Vasantika Sundararaman Devotional Drawings Mylapore

Like Prahladh of Thiruvallikeni, Vasantika of Mylapore has taken to an early interest in devotional drawings and has begun colour sketches of Lords and Acharyas at the age of five

Looking at the idol of Vedantha Desikar, the UKG student has sketched the Vaishnavite Acharya with guidance from her amma

Some children are naturally blessed with devotion and are positively impacted by specific Gods and take a liking to them at an early stage in their lives. This section had featured a story in May last year on the then ten year old Thiruvallikeni boy S Prahaladh, who has been spending his free time devotionally sketching Lords of Divya Desam and Paadal Petra Sthalams. His amma’s encouragement in this devotional process has been very important taking him to temples that are close to his heart and locating for him rare pictures of his favourite Lords for him to sketch. 

He had begun his first Pencil Sketch at the age of five with a drawing of Srirangam Ranganatha after coming across an old photograph of Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam in his South Facing Sleeping Posture. And before his parents realized, he had picked up a plain paper and begun sketching the Lord with his pencil. Similar was their experience when after visiting Nelliappar Temple, he began sketching them within the next few hours and presented to them his drawing of Nellaiappar. When the family visited Melkote, Prahladh refused to return as he simply could not take his eyes away from his favourite Lord Narasimha. And by the time he returned to Madras, he had already sketched out Narasimha atop the Melkote hill leaving his mother in happy tears.

If Prahladh’s amma moved from Mylapore to Thiruvallikeni, another amma made the reverse - moving from Thiruvallikeni to Mylapore after her wedding. Kesava Perumal Sannidhi Street's Pavithra Sundararaman is just beginning to experience the early phase of the devotional interest of her five year old daughter Vasantika, a UKG student of Vidya Mandir, Mylapore. 

Sketches Vedantha Desikar

Pavithra has found that her daughter has taken to an early interest in Godly drawings. Just like Prahladh, Vasantika too has begun her devotional drawings at the age of five. Every time she sees a Lord she goes back home and picks up her colour pencil to draw her favourite Lord. Around the Navarathri festival, with so many Godly idols in front of the kolu, Pavithra’s interest in drawings has seen a rise.

She has made three sketches –Vaishnavite Acharya Vedantha Desikar, Lord Krishna carrying the Govardhana Mountain in his hand and adding some finishing touches to her amma’s sketch of Srivilliputhur’s Andal.

Vasantika’s devotional interest has been such that she narrates every story of the idol that has been placed in her kolu at home this year. Alongside, she is also capturing each of these deities in the form of drawings. The drawing class at school has also been an inspiration for Vasantika to latch on to an early interest in drawing.

Like Prahladh’s amma, Vasantika’s amma too has now begun the process of locating for her interesting idols that she could draw with her colour pencils.

                 Vasantika's Krishna with the Govardhana hill

Vasantika’s appa P Sundararaman has combined outstanding academic achievement with complete knowledge of the traditional scriptures. By the time he graduated in Commerce, he had completed his CA with very minimal coaching!!! And much prior to that, even before he had completed his schooling, he had completed his course on Divya Prabhandham. It is no wonder that his Prabhandham Acharya Natteri Srihari Parthasarathy (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/natteri-srihari-prabhandham-acharya-35.html), who will be felicitated later this month for his contribution to creating the next generation of prabhandham members, considers him as the best student in his 35years of Prabhandham initiation. Srihari had spoken highly of Sundararaman’s ability to capture the essence of the Prabhandham verses and to understand the nuances of the presentation of the Azhvaars, especially many of the difficult and long verses of Thiru Mangai Azhvaar.

Vasantika's grand father S Padmanabhan is the Sri Karyam of the Ahobila Mutt and former HOD- Sanskrit, Madras University.

It has been an interesting way to develop devotional interest in children and creating in them Bhakti towards the Lord through these drawings. 

After five years of devotional sketches, Prahladh had in July this year, driven by his deep devotion and a liking for Lord Narasimha, spotted an interchange of Moolavar and Utsava idols at Ahobilam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/07/ahobilam-yogananda-narasimha.html) from the decades goneby, something even the regulars to that Divya Desam were not aware of. Such has been the impact of early initiation into devotion, that at the age of 11 he has been able to pick up changes that is not so visible to the normal eye.

                           Prahladh's Namperumal Brahmotsavam

While Prahladh has already sketched several hundreds and has even been allocated an almirah to store his drawings, Vasantika is just starting out on her devotional endeavour. With the personalized devotional motivation, and the regular Divya Desam, Azhvaar and Acharya storytelling of  her amma and with the traditional background of her appa and thatha, it is likely that Vasantika's interest in devotional sketches, much like Prahladh's, is only likely to increase in the years to come.

Natteri Srihari Prabhandham Acharya 35 years Felicitation

Vayam Namaamaha Dravida Veda Vaibhavam - Celebrate together the glory of Divya Prabhandham

To mark 35years of his Prabhandham Acharya service including 25years at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple, Sishyas are planning a grand four day celebration later this month

He will be felicitated by the Jeer of Ahobila Mutt and it is likely he will be honoured with a Title for his over three decades service and creating the next generation of Prabhandham members

Around 100 Students have been initiated into Prabhandham during this period

1970s and 80s marked a low key period in the devotional movement. There was a mass exodus of original inhabitants from historic temple towns to cities in search of greener pastures. Most moved into corporate jobs away from the previous traditional endeavours connected with temple and related activity. Recital of Nalayira Divya Prabhandham is one such that has now been lost in most of the remote temples in Tamil Nadu as the Prabhandham Scholars of yesteryears have moved into cities and the next gen too has.

It is in light of this background that the contribution of Prabhandham Acharya Natteri Srihari Parthasarathy assumes significance. 

His own Prabhandham initiation in the 1970s

Hailing from an orthodox family in the Ahobila Mutt tradition, Srihari,  son of renowned Bruhaspathi and Vedic scholar Natteri Parthasarathy, learned Nalayira Divya Prabandham from Vaikuntavaasi Sevilimedu Srinivasacharya and later from his maternal uncle Esayanur Sridhara Satakopacharya (presently Aradhakar, Ahobila Mutt) and completed the course at the age of 17. Srihari had the fortune of undergoing Aahnikam and Grantha Chathushtaya Kalakshepam from Maha Vidwans Vaikuntavaasi Purisai Nadadhur Sri Bhashya Simhasanam Krishnamacharya Swami and Azhisoor Srinivasacharya Swami.

The first batch of students in the mid 1980s

He had joined the kainkaryam at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/01/vedantha-desikar-srinivasa-perumal.html) in the early 1970s. By the mid 1980s, a large proportion of devotees had moved into the corporate world. The traditional service personnel in temples were dwindling. Having learnt from such stalwarts in the 1970s, Srihari was keen to share his learning with the next generation of students and began his Divya Prabhandham tutoring in the mid 1980s initiating the sacred verses of the Azhvaars to a small group of students. 

1996 - Formal Full Fledged Prabhandham Course at the Desikar Temple

A decade later, in 1996, he formally began the full time Prabhandham class at the temple arriving at the temple at 6am every morning (though initially for a period the classes had been in the evening) after his late night work at the Sports Desk at The Hindu, from where he often returned home well past 1am.

The first batch of students, who are still an integral part of the Prabhandham Ghosti at the temple utsavams, graduated in 2007. With these students he adopted different techniques to get them to imbibe not just aspects relating to the recital but also to understand the essence of the verses through a secret process. 

Felicitation in 2017

Over the next decade, he initiated around 40 students into Divya Prabhandham. In May 2017, the Prabhandham Students had felicitated him for his two decades of service at the Vedantha Desikar temple. 

Now well into his 50s, Srihari has begun, in the last few years, the third batch comprising of another 35 students. The new batch of students has been already initiated into Namazhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi and is currently learning the Iyarpa verses.

End of 2006, when the temple was planning to launch a website, Srihari was entrusted with the task of creating a strong content to propagate the time-tested values of the rich tradition of Sanathana Dharma and important tenets of the Visishtaadvaita philosophy. As the Founder Editor of the website, Srihari has been conducting online quizzes and contests on varied topics relating to this philosophy. As part of this engagement, he has also been writing commentaries, online, on Vaishnavite Philosophy.

When a book was brought out in 2006 as part of the 80th Birthday Celebrations of 45th Jeer of Ahobila Mutt, Srihari wrote a ten page commentary with his own interpretation of each of the decads of the 10th Canto of Nam Azhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi including praising Lord’s Kalyana Gunas, describing the way in which Azhvaar has shown us the noble path and about how Prapatti’s five Angams have been showcased in this last canto.

Four Day Celebrations - Oct 25 -28

Marking the completion of 35 years of Prabhandham Acharya service, the Sishyas of Srihari, are planning a grand four day celebration - 'Vayam Namaamaha Dravida Veda Vaibhavam - Celebrate together the glory of Divya Prabhandham' - later this month at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore. The celebration will start with Veda Parayanam on Monday October 25. This will be followed by an Upanyasam on Divya Prabhandham by Esayanur Sridhara Satakopacharyar on Tuesday (Oct 26) evening. 

Felicitation by Ahobila Mutt Jeer

Prabhandham Acharya Srihari will be felicitated on Wednesday October 27 evening by Azhagiyasingar, the Head of the Ahobila Mutt. The felicitation function will be preceded on Wednesday morning by a Vidwat Sadas on Divya Prabhandham & Desika Prabhandham. It is likely that he will also be conferred a title for his 'Prabhandham Kainkaryam' that day. The four day event will conclude on Thursday Oct 28 with a Music Concert exclusively on Divya Prabandham by Smt. Jayanthi Sridharan. A Thematic Souvenir is expected to be released soon after the celebratory event.

Creating the Next Gen Prabhandham Members

Srihari has made a Significant Contribution in taking forward the Prabhandham recital into this new Century. He has gone about creating the next generation of Divya Prabhandham Experts in a quiet and unassuming way. While the idea has been for youngsters to learn and become proficient, he has also encouraged older people to take up to learning the Divya Prabhandham. One of the important lessons he has imbibed in his students throughout these three and a half decades has been to present these verses at temples and not to use it to further their financial interests.  His outstanding efforts to initiate four different set of students over the last 35years has been a great act of selfless service that he has rendered to our society in the process helping keep the Prabhandham tradition for the foreseeable future.

Ettukudi Panchakshara Shivachariar

The now 72year old Shivachariar, who is a hereditary archaka at Saivite Saint Poets praised Thiruvaimur Temple and the Murugan Kshetram at Ettukudi took to the Kumbabhisekam, Chandi Homam and Overseas Temples route to financial security  

While the priests in the nearby remote Varadaraja Perumal temple of Ayyur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/10/pinna-vaasal-sowri-rajan-bhattar.html) struggled financially with HR & CE not paying even his meager three digit salary, B. Panchakshara Shivachariar, the hereditary Sthaneegam at the Thiruvaimurnathar temple in Thiruvaimur, praised by Saivite Saint Poets, and Ettukudi, popular for Murugan Kavadi, found an alternate way to leverage his huge wealth of knowledge and has grown to become one of the well respected and financially secure Shivachariars in the region.

After his early school education at Rayanallur – he studied till Class VI - he moved to the Thiru Kalar (near Kottur) Veda Patshala and then to the Dharmapuram Atheenam patshala for five years. Later for a decade he was initiated by Dr. Vaidhyanathan Sastri and Achalpuram Gnana Skanda Shivachariar. In 1958, at the Kumbabhisekam in Sirkazhi, when mikes were placed for Veda Parayanam, the kainkaryaparas refused as they firmly believed that mikes would reduce the power of their recital. Bhakti was at the fore in those days and they did not compromise. 

Vibrant Utsavams, Agraharam and Service Personnel

Into his 20s, Panchakshara Shivachariar joined the Thiruvaimur temple in 1976 and performed service there for 18 years. Interestingly at that time, Thiruvaimur was a first grade temple with 50 Veli Land and Ettukudi was ranked as a third grade temple. In the phase leading to the 1970s, there were multiple Shivachariars – 4 Muraikaarars performing service, a 22 day utsavam and five Kaalam Pooja every day. Musical instruments were integral to utsavams with the noise emanating from the Thiru Chinnam being distinctive. There were 22 service personnel at the Thiruvaimur temple. Paddy income was high. In the North Mada Vilagam was a vibrant agraharam.

Appar and Thiru Gnana Sambandar's Praise

Appar in his Thiru Kurun Thogai and Thiru Gnana Sambandar in his Thiru Murai have praised the Lord of Thiruvaimur.

Even as his elder son Pichumani Gurukal was growing up as a school boy, he saw a steep deterioration in the finances at the Thiruvaimur temple. Income from the lands dried up. Salary of the service personnel did not go up even as the cost of living rose drastically in the passing decades. Brahmotsavam came to a halt over three decades ago as did many of the other annual utsavams at the temple. 

Panchakshara Shivachariar was knowledgeable having learned the agamas for over 15years and chose the Kumbabhisekam and Homam route to financial growth. 

He travelled far and wide to Hyderabad and the Kongu Naadu. After 18years at Thiruvaimur, he moved to Singapore for three years starting 1994 leaving his appa and brother to take care of the Thiruvaimur temple. He anchored Kumbabhisekams in Malaysia and Singapore and became a sought after Shivachariar both within and outside. He has performed over 700 Kumbabhisekams and even more Chandi Homams. He is also recipient of several awards relating to expertise in Saiva Agamas.

Prarthana Sthalam Movement - Ettukudi

The crowd transformation at Ettukudi happened when the unmarried found their spouse after invoking the blessings of Lord Muruga. The belief increased dramatically at the turn of the century and the crowd swelled. The couple then brought their child here on turning one. And later in life, the child’s marriage too was solemnized at the temple.

When court cases found resolution and enemies were subdued after visiting the temple, devotees began to throng the temple even more and began  seeing it as Shatru Samhara Kshetram. When he was growing up, this was a temple known for Kavadi. Devotees from all the nearby villages gathered here on a Kavadi. Suddenly from being a Grade III temple, Ettukudi became a temple that saw huge crowds

Big Crowds now but traditional archakas are moving away

While it was challenging times for the archakas in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, financially things are turning around for them especially in those that are positioned as parikara and prarthana sthalams. He sees a clear trend towards archakas moving away from temple service. “The new gen archakas see better financial returns from Vaideeha events than temple service. Those with good knowledge are in big demand now. Only select few Gurukals are left in temples this decade. And the young ones are finding it difficult to get a bride. And that is also serving as a deterrent to them continuing the archaka service.”

The Next Gen  Priest

His brother’s son G Harihara Subramanian is 27 years old and performs pooja at the Piravi Mandeswarar temple in Vadukoor, having learnt the Shiva Agama at the Patshala in Thiruvenkadu. In his case too, like in the case of Pakshirajan’s second son, they have been finding it challenging to get the bride to accept a tuft draped Gurukal. The family is now looking North for a bride!!!

Harihara Subramanian, who has been committed thus far to temple service, wonders as to how long he and those like him would continue this service if the external environment is completely non conducive to archakas.

Panchakshara Shivachariar himself is planning to move to temples in Karnataka as the pressure is mounting in TN “Dwesham is less there when compared to TN”.

Time will tell if this trend of the traditional archakas moving away from temple service will continue in Tamil Nadu.

Srirangam Moksha Sthalam Jayashree Srinivasan

Moved by Muralidhara Swamy’s presentation on Srirangam and in line with Kulasekara Azhavaar's praise, Jayashree, mother of Wheels India’s ex CFO, who turned 93 this week, moved to Bhoologa Vaikuntam 8 years ago to spend the rest of her life seeking Moksham at the feet of Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki 

So moved was Kulasekara Azhvaar with the devotion of the residents of Srirangam that when he visited the temple town after relinquishing his kingdom, he considered just meeting them as a great blessing. He says in his praise in the Perumal Thirumozhi that they sang and danced in devotion completely forgetting themselves, constantly uttering HIS names. “When our eyes come in contact with such people we become possessed with such sublime devotion gripped with good thoughts that we are likely to be stuck in their midst like a glue. Just one look at them is enough for our eyes to have served the purpose of this life such is their purity.”

தேட்டருந்திறல் தேனினைத், தென்னரங்கனை

திருமாதுவாழ் வாட்டமில் வனமாலை மார்வனை

வாழ்த்தி மால்கொள் சிந்தையராய்

Just anointing and bathing ourselves with the dust from the feet of such pious devotees is enough to fulfil one’s long cherished dreams of wanting to bathe in the Ganges – Such is the purity of the people of Srirangam. 

ஆட்ட மேவியலந்தழைத்து 

அயர் வெய்தும் மெய்யடியார்கள்

தம் ஈட்டம் கண்டிடக் கூடுமேல் 

அது காணும் பயனாவதே

The devotees of Srirangam have printed the Lord in their thoughts as they display such irrefutable devotion. When they pray with folded hands before the Lord with tears rolling down their eyes like flood in times of heavy rains, one knows that they are truly experiencing the Lord. One cannot but adore such truly sincere devotees and their way of devotion will forever remain in our minds. 

காண்ணீர் களால் வார நிற்பவர்

தாளிணைக்கு ஒரு வாரமாகும் என் நெஞ்சமே

Octogenarian Lady moves to Srirangam

In line with Kulasekara Azhvaar’s description of the devotees of Srirangam in his Perumal Thirumozhi, an Octogenarian made her way to this historic Divya Desam eight years ago aged 85!!! Historically, those that visited Srirangam or stayed back in this ancient Divya Desam were ones who sought Moksham as their only goal in life. They invoked the blessings of Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar solely to provide them Moksham and with no other wants in life. 

Jayashree celebrated her 93rd birthday at the feet of Ranganayaki Thaayar this week on the first day of Navarathri in quite a devotional way. Her husband Srinivasan, an IT Commissioner by Profession, was a Sanskrit Scholar who recited the Sampoorna Ramayanam 36 times in his life. With his passing away almost 25years ago, Jayashree (Patti to everyone in the Srirangam circles) spent 15years with her sons and daughters.

Her elder son S Srivathsan, (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/srivathsan-cricket-to-tvs-cfo.html) a cricketer in his early days, played the PR Thevar Trophy in the 1970s and retired a few years ago as the CFO of Wheels India Ltd after almost three decades in the TVS Group firm, while her younger son, Sudarshan, is an ardent sishya of the Ahobilam Mutt. 

                   S Srivathsan, ex CFO, Wheels India Ltd.,

Impact of Muralidhara Swamy's Srirangam Upanyasam

During this phase, her daily routine included listening to Muralidhara Swamy’s Upanyasam. She recounts as to how his presentation had a transformational impact on her life “Muralidhara Swamy’s description of every facet of the Srirangam temple, the mandapams, the sculptures and the features of Ranganathaswamy and his many different processions led me to the call to spend the rest of my life in Srirangam. Through my life, I had visited almost all the Divya Desams and wondered if I was blessed enough to have darshan of Ranganathaswamy and all his Utsavams at Srirangam.”

Her husband had been in a transferrable job and through the early stages in her life she had visited several hundreds of temples around Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Chozha region and the rest of TN. After his death in 1997, beginning at Aathi  Jagannatha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Pullani (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/11/thiru-pullani-divya-desam.html), she went up to Kathmandu visiting one Divya Desam and Purana Sthalam after another for a decade. During this phase, she stayed with her two sons and three daughters. 

As she turned 80, following the impact of Muralidharan Swamy’s upanyasam, she wanted to move to Srirangam but her sons and daughters would not have any of it. She bided her time for a few years staying in Madras in the first floor of her daughter’s house. Finally, she raised the question with her sons and daughters if fulfilling their amma’s wishes was not their duty!!! She was 85 and had become too devotionally attached to Ranganathaswamy. They finally relented.

To her shock, though, she found that the residents of Srirangam were unwilling to let a house on rent to an Octogenarian wanting to stay all alone in a house. Her second son Sudarshan was an active committee member of the Ahobila Mutt and he found a ground floor flat for her in North Adayavalanjan Street in Srirangam. And she moved to the Moksha Sthalam in Chitrai of 2013 to watch the grand Garuda Sevai of Namperumal (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/04/srirangam-chitrai-garuda-sevai.html).

                          Bhoopathi Thirunaal Garuda Sevai

For 7years, she watched every single utsavam in Srirangam without a break with the Garuda Sevai during the four Brahmotsavams being her favourite alongside the Vasantha Utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/06/vasanthotsavam-srirangam-june-2009.html), which she says provides a very devotional feel in the evenings.

A devotionally mindboggling daily routine

During this period, she has followed a devotional routine that is mindboggling. She wakes up at 5.30am every morning and does not enter the kitchen without a bath. Her first processes every day includes lighting the lamp at the Sannidhi and presenting fruits to the Lord. She then recites Thiruppavai and Thondaradi Podi Azhvaar's Thirupalli Yezhuchi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/02/thiru-mandangudi-thondaradipodi-azhvaar.html) followed by Desikar Stotram and Desikar Prabhandham. And then she moves into a Dhyanam mode for half an hour.

In the evenings, she starts for the temple at 4pm and stays there for as long as she can visiting Ranganatha, Ranganayaki and Desikar Sannidhis.

Bhagavad Gita and Tiruvoimozhi recital - A Daily Ritual

Four decades ago, Jayashree Patti, who hails from Vaduvur, renowned for the handsome Kothandaramar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/05/vaduvur-rama-navami-utsavam.html), was initiated into Bhagavad Gita Parayanam by Lakshmi Narasimhan Swamy of Vaduvur at the Ahobilam Mutt in Tiruvallikeni. Soon after, she was initiated into Nammazhvaar’s Tiruvoimozhi at the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal temple in Mylapore. She recites one chapter from the Bhagavad Gita every day and five Cantos of the Tiruvoimozhi and this has become an ongoing cycle for her in Srirangam.

With the striking of the Pandemic, she moved back briefly to Madras. But she could not stay back for long and sought to return to Srirangam.  Her children were worried about leaving their amma, now into her 90s, all alone in Srirangam but she wanted them to fulfill her wishes – that of seeking Moksham at Srirangam invoking the blessings of the Lord and Thayar.

One of her long standing philosophies has been to remain silent inside the temple “I do not use the cell phone inside the temple. I do not talk with anyone as our mind should be in conversation with the Lord and the chanting of his name should be our only action.”

Thayar Thiruvadi Sevai - 7th Day Navarathri

Her one other favourite at the Srirangam temple is the Thiruvadi Sevai of Ranganayaki Thayar on the 7th day of the Navarathri Utsavam. She finds it challenging to walk these days but is hoping to have another darshan of Thayar’s feet on Tuesday (Oct 12) and invoke her blessings yet another time to provide Moksham.

She says that while she had visited Srirangam during her earlier years in life, she never visualized a phase of spending such a long period at the Moksham Sthalam. When people ask her as to how she manages to stay all alone at this age in her life, she has the same answer to each one of them “I tell everyone who asks me this question that I am not alone and stay at the feet of Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayaki Thayar and that it is my greatest blessing to be with them seeking Moksham in Srirangam. I have never had the lonely feel during my stay at Srirangam.”

During the last eight years, Jayashree Patti has made significant contributions to the Ranganathaswamy Temple, the Kattu Azhagiya Singar Temple and the Go Shalas. “We came into this world without anything, earned because of HIM and it is our duty to contribute.”

Much to his surprise, Kulasekaara Azhvaar finds the residents of Srirangam revelling in such devotional delight and enjoying the process day in day out. And when one sees people with such devotion, e says that one is instantly elevated. Standing in their midst we too sense a feeling of a never before experienced devotion. He finds it astonishing that the residents of Srirangam have so firmly held Lord Ranganatha in their thoughts. What amazes him even more is the ability and strength of their devotion to pull others instantly towards them. These devotees serve as a guiding light to others. For them the only thoughts are of complete surrender to Lord.

ஆடிபாடி அரங்கவோ என்றழைக்கும் தொண்டரடிப்பொடி

ஆட நாம் பெறில் கங்கை நீர்

குடைந்தாடும் வேட்கை என்னாவதே

For 93year old Jayashree too, as described by Kulasekara Azhvaar, the last eight years have been one of the most peaceful and enjoyable phases in her life. The joy of being with Ranganatha and Ranganayki Thayar cannot be expressed and has to be experienced, she says. Her only thought during her eight year stay in Srirangam has been to surrender at the feet of Ranganathaswamy and Ranganayki Thayar and seek Moksham. Jayashree Patti is confident that those that have the fullest faith in the Divine Couple will be blessed with Moksham.

Pinna Vaasal Sowri Rajan Bhattar

Father and Son have performed archaka service at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Ayyur for six decades at a salary that has not topped Rs. 100

The temple has been in a dilapidated state with Thiru Kottaram and Madapalli almost unrecognisable with fallen roofs and walls - Will the HR &CE restore the temple to its ancient glory and revive the once grand Brahmotsavam and Garuda Sevai on Vaikunta Ekadasi 

I want to see the Restored Temple Samprokshanam before I attain Moksham - 86 year old Rajagopalan Bhattar, who performed service for over four decades

                         Sowri Rajan Bhattar 

For over four decades, D Rajagopalan Iyengar of Pinna Vasal, a location 10kms South of Tiruvarur, cycled 7kms one way twice a day to the centuries old Varadaraja Perumal temple in Ayyur to perform archaka service. He was paid Rs. 30 a month and 6Kalam of Paddy for this service. Till the middle of the previous century, Brahmotsavam was an integral part of this temple. Garuda Sevai on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day was a procession that the devotees eagerly looked forward to every year.There was a 5 veli land belonging to the temple and the temple was managed out of the income accruing from the temple land. Hereditary Trustee Pankaja Ammal took care of the temple management and the utsavams. Sokka Paanai on Karthigai was another event that devotees were part of. In Margazhi, Thirupalli Yezhuchi was a daily event in the morning with devotees gathering early for darshan and presentation of the sacred verses.

After finishing pooja at Ayyur (7kms South of Pinnai Vaasal), Rajagopalan Iyengar came back to Pinnai Vaasal and then  walked or cycled 3kms North East to the Ramaswamy Temple in Vayalur off Maavur. This was his routine each day of the year. He was paid Rs. 100 per month and about 2Kalam paddy every month for his service at the Ramaswamy temple. 

He is 86 now and short on eyesight but the glory days of the service at Ayyur and Vayalur is still fresh in his memory “Utsavams were celebrated in a grand way, devotees came in from the agraharam for darshan and processions of Varadaraja Perumal around the four streets were well supported by the devotees. The hereditary trustee ran the temple well.”

He lived a contented life in the agraharam at Pinna Vaasal, where he continues to reside. However, as decades passed by, the finances were not enough to sustain the family. Rajagopalan Iyengar’s son Sowri Rajan went to school in Mayiladuthurai and later took up a job at SPIC in Madras. At the start of this decade, when Rajagopalan Iyengar’s health began to fail, Sowri Rajan quit his job and returned to Pinna Vaasal to take up the archaka service at these two temples. For close to two decades, he has been performing daily service at Ayyur and Vayalur and four other temples!!!

Following the takeover by the HR&CE of the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Ayyur, things went worse. The temple is almost unrecognizable now with a dilapidated Raja Gopuram. Once upon a time in the not too distant past there was a big sized Kottaram where Paddy was stored and measured. There was also a fully functional Madapalli to the South of the Raja Gopuram. Service Personnel including paricharakars were active at this temple. 

In the recent past, Thiru Kottaram has collapsed as has the Madapalli. There was a huge Nandavanam in the outer prakara but it now resembles a mini forest. The most scary of them all is the entrance into the Varadaraja Perumal Sannidhi. Every morning, as Sowri Rajan Bhattar enters the Sanctum, he invokes the blessings of the Lord to take him back safe to Pinna Vaasal that day for it resembles how Erettai Tirupathi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/02/erettai-tirupathi-transformation.html) was in the 1980s. Big stones, that have fallen by the wayside from the roof, lay on either side of the path leading to the Sanctum. Thick bushes have grown leading to the possibility of presence of dangerous reptiles inside the Sannidhi. There are cracks on the walls. There is no lighting inside the temple. 

Unmindful of its present state, Sowri Rajan Bhattar is at the temple every morning to light the lamp in the Sannidhi and to perform the Thiru Aradhanam. He also brings the Thaligai from home and presents it Varadaraja Perumal. For over a decade he too cycled his way to both the Ayyur Temple as well as the Vayalur temple. With him now taking care of Thiru Aradhanam at 6 temples around Pinna Vaasal, he travels by a motor cycle and finishes the morning pooja in these temples between 7am and noon every day. 

For his daily aradhanam at the Varadaraja Perumal temple, he is to be paid a monthly salary of Rs. 100 and 5 kalam Paddy. But this has been pending for the last four years and he has not received anything in cash or kind (paddy) in this period. Photos of the dilapidated state of the Ayyur temple have been sent to the HR & CE but so far no action has been taken to restore the temple. 

In addition to the temples in Ayyur and Vayalur, Sowri Raja Bhattar, now past 50, also performs Aradhanam at Palayur, Paangal, Velathur and Kothangudi. He lights the lamp and presents Thaligai from devotee contributions but in periods when there is no support from the devotees, he funds these from the income received from these other temples. 

Maha Mandapam - Roof has fallen off

While the larger temples in the state including the Divya Desams are reasonably taken care of well by the devotees, temples such as these dating back centuries have been in neglected state. The HR & CE has not been interested in these temples as the Hundi income is minimal / nil and it is not financially worth their time and effort to take care of these temples. The EO of the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Ayyur is stationed in Nagapattinam but he rarely visits. Sowri Rajan Bhattar continues to carry the aradhanam service that had been performed by his father for four decades but one has to wonder as to how long one can continue a service at an ‘unpaid’ salary of Rs. 100. 

Sowri Rajan Bhattar at the Sannidhi - Pathway to the Sanctum

It is hoped that the HR & CE will take efforts to restore this temple and revive the utsavams including the Brahmotsavam and the Garuda Sevai at Ayyur.  Consecration has not taken place in over a century. 86 year old Rajagopalan Bhattar, whose eyesight has deteriorated in recent years, has as his one last wish the opportunity to have darshan of the Restored Temple Samprokshanam before he attains Moksham. He has the fullest faith that Varadaraja Perumal will fulfil this wish of his.

How to reach:

Pinna Vaasal Agraharam is 10kms South of Tiruvarur on the Thiruthuraipoondi highway after Mavur. Ayyur is 7kms South East of Pinna Vaasal and 3kms South East of Katchanam off the Thiruvarur- Thithuraipoondi Highway. First Town bus from Thiruvarur to Pinna Vaasal at 4.30am. Regular buses ply every half hour between Thiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi.

Broad Gauge rail services too has resumed between Thiruvarur and Thiruthuraipoondi with Stations at Mavur and Thiru Nellikaval.

Vedic Tradition Niyama Adyayana Gurukulam

Vedic Tradition passed on through the generations

The father initiated the son into the Vedas for 14years in Tirupathi and now the son, Krishna Ganapadigal, has taken to passing the Vedic Knowledge on to his two sons by educating them at home in a Gurukulam style in Mylapore

Hyderabad's KVR Sastha

It is 9.30am on Friday (Oct 1) morning. All the big temples in the city are closed to devotees as part of the lockdown restrictions. 40year old G  Krishna Ganapadigal directs his Vedic Sishya the 14 year old KVR Sastha from Hyderabad to the small and quiet Venkatesa Perumal Temple on Mari Chetty Street. There in the Prakaram the young boy recites the Krishna Yajur Vedam sitting all alone for an hour. It is now a couple of years since Sastha made the trip from Hyderabad to Mylapore. 

Shortly after 1pm, he is back at the terrace (with an overhead old styled Thatched roof) of the Gurukulam on Kesava Perumal (Sannidhi) East street. He is already an inspiration to younger kids aged below 10 and they repeat the verses thrice after him. There is joy in the face of Sastha. At this young age, he seems to have taken to the Vedas quite well. Not for him the TV Channels or going around the Mada Streets on a shopping spree. He is not ashamed to sport the devotional tuft and seems to be headed in the traditional way of the Vedas. Also, food is not on the top of his mind. There are days when he eats a sumptuous full meal but on others he just has Rasam without vegetables. With no smart phone in hand, he is largely unspoilt with his mind deeply engaged in understanding the messages fromt the Vedas. 

Sastha's interest in these two years has been all around the Vedas and he has been learning the Patham along with Krishna Ganapadigal’s younger son Pranavanathan at the Sri Vidya Saraswathi Maha Periya Niyama Adyayana Gurukulam, a few hundred yards away from the Vedantha Desikar Srinivasa Perumal Temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/01/vedantha-desikar-srinivasa-perumal.html).            

Vedic Tradition passed through generations

An interesting feature here is that the Vedic Tradition is being passed on from one generation to another. For 14years, Krishan Ganapadigal had learned the Vedas from his father Gopala Ganapadigal in Tirupathi, where the latter presented Veda Parayanam. 

And over the last 7years, Krishna Ganapadigal has been initiating Krishna Yajur Vedam to his elder son Vishwanathan. Currently, the father is playing the role of Vedic Acharya to his second son who has just started out on Vedic Education in the last couple of years along with Sastha. 

Just in the way he learnt the Vedas from his father, Krishna Ganapadigal now sees as his duty the passing on of the Vedic knowledge to his two sons. While the original plan was to initiate his two sons into the Vedas, a few other students too have joined this way of life staying at the Gurukulam to learn the Vedas.

His wife has been a pillar of strength and plays the role of the care taker of the students also doubling up as the cook. Currently there are six students at the Gurukulam in addition to his two sons.

There are no Committees and Trusts behind this Gurukulam. It is run with the informal support from devotee donors. Krishna Ganapadigal participates in Veda Parayanam at temple utsavams. Last week, he was at the seven day Pavitrotsavam at the Vedantha Desikar Temple in Mylapore. 

His focus is on carrying forward the Vedic Tradition into the Next Gen both through his two sons as well as his students who are now increasing in number.

Othuvar Gnana Sambandhar passes away aged 84

Aasthana Othuvar of Dharmapuram Aathenam

Thiru Gnana Sambandar Othuvar presented the Thevaram Verses at the historical Sattanathan Temple in Sirkazhi for over Five Decades

He refused a lucrative offer from the Annamalai University preferring to serve at the feet of Lord Sattanathan

Till a few years ago, he continued to perform at the annual 'Gnana Paal' Utsavam in Chitrai at Osai Nayaki Thaala Pureeswarar Temple

Othuvar Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, who served at the Dharumapuram Aatheenam administered Thiru Gnana Sambandhar praised Sattanathan temple in Sirkazhi for over five decades, passed away on Tuesday evening on the lap of his son Othuvar Kathiresan. Gnana Sambandar Othuvar was 84. He had last presented the sacred verses at Kachineri Saraikadu ( Thiru Kaalimedu), the Paadal Petral Sthalam in Kanchipuram on the occasion of his 83rd birthday last year. 

Passes away on his son's lap

His health had deteriorated over the last three years. Othuvar Gnana Sambandar had a bout of cold for the last four days following heavy rain in Kanchipuram and he did not recover from the cold. “He died on my lap with me holding him with my hand. It was a quiet and peaceful end. Over the last three years, he has been a child to me. I used to bathe him and feed him every day” his Othuvar son Kathiresan told this writer from Kanchipuram. “All the leading Mutts and temples sent prasadam in honour of his great contribution over the last six decades.”

Born in Thiruvayaru in 1937, Thiru Gnana Sambandhar Othuvar, like Muthu Kandha Desikar Othuvar, was initiated into the sacred verses by Velayutha Othuvar. After completion of his education, he spent a few months at the Thirubhuvanam temple, following which he had the privilege as a young teenager of presenting at the Sattanathan temple where Thiru Gnana Sambandar sang his first verse. And there was no looking back. For the next five decades, he was devotionally attached to this historic temple located at the birth place of Thiru Gnana Sambandar presenting the Pancha Puranam verses during the Saayi Rakshai and Artha Jaama pooja each day. He also was bestowed with the responsibility of presenting Thirumurai on special festive occasions.

He was the Asthana Othuvar of Dharmapuram Aatheenam.

Meagre Salary throughout his life

He started off with a monthly of Rs. 18 way back in the early 1950s and ended up with a meager Rs. 380 when he resigned from the post over 50 years later. In addition he was also given a bag of Paddy. 

When the famous devotional singer Sirkazhi Govindarajan was the Dean of Annamalai University, he was keen to rope in Gnana Sambandar Othuvar as a Professor at the popular music department. He would have received a starting monthly salary of Rs. 18000 from the few hundred rupees he was getting at that time, and yet he was unwilling to move away from serving the Lord at the Sirkazhi temple. Much later, at the beginning of this century, he served as a faculty at the Music School started in Sirkazhi close to the temple.

                     

Presentation Overseas

He has sung in almost all the leading Saivite temples in India and Overseas as well, in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia. For decades, he was one of the most preferred Othuvars to participate and present the sacred verses during the Kumbabhishekam festivities in large temples such as the ones in Tiruchendur, Palani, Thiruvannamalai and Swami Malai.  

In 2017, despite finding it difficult to stay on his feet, he gathered the devotional strength to participate and present the Thevaram verses at the Kumbhabhishekam in Pillayarpatti.  Another indication of his devotional commitment was when he presented the significance of the sacred verses at the All India Saiva Siddhantha Conference held in Chennai in February 2018 with two people carrying him up on to the stage.

Till his late 70s, he continued to perform at the annual 'Gnana Paal' Utsavam in Chitrai at Osai Nayaki Thaala Pureeswarar Temple when Lord Sattanathan visits the Osai Nayaki Temple for the Thiru Gnana Sambandar Gnana Paal utsavam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/07/osai-nayaki-thaala-pureeswarar.html).

Devotionally attached to Sirkazhi Sattanathan Temple

For his selfless service at the Sirkazhi temple, he has received prestigious awards from four different Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. His income through his five decades long service was just sufficient to take care of the family but even the financial challenges in life was not enough to lure him to more lucrative offers “The greatest happiness to me has been of having had the opportunity to present before the Lord at the ancient Sattanathan temple in Sirkazhi for over 50 years and to have been part of the renowned Dharumapuram Aatheenam for such a long period of time.  No amount of money can equal the satisfaction of singing at the same place where the great Saivite Saint Poet Thiru Gnana Sambandar sang his first song”, he told this writer at his home in Kanchipuram in 2018.

His son the 49 year old Othuvar Kathiresan is continuing the Othuvar tradition and is currently the Othuvar at the Sundarar praised Anega Thangaavatham temple near Kailasanathar temple in Kanchipuram. 

Therazhundur Vedapureeswarar Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal

The Saivite Saint Poets Praised Veda Pureeswarar Temple in Therazhundur has not seen a Kumbabhisekam in 22 years, the Tank is in a Dilapidated State, there are no Vastrams for the Deities, No Oil to light the Lamp 

For over a decade, the now 37 year old Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal has been serving at a three digit salary and is hoping that the Kumbabhisekam and the revival of the Brahmotsavam will turnaround his fortunes

While Vasan Bhattar fashioned a remarkable turnaround at the West End of Therazhundur at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Aamaruviappan Divya Desam, things have not been rosy at the three Saivite Saint Poets praised Veda Pureeswarar Temple at the East end of this historical temple town with the Paadal Petra Sthalam being in a state that the Perumal temple was two decades ago.

Sundarar in his praise of Veda Pureeswarar refers to the Lord as the ‘Ruler of Azhundur’

காட்டூர் கடலே கடம்பூர் 

மலையே காணப் பேரூராய் 

கோட்டூர் கொழுந்தே அழுந்தூர் அரசே

With the two temples exactly facing each other, one at the West End and the other at the East End, even Thiru Gnana Sambandhar was stumped when he reached here.  It is believed that it was Lord Vinayaka at the Chariot junction of the two temples who directed him East to the 5 Tier Raja Gopuram and the Saivite temple where he then composed 10 verses in praise of the West Facing Lord Veda Pureeswarar.

If Devathirajan temple witnessed the biggest renovation exercise in a century and a Samprokshanam in 2010, the Veda Pureeswarar has been languishing on this front for the last seven years. Balalayam was performed in 2014 but since then with the high court ruling on renovations in temples combined with many other factors has meant that the repair works have not yet started. Balalayam has also resulted in the processions coming to a halt. 

No Income, No Processions and a Priest @ Rs. 400 a month

No processional utsavams has led to devotee donors staying away from the temple causing severe financial damage to the life of Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal who took over as the sole priest just over a decade ago. Having joined at a monthly salary of just over Rs. 400, he had hoped for the consecration to turn around the fortunes of the temple. But the delay has put a severe strain on his finances. Mohana Shivam Gurukal had hoped for the revival of the grand Brahmotsavam in Chitrai but soon after his taking over, the Balalayam put paid to Vahana processions around the streets of Therazhundur.

The Legend

Once when Shiva and Vishnu were involved in a game of dice, there arose a point of dispute and the two looked to Parvathi for the solution. She pointed to Vishnu as the winner evoking an angry response from her husband. Believing that she favoured her ‘Porantha Veedu’ and her brother Vishnu and that her mind was still inclined towards her house of birth, Shiva cursed her to turn to a cow. In anger, Shiva moved from a family life to a Sanyasin.

To try to liberate herself from the curse, she went around on a Giri Valam driven by cow herd Krishna to the nearby villages of Tholluthozhangudi, Moraiyur, Asukadu, Vazhuvur, Komal, Maanthai, Ilangarangdui, Mekshakaal Mangalam, Thiruvavuduthurai, Thiruthuruthi and Thiruverkudi.  Pleased with her sincerity, Shiva provided darshan and liberated her from the curse. She reminded him of his wedding promise never to leave her and to take care of her through their lives. There were a few Kshetrams in the neighbourhood where sins had been committed and it was through her presence there as Kamadhenu that liberated those sacred Kshetrams from the sins.

He provided the Artha Nareeswarar darshan to her at Thiru Manancheri where the Thiru Kalyana Vaibhavam was enacted on the Maasi Punarpoosam day.  It was on that day that the separated couple met once again along with Vishnu. To this day this event is enacted at Therazhundur every year, on the occasion of Maasi Punar Poosam, with Devathi Rajan from the West End and Veda Pureeswarar from the East End of Therazhundur making their way to the Chariot zone for a meeting that draws the Vaishnavites and Saivites alike. Unfortunately, shops have sprung up around the historical zone and as seen from the photo below, this bears no resemblance to the sacred zone that it once was.

Perumal Chariot Zone - West of Main Road

Veda Pureeswarar Temple Zone - East of Main Road

Sun's rays on the Lord at three different positions

On the 23rd, 24th and 25th day in Maasi, in a prayer invoking Vedapureeswarar’s blessings, the Sun God casts his rays on the Lord. On the first day through the gap on the 4th tier of the Rajagopuram, on the second day through the 3rd tier and on the third day through the 2nd Tier of the 5 Tiered Raja Gopuram on Lord’s feet. This unique occurrence is yet another feature at this temple.

Sage Agastya’s Brahmma Hathi Dosham is said to have been liberated here at this place. In a separate Sannidhi in the south of the temple, Mesha Dakshinamurthy is seen in a grand sitting posture flanked by Ganga Devi (seen Standing) and Sage Agasthya on the right.

Parikara Sthalam

This is believed to be a parikara sthalam for unmarried people. If they perform Palliyarai pooja on their star day, it is believed that their wedding bells will ring. This is also a parikara sthalam for separated couples. Belief is that those who present Goddess Soundarya Nayaki with Mahilam and Pavala Malli flowers after sunset and have a Palliyarai Sevai will re-unite within 90 days.

Appar in his praise refers to Therazhundur alongside several other historical temples

எச்சிலிளமரேம நல்லூரிலம் பையங்

கோட்டூரிறை யாஞ்சேரியசிருபாக்க மனப்பூரம் பராவுடு

தண் டுரை  யழுந்தூராரை கச்சினங் கற்குடி கச்சூரா

லக்கோயில் கரவீரங் காட்டுப்பள்ளி

கச்சிபல தளியுமேகம் பத்துங்

கயிலாய நாதணையே காணலாமே  - Appar’s Thiruthandagam

Dilapidated state - No Salary for the Gurukal

For a temple with such rich history and several inscriptions dating back to a 1000 years ago, the sole Gurukal is left to manage the entire temple including the Madaipalli. Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal finds it difficult to even put together Vastrams for the deities at the temple. Oil required to light the lamp and for Abhisekams is in short supply. Once upon a time, there were multiple archakas, paricharakas and othuvars at this temple. And the musical instruments played out devotional tunes to the delight of Soundara Nayaki. The walls of the temple are in dilapidated state with ancient brick construction peeling off. There is a huge space for Nandavanam in the outer prakara but there aren’t people to take care.

A few hundred yards away from the Tower is the sacred tank where once Theppotsavam was conducted.  This is now in a dilapidated state with waste being dumped into the tank. 

                     Dilapidated Temple Tank

It is now 22 years since the last Kumbabhisekam was performed at the temple and the Western Raja Gopuram presents a faded picture. Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal is keen to get the temple back to its old vibrancy and the revival of grandeur with Vahana Processions around the streets of Therazhundur during the annual utsavam. That may still be some time away. For the moment, he is in a helpless state.  

However, he is determined to not let go his devotional commitment though life is stressed. Every morning he is up at 4.30am and heads to the temple at 6am but his wait for the devotees has been long and elusive, more so in the time of the Pandemic. He performs pooja in nearby village temples and does ‘Vaideeha’ events for some additional income but his mind is devotionally attached to Veda Pureeswarar. He lights the lamp daily at all the sannidhis with the income he earns from his Vaideeha work, performs six abhisekams annually for Nataraja and the Pradosham Pooja. He also presents the Neivedyam to Veda Pureeswarar but there are no devotees to taste the prasadam. The message to him from his acharya when he was initiated with the Deekshai was to keep continuing his service irrespective of the financial condition. Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal is just 37 but he has already had an experience of facing the biggest challenges in life. He seems to have unflinching faith in Veda Pureeswarar and Soundarya Nayaki believes that he is blessed to be able to offer his services in the sanctum every day of his life and that no amount of financial benefits would substitute this blessed state inside the sanctum.Vasan Bhattar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/therazhundur-vasan-bhattar.html) has been his inspiration over the last decade and he is hoping that one day he too will be able to transform the Veda Pureeswarar temple into the vibrancy that the residents once experienced.

The Temple is open from 6.30am to 12noon and 4.30pm to 830pm. Raja Mohana Shivam Gurukal can be reached on 94864 57103

Therazhundur Vasan Bhattar

Into the 1960s and 70s, almost all the Utsavams had stopped, the service personnel had left the temple, the salary to the priest remained unpaid for months, Chariot had broken down and the Mandapams were in a dilapidated state

From a time when the temple could not pay the monthly electricity bill, Vasan Bhattar has anchored the biggest Divya Desam Transformation in the Chozha Region at Therazhundur Aamaruviappan Temple in his over three decades of archaka service 

It is the second Saturday of Puratasi and 58year old Vasan Bhattar is up at the temple for an early Vishvaroopam following the lockdown restrictions. In the 3+ decades he has been at the temple, his devotion has peaked to such levels that even the temple cow listens to every word as the few devotees present for the Vishvaroopam find out. The cow does not cross her limit and only takes the next step after he gives the nod. He seems to be good in his communication to animals as well. On this Saturday morning, he even doubles up as the madapalli cook and presents the early morning Thaligai to Devathirajan. Every time, he presents this Thaligai to the Lord, he remembers the greatest piece of advice given to him in the 1980s when he took over at the temple (seen in the story below). Interestingly, a former corporate staffer from Madras and an original inhabitant of Therazhundur Sannidhi Street now spends half a month at this Divya Desam reciting the sacred verses of the Azhvaars and the Desikar Prabhandham. That has how influential Vasan Bhattar has been at Therazhundur.

Bleak Period at Therazhundur

In the schooling years in the 1960s and 70s, the scenario was so bleak at the Thirumangai Azhvaar praised Aamaruviappan Divya Desam in Therazhundur that Vasan Bhattar did not give himself any hope of serving in the Divya Desam where his father the legendary Kannan Bhattar had been performing for the previous several decades. The emergence of the new political culture in TN meant that traditionalists were being driven out in large numbers following the land ceiling act. The once vibrant Divya Desam turned sour. Original inhabitants sold their lands and houses in the long agraharam and went in search of greener pastures in the city paving the way for people from other religions to stamp their presence in large numbers in Therazhundur. A direct outcome of that is that now about 90% of the residents in the Sannidhi Street directly opposite the temple are from other religions. There was no electricity in the temple. There was no oil to light the lamp. Kannan Bhattar then in his 40s did not get his monthly income for several months. The paddy that was part of his remuneration was not handed out to him. It was with the rice that was part of archakas' daily rights that the family of six had their meal. For a large part of his childhood, his food comprised of just Kuzhambu rice and Dhadhyonam. Vegetables were not part of the everyday meal and he could lay a hand on it only on select days when a rare outstation devotee made his way to the temple.

In light of this background, Vasan Bhattar pursued academics graduating in commerce and then moving to Coimbatore to work in the accounts section in a firm there.

நீரில் பணைத்த நெடு வாளைக்கு

அஞ்சிப் போன குருகு இனங்கள்

ஆரல் கவுனோடு அருகு அணையும்

அணி ஆர் வயல் சூழ் அழுந்தூரே -The Glorious Times from the Past

At that time, in the early 1980s, it looked unlikely that he would return to this Divya Desam to perform service and to transform the Divya Desam into one of the best in the region. Two of his elder brothers too were away from Therazhundur- Gosakan as a professor in Pondicherry and another – Sri Raman Bhattar- performing service in Thiruchanoor. But as Vasan Bhattar found, God has his ways and directs the right person to perform service in ancient Divya Desams.

The Early 1980s - Corporate World in Coimbatore

Vasan Bhattar was earning a princely Rs. 3000 at Shimoga Steels, a firm in Coimbatore. And then one day in the mid 1980s, he received a postal letter from his appa Kannan Bhattar. In the letter, he found to his shock his father, citing reasons of his failing eye sight, directing him to quit the corporate job and return to Therazhundur to perform temple service at a time when there was no income from the temple. 

As was the way in those days, Vasan Bhattar quietly accepted his father’s direction and made his way to Therazhundur after having quit a three year old job that seemed to be offering a good career path for him. Rarely would anyone have seen Vasan Bhattar in an angry state but he was in one such in the mid 80s. His two brothers had reasonably settled down well outside of Therazhundur but here he was asked to stay put in a temple where utsavams had stopped, there was no income and no devotees. The Brahmotsavam had been stopped. The vahanas were in dilapidated state. There were no vessels for Thiru Aradhanam and Thaligai. The Chariot was in a dilapidated condition and Chariot procession, praised by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar in his Periya Thirumozhi verses, had stopped. 

சேடேறு பொழில் தவழும் எழில் கொள் வீதி 

திருவிழவில் மணி அணிந்த  திண்ணை தோறும் 

ஆடேறு மலர்க்குழலார் பயிலும் செல்வத்து 

அணி அழுந்தூர் நின்று உகந்த அமரர் கோவே 

No Utsavams, No Income, Unpaid Salary

Residents of Therazhundur carried liquor bottles and this was an everyday scene outside the temple complex. There was acute shortage of service personnel for street processions. Vasantha Mandapam, North of the Temple, had fallen down and that too lay in a dilapidated condition. The sacred tank, where the annual Theppotsavam took place soon after the Desikar Utsavam in Puratasi, resembled a play ground. Tennis ball cricket had become a regular feature inside the tank!!! Puratasi Saturdays were a wash out. It was a normal day for the archaka. Even on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day, there were just around 50devotees and the temple would close by 11am. 

He reached Therazhundur in almost a frustrated state, he found to his greater shock his father asking him to undergo a two year agama initiation under him ‘For two years, he did not allow me inside the sannidhi. From Rs. 3000/- my salary had come down to zero. My appa himself did not receive his monthly salary of Rs. 200 on time. Often he would wake me at midnight and ask me to recite the lessons of the day. I was in my 20s and did not know where my life was headed.’

After two years of the most disciplined initiation, Vasan Bhattar was asked to go and take the agama examination in Tirupathi. Only after he came through that did his appa allow him to enter the Sannidhi.

The Greatest Message of his Life

Before Vasan Bhattar could get permission to enter the Sannidhi for the first time to perform Thiru Aradhanam, he had to undergo another test. His appa asked revered Vidwans of the time Narasimhachariar, Varadachariar and Thambu Iyengar to put him through the toughest test to see if he would come through. It was only after they tested him ‘positive’ (a great certification in those days) that his appa gave the green signal for to become a full time archaka.

On the day he was to perform Thiru Aradhanam for the first time, Varadachariar and Thambu Iyengar came to him and presented him with the greatest message of his life that has now stayed with him for well over three decades “You are doing Thiru Aradhanam for the first time. There are 80crore people in the country, over 1lakh Vidwans and over 50 experts belonging to Therazhundur. Out of all of them, God has chosen you to touch him and perform Aradhanam and to eat the food presented by you. Remember that this is the greatest blessing you have received in life and be as sincere as possible in your service to the Lord.”

Over three decades later, Vasan Bhattar looks back at this piece of advice as the greatest of his life and says that he remembers this every time he enters the Sannidhi to perform service.

முந்தி வானம் மழை பொழியும்

மூவா உருவின் மறையாளர்

அந்தி மூன்றும் அலை ஓம்பும்

அணி ஆர் வீதி எழுந்தூரே

His salary had come down to almost nothing, there were not too many devotees to present Sambhavanai but there was the one thing that was bigger than everything else in life “it was the feeling that I was the blessed one to perform service in Thiru Mangai praised Divya Desam.”

Anchors Brahmotsavams in TN temples

Through the early 1990s, he was part of the set of archakas who performed Brahmotsavam service in many temples in the region. His first Brahmotsavam service was at the Ethakudi Temple near Mannargudi. For a ten day service (morning and evening), he was paid Rs. 300. During the decade, he performed lead roles in Brahmotsavams in Sholavandan, Neyveli, Thonur, Aadhi Rangam, Sembar Adi Palayam and Thiru Paadhiri Puliyur (Cuddalore). He became an Alankaram expert, Utsavam expert and began anchoring the Brahmotsavams in different temples.

In 1991, he married the daughter of Babu Deekshithar of Mannargudi Rajagopalaswamy Temple at a time when he was earning next to nothing. The day after his wedding, he went to Thiru Cherai to perform utsavam service there. 

Even by the end of that decade, the salary did not top Rs. 300 per month. There even came a time when the Electricity Board of Thereazhundur cut off the power supply to the temple for nonpayment of the pending bills. But by then, Vasan Bhattar had settled down well and understood the greatness of Devathirajan and his powers.

Six Samprokshanams in one month!!!

His has been a life of continuous learning. He learnt the Temple Management inside out. At the start of the century, he began anchoring Samprokshanams in various temples in Tamil Nadu. His devotional endeavours led him to becoming the most sought after archaka in the Chozha region. Exactly a decade ago, his service had peaked to such a level that in one month he was asked to perform six Samprokshanams.

When he found severe shortage of service personnel to carry the Lord in big utsavams, Vasan Bhattar realised that very early in his service that it woudl be no longer possible to carry the Lord on the shoulders in remote Divya Desams and he ideated the concept of 'Pattarai' for the big street processions. And that's how its been for the last three deades at Therazhundur. 

Grooming the Next Gen of Archakas

While he set out to creating the biggest temple transformation in the region, he also began initiating the importance of temple service among the next Gen. It was under his leadership that Srikanthan Bhattar of Sirupuliyur, Venkatesh Bhattar of Thiru Cherai, Hari Sundar (his elder son) and many others emerged at a time when most of the next gen were headed the way of a life in the corporate world. They have been trained so well by Vasan Bhattar that they are regulars at events in Ayodhya, Ujjain, Bombay and even temples in Punjab!!!

     Hari Sundar/Srikanthan

No Service Personnel to employing 20 of them!!!

When he took over, there were no service personnel in the temple – almost everyone had turned their back on temple service and sought employment elsewhere. Today, residing in a remote Divya Desam where even today there is very limited public transport service (once upon a time there was a railway station in Therazhundur!!!!) he employs 20 service personnel at the Divya Desam.

Working at just over Rs.200 a month, Vasan Bhattar transformed a temple that in the not too distant past could not pay the monthly electricity bill. During the last three decades, the Brahmotsavam has been revived. The Chariot was rebuilt 15years ago and the Chariot procession is back as part of the annual utsavam. The Vasantha mandapam was rebuilt and Vasanthotsavam revived. The temple tank too has been restored and Puratasi Theppotsavam revived (one will take place just over a fortnight from now immediately after the Vedantha Desikar Utsavam). 

Every deity is now seen in glittering kavachams. A Golden chariot has been built for Thayar and the Friday procession inside the temple complex takes place on this chariot. His credibility had been built over two decades of extreme devotion that the restoration activities leading to the Samprokshanam in 2010 was undertaken at a cost of Rs. 2crores. He also anchored the samprokshanam at the Ranganatha and Govindaraja perumal sannidhis in Therazhundur last decade and gave both those temples a face lift. In his life time, he has anchored several hundreds of Samprokshanams, big and small.

Following the death of his appa a few years ago, Vasan Bhattar has handed the Samprokshanam baton to his son Hari Sundar and is now full time at the Devathi Rajan temple in Therazhundur. It was been a highly fulfilling over three decades of service at this historical Divya Desam for him. His monthly salary has doubled to just over Rs. 750 after 30+ years but he has proved that with devotional commitment, one can gain the confidence and trust of the devotees and create a positive change in the temple. He believes that financial returns will follow if one does service with sincerity at the feet of the Lord and it is with that faith he took charge of the temple well over three decades ago and it is with that same belief that he continues to perform aradhanam every morning at this Divya Desam.

While the current scenario presents a big worry for him with the next generation of archakas even disinclined to perform service even in Divya Desams, let alone in Purana Sthalams or Abhimana Sthalams, Therazhundur Divya Desam and many other temples where Vasan Bhattar has built a set of archakas over the last two decades is in safe hands. For now, any devotee visiting this Divya Desam can enjoy the devotional presentation of the archanai at the feet of Lord Devathi Rajan and experience a feeling that one is unlikely to get outside of the temple environs.