Brahmma Desam Kailasanathar Koil Hereditary Priests

Rajkumar Bhattar and his appa Kulothu Bhattar have performed archaka service for over 50 years at a three digit salary- No permanent posting yet

Funds will be handed out for Thiruppani as per the allocation made - We will start the Restoration Exercise soon - HR & CE Minister PK Sekar Babu 

41 year old Rajkumar Bhattar has been the sole priest at the huge Kailasanathar Koil at Brahmma Desam, a few kms North of Ambasamudram having joined at a monthly salary of around Rs. 200. His appa Kulothu Bhattar served there for four decades from the late 1960s and retired at a salary of Rs. 165!!! Once upon a time, there was a Brahmotsavam in Panguni, Thiru Kalyana Utsavam in Aipasi and Vada Kaappu Utsavam in Aadi. Each of these had been grand in the century gone by. There were 400 brahmin families in the agraharam with the North and South streets vibrant with Vedic chants heard all through the day. There were close to 20 service personnel at the temple including paricharakas and adyayana bhattar.  This has come down to just 2 with Rajkumar Bhattar being accompanied by a Pala Velai person who has been working at a monthly salary of Rs. 900

The temple town referred to as Ayaneeswaram signifying the presence of Brahmma and Shiva at the temple is home to Kailasanathar and Brihantha Nayaki. Reference to Ayaneeswaram is made in the 8 song of the 6th Thirumurai Adaivu Thiruthandagam.

Financial Poverty

It was financially challenging times for Rajkumar Bhattar when he was growing up as a school boy in the 1980s but his mind was completely inclined  towards Kailasanathar and he began accompanying his appa to the temple from the time he was just 6years old. At that time, there were just 10 electrical bulbs inside this huge temple, the biggest in the entire region. There were almost no devotees, minimal thattu kaasu and salary to the priest. It was also the phase when the Panguni utsavam came to a halt. There was no oil even to light the lamp. There was not enough rice for daily Neivedyam. And it was a struggle for Kulothu Bhattar to make both ends meet at home.

Appa directs son to academics, but Rajkumar chooses temple service

Rajkumar Bhattar recalls that phase “Given the terrible financial condition and the state of the temple at that time, my appa asked me to focus on academics but we have been hereditary priests and my thatha and appa had performed service for almost a century. I wanted to continue the temple service irrespective of the financial challenges.”

After class XII exam, he moved into agama and vedic education. He learned the agamas from Pillayarpatti Patshala Acharya for five years and vedas from Veeraraghavan Gandapadigal.

Almost 15years at Three Digit Salary and No Permanent Appointment

From his mid teens, he had started to perform pooja in two local pillayar temples. He also continued to assist his appa at the Kailasanathar Temple. In 2009, after the retirement of his appa, he officially joined the temple as the archaka at a salary of Rs. 165 that has now gone up to Rs. 1200 after 14years.  His appa too did not get an official permanent posting and Rajkumar Bhattar too has not yet secured a permanent appointment. Sadly, he continues to get paid by signing on the voucher!!!

Single Handedly Revives Utsavams

During this phase he has revived the Theppotsavam in Panguni, the Vinayaka Chathurthi Utsavam.  Through his single handed effort, Pradosham now attracts a couple of hundred devotees. There are close to 50 devotees for the Palli Arai pooja every night all through the devotional efforts of the priest. He has also revived utsavam on the occasion of Pournami, Amavasai, Ashtami and every last Tuesday of the month. Sivarathri, Kanda Sashti and Navarathri utsavams too have been revived by Rajkumar Bhattar. Both Aadi Pooram and Aippasi Utsavams have now been revived as a one day utsavam with Poo Pallakku street procession on Aippasi Uthiram.

The electricity bills are paid by the devotees every month!!!

Pancha Lingam Kshetram

The temple is unique in that there are five Separate Sannidhis for Lord (and Ambal) with a separate Vimanam and Nandi. These include Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi, Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Ammai, Madurai Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, Ilaintha Adi Nathar and the Moolavar of this temple Kailasanathar, flanked by Brihandha Nayaki in a separate sannidhi. Hence this is referred to as Pancha Lingam Kshetram.

Ilanthai Adi Nathar (Badarivaneswarar), a Swayambu idol, is the original deity at this temple. One finds an Ilanthai tree as the Sthala Vriksham.

This is the birth place of the second Acharya of Kanchi Mutt Sarvagna Atmendra Saraswathi Swami.

The Bikshaada Nathar Sabha is a distinctive Sannidhi where one finds one of a kind of images not found in any other temple in Tamil Nadu. The seven feet tall Lord Shiva presents himself as Bikshaada Nathar without a peedam standing tall like a human being. He is seen with a Bhootham Vadhyam in a typical posture of going out for Bikshai.

Around him are carvings of Brahmma, Vishnu, Muruga, Pillayar, Ashta Dhik Baalakars, Surya, Chandra, Kinnarar, Kim Purushar, Agastyar, all seen in their respective Vahanas offering worship to Bikshaada Nathar. Seen above the Lord are two Apsara Kannis sculpted on a single stone, yet another marvelous piece. Below the Lord are three Apsaras in three different postures including one in a Sayana Kolam.

                     

HR &CE minister visits the temple, allocates Rs. 7.5crores for renovation

The temple has been in a dilapidated condition for many years now. The previous consecration had taken place in 2004. This is easily the biggest temple in the region and has the most exquisite stone sculptures. Rishabha Vahana Mandapam, Theerthavari Mandapam and the Ther Mandapam are all in dilapidated condition. The Chariot itself is in a broken state and a new one needs to be built. HR & CE minister PK Sekar Babu visited the temple to get a firsthand feel of the state of the temple. The Government has made an announcement in the assembly and passed an order allocating Rs. 7.5crores for the renovation exercise.  The Thiruppani application has already been screened by the District and State committees.

7 Tier Raja Gopuram in Poor Condition

The Gadana River runs right near the temple from South to North. The towering 7 Tier Raja Gopuram at the Eastern Entrance casts its shadow on the big temple tank, just North of the tower but the temple tower is in a bad shape and needs immediate repairs.  The devotee from Coimbatore who undertook the Raja Gopuram repairs in 2004 has been ready to take care of the Raja Gopuram restoration this time too. However, there has been a long delay in the approval process.

The temple has three towering Gopurams and seven Vimanams, the most exquisite stone sculptures and was once a War Temple offering protection to the people. When the poor state of the temple was brought to the attention of HR & CE Minister PK Sekar Babu, he told this writer on Wednesday that the Government Order has been passed for the renovation of this temple and he will ensure that the restoration exercise starts soon. "I remember visiting the Kailasanathar Koil recently and having darshan here. I will make sure that the allocated funds is handed out to this temple for the Thiruppani exercise. You will be happy to see this temple wearing a new look very soon", the Minister assured this writer in an exclusive chat on Wednesday. 

It is almost 20 years since the previous kumbhabhisekam and the temple wears a faded look. It is hoped that sometime in the near future the words of the HR & CE Minister will come true and that this historical temple will be back to its glory days including the revival of the Panguni Brahmotsavam and the procession of the Chariot around the four streets. It is also hoped that the HR & CE will provide a permanent appointment to Rajkumar Bhattar and also a fair salary to him in line with the current cost of living.

Chidambaram Dikshithars HRCE battle

We want the Dikshithar families to be happy but we have a right to ask the temple for accounts if there are complaints of financial irregularities. We will not hold back if devotees are restrained from having darshan –HR & CE minister Sekar Babu

Photo taken by S Prabhu on Wednesday (July 12) at HRCE HQ

In light of the ongoing battle between the Dikshithars of Chidambaram and the HR & CE, minister PK Sekar Babu told this writer in a conversation today at the HR & CE headquarters that as per the act, the HR &CE has a right to ask for the accounts based on complaints from devotees or if they come to know of financial irregularities.

He made it clear that he wanted all the Dikshithar families to lead a happy life but when there are complaints about the Dikshithars, the HR & CE has a right to ask for the accounts. He posed a question as to why they are not ready to show the accounts to the Government that is the elected representative of the people when they say they are ready to pay Income Tax and also show the accounts to the public. 

Sekar Babu told this writer that they have received numerous complaints on various issues relating to the Dikshithars including denying the right to have darshan, and forcibly taking money from the devotees.

He said that this is a temple built by the kings in public interest for devotees to have darshan and that their rights cannot be denied.  He said that it is in the larger devotee interest that the HR &CE has had to take action.

He expressed confidence that the court will provide a fair judgement on this issue in the interest of the devotees.

Temple Activist objects to Govt Interference

It may be recalled that it was temple activist TR Ramesh (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/02/tr-ramesh-temple-activist.html) along with Subramaniam Swamy who secured back for the Dikshithars their hereditary rights at the Sabanayakar temple in Chidambaram after the temple had been taken over by the HR & CE a decade ago.

Ramesh told this writer on Wednesday afternoon soon after his departure from the Court that the Government has no administrative rights over any temple in TN and definitely not over the Chidambaram temple that belongs solely to the Pothu Dikshithars.

He said that for the Government to pass a ‘GO’ even if it is in the interest of the devotees, there has to be a section under which it has to be passed and that it cannot be passed arbitrarily. Under which section has this Government Order been passed, he asked.

Moreover Section 107 of the HR & CE act says that no orders can be passed against the fundamental rights of a denomination temple.

          An old photo of TR Ramesh at his fiery best

Kanaka Sabhai is a sacred pooja zone, almost an extension of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Earlier few people were allowed for special archanai but with crowd swelling in recent times, the Dikshithars had stopped the darshan.

He said that the Collector has written to the Government that as per the agamas, darshan could be allowed. Ramesh clarified that this is a Vedic Temple belonging to the Pothu Dikshithars and not an Agama temple.

He also clarified that historically Kings built temples and handed over to the respective Sampradaya. He cited the example of Nagore Dargah being built by Pratap Simmah Maharaja of the Maratha Kingdom ruling from Thanjavur and his son later handing out lands to the Dargah.

Minister Sekar Babu had told this writer a couple of months back that he would not be cowed down by temple activists and that he will continue to do what he believes is right for the devotees (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html).

This section will track the developments on this long standing battle between the Pothu Dikshithars and the Government.

Thiruvallikeni Prabhandham Adyapaka Sekar

Elevation on the back of his over four decades Devotional Prabhandham Ghosti Service 

On the 10th day of the Narasimhar Brahmotsavam, this Thursday (July 6) at the Parthasarathy Perumal temple, even as all the Lords, Azhvaars and Acharyas congregated at the West end of the temple, there was a visible and refreshing addition to the Adyapakars team. P Lakshminarasimhan (Sekar to those in the temple circles) was seen alongside Adyapaka members to receive the Muthal Theertham and Shatari. Along with Singan Srinivasan, another long standing Ghosti member, Sekar was inducted into the Adayapaka team on this Dwadasa Aradhanam day following the instruction from the newly appointed EO to the Maniyakaarar. 

Hailing from Pilappur, near Chengalpet, Sekar’s forefathers moved to Thiruvallikeni. As seen in several stories earlier in this section, the 1960s and 70s marked a slowdown in the devotional movement and original inhabitants moved to cities in search of jobs (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/therazhundur-divya-desam.html). It was the beginning of the reduction in strength of the Prabhandham and Vedic members in most temples in TN. Sekar’s early childhood was no different and he had no inclination towards the sacred verses until the transformational change brought about by MA Venkatakrishanan in the 1970s. 

Inspired by MAV's teachings

A couple of days after his induction as an adyapaka into the popular Thiruvallikeni Ghosti team, 64 year old Sekar recounts the memorable contribution of MAV “My amma’s appa was a Maniyakaarar at the Sriperambudur temple. During the annual holidays, when I went there, he would carry me and have me seated beside the Vahana during the Brahmotsavam. That created my first interest in processions but even then being initiated into the Prabhandham was not in the plans. I learned the Thiru Kurungthaandagam and Thiru Nedunthaandagam from Vijayaraghavan Swami (Kanchi) but it was then that MAV Swami took over and the entire experience turned transformational.”

This section had earlier featured a story on how MAV was the architect the Divya Prabhandham revival at Thiruvallikeni (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/thiruvallikeni-prabhandham-ghosti.html). Sekar was a student from that first batch and one of those who stayed the entire course.

While Sekar was disinclined towards the sacred verses end of the 1960s, by the 2nd half of the 70s, he had become greatly interested in the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham that even he could not believe the transformation that MAV had brought in him. By this time, he had also stood first in the Iyarpa recital competition organized by Southern Cultural Academy and proudly received the away from Annankarachar Swami.  “MAV Swami was a great motivator. He would take us on trips and make us recite the sacred verses in those Divya Desams. Every morning, the classes would start sharp at 6am. He began with the Moonraam Thiruvanthathi and even as a teenager, I had begun reciting these verses in street processions”, Sekar told this writer extolling the greatness of MAV and how he created an everlasting interest in him in the sacred verses of the Saint Poets.

                 Photo Courtesy: Insurance Sampath Kumar

Declines a lucrative Job offer from TVS

It was that extraordinary interest in arulacheyal that led to Sekar declining a lucrative job offer away from Madras “In the mid 1980s, I received an offer from TVS for their plant in Hosur. My interest in Prabhandham had become so intense that I told my appa that I wanted to be part of the Ghosti through my life and that I did not want to go outside of Madras.”

Adyapaka rights remain intact

The adyapaka service has seen several twists and turns in the century gone by. Leader MA Venkatakrishnan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/05/ma-venkatakrishnan-thiruvallikeni-divya_16.html), who has ensured that the Prabhandham Ghosti at Thiruvallikeni has remained strong and united, told this writer ahead of the procession on the 9th evening of the Narasimhar Brahmotsavam that despite all the challenges that they have had to face, the rights and powers of the Adyapakas of Thiruvallikeni have remained intact and has in fact become stronger and clearer with each court verdict. 

He said that exactly a 100 years ago, when the then trustees of the temple sought to get the Adyapakas under their control and also to appoint the Ghosti members, the Thengalai Sri Vaishnava Brahmin residents secured a decree (a copy of which is available with this writer) that only they had the right to initially appoint the Ghosti members.  This order restrained the trustees of the temple from interfering in the appointment of the Ghosti members.

While this went on well for several decades, half a century later in 1972, a few members of the Prabhandham Ghosti went to court seeking powers for the Thengalai Vaishnava Brahmins to appoint Ghosti members. Further adding strength to the Adyapakas, the court restrained the Thengalai Vaishnava Brahmins from having such rights and directed that the rights to appoint or add Ghosti members lay solely with the senior members of the Adyapakas and not with the general body of the Thengalai Vaishnava Brahmins.

Later soon after MAV began creating the next gen of Prabhandham members, the Bhagavathas took to the court for rights in Theertham and Shatari. Once again, the court conferred the special first rights to the Adyapakas followed by others.

Emoluments to the Adyapakas 

The Adyapakas have an exclusive right in the emoluments attached to their service. Among other benefits, they are entitled to one fourth Pongal Thaligai for the morning service, Iyalpadi two cakes offered at Thiruvanthi Kaappu, Holi water, Sri Sadagopam, Thulasi, Sandal, Manjal, Garlands, betal leaves and dakshinas. On the Yaanai Vahanam days during the Brahmotsavam, two Umbrellas are to be taken in advance of the Adyapakas at the street procession. They are also entitled to sweet cake during the Manavala Mamuni Utsavam, Oil on Thiru Karthigai and Emperumanar Satru Murai days and One Thaligai of Chakkarai Pongal on Thiru Pallandu Thodakkam day. The leader of the Ghosti for that day also has the right to receive the Swathanthrams kept apart and separated to be appropriated for the said Adyapaka service.

Each Adyapaka is assigned certain dates in the month for 'Thodakkam' service.

Eligibility criteria

The  appointment itself goes through a process with the senior members of the Adyapaka team discussing within themselves. At the moment, among a few other conditions, only those that have not travelled overseas, those that have resided for a certain period of time in Thiruvallikeni and ones with recital knowledge of a certain minimum number of verses from the Nalayira Divya Prabhandham are eligible to become an Adyapaka.

No Ice Creams/ Cold Juices

Sekar joined a local firm in Parrys working on import billing in the shipping sector. His interest in Prabhandham recital and an eagerness to be part of the ghosti during the processions led him to take auto from his office in the evening so he could be on time. He felt he had been blessed with a special voice and  protected his voice by letting go of ice creams or cold juices for a major part of his life. 

It has been that over four decades long commitment to the devotional recital that led MAV to push him into the Adyapaka team. 

“While my office offered me an extension and asked me to work even during the Pandemic, MAV Swami was keen to recognize my contribution and he asked me to sport a tuft. When he broke the news to me that the Senior Adyapaka members had agreed to add him to their team, I felt it a great honour.”

                       Photo Courtesy: Insurance Sampath Kumar

A Special feeling - Darshan as an Adyapaka from close range

On Friday and Saturday, he was part of the Ghosti at the Thirumanjanam and felt a completely different experience “Suddenly as an Adyapaka, I was standing so close to Perumal and could see him from almost touching distance. It gave me a great feeling. I immediately thanked MAV Swami for providing me with such an opportunity to experience Narasimhar from close range.”

Sekar has been part of the Thiruvallikeni Ghosti from the 1970s and his elevation, this week, to the post of an Adyapaka is a great reward for his devotional commitment and service over these 4+ decades. 

This section wishes Sekar the best in his new role as an Adyapaka at the Thiruvallikeni Divya Desam.

TN Temples Priest Selfie Photograph Attendance Format

The HR &CE directs Priests to take a Selfie Photograph every morning to record their attendance- Salary would be deducted without the Selfie

"Is there anyone without a Smart Phone these days. We will give some more time for this implementation" - HR &CE Minister Sekar Babu

First Pay the Salary as per Minimum Wages Act, then buy us a Smart Phone and Recharge every month - Mannar Koil Priest

This section has featured several stories on priests in remote temples having served for decades at a monthly salary that has not topped Rs.1000. Even after the High Court direction to the HR & CE to pay reasonable wages to the priest in Mannar Koil Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Azhvaar temple near Ambasamudram, the HR& CE minister PK Sekar Babu (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/05/hr-ce-minister-sekar-babu-on-roll.html) had told this writer that they would be contesting the court order as the temple does not generate enough income to pay salary to the priest, whose appa had served at the temple for many decades at a salary of around Rs. 100 and who himself started out at a salary of Rs. 250 in 2005 that a decade later went up to Rs. 750 per month (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2023/04/mannar-koil-archakar-wins-salary-case.html).

Selfie your Photo or lose your daily wage

On 24th June, the HR & CE has issued an interesting directive, signed by the Commissioner Muralidharan, to the priests across the state on a new attendance format that would come into force from the first week of July(a copy of this circular is available with this writer). With the tech developments that have taken place over the last couple of decades, the HR & CE has directed the priests to take a photograph (Selfie!!!!) of themselves inside their respective temple as a mark of attendance every morning. The circular has further said that in the absence of such a selfie photograph (that has to be sent to the respective EO of the temple), the day’s salary would be deducted.

Buy a Smart Phone when your salary is less than Rs. 50 a day

The priests have expressed anguish at this sudden directive. While a priest in a temple very close to the HR & CE headquarters in Madras has indeed taken a selfie photograph this Friday morning, priests in remote temples, many of whom still do not have smartphones, have asked as to how they can buy a mobile phone when their daily salary is less than Rs. 50!!! They have said that if the HR & CE buys them a smart phone, then they could explore this new attendance model that has suddenly come into force.

Open up all the temples that have remained shut

Only recently, the HR & CE minister had given a commitment to the devotees by issuing an order to the EOs across the state to open up all the temples that have remained closed. 

Are you saying HR & CE should provide the Smart Phone, asks HRCE Minister

When queried about this new directive, the HR & CE minister asked this writer if there are those without a smart phone in the state!! When this writer asked the minister if the HR &CE would provide the smart phones to the priests across the temples in the state, he burst into laughter asking ‘if HR & CE should provide this as well’.

When informed by this writer that are still priests in remote temples who only use the traditional non smart phones, he said that he would provide additional time for them to buy the smart phones and that the directive would not be brought  into force immediately though the circular has stated so.

PS Narasimha Gopalan, the priest at Mannar Koil, has never used a smart phone and still uses only the landline for his phone conversations. Similarly, the revered Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur Divya Desam (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/09/therazhundur-vasan-bhattar.html), uses only the old model phone and has almost never taken a photograph with his phone (While the HR &CE may not have provided the priests with smart phones, almost everyone in the next gen priests do have a smart phone and more often than not, they post photos and videos soon after an alankaram or a procession). The ones like the above mentioned priests are very much in the minority. To that extent, there is truth to what the minister says, though the smart phones of the priests are those bought by themselves and not provided by the employer (the HR & CE).

Another priest whose salary of Rs. 100 a day had not been paid for four years  asked as to how he could do this everyday when his salary itself has not paid regularly. 

Asks HRCE to pay salary as per court order and to buy him a Smart Phone and Recharge

Narasimha Gopalan told this writer that the HR & CE should first implement the High Court order directing them to pay him minimum wages (Rs. 15000 per month) as it is already over three months since the Court order. He said that after paying the wages as per the court order, if the HR & CE buys him a Smart Phone and also recharges every month, he would follow their directive of a photo recording his presence. He said he would file a case in the court contesting this directive of the HR & CE. He also pointed out that only this week the new Police Chief had spoken about reduced usage of mobile phones while driving and in other (restricted) zones. Would the HR & CE want priests to be using the mobile phone inside the temple through this directive, he asked this writer.

This section had featured a story in 2018 on the mobile ban at the Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/07/meenakshi-amman-temple-cell-phone-ban.html?m=1) and asked if this would be extended to other temples. This directive seems to encourage the use of mobile phones.

No salary, No pooja items

Narasimha Gopalan pointed out that the HRCE has been providing monthly provisions and pooja items not exceeding Rs. 750 in the last two decades and that items like lamp oil, rice for everyday thaligai are being provided by devotees. 'They neither provide minimum wages nor pooja items but want to record our everyday presence', he told this writer.

In remote temples, a single priest manages multiple temples in the region. 

It looks like the HR & CE is trying to ensure the physical presence of the priest every day at their respective temple by tracking them through this technology route. 

Service Personnel told to record attendance through Digi Route

In fact, only recently, musical artistes at the Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore had told this writer as to how the authorities had asked them to record their arrival and exit through the technology route and as to how they had told the authorities that this was not practically possible as they would be at the temple at different points in the day depending on the Utsavam schedule.

While the Executive Officers across the state have already begun applying pressure on the priests to whatsapp their selfie from inside the temple premises, the HR & CE minister has told this writer that he would give a little more time for the priests to buy a smart phone but he is clear that this technology model to record their attendance would be the way forward for the priests and that there would be no second thoughts on this.

One would have to wait and watch as to how this new circular plays out.

SR Prakash ICF Pachaiappas Cat Lover

The Panther on the cricket field in the 1970s has turned a Cat Lover 

Mylaporean SR Prakash was an enthusiastic school boy cricketer in the late 1960s and early 70s. Coached by AG Ram Singh at Hindu High School, where he started out, he drew inspiration from Gary Sobers’ two terrific innings in the Pongal test of 1967 that he watched at Chepauk. Sobers’ fielding too created a special interest for him in cricket. In the decades that followed, he himself turned a ‘Panther’ (nicknamed by his teammates at ICF) on the field and very few balls went past him. The southpaw moved to MCC School and scored a lot of runs for them as well as for Pachaiappas at the College level.

As a 16 year old, he scored a terrific unbeaten century for TVS MSC in the second division cricket in December 1972 that captured the attention of the powers that be. He played two years for Senior Colts. In his final year at college in 1976, playing in a selection match for ICF against a strong MCC XI at the University Union ground, he scored 36 while his team was bundled out by VV Kumar for just 100. Within the next week, he was offered a sports quota job at ICF for whom he played a decade and a half of first division cricket alongside the likes of S Balaji, Doraiappan and M Arunachalam.

Gets the ‘Kaattaan’ tag from Legend Venkat

He recalls his battle with  S Venkataraghavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/venkataraghavan75.html). The legendary off spinner would lovingly call cricketers by ‘names’. Bharat Kumar was Kurungu….When Prakash came into bat that day for ICF, he referred to the youngster, fresh into first division, as ‘Kaattaan’ but he took it in his stride and remained cool “I was the youngest kid in the team. S Venkataraghavan was already a legend then having captained India in the World Cup. When I came in, he set an umbrella field, something that I had never seen before. He wanted to psyche me and test my mental strength. I drove him for two fours and scored over 30. Later that evening, he came up to me and praised my gutsy knock and my fearless approach to batting. It was a great feeling to have been praised by such a legend.”

Biggest Cricketing Moment

His biggest moment in cricket in 1984-85 season in the inter Railways tourney at Hyderabad. Against a strong Northern Railway comprising of Hyder Ali, Hansraj and Vedraj among others, Prakash scored an unbeaten 91 to help South beat North for the first time to win the national tourney. His teammate S Kalaimani recalls that day “We were chasing a big target of well over 300 and had lost early wickets. He came in at No.6 at a time when we were struggling. The two of us put on a big partnership. He batted brilliantly that day and helped up beat North (I scored70). He was a witty fellow and had a good cricketing mind. He was highly rated and an integral part of our through the late 70s and 80s.”

Very Kind Hearted

Leggie S Madhavan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/11/rbi-madhavan-leg-spinner.html), who played for the Railways in Central Zone, before moving back to Madras and joining RBI, continues to play league cricket in Madras though he is touching 70 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/12/tnca-league-cricket-returns-after-nine.html). He remembers Prakash from that phase "During the time I played with him, I found him to be a fantastic left handed batsman and an outstanding fielder. He was a kind hearted human being and I really enjoyed playing with him."

Facing up to India’s fastest bowler

Prakash has always been fearless in life and he recounts the moment when he came up against the fastest of the time at the Railway Stadium “TA Sekar (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/ta-sekar-fastest-indian-bowler-of-1980s.html) was the fastest bowler in India at that time and when he finished on his follow through, he was almost next to the batsman. I had to face him that day when he was at his peak and his fiercest. He picked up 8 wickets and bundled us out for 100 but I was delighted that day to have withstood his demolition act and scoring 30+ on that (railway) stadium wicket gave me a lot of satisfaction.”

Talented Bloke, A Classy Player

S Balaji played for the Railways through the 1980s and watched Prakash from close quarters through that cricketing phase. He told this writer that ‘SRP’ was a wonderfully talented bloke who sadly could not make the cut and go to the next level. He was a truly classy player and we were involved in several partnerships 

Panther on the field

Kalaimani also remembers him as a brilliant fielder “While he was a certainty in our playing XI through that phase, he distinguished himself as a brilliant fielder. He had a special liking for fielding and always fielded in the Cover and Point region. He was well respected by the opposition for his fielding.”

His high point in his fielding achievements came in the final of the inter-collegiate tournament in the early 1970s. AC Tech was chasing just 98 and with Captain R Ravichandran (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/10/r-ravichandran-madras-university.html) back after stitches (he was hit on the thumb by Pachaiappa’s captain Ramanujam), they were on course to lift the trophy. With just a couple of runs to win, Ram Mohan hit the ball to point and almost lifted his bat in a celebratory moment only to find Prakash knocking down the stumps with a direct hit “It was my best fielding moment in cricket. My throw helped us win the tournament and I savour that moment to this day, five decades later.”

IOB's opener Rocko M Sundar has known Prakash since 1972 when they were part of the TNCA colts team  that toured Bombay. He remembers  Prakash as a fine, gritty left hand batsman & an excellent fielder particularly at covers. "He was always on the prowl waiting to run the batsman out. He had been the backbone of the ICF team for quite a long time. With cricket behind him, he is still in the limelight as “catman” & a familiar face in Mylapore."

Goodbye Cricket - Welcome Cats

Like most cricketers of the time, he settled down in his job and his cricket faded away over a period of time. But by now, he had developed a big interest in a completely unrelated field. He was always an animal lover and had great compassion for dogs and cats. His office at ICF was abound with cats.

He recounts as to how it all started in the 1990s “When I went to the Kapali temple, devotees used to stack the entrance of the Murugan Sannidhi with milk for the abhisekam. The thirsty looking cats that were present in good numbers used to keep looking at the milk. I felt saddened at the state of these cats but it also provided me with an inspiration (just in the same way that Sobers inspired his batting and fielding approach) to feed them with quality food.”

From that day, he has been feeding cats at the Kapali temple. In addition, he has also expanded his service to cats to the Navasakthi Pillayar temple at the Luz Junction and at the Nageswara Rao Park. Over the last 25years, he has been feeding around 50 cats each day of the year, rain or sun. The moment he arrives, they all run up to him.

Of course, for years, he has had his detractors at the temple and the park.  This section featured a story last year on a young girl taking care of cats every Pradosham evening (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/12/kapali-temple-pradosham-love-for-cats.html) at the Kapaleeswarar temple. While there are such animal lovers, there are those devotees who think that temple is not the place for cats and feeding cats inside the temple is not the way it should be. That is a call the temple authorities should take.  But like he was at the batting crease in the 1970s and 80s, Prakash is unfazed at the criticism. He was affected by the Pandemic and his BP shoots up high whenever there is this opposition to his feeding either at the temples or at the Nageswara Rao Park, where too the presence (of the cats) has shot up. He says he is taking care of the cats that otherwise don’t find takers within the temple. He spends several thousands of rupees every month feeding these cats at the temples and the park. In addition, he has also had a cat at home for the last 20 years. He says when you shower love on them, they seem to live forever. The Chairman of the Kapali temple, Vijayakumar Reddy, too handed him a cat to take care of and that too resides at his home near Mundaka Kanni Amman Koil.

He enjoyed his cricket on the field for over 20 years and over the last 25years, he has found happiness with a life that has centered around the cats. 

Punnai Nallur Kothandaramar temple Venkatesa Bhattar

This Archaka Family has served devotionally for well over a 100  years and have remained committed to the temple overcoming several challenging phases

Venkatesa Bhattar is now anchoring a revival of the Utsavams and bringing the temple back to its glory days

This section had featured a story in 2020 as to how the Thanjavur Palace had found it financially challenging till the mid-1980s to manage the temples under its administration. The consecration of the Big Temple in Thanjavur had not taken place for over 150years. It was only after the current leader Prince Babaji Rajah Bhonsle took charge did the situation turn around for the better (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/06/thanjavur-palace-babaji-rajah-bhonsle.html). One of the temples managed by the Palace is the Saligrama Kothandarama temple in Punnai Nallur, a few kms east of Thanjavur and near the now popular Mariamman temple (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2012/03/punnai-nallur-mariamman-temple.html).

57 year old Venkatesa Bhattar, who has now been the priest for over two decades, was a young boy in the 1970s when he saw the temple take a turn for the worse. His appa Vijayaraghava Bhattar performed archaka service at the temple for close to five decades before his death at the turn of the century. His grandfather had served through the first half of the 20th century at this temple.

Exodus of Original Inhabitants

Venkatesa Bhattar recounts as to how from a vibrant temple once upon a time, the temple saw a slowdown as a result of the mass exodus of original inhabitants “Not so long ago, there were around 25 service personnel, including Paricharakas, Adyapakas and Vedic Scholors at the temple but when the overall situation turned bad in the 70s, most of them left Punnai Nallur seeking greener pastures elsewhere leaving my appa as the only long standing person serving at the temple. Though it was a financially challenging time for the family, my appa took upon the Kainkaryam for Ramar as his sole focus in life. He lived all his life with Ramar and had the fullest faith that in the long run the Lord would take care of him and his family.”

                                   

Living in a Thatched Hut - Poverty Stricken

He looks back at his life from his school days in the 1970s “My appa received one bag of Paddy every month and 8 Pattai Rice every day. For the first 15days, we survived on this and then every second fortnight of the month, it was a big struggle to manage the large household. There was minimal thattu kaasu with the original inhabitants having all gone away.”

Where's the next devotee

There was not enough oil to light the lamp.  There were very few devotees at the temple. Vijayaraghava Bhattar would eagerly wait for the next devotee to arrive but it almost always proved elusive in that phase. Rama Navami was the only utsavam of the year that attracted some crowd. It was a lonely sortfeeling for him but he always told his family members that with Kothandaramar for company, one should not ask for

Babaji Rajah Bhonsle had told this writer in an earlier conversation a few years ago that soon after he took over in the mid 1980s, he found that the next gen of most of the archakas in his 88 temples had chosen a life outside of the temples and that there was always a shortage of service personnel.

Refuses lucrative offers

Venkatesa Bhattar now proudly looks back at his appa’s devotional commitment that stood the test of time “Like many others in that phase, my appa too received lucrative offers from temples including from Singapore but he had great devotional strength and was attached to Saligrama Kothandaramar. It was a time when the financial situation in the family was terrible and there was no money even for the next meal at home. Taking such an offer would have easily turned around our fortunes at that time but he simply refused it and stuck with Ramar all through his life.”

                                        Vijayaraghava Bhattar

Even as Venkatesa Bhattar watched his appa take this decision, it taught him a big lesson - that of continuing the hereditary service at the feet of Ramar irrespective of the challenges that comes his way.

The large family lived for decades in a thatched hut. Stricken by poverty, Venkatesa Bhattar quit school early and went to work in Thanjavur in the 1980s. During the off days, Venkatesa Bhattar supported his appa in temple kainkaryam. 

Venkatesa Bhattar takes over, Appa's Message

At the turn of the century, Vijayaraghava Bhattar’s health deteriorated. Kainkaryam at the feet of Rama was a service that the family had committed to. Venkatesa Bhattar was then in his 30s and had a family to take care of including a young son and a daughter but he had no second thoughts on quitting his job. His wife backed him fully in this endeavor to serve Lord Rama and he joined the temple at a salary of Rs. 900.  

When Venkatesa Bhattar took charge, Vijayaraghava Bhattar told his son that performing daily Thiru Aradhanam with sincerity and feeding the Lord every day was his utmost duty and he had to do it with the greatest devotion unmindful of the financial returns. 

Soon after, his appa passed away, in 2002. 

The first decade at the temple continued to be a struggle like it had been for his appa. Venkatesa Bhattar, who had learned the Vaikanasa agama from Seshadri Bhattar of Thadalan Divya Desam in Sirkazhi (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2008/05/kaazhicheeraama-vinnagaram.html), was the sole priest at the temple. 

Consecration and the Big Turnaround

This writer had featured a story in The Hindu Friday Review just over a decade ago on the renovation works (https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/ancient-temple-gets-a-face-lift/article2012090.ece) at the temple. Following the consecration that took place after three decades, the temple wore a fresh look and saw a positive transformation. Vahana processions were revived. Devotee crowd has increased dramatically to over 500 people on Saturdays from around 20 in the pre consecration phase. Devotees now look forward eagerly to the special alankaram for Anjaneya for whom the Bhattar has also sourced a glittering Kavacham. The devotees are thronging the temple in big numbers on Puratasi Saturdays. 

Over the last decade or so, Venkatesa Bhattar has revived a lot of the historical traditions. He performs a Thirumanjanam every Punarvasu for Ramar. On special occasions, Devotees have been able to enjoy the Garuda and Sesha Vahana processions during the Panguni Utsavam. He is hoping that by next year there will be a vahana procession on all days of the Rama Navami Utsavam.

Great Satisfaction 

He has found great peace within himself over the last two decades serving at this temple “Performing Kainkaryam at Rama’s feet is a special feeling and it’s quite unmatched in terms of the satisfaction.” Venkatesa Bhattar is grateful to the Prince for the solid increase in the salary for the archakas under his administration that has now gone up to Rs. 14000 from Rs. 450 that his appa earned at the time of his retirement. In recent times, Babaji Rajah Bhonsle has also launched medical schemes for archakas serving at his temples. Overall they are now well taken care of and as foreseen by Vijayaraghava Bhattar, Saligrama Kothandaramar has kept this family under his watchful eyes and blessed them with a life that each of the members is happy  with.

Venkatesa Bhattar's son in law (Ashwin Bhattar) is at the Shiva Vishnu temple in T. Nagar, Madras and his brothers too are archakas in temples under the Palace’s administration. He is hoping that one day in the near future his son would take over the Kainkaryam from him and continue the hereditary service that this family has been performing for over a hundred years.

Venkatesa Bhattar has showcased both to the archaka world as well as to the devotees that if you are devotionally committed to the Lord and have the fullest faith in him, it is likely that you will be well taken care of in life. 

He can be reached on 6381437436

Vaduvur Govindan Veda Ganapadigal

Sticking to his ancestral roots

His amma directed him to take to Vedic Education in 1976 and close to five decades later, he counts being initiated into the Vedas by Vaduvur Srinivasa Desikachariar and being under his tutelage as the greatest blessing of his life
50 of Govindan’s Vedic students are now performing service in temples across the world

The 1970s had been a terrible time for those associated with temple and associated service. It was the phase when traditionalists began to move away from their ancestral locations into cities looking for corporate opportunities(https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/10/therazhundur-divya-desam.html). Mannargudi and Vaduvur had been abound with Prabhandham and Vedic scholars and there was a certain positive vibrancy inside the temple during the festive days of the year. But when financial challenges began to mount, the traditionalists foresaw a life for the next gen away from temple service. When Upanayanam took place in Thiruvallikeni for this young boy at a time when his parents had already moved to Madras, it was time for a call to be made about his future. His amma stood firm in wanting him to go the traditional way while everyone else in the family opposed her suggestion to him taking to Vedic studies. Amma won over the rest of the family and he went on to spend a glorious four decades under the guidance of the revered Vaduvur Srinivasa Desikacharya. Here’s the story.

Take Vedas into the Next Gen, says Amma

In 1976, 10 year old Govindan was in a dilemma. His appa had moved away from the Mannargudi region to Madras in pursuit of a job. When his thread ceremony was held in Thiruvallikeni, his amma expressed the view that the young Govindan should shoulder the family responsibility of taking forward the Vedic teachings into the next gen (her appa Raghava Vadhyar and her elder brother Pichai Vathyar were vedic scholars in Mannargudi). The family was already financially challenged and they lived a hand to mouth existence. Her view was not well received by the family members and everyone without exception opposed the move to him quitting academics and taking to Vedic studies. 

It was then that she made a bold statement to her other two sons. Sitting on the Thinnai of his Acharya Veeravalli Salakshana Ganapadi Srinivasa Desikacharyar’s home in Vaduvur, 57 year old Govindan told this writer on Monday as how that moment transformed his life “If Govindan failed in his traditional way of life, the two of you should take care of him”, my amma told my brothers and they were left with no answer and just nodded.

His appa, ST Narayanan, immediately sent a postal letter to Periyava seeking his guidance and blessings.

       Parents and Uncle Pichai

"Soon a person from Kanchi Mutt reached our home and picked me up. Periyava directed me to join the Patshala founded by Anna Swamy Iyengar in Mannargudi. He had great regard for both Srinivasa Iyengar (founder's son) and Desikacharya and he believed that I would be taken care of well by both of them."

Moves to Anna Swamy Patshala- His Greatest Experience

In 1976, Govindan quit academics and on November 1 that year joined the patshala. He looks back at the decade that he says provided him with the greatest experience in life. “Srinivasa Iyengar who ran the Patshala gave us all the facilities. He was a great disciplinarian and inculcated 'values' that have stood with me all through my life. The Vedic initiation under the tutelage of Desikacharya, I consider, as my life's greatest blessing “My acharya’s love for me was unbelievable. He poured everything he had into his teachings and wanted me to be better than him. He always said that he wanted to see me atop the Raja Gopuram while he watched from below. That was how he motivated me through that decade. He taught me every aspect of life including contentment.”

Govindan completed Yajur Veda course in 1985 and then went on to learn Krishna Yajur Veda. He took the tough exams at all the leading centers including the Mannargudi Patshala, Sankara Mutt, TTD and Melkote.

Refuses Lucrative offers

Govindan's family was financially challenged through the 1970s and 80s and him getting into larger cities after the completion of his Vedic Education would have served them them well financially for they were even struggling for food but Govindan withstood the temptation for financial glory instead choosing to be with his Guru till Desikachariar's death a decade ago. Even as the years went by, over the last three decades or so, there have been repeated calls for him to head to Madras and to other larger cities to take up lucrative opportunities but he has remained committed to Vaduvur where he has been since the late1980s.

Veda Parayanam  at three Consecrations at Vaduvur

His Acharya initiated him into Thiru Aradhanam service at the Hayagriva Desikar Sannidhi at the Kothandarama temple in Vaduvur. When the consecration took place at the temple in 1996, after 25years, Desikachariar presented him with an opportunity to be an integral part of that sacred event. He has since anchored the Veda Parayanam at the 2007 and 2020 consecrations as well.

Not Monetised the Vedic Knowledge

Govindan has spent almost five decades in Mannargudi and Vaduvur when most of his contemporaries have gone away seeking greener pastures. He often hears comments from them that ‘he has missed the bus’ referring to him not monetizing his Vedic Knowledge in the way he could have. But he is nonplussed. He has heard it so often but right from the beginning he was clear about his way of life. 

“My Acharya wanted me to lead a simple dharmic life and help others in every way possible. It was his inspiration that helped keep me away from the lures of a city life and gave me clarity about not chasing money. You cannot see Vedas as a mere financial instrument that helps you earn a lot of money. The fact that I am known as Desikachariar’s student is the greatest blessing I have in this life.”

At the turn of the century, he began initiating the Vedas to the next generation of students. Around 50 of them have graduated from the Andavan Ashramam Patshala in Vaduvur. He is keen for the next gen of vedic students to go deep into the subject. While the number of Vedic students is on the rise, he is saddened that many of them go very soon into monetizing their learnings. The current gen is seeing this as a 'professional' activity "Veda Adyayanam should be seen as a penance and they should be ready to face all the hurdles and overcome through Veda Parayanam".

Wants his sishyas to be in temple service

He is keen for his sishyas to be into temple service. One of his students, the 31 year old Yathulan, makes him feel proud. Just like his Guru, Yathulan too received lucrative offers from temples and mutts in larger cities and overseas but he resisted the temptation and placed importance on staying close to his ancestral home. As directed by his acharya Govindan, Yethulan has been performing archaka service at the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Rayanallur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/03/rayanallur-varadaraja-perumal-yathulan.html). He is an integral part of the Veda Parayanam at the big utsavams both in Mannargudi and Vaduvur. 

Govindan is also delighted that all his students have agreed to pool in the Sambhavanai received during Veda Parayanam at the Ramar temple to the development of the Desikar Sannidhi. ‘Not a single sishya takes a rupee from the Veda Parayanam and we have been using that money to present abaranam and kavacham to Hayagrivar and Desikar.”

He feels blessed to have been by the side of Desikarachariar for almost four decades. He says he acted as per the directions of his Guru. At 57, Govindan has found great peace of mind in the life at Vaduvur (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/05/vaduvur-rama-navami-utsavam.html) keeping the tradition of Veda Parayanam going in Vaduvur. In addition, he is also  keen to continue the developmental works in this temple town in the areas of temple development, health and education through the Chakravathi Thirumagan Dharma Paripalana Trust. 

If the vedic recital is still heard in Vaduvur, its thanks to that decision of Govindan to stay back at his ancestral location when most other traditionlists turned towards more lucrative options. He is hoping that, sometime into  the future,  his two sons too would get into this traditional way of life by taking that bold call in the same way he did way back in 1976.

Patteeswaram Gopinathaswamy Temple New Raja Gopuram

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nandipura Vinnagaram in the East, Gopinathan in the West

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

Dilapidated State for over a decade

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

Utsavams a thing of the past

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

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

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

Speedy action this year

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

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

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

                                  

                          Current complex 

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

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