Srirangam Ranganatha Temple Sannidhi Timings Issue

Perumal, Thayar, Chakkarathazhvaar and Dhanvatri Sannidhis are closed between 8am and 10am leaving outstation devotees helpless

Will the HRCE Minister Ramesh who has promised devotee friendly initiatives look into this and rework the darshan timings at the Srirangam Temple

It is less than 24 hours since the suspension of a staff of the HRCE for improper conduct with the devotees of the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam. It is just after 8.30am on this Sunday morning and a family of devotees from Coimbatore are frustrated and pointing fingers at each other for not having been able to have darshan in any of the Sannidhis as they now head to Thiruvanaikal in the hope of having darshan of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari.

So what’s the issue with the darshan timings at the Srirangam temple. This devotee writer has over the last one year brought this issue to the attention of JC Sivaram Kumar but he has pleaded helplessness. However good and professional he is in wanting to improve the service to the devotees, he has been rendered ‘weaponless’ with his inability to intrude into the internal Sannidhi affairs at the temple. He has made efforts over the last year to try and bring about some changes but the answer has been the same that HRCE cannot interfere in the ‘Ulthurai’ management of the temple and thus he has been kept at bay

                    Photo taken by this writer in 2008

The Perumal Sannidhi closes at 7.15am after the morning Vishroopam Sevai and reopens at 9.30am with Mangalaarathi but the non VIP devotees can begin to have darshan every day only from around 10am. The Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi closes at 8am and while mangalaarathi takes place at 9.45am, the darshan inside the Sannidhi for devotees starts only at around 10am. This is exactly the scenario at Chakkarathazhvaar and Dhanvantri Sannidhi as well.

Unfortunately, this devotee family from Coimbatore reached the temple just after 7.30am on this Sunday morning and found that the Ariya Bhattal Vaasal was closed after the early  morning Seva. By the time they walked to the Thayar Sannidhi, it was 8am and that too was closed. They tried Chakkarathazhvaar and the met with the same fate. Finally, they hoped to invoke the blessings of the God of Medicine, Dhanvantri, but that Sannidhi too was closed. 

Having travelled 250 kms to have darshan at Srirangam, they found just after 9am that they could not have darshan in any of the main Sannidhis. This is not an exception. This writer has brought to the attention of the JC multiple times this year that outstation devotees who reach the entrance of the Perumal Sannnidhi after 7.30am find themselves in a situation of not being able to have darshan till 10am there, at the Thayar Sannidhi, Chakkarathazhvaar or Dhanvantri Sannidhi and most of them break the heads not knowing what to do for the next two hours.

                       A helpless JC Sivaram Kumar

Absence of Timings Board in any Sannidhi

This writer has also brought to the attention of the JC that there are no timings board in any of the Sannidhis except the Perumal Sannidhi. One wonders as to why the HRCE cannot have a proper timings board in front of the Thayar Sannidhi or Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi instead of devotees having to keep asking people about the reopening of the Sannidhis. Why would the HRCE be so poor in its communication on this front. All outstation devotees having to ask others to get know of the timings of the Sannidhis is a deplorable state of affairs at this temple at a time when we are erring so much on over communication.

Since these sannidhis are closed for about 2 hours at the peak time in the morning when devotees typically have darshan in all temples in Tamil Nadu, the crowd builds up in each of the sannidhis at 9.30am and one finds long queues. There is also a scramble as to which Sannidhi they should go to at 9.30am since the main Sannidhis had been closed in the hour gone by. 

Unfortunately for the JC of the temple, every time he hopes to bring this issue with the concerned Kainkaryaparas, he is pushed back many a mile with the standard message ‘This is a historical tradition that cannot be changed now’.

A 1000 years ago, there would have been local residents as devotees for a major part. Now there are 1000s of outstation devotees reaching Srirangam in the morning. Those that reach the Perumal Sannidhi at 7.30am remain a frustrated lot for they miss darshan in all the main Sannidhis for the next 2.5hours.

It is a similar scenario in the evening as well when at the peak time for darshan these main sannidhis are closed from 5.30pm to around 7pm.

It is saddening to see the helpless state of the JC of the temple with his hands being tied resulting in his inability to be more devotee darshan friendly. When devotees raised issue on Saturday about the unfair treatment meted out to them by the HRCE staff, there was action taken immediately by the JC but on the issue of opening and closure of the sannidhis and hardship caused to outstation devotees, he has not been able to initiate any positive devotee friendly action. 

Nava Tirupathi-  a prime example 

At Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam, a set of 9 temples either side of tamaraibarani, following the massive restoration undertaken by TVS' Venu Srinivasan in the mid 1990s, the timings of the temples have been devised (revised) in such a way that devotees are able to have darshan of all temples by 3pm every day starting the day at 7am. Four of the nine temples are open through the day 9am to 5pm with a one hour break in the middle while the rest follow  a 7am-12noon schedule. And timings of all the temples are displayed prominently in each of these temples so the devotees are clear on how and when they should visit these temples (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

Will the new HRCE Minister S Ramesh who has repeatedly promised devotee friendly initiatives look into this, engage with the kainkaryaparas of the Srirangam temple and rework the Sannidhi timings so outstation devotees, who now throng the temple in large numbers, are able to have darshan at least in 2 of the main sannidhis at any point of time. Also, he should understand as to why Thayar Sannidhi or Chakkarathazhvaar Sannidhi should be closed for over 90 minutes in the morning and as to what happens in the Sannidhi during that period. If he personally visits the temple during this period, he will be able to better understand the issues of the devotees. 

Well past 9.15am on this Sunday morning, the devotee family from Coimbatore leave the Srirangam temple through the North Gate angry at the way the Ranganathaswamy temple functions and pointing out that they have not experienced such closure at peak morning time in any other temple in the state.

Nageswaran Temple Kumbakonam Restoration

HRCE Minister takes an unprecedented call to suspend an EO citing 'unclean' temple

New EO in temporary charge Prabhakaran turns around the temple complex within a few days

For over 25 years, a largely quiet set of temples during the weekdays would suddenly turn into a rush of activities once or twice a year. It almost always signified the likely arrival of industrialist Venu Srinivasan, the man behind the large scale restoration of Nava Tirupathi Divya Desam. The entire service personnel work round the clock to clean the temples leaving no dirt unturned, even in the most unlikeliest corner of the complex for they knew that he had the uncanny knack of spotting  unclean zones in the temple. As devotees, there was always the prayer for him to visit more often so the temples looked spic and span through the year (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/07/venu-srinivasan-historical-temples.html).

One would have expected such an exercise ahead of a HRCE minister’s visit as well. When S Ramesh the new minister of less than six months visited Kumbakonam for his first big meeting on the preparations for the 2028 Maha Magam, the EOs of temples in this temple town should have woken up from their slumber. Unfortunately, an EO in one temple in the heart of Kumbakonam did not and the carelessness led to an unprecedented suspension.

தக்கனது பெருவேள்வி தகர்த்தார் போலும்;

  சந்திரனைக் கலைகவர்ந்து தரித்தார் போலும்;

செக்கர்ஒளி, பவளஒளி, மின்னின் சோதி, செழுஞ்சுடர்த்தீ,

  ஞாயிறு,எனச் செய்யர் போலும்-

மிக்கதிறல் மறையவரால் விளங்கு வேள்வி

  மிகுபுகைபோய் விண்பொழியக், கழனி எல்லாம்

கொக்குஇனிய கனிசிதறித் தேறல் பாயும்

  குடந்தைக்கீழ்க் கோட்டத்துஎம் கூத்த னாரே- Appar

When minister Ramesh visited the Nageswaran temple last month, a temple praised by Appar, he was shocked to find  the shambolic state it was in. The abhisekam water did not have a proper outflow that led to a severe stink in that area arising out of stagnation. There were thick bushes in the prakara. Overall the temple cleanliness standards that the HRCE minister would have expected at this historic temple was missing and he saw as being below par.

In the decades gone by, there have not been too many instances of suspension of HRCE EOs related to cleanliness of temples. But so dismayed was the minister that within 24 hours of his visit the EO was suspended and well over a fortnight later still remains in suspension.

And then what happened at the temple????

EO Prabhakaran restores the temple complex

This section has featured a few stories over the last year or so on the proactive initiatives of EO Prabhakaran of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam, now popular for the Kal Garuda Utsavam. From a massive restoration of the temple complex that saw the rebirth of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar who sung a century of verses on the Nambi Lord of Thiru Naraiyur to process driven initiatives to manage the ever increasing crowd on the Kal Garuda Sevai evening, from restoring the Vasantha Mandapam and reviving the Vasantha Utsavam to giving a new lease of life to the dilapidated Thoppu South of the temple, EO Prabhakaran has been impressed the devotees with his administrative abilities (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/05/nachiyar-koil-srinivasa-perumal-thoppu.html).

He had accompanied the HRCE minister during his Kumbakonam visit and soon after the suspension of Nageswaran temple EO, Prabhakaran was handed the additional charge of this temple with an immediate task of undoing the damage caused to the temple brand. And as has been his differentiator, he turned around the temple complex in a matter of a few days removing the bushes, the rumbles inside the complex and creating a free flowing pathway for the abhisekam water to make its way out. The temple complex now bears no resemblance to what it was a month ago.

With Maha Magam just under 18 months away, the Nageswaran temple is due for Thiruppani. Prabhakaran who oversaw the largest restoration exercise in several decades at Nachiyar Koil could be the one undertaking the restoration work at the Nageswaran temple as well though for the moment he is only there for a temporary period taking charge in addition to his full time work at Nachiyar Koil. 

Old timers to the temple recall the poorly lit complex in the century gone by. Unfortunately the temple continues to be dark with minimal lighting around the prakara. A look at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore would give one an indication of how well a temple complex can be illuminated.

The temple complex has some impressive historic architecture that dates back several centuries. The Nataraja Sabha aesthetics is as exquisite as the one seen at the Sarangapani temple just a few hundred yards away with horses and elephants pulling Nataraja. Sivakami Ambal plays the Thalam, Lord Vishnu the flute and Kaali is seen watching intensely Nataraja’s dance. The presence of Pralayakala Rudra is another feature at the temple. Nageswaran Swamy is one of the Lords to make the trip to the Maha Magam tank for the Maasi Utsavam.

On the outer temple walls of the Nageswara Swamy Sannidhi, the legend of Ramayana has been sculpted in stone.

Prabhakaran has been the EO at Nachiyar Koil for well over three years which means as per the HRCE practice he is due for a transfer. While he is currently on a short period assignment at the Nageswaran temple, it would serve the temple well if he is handed the full time engagement ahead of the Maha Magam Utsavam especially given that the Thiruppani works are slated to start soon.

But for now, the devotees of the temples count it as their blessing to have him oversee the activities in this phase and to improve the infra within the temple complex. The Navarathri is one of the important festivals in the year and that is just over 10 days away. Devotees are already looking forward to Periya Nayaki Ambal providing darshan in an improved lighting scenario during the utsavam. It is hoped that under EO Prabhakaran's supervision devotees will be able to experience a devotional Navarathri with illuminated lighting.

HRCE pulls back mobile ban Srirangam Temple

Thoughtless Instinctive Approach of the HRCE

In a U-Turn within two days, the HRCE has pulled back the ban on mobile phones inside the Ranganathaswamy temple 

The inexperience of the new HRCE ministry has once again come to light. In a dramatic U turn, the HRCE has pulled back the ban on mobile phones within two days of its implementation. For starters, at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, the temple authorities have decided to revoke the ban for three days - Friday-Sunday when the crowds are huge,  bringing to light the lack of preparedness to handle the big crowd. There are a total of over 2000 mobile lockers put together at the three entry points but given the congested place at the Therku Vaasal, it would be a big challenge for the authorities to manage the crowd that would continuously be handing in and taking back the mobiles from the same counter.

On Puratasi Saturdays, the first of which is just a fortnight away, there is likely to be 50000 devotees at the temple. Even 10% of them handing their mobiles at the counter would make it an unmanageable task for the HRCE staffers unless they are trained to handle this workload of collecting and handing back the mobiles. And the crowd is likely to be inside the temple till past 11pm on Puratasi Saturdays. The mobile counters cannot close at 9pm because the shift of the HRCE staff ends then.

This section had last month predicted a chaotic first few days at the mobile counters, one that was to serve as an alert to the HRCE to be well prepared for what they were to face in the first few days of the ban. But they were ill prepared and saw the full wrath of the devotees in the initial couple of days that has led them to revoke the ban. The ill preparedness and the lack of thought on the part of the HRCE showcased itself on day one at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/08/srirangam-temple-mobile-ban-sept-1.html).

Poorly thought out decision

The temple authorities, without foresight, decided to stop receiving mobile phones at the counter after 8pm even though the darshan at the temple was to go on till well past 10pm on September 1. It was the Satru Murai evening of the Pavitrotsavam and Namperumal was to listen to the Padippu on this final evening before he headed back to his abode. And then the devotees were to have darshan of the deeparaathanai in front of the moolavar Sannidhi- this was to take place well past 9.30pm. The Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi too was to be open till 9pm and the Mangalaarathi to take place after 9.15pm.

Given this schedule, it did not make logical sense to stop receiving mobile phones at the counter after 8pm. Also, the HRCE staffers at the counter whose daily work schedule was to end at 9pm informed the devotees that they had to collect the mobiles back before 9pm sending shivering thoughts in the devotees to return back quickly.

It was a thoughtless approach from the HRCE authorities in Srirangam. When the Sannidhis were to be open till 930pm and devotees were inside the temple, how could you force them to come back and pick up the mobiles before 9pm just because the HRCE staff’s shift was to end at 9pm.

This as predicted created chaotic scenes at the Therku Vaasal counter with outstation devotees expressing their wrath at the staff’s refusal to receive the mobile phone at 8.15pm. These devotees told the staff at the counter that the temple was still open and questioned the reason to not receive the mobile when the sannidhis were still open.

Also, they questioned the staff as to how they could come back before 9pm when darshan was possible till well after 9.30pm on Tuesday evening (Sept 1). One devotee couple who had come from Coimbatore were caught in a tangle – should they go for darshan and risk not picking up the phone before 9pm when they had a latenight train back to Coimbatore. Another set of devotees told this writer that they came back in a hurry without having darshan to reach the counter before 9pm.

New mobile counter takes away devotee space

It was a poorly managed first day by the HRCE at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. The voices rose elsewhere too in other temples in Tamil Nadu. At the Akilandeswari entrance in Thiruvanaikaval, the HRCE built a mobile counter complex inside the North entrance at a location where the devotees sit back for a few minutes after darshan. This construction has taken away the entire sitting space leaving not an inch for the devotees.

Hitting out at the previous HRCE ministry for every delay and thoughtless instinctive approach on important issues as this Mobile ban has become an early feature of the new HRCE ministry. The early phase shows that they are not ready to listen to the devotees’ voice.

For two days, life had gone back to the 1980s at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam with devotees having face to face conversations with one another while standing in the queue at the Thayar and Perumal Sannidhi for they were deprived of their mobile phones for the first time in many years. And it seemed a positive turnaround for people were getting to greet and talk to each other. On this Krishna Jayanthi Friday morning, its back to the new normal with phones being allowed inside the temple and devotees have got their eyes back to the mobile phones away!!!

Sundara Perumal Koil Papanasam Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Thiru Mangai Azhvaar is back at the Sundara Perumal Koil after several decades but like he was in London, he has become a Museum artefact with the HRCE locking him inside the temple and taking away the keys with them    

Will the HRCE Minister direct his staff to unlock Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and also hand back the Perumal Utsava Idol to the Sannidhi where he belongs - Priest's salary remains unpaid for months

Thiru  Mangai Azhvaar is back at the Sundara Perumal Koil after several decades but soon after his return, the Vaishnavite Saint Poet who sung over a 1000 verses of praise finds himself inside the locker room without a pooja and a week old flower garland. Just 10kms east, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar had dedicated an entire Prabhandham to the Lord of Thiru Kudanthai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html).

செல்வம் மல்கு தென் திருக்குடந்தை

அந்தணர் மந்திர மொழியுடன் வணங்க

ஆடு அரவு அமளியில் அறிதுயில்

அமர்ந்த பரம

ஜி

The newly appointed HRCE minister Ramesh made a big noise about securing the idol of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar that had been taken away to the overseas market long ago but a week after the idol made its way back to the temple with much fanfare and a procession around the streets of Sundara Perumal Koil, it lay idle inside the locker room at the temple with the keys taken away by the HRCE.

ஆளும் பணியும் அடியேனை கொண்டான் 

விண்ட நிசாசரனை 

தோளும் தலையும் துணிவெய்தச் 

சுடு வெம் சிலைவாய்ச் சரம் துறந்தான் 

வேலும் சேயும் அனையாரும் 

வேல்கணாரும் பயில் வீதி 

நாளும் விழவின் ஒலி ஓவா 

நறையூர் நின்ற நம்பியே 

Surely this cannot be the way the HRCE minister wants to treat an Azhvaar who went around temples of Tamil Nadu and outside to sing praise of Perumal in over 80 temples. During this week, the lone priest Aravamudhan has not been able to perform any pooja for the new entrant at the temple and he has not even been able to place a garland around the Azhvaar after the initial hype by the HRCE.

The huge posters in front of the temple make it seem that the new Government was instrumental in securing the idol back from London. Such credits they may take to showcase themselves in positive light but the HRCE minister should also ensure that proper treatment is meted out to the Azhvaar and at least a Thirumanjanam and Thaligai is performed every Karthigai on his monthly birthdays.

Perumal Utsavar too locked away in Kumbakonam

Interestingly, the utsava idol of Soundararaja Perumal too has been lying in safe custody in the lockers in a temple in Kumbakonam, over 10kms away from Sundara Perumal temple for the last many years with the young and enthusiastic priest invoking the blessings of the Moolavar Lord to secure the utsava idol too back into the temple so monthly utsavams can be organised at the temple. This will also help devotees come back to the temple in larger numbers.

                    2009 photo of Perumal utsavar inside the sannidhi

Just under two decades ago, this section had featured a story on the dilapidated state of the temple with the utsavams having long stopped and the consecration having been last performed in the first half of the previous century. The long standing priest who had served all alone passed away and the temple had been without a priest for a while. Way back in 2009, when this writer wrote the story on the temple, the photo records the presence of the utsavar but in the time that has passed by and post the consecration, the utsava idol has been taken to safe custody in Kumbakonam. 

The story goes that cursed by a rishi, Indra was struck with an illness. To relieve himself from the curse, he came here and undertook penance under the Vanni Tree in Sundara Perumal Koil. He was to donate pumpkins to Brahmins but when he could not find a Brahmin, it is believed that Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin and appeared here before Indra.

Later, Lord Vishnu provided darshan to Indra as Soundara Raja Perumal and relieved him of his curse. In a thanking gesture, Indra installed the idol of Soundara Rajan and built this temple. Sundara Raja Perumal is believed to be the Abhimana Lord for Pulla Bhoothangkudi Rama, Lord of Azhagar Koil and Oppiliappan. 

துறப்பேன் அல்லேன் இன்பம் துறவாது 

நின் உருவம் மறப்பேன் அல்லேன் என்றும் மறவாது 

யான் உலகில் பிறப்பேன் ஆக எண்ணேன் பிறவாமை பெற்றது 

நின் திறத்தேன் ஆதன்மையால் திருவிண்ணகரானே 

Now the young Aravamudhan Bhattar, who received Samasrayanam from Periya Nambi Acharya of Srirangam, has displayed great interest in reviving the utsavams that had once been integral to the temple activities but without the utsava idol his hands have been tied. His salary too has not been paid for months.

With the return of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar, it had been hoped that there would be some action around the Azhvaar’s monthly birthday but by locking him up in a room the HRCE is sending out a message that Thiru Mangai Azhvaar has only moved from a museum (in London) to another in the temple where he originally belonged.

It would be nice if the HRCE minister sends a direction to his staffers to unlock Thiru Mangai Azhvaar  and to organise poojas for him every month on his birthday on Karthigai. The minister should also direct his staff to hand back the utsava idol of Perumal to the temple so the priest can revive the utsavams at the temple. The electrical systems too are in a bad shape inside the temple and the HRCE should take a look at this aspect as well. The unpaid salary to the Bhattar is also a concern. At a time when there is a severe shortage of service personnel in temples, on the back of low salaries, HRCE's careless approach in not paying even the miniscule salary to the priest raises questions about the new ministry!!!

This section will track if the new HRCE minister takes positive action on this front.

Sundara perumal koil is 10kms West of Kumbakonam and 5kms East of Papanasam 

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

Thiruvanaikaval Aadi Amavasai Rishabham

fter a long debate and a signed written letter from the Pandithars, the Rishabham procession takes place on the Aadi Amavasai day from the Aasaariyar Mandapam but the return procession skips the fourth prakara in violation of the historic tradition

It was to be a big celebratory day at the Akiladeswari Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval, one built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan and praised by the Saivite Saint Poets. The Aadi Pooram utsavam for Akilandeswari had started last Wednesday with the flag hoisting that evening followed by a procession around the Ul Thiru Veethi. It was also the day when the legendary Saivite Saint Poet Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) received the Kailaya Kaatchi at Thiruvayaru with Swami providing darshan on the Rishabha Vahana. Historically, Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari provided darshan on the Rishabha Vahana with a Pancha Moorthy procession around the four streets.

வெள்ளி வெற்பின் மேல் மரகதக் கொடி உடன் விளங்கும்  

தெள்ளு பேர் ஒளிப் பவள வெற்பு என இடப்பாகம்  

கொள்ளும் மா மலையாள் உடன் கூட வீற்று இருந்த  

வள்ளலாரை முன் கண்டனர் வாக்கின் மன்னவனார் - Appar

Will one procession be cut off 

As is the trend in recent times, one is seeing many twists to utsavams in temples. And there was to be one at this temple as well on this Wednesday. Even as the Aadi Pooram utsavam began last Wednesday, there were murmurs about the likelihood of the Aadi Amavasai procession.

The issue turned out to be this. When the flag was hoisted for Akilandeswari for the Aadi Pooram utsavam, could she go out on a street procession during the utsavam to celebrate another utsavam. There were two separate donor devotees for each of these utsavams – on this Wednesday evening, Akilandeswari was to go around the fourth prakara on the Simha Vahana but it has been a tradition for her and Jambukeswarar to go to the ‘Aasaariyaar’ mandapam south west of the temple near Bharathi street and to return to the temple on the Rishabha Vahana as part of the Pancha Moorthy procession.

ஆன செயலால் திருவானைக்கா என்று அதற்குப் பெயராக

ஞானம் உடைய ஒரு சிலந்தி நம்பர் செம் பொன் திருமுடிமேல்

கானல் விரவும் சருகு உதிரா வண்ணம் கலந்த வாய் நூலால்

மேல் நல்திரு மேற்கட்டி என விரிந்து செறியப் புரிந்து உளதால்

Big Day in the year for Aasaariyars

The aasaariyars of Thiruvanaikaval were given this land to work through the year on the wood work in return for which they were to host the Pancha Moorthies on this Aadi Amavasai day as their Ubayam. And that is a tradition that has been followed for over 150 years.

The question was raised that only one procession could take place on this day and a precedent to this had been set once just under ten years ago and also just over 25 years ago when Aadi Amavasai fell on the 8th day of the Aadi Pooram Utsavam, the more powerful donor had his way and the other procession was celebrated in ‘Aasthanam’ without the street procession.

The EO of the temple, Uma, who took over from Suresh earlier this year asked for the views of the Pandithars on this issue if the two processions could take place on this Aadi Amavasai day. She demanded for their views in writing and the Pandithars of Thiruvanaikaval handed back a signed letter confirming that the two processions could indeed take place on the same day with Ambal going out on the procession after the Uchi Kaala Pooja and returning back to the temple on the Rishabham before the Saayi Raksha Pooja.

And thus, Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari left for the Aasaariyaar Mandapam near the Kallanai Road after the Uchi Kaala Pooja. An Abhisekam followed at this mandapam. With the Simha Vahana procession slated for 7pm from the Akilandeswari Sannidhi, the return Pancha Moorthy procession on the Rishabham was to start at 4pm from this mandapam after the ‘Aasaariyars’ mariyathai but even after 3pm, none of the Kainkaryaparas were seen at this mandapam.

No Kainkaryapara at the Aasaariyar Mandapam to watch over the Pancha Moorthies

Most shockingly, the Pancha Moorthy Idols were left to fend for themselves with not a single Kainkaryapara of the Thiruvanaikaval  temple at this mandapam. There were no Pandithars or Paricharakars or even the HRCE staffers at this mandapam till 3.20pm when the Jewel box arrived at the mandapam following which alankaram specialist Nagarajan Paricharakar too arrived at this location to decorate Swami and Ambal atop the Rishabham.

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

Past 4pm, the alankaram had been done but the full members of the Sripatham team were yet to arrive. It was past 4.45pm when the Pancha Moorthies began their procession back to the temple after mariyathai to the Ubayadarars and to the Adyayana Bhattar and the Othuvar.

Rishabham skips the fourth prakara

The controversies of the day was not yet done with. On the return procession, Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari were to provide Rishabha Vahana darshan on this Aadi Amavasai day around the fourth prakara but this was compromised with both shortage of Sripatham personnel as well as time for there was a Simha Vahana alankaram and procession to be done in the evening for which the Saayi Raksha pooja had to take place. 

Hari Pandithar, one of the priests well verses in the technical pooja aspects at this temple told this writer that it was the norm for the Rishabham to go around the Ul Thiru Veethi and there was no question of discussing that point. He had assumed that the Rishabham would indeed go through the fourth prakara but that was not to be the case and he found that to be a violation of the tradition for a Rishabha Vahana procession of Swami and Ambal was not complete without them going around the sacred fourth prakara.

Sriram Pandithiar (left) and Hari Pandithar

நன்றும் இழைத்த சிலம்பி வலைப் பரப்பை நாதன் அடி வணங்கச் 

சென்ற யானை அநுசிதம் என்று அதனைச் சிதைக்கச் சிலம்பிதான்

இன்று களிற்றின் கரம் சுலவிற்று என்று மீள இழைத்ததனை

அன்று கழித்த பிற்றைநாள் அடல் வெள்ளானை அழித்ததால்

He did suggest to the Pandithar of the day, Sriram Pandithar, who quit his job at Sundaram Finance to take up this hereditary service, to get the Rishabham around the fourth prakara but the procession returned directly back to the temple through the west entrance.

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.

HRCE tightens archaka attendance in TN temples

New Digital Attendance Machine installed this week at Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam will montior archaka service presence 

It is past 7am on Saturday (June 13) at the Srinivasa Perumal temple in Nachiyar Koil, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar sung a century of verses in praise of Thiru Naraiyur Nambi. The three HRCE appointed salary paid priests at this temple have this week been asked by proactive and forward looking EO Prabhakaran to follow a new protocol. On this Saturday, only Prasanna Bhattar is present in the morning and he has digitally recorded his presence (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/01/nachiyar-koil-kal-garuda-sevai-2025.html).

கிடந்த நம்பி குடந்தை மேவி கேழலாய் உலகை இடந்த நம்பி 

எங்கள் நம்பி எறிஞர் அரண் அழியக் 

கடந்த நம்பி கடியார் இலங்கை உலகை ஈர் அடியால் 

நடந்த நம்பி நாமம் சொல்லி நமோ நாராயணா - 6-10-1

A new digital attendance machine has been installed at the eastern entrance of the temple and the archakas have to digitally record their attendance each day of the month. In the century gone by, the priests of historic temples followed in the footsteps of their forefathers performing hereditary service. 

Hereditary priests become HRCE staffers

However, towards the end of the previous century, driven by a slowdown in temples and with many hereditary priests moving away from temple service, next gen priests in many temples opted for a fixed monthly salary. While in the past, the hereditary priests had alternating service every month between Moolavar Sannidhi and Thayar Sannidhi in Perumal temples, this system saw a change when they became paid salary staffers of the HRCE.

Paid salary for entire month

EO Prabhakaran of Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam clarified to this writer that as per his recorded there are no specific 10-15 service days for these priests like they may have had in the past “They are paid a salary for the entire month and hence each of these priests have to be present at the temple throughout the month.”

Implemented and accepted at Rameswaram 

Another proactive JC Sivaram Kumar who is now at the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam implemented this digital attendance system when he was at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram. He told this writer that all the priests of that temple accepted this system and digitally recorded their priest till the time he was at the temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2024/05/dhanushkodi-rama-temple-shiva-lingam.html).

JC Sivaram Kumar 

At the Nachiyar Koil, long standing priest Gopinathan Bhattar, who has been serving at the temple since the 1990s, has been going for events in other temples in the past. Earlier this month, this section featured a story on Nathan Koil Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai where he performed the alankaram of Jagannathan Perumal atop Garuda(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2026/06/nathan-koil-jagannathan-perumal.html).

The popular Gopi Bhattar 

The new digital attendance machine installed at Nachiyar Koil seeks to keep a check on paid salaried priests constantly being away at events at other temples creating a shortage of archaka kainkaryaparas at their home temple especially on crowded days. 

EO Prabhakaran has this week sent a letter to the archakas on the mandatory requirement to digitally record their presence at least once a day. He has said that failure to record the attendance would accordingly reflect in the salary records at the end of the month.

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே

This is a big step initiated at the Nachiyar Koil Divya Desam, a temple now popular for the two Kal Garuda Sevai every year and for the Prarthana Pooja every Thursday for Garuda.

EO Prabhakaran has received informal feedback from devotees on the lack of attention from archakas arising out of absence of the main archakas like it happened on this Saturday when Prasanna Bhattar was the only salary paid archaka at the temple through the entire first half of the day.  He had to manage the devotees both at Garuda Sannidhi as well as Moolavar Sannidhi in addition to also taking caring of the daily Thiru Aradhana and other pooja processes as well as performing Thirumanjanam for Thirumangai Azhvaar on this Karthigai day. Of course he had a couple of outside archakas to support him after 9am.

Nachiyar Koil EO Prabhakaran 

Prabhakaran told this writer on Saturday that the ever increasing crowd especially on Thursdays and during the weekends is necessitating the addition of 1-2 more archakas to take care of the devotee darshan, for even one existing archaka going away puts pressure on the other two.

The EO is hopeful that with the installation of the digital attendance system, there will be an ‘automated’ check on the presence and absence of archakas and this will help the temple authorities to explore the need for adding archakas at the temple, the first Vaishnavite Madam koil built by Ko Chenganan Chozhan after he had built 70 such Saivite temples. 

முருகிலங்கு கனிதுவர்வாய் பின்னை கேள்வன் மன்னெல்லாம்  முன்னவியச்சென்று 

வென்றிச் செருக்கழுத்துத் ததிறலழிய செற்ற வேந்தன் சிறந்துணிந்தான் திருவடினும் சென்னிவைப்பீர் 

இருக்கிலங்கு திருமொழி வாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில் மாட எழுபதும் செய்து உலகமாண்ட 

திருகுலத்து வளச்சோழன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் திரு நறையூர் மணி மாட சேர்மின்களே 

Well over a decade ago, at another Nambi Divya Desam, this one in the Pandya region at Thiru Kurungudi, when one of the staffers of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt that administers the temple kept going out of the temple by posting a substitute in his place, the head of the Mutt removed him from service pointing out that if for 90% of the days the existing staffer posts a substitute, the Mutt can as well use the service of the substitute full time at the temple. The sacked staff has not been able to make it back to the temple!!!

For the moment it is a bold initiative on the part of EO Prabhakaran to implement this digital attendance system at this Divya Desam. One will have to wait and watch as to how this impacts the presence of archakas.

While there is action on this front in temples where archakas are paid monthly salary by HRCE, this digital attendance system cannot be implemented in temples where they continue to follow the hereditary non salary model.

This section will track the 'digital attendance' impact at Nachiyar Koil in the coming months.