Losing the past in search of a future

S. Prabhu

November 22, 2018 15:11 IST

Updated: November 22, 2018 15:11 IST

  Meagre income has forced the next generation to move away from service as priests in several temples

The two decades — 1960s-80s —were the most difficult period for priests and service personnel in temples across Tamil Nadu. The changing political climate in the State and the gaining dominance of the HR and CE Department severely impacted the archaka community.

Initially, driven by the land ceiling act, the inhabitants began leaving their ancestral homes in search of jobs. Later, the introduction of hundials took away an important component of their income — ‘Thattu Kaasu’as devotees used hundis to deposit their contributions. As income came down, the priests began selling their hereditary lands. They, however, continued the service that their forefathers had performed for centuries. But the next generation was not prepared to do the sacrifice. They opted for professional courses such as engineering and IT, instead of learning the Prabandham and Thevaram verses.
Here, we catch up with some of the seniors, whose offspring moved away from a calling pursued by their ancestors for better income and lifestyle.

Dearth of funds

For 42 years, R. Ramakrishna Bhattar at the Kalamegha Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Mogur has been performing the daily aradhana.

When he joined the temple service there was hardly any income as the annual Brahmotsavam did not gather enough crowd and the Veda Parayanam and Prabhandham Ghosti had also become a thing of the past. Despite various difficulties, Ramakrishna Bhattar, now past 60, continues his services to the Lord. However, his two sons, who have seen their father struggle to earn even a meagre amount after standing for hours, have decided to turn their back on tradition and have taken up jobs in the IT sector.
Similar situation prevails at Thiru Kannapuram.
Koora Kulothama Dasa (81), a descendant of one of the 74 disciples of Ramanuja and a sthalathar, serves at the Sowriraja Perumal temple in Thiru Kannapuram divyadesam (praised as a vibrant place by Thirumangai Azhwar in his hymns). Even the pension dues have not been registered here. He says that during his childhood all the four Mada Vilagams were resounding with the chants of Divya Prabhandham and the sacred Vedas.
“Things changed during the second half of the last century. In the new political climate, proceeds from the 30 Veli of leased out temple lands came down significantly, altering with it the essence of temple tradition. The decline in a huge source of income for the temple led to a negative impact on the entire community at Thiru Kannapuram and mass exodus happened,” says Kulothama dasa. Today there are less than 10 Brahmin families in Thiru Kannapuram
Having joined the temple as an adyapaka in 1955 for a salary of Rs.12, Kulothama Dasa retired 40 years later with a measly salary. That his pension dues have not been registered in the past two decades and there is no response from the HR & CE department add to his woes. He points out that araiyars were popular at the divyakshetram. Their house still exists but their descendants have stayed away from the traditional art. Once a year, in Maasi, the Araiyar from Srivilliputhur will come to the temple to perform the Araiyar Sevai, as a reminder of its historical past.
Sowri Raja Bhattar, considered an expert in agamas and in conducting Samprokshanams, who took over as priest at Thiru Kannapuram at the age of 18, in 1968, also has a similar account to give. The salary of a few hundred rupees was simply not enough to run the family. With the result, his elder son chose better options.
At Srivilliputhur
Bala Mukundan Araiyar (64), one of the few remaining Araiyars in Divya Desams, began presenting Araiyar Sevai at Srivilliputhur over 50 years ago , without any remuneration from the temple. The only time that he received money was from devotees during the Margazhi Adyayana Utsavam. The Araiyars of Srivilliputhur have daily kainkaryam at the temple through the year. However, for half a century, there has hardly been any financial support, including from the Government, to help the families that are continuing this service.

As the future in temple services was found to be bleak, his son too decided to choose other options. The Araiyar educated the son after taking a loan and the latter is serving a bank. But he performs Araiyar Sevai on special occasions.
At Thiruvanaikaval
The situation is no different at Thiruvanaikaval, the Thevaram sthalam, where S.T. Subramaniam Pandithar (66) has been performing aradhana for Lord Jambukeswarar and Ambal Akhilandeswari since early 1980. His grandfather and father were involved in the temple services for over eight decades.
He says that in the centuries gone by, the traditional convention was that any payment from the Kodi Maram to Moolasthanam belonged to the archakas. Again hundis took away almost all of the income.
Often even ‘Thattu Kasu’ is not spared. In the recent decades, the quality of the neivedhyam has come down drastically. So also the quantity of daily prasadam to the archakas, which is less than one fourth of what they used to receive half a century ago. The monetary setback not only affected the lifestyle of the archakas it made the future of their wards, especially sons a question mark. Only married Brahmin men could become priests but with their meagre income it was impossible to find brides.
STS’ son learnt Suktas, essential for temple work, but was disheartened by the poor economic situation and decided to pursue a career in IT.
The current position in the majority of historical temples is that one priest is managing multiple shrines, taking care of the madapalli (kitchen) and serving long hours. Everyone is hopeful that one day the priests and the traditional service personnel will come back to the temple.

 

https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/in-search-of-future/article25565340.ece