visit to divya desams part IV

[Guest guest]

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