Thiruvanaikaval Akila Elephant Mahut Arjun

Elephant's Love for Jambukeswarar at Ko Chenganan's Mada Koil

Four decades long devotional attachment to two elephants at the Akilandeswari temple

It is the flag hoisting event ahead of the Thai Theppotsavam at the Jambukeswarar Akilandeswari temple in Thiruvanaikaval on Wednesday evening.  45 year old Mahut Arjun has been at the Thai Utsavam for over four decades from the early 1980s and he was there in front of the Dwajasthamban with Elephant Akila, who is all excited to see the flag going up to the beating of the drums. For the next ten days, she will go around the four sacred streets every evening, leading the Pancha Moorthy during the procession, something that she loves.

Mahut Arjun has spent almost all his life with elephants at the Thiruvanaikaval temple built by Ko Chengan Chozhan as his first Mada Koil, paradoxically one where the elephant cannot enter the sanctum (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2025/03/thiruvanaikaval-ko-chenganan-maasi.html).

அம்பரமும் பெருநிலனும் திசைகள் எட்டும் 

அலைக்கடலும் குலவரையும் உண்டகண்டன் 

கொம்பமரும் வடமரத்தின் இலைமேல் பள்ளி கூடினான் 

திருவடியே கூடாகிற்பீர் 

வம்பவிழும் செண்பகத்தின் வாசம் உண்டு 

மணி வண்டு வகுலத்தின்  மலர் மேல் வைகு 

செம்பியன் கோச் செங்கணன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் 

திருநறையூர் மணிமாடம் சேர்மின்களே -Thiru Mangai Azhvaar

The Jambukeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikaval is one of the Pancha Bhootha Sthalams, where Lord Shiva manifests himself as ‘Water’ (among the five elements). Hence this is referred to as a ‘Neer’ sthalam (‘Appu’ in Sanskrit). Thiruvanaikaval is home to Nava Theertham and the belief is that those who bathe in the Nava Theertham on Chitra Pournami and invoke the blessings of Jambukeswarar and Akilandeswari are said to attain Mukthi.

The temple dates back to the 5th century AD to the rule of Kochenganan Chozhan who ruled from Uraiyur and is an architectural marvel with high roofs, five huge prakaras south of the Coloroon, towering Gopurams in the East and the West and Nava Theerthams.

Shivaji Ganesan gifts Elephant Shanthi

Even while at school, he spent all his free time with Shanthi, an elephant presented by legendary actor Shivaji Ganesan to this temple in 1962. Mahut Arjun recounts as to how his appa Bhasakara Nair came along with the great actor’s gift to the temple “My appa hailed from Kerala and when Shivaji Ganesan picked up elephant Shanthi during an event there, he was taken along as the Mahut to the actor’s house in Chennai. And then later, when Shivaji Ganesan who had taken a liking to Jambukeswarar temple wanted to gift the elephant to the temple, he laid a pre-condition that it will have to be my appa who has to be the lifetime Mahut to take care of Shanthi. And that’s how our family came to Thiruvanaikaval in the early 1960s.”

With Elephant Shanthi from his school days

Mahut Arjun developed a close relationship with elephant Shanthi and treated her with great affection and like a close family member. He was destined to be with the Thiruvanaikaval elephant all his life for he was born in the elephant shed!!! As a young school boy, he would walk behind her to wedding events only to be found out by his appa. “Shanthi was invited to weddings in those days and would go on a long walk from the temple to the wedding hall. I spent all my time with her and I too would walk behind here without my appa noticing. Most of the time, he would catch me red handed but seeing the affection Shanthi and I had for each other, he would lift me and have me seated atop Shanthi. It would be a grand procession for me talking to her through that long walk" recalls Mahut Arjun.

Arjun's appa with Elephant Shanthi 

Having developed a close relationship with elephant Shanthi, Arjun did not focus on academics and was seen all the time with the temple elephant. He quit academics early when he was still in his early teens and began full time association with the elephant at the temple. 

 

10+kgs on his shoulder to feed Shanthi

As a teenager, Arjun would carry heavy weight on his shoulder bringing the food for Shanthi each day of the year such was his passion.  Her food in large quantities comprised of Kondai Kadalai, Paasi Payiru, Grass, Raw Rice and Karupatti Vellam, among others!!! Right from his school days, he would go on all street processions alongside Shanthi Elephant. He recalls enjoying those years when the temple environs was quiet and it was a peaceful atmosphere within the temple complex and outside.

Following the death of his appa, Arjun’s elder brother Jambunathan began taking care of Shanthi. Arjun says that his anna has been his mentor guiding him during his teenage phase on the ways of taking care of the elephant. He also learned the daily as well as the utsavam processes through practical experience also watching his elder brother handle Shanthi during the 1990s.

One of his saddest days of his life was when Shanthi passed away in 2010 for he had been engaging with for almost 30 years at that time and he had cherished his long and close relationship with her. And then over the last 15 years or so, he has had Elephant Akila for company. The two have become best friends during this period and Arjun is constantly seen talking to her directing her on her next actions. 

A close bonding with Akila

He says that like Shanthi, Akila too has been a very loveable elephant and was very quick to grasp the specifics relating to utsavams and her responsibilities during the events. Following the two hour long street processions, she sleeps well and long to be in good shape and fresh ahead of the next event.

Mahut Arjun has known very little in life outside of his love for Elephants Shanthi and now Akila. Through the day and night, he is always thinking of her and showering his love on her. And Shanthi, earlier, and Akila, now, too have been reciprocating their love and one can see the happiness on Akila’s face when he is next to her. 

கடல்வண்ணன் நான்முகன் காண்பரியார்

தடவரை யரக்கனைத் தலைநெரித்தார்

விடமது வுண்டவெம் மயேந்திரரும்

அடல்விடை யாரூராதி யானைக்காவே-Appar

And on this Wednesday evening, there was a twinkle in her eyes when Othuvar Ramani Srinivasan sang verses of praise on the greatness of Thiruvanaikaval and as the flag went up to signal the commencement of the ten day Thai Utsavam. And so too in Mahut Arjun’s face. The moment he sees her happy, there is a smile in his face as well!!!

Kozhikuthi Vaanamutti Perumal Varadaraja Bhattar

The 50 year old Bhattar anchors a grand revival of utsavams at this historic Chozha Period Temple

Devotees throng to have darshan of 'Athi Varadar'

Till the turn of the century, the now 50 year old Varadaraja Bhattar was spending time at Tiruvottiyur in North Madras alternating between archaka service in a local temple there and pursuing his astrological interests. And then a phone call from his ancestral temple town transformed his life.

Dilapidated state two decades ago

The historical 12th century AD Chozha Period Vaanamutti Perumal temple in Kozhi Kuthi, 5kms west of Mayiladuthurai had been in a dilapidated state in the second half of the previous century. Except for the tall standing Moolavar idol, most of the temple lay in a damaged condition. There was not much of an income at the temple for the salary to be paid to the then priest who had been taking care of the temple. All the utsavams had come to a halt. Only one time pooja was being performed every day. 

Chozha Period Inscriptions

There are three separate inscriptions inside the temple. One of the inscriptions refers to the process of liberation from Sani Dosham detailing the presentation of Anna Dhanam to 10Brahmins on 51 Saturdays. The process details having a head bath, presenting Nallennai in a bronze vessel with four vegetables and one green (Keerai) vegetable.

Relief from Skin Diseases

This temple is a Parikara Sthalam for liberation from Skin Diseases. Belief is that if one visits the temple, has bath at the Vishwa Pushkarani and offers his sincere prayers to Vaanamutti perumal, he will be relieved from any kind of skin disease.

The priest of the time decided to let go of his services and quit the temple. It was then that the services of Varadaraja Bhattar was sought. His forefathers had performed archaka service in the past and his appa was keen for him to return to the temple. 

It is Thai Amavasai and Varadaraja Bhattar is at the temple early on Sunday (Jan 18) morning to decorate Abaya Srinivasa Perumal, the utsava deity, atop the Hanumantha Vahana ahead of the street procession on this third day of the Thai Brahmotsavam. After anointing Perumal in the Ramar Thiru Kolam, he sat down to recall that phase when he took the call to return to Kozhukuthi “I had not visualised a life of temple service in this remote town but Vaanamutti Perumal decided otherwise. My appa was keen for me to continue the Vaikanasa Agama Kainkaryam and that led me to return to Kozhi kuthi.”

Restoration Exercise

The temple was being rebuilt from scratch and his first challenge was to rope in devotee donors to complete the construction of the temple. Except for the sanctum, there was work to be done everywhere. A Raja Gopuram was built at the Eastern entrance as was the flag post. A maha mandapam, madapalli and the outer walls too were newly constructed. The restoration exercise had taken a few years and the consecration was performed in 2007.

Having got the basic physical infrastructure of the temple in place, he went about reviving the utsavams. Three day Pavitrotsavam in Avani, five day Brahmotsavam in Thai, Inner Prakara procession on the occasion of Vijayadasami and Vaikunta Ekadasi and Thirumanjanam every Shravanam of the year were all revived. 

Varadaraja Bhattar went back to historical donors who had been contributing to some of these utsavams and checked their interest to be part of the revival. He also reached out to new devotee donors for the other utsavams. He built new vahanas for the street processions during the Brahmotsavam.  

Darshan of Athi Varadar

The Moolavar, a Mooligai Varna Kala idol, is seen in a gigantic 14 feet standing posture. Over the last two decades, the temple has seen a remarkable transformation. The revival and a new vibrancy was further driven by the renewed interest in Athi Varadar. “Those who could not make it to Kanchipuram came here to have darshan of the one of its Kind Athi Varadar” says Varadaraja Bhattar. 

In 2022, he performed another consecration following the laying of a Karungal Prakara and painting of the temple complex. 

Legendary Tale

King Nirmalan, who ruled the Kodagu hills, developed a certain skin disease with rashes all over his body. The king moved out of the kingdom to find a solution to his troubles. Narada Rishi took the form of a hunter, met the king and explained the sins of his previous births.  In one of his previous births, as a Brahmin, he had not performed the Pitru Karma and had hence developed the 'Go-Hathi' Dosham.

Narada directed the king to undertake penance at the foot of the Kodagu Hills.  Later, an invisible voice asked him to move from the foot of the hills to bathe along the banks of the Cauvery.

When he reached Moovalur, 2kms South of here, and had bath in the Cauvery, Lord Shiva provided darshan and asked him to go North and undertake penance to invoke the blessings of Lord Vishnu. As Shiva directed and showed the King the way to cleanse himself from his sins, the Lord at the temple in Moovalur is referred to as Maarga Sahaya Vazhikaattum Nathan.

When King Nirmalan continued his penance here, Pleased with his penance,   Lord Vishnu appeared before the king in a form of a fig tree and provided darshan from the middle of the tree on the Shravanam Amavasya day in Thai. The four leaves became the four hands of the Lord and another set of leaves turned into an umbrella with the root of the tree being the feet of the Lord.

With King Nirmalan touching the root of the tree - the feet of the Lord, the place to the East of where the temple is currently turned into a Vishwa Pushkarani, the sacred tank. After having bath here at the Pushkarani, he was liberated from Pitru Sabham and was relieved from his skin disease.

Having had darshan of Lord Vishnu and Mahalakshmi Thaayar, King Nirmalan became a rishi and undertook penance on the banks of the Cauvery. Staying here, Pippalla Maha Rishi composed a sloka on liberation from Sani Graha Dosham

Later he attained Moksham at this place. To this day, in memory of this event, one can see a mandapa of Pippalla Rishi.

The Name of this place

As he was also liberated from Kodi Hathi Dosham, this place came to be referred to as Kodi Hathi Paapa Vimochana puram which in course of time became Kozhi Kuthi, the name by which this place is referred to now.

Rejects lucrative overseas offers

Varadaraja Bhattar had learned the Vaikanasa Agama from Kaladi Bhattar in Tiruvottiyur as well as his appa at Kozhi Kuthi. There had been several lucrative overseas offers over the last two decades of his service at the Vaanamutti Perumal temple but Varadaraja Bhattar rejected it all “I did not return to Kozhu Kuthi for money. It was a Vaikanasa Agama temple and I wanted to continue the kainkaryam when no other priest was ready to take up service at this temple. Hence, I let go off the financial temptations and focused on how I could create an interest for devotees at this temple.”

Given the low salary on offer, the paricharakars and other service people who had been part of the temple in the past too have quit the temple and Varadaraja Bhattar is all alone at the temple doubling up as the priest and the cook at the madapalli. His elder son, who is completing his Class XII this year, has learnt the Vaikanasa Agama and pooja krama from him and supports him at the utsavams. He is particularly interested in decorating Perumal and pays attention to detail in his alankaram as was seen this morning ahead of the Hanumantha Vahana procession.

Thai Brahmotsavam - Hanumantha Vahana

By 11am, the homam for the morning is complete and Abhaya Srinivasa Perumal is ready for the procession around the four sacred streets of Kozhi Kuthi. The sripatham personnel have gathered in good numbers and they mount the perumal on to the wheeled tyres. Residents await in front of their homes with coconuts, fruits and flowers and they present it to Srinivasa Perumal. Varadaraja Bhattar’s two young sons don the role of the archakas during the procession and they present karpoora aarathi at each of these stop overs around the four streets. 

After an hour’s procession, Srinivasa Perumal is back at the eastern entrance where the sripatham personnel perform the Voiyali much to the delight of the devotees present on the occasion. They present another Voiyali inside the temple complex before the morning’s events come to a close. 

Varadaraja Bhattar has a wide variety of prasadams for the devotees, ubayadarars of the day and for the sripatham personnels and this is distributed to all of them.  There are happy set of faces all around something that did not seem possible a couple of decades ago when the temple had been in a dilapidated state. But Varadaraja Bhattar’s devotional commitment has led to a grand revival in this remote temple town. From the time, the only vastram for the Lord was torn and there was no oil or ghee to light the lamp, he says that there are silk vastrams for Perumal and he is decked with glittering jewellery during the utsavams. He is also happy that his two sons have shown early interest in Kainkaryam to Perumal. For the moment, his attention shifts back to his service ahead of the Yaanai Vahana procession and Maalai Matral event in the evening. 

It is thanks to those like Varadaraja Bhattar that temples in remote towns have survived the test of times.

Tail Piece

For a change, devotees did not pull out their phones on the opening of the screen for photo and video shots of Perumal atop the Hanumantha Vahana (Photo above) and each one of them was seen with folded hands invoking the blessings of Srinivasa Perumal.

The temple is open from 8am-12noon and 430pm-8pm. Contact  Varadaraja Bhattar @ 97872 13226

How to reach

From Mayavaram Bus Stand, drive on the Kumbakonam Highway, take a right at Moovalur (2kms from Railway station) and drive North 2kms to reach Vaanamutti Perumal temple in Kozhi Kuthi. Alternately, from Mayavaram take the Poompuhar- Kallanai road (North of Railway station) to take a right at Chozhapettai to reach Vaanamutti.  Auto from railway station to the temple will cost Rs. 180.

Sarangapani Koil Kanu Utsavam

For the only time in the year, Vijayavalli Thayar, Sita Thayar and Komalavalli Thayar provide joint darshan at Thiru Kudanthai on the occasion of Thai Kanu

Sita Thayar

It is just past 6.30pm on Friday (Jan 16) and devotees in hundreds have taken their seat opposite the Ramar Sannidhi ahead of the Kanu Utsavam at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai Divya Desam. It was Sita Thayar from Ramaswamy temple dressed in a beautiful yellow saree who first made it to the Sarangapani Koil through the Western entrance. Shortly after Komalavalli Thayar joined her opposite the Ramar Sannidhi. It is 7pm when Vijayavalli Thayar from Chakrapani temple too made it via the deserted Bazaar street.

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே  - Thiruvoimozhi ( 5-8-1)

                                         

Vijayavalli Thayar

Thirumanjanam and Theerthavari

For over 30 minutes, they witnessed Thirumanjanam by Kannan Bhattachar anointing Thayars with coconut water, manjal, sandalwood paste and a wide-ranging fruits. This was followed by Theerthavari. Soundar Bhattar, Naana Bhattar and Kannan Bhattar then presented Kanu to each of the Thayars in front of the disciplined devotee crowd who sat unmoved through this one hour event. While the local devotees witnessed the Thirumanjanam and Theerthavari, there continued to be a long queue at the moolavar sannidhi. The Northern entrance had been opened a day earlier and devotees thronged the sannidhi for a darshan of Aravamudhan, seen in a Uthaana Sayana posture.

Three Thayars Joint Procession

It is 8.15pm when the three thayars began a joint procession around the temple prakara before positioning themselves in front of Vedantha Desikar for mariyathai to the Vaishnavite Acharya. The huge crowd made their way back after thoroughly enjoying the one of its kind Kanu Utsavam at Thiru Kudanthai collecting prasadam from Soundar Bhattar at the Eastern entrance of the temple. Vijayavalli Thayar and Sita Thayar bid goodbye to Komalavalli Thayar after providing a two hour joint darshan and headed back to their respective temples. 

மாமலர் மன்னிய மங்கை மகிழ்ந்து உறைமார்பினன் தாள் 

தூ மலர் சூடிய தொல்லருள் மாறன் துணை அடிக்கீழ் 

வாழ்வை உனக்கும் இராமானுஜ முனி வன்மை போற்றும் 

சீர்மையன் எங்கள் தூப்புல் பிள்ளை பாதம் என் சென்னியதே

But there was a lot more to come on this Friday evening at the Sarangapani temple. The Prabhandham Ghoshti presented Thiruppavai verses in front of Komalavalli Thayar before she made her way back to her Sannidhi. This was the final day of the Thai Utsavam and while the Kanu Utsavam was on for Thayar, Sarangapani Perumal had been decorated at the Kannadi Arai ahead of the last procession.

It is almost 9.30pm when he made his way to the eastern entrance where the Prabhandham members began the presentation of Ramanuja Nootranthathi. While they continued their recital after the Thodakkam sitting in front of the Dwajasthambam, Sarangapani Perumal made his way on a quiet procession in contrast with the Chariot procession the previous day and the noisy events filled Garuda Vahana procession last Saturday. A few local residents came out of their homes to present coconut and flowers.

The young Maniyakarar of the temple, Sudarshan, who also doubles up as the archaka at the Desikar Sannidhi, went ahead of the procession to open the Ramanuja temple west of the theppakulam. Sarangapani made a brief half here even as the Sripatham members brought the utsava deity of Ramanuja from inside the temple to the Bazaar street for mariyathai before he continued on to the Big Street.

செழுந்திரை பாற்கடல் கண் துயில் மாயன் 

திருவடிக்கீழ்  விழுந்திருப்பார் நெஞ்சில் மேவு  

நல் ஞானி நல் தேவியர்கள் 

தொழும் திருப்பாதன் ராமானுஜனைத் தொழும் பெரியோர் 

எழுந்து இறைத்து ஆடும் இடம் அடியேனுக்கு இருப்பிடமே 

10pm on Friday and the streets around the Sarangapani temple reminded one of Thiru Kudanthai in the decades gone by – silent with most residents having gone to sleep. Back at the temple, the Prabhandham members presented the Satru Murai verses of Ramanuja Nootranthanthi. While the utsava deity Sarangapani was enjoying the final verses of these verses of Thiru Arangath Amuthanar, back at the Moolavar Aravamudhan Sannidhi, Soundararaja Bhattar, along with his young son who will soon be completing his Vedic and Agama studies, were busy putting Perumal’s jewellery back in the security box.

It is a long tradition for the greatness of the Utsavam to be read out on this final day of the ten day Thai utsavam. Late on Friday evening, Kannan Bhattachar presented ‘padippu’ detailing the events during the utsavam recalling how Sarangapani perumal had provided darshan in different vahanas through this festival following which the flag was brought down bringing to end another edition of the Thai Utsavam at Thiru Kudanthai. 

Singar Koil Srirangam Maniam Cook Venkatesan

One of a kind Madapalli Cook

For over 40 years, Venkatesan has been the sole man preparing the sacred food for Lakshmi Narasimha at Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil Madapalli 

It is ticking to 4am on this Pongal (Jan 15) morning and it is another chilly morning in Srirangam. For the 31st day in a row, S Venkatesan, the Maniyakaarar and Chief Cook at the Madapalli at the Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil in Srirangam, is at the temple for the final Thaligai of the month. With Andal’s Thiruppavai playing on the temple’s loud speakers around the temple complex, Venkatesan, as the lone man at this hour at the temple madapalli, is preparing ‘Paal Payasam’ as the final sacred food for Narasimha in this Margazhi month. Through each day of Margazhi, he has woken up at 2.30am and been at the temple madapalli at this early hour to prepare the sacred ‘Thirupalliezhuchi’ food for Lakshmi Narasimha presented just after 6am each morning of the month. 

Rains over the past few days meant that it took longer for the firewood to heat and that added to Venkatesan’s early morning challenges this Margazhi. But he has always been one with patience and he demonstrated that in adequate quantity during the rainy days as well. 

He has been the sole cook at the Singar Koil for over four decades and has set expectations so high with the quality of his Ven Pongal and Chakkarai Pongal that there was a long queue each morning of the month to taste the sacred delicacy just after it’s been presented to the Lord. Many of the devotees came back a second time in the queue to pick up another ‘Thonnai’ of the hot and tasty Pongal.

Maniam Venkatesan had to stay back for uchi kaalam preparation and headed back home only past noon each day of Margazhi to come back in the evening for another round of sacred food preparation for Lord Narasimha.

This is a far cry from what the scenario was in the early 1980s when Venkatesan joined the Singar temple. He looks back at those dark early years of his association with this temple “It was really dark around the temple and inside as well. I would pick up some ghee and oil every morning to light the lamp at the temple. We would wait endlessly till after noon for the next devotee but there were hardly any. There was absolutely no income.”

Dark decade - The 1980s

As the Maniyakaarar in charge of the temple service and poojas, Venkatesan was not able to give even 25paise a day to the archakas for their service in those early days, such was the financial state of the temple. 

In addition to housing Lord Azhagiya Singar, the temple played home to venomous snakes, Udumbu and deadly big Scorpions. Cook Venkatesan had to contend with snakes that were an integral part of the dark prakaras in those decades. He has recalled many times to this writer as to how a venomous snake just missed biting him outside the madapalli when he was washing the vessels.

அங்கண் ஞால மஞ்ச அங்கு ஓர் ஆள் அரி ஆய் 

அவுணன் பொங்க ஆகம் வள் உகிரால் 

போழ்ந்த புனிதன் இடம் 

பைங்கண் ஆனைக் கொம்பு கொண்டு பத்திமையால் 

அடிக்கீழ்ச் செங்கண் ஆளி இட்டு இறைஞ்சும் 

சிங்கவேழ் குன்றமே - Periya Thirumozhi - 1-7-1

Till about a few decades ago, there were no houses in the area. The temple was flanked by a burial ground in the North and green fields in the East and South. There were no lights anywhere in the vicinity of the temple. The only noise came from the steam engines that passed through the Srirangam station. There were even skeletons seen around this ancient temple that pre dates the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam.

Devotional Commitment - The Saviour

For over a dozen years, it was a very challenging life for Venkatesan as there were ' No devotees- No income' and it had become a way of everyday life in that early phase. While it may have been disheartening, I always remembered my appa’s message to have a firm believe in Narasimha and to perform our duty with utmost sincerity” Venkatesan recalls on the most important message of his life.

“Despite the financially stressed life, my appa Srinivasa Iyengar’s consistent message to me throughout my childhood was to give positive messages to devotees who came to the Lord with problems and to create the belief in them that the Lord would take care of them if they invoked his blessings with sincere devotion. It is our duty to make them happy when they are here at the temple and that is what I have tried to instil in them all through the last four decades” says Venkatesan.

That’s easily Venkatesan’s biggest differentiator. At a time when there are shortage of cooks at the madapalli even at Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu, Venkatesan has been a lone hand at Singar Koil having prepared the Thaligai each day of the year for over 40 years leaving long standing devotees bewildered at his devotional commitment.

Devotional Wave - Surge in 'Narasimha' belief

With the devotional wave striking TN temples and the belief in Lord Narasimha as one who answers a devotee’s sincere prayers, Singar Koil has seen a remarkable turnaround with Pradosham and Swathi days every month seeing high turnout of devotees. On Aani Swathi in 2025, the annual birthday of Periyazhvaar, the devotee queue extended to the main road with thousands of them lined through the evening for a darshan of Lakshmi Narasimha. Similar was the crowd during the Saturdays of Puratasi. 

From a time when he awaited the next devotee to present his Thaligai, it has reached a phase now when devotees have to return disappointed without tasting Venkatesan’s Pongal. On days such as Swathi, Venkatesan prepares multiple dishes including melagorai, kesari bath and dhadhyonam. Paanagam is another hit among the devotees on Pradosham days.

பள்ளியில் ஓதி வந்த தன் சிறுவன்

வாயில் ஓர் ஆயிற நாமம் 

ஒள்ளியவாகிப் போதவாங்கதனுக்கு ஒன்று மோர் பொறுப்பிலனாகி

பிள்ளையை சீறி வெகுண்டு தூண் புடைப்ப

பிறை எயிற்றின ல் விழிப்பேழ்வாய்

தெள்ளிய சிங்கம் ஆகிய தேவை 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி கண்டேனே - Periya Thirumozhi - 2.3.8

 

It is past 7.30am on this Thursday morning and one can see the joy and a bit of relief in Venkatesan’s face having successfully prepared the sacred food each morning of Margazhi and to have satisfied the taste buds of the devotees.  Almost all the devotees wondered this morning as to how he has been able to do it all alone through each morning of the month when the weather is quite chilly. Forty years ago and now, his answer has always been the same. It is Lord Lakshmi Narasimha who is his sole guide and the one who has helped him wade through the most challenging times at the temple instilling in him the belief that there will be a big turnaround one day in his life provided he serves the Lord with sincerity each day of his life.

As one goes around Perumal temples in Tamil Nadu, one finds the priests struggling to find those for the Madapalli and there are many temples where the priest doubles up as the madapalli cook as well. At Kaattu Azhagiya Singar Koil, Venkatesan has been the most striking and familiar face to a large number of Narasimha devotees.

While the traditional madapalli service is continuing to be deserted in an increasing number of perumal temples with the next g looking at the corporate space or the private catering service, Venkatesan is one who has taken forward the service from his appa and after over 40 years remains devotionally inclined to preparing the sacred food each day of the year. He reminds himself every morning when he enters the madapalli of Singar Koil as to how blessed he has been to be the one to prepare and present the sacred food at the feet of Lakshmi Narasimha at Singar Koil for such a long time when most others have looked elsewhere for more lucrative opportunities.

The temple is open between 6.15am and 12noon and between 4.30pm and 8.30pm. There are special poojas and Thirumanjanam organised every month on the Swathi Nakshatram and Prathosham days. Also, Saturday is an auspicious day to visit this temple.

Oothukadu Kalinga Narthana Next Gen Sundar Bhattar

This Young Vaikanasa Agama Priest is following in the footsteps of his father and great grand father committing to a lifetime archaka service at this historic temple for Kalinga Narthana

The Perumal temple at Oothukadu is a legendary and one of its kind temple dedicated exclusively to Kalinga Narthana, located just under 15kms from Kumbakonam off the Avoor – Melattur- Thittai Highway. It was here that Venkatakavi composed many of his memorable compositions.

Legendary Tale

Legend has it that this was once a Pushpa Vanam. Residing at the Kailasanatha temple in Aavoor, Nandini and Patti, the children of Kamadhenu, were providing milk to the Lord. Every morning, the two would also graze across to the nearby Oothukadu Village (2kms away) and collect flowers for the Lord from the Pushpa Vanam.

On one such occasion, the two little ones listened to Sage Narada’s narration of the story of Lord Krishna and his Kalinga Narthana. Hearing the story of the five year old (Child) Krishna taking on the poisonous asura snake (Kalinga) and performing the Kalinga Narthana, Nandini and Patti are said to have broken out into tears for the hardship and the onerous task imposed on the little boy Krishna.

Worried about her children, Kamadhenu approached Krishna at Vaikuntam seeking a solution to her children’s shocked state of mind. Responding to her request, Krishna appeared here at the Pushpa Vanam at Oothukadu and performed yet again, with ease, the Kalinga Narthana in front of a delighted Nandini and Patti thus convincing them that this was a child’s play for him.

Wanting all the devotees to enjoy this unique form of Krishna, Narada requested the Lord to be present here at Oothukadu as Kalinga Narthana. Narada is believed to have installed the idol of Krishna as Kalinga Narthana with Nandini and Patti standing on either side of the Lord in front of him and referred to this place as ‘Then Gokulam’.

Dark Years

In the 1990s, when Jayaraman Bhattar took charge as the archaka of this historic temple at a monthly salary of Rs. 37, it was in a terrible state. He recounts to this writer on his early experience at such an historic temple “There were no devotees at the temple, no thattu kaasu and no salary to the priest in the 1980s and the early 90s. Multiple priests had come and gone. My Thatha had performed Thiru Aradhanam at this temple before the temple turned for the worse in the 2nd half of the previous century. The outgoing priests were keen for me to take up the archaka service but I was hesitant given the state of the temple at that time.”

Jayaraman Bhattar had been working in the corporate space for a few years when a Kainkaryam message from his appa was to transform his life towards devotional service at the feet of Kalinga Narthanar, for ever.

Perform Archaka Service, Not my final rites!!!

“The scenario at the temple was bleak and it had been locked for a few months with no archaka forthcoming to perform service. When my appa heard this news, he asked me to quit my job and take up archaka service at Oothukadu. I repeatedly refused citing the poor financial scenario at the temple and the lack of devotees.”

“Finally he came up to me and said that Kalinga Narthana Perumal had fed the family for several decades through the service of his appa. And that it was okay even if I did not perform his final rites but that I should take up a lifetime of Kainkaryam at the Oothukadu Perumal temple. He said that I could forego anything in this life but not the Kainkaryam to Kalinga Narthanar.”

Unique Posture of the Lord

An interesting feature at this temple is the posture of Kalinga Narthana - his left leg is seen on top of the Asura Snake but not touching the snake. His left thumb alone is holding the tail of the snake with none of his other four fingers in contact with the tail!! His right leg is seen above the ground in a dance posture. On a close look, one can find the scars on his leg below the knee, the result of his fight with Kalinga.

That message turned out to be transformational as Jayaraman Bhattar quit his job and joined the temple as an archaka at a monthly salary of Rs. 37!!! But as the Bhattar recalls, his appa made a futuristic financial commitment to him “He told me and my brother that if I take up this temple service during the dark years at the temple he would give me additional assets whenever his savings was split between my brother and me, sometime later in life.”

His appa passed away a couple of months ago at the age of 97 but as committed, he did provide an additional share to Jayaraman Bhattar for his selfless kainkaryam during the bleak period at the temple.

In that early phase, he also received a sambhavanai from the Venkatakavi Trust in Mylapore.

The great Venkata Kavi lived here

The Kalinga Narthana temple at Oothukadu has a significant connection with the music world. It was living here in Oothukadu that Venkata (Kavi) Subba Iyer composed many of his memorable and to-date unforgettable songs on Krishna including specific ones on Kalinga Narthana of Oothukadu.

Jayaraman Bhattar recounts the first day he entered the Sannidhi as an archaka just over three decades ago “There were cobwebs, rats and cockroaches inside the sanctum. There was no oil to light the lamp and I would light one ‘agal vilakku’ and use that to present at all sannidhis and then switch off so that I could use it again the next day. The vastrams of the deities were torn. The temple was dark after 6pm. And there were no devotees or thattu kaasu. Thirumanjanam had long stopped. And utsavams too.”

Luring Devotees Back 

All these saddened him and having taken the decision to perform the Kainkaryam, he took to reviving the temple. The madapalli was in a terrible state and he made ven Pongal from his house in Haridwara Mangalam and presented it to Perumal at Oothukaadu. He describes at the way he went about it “The most important aspect at that stage was to get devotees back into the temple. And I thought about how I could do that. I approached prominent astrologers across the state and requested them to direct their customers to this temple. I went to multiple cities in the state and met the owners of temple travel agencies and asked them to consider including Oothukadu in their Chozha temple trip schedule.”

He was buoyed by the fact that devotees actually went back and wrote postal letters as to how a wedding had taken place when it had earlier seemed unlikely and how there was childbirth in their house after sankalpa archanai at the Sannidhi. “Only then I realised the greatness of Kalinga Narthana and what a blessed state I was in to be performing Thiru Aradhanam at this temple” says Jayaraman Bhattar sitting at his house that he rebuilt last decade.

These two initiatives led devotees to visit the temple. When devotees reaped success from the sankalpa archanai, they spread the word to other devotees. And thus by the turn of the century, a regular stream of devotees began visiting the temple. It also coincided with the devotional wave that was striking TN temples.

For the visiting devotees, his wife cooked homely food and served lunch as this was a remote temple and there were no restaurants available in the near vicinity in those days. This friendly initiative too struck a chord with the devotees.

Getting Ubayadarars back - Revival of Utsavams

He then looked at the list of historical Ubayadarars who had been associated with the temple during his Thatha’s Kainkaryam days and tried to reach out to them. Many of them were now in high paying jobs and they expressed happiness to be reassociated with the temple.

Monthly Thirumanjanam began to become a regular feature. He then went about reviving the Krishna Jayanthi utsavam starting off on a small scale. Following this, he revived the Uriyadi utsavam bringing the local community together for the event.

During the dark years at Oothukadu and after seeing him perform kainkaryam at this temple, there were overseas archaka service offers for Jayaraman Bhattar but having committed to his appa to a lifetime service to Kalinga Narthanar, he rejected those lucrative offers.

In the initial phase of his temple kainkaryam, he would cycle 12 kms from Haridwara Mangalam, where his appa resided performing Kainkayaram in the Varadaraja Perumal temple there “In that period, when the cycle tyre punctured, I did not have money and paid the shop in instalments. Such were the financial challenges at that time.”

Massive Restoration Exercise

Having fully entrenched himself into the temple activity, he decided to take up the renovation work at the temple. The physical infrastructure at the temple had been poor for a long time and he began reaching out to devotees to contribute to the renovation exercise. And the ensuing consecration just over a decade ago saw a remarkable transformation of the temple with a beautiful Sannidhi for Venkatakavi, a stage for musicians and dancers to showcase their artistic skills, depicting Krishna’s legendary childhood tale in the form of painting around the Sannidhi (a story on this by this writer featured in The Hindu Friday Review at that time).

The Krishna Jayanthi Utsavam has now turned into a grand celebration with annadhanam for several hundreds of devotees. Every Rohini, there is a Thirumanjanam. The devotee numbers have shot up as well since the consecration. This margazhi devotees have come in good numbers early in the morning to recite Thiruppavai and for the Pongal from the now restored Madapalli.

Prarthana Sthalam

This temple is believed to be a Prarthana Sthalam for upcoming music and dance artistes. Kalinga Narthana is said to fulfill all their prayers and bring them success in their art. This is also believed to be a Prarthana Sthalam for the unmarried as well as childless couples. A visit to the Kalinga Narthana temple will liberate one from Rahu and Kethu doshams and Sarpa Dosham as well.

While Jayaraman Bhattar himself was a reluctant entrant into the temple in the early 1990s, having experienced Kalinga Narthanar, he was keen for his son to follow in his footsteps and moved him into the Madurantakam Patshala/Oriental school after his class V. And then for a brief period to the Dayananda Saraswathi Vaikanasa Agama patshala in Kudavasal. But the most important agama and life lessons came from his thatha as the now 32 year old Sundararaman Bhattar recounts “My thatha (Rajam Bhattar) was a Vaikasana agama expert and he was renowned for the way he performed consecrations in the traditional way. I was blessed to have been personally initiated into the agama by him through a Gurukulam model of learning. He knew the sastras inside out, believed, practiced and shared it with those following the Vaikanasa agamas.”

While he went out for consecration, Brahmotsavam, Pavitrotsavam and homam events over the last decade, he has now committed himself to being full time as an archaka at the Kalinga Narthana temple following in his appa’s and great grand father’s footsteps. There was money to be earned in those events outside but he has put those aside now to focus all his devotional energy on Kalinga Narthana even though his monthly salary is only Rs. 1000!!! Even that was possible only due to the efforts of the then EO Prabhakar, now at Nachiyar Koil.

His devotional attachment with Kalinga Narthana Perumal led him to go deep into the scriptures on Vyasa’s teachings and based on his research, he has now got into Pravachanam on the legendary tales of Radha and Krishna through his youtube channel – Krishnanandham.

Unfortunately, there is a lingering issue for those like him in remote temple towns, one that does not seem to have an immediate solution. Parents of prospective brides are not coming forward to hand their daughters to priests who are committing a lifetime service to historic remote temples. While his parents have cast their net wide, daughters of priests and even his own relatives are unwilling to take this positive step forward.

Sundar Bhattar is unmindful of this and says his focus is on performing Kainkaryam at the feet of Kalinga Narthanar all through his life. And that’s great commitment from a youngster at a time when those even in Divya Desams are heading Northwards into the corporate space and away from temples.

How to reach Oothukadu

Buses every half hour between Kumbakonam and Aavoor. The temple is about 2kms from Aavoor. Auto from Kumbakonam Railway Station/Bus stand costs Rs. 500.

The temple is open from 8am-1230pm and from 5pm-8pm.

Sarangapani Koil Namazhvaar Moksham 2025

The legendary event of Namazhvaar attaining Perumal's feet was enacted at the Sarangapani temple on Tuesday evening to the recital of the Aravamuthey verses on the 5th day of Era Pathu Utsavam 

It is a one of its kind coincidence. The fifth day of the Era Pathu Utsavam was celebrated at the Sarangapani Koil in Thiru Kudanthai on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi on Thursday (Dec 30) evening. 

A unique feature of the Adyayana Utsavam at Sarangapani Koil is that the Pagal Pathu Utsavam starting every year on the first day of Margazhi. This year, Thirumangai Azhvaar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal took place last Thursday (Dec 25). And thus, this Tuesday marked the fifth day of the Era Pathu Utsavam. In all other Divya Desams, the pagal pathu utsavam ended on Monday evening with Perumal in Mohini Alankaram and the Paramapada Vaasal opened this morning (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2021/12/sarangapani-koil-pagal-pathu-utsavam.html).

The fifth day of the Era Pathu utsavam at Sarangapani Koil is a special occasion for in the fifth canto of Thiruvoimozhi, Namazhvaar has praised the greatness of Aravamudhan, the moolavar deity at Thiru Kudanthai. It is the day when the Namazhvaar Moksham episode is enacted at this temple to go with the presentation of the Aravamuthey verses.

While Sarangapani Perumal had made it to the 100 pillared mandapam in the afternoon, he went on a procession inside the temple early in the evening as it was the Ekadasi day. And then he made his way back to the mandapam. On the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi, there was a huge crowd to have darshan of the Moolavar deity and the crowd stretched to the Chariot at the east end of the Sannidhi street. 

Just after 7.30pm, seated in a majestic posture atop the Sesha Vahana, Sarangapani listened to the start of the first decad of the fifth canto of Tiruvoimozhi. The traditionalists of Thiru Kudanthai who had been at the prabhandham recital through the Pagal Pathu utsavam were present for the Thodakkam while a majority of the devotees were in the long queue for moolavar darshan.

After the presentation of the first seven decads of the fifth canto, there was a break as more devotees gathered at the 100 pillared mandapam to watch the magical moment of Namazhvaar attaining Sarangapani’s feet. 

Namazhvaar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal

Soon after Soundar Bhattar gave the nod, the prabhandham members began the recital of the Aravamuthey verses with Patrarchars carrying Namazhvaar towards Sarangapani Perumal. It was a step by step movement even as the members continued the sacred verses of Namazhvaar on the Lord of Thiru Kudanthai. While there continued to be a long queue for darshan of the moolavar, the HRCE staffers made repeated announcements on crowd management even as these sacred verses were being presented much to the annoyance of Soundar Bhattar who made his displeasure known to them.

 

ஆரா அமுதே அடியேன் உடலம்  நின்பால் அன்பாயே

நீராய்  அலைந்து கரைய உருக்குகின்ற நெடுமாலே

சீர் ஆர் செந்நெல் கவரி வீசும் செழு நீர் திரு குடந்தை

ஏர் ஆர் கோலம் திகழ கிடந்தாய் கண்டேன் எம்மானே  - Thiruvoimozhi (5-8-1)

As the members moved into the final verse of the 8th decad, Namazhvaar was placed at the feet of Sarangapani Perumal with Soundar Bhattar following it up with placing Tulasi on the body of Namazhvaar. Devotees who made their way after the darshan of Moolavar Aravamudhan felt blessed to have witnessed the enactment of Azhvaar Thiruvadi Thozhuthal event.

வாரா வருவாய் வரும் என் மாயா மாயா மூர்த்தியாய் 

ஆரா அமுதாய்  அடியேன் ஆவி அகமே தித்திப்பாய் 

தீரா வினைகள் தீர என்ன ஆண்டாய் திருக்குடந்தை 

ஊரா உனக்கு ஆள் பட்டும் அடியேன் இன்னம் உழல்வேனோ 

After almost three decades, Soundararajan Bhattar continues to be greatly attached to his ‘Perumal’ and it was a delight for the devotees to watch him perform the Thiru Aradhanam with such devotion (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2022/02/thiru-kudanthai-soundar-bhattar.html).

The clock had ticked to ten pm when the Vedic members recited the Vedas that was followed by the presentation of the final decads of the fifth canto of Tiruvoimozhi. Devotees continued to head to the 100 pillared mandapam after the moolavar darshan late into the evening.

There was a wide ranging prasadam presented to the Lord on the occasion of Namazhvaar Moksham and this was distributed to the devotees. 

It was almost 11pm when the devotee donors of the day made their way to the 100 pillar mandapam for a close darshan of Sarangapani perumal bringing to end this fifth day of the Era Pathu Utsavam.

This Saturday evening on the 9th day of the Era Pathu Utsavam, Sarangapani Perumal and Komalavalli Thayar will provide Maatru Sevai darshan to devotees with Perumal presenting himself as Thayar, and Thayar likewise as Perumal, at the 100 pillared mandapam.

Gopurapatti Adhi Nayaka Perumal temple HRCE takeover

The temple where Namperumal had resided during the Muslim Invasion has now been taken over by the HRCE after the Chief Priest of Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple restores and performs two consecrations

Murali Bhattar, the Chief Priest of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam was saddened by the plight of Adhi Nayaka Perumal when he visited Gopurapatti just under a couple of decades ago. The temple was in ruins with the moolavar deity in a damaged condition. There were heavy bushes and snake pits inside the temple complex. The significance of Gopurapatti dates back to the Muslim Invasion of the 14th century when Namperumal stayed here before returning to Srirangam. 

He organised the restoration of the temple at a cost of around Rs. 1crore though the original plan was to organise repair works for around Rs. 20000. Just over a dozen years ago, the temple had been completely turned around with a restoration exercise anchored by Murali Bhattar. The temple complex wore a new look and this writer had featured a story in The Hindu Friday Review on the facelift the temple had received. 

He organised a priest for the initial phase as well as secured the services of a devotee donor for the maintenance of the temple. Vahanas too were built for processions to be revived.

In 2018, he roped in KS Abiraman of Manachanallur as the priest and he has been performing daily Thiru Aradhanam over the last 7 years and has been instrumental in the devotees coming back to the temple in good numbers especially during Puratasi and Margazhi. 

And recently, Murali Bhattar also organised a 2nd consecration and expressed happiness at not only having restored the temple from a dilapidated state but also at being able to perform consecration twice in the space of 12 years. 

The Villagers have been managing the temple activities and the utsavams collecting funds from donors since the restoration of the temple.

HRCE takeover

And now, the HR & CE has taken over the administration of the temple. They have placed a banner inside the temple to inform the devotees as to who will be administering the temple from now on. Murali Bhattar feels blessed that he has been able to play a role in the restoration of a historic temple where devotees continue to perform tharpanam on Aadi Amavasai for the forefathers who passed away in the Muslim Invasion.  But he says that he will be taking a back seat for now with the taking over of the temple by the HR & CE. Murali Bhattar had been paying the salary of the priest since the restoration and also been doing his bit for the maintenance of the temple and has been responsible for the complete makeover of the temple but with this takeover, one will have to wait and watch as to how things pan out at the  Adhi Nayaka Perumal temple in Gopurapatti.

Nachiyar Koil Kal Garuda Sevai December 2025

Huge crowd, beautiful alankaram, glittering jewellery and tireless effort from the sripatham personnel mark the Garuda Sevai on Friday evening but Theppotsavam at the end of this margazhi festival remains a question mark with sewage water seeping into the sacred tank

Will the HRCE Minister take corrective steps before the Panguni Utsavam Theerthavari???

Gopinathan Bhattar, who has been at the Thiru Mangai Azhvaar praised Nachiyar Koil in Thiru Naraiyur for the last three decades, makes repeated announcements that this is a one of its kind Kal Garuda Sevai on Friday evening for it was the third one in 2025 following the ones in early January and during the Panguni Brahmotsavam.

High Devotional Vibrancy on Garuda Sevai evening

Prabhakaran, the Executive Officer of the temple, finds it hard to believe that the crowd has increased so dramatically. He was very happy in January this year on the Kal Garuda Sevai evening when this writer met him at exactly the same time – 10pm soon after Srinivasa Perumal and Vanjulavalli Thayar had made their way out of the Eastern Raja Gopuram for the through the night street procession. Watching the crowd swell to several thousands on this Friday evening, there is tears in his eyes for he had seen some earlier photos of the temple in the years gone by when there were very few devotees.  The entire temple complex was jam packed through the evening till the start of the procession.

As the clock ticked to 11pm, Srinivasa Perumal atop Kal Garuda and Vanjulavalli Thayar on the Anna Pakshi vahana mounted on to the Ther like Chapparam. Devotees came out of their homes with flower garlands and coconuts and invoked the blessings of the divine couple of Thiru Naraiyur Divya Desam. 

Prabhakaran makes it to the South street where Gopinathan Bhattar presents special mariyathai to the police personnel. It required a humungous effort from the police to manage the huge crowd ahead of the procession of Kal Garuda from his abode to the alankara mandapam. To make sure that the procession was in order, the EO makes another visit at 1am this time to the West street. There are the usual issues like the protruding of trees blocking the path of the Chapparam and a Kainkaryapara climbs the tree to cut the branches. There are some overhead wires to be avoided as well as pits on the streets. 

It is past 2am when Srinivasa Perumal makes his way through the North Bazaar Street. In front of the Chariot at the east end of the temple, Gopinathan Bhattar presents mariyathai to the personnel who ensured that the chariot ran smooth and safe with the clock having ticked to 3.30am, a good 5 ½ hours after the procession began. 

மாண் கொண்ட தோல் மார்வின் மாணியாய் 

மாவலி மண் தான் கொண்டு தாளால் அளந்த பெருமானே 

தேன் கொண்ட சாரல் திருவேங்கடத்தானை  

நான் சென்று நாடி நறையூரில் கண்டேனே 

Devotees stayed back in good numbers through the night long procession to pull the Chapparam Chariot to the East street of Nachiyar Koil. Gopinathan Bhattar wears a happy look at having organised yet another Kal Garuda procession. He repeats once again that this has been the third one in 2025 with this seeing the biggest crowd of all, in the three decades he has been involved in this archaka kainkaryam. 

It has been a big revival on the back of a huge devotee following for Garuda. Thursdays have been witnessing big crowds at this temple with the devotees believing a prarthanai sankalpa archanai on this day every week will help fulfil all their wishes.

                                                 

Sewage Water into the Sacred temple tank

Thus far, it has been all positive at this Margazhi utsavam. Huge crowd, beautiful alankaram, glittering jewellary and tireless effort from the sripatham personnel. Unfortunately there has been a serious issue that has been bogging the temple for the last many years with EO Prabhakaran taking serious cognizance of the events from the past.

The last day of this utsavam marks the Theerthavari followed by Theppotsavam in the evening. While the temple tank itself was refurbished with Neeraatti Mandapam restored to its old glory as part of the Thiruppani works that took place a couple of years ago that culminated in the grandest of consecrations at the Nachiyar Koil. However, this historic temple has been fighting a battle with the Governmental authorities on the issue of sewage water that has been entering the temple tank for many years.

Of course, in the decades gone by, the state of the temple tank was deplorable and the restoration has revived the tank and the mandapam inside and there was hope that Theppotsavam would be conducted inside the tank that is North of the temple complex. 

This section had featured a story on the Theppotsavam in December 2018 (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/12/thiru-naraiyur-nachiyar-koil-utsavam.html). Once Prabhakaran took over as the EO, he has remained firm that he will administer the temple in a Dharmic way and that he would not do anything that goes against the sanctity of the temple and its utsavams.

முருகிலங்கு கனிதுவர்வாய் பின்னை கேள்வன் மன்னெல்லாம்  முன்னவியச்சென்று 

வென்றிச் செருக்கழுத்துத் ததிறலழிய செற்ற வேந்தன் சிறந்துணிந்தான் திருவடினும் சென்னிவைப்பீர் 

இருக்கிலங்கு திருமொழி வாய் எண்தோள் ஈசற்கு எழில் மாட எழுபதும் செய்து உலகமாண்ட 

திருகுலத்து வளச்சோழன் சேர்ந்த கோயில் திரு நறையூர் மணி மாட சேர்மின்களே 

Construction of public toilets near the temple complex has led to drainage water being let into the temple tank. Despite the issue being taken up at the Collector level, this issue has remained unsolved in the recent past. While the sacred tank is brimming with water and it would be a delight to watch the Theppotsavam at the end of the Brahmotsavam next week, the EO has taken a bold call that he would not approve of the Theppotsavam until the sewage water flowing into the tank is stopped permanently. And so next week too,  the Theppotsavam will not take place in this sacred tank and even the Theerthavari will take place inside the temple at the Vasanthotsavam tank.

HRCE Minister promises corrective steps

While as the HRCE’s representative, the EO of the temple has ensured restoration of the tank complex, he has been helpless with the lack of response from the local authorities who have not taken steps to streamline the drainage system in the streets around the temple complex.

BJP’s H Raja visited the temple on the Kal Garuda Sevai day on Friday and has threatened serious action if the Governmental authorities in Nachiyar Koil do not find a permanent solution redirecting sewage water appropriately away from the tank before the Panguni Brahmotsavam when Theerthavari is slated to take place inside this sacred temple tank.

While EO Prabhakaran looks back with great delight at the Thiruppani works and the consecration and the huge crowds during the Kal Garuda Sevai, he is pained at the unresolved issue relating to the temple tank.

This writer spoke to the HRCE minister Sekar Babu late on Friday night and he has promised to look into this issue and to resolve this at the earliest. While the minister has claimed credit for thousands of temple consecrations in the last few years, this seeping of sewage water into the sacred tank in a historic Divya Desam, one where Thiru Mangai Azhvaar sang a 100 verses of praise will be a black mark in his books. It is hoped that he will personally oversee the corrective steps and ensure that the sacred temple tank in Nachiyar Koil is clean and free from sewage water before the Panguni Utsavam’s Theerthavari.