Sundara Perumal Koil wears a new look, Consecration after 80years

New look Raja Gopuram, Gold plated Vimanam, Repaired Vahanas but the HR & CE has taken back all the Utsava idols to Kumbakonam preventing the conduct of the processional utsavams!!!

Historical house of the priest has been brought down with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!!

For a long time, Sundara Perumal Koil located about 10kms west of Kumbakonam had remained in a dilapidated condition. A few years ago, ‘Bhagavathar’ Aravamudhan took charge of the temple as the priest after quitting his corporate job. Since then, activities have heightened at the temple with the revival of utsavams and crowds coming back to the temple in good numbers especially during the mandalabhisekam phase.

The Raja Gopuram that had a dilapidated feel about it has received a fresh coat of paint and wears a new colourful look. The young priest managed to rope in a donor to gold plate the kalasam for the inner Gopuram and also a gold plate for the Perumal Vimanam.  Taking away the historical feel, the entrance to the Andal Sannidhi has been replenished with new marble flooring. 

A Priest who served for five decades

In October 2009, this section had featured a story on the handsome lord at Sundara Perumal Koil but after the passing away of Sundara Raja Bhattar who had served as the priest for five decades from the early 1960s, the temple had been without a priest for almost a decade before the young Aravamudhan took over.  In the century gone by, Perumal provided Garuda Sevai on Tamil New Year’s day. There were also processions on the occasion of Krishna Jayanthi and on the Kanu day in Thai. 10 day Navarathri Festival too was celebrated in a grand way with Horse Vahana Procession on Vijayadasami. There was a four kalam pooja every day with sacred food presentations to the Lord that included Curd rice, Sundal and Sweet Pongal. In the outer prakara was a huge Nandavanam that was filled with different varieties of Jasmine trees. The Lord and Thayar were draped with beautiful garlands especially on festive occasions.

When this writer visited the temple in 2009 to meet Sundara Raja Bhattar, he was residing in the first house opposite the temple on the Sannidhi Street. The Mei Kavalar resided in the next house. Unfortunately, both these houses have been brought down this year with plans to build a Kalyana Mandapam!!! One wonders as to why the houses that had historically been the residence of the priest and the Mei Kavalar will be converted to a Kalyana Mandapam.

A Grand Revival by a young priest

For the first time in decades, Perumal went on a street procession on the newly repaired Horse Vahana on the occasion of Vijayadasami earlier this month. Garuda Sevai also took place this year after several decades following the consecration. The priest, who also doubles up as the cook at the madapalli, has also managed to revive the Navarathri Utsavam for Thayar bringing in good crowd that had been hitherto missing. Thayar also presented Oonjal Sevai over nine days. He also organised the Anna Kooda Utsavam on a Saturday in Puratasi. The Thaligai presentation to Perumal too has been revived and during the utsavams this year, good quantity of Thaligai has been presented and distributed among the devotees, much to the delight of the local residents.

A devotee from Chennai has come forward to take care of the accommodation for the priest and his young family. The HR & CE too has almost trebled the salary of the priest this year.

Utsava Idols taken away to safe custody in Kumbakonam

However, the HR & CE has taken away all the utsava idols back to the Ramaswamy temple in Kumbakonam despite the presence of safety lockers at the Sundara Perumal Koil. This has meant that no processions can take place every month on sacred occasions and these are possible only when the idols are brought from Kumbakonam for select festivals.

After all the efforts to undertake the restoration efforts, this has come as a dampener to the residents as well as the priest. It is hoped that the HR & CE will hand back all the utsava idols to the temple so the processions can take place for Thayar, Perumal and Azhvaars and Acharyas.

Colourful Nandavanam

The nandavanam too is now abound with colourful flowers that are knotted and presented to the deities every day. However, the pathway around the outer prakara has been stopped half way by the HR & CE thus preventing the devotees from performing a pradakshina around the prakara. It is hoped that they will soon resume this work and complete the pathway.

Despite these challenges, good times are back at the historical Sundara Perumal Koil. And a lot of the credit for this revival should go to the young priest who has enthusiastically taken up the restoration work engaging with local residents, the HR & CE and the devotee donors.

Moolavar Sundara Raja Perumal is seen in a handsome standing posture.

How to reach

Sundara Perumal Koil is located 10kms West of Kumbakonam on the Thanjavur Highway near Papanasam. Buses between Kumbakonam and Thanjavur stop near the railway level crossing at Sundara Perumal Koil. Passenger Trains stop at Sundara Perumal Koil Railway Station. The temple is about half a km from the Railway station / Gate.

When here, visit Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Perumal Temple (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2010/05/kalinga-narthana-temple-oothukadu.html) - 10kms from here.

Thanjavur Palace Venugopalaswamy temple Thiruvayaru

Prince Babaji Bhonsle is renovating the centuries old now dilapidated Venugopalan temple on Southern Banks of Cauvery in Thiruvayaru

Once consecration takes place, this temple, located opp the Munsiff Court, is likely to attract devotees in good numbers 

In June 2020, this section had featured a story on the challenging times the then new and young prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle had faced in the mid 1980s and how he was able to overcome those at the turn of the century in the 88 temples under his administration (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html). Just a few months earlier, in February 2020, a grand consecration had taken place at the Big temple after over two decades. Along with Punnai Nallur Mariamman Temple, this was one of the two big income generating temples under his administration.  These two temples have seen a big financial turnaround and crowds are now thronging these temples after the Pandemic. 

However, while these two and a few other temples including the likes of Thanjai Maa Mani Koil Divya Desam, Punnai Nallur Kothandaramar and Karunaswamy Koil, Karunthittakudi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/02/karunaswamy-koil-karunthittaikudi.html) had been restored to its old glory, there were still a few temples that had remained in a dilapidated state. One such temple is the Venugopalaswamy temple on the Southern Banks of Cauvery near Thiruvayaru and a km North of Kalyanapuram Srinivasa Perumal temple.

Over the years, encroachers had taken over and the temple has been surrounded by temporary residential constructions. Earlier this year, Rajah Babaji Bhonsle took a  strong call to renovate the temple and bring back the old vibration that had been missing for quite sometime.
 
The temple is located opposite the Munsiff Court and hence could attract good devotee crowd once the reconstruction is completed and consecration takes place.
 
Work has begun in right earnest inside the temple complex. The path to the dilapidated temple had been thorny and no one could make their way to the temple in the past. However, over the last couple of months, a temporary path has been laid amid the encroached houses.
 

Encroachments abound around the temple complex

Encroachments to be removed

The challenge as with many other ancient temples is the issue of encroachment. The temple complex has a huge space but at the moment these are occupied by those who have made this their temporary home. Supervisor Ramesh who has been working at the Thanjavur Palace for well over two decades is waiting for the green signal from the Prince for him to go ahead and remove the encroachments. He has already alerted the residents that the plan is for a complete restoration of the Venugopalan temple under the instructions of the Rajah and hence the entire space belonging to the temple will be utilised for a fully functional temple. 

Only last month, this section had featured a story on how new age shops that had come up in recent decades at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam had been sealed  (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/08/srirangam-temple-popular-shops-shut-down.html).

It is expected that the encroachments near the Venugopalan temple will be removed within the next three months after the first phase work around the Moolavar Sannidhi is complete. This will pave the way for the construction of the prakara walls, one that will help devotees perform pradakshinam around the temple. Once the encroachments are removed, a proper pathway can also be built from the main road to the temple.

In 2025, one can expect a fully restored temple, with the resumption of daily Thiru Aradhanam and the celebration of festivals at this centuries old temple under the administration of the Thanjavur Palace.  And when that happens, it will be a real blessing to those residing south of the Cauvery, in Thiruvayaru.

Aravoor Karkodakeswarar temple restoration 2024

In a dilapidated state two years ago, this Kaala Sarpa Dosha Nivarana temple has seen a remarkable turnaround with like minded devotees coming forward to keep the HR & CE at bay and revive its fortunes with a Thiruppani that cost over a crore

Santhanam Gurukal is touching 70 and is a delighted man. It is exactly a month after the consecration (July 12) of the Mangalambika Samedha Karkodakeswarar temple in Aravoor, near Nidamangalam. In December 2021, this section had featured a story on the dilapidated state of the Mangalambika Samedha Karkodakeswarar temple in Aravoor(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/aravoor-karkodakeswarar-temple.html). 

At that time, the outer walls had been completely damaged, there was no electricity inside the temple and the prakara was abound with bushes. There was a thick growth of plantation atop the Ambal and Swami Sannidhis. The brick walled madapalli was in ruins. There had been no repair works of any kind for several decades and consecration had not taken place in a century. Adding to the woes was the fact that the HR & CE was pushing hard to take over the temple from the Thanjavur based trustees.

                                  Santhanam Gurukal (Aug 12)

From no hopes to a Grand Revival

At that time, Santhanam Gurukal did not labour positive hopes of this kind of a turnaround for he had multiple battles on hand and did not foresee an immediate resolution. He himself was living in an old house that dated back to the middle of the 20th century. But this Monday morning (August 12), he sported a big smile as he opens the Sannidhis. The 48day mandalabisekam is still on and is busy with the pooja activities in this phase. The good news for him is that the crowd is back at the temple bringing back positive vibration to this remote village temple. His forefathers had performed pooja at this temple for a century and he is delighted that he has been able to see the consecration in his time.

Taking this writer around the temple on a morning when the sun is out early, he says that there are at least a 100 people for the Pradosham. He expects a full four Kaalam pooja through the night for the Maha Sivarathri in 2025. Neivedyam is being presented every day for the deities in good quantity with the once dilapidated madapalli now sporting a new look. 

The village is named as Aravoor (aravam for snake in tamil) and he says that after the Mandalabishekam, devotees are likely to visit for Rahu-Kethu Parikaram as well as Kaala Sarpa Dosham Nivaranam. 

A Devotee undertakes the entire Thiruppani responsibility

His namesake Mayil Udayar Santhanam, a long-time resident of Nidamagalam belonged to a team of temple service personnel under the leadership of former Chief Election Commissioner Gopalswamy and this team had restored a 100 temples in the region and in 2021 had come forward to take up the restoration exercise of this temple too. He has been a resident of the East Sannidhi street at Nidamangalam, where he had supported and renovated the Santhana Ramar temple earlier. When this writer met him in December 2021, he was vocal that the trustees from Thanjavur should hand him the renovation orders so his team could get it back to shape.

                                New Temple Entrance - August 2024

It was he who convinced one of the trustee brothers (Sundara Murugan) regarding the importance of the revival of this temple both for his family as well as for the villagers. The Gurukal had stuck to the temple during its darkest decades and devotee Santhanam was keen to give this temple a new look to also make the Gurukal happy.

Devotees contribute their bit

It was also Santhanam and his team that kept the HR & CE at bay having had experience of having handling renovations in many temples. He too sports a happy smile on this morning as he sits at his home opposite that of the Bhattar of the Santhanarama temple in Nidamangalam and talks to this writer on how he went about organising the renovation activities “Devotees from across the region contributed whatever they could to this Thiruppani. There were those who donated in lakhs and several of them in hundreds and thousands. Every contribution was important for this Thiruppani to become a success. Interestingly, almost all the farmers in the Aravoor belt donated their bit and were keen for the temple to be revived."

He says that he has to now take care of the archaka salary and the monthly maintenance expenses "Our immediate next plan is to create a Nandavanam so flowers can be presented to Swami and Ambal every day and we are working towards that.”

                                           Devotee Mayil Udayar Santhanam

Rebuilding Gurukal's home

Devotee Santhanam is also keen to rebuild the archaka’s house for him to have a comfortable life at this old age “Santhanam Gurukal has been the backbone of this entire exercise. He stood by us and gave us the confidence that we could do this. This temple is very close to his heart having been associated for over half a century and he wanted the festivities to be revived.”

Dilapidated temple complex in Dec'21 - Swami Vimana, Madapalli, temple entrance

Karungal Thiruppani

In 2022, the entire dilapidated temple was brought down and over the last two years it has been rebuilt from scratch. The Karungal stones, that were an integral part of the temple, have been restored as is with a stapathy from Thoothukudi taking care of the Karungal Thiruppani. 

There had been parts of the temple that were brick construction including the Madapalli. Those zones in the temple complex have been restored in its same form.

Narayana Bhattar of Santhanarama Temple, Nidamangalam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/nidamangalam-santhanaramar-temple.html), who has just had a knee replacement, performed the consecration of the Rama and Lakshmana Sannidhi devotionally bearing the severe leg pain he has had over the last couple of months (this temple houses historical centuries old idols of Rama Sita and Lakshmana as well as Hanuman).

                              New Temple Complex - August 2024

The Pillayar Sannidhi too had been completely damaged and this too has been rebuilt. As this is a temple for Sarpa Dosha Nivarthi, there has been a new idol installed at the entrance of the Swami Sannidhi. There is also a separate sannidhi for Hanuman, Bairvar, Maha Lakshmi and Murugar.

Next Year's Maha Sivarathri

Santhanam Gurukal is already looking forward to a big night on Maha Sivarathri next year and believes devotees from all the neighbouring villages will congregate for the Utsavam "There were at least 25 archanais for the previous Pradosham, an indication that devotees are coming back to the temple."

Continues to live in a small old styled house

He had been given a large tract of farming land in this village in the last century and he continues to cultivate paddy there. He and his wife lead a contended life with performing pooja being at the core of his life “My appa passed away when I was in Class VI and I have been performing pooja ever since for the last six decades. My entire life has centered around this temple even when it had become dilapidated.”

The fortunes of this temple has been turned around similar to the one at the Varadaraja Perumal temple, Ayyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/08/ayyur-varadaraja-perumal-samprokshanam.html) with the renovation of both these being anchored by devotees. The home of Sowrirajan Bhattar at Pinna Vaasal had been completely refurbished by a devotee. It is hoped that Santhanam Gurukal’s home too would be rebuilt for it is he who has stayed through the entire dark phase for this temple in the late 20th Century and through the first two decades of this century.

The Gurukal's current focus though is on seeing through the mandalabishekam over the next fortnight as he heads back to prepare one padi Chakkarai Pongal Neivedyam for Swami and Ambal on this Monday morning.

The Karkodakeswarar temple in Aravoor is yet another case of how a real threat of a HR & CE take over has been kept away in a remote village through the efforts of like minded devotees who came together along with the trustee to restore this historical temple pooling together Rs. 1.10crores to undertake a two year restoration exercise.

Aravoor is four kms North East of Nidamangalam off the Tiruvarur highway. An auto from Nidamangalam costs Rs. 150 (Ph.: 75025 44840).

Devotees wanting to visit the new look temple may call Santhanam Gurukal on @ 9790473398 in advance.

Patteeswaram Gopinathaswamy Temple New Raja Gopuram

Chozha Period Gopinatha Swamy temple at Patteeswaram to see a Grand Revival

New Raja Gopuram, Big Outer Walls and a Revival of Historical Utsavams

After a lull in the second half of the previous decade, the HR & CE department is on a temple renovation spree. The department has been making aggressive allocation for renovation exercises across temples in TN. Close to a 1000 temples are expected to see consecration in this phase. 

Earlier this week, this section featured a story on Sundara Perumal Koil for which the HR & CE has estimated a renovation at a cost of just over Rs. 30Lakhs (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/06/sundara-perumal-koil-new-young-archaka.html). This story is about a whopping Rs. 2.5crores allocation for the Chozha Period Gopinatha Swamy Perumal temple in Patteeswaram. 

This section had featured a story in February 2019 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/02/renovation-issues-in-tn-temples.html) as to how renovation exercises had dropped dramatically after the High Court order restraining repairs work. HR & CE Minister P. K Sekar Babu told this writer last month at an exclusive meeting in his office that an allocation of over Rs. 100crores had been made for the renovation and consecration of 1000+year old temples. Over a 100 such temples had seen consecration in 2022-23 and close to another 100 is on the anvil this year (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html).

He said that over 700 other temples had now been listed for renovation exercises and consecration and those will take place over a period of time. 

Nandipura Vinnagaram in the East, Gopinathan in the West

In centuries gone by, the Perumal temple east of Patteeswaram was  the Jagannathan Perumal Divya Desam at Nandipura Vinnagaram (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/02/108-divya-desam-nathan-koil-nandipura.html) while the Perumal temple west of Patteeswaram was the Gopinatha Swamy temple. 

Dilapidated State for over a decade

This writer had captured photographs of the temple over 10 years ago. This week, the temple remains in the same dilapidated state that one had seen back then. Huge bushes are seen around the temple complex. Similar to the Mottai Gopuram in Thiru Vellarai Divya Desam(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/08/thiru-vellarai-7-tier-raja-gopuram.html), the Raja Gopuram here too was half complete. And now is seen in a dilapidated state.

Utsavams a thing of the past

Long ago, Akshaya Trithiya, procession on Rohini Star day, Ekadasi and Dakshinayina and Utharayina Punya Kaalams were celebrated at this temple. The beating of the drums and the Mela Vadhyams were once heard at this temple. But the utsavams have become a thing of the past and like with the idols at Sundara Perumal Koil, the processional idols of Gopinathan along with Rukmini and Satyabhama have been sent to the icon center long ago. The priest at the Ramar temple in Patteeswaram performs a one kaala Thiru Aradhanam in the morning at this temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/11/patteeswaram-kothandarama-temple.html). 

Not unexpectedly, the temple lands around the temple have been taken over by residents and that’s the first thing HR & CE will have secure back as part of this renovation exercise. Some of the private buildings have come to the prakara walls on the Northern side. There is a big tank behind the temple and that has remained unattended for decades. That too will require a complete refurbishing. The outer walls will have to be built from scratch.

Like with Thiru Vellarai, the base of the Raja Gopuram will have to be strengthened before the five tier Raja Gopuram can be constructed (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/05/thiru-vellarai-raja-gopuram.html). 

Speedy action this year

Patteeswaram temple’s experienced Pulavar Selva Sekar, who will oversee the renovation exercise on the ground, told this writer  on Monday that as the first step in this exercise, the temple authorities are in the process of preparing a complete documentation of the entire temple complex and its current state including the Raja Gopuram. Soil tests will have to be undertaken later before the construction of the Raja Gopuram can be finalized. 

He said that the presence of a Ther Mandapam pointed to a Chariot festival in centuries gone by.  He also showed the original moolavar sannidhi which lie dilapidated behind the current sannidhi. The original sannidhi was like the big one at Sarangapani Koil (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/sarangapani-koil-thiru-kudanthai.html) built of Karungal structure. Historically this place was referred to as Kathali Vanam/ Shenbagaranyam indicating the presence of a large number of flower bearing trees.

Structural Engineers have had a look at the temple last week. The ASI officials are expected to make a trip some time in the coming months. Some of the preliminary work could start this second fortnight of June at the Gopinathaswamy Perumal temple soon after the completion of Thiru Gnana Sambandar’s Muthu Pandal Utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/07/patteeswaram-thiru-gnana-sambanthar.html) that is currently taking place this week at the Patteeswaram temple.

                                  

                          Current complex 

The revival of the utsavams may still be a long way off but hopefully within the next 12 months full fledged construction should begin at the Gopinatha Perumal temple especially as the allocation of the renovation amount has been announced in the TN assembly. 

Sometime in the coming years, this temple should see devotees coming back in good numbers like it once was in the previous century.  And if all goes well, may be the devotees will also get a darshan of the Utsava Moorthies and the processions around the four streets that is a dream of the Pulavar could become a reality again.

Thiruvanaikaval Kumbabhisekam 2018

Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari Kumbabhisekam is slated for next Wednesday, the morning of December 12

With the slowdown in Thiruppani approvals by the HR & CE, only part of the repair works have been undertaken at a cost of Rs. 1.1 crores, funded by donors - More than half the work remains unfinished

The first phase of renovation is nearing completion at the legendary Jambukeswarar – Akilandeswari temple at Thiruvanaikaval (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/12/thiruvanaikaval-jambukeswarar.html), one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, where the Lord manifests himself as ‘Water’ (Neer Sthalam). Located on the Northern banks of Cauvery, the temple was the first ‘Maada Koil’ built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan who went on to build 70 more including the Divya Desam at Nachiyar Koil.  The Thevaram Sthalam has been praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar and Manikkavachakar.

Only Minor Works Completed
With a stringent approval process laid out by the Madras High Court for renovation of temples, only minor works have been undertaken in this phase. The previous renovation exercise had been undertaken almost two decades ago with the Kumbabhishekam having taken place in 2000.

The towering Gopurams in the East and the West wear a fresh bright look after a new coat of painting. Most of the mandapams and pillars have been water washed. The Jambu Theertham, one of the Nava Theertham, has received a new fencing. 

Revamp of Electrification System after 80 years

Despite its historical nature, the 1000 pillar mandapam, one of the few in TN, had remained a dark zone. As part of this renovation exercise, extensive lighting has been provided at this ancient mandapam that will allow the devotees to explore this special area within the temple complex.

For decades, wires had been hanging dangerously all over the temple. For the first time, in almost 80 years, the entire temple complex has seen a complete revamp of the electrification system with the installation of the duct system.

New Vahanas

New Sesha and Yaanai Vahanas will carry the Lord on the annual Brahmotsavam. A few more vahanas will see repair works in the second phase.

The first phase of renovation has been undertaken at a cost of Rs. 1.1 crores, funded by the donors.

Toilet Complex inside the Temple

The temple had made plans to take the toilets outside the temple complex but the authorities have not found a convenient location around the temple. Thus the relocation plan is on hold for the moment and the toilet will continue to remain inside the temple complex, much to the disappointment of the devotees. 

Renovation Plans for 2019

The renovation leading to the Kumbabhisekam marks only the first part of completion of the repair works. The bigger restoration projects are still pending and works will continue into 2019 after approval from the renovation committee.The huge granary opposite the Akilandeswari Sannidhi remains in a dilapidated condition and repair works are likely to take only next years. Similarly, the Theppa Kulam - Rama Theertham, off the Srirangam road where the Thai Poosam festival is celebrated in a grand way requires refurbishing.  This too requires approval from the HR and CE headquarters.

Plans are afoot to set up a special water treatment plant to redirect the abhisekam water on to the newly planned Nandavanam.

Huge Nandavanam to come up on the Eastern side

The big highlight of the post Kumbabhishekam plan is the conversion of the area either side of the Eastern Raja Gopuram into a huge Nandavanam. Hundreds of saplings will be planted soon after the Kumbabhishekam and within the next few years one is likely to see tall trees comprising of Aththi, Vilvam, Izhuppai, Vaazhai and Naaval, among others, that will provide a refreshing look to the Eastern side of the temple complex.

Kumbabhishekam is slated for December 12 between 6am and 7.15am.

GVG owners Udumalpet Temple

The Owners of the Paper and Textile firm (now GVG) that once supported cricket in a big way are now embarking on a joint community initiative to construct the Biggest Perumal Temple in the Udumalpet region

With a Three Tier Raja Gopuram at the Eastern Entrance, the Alarmel Mangai - Venkatesa Perumal temple will also house Sannidhis for Dhanvantri and Hayagriva

The Temple is looking for full time Priests and Madapalli personnel 

Having supported cricket and cricketers in a big way in the 1970s and 80s (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/06/svpb-udumalpet-soundararajan.html ), the owners of erstwhile SVPB (Sri Venkatesa Paper Boards), now GVG Group of Companies are building the biggest Perumal Temple in the Udumalpet region along with Shanmughapriya Textiles, Udumalpet and with support from the larger public. The new Venkatesa Perumal temple, with a Three Tier Raja Gopuram, will come on a one acre area on the Southern Outskirts of Udumalpet off the Thali Road in Pallapalayam with the beautiful Munnar hills in the backdrop.

While the cricket development was anchored by M Soundararajan, his brothers Amarnath and Veluswamy and their cousin Ravindran are anchoring the construction of the temple along with Trustee Ramakrishnan, a well known enterpreneur and philanthropist. The temple is being built at a cost of  Rs. 10 crores.

The best of ancient stones have been sourced for the Perumal Sannidhi from Chittoor and for the rest of the Sannidhis from Vazhapadi. Over 50 experienced temple architecture related persons led by Sthapathy Ramesh and Bhaskar, who recently undertook the construction of the Abirami Amman temple in Dindigul, are working tirelessly in an effort to complete the first phase of construction by the middle of next year. 

The temple has the blessings of Srivilliputhur Jeeyar and has been endorsed by AMR and  Upanyasakars Ananthapadmanabhachari and Velukkudi Krishnan, who have both visited the temple. Over the last decade, Velukkudi Krishnan has been presenting an annual Upanyasam in Udumalpet.

Dhanvantri, Hayagriva Sannidhis

Venkatesa Perumal will be flanked on his right in a separate sannidhi by Alarmel Mangai Thayar and on his left in a separate sannidhi by Andal.  There will also be separate sannidhis for the God of Health Dhanvantri, the God of Learning Hayagriva, Lakshmi Narasimhar and Chakrathazhvaar, Vishwaksenar and Hanuman, with devotees taking up the financial costs of each of these sannidhis.

Amarnath who is personally overseeing the construction says that in the 1960s and 70s, he and his brothers felt that cricketers in the districts did not receive enough opportunities to showcase their talent and that was the reason for their family to support the cricketing fraternity in the Udumalpet region. And the family went the full distance providing a platform for young cricketers from Udumalpet to play alongside and against the best in the country. Similarly, the family is on its way to build the biggest temple “We felt that the region did not have a big Perumal Temple with a Sannidhi for all the Lords.  This prompted us to look for a large tract of land that would have enough space to house all the Sannidhis.”

GVG Owner Amarnath flanked by former cricketers S Sukumar and NP Madhavan

On the extreme right is Trustee Ramakrishnan

The Samprokshanam is slated for next Vaikasi.

The temple is also looking for full time priests and person for the Madapalli once the construction is complete. Those interested to participate and support the construction of the temple in any form may contact Trustee Ramakrishnan 98422 27606.