You are here: SriPedia - SriRangaSri - Archives - Oct 2003

SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00082 Oct 2003

 
Oct 2003 Indexes ( Date | Thread | Author )
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]


Dear bhagavathas,

pranamams.

This posting is about the visit to Thanjai mamanikkoil temple.

2nd July evening

It was around 4 PM we have reached Vennar bank, where the three 
temples of Thanjai Mamanikkoil are situated. Sri Thirumangai azhvar 
is doing mangalasasanam to this divya desam in the first decad itself 
of Peria thirumozhi. First little bit background information about 
this divya desam and adiyongal's association with this divya desam.

Four years back one of our goshti member from Bahrain had been to 
this divya desam on a sravanam day and he was shocked to see the 
condition of the temple. Swami desikan's purappadu was supposed to 
commence, when he and his wife had visited but the condition of the 
temple was pathetic and there was no garlands to Perumal or acharya 
on Sravanam day itself. When he came to Bahrain, he narrated this to 
us and he had been trying to do something for this temple.

Three years back our goshti members have joined hands and undertook 
the nitya aradana kaimkaryam of this temple and we are glad to state 
that this humble kaimkaryam is still continuing to this date. We were 
just sending money to one bhagavatha in chennai and he was 
orgainising the required things and that's all. Two years back, when 
adiyen went to India we have planned a trip to Thanjai mamanikkoil 
but unfortunately the bus broke down enroute Thanjavour from 
Pattukkottai and by the time we have landed Thanjavour we just had 
time to rush to Junction to catch the train. We could not postpone 
our Madras return with my young daughter. Somehow adiyen couldn't 
make another trip last time.

Some time back, adiyen has received feedback stating that the 
kaimkaryams are NOT going on as per our original intention and the 
local bhagavathas were not even aware of the kaimkaryam, our Bahrain 
satsangh have been doing at this diyva desam. This was a surprise but 
please don't mistake adiyen for writing this. Adiyen is not blaming 
anyone or finding fault with the bhagavatha who was doing this 
kaimkaryam on our behalf. It is Perumal's leela to make us involved 
more.

Adiyen has asked my retired father whether he can undertake this 
kaimkaryam co ordinating with some one locally. He made few trips to 
Thanjai and finally located his distant related cousin who was 
working as Sanskrit Teacher. His name is Sri Gopalan. His house was 
in Karunthattankudi and his school was in Thanjavour town. He used to 
visit the temples in Vennar bank once in a week. As adiyen's father 
was discussing this with him, his proposal to purchase a house 
adjacent to Manikundra perumal temple has materialised. It seems that 
the owner of that house was demanding huge sum till that time and the 
house was vacent for many years. The owner who is living in Chennai 
finally reduced his quote and Sri Gopalan could afford to purchase 
the house. He is Siromani in sanskrit from Madhurantakam school run 
by Sri ahobila mutt and his father in law is one of senior aradhakar 
at Sri Ahobila mutt who is with Srimad Azhagiya singar for more than 
20 years. He is called as Vaduvur aradhakar. Sri Gopalan and his wife 
Smt Vaidhehi are strict followers of our sampradayam and their achara 
anushtanams are very strict. Being born and brought up at Vennar bank 
Sri Gopalan has immediately accepted our request to co ordinate the 
kaimkaryam. Their devotion to Sri Nelamega perumal is unbelievable. 
Finally Perumal has made arrangements for HIS own kaimkaryam 
listening to our prayers. Now Sri Gopalan is co ordinating the nitya 
aradana kaimkaryam at Thanjai. If you are visiting this temple you 
can talk to him and understand the current developments.Adiyen is 
extremely sorry for giving such long history. Adiyen wants to put 
every one of you in the picture.

We have landed at Sri Gopalan's house. Smt Vaidehi was extremely glad 
to receive us and she was wondering the timing of their house 
purchase, when we were asking them to undertake this kaimkaryam. Also 
she was so happy with their new house as Srimad Azhagiya singar had 
been to their new home en route his sancharam and we were the first 
guests visiting them after Srimad Azhagiya singar.

Now it has started raining heavily and it was a great relief to feel 
the cool breeze after tiring journey in the hot sun. Due to this we 
have to drop our plan to visit Thirukkandiyur divya desam and only 
after 2 hours we could even go to the temples nearby.

Their house was adjacent to Manikkundra perumal temple. Few yards on 
the left was Nelamega perumal and few more yards on the right was 
Thanjai Yali ie Nrusimha perumal temples. Nelamega perumal is 
considered to be the senior of the three and we went there first.

This temple is in such a bad condition. The main gopuram is looking 
pathetic and there are cracks where ever you look above your head. 
Bats are freely flying above your head and terrifying. Just opposite 
to the sannidhi is looking like a go shala ie Cow shed. The whole 
place is messy and the perumal is in very old clothes without any 
ornaments and any devotee seeing the perumal will cry for sure. 

As we were waiting for the bhattar to come, we took a tour of the 
temple although it was still drizzling. The cows there are basically 
donated to the nearby Mariamman temple and since both the temples are 
under the same trust the cows are brought over to perumal temple. 
Adieyn read that only a milking cow should be donated but here the 
cows donated for not so. They are all old and one of them was born 
blind. We heard that one cow has died due to snake poisoning and 
another due to bite of a stray dog.

Thankfully now there is an Ex service man, who is taking care of the 
cows. His name is Sri Rajagopalan and he is native of Vennar bank. 
After his retirement he is doing this social service. Since there was 
no proper security for the temple it was a place for local rowdi's to 
assemble and play cards and drink etc it seems. Now after his 
involvement such anti social elements have been eliminated. He has 
requested us help to feed the cows. Adiyen has promised to help and 
feeding the cows there would cost Rs 300/ per week. We are looking 
for volunteers for this kaimkaryam. One bhagavatha from Doha has 
given money ( Rs 5000) to make a proper shed for the cows. Now a nice 
shed has been made adjacent to Desikan sannidhi. After many years 
perumal can see the Garudazhvar instead of the cows.

We had good darshan and the needs of temple are plenty. There is no 
screen in front of the sannidhi for closing during Bhojyasanam. There 
no clothes for the deities and not to speak about the ornaments. The 
Thayar is without tilakam or Thirumangalyam also. Adiyen is feeling 
embrassed to even write this. With heavy heart we have moved to 
manikundra perumal temple.

Thankfully the condition of Manikundra perumal is slightly better. 
Adiyen was told that one bhagavatha has undertaken the renovation 
kaimkaryam and he has done a good job. Although there is no facility 
for nitya aradanam, this temple looks far better than Neelamega 
perumal temple.

Then we have moved to Narasimhar temple. This temple is being looked 
after very well. You may wonder how this could be possible. Among the 
three temples one is depilated condition and another is looking new. 
Although the temples are under the same trust, the narasimhar temple 
is being looked after by a wealthy, famous personality who is close 
to a popular politician. Someone has told them that they have to 
serve a narasimhar temple it appears. The peruaml here is with good 
vastram and ornaments. The gopuram and prakaram etc are sparkling and 
adiyen is just dreaming that Neelamega perumal also should find such 
a sponsor to take care of HIMSELF. We are atleast taking care of 
nitya aradanam in Neelmega perumal and Manikundra perumal temples 
besides sambhavana to bhattar.

It was around 9 PM we came home and retired for that day. Our plan 
was to start next day early morning and our plan was to cover 
Thillaivilakam ramar temple (our Kula deivam), Mannargudi, Vaduvur 
before reaching Oppiliappan koil for Kalyana utsavam.

Adiyen will take u thru the 3rd July experiences in next posting.

regards

dasan venkat






[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index ] [Thread Index ] [Author Index ]
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
To subscribe to the list