Panchagramam - history

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Dear Members,

 

This is in reply to Sri Venkatesh Elayavalli's query about the Panchagramam.

 

I have heard these from my elder sister when I was young and from Sri

Velukkudi

Varadachariar at the time of the Mahasamprokshanam of Karpangadu Sri

Devarajaswami Kovil when I was grown up.

 

Once a group of Iyengar families setout from Kanchipuram for a holy tour of

the 108 Vaishnava Thirupathis. Onthe way they were resting during a night.

Emberuman blessed them with a goodmessage in their dream. Sri Emberuman said

that Sri Devarajaswami and hispirattis are covered by an ant hill as

archavatara moorthi vigrahas and theyshould recover them and properly

install them and do nithyakainkaryam. The location of the anthill can be

identified by the flight of a Garudan in the sky.

 

The bhakta shrestas did as per the orders of the Lord and found the

idols. They approached the King / Jamindar owning those parts of Thanjavur

for help in constructing the temple. The owner also agreed and gave vast

areas of land which were divided into three. One portion became the property

of Sri Devarajaswamy, another was kept by the Bakthasiromanis and the third

went to the farmers who were invited to get settled in that area.

 

Peravoorani, Sithathikkadu, Karappangadu, Serangulam and Nammankurichi are

the five villages included in the Panchagramam. The descendants of the

Bhaktasiromanis who settled in these five villages are referred to as

panchagramathar. They are divided into two as kidambiyar and koorathar.

 

Even to this day they get together for the Pal Mangai Utsavam at Karpangadu

which is held during the English month of May. Please bear with me for not

being familar with the Tamil calendar month details.

 

I am very happy to know that Sri Srinivasar temple at Serangulam was

renovated. I once went with my maternal uncle to the Srinivasar temple at

Peravurani for Kudirai Vahana utsavam. It was a pathetic sight to see the

dilapidated temple which is a true reflection on us and our total disregard

for the rich traditions of our ancestors. My elder sister still sings

OdappAttu and Unjal pAttu composed by PerAvurani women for the theppotsavam

(Boat festival) and Kalyana Utsavam of Sri Srinivasar. The song is also like

a souvenir mentioning the names of various people who participated in the

kainkaryam by giving money and doing service.

 

I should hasten to add the glorious service rendered by some families still

living there. The archakAs in charge of Swami Kainkaryam in these temples is

economically backward but still they continue to help us with sevakalams and

swami darsanam with hospitality and courtesy. The main problem of that

temple seemed to be lack of funds. The temple renovation scheme floated by

some previous government in Tamil Nadu never reached any of these temples.

 

 

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Rajan S