The Hindu : Mixing Vedas with modern law

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Mixing Vedas with modern law

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM July 10. A new chapter opened in the history of the renowned Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple here when the 52-year-old Moodambadi Kesavan Subramanian took over as the new Panchagavyathu Nambi this morning. He succeeds Shabaram Venkitaramanan Vishnumoorthi.

He assumed charge in the presence of the Pushpanjali Swamiyars and the Ashtayoga Pottis.

There are two Swamiyars who trace their roots to the Villuamangalam family. As they are the persons designated to perform Pushapanjali when the Maharaja of Travancore visits the temple, they are also known as Pushpanjali Swamiyars. The Ashtayoga Pottis hail from eight illams.

Subramanian prostrated before the Swamiyars and offered kanikka to the Lord before taking over. The former then presented the Olakuda (palmyra leaf umbrella), which is the symbol of his position as Panchagavyathu Nambi to him.

With that he became equal to the Lord. He is not supposed to pay obeisance to anyone after that. In the temple hierarchy, he is second only to the Periya Nambi.

As is customary, Subramanian went to Thiruvattar in Kanyakumari district yesterday and worshipped at the Adikesava Temple, the deity of which is considered as the elder brother of Sri Padmanabha and the Parasurama Temple at Thiruvallam before taking up his new responsibilities.

It is because of personal reasons that Venkitaramanan has retired from the position of Panchagavyathu Nambi. He could have continued as long as the Maharaja wanted him to. Subramanian can also continue as long as he enjoys the Maharaja's confidence.

The Panchagavyathu Nambis are selected from the Mathilakam Akkaradeshi Aikyasamooham. There are eight families in the Aikyasamooham. The president of the Aikyasamooham, Janardhanan Potti, who is the melshanti of the famous Janardhanaswamy Temple at Varkala near here, said that these families hail from Kokkada village in Mangalapuram.

Subramanian, a law graduate, had gone to Uttara Kashi to embrace sanyasa. He was called back to take up the position. He was told that it is also a sanyasa of sorts. Actually it is not sanyasa of sorts but sanyasa itself. The rules are tough. He will not be able to stay in his house though it is at Mithranandapuram, which is close to the temple.

He will have to stay in the Thekke Nambi Matom observing celibacy. His only connection with his house will be the food, which may be brought to him from there occasionally.

Other arrangements have been made for his regular boarding. His will be a real sanyasa in an urban milieu. If he had been in Uttara Kashi, he would have had to spend the rest of his life in prayers and penance.

Here he will be able to pursue his favourite hobby— reading— after his duties at the temple, prayers and meditation. He will also be able to brush up his law from a purely academic point of view though the Divine Law, which is going to govern his future, is an altogether different thing.

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