It was yet another pilgrimage for my father. This one, however, was a little different and somewhat special too because this trip was to his native village that he had not visited in his ninety-one years plus. I used to wonder why in all these years--and countless trips around the country--he never managed to visit this little village near Mannargudi. Perhaps, Lord Abhishta Varada of the Kurichi village wanted appa to come to the village only after the temple was renovated.

I had visited this village some seven eight years back. With great difficulty, the driver of the car in which I was traveling had managed to take the car down the kachcha village road from the main road. I had been shocked to see the temple in ruins then. Bats, goats and other species had made the dilapidated temple their haven and we humans (my sister in law, my husband and I) had had to hold the nose while trying to enter the premises carefully making our way through the wild bushes that had grown all over the premises.

The scene was quite different this time. There was a tar road right up to the temple. It was a great sight to see the temple--where our ancestors had worshipped--completely renovated, and yes there was quite a crowd. Apart from the village folk that lived there, many who belong to the village but live outside like appa had come in droves by cars and buses. The renovation committee members had put in great efforts so that the village folk and other devotees could see the temple in the present shape.

The mahotsavam had been going on for four days. I tried to time our visit just in time for the Maha Samprokshanam on the fourth day so that my father did not have to wait for long. However, we reached some two hours before the particular moment (of Samprokshanam—sprinkling of holy water). Appa sat for two hours just outside the garbagriha (sanctum sanctorum) doing japam.

The temple has moorthys of Lord Abhishta Varada with Sridevi and Bhoodevi. There is a separate sannadhi (shrine) for Goddess Perundevi. Facing the sannadhi of the goddess is a Hanuman Sannadhi. Just outside the Perumal Sannadhi are the idols of Vishwaksenar, Swami Desikan, Namalzhwar, Thirukachhi Nambigal and Adivan Shatakopan—the first Azhagiya Singar. Swami Desikan’s idol bears the impressions of shankha and chakra—Samaasrayanam--marks. Facing the sannadhi of the Lord is, of course, that of Garuda.

The priests performed the homam just outside the temple in the yagashalai opposite to the temple near a separate Swami Desikan temple. The Vedic chants and the strains of nadaswaram music created an auspicious atmosphere in the village. The kumbham containing the holy water was carried around the temple and then to the top to the vimanam. At the auspicious time, the priests performed the Mahasamprokshanam. The holy water was poured down the vimanam atop the Lord’s sanctum. It was then taken to the Goddess’s vimanam and then poured there. The crowd chanted ‘Govinda Govinda” as the samprokshnam was performed. The worshippers were thrilled when a Garuda (an eagle) flew over the temple and seemed to circle it twice before disappearing. Rationalists may have their own explanation. To the devout, it was as though the Lord’s mount Garuda had come to personally supervise everything.

Later, the priests sprinkled the holy water on all devotees present there. It was a large crowd and there was quite a bit of jostling. After the samprokshanam, I decided to bring appa home because he had been sitting for quite a while. However, he insisted on staying back till he got the theertham and Shatari. As appa was being led out of the temple, countless village folk paid their respects to him. They were competing with each other to touch his feet and take his blessings. I felt overwhelmed to see that. Perhaps it was their way of honouring the oldest living son of their village.