Nanguneri Chitrai Brahmotsavam Horse Vahana Procession

It is a day of great celebration as villagers around Nanguneri come together ahead of the Golden Horse Vahana Procession of Deivanayakan

The eighth day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam is a special one at the Thothadri Nathan Divya Desam in Nanguneri.  It is a day when the villagers come together to organise the celebration. Following the pallakku procession at 8am last Wednesday (May 7), Deivanayakan, the utsava deity at the temple enjoyed a Thirumanjanam at the mandapam west of the temple, where he remained through the day. 

Srikaryam of the Vaanamaamalai Mutt, Srikanth, led the Vedic recital. It was past noon when the morning events came to an end with a large quantity of Ven Pongal distributed to several hundreds of devotees present on the occasion. 

It was past 11pm when the music programme that was conducted at a specially erected stage came to an end. By this time, Perumal had mounted atop the Golden Horse Vahana while Srivaramangai Thayar was atop the Sesha Vahana. The Prabhandham members began the recital of the third canto of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi leading to the start of the procession. 

பெண்மைமிகு வடிவு கொடு வந்தவளை 

பெரியபேயினிது உருவு கொடு மாள  உயிருண்டு 

திண்மைமிகு மருதொடு நற்சகடம் இருத்தருளும் 

தேவனவன் மகிழ்ந்து இனிது மறிவு உரை கோயில் 

உண்மை மிகு மறையொடு நற் கலைகள் நிறை பொறைகள் 

உதவு கொடை என்று இவற்றின் ஒழிவு இல்லாப் 

பெரிய வண்மை மிகு மறையவர்கள் மலிவு எய்து நாங்கூர்

வைகுண்ட விண்ணகரம் வணங்கு மட நெஞ்சே

There was a celebratory buzz all around. The organisers got down to dismantling the music stage for Perumal and Thayar to start the procession around the temple complex. It was past midnight when they reached the eastern entrance of the temple, where mariyathai was presented to the Jeer of the Vaanamaamalai Mutt that adminsters the temple.  Devotees had gathered in good numbers to watch the mounting of the colourful canopy atop the divine couple. 

The Sannidhi Street remains traditional to this day with Agraharam style homes. Devotees came out of each home to present thattu welcoming Perumal and Thayar to their homes. The devotional excitement of seeing their favourite Perumal in a princely alankaram was palpable. Sripatham Personnel continue to carry the Lord on their shoulders in this Divya Desam and they showed a lot of energy stopping at each home a few yards apart and then resuming the procession.

The Prabhandham members had moved on to the fourth canto of Periya Thirumozhi when they turned on to the East street when hundreds of devotees gathered at the far end of the Sannidhi street. It is 1am and the devotees are looking forward to the mega bursting of crackers that had been announced earlier in all the posters around the temple. Rockets went up unabated for 15 minutes lighting up the entire sky even as Prabhandham members continued their recital amid the loud noice of the rockets.

And then the fire crackers were lit much to the delight of the residents. It signified the happy state of mind of the residents of Nanguneri as they wanted to make this an enjoyable night of celebration. 

Even as the fire crackers were coming to an end, the police personnel turned up to inform the temple authorities that given the poor state of a couple of roads and the time having gone past 1am, the procession had to head back through the Sannidhi Street. The Prabhandham members who had already made their way to the East street were informed accordingly and they returned back to the Sannidhi street as Deivanayakan made his way back in a fast paced procession back to the temple entrance. 

நால் திசை நடுங்க  அம் சிறைப் பறவை ஏறி

நால் வாய் மும் மதத்து இரு செவி

ஒரு தனி  வேழத்து அரந்தையை

ஒரு நாள் இரு நீர்மடுவுள் தீர்த்தனை

The Ghoshti members presented Thiru Ezhu Kootrurukkai, another of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s Prabhandham and Satru Murai of Periya Thirumozhi verses (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/06/thiru-ezhu-kootrirukkai_22.html). 

குன்றா மது மலர்ச் சோலை வண்கொடிப் படப்பை

வரு புனல் பொன்னி மா மணி அலைக்கும்

செந்நெல் ஒண்  கழனித் திகழ் வனம் உடுத்த

கற்போர் புரிசைக் கனக மாளிகை

நிமிர் கொடி விசும்பில் இளம் பிறை துவக்கும்

A special feature of Brahmotsavams in Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu is the increasing number of Bhagavathas participating in a wholesome way in the processions. Here too, they were present right till the end.

It is past 1.45am when Deiva Nayakan and Srivara Mangai Thayar presented an Ekantha Sevai as they made their way back to the Sannidhi. It is the kind of peaceful late-night procession to the Sannidhi that a select set of local residents experienced and enjoyed. 

The day is still not complete as the priest heads to the moolavar sannidhi for the Artha Jaama Pooja bringing to end the 8th day celebrations of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam. 

For the Sripatham too there is still some more work left as they carry the horse and sesha vahana back to the vahana mandapam before they got back for a well earned rest late on Wednesday night. It is almost 2.30am when Nambi Bhattar made his way back home after a long day at the temple, a typical scenario during Brahmotsavams in remote temple towns.

Thiru Kurungudi Sudharsan Sthaneegam

Quitting a Top IT firm in Chennai at 35, Sudharsan has returned to Azhagiya Nambi Divya Desam to perform lifetime service 

Last week, this section featured a story on a long time resident of Thiruvallikeni quitting a corporate job in his early 40s to return to his hereditary home in Vaanamaamalai Divya Desam where he is currently performing Madapalli service at the Thothadri Nathan temple. This story is about another Thiruvallikeni resident, who aged only 35, has quit a high paying IT job after over a dozen years in the sector and returned to Thiru Kurungudi to take up service as a  Sannidhi Paricharakar at less than one tenth the IT salary.

Dreams to become a doctor but gets into IT

A student of DAV Gopalapuram, S Sudharsan was keen to become a doctor and secured 95% in Class XII Board but even that was not enough to secure him a seat in a medical college. He took to BE (Comp Science) in a private college in Chennai and joined a Top 3 Tier I IT company as a Programme Analyst in 2010. Amidst the competitive IT landscape, he made good progress but within him he knew that the corporate world was not his ultimate destination and was always keen to return to Thiru Kurungudi.

The transformation towards a spiritual journey

He was initiated into the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham by Suresh (Sindhu’s appa - https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/thiruvallikeni-thiru-kurungudi-sindhu.html) during his collegiate years and also learned the sacred verses from Thirucheraia Narayanan and Pachadi Parthasarathy. And like Nambi Thothadri Srinivasan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/vaanamaamalai-thothadri-srinivasan.html), he too was a regular at the Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni. During his Corporate years, he began listening to the lectures of Velukkudi Krishnan and this created an interest in him Divya Desam Kainkaryam.

Inspired by Mannar Koil Acharya

PS Narasimha Gopalan, a descendant of Periya Nambi and one responsible for the restoration of the Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Azhvaar temple in Mannar Koil, Ambasamudram had been pitching for those to return to hereditary locations to perform temple service. Ahead of Nambi’s procession to the Nandavanam on the fifth day of the Vasantha Utsavam, Sudharsan told this writer in his newly renovated home next to Venu Srinivasan’s Trust on North Street that his Acharya - Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan Swamy – had initiated the thought in him to return to Thiru Kurungudi as there were not enough Kainkaryaparas there to perform daily service. 

His appa quit family life when Sudharsan was still at college and came to Thiru Kurungudi to head the Mutt as the Jeer in 2009.

Quits Corporate work at 35

While taking to temple kainkaryam had been in his mind for a while, the decision to quit the IT job was sudden and he made his way to Thiru Kurungudi. It was Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan who spoke to the Jeer to provide Sudharsan with an official Kainkaryam engagement at this Divya Desam pitching with the Jeer that at a time when there was a serious shortage of service personnel in remote temples in TN, the arrival of Sudharsan at 35 would be a great Kainkaryam asset for the temple and that they should utilise his presence by providing him with a full time daily Kainkaryam. 

Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer has great regard for Narasimha Gopalan Acharya in the way he has single handedly managed the Mannar Koil temple and as per his suggestion, assigned the Sannidhi Paricharaka Kainkaryam to Sudharsan. 

It has been almost six months now and Sudharsan has been enjoying every bit of it though he has found the Kainkaryam a lot more taxing than he thought it would be. 

Sannidhi Paricharaka and Madapalli Kainkaryam

His role at the Azhagiya Nambi Sannidhi entails getting everything read for Vishroopam including Theertham and then supporting the archaka during the Thiruvarathanam and other pooja services. Both in the morning and evening, he lights the lamp in all sannidhis during the ten days of his kainkaryam every month. 

In addition to the ten day service at the Azhagiya Nambi Sannidhi, he performs another ten days of Paricharaka and Madapalli Kainkaryam at the Thiruparkadal Nambi Sannidi and has taken a liking to the Madapalli cooking.

Interested in Pushpa Kainkaryam

Into the future, he is also keen to perform Pushpa Kainkaryam by plucking flowers from the Nandavanam and knotting the flowers into a garland and presenting those to Nambi.

புள்ளினை வாய் பிளந்திட்டாய் 

பொருகரியின் கொம்பு ஒசித்தாய் 

கள்ள அரக்கியை மூகோடு 

காவலனை தலை கொண்டாய்

அள்ளி நீ வெண்ணெய் விழங்க அஞ்சாது அடியேன் அடித்தேன்

தெள்ளிய நீரில் எழுந்த செங்கழுநீர் சூட்டவாறாய்

Unmatched peace and happiness at Thiru Kurungudi

Months after he quit the high paying IT job, he says he has found a new sense of peace and satisfaction “There were opportunities to move up the ladder in the IT job but one always encountered jealousy and it was something I had to face every day at work. There is a peace in this kainkaryam and when the thought process is clear that the intention of my presence here is purely service related, the Kainkaryam becomes all the more enjoyable.”

Utsavam Kainkaryam

During the Panguni Brahmotsavam, Sudharsan also performed the service of presenting Theertham to the devotees at the street procession. He also doubles up as a Sripatham when there is a shortage of personnel to carry the Lord as was found last week at the procession to the Nandavanam.

At the utsavams, Sudharsan is also involved in distributing Thaligai to the devotees and his model of distribution stands out among the personnel there. He credits the Mannar Koil Acharya Swami for this learning “When I performed Kainkaryam at the Utsavams in Mannar Koil, he would often ask me to present the Thaligai in large quantities to the devotees and only what is finally left should be taken by us. I have taken to that model and hand out as much prasadam as possible to the devotees so they go back happy and satisfied.”

Improvement areas 

In the six months he has been at the temple he has identified areas of improvement and is hoping that going forward he will be able to contribute in those areas “Streamlining the madapalli process, use of technology in the documentation process, maintaining traditions in as many areas as possible. The Kainkaryaparas took to multi tasking in the century gone by and I see myself being involved in any kainkaryam that is expected of me at this temple.”

As far as his own learning goes, he says there is a lot to learn. He is in the process of learning Kattiyam, Veda Vinnappam and Stotra Paadams and is hoping that sometime in the near future he will be able to present these before the Lord.

His Thatha's devotional story inspires him

He refers to an example of his Thatha’s Kainkaryam serving as a real motivation to him “My amma’s appa performed service at the Thirumalai Nambi Sannidhi at the Mahendra Giri Parvatham. Once when he had walked all the way to the top of the hill, he found that he had not carried the salt and walked back home to pick up the salt. Such was his commitment to the Kainkaryam. I want to see if I can perform this service with that kind of devotional commitment to Nambi." 

Interestingly, within months of him returning to this Divya Desam, his elder brother, Jagannathan, also a member of the Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni, quit his IT job in a top Tier 1 IT company in Chennai and he too has returned to Thiru Kurungudi to join Sudharsan.

                Elder brother Jagannathan - quits Top Tier 1 IT company

As the Jeer of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt told this writer last week (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-jeer-mega-plans-for-mutt.html), there is a shortage of Kainkaryaparas at this historic Divya Desam and not many are willing to make their way back to remote temple towns. Sudharsan had been reasonably ambitious at his work and had grown to become a technology architect when he quit the job late last year. With an almost 15 year experience in the IT space, there was a career beckoning including overseas growth opportunities but Sudharsan has chosen a different path in his life – that of performing a lifetime service at the feet of Nambi of Thiru Kurungudi. Having been a part of the vibrant Prabhandham Ghoshti at the Parthasarathy temple, he says he does miss that bit about Thiruvallikeni but this new found peace in this remote Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi is something he has come to enjoy. Like Thothadri Srinivasan at Vaanamaamalai, Sudharsan too talks very little and his focus is entirely on the Kainkaryam at hand.

The enjoyable experience of these last six months is likely to keep him firmly grounded to his roots at this Divya Desam. More importantly, selfless temple service as a way of life that Sudharsan has chosen should serve as an inspiration to other youngsters to return to their hereditary towns to dedicate themselves to Kainkaryam as was the way till the middle of the previous century.  As an immediate testimony, his elder brother has joined him within months at this temple. One has to wait and watch if more Kainkaryapas will return from cities to their hereditary locations. 

Thanjavur Big Temple Chitrai Rishabham

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

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

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

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

                 Bringing down the Flag - End of Chitrai Festival

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

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

                                   Sukumar - Ekkalam Kainkaryam

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

Divine Couple around the Prakara on the Rishabham

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

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

Around the traffic filled streets!!!

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

Maathu Sri Kaamatchi Bai Saheb's Rishabham

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

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

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

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

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

Thiru Kurungudi Jeer Mega Plans for the Mutt

Plan to treble Mutt Corpus to Rs. 50crores, confident that Kainkaryaparas will return to this Divya Desam to perform full time service- Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer, Thiru Kurungudi Mutt

  Photo taken on Wednesday evening at the Mutt HQ

It is 15 years since Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer took over the administration of the historic Nambi Divya  Desam in Thiru Kurungudi. He has been taking a tough stance on temple related issues and speaks on the face when confronted with real challenges. He leaves no one in doubt on what he thinks about every issue that is brought to his attention. A decade ago, when Sthaneegam Murali, who had been a long serving Kainkaryapar at the temple, was short on physical attendance for a long period of time and also travelled overseas, the Jeer took the bold step of keeping away from this service and he has not been able to come back yet. On serious temple related issues, he has always acted with clarity, though his tough and instant actions have not always gone down well with the service personnel. When Sripatham seemed to delay their presence on important occasions, he brought personnel from other Divya Desams sending out a message to all that he is a stickler for time and programme schedules.   

In August 2017, when this writer met him and asked him about the restoration of the Shiva Sannidhi, his answer was honest and straight forward “I will see to the restoration as soon as possible” he told this writer that day without any second thoughts on what he thought about the demolition.

அக்கும் புலியின் அதளும்  உடையார்

அவர் ஒருவர் பக்கம் நிற்க  நின்ற 

பண்பர் ஊர்போலும்

தக்க மரத்தின் தாழ்சினையேறி 

தாய் ;வாயில் கொக்கின் பிள்ளை 

வெள்ளிர உண்ணும் குறுங்குடியே  -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

In June 2023, the Shiva Sannidhi was restored to be back next to Nambi Sannidhi as seen in Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's praise above and the positive vibration is now back in the Sannidhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/thiru-kurungudi-pakkam-ninnaar-shiva.html).

Soon after Azhagiya Nambi returned from his once in a year procession to the Nandavanam on the fifth day of the Vasantha Utsavam on Wednesday (May 7), Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer took on a wide ranging set of questions from this writer and answered each one of them with great conviction in a long late evening conversation at the Mutt headquarters.

            With Maniam Ramanujar at the Vasantha Utsavam

Recovery of Temple Assets - A Transformation

Recovery of temple assets and collection of a fair rent has been an issue with temples across TN. This temple has around 6000 acres of land. When this writer posed this issue to the Jeer specifically relating to this temple, he answered with delight on how this process has progressed over the last decade or so “We have strengthened the administrative machinery. There is a GM- Administration, a CA and a retired Tahsildar for land administration. I focused on striking down forged documents and was successful in the effort. From a recovery of around 20% before my time, we have now been able to recover over 70% of the temple lands. And even more significantly, we have been able to revise upwards the rent for the temple lands and over the last decade or so have garnered fair rent from almost all the tenants."

Muslims pay on time and a fair rent

He points to the fact that almost all the lands in Eravadi (a town about 5kms from Thiru Kurungudi) belong to the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt "Most of the tenants are Muslims but each one of them pays the fair rent and on time every month.”

எங்கனேயோ அன்னைமீர்காள் என்னை முனிவது நீர் 

நங்கள் கோலத் திருக்குறுங்குடி நம்பியை நான் கண்ட பின் 

சங்கினோடும் நேமியோடும் தாமரைக் கண்களோடும் 

செங்கனிவாய் ஒன்றினோடும் செல்கின்றது என் நெஞ்சமே - Namazhvaar 

Mutt Corpus shoots up

So how has this recovery boosted the temple revenues “From a corpus of around Rs. 35lakhs at the time I took over, it has now shot up to Rs. 15crores. This has been solely due to the aggressive recovery mechanism I had put in place” he told this writer even as the Chief Priest made his way to the Mutt to share his plans for the next day’s (6th day) Vasantha Utsavam event.

Employees well paid

“When I took over, most of the employees were being paid a few hundred rupees as salary. This has now gone up to almost a five digit figure for most of them.”

Spreading the Mutt’s wings, he says he spent Rs. 1crore for the construction of the Mutt at Thiru Pullani Divya Desam and a similar amount at Thiru Kurungudi for guest houses for devotees including AC rooms.

To Treble the Mutt Corpus

The Head of the Mutt is clear with his vision and the legacy that he wants to leave at the Mutt “There are several challenges at the temple. I want to strengthen the temple coffers and give the confidence to the Kainkaryaparas that this temple is in safe hands. I want to treble the corpus to Rs. 50crores in the next phase and am confident that this will be possible through the recovery of temple lands and the payment of fair rent.”

Temple Reforms -Golden Period for Thiru Kurungudi

 He says that this is a golden period for Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam (Vahanas too have turned Gold!!!) and points to several reforms that he has undertaken “I have streamlined a number of the processes. When I took over, the morning procession during the Brahmotsavam used to start at 8.30am and Nambi used to return in the sun. I wanted it to start at 4.30am and for the Lord to return by 6am before the heat of Panguni. While there were initial objections at this early start, everyone came to accept it and this has turned out to be a positive solution for all kainkaryaparas. Similarly, Perumalreturns from the evening procession (except on the Garuda Sevai night) by 10pm or so. And all the Kainkaryaparas are able to finish their service at a reasonable time in the night during the Brahmotsavam.”

“We have got a strong team of Sripatham personnel and I have ensured that there is no delay in processions, especially the big ones. Also, on normal days, the vishroopam was previously at 8am. I moved it to 7am and devotees can now have darshan without a break till noon.”

He is also happy in the way the Vahanas have been refurbished  “Most of the Vahanas have been upgraded to Gold during my period. The Parangi Naarkaali and Manjal Neer Chapram have been restored to its historical glory with Mural type painting.”

He says that on every utsavam day he has instructed the madapalli personnel to present Thaligai in large quantities so the devotees’ who come from far and wide are well fed. On this Nandavanam procession evening, he organised for 15 padi Dhadhyonam that the hundreds of devotees present truly enjoyed as a prasadam.

                    Jeer at the Panguni Garuda Sevai Seva Kaalam

Shortage of Kainkaryaparas - A real issue

There is a severe shortage of service personnel at the temple as was seen even on this Vasantha Utsavam Nandavanam procession on Wednesday. This writer asked if there are any plans to tackle this issue. He agrees that there is a shortage of personnel for some of the daily services inside the temple and accepts that is a real issue that he cannot run away from “TVS’ Venu Srinivasan has an open offer to the Mutt to provide a reasonable sambhavanai for all Kainkaryaparas who join the temple and that is reassuring. Next Generation is definitely to be created and I am continuously on the look out to strengthen the team but securing quality service personnel in such a remote temple is definitely a challenge as there are not many who are ready and willing to return to their hereditary locations to perform Kainkaryam. But I am confident that things will turn around on this front at this Divya Desam sometime in the future.”

(there are already a couple of positive developments on this front - story to follow soon!!!)

Mannar Koil Narasimha Gopalan - A stand out example
Asked about the future of remote temples in TN and the increasing number of challenges, he points to Narasimha Gopalan of Mannar Koil Rajagopalaswamy temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/07/mannar-koil-narasimha-gopalan-solo-act.html) as a standing example "There is some financial strength here at this Mutt and a team of service personnel that takes of utsavams but Narasimha Gopalan's has been able a solo act and he single handedly performed two large sized restoration and Samprokshanam events. He has also revived historic annual utsavams all on his own. He is a standing example for every temple archaka, especially in a remote town, as to how restoration and revival is possible even with limited personnel if one is willing to have a strong unflinching faith in God and put the required effort to manage such a huge temple."

Consecration next March at Kurungudi

The Balalayam was performed in mid April this year and following the repair and refurbishing works, the consecration will take place. “We have already fixed the date for the Samprokshanam – 25th March 2026- a week before the start of the Brahmotsavam next year and hence those involved can work backwords to finish the work on time.” 

Securing Mutt's rights at Azhvaar Tirunagari

He is also happy at the way he fought for traditional rights at Azhvaar Tirunagari and secured for different Mutts during the Vaikasi Azhvaar Utsavam. “Another Mutt wanted rights for all the ten days of the utsavam but as per historic tradition, there was a ratio to be followed with those that observed the maximum Chaturmasya getting more days. I fought for it and secured different days for different Mutts during this utsavam.”

A 45 minute walk around the outer prakara

It is 8pm on this Vasantha Utsavam Wednesday evening (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/05/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-nandavanam.html) and time for the Jeer to go on a 45 minute Prakaram Pradakshinam walk that is part of his daily routine to keep himself fit and energised. He also spends 15 minutes sitting at the temple entrance after the walk just to enjoy the evening breeze. Presenting Adirasam prasadam to this writer, he bids goodbye with the message that this Divya Desam temple will be greatly strengthened during his time and be financially self sustaining in the coming decades. 

It is a message that will be greatly reassuring to the Kainkaryaparas and the staffers.  With a strong financial support both from the Mutt and TVS’s Venu Srinivasan, it is hoped that more kainkaryaparas will return to Thiru Kurungudi in the times to come to perform full time service at this Azhvaars’ praised temple.

For auto: Senthil 8940785950

Vaanamaamalai Thothadri Srinivasan

Back to the roots

From Tier 1 IT company to Madapalli Cook at a historical  remote Divya Desam

It is past 1am on Wednesday (May 7) night. 47 year old Thothadri Srinivasan (Nambi) is still at the Madapalli at the Thothadrinathan Divya Desam in Nanguneri and he brings Dosai Thaligai to be presented to Deivanayagan following the Horse Vahana procession on the 8th day of the Chitrai Brahmotsavam.  Shortly after, he is at the moolavar Sannidhi for the Thaligai presentation at the Artha Jaama Pooja. 

புள்ளின் வாய் பிளந்தாய்

மருது இடை போயினாய்

எருது ஏழ் அடர்த்த என் கள்ள மாயவனே

கருமாணிக்கச் சுடரே

தெள்ளியார் திரு நான்மறைகள் வல்லார்

மலி தண்  சிரீவர மங்கை

உள் இருந்த எந்தாய்

அருளாய்  உய்யுமாறு எனக்கே - Thiruvoimozhi (5-7) 

In March 2018, this section had featured a story on how the once vibrant Divya Desam with over 300 kainkaryaparas in the century goneby had dwindled to 30 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/03/nanguneri-vanamamalai-divya-desam.html). This story is about one who has chosen to return to his hereditary town to perform lifetime kainkaryam at this historical Divya Desam and the headquarters of the Vaanamaamalai Mutt.

It is almost 2am when he is the last to leave the temple having made it to the temple at 3am the previous morning for Vishroopam Thaligai. He tells this writer as he walks back to his hereditary house on the Sannidhi street as to how his life has been transformed by his move to this Divya Desam.  “It has been over three years now and I can feel the spiritual progress I have made during this three year period. Being on the ground and carrying out kainkaryam in the presence of your acharya is a special feeling. It is printed after one’s death that one has attained Acharya’s feet. We have an opportunity when alive to perform Kainkaryam at the feet of our Acharya and that is what I have sought to do in this phase of my life.”

Top Tier I IT company

Thothadri Srinivasan spent the first 15 years of his life at Nanguneri studying in the local school. After completing his Engineering, he joined a top Tier 1 IT company where he worked for well over a dozen years serving as a Group Project Manager in his final role. And then for close to a decade, he travelled across TN into remote towns working for an NGO as its Project Director.

Residing in Thiruvallikeni during his corporate stint, he was an integral part of the renowned Prabhandham Ghoshti led by MA Venkatakrishnan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/05/ma-venkatakrishnan-thiruvallikeni-divya_16.html). His son, Sreekar, too learned the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham very early and had completed the entire 4000 verses by the time he was 10. 

After Thothadri Srinivasan had become interested in Kalakshepams, his interest began to wean away from the corporate world into exploring a spiritual journey. After a brief experimental period of six months at the Vaanamaamalai Mutt in Thiruvallikeni, he decided to move full time to the Mutt headquarters in Nanguneri to take care of the Vastram Kottadi at Thirumadi Vilagam in September 2021.

Horse Vahana procession - Periya Thirumozhi

Late on Wednesday night, he along with his son, presented over three hundred verses of Thirumangai Azhvaar’s Periya Thirumozhi as part of the Prabhandham Ghoshti during the Horse Vahana procession of Deivanayakan (and Sesha Vahana of Srivaramangai Thayar) on the 8th evening of the Brahmotsavam.

கல்வன்கொல் யான் அறியேன் கரியான் ஒரு காளை  வந்து

வள்ளி மருங்குல்  எந்தன் மட மானினைப்   போத வென்று   

வெள்ளி வளைக்கைப் பற்றப் பெற்ற தாயினை விட்ட கன்று 

அள்ளலம் பூங் கழனி அணியாலி  புகுவர்கொலோ  3-7-1- Periya Thirumozhi

Multiple sacred roles at Vaanamaalai

After three years of Vastram Kottadi Kainkaryam, he moved to Madapalli duty at the Mutt that he performed for six months till this March. He looks back at that phase with great delight “Each day (non utsavam days) of the year in this phase, at least 75 people participated in the Anna Dhanam organised by the Vaanamaamalai Mutt and I was blessed to be the one cooking for them. The Mutt also engaged me to initiate youngsters into the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham and I have been teaching the sacred verses to about a 100 of them in the recent past. Also, during the Brahmotsavam, I have been involved with anna dhanam presentation for several hundreds of visiting devotees each day of the utsavam. These are opportunities I have received from my Acharya, something I could not have visualised a few years ago.”

And the Sannidhi street continues to have the old traditional Agraharam kind of feel and look about it for a large part with no apartments yet.

From Mutt Madapalli to Temple Madapalli

Just last month, he has moved to the temple Madapalli with a 15day engagement every month “I considered it a great blessing to be presenting the Thaligai at the Mutt. Now it’s an elevated feeling of having the opportunity to present the Thaligai to the Lord of Vaanamaamalai. We continue to cook in the traditional way with firewood and that makes this opportunity even more special and sacred.”

He says that there are times when his wife, also hailing from Nanguneri, remembers and recalls the great moments at the Prabhandham Ghoshti at Thiruvallikeni that she misses now and discusses the possibility of moving back to that Divya Desam but Thothadri Srinivasan has his feet firmly grounded at Nanguneri. He has detached himself from most of the things in the world and has been living a life as directed by his Acharya.

Being at a remotely located Divya Desam, he has had the opportunity to carry out multiple kainkaryams and that has given him a lot of satisfaction too “While my primary duty is at the Madapalli, I have been able to don the role of a Sripatham, a seva kalam member at Prabhandham Ghoshti, a Prabhandham teacher and an anna dhanam organiser.”

The son takes to the traditional path

Despite securing 90+% in the class XII boards, his son quit academics and has been learning the Sastras over the last three years under the mentorship of Thirukovilur Jeer “On his own, my son has acquired great interest in leading a traditional way of life. There are very few Sastra experts in the state and he has taken it upon himself to master the Sastras. We are happy that at a time when the next gen is looking to go the corporate way, Sreekar has chosen this traditional path. We, as parents, are over joyed with this and have assured him that we will extend the fullest support to him, including financially.”

                                                 Sreekar

On non utsavam days at Nanguneri, Thothadri Srinivasan visits the nearby Nambi Divya Desam in Thiru Kurungudi to participate in the Seva Kaalam like he did at the five Garuda Sevai on the fifth day of the Panguni Brahmotsavam there (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiru-kurungudi-nambi-panguni-garuda.html).

It is almost 3am (Thursday May 8 morning) and he has to be back at the Madapalli at 4am for the Vishroopam Thaligai. Thothadri Srinivasan bids goodbye to this writer from the traditional verandah of his house on Sannidhi street to catch up on an hour’s sleep before he makes his way back to the temple for the 9th day Brahmotsavam Kainkaryam.

An early return to hereditary temple town

Thothadri Srinivasan returned to his hereditary temple town when he was just 43 - lot earlier than he had expected. In these 3 ½ years, he has found a new peace that had been hitherto missing. Most importantly, he can feel within himself the spiritual progress he has made performing kainkaryam day in day out in the presence of his Acharya and with his daily blessings.  The financial returns are minimal compared to what he earned during his corporate years but Thothadri Srinivasan has not returned to Nanguneri to boost his bank balance. His sole purpose is to serve at the feet of his Acharya and perform all Kainkaryams as directed by him as a dutiful kainkaryapara. And that is giving him great satisfaction and peace of mind. Adding to this delight is the fact that his son has chosen a traditional way of life and is looking forward to spreading the messages from the Sastras to the world at large.

It is hoped that sooner than later more devotees would return to their hereditary towns like Thothadri Srinivasan to perform Kainkaryam at the feet of Perumal like their forefathers used to in the centuries gone by.

Thiru Kurungudi Nambi Nandavanam Vasantha Utsavam

On a cool breezy evening, Azhagiya Nambi made his way around the beautiful looking outer prakara to provide darshan at the huge Nandavanam 

It is the one day in the year when Azhagiya Nambi makes his way to the Nandavanam as part of the ten day Vasantha Utsavam at Thiru Kurungudi Divya Desam. On Wednesday (May 7) evening, the residents of this historical temple town were all excited ahead of the procession. By 3pm, young kids, assisted by a couple of seniors, had reached the Nandavanam to draw colourful kolams around the Vasantha Mandapam. The temple was abuzz with activity with the Kainkaryaparas preparing for the event. In happiness, even the clouds gathered steam and the tall trees began to swing wildly converting it into a cool evening.

Cool Breezy Evening

It is 4pm and the Kainkaryaparas waited for the green signal from Maniyam Ramanujam for the start of the procession. The thick dark clouds that covered the scenic Western Ghats sent a few rain drops leaving the Sripatham thangis a bit worried but despite the threat Maniyam directed the procession to go ahead around the beautiful looking outer prakara amid tall coconut trees.

By the time Azhagiya Nambi made his to the North side of the prakara, devotees had gathered in good numbers at the Nandavanam. Maniyam welcomed the lord into the Nandavanam with a presentation of a seep of plantain and the archaka managed to perform the Deeparathanai despite the strong breeze that swept through the Nandavanam.

Kainkaryaparas' important role in these utsavams

There were devotees from Srirangam and from other parts of TN that had come in specifically for this once in a year procession. Sudarshan, whose family held the Sthaneegam rights in the past, was here from Hosur to carry Nambi on his shoulder and he continued to perform different services this evening including tying the screens around the mandapam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/10/thiruvallikeni-thiru-kurungudi-sindhu.html). 

Shortly after Perarulalar Ramanuja Jeer, the pontiff of the Thiru Kurungudi Mutt that administers the temple arrived at the Nandavanam to start the presentation of the Siriya Thiru Madal. Amid the backdrop of the Western Ghats and the blowing cool breeze from the tall trees, Thiru Mangai Azhvaar's Madal sounded sweeter with a sizeable number of prabhandham members that included a few young boys in an unhurried and steady recital.

திரு உடையாள் மணவாளா

திருவரங்கத்தே  கிடந்தாய்

மருவி மம்ண கமழ்கின்ற

மல்லிகை பூச்சூட்ட வாராய்

Prabhandham Ghoshti -Siriya Thiru Madal

As the presentation of the Madal went on, the archaka draped Nambi and his consorts with wide ranging flower garlands that left the devotees glued to the Lord. The temple elephant seemed to want to participate in the Vasantham and stood outside the Nandavanam listening to the presentation of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar’s verses dedicated to Thiru Naraiyur. Following the Madal, prasadam arrived from the Madapalli in large quantities (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/10/thirumangai-azhvaars-madal.html). 

சீரார் திருவேங்கடமே திருக்கோவலூரே 

மதிக்கட்சி ஊரகமே பேரகமே 

பேரா மருதிருத்தான் வெள்ளரையே வெட்காவே 

போராளி தண்கால் நறையூர் திருப்புலியூர் 

ஆராமம் சூழ்ந்த அரங்கம் 

 கணமங்கை காரார் மணிநிறக் கண்ணனூர் விண்ணகரம் 

சீரார் கணபுரம் சேறை திருவழுந்தூர் 

காரார் குடந்தை கடிகை கடல்மல்லை 

சீராரும் மாலிருஞ் சோலை திருமோகூர்  

Later in the evening, the Jeer told this writer that in recent years he has ensured the preparation of Thaligai in a way that it can be distributed to the devotees without any restrictions. And it turned out that way on the evening. The Kainkaryaparas including the Maniam took turns to distribute Cashews and dry fruits, jack fruits, paruppu and dhadhyonam to the devotee crowd that by now had grown to over a hundred.

Past six pm, devotees continued to make their way to the Nandavanam for a darshan of Nambi and not many wanted to take their eyes away from the handsome looking Lord. 

As it happened at the start of the procession, rain drops made a re-entry even as Nambi was ready to leave the Nandavanam but thankfully the rains stayed away on Wednesday evening making it a memorable evening for the devotees who were present at the temple. It is almost 7pm when Nambi returned to his abode and following the Deeparathanai, devotees were presented with Panagam and Chakkarai Pongal bringing to end this once in a year event.

It is not an environ that devotees get to experience in city temples. This huge Thiru Mangai Azhvaar and Nam Azhvaar praised temple is home to a large sized Nandavanam with tall trees with Nambi spending this fifth day of the Vasantha Utsavam in the backdrop of the Mahendra Giri Parvatham and amidst greenery. On what should have been a hot summer’s day, the procession of Nambi to the Nandavanam influenced even the weather God who showered his blessings by making it a breezy and pleasant evening for everyone present. 

Uthamar Koil Chitrai Brahmotsavam Garuda Sevai

The Shortest Garuda Sevai Procession

Purushottamar made his way around the four small mada veethis on a 30minute procession atop the Garuda Vahana on Monday evening

Uthamar Koil is a one of its kind Divya Desam for it is home to Vishnu, Shiva and Brahmma. As per the Vaishnavism legend, Shiva came here as a beggar to get liberated from his curse, while as per the Saivaite belief, Shiva was born here as a beggar to get rid of the arrogance of the rishis.

On Monday (May 5) evening, the Vethal Sripatham Thangis arrived early from the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, where too it was the fourth day of the Kodai Poochatru Utsavam. The Nadaswaram artistes too had made their way from Srirangam. Shortly after 7pm, Prabhandham members from Srirangam too had arrived ahead of the procession. 

Octogenarian Priest continues his Kainkaryam

Varadaraja Bhattar is well past 80 and is all excited about the Garuda Sevai procession recalling the utsavams from his younger days. He told this writer in a long chat in 2019 as to how he made his way here from Thiru Meiyam as a school boy and began performing Kainkaryam here from the time he was in his early teens (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/06/uthamar-koil-varadaraja-bhattar.html).

He has repeated many times to this writer in the past and did so on this Garuda Sevai evening as well that he always saw this as a great opportunity to perform service at the feet of Purushottamar unmindful of the low income that he received for a major part of his life. That is the only way one should conduct himself as a Divya Desam archaka, Varadaraja Bhattar told this writer.

On Monday evening, he is all smiles as he sees a sizeable crowd for the Garuda Sevai after thunderstorms and heavy rains of the previous evening when Purushottamar was slated to go atop the Hanumantha Vahana. He recalls the highs and lows at this temple where he has been performing service here for several decades and is happy that devotees are now thronging the temple in good numbers as he walks along with Purushottamar through the procession. Devotees of all ages greet and wish him as he makes his way from the Vahana Mandapa north of the temple complex.  The Ubayadarar of the evening too is happy to see the Octogenarian priest walking around energetically. He is also happy that his sons are on carrying on the archaka service at this Divya Desam.

Rockets go up informing the devotees that it is time for the start of the procession. Hundreds of them gather in front of the temple complex as Purushottamar makes his way out of the Vahana Mandapa.  Devotees talked about the beautiful rose silk vastram that Garuda has adorned on the evening while a few others expressed their views on the grandeur of Purushottamar with glittering pathakams on this chest.

As Purushottamar made his way to the entrance of the temple, the Prabhandham members began the recital of the Naangam Thiruvanthathi. The Kainkaryaparas carried the ghee lit theevatti in front of the Lord as he made his way around the four small mada veethis.

பேரானை குருங்குடி எம் பெருமானை,

திருத்தங்கள் ஊரானை 

கரம்பனூர் உத்தமனை 

முத்திலங்கு தின் கடல் ஏழும் மலை ஏழ் 

இவ் உலகு ஏழ் உண்டு 

ஆறாது என்று இருந்தாளைக் கண்டது 

தென் அரங்கதே - Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

Shortest Garuda Sevai Procession

Devotees walked along with the Lord through probably the shortest Garuda Vahana Procession for a Divya Desam as he made his way back to the entrance of the temple within half hour after a couple of Thattu presentations by devotees on the North street. The prabhandham members present the satru murai at the entrance of the temple and shortly after 8pm, Purushottamar made his way back into the temple for the Deeparathanai. 

The sons of Varadaraja Bhattar are continuing their appa’s monumental Kainkaryam at this Divya Desam and they were all present on the evening playing their individual roles on this big day at Uthamar Koil.

Devotees were all smiles as they headed back home having had darshan of Lord Purushottamar atop the simple looking Garuda Vahana recalling to their family members their moments from the Garuda Sevai evening.

Young Anbil Bhattar stuns Srirangam Hereditary priests

In a sudden reversal of a muturally agreed decision,  a letter on Wednesday evening from Aravamudhan Bhattar of Anbil to the Srirangam JC has left the Srirangam priests stumped with his assignment of kundams relegating them to secondary status at the upcoming consecration

In a first of its kind for a Divya Desam, a young 34 year old Bhattar from Anbil has stunned the entire set of hereditary priests of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam with his action and direction relating to the Sundararaja Perumal temple consecration that is set to take place this Sunday May 5. 

Anbil Perumal temple is a sub temple of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam and comes under the administration of the JC of the Srirangam temple. 

Following the sudden death of his appa, Aravamudhan Bhattar was appointed as a salaried archaka of the HR & CE administered Anbil temple. In the decade plus time he has been at the temple, he has rebuilt the Chariot and revived the Brahmotsavam including the Chariot festival. Over the last couple of years, the temple has seen a large scale repair works by TVS’s Venu Srinivasan who had earlier last decade undertaken the biggest restoration exercise at the Srirangam temple.

Having been responsible for the revival of the Brahmotsavam and the restoration of the Chariot Festival, Aravamudhan Bhattar is now taking head on the hereditary priests of Srirangam.

This section had featured a story on Tuesday the issues raised by the Chief Priest of the Srirangam temple, Murali Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/04/anbil-divya-desam-consecration-issue.html). Following the discussion anchored by the newly appointed JC Sivaram Kumar, it had been agreed in his presence by both the Srirangam priests and Aravamudhan Bhattar that the Srirangam priests would anchor the yaaga saalai and the homa kundam at the consecration event that is to start on Friday.

Pancha Kundams to Thiruvellarai Priests!!!

While the Srirangam priests were preparing for this event, they were stumped by his letter to the Srirangam JC and left stunned on Wednesday evening. 

The information letter from Aravamudhan Bhattar to the JC of the Srirangam temple, a copy of which is available with this writer stated  that the primary kundams - Pancha Kundams for Perumal - would be anchored by five priests from Thiruvellarai (which interestingly is also a sub temple of the Ranganathaswamy temple!!!) and that the three Srirangam priests whom Aravamudhan Bhattar has named on his own in this letter of information to the JC would take care of just three kundams relating to Thayar, Andal and Vishwaksenar.

Vellarai Bhattars seek compromise, rewarded with the pradhana kundams

Through this week, the priests from Thiruvellarai have been calling the Srirangam priests for a compromise solution but they themselves have ended up getting the primary kundams relegating the Srirangam priests to the sidelines.

This letter from Aravamudhan Bhattar has caught the Srirangam priests unawares and left them in a shocked state late on Wednesday night.

Anbil temple comes under the Srirangam temple administration

The Sundararaja Perumal temple in Anbil comes under the direct control of the JC of the Srirangam temple and it is the Ranganathaswamy temple priests who have anchored the consecration in the past. Aravamudhan Bhattar’s letter informing the JC of the Kundam management is in stark contrast to the agreement between him and the Srirangam priests that was undertaken in the presence of the JC on Tuesday morning at the Ranganathaswamy temple. 

Not only have the Srirangam priests been stunned by this letter informing them as to who among them will manage which Kundams, they have also been taken aback by the fact that the number of Kundams is now 9 as against their earlier understanding that it would be 5.

With this letter, the young Bhattar has taken a bold call to sideline the Srirangam priests even though the Anbil temple is a sub temple of the Srirangam temple and the hereditary priests of Srirangam hold the rights to the Anbil temple. Historically as well, even during the time of Aravamudhan Bhattar’s appa, it was the Srirangam priests who performed the consecration event. 

In this writer’s tracking of TN temples for over two decades, this episode is a very rare occurrence of a sub temple salaried priest of the HR & CE directing the priests of the head temple - in this case the number one Divya Desam Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam – to act as per his orders. But Aravamudhan Bhattar is no ordinary priest. In the ten plus years he has been at the temple he has undertaken initiatives all on his own including the grand revival of the Brahmotsavam, the restoration of the historical Chariot Festival and this renovation exercise culminating in the consecration later this week (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/03/anbil-divya-desam-brahmotsavam-revival.html).

Given his mega efforts at this temple over the last decade, he has taken it upon himself to anchor this consecration and his letter to the Srirangam JC on Wednesday evening is a clear indication as to who he thinks is the boss of this consecration event.

It is with the Srirangam JC's permission and orders that events at the Anbil temple are to be conducted. It will be interesting to see as to how the newly appointed JC at Srirangam Sivaram Kumar reacts to this letter of information that has been sent to him late on Wednesday and if he will redirect the consecration to be anchored by the Srirangam priests as per the historic tradition and practice. It is also interesting that TVS's Venu Srinivasan who has single handedly organised the entire restoration of the temple including restoring the dilapidated madapalli and the Nandavanam is no where in the picture.

In this writer's interaction with the HR & CE minister Sekar Babu, he has stood firm on doing the right thing as far as agamic processes go. It will also be interesting to see if Sekar Babu takes cognizance of this deviation from established practices and directs corrective measures ahead of the consecration (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html). Time is too short though and a final decision will have to be arrived at on Thursday - within the next 12-24 hours.