Temple History

Village panchayat head late Mr. Naranappa Naicker, his in-law family members late Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker, late Mr. Kuppusamy Naicker and other important personalities of the village - Mr. Nanava Naicker. Mr. Azhagarsamy Naicker, Mr. Sundaram Pillai, Mr. Kannadi Rangasamy Naicker, Mr. T. Vellapa Naicker and others together decided to build a Perumal temple especially for the Kammavar caste people and seriously explored the possibilities to do the same.

As requested by panchayat head late Mr. Naranappa Naicker, late Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker who was building a house at that time, gave a pillar which he had kept as a part of his construction materials and same was brought to a common public place. This place was a common place for the Kammavar caste people. Also, he built brick walls on the 3 sides with proper plastering and covered the roof with iron sheets. The front side was covered with wooden doors. On the eastern side, late Mr. Kuppusamy Naicker donated & helped to build 2 pillars with a Bell (Alaya Mani). This formed the temple's main bell.

Architectural Form

Later on, under the leadership of late Mr. Naranappa Naicker and late Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy, other important personalities of the village, on the western side of the village (in Kanni Moolai) conducted many homams and yagas. The pillar which was donated by late Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker was named as VARADHARAJA PERUMAL and poojas were performed using holy water which was brought from many rivers. Thus the temple was formed and many people began to worship.

Later on, panchayat head, late Mr. Naranappa Naicker, madelate Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker as the temple head (DHARMAKARTHA). Also, he was honoured by giving him all the first respect (Mudhal Mariyadhai) as a part of all the poojas that were performed in the temple.

For peace, unity and prosperity of the village, festivals were conducted by the temple. Money for the same was collected as special taxes from all the people in the village. And apart from that late Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy also donated huge amounts of money for the festivals.

Every year, on special occasions such as Chitra Pournami (full moon day in April), Purattasi (October), Margazhi (December) Vaigunda Ekadesi, Sri Varadharaja Perumal will come in procession (Veethi Ula) to give his blessings to the villagers. During his procession, devotees will sing devotional songs praising the lord (Bhajans). Late Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker spent his own money and bought musical instruments such as Mirdhangam, Veena, Harmoniam, and Thavil for the singers.

Temple’s new form – 18th century

Mr. Naranappa Naicker, his son Mr. Seenivasa Naicker and Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker called on the heirs of Mr. Krishnasamy Naicker, heirs of Mr. Kuppusamy Naicker, heirs of Mr. Nanava Naicker, and other important personalities like Mr. Ayyalu samy Naicker, Mr. Bethi Naicker and Mr. Pambaya Naicker alias Narayana samy Adiyar to discuss about the temple. They said that about 60 yards away from the existing temple, a big temple can be built and in front of the same a stone mandapam can also be built. All of them agreed and welcomed the suggestions made by the dharmagartha.

Later on Mr. Gundu Ramaya, Mr. Sapattu Ramasamy, Mr. Chinna Ramathevar, Mr. Kottaval Ramathevar, Mr. Angamuthu Nagan, started to work on the foundation by excavating the place.

During the same time, Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker, Mr. Krishnasamy Naicker, Mr. Mookaya Naicker, Mr. Rangasamy Naicker, Mr. Chinna Muthu, Mr. Periamuthu together made arrangements for the stone works. They called the expert stone workers and initiated all the stone related works such as pillars, blocks for roof, walls etc. Later on, expert masons like Mr. Gurusamy Kothanar, Mr. Shanmugavel Kothanar & Mr. Arumuga Kothanar were called by Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker from the place Ezhayiram Pannai. Also he called Vasthu experts from Jampuliputhur to perform all sacred poojas and rituals for the temple. Thus, after all the vasthu poojas and rituals, in front of everyone, construction of the temple began.

First, 3 big wall were built around the main temple. Then main moolasthanam, manimandapam and nadu mandapams were built. Next, Gopura Vimanam was built over the moolasthanam. Accordingly, Kumba vilasam, kumba kalsam, statues of Sri Varadharaja Perumal, periazhvars, ellayazhvars, Sridevi and Boodevi followed. As the statues were donated by Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy Naicker, his name was carved in all of them. All the statues of the gopuram were beautifully and aesthetically made by Mr. Gurusamy Kothanar, Mr. Shanmugavel Kothanar, Mr. Karupiah Kothanar and Mr. Sellaiya Kothanar. Moreover all the statues were kept in Mr. Kuppusamy’s well for 40 days (1 Mandalam) for Jalasthanam, which was followed by keeping them in Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy’s rice granary. After this, they were taken to the temple and poojas were performed. It included homams in specially made homagundam yaga salais and poojas using holy water from sacred rivers. All these poojas were performed by Srivilliputhur Battars. Vishnu Chakram was installed in the sacred place (moola sthanam) where Sri Varadharaja Perumal and Pratiyar sat. Thus through proper pooja the temple was established.

Temple’s new form – 19th century

Later on, the new Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple had festivals which were conducted to the full happiness and satisfaction of the village on the whole. With the sudden demise of Mr. Chinna Venkatasamy it became difficult to maintain the temple. Funds were not enough. Famine struck M.Suppulapuram village. Mr. N. S. Elaiyalwar succeeded as the next dharmagartha. Mr. Ellayazhvar Naicker and Mr. K Kondusamy Naicker concluded that the temple which is in the western side of the village is slowly deteriorating and since poojas were not performed regularly and properly, the village is not developing apart from being affected by famine. So together, they arranged for Bhajjans on every Saturday for 2 hours and also distributed prasadam. This slowly improved the village.

Later on, Panchayat head and dharmagartha Mr. N. S. Elaiyalwar, and other important personalities of the village like Mr. K. Kondusamy Naicker, T. Periazhvar Naicker, Mr. A. K. Seenivasa Naicker, Mr. Azhvarsamy Asiriyar, Mr. K. Seenivasa Naicker, heirs of Mr. V. Ramasamy Naicker, Mr. Chinna Seenivasa Naicker, Mr. R. Kariamal and heirs of PVR, together met Auditor Mr. K Ramanujam (son of late Mr. Kuppusamy) and Ms. R. Saradha Devi to explain the status of the temple. They requested their help for building a mandapam and continuation of daily poojas. As requested by the people, auditor Mr. K. Ramanujam immediately obliged and came forward to re-paint the whole Rajagopuram. He also helped to build a bhajanai hall and a mandapam in front of the temple. Moreover, over the past years he has helped in so many ways in many occasions. Also that Mr. K Kondusamy Naicker has built Iyravathi mandapam needs a special mention here.

Later on, in bhajanai hall, auditor Mr. Seenivasan has built a Kodikambam. A Navgraha Medai has been arranged in the eesanya corner by the help of Mr. P. Ayyappa Raj. Mr. T. Periazhvar has come forward and helped in building a Vishnu Durga Mandapam, and an Anjaneya Mandapam in the left side of the moola sthanam. Mr. K. Seenivasa Naicker has arranged for water tank (Theertha thotti) in the west side of Durga mandapam. Mr. K Kondusamy Naicker has helped in arranging a Garuda Vahanam. Mr. P. Perumal samy Naicker, in remembrance of his wife has donated a 4 wheeled steel vehicle for Garuda Vahanam procession. Mr. A K Seenivasa Naicker and Mr. V. Azhvar Samy have helped with a music instrument (Mela vathiya damara isai). In front of the stone Mandapam a gate has been donated by Gurusamy Aasiriyar Sankarammal. The front iron gate has been donated by Mr. A K Seenivasa Naicker and Mr. V. Azhvar Samy. During the Ursavam procession (Ula), for Sridevi and Boodevi, to wear, a one savaran gold necklace has been presented by Mr. Muruganandam, engineer. Singapore auditor Mr. Anantharam has presented thirunamangal for Sri Varadharaja Perumal. For salary of the priest and Saturday weekly poojas, Singapore auditor Mr. Ramanujam is helping regularly.

Also, last but not the least, people who cannot afford a lot of money for conducting marriages, use Sri Varadharaja Perumal Mandapam and benefit a lot apart from seeking the blessings of Sri Varadharaja Perumal.