The Remains of the Pristine Devotion

Rajesh Govindarajulu

Kulathupudur Varadaraja Perumal Temple 

Kulathupudur is a quaint village located on the outskirts of Pollachi. One has to pass through a lot of greenery while navigating the winding roads which leads to the temple. The lovely residence of the temple founders is a welcome sight. A large Peepal tree adds to the beauty of the temple neighborhood. 

Sri Bhoomi Neela Sametha Varadaraja Perumal resides in this well-kept temple. The temple is  managed by the brothers, K. V. Sadagopan and K. V. Nathamuni. Visitors are welcome through the day and the kind priest is been to show an aarti and keen to offer thulasi to each and everyone visiting the shrine. A nice madapalli (kitchen) has been created and the shrine of Hanuman is right to the yagasala. A clay pot from Srirangam adds to the sanctity. The temple has been sanctified by the visits of several great seers over the decades. However the Lord is ever happy with all his devotees who reside in this lovely village. 

The Perumal temple is really a hub for the Sri Vaishnavite tradition in the Pollachi region. The brothers, Sadagopan and Nathamuni have devoted their all for the maintenance of the marvellous shrine. No stone is left unturned in this regard. 

One Subbiah Gounder of this region was blessed with six children and Arumuga Gounder was one of them. He began to live here and due to the hand of providence it was possible to be in touch with Thiru Venkata Battachariar. This made him adopt the Sri Vaishnavite tradition and therefore he came to be known as ‘Thirunarayana Ramanuja Dasan'. He constructed the temple on the orders of his spiritual mentor. 

Thirunarayana Ramanujadasan was a devout person and he brought in people from Srirangam and Srivillipudur in order to offer prayers and prasadam to the Lord. He conducted the ‘Mahasamprokshanam' of this temple on 16/9/1943. The founder passed away thereafter. 

The temple continued to shower its grace on the village under the management of Varadarajan. He happened to be one of the three sons of Thirunarayana Ramanujadasan. The other two were – Ramanujam & Narayanaswamy. The family was blessed with two daughters too. 

Varadarajan was given the ‘Mudra’ on a good day and came to be known as Periyaazhwar Varadarajan. He was well connected with Rajaji, C. Subramaniam, and Swami Chidbhavananda. Varadarajan managed the temple well and ensured that his sons and daughters were given the ‘Mudra'. 

‘Mudra’ is done in order to guide the devotee towards Lord Vishnu. It is meant to promote spiritual chastity with complete surrender as the motto. 

The son of the founder – Varadarajan created the structure required for the management of the temple. He would always be found in the company of the devotees of Lord Vishnu. Varadarajan passed away in the year 1958 and his first son K. V. Sadagopan began to manage the affairs of the temple. 

There was brief interregnum due to the absence of a proper priest in the year 1988. There was a struggle for about 20 months. A divine occurrence ensured the continuance and glory thereafter. One Srimooshnam Govindachariar was in Srirangam around 1989 and he had a strange dream one night. One elderly Vaishnavite who was bearing 12 Namams (sacred sign) told Govindachariar that he was hungry and requested him to offer him prasadam. He had dissapeared in the western direction. Govindachariar got in touch with His Holiness Sri Ranga Narayana Jeer Swami and told him about this divine dream. It was at this time that K. V. Sadagopan had told the Jeer about the temple. Therefore the Jeer advised Govindachariar to look into the matters pertaining to this temple. Govindachariar understood that it was the Varadaraja of Kulathupudur who had come in his dream. Immediately a homam was planned for by him and they decided to do a Mahasamprokshanam to the temple. The Mahasamprokshanam took place on 24/01/1992. Pollachi C. B. Sethupathy Gounder had been of great help during the trying times. Ramraj Vanavarayar of Samathur had paid a visit and prophesied that the temple would come up well in the future. His words found action in a short time.  

Dr. N. Mahalingam, Annur. K. Govindaswamy Naidu, B. K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Pollachi R. V. S. Marimuthu, Narayanaswamy Naicker, R. Doraisami Naidu, P. S. G. G. Govindaswamy, D. Jayawarathnavelu of L. M. W. and others ensured that their contributions towards the Mahasamprokshanam came in on time.  

K. V. Sadagopan & his brother K. V. Nathamuni have been serving the temple with utmost devotion. Their contribution had been acclaimed by the community at large.  

Raghuveera Bhattachariar of Madurantakam states a lot of good about the temple. The large well serves the deity around the year.  

Kulathupudur Varadaraja Perumal Temple witnesses four kaala poojas everyday and occasions are celebrated. They include – Tamil New Year, Sri Rama Navami, Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi, Nammazhwar on Vaikasi Visakam, Andal Thiru Adi Pooram, Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Puratasi Sanivarangal, Aippasi Thiru Moodam, Kaarthigai Deepam, Vaikunta Ekadashi, Thai Mudhal Naal, and Panguni Aandu Vizha. 

The management conducts devotional lectures and offers Annadanam on all the special occasions. Vazhaikombu group from this region is well known for its devotion to Varadaraja Perumal. Several Vaishnavite scholars, Pandits, and students have stayed at Kulathupudur and read out the scriptures. Their visits have added to the positive vibrations present in this divine village. It can be called as a ‘Divya Desam' due to its sanctity.  

Several Jeers from around the country have offered their prayers to Lord Varadaraja in Kulathupudur. They include His Holiness Maduramangalam Yathiraja Narayana Jeeyar, Thirukkurungudi Perarulalaa Ramanuja Jeeyar, Srirangam Ranga Narayana Jeeyar, Azhwar Thirunagari Ranga Ramanuja Jeeyar, Srivilliputtur Sadagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar, Thirukovilur Srinivasa Ramanuja Emberuman Jeeyar, Andhra State Tridandi Ahobila Ramanuja Jeeyar, Andhra State Tridandi Devanatha Ramanuja Jeeyar, Srivilliputtur Sadagopa Ramanuja Jeeyar, Vanamamalai Madurakavi Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyar, Andhra State Tridandi Chinna Sriman Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar, Rajamannargudi Sendalankara Senbaga Mannar Jeeyar Swamigal. 

Devotees of Lord Varadaraja have enjoyed divine bliss at this temple. The high wall around the temple, the fragrance of flowers, the sylvan neighborhood add to the grace of the temple. The divine experience at the Kulathupudur Varadaraja Perumal temple is sure to leave an indelible mark on the spiritual journey of the aspirant. 

Rajesh Govindarajulu, Chief Curator, The Verandah Club Pvt. Ltd.