It takes great devotional commitment to be the lone archaka in a huge temple located in a remote place. Narasimha Gopalan Acharya, who belongs to the Periya Nambi clan, went beyond the call of his duty when he made the efforts to revive Pavitrotsavam at the ancient Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannarkovil. It is an encore of sorts because a decade ago, thanks to him Theppotsavam was revived. The festival is now celebrated in a grand manner on Maasi Punarvasu, the birthday of Kulasekara Azhwar, who attained Moksham here. The Azhwar spent his last years at this place performing daily pooja for Lord Rama, who was his abhisheka deity. The idols have been preseved at the temple.
Narasimha Gopalan, who manages all the shrined inside the temple rest of the year, roped in Govindan Bhattar from the Tirukkurungudi Divya Desam to perform homam for three days. For the first time in several decades, Vedic recital too was held. Twenty-nine year old Krishna Ghanapadigal along with a few scholars from a Chennai patasala chanted Thatakam, Achitram, Aswamedam, Aruna Prakshanam, Krama and Jata Parayanam. Divya Prabhandham scholars joined the celebration and this prompted Araiyar Sri Rama Sarma to come all the way from Melkote.
Sumptuous food
Incidentally, Narasimha Gopalan, also doubles up as the cook at the Madappalli. For the festival, he brought in expert cooks to prepare sumptuous meal for the guests. Prior to the revival of this utsavam, he helped build, through support from devotees, a rest house in the agraharam, where visiting devotees could stay. The conduct of the utsavam on a bigger scale was made possible as the Vedic and Prabhandham Scholars could stay near the temple and were served traditional food.
The Grand Revival culminated with a procession of Lord Rajagopalan flanked by Andal and Garudan, around the four streets of Mannar Koil.
The temple is open from 7-11 a.m. and 5-7.30 p.m.
How to reach
Mannar Koil is about 40 km west of Tirunelveli near Ambasamudram on the banks of two rivers, Tamiraparani and Karuna. There are direct trains from Chennai Egmore to Ambasamudram, from where autorickshaws can be hired for ₹80.
