same dates for Ranganayaki Thayar and Kamalavalli Nachiyar. Seenu was just into his early years of service as Koil Mahajanam when he experienced the Vasantha Utsavam well over a decade ago at the Uraiyur temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/10/srirangam-koil-mahajanam-srinivasan.html). 

Shortly after Kamalavalli Nachiyar entered the Vasantha Mandapam, he recalled his memories from those early years of his service “The entire location around the Vasantha Mandapam was filled with debris with the processional path in a dilapidated state with stones poking the feet of the Sripatham personnel. It has been a dramatic transformation in the last few years with the Vasantha Mandapam wearing a new look much to the delight of the devotees.”

Thirumangai Azhvaar's reference to Kozhiyur

There’s a belief that an Elephant of a Chozha king, which entered this place, was beaten back by a valiant Hen and had to retreat. Hence, this place is also called Kozhiyoor (Kozhi means Hen in Tamil). 

கோழியும் கடலும் கோயில் கொண்ட 

கோவலரே யொப்பர் குன்றமன்ன

பாழியும் டோழுமொரே நான் குடையார்

பண்டிவர் தம்மயம் கண்டறியோம்

வாழிய ரோவிவர் வண்ண மென்னில்

மாகடல் போன்றுளர் கையில் வெய்ய

அழியோன் றேந்தியோர் சங்கு பற்றி

அச்சோ ஒருவர் அழகியவா

Selfless Service by Sripatham

G. Krishnamurthy (GK) was at the purapadu Thodakkam at 5pm playing the role of Maniyakarar while Sridharan Maniam took care of the Ranganayaki Thayar Vasantha Utsavam at Srirangam. After mariyathai at Ramanuja Sannidhi (it was Thiruvathirai and monthly birthday of Ramanuja) and Thirupaan Azhvaar Sannidhi (the birth place of the Saint Poet who sang ten verses of praise of Lord Ranganatha after invoking the blessings from the banks of the Cauvery) in the presence of the Jeer of Azhvaar Tirunagari, Kamalavalli Nachiyar made her way through the colourful lights to the Vasantha Mandapam. There are four HRCE appointed Sripatham at this temple and the rest of the personnel were from the Vethal service, those that perform selfless service during processions. For the next 2 ½ hours, she provided darshan at the Vasantha Mandapam to devotees who trickled in small numbers through the evening. 

As the clock ticked almost to 7pm, Rajesh Bhattar began the Thiru Aradhanam process fanning Kamalavalli Nachiyar on what had earlier been a hot day. The Araiyar from Srirangam too had made it to Uraiyur and he presented the Pallandu verse.

It has been a completed transformation of the Vasantha Mandapam and the Vasantha Utsavam has been revived to its historical beauty, with the plants around the mandapam providing a cool breeze for Kamalavalli Nachiyar to enjoy. 

From Indian Railways to Temple Kainkaryam

While Rajesh Bhattar went away for a while after the Thiru Aradhanam, Kishore Bhattar took over the role of the Vasantha Mandapam archaka aiding devotees with the darshan. Like Rajesh Bhattar, Kishore Bhattar too had been away while his appa continued the temple service. For 25 years, he worked in the railways before quitting the job and taking up the hereditary temple kainkaryam after the passing away of his appa and uncle. 

At the Uraiyur temple, Kamalavalli Nachiyar is seen in a grand sitting posture, all set to get married. Being the handsome man in wedding attire, Lord Ranganatha here is called ‘Azhagiya Mana Vaalan’. A speciality of this temple is that this is the only Divya Desam where the Goddess is facing the Northern direction, in this case in the direction of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple.

It is past 8pm and following the Veda Vinnappam and Theertha Ghoshti, Kamalavalli Nachiyar is all set to make her way back to her abode on this 4th day of the Vasantha Utsavam. Koil Mahajanam Seenu and Maniyakarar GK lead the Sripatham personnel to the Vasantha Mandapam. Rajesh Bhattar is back at the mandapam for the return procession while Kishore Bhattar makes his way to the Madapalli that too has been restored beyond recognition. 

There are just a handful of devotees and each of them enjoy the procession in the quiet and serene prakara. In front of the Ramanuja Sannidhi, Rajesh Bhattar presents the Deeparathanai that is followed by the presentation of Vada Paruppu before Kamalavalli Nachiyar makes her back to her Sannidhi sharp at 8.30pm.

A Revival to Savour

It has been enjoyable evening for both Rajesh Bhattar and Kishore Bhattar working in tandem and they make their way back to Srirangam. For Koil Mahajanam Srinivasan, he dashes back to the Ranganathaswamy temple for the culmination pooja event there. For those that had been witness to the Vasantha Utsavam at the Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam in Uraiyur just over a decade ago, this has been a delightful transformation and for that the credit goes to TVS’ Venu Srinivasan.

Srirangam East Gopuram Reopening Delayed

Shut down for years- Devotees put to great hardship in Srirangam

Will the new HRCE Minister initiate steps to hasten the reopening process

When the residents of Srirangam came on to the streets opposite the Damodara Krishnan East Gopuram late last year, the JC of the Ranganathaswamy temple, Sivaram Kumar, assured them that the gopuram will be reopened by March this year. When this writer wrote a story for The Hindu in December last, the devotee donor Dr. Jayabal from Coimbatore who is also building the Raja Gopuram in Thiru Vellarai said that the gopuram will be opened in May this year. 

Last month, when this writer met the JC, he confirmed that the Gopuram will be reopened to traffic this month. The residents of Srirangam were eagerly looking forward to the reopening for they had been put to a great hardship over the last few years with the complete shutdown of this gopuram with residents not even allowed to walk through this passage (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/04/srirangam-jc-sivaram-kumar-2nd-panguni.html).

Many thought that this would indeed be opened in May this year but unfortunately the completion of the strengthening process is taking extra time and the reopening has been postponed by at least another two months. “The work is likely to take another 45-60 days” Jayabal told this writer on Thursday.

With the Srirangam constituency winner becoming the HRCE minister, the residents are hoping that he will take this issue as a priority and push the JC and the devotee donor to complete the final leg of the strengthening process quickly.

Autos have had to take a detour while coming from the eastern side of Srirangam from locations such as Kaattu Azhagiya Singar temple and the Girls High School. For a few years now, devotees have missed the straight road from the East to reach the White Gopuram which they had over a long period of time. Unfortunately, the residents on the eastern side including many shops there have lost hope after multiple postponements and have been frustrated with the non opening of this important pathway to the Ranganathaswamy temple from the East.

Will the new HRCE minister Ramesh initiate immediate steps to hasten the completion process and put a strict deadline to this for there has been an inordinate delay in the completion and the reopening has been put off a few times including the proposed reopening, first in March this year, and then the targeted reopening this month.

This section will continue to track the developments.

Srirangam Madapalli Pachur Rangarajan

Hailing from a remote village near Pachur, Rangarajan has gone on to perform service at the madapalli at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam for over three decades

This section has featured stories on those from various walks of life taking to Kainkaryam at the Ranganathswamy temple in Srirangam. Chakrapani was a worker at a factory who secured the Kainkaryam of a Sripatham. Kannan quit an IT job in Chennai to join the Sripatham. Harish Bhattar quit a high paying bank job in his 20s to continue the hereditary Bhattar Kainkaryam. This story is about one who worked as a server at a restaurant in Thiru Vellarai in his teens and was blessed to be the one who would go on to prepare the sacred Thaligai for Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar for over three decades. 

When he was a school boy in the 1970s, Rangarajan did not visualise a life of Kainkaryam at a temple and that at the number one Divya Desam. His appa, Venkatraman Iyengar, who hailed from Virandur, a small village near Pachur, had performed service at many village temples such as Gopurapatti and Azhagiya Manavalam. It was a financially challenging life during his childhood for there was not much of an income for those in temple service, even more so for those performing in remote village temples.

தேட்டருந்திறல் தேனினைத், தென்னரங்கனை

திருமாதுவாழ் வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை

வாழ்த்தி 

மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்

ஆட்ட மேவியலந்தழைத்து 

அயர் வெய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள் தம்

ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல் 

அது காணும் பயனாவதே

From Vellarai Restaurant to Srirangam Madapalli

Given this background, like many others his generation Rangarajan, too, saw for himself a life away from temples. He was not academically inclined and quit school early. A stint at the renowned Singam Patshala in Srirangam too was short lived. To earn a livelihood, he took on a job as a server in a restaurant in Thiru Vellarai at a monthly salary of Rs. 100 sleeping in the same restaurant every day.

இந்திரனோடு பிரமன்

 ஈசன் இமையவர் எல்லாம்

மந்திர மா மலர் கொண்டு

மறைந்து உவராய் வந்து நின்றார்

சந்திரன் மாளிகை சேரும்

சதுரர்கள் வெள்ளறை நின்றார்

காந்தியம் பொது இது ஆகும்

அழகனே காப்பிட  வாராய்

 For additional income, he would also serve at weddings and it was on one such occasion that a meeting led to a transformational change in his life that he recounts to this writer on a hot Friday morning in front of the Perumal Madapalli at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam “Doraiswamy Iyengar, Sthaneegam and Sindhumani Iyengar, my uncle, met me at a wedding. I had just married three months earlier and the career path was uncertain. They were keen for me to move into the madapalli at the Srirangam temple where there was a shortage of personnel. I had never visualised a full time service inside the temple and this offer came out of the blue when I least expected it.”

Hard initiation at the madapalli

Thus in 1994, Pachur Rangarajan joined the madapalli at the Srirangam temple and has been here for over three decades. He remembers his initiation into the madapalli “In the first few years, the seniors back then initiated me into this service with real hard training. I had to clean the paanai and the other vessels every day, I had to clean the floor with cow-dung, had to bring over a 100 kudams of water from the well  and also wash and dry the vastrams.”

In those decades, that was the way youngsters were trained into temple kainkaryam. He says that they got him into this service in a phased step by step manner “I started off boiling rice. Once I did that well, they initiated me into preparing Thirukannamathu and Pongal. Only after being convinced that I was committed into this service, did the seniors allow me into preparing the full range of sacred food.”

Challenges at the Madapalli

In the middle of the previous decade, there were a couple of IT trained personnel who joined the Srirangam madapalli but their stint was short lived. "It is not easy to secure the blessings of Ranganathaswamy and it is even more difficult to keep it for a long time. One has to remain patient here and work hard for years to get into the good books of Perumal. Those who sought a quick path to glory were shown the door just as quickly" says Pachur Rangarajan on some of the challenges he had to encounter in his service, especially when newer, more aggressive personnel worked alongside him at the madapalli (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/srirangam-madapalli-transformation.html).

Serious Health Issues but he is back again

A life at the madapalli at the Ranganathaswamy temple is a physically challenging one with the personnel having to carry several kgs of Thaligai from the madapalli to the Sannidhi and to mandagapadis during the round the year utsavams. Working on firewood and without enough free flowing air takes a toll on the body as Rangarajan found out late last year when he encountered serious health issues. But his devotional commitment to Ranganayaki Thayar has brought him into the temple after a short ‘health’ break and is raring to go like he was in the 1990s, looking forward to the Panguni Utsavam that is coming up later this month. 

His Top 3 favourite Sacred Thaligai

Pachur V. Rangarajan counts Milagu Puliyodarai, Thayar Aravanai and Puttu as his three favourite sacred Thaligai that he particularly likes preparing and presenting. He is now the senior most cook at the Ranganathaswamy temple and the one who initiates and trains new comers into the madapalli. He has served at the Perumal madapalli for over 15 years, at the Thayar Madapalli for close to a decade and also at Thiru Vellarai and Uraiyur in the past. 

Madapalli Kainkaryam as his only way of life

He says he never visualised a life at the Srirangam temple. He considers it a great blessing to be following in the footsteps of grandfather and uncle into this life of preparing and presenting the sacred food to Perumal and Thayar at this legendary Divya Desam for over three decades. He would be retiring soon but if the temple authorities require his services, he says he would be happy to continue the kainkaryam till the very last moment of his life, for he has experienced the greatest satisfaction and happiness in his life when preparing the sacred food for the Divine Couple. 

Singar Koil Srirangam Maniam Cook Venkatesan

One of a kind Madapalli Cook

For over 40 years, Venkatesan has been the sole man preparing the sacred food for Lakshmi Narasimha at Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil Madapalli 

It is ticking to 4am on this Pongal (Jan 15) morning and it is another chilly morning in Srirangam. For the 31st day in a row, S Venkatesan, the Maniyakaarar and Chief Cook at the Madapalli at the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil in Srirangam, is at the temple for the final Thaligai of the month. With Andal’s Thiruppavai playing on the temple’s loud speakers around the temple complex, Venkatesan, as the lone man at this hour at the temple madapalli, is preparing ‘Paal Payasam’ as the final sacred food for Narasimha in this Margazhi month. Through each day of Margazhi, he has woken up at 2.30am and been at the temple madapalli at this early hour to prepare the sacred ‘Thirupalliezhuchi’ food for Lakshmi Narasimha presented just after 6am each morning of the month. 

Rains over the past few days meant that it took longer for the firewood to heat and that added to Venkatesan’s early morning challenges this Margazhi. But he has always been one with patience and he demonstrated that in adequate quantity during the rainy days as well. 

He has been the sole cook at the Singar Koil for over four decades and has set expectations so high with the quality of his Ven Pongal and Chakkarai Pongal that there was a long queue each morning of the month to taste the sacred delicacy just after it’s been presented to the Lord. Many of the devotees came back a second time in the queue to pick up another ‘Thonnai’ of the hot and tasty Pongal.

Maniam Venkatesan had to stay back for uchi kaalam preparation and headed back home only past noon each day of Margazhi to come back in the evening for another round of sacred food preparation for Lord Narasimha.

This is a far cry from what the scenario was in the early 1980s when Venkatesan joined the Singar temple. He looks back at those dark early years of his association with this temple “It was really dark around the temple and inside as well. I would pick up some ghee and oil every morning to light the lamp at the temple. We would wait endlessly till after noon for the next devotee but there were hardly any. There was absolutely no income.”

Dark decade - The 1980s

As the Maniyakaarar in charge of the temple service and poojas, Venkatesan was not able to give even 25paise a day to the archakas for their service in those early days, such was the financial state of the temple. 

In addition to housing Lord Azhagiya Singar, the temple played home to venomous snakes, Udumbu and deadly big Scorpions. Cook Venkatesan had to contend with snakes that were an integral part of the dark prakaras in those decades. He has recalled many times to this writer as to how a venomous snake just missed biting him outside the madapalli when he was washing the vessels.

அங்கண் ஞால மஞ்ச அங்கு ஓர் ஆள் அரி ஆய் 

அவுணன் பொங்க ஆகம் வள் உகிரால் 

போழ்ந்த புனிதன் இடம் 

பைங்கண் ஆனைக் கொம்பு கொண்டு பத்திமையால் 

அடிக்கீழ்ச் செங்கண் ஆளி இட்டு இறைஞ்சும் 

சிங்கவேழ் குன்றமே - Periya Thirumozhi - 1-7-1

Till about a few decades ago, there were no houses in the area. The temple was flanked by a burial ground in the North and green fields in the East and South. There were no lights anywhere in the vicinity of the temple. The only noise came from the steam engines that passed through the Srirangam station. There were even skeletons seen around this ancient temple that pre dates the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.

Devotional Commitment - The Saviour

For over a dozen years, it was a very challenging life for Venkatesan as there were ' No devotees- No income' and it had become a way of everyday life in that early phase. While it may have been disheartening, I always remembered my appa’s message to have a firm believe in Narasimha and to perform our duty with utmost sincerity” Venkatesan recalls on the most important message of his life.

“Despite the financially stressed life, my appa Srinivasa Iyengar’s consistent message to me throughout my childhood was to give positive messages to devotees who came to the Lord with problems and to create the belief in them that the Lord would take care of them if they invoked his blessings with sincere devotion. It is our duty to make them happy when they are here at the temple and that is what I have tried to instil in them all through the last four decades” says Venkatesan.

That’s easily Venkatesan’s biggest differentiator. At a time when there are shortage of cooks at the madapalli even at Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, Venkatesan has been a lone hand at Singar Koil having prepared the Thaligai each day of the year for over 40 years leaving long standing devotees bewildered at his devotional commitment.

Devotional Wave - Surge in 'Narasimha' belief

With the devotional wave striking TN temples and the belief in Lord Narasimha as one who answers a devotee’s sincere prayers, Singar Koil has seen a remarkable turnaround with Pradosham and Swathi days every month seeing high turnout of devotees. On Aani Swathi in 2025, the annual birthday of Periyazhvaar, the devotee queue extended to the main road with thousands of them lined through the evening for a darshan of Lakshmi Narasimha. Similar was the crowd during the Saturdays of Puratasi. 

From a time when he awaited the next devotee to present his Thaligai, it has reached a phase now when devotees have to return disappointed without tasting Venkatesan’s Pongal. On days such as Swathi, Venkatesan prepares multiple dishes including melagorai, kesari bath and dhadhyonam. Paanagam is another hit among the devotees on Pradosham days.

பள்ளியில் ஓதி வந்த தன் சிறுவன்

வாயில் ஓர் ஆயிற நாமம் 

ஒள்ளியவாகிப் போதவாங்கதனுக்கு ஒன்று மோர் பொறுப்பிலனாகி

பிள்ளையை சீறி வெகுண்டு தூண் புடைப்ப

பிறை எயிற்றின ல் விழிப்பேழ்வாய்

தெள்ளிய சிங்கம் ஆகிய தேவை 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி கண்டேனே - Periya Thirumozhi - 2.3.8

 

It is past 7.30am on this Thursday morning and one can see the joy and a bit of relief in Venkatesan’s face having successfully prepared the sacred food each morning of Margazhi and to have satisfied the taste buds of the devotees.  Almost all the devotees wondered this morning as to how he has been able to do it all alone through each morning of the month when the weather is quite chilly. Forty years ago and now, his answer has always been the same. It is Lord Lakshmi Narasimha who is his sole guide and the one who has helped him wade through the most challenging times at the temple instilling in him the belief that there will be a big turnaround one day in his life provided he serves the Lord with sincerity each day of his life.

As one goes around Perumal temples in Tamil Nadu, one finds the priests struggling to find those for the Madapalli and there are many temples where the priest doubles up as the madapalli cook as well. At Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil, Venkatesan has been the most striking and familiar face to a large number of Narasimha devotees.

While the traditional madapalli service is continuing to be deserted in an increasing number of perumal temples with the next g looking at the corporate space or the private catering service, Venkatesan is one who has taken forward the service from his appa and after over 40 years remains devotionally inclined to preparing the sacred food each day of the year. He reminds himself every morning when he enters the madapalli of Singar Koil as to how blessed he has been to be the one to prepare and present the sacred food at the feet of Lakshmi Narasimha at Singar Koil for such a long time when most others have looked elsewhere for more lucrative opportunities.

The temple is open between 6.15am and 12noon and between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. There are special poojas and Thirumanjanam organised every month on the Swathi Nakshatram and Prathosham days. Also, Saturday is an auspicious day to visit this temple.