Tiruvisanallur

My uncle told me this story: He tuned in to Vijayawada AIR a few years back. A Tani Avartanam was going on.  Mridangam was outstanding with rich chapus and gumkis. This was followed by ghatam which rained sollus. Then, kanjira took over with amazing variations in the bass. Back to mridangam... This happened for a few rounds. He was amazed at the tonal quality and technical virtuosity. Started guessing who this fatastic team was. Could it be Palghat Mani, Palani Subbudu, Alangudi Ramachandran...The programme got over. 'That was Vikatam programme byThiruvisanallur Ramaswamy Sastrigal', said the announcer in Telugu. It took sometine for my uncle to recover from the shock.

Vikatam Ramaswamy Sastrigal was given the title 'Kapotam' by Kanchi Acharyal for his imitation of pigeons. Sastrigal conducted aradhanai for Tiruvisanallur Sridhara Ayyaval for many years. Sridhara Ayyaval was a Siva Bhakta, and one of the three gurus of Bhajanai Sampradaya. 

Tiruvisainallur has produced many such philosphers, scholars and musicians. Uyyavanda Deva Nayanar, author of Tiruvundiyar, a Saiva Siddhantha text, was born here. Tiruvisanallur is a padal petra sthalam, being 43rd of 63 Kaveri Vadakarai sthalams.  Sambandar has sung a padigam here.

It is about 10km east of Kumbakonam.  Can be reached in 15-30 min from Kumbakonam. Ganeshkumar Sivacharyar (94447 47142, 0435 2000679) serves the Lord. Timing: 730 - 1230, 0330 - 0800. Sivacharyar lives next to the temple.  

The temple is huge,  managed by Thanjavur Aranmanai Samasthanam. Not very well maintained, short of resources, under renovation. Not too many sevarthis. Therefore, need to adopt new marketing strategies. Charturkala Bhairavar is being marketed. Hope results turn out as good as Tirunageswaram or Alangudi. 

Sad to see a village with a hoary tradition of scholarship and culture deteriorating.

Photos here.