Sri Krishnaswamy Iyengar hailed from a humble Brahmin family of Kausika Gothra belonging to Sama Veda sakha at Manalur near Aduthurai in Tanjavur district. The family migrated to a near by village called Tirubuvanam on the banks of Veera cholan river, looking for greener pastures. The village is situated near the famous town of Kumbakonam, one of the 108 Divyadesas in which the Lord is in reclining posture, which is, called Udyoga sayana that is neither lying down nor sitting! As if to respond to the call of his devotee without delay! He was aptly called Aparyaptamrthan, along with his consort Komalavalli daughter of Hemarishi. Other important kshetras are  Oppiliappan koil, Tirucherai, and Nachiyar koil. Sri Krishnaswamy Iyengar served the Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy temple at Tirubuvanam maintained by the local business community.

They had a Sourashtra Baktha Jana Sabha that was responsible for the up keep of the temple. The family took refuge in the choultry and Sri Krishnaswamy iyengar served as a temple cook. He and his wife Smt Vanjulavalli had three sons and two daughters to support! They were Srinivasaraghavan, Veeraraghavan, Ramaswamy,Kanakavalli and Pankajavalli. These very names indicate his devotion to Sri Rama!

 The eldest son named Srinivasaraghavan (1891-1952) was very intelligent and had flair for business! He joined a local business outfit manufacturing and selling silk sarees.He joined them as an accounts clerk. During that period the entire community was engaged in silk cloth weaving and marketing. Many business families thrived during the period and to this day, in this tinsel town that is famous for silk sarees.

Early mornings used to present a colourful picture, both men and women folk engaged in tending the silk and gold threads. Village women selling green vegetables beckoning the households to buy them! Few goats carelessly grazing oblivious of their surroundings. It gives a picture as though the long arms of time have never touched this village and disturbed its tranquility!   The village was also a very famous Siva Kshetra and the temple of Sri Kamphahareswara and Dharmasamvardhini Ammbal is well known for its Chola period architectural splendour!

Srinivasaraghava Iyengar was a very pious and devote person and his fervor for truth and devotion to Sri Rama earned him a lot of good will among the village folks. His towering personality with a prominent vaishnavite insignia on his forehead and his ever- affable smile, added a saintly aurora to him, and he was compassionate to all. They looked up to him for wise counsel. As days passed he grew in stature. His in born business acumen was the driving force behind him and this prompted him to start a business of silk cloth weaving and marketing in partnership with another weaver who was also the village chieftan namely Nattanmai Ramaswamy Iyer. In those days Brahmin families were not known to enter the business arena. But Srinivasaraghava Iyengar was an exception. He also became adept in conversing in the local tongue and soon emerged as an expert orator too! Their business quickly thrived and grew leaps and bounds!

He came to operate as a master weaver of nearly one hundred looms. The duo was well known in the village and was good friends too! Later Sri Ramaswamy Iyer wanted to concentrate on money lending business a micro finance venture and Sri Srinivasaraghava Iyengar parted ways and started his own business of silk cloth weaving and marketing along with his two brothers.

Though they had parted ways they were friends as always. The business flourished and they opened two branches in Chettinad in Keezacheevalpatti and Valayapatti too. All the brothers and sisters got married and were well settled. Sri Srinivasaraghava Iyengar was married to Jambakalakshmi ammal from Mannarkudi. They had a daughter and a son. Sri Veeraraghava Iyengar was married to Komalavalli and they had three sons and four daughters. Sri Ramaswamy Iyengar was married to Jayalakshmi ammal and had three sons and two daughters. As the family grew in size, the need to chalk out their own path to progress was felt, and brothers split the business into three business units and continued their business.

Sri Srinivasaraghava Iyengar’s business establishment was popularly known as “Peria iyengar kadai” He was very successful businessman of his times. The shop cum house, used to present a busy picture right from the morning till night. Activities like bleaching and dying of silk threads and unwinding of gold threads would go on  in the hindquarter of the house. He used to sit on the mat made of reeds, a traditional way to decorate the interiors of such shops those days! Weavers, workmen, customers and visitors used to stream in and out and transact their business. A personal touch exuded his demeanor. His products reached far away places of the country.

 His customers as well as his associates were treated with courtesy and often enjoyed his hospitality of being served hot lunch or dinner on plantain leaf by his untiring wife! The guests were often found to remark that they felt like visiting a relative! Even the workers and the farm hands looked up to his wife in the same way. She was always reassuring to them. Oft repeated remark was that one never left hungry, visiting Periamma (grandmother), what ever be the time of the day!

He was so industrious, that he introduced many new methodologies in dying silk! He went to Orissa forests to buy areca nut to be used as pigments! He risked his life to tread the dreaded forests of Berhampur during those days when buffalo driven carriages were used to transport goods to the nearest railway yards. He had to spend nearly six months in those inhospitable terrains to procure his raw material. People back home had almost given up hope of seeing him alive. Something unheard of those days! He explored new business avenues by supplying cloth for the parachutes used by the armed forces. He also created a brand for “Kooraipudavai” or the saree that is used to this day during the marriage ceremonies of Hindu Brahmin families.

 He got his daughter Smt Jayalakshmi married to Sri Narasimhachary son of Tandalam Sri Aravamudha Iyengar of Big street, Kumbakonam. Sri Narasimhachary was the eldest of his three sons and one daughter of Sri Aravamudha Iyengar and Smt Namagiri ammal couple. Later Sri Narasimhachary got his daughter  Smt Komalavalli married to Sri Srinivasaraghava Iyengar’s son Sri Kannan.

Srinivasaraghava Iyengar’s devotion to Sri Rama is well known and he organized Srimad Ramayana discourses and he himself used to recite Valmiki Ramayana and arranged a renowned scholars like Villiambur Swamy, Gaddam Sri Vardachariyar swamy to translate the verses and expound them the local folks. He was also appointed as Mudradhikari of Kanchi Kamakoti peetam for propagating the spiritual values and bakthi among people. Many people of the village used to throng to his house to hear these religious discourses. He used to get up early in the morning when the whole village was still asleep and would go to the river Veerachozan a mile away to take his morning bath and also bring water in a brass vessel reciting Vedic hymns to bathe the presiding deity at home during his morning pooja! He was a connoisseur of Karnatic music and had a melodious voice and used to sing songs in praise of Lord Rama. People used to hear him singing in a captivated mood! His grand children at home were so fond of him; that they would readily shed their anger and accept food, for a melodious song on Rama from him! Later his youngest brother too took to singing in praise of the Lord!

Till his advanced age he had never failed to perform his religious routines. His ardent bakthi and adherence to truth won the hearts of his village folks and endeared them.  Many pious men and saints used to visit his house and stay there on their way to pilgrimage. Notable among them were Maha swamigal Sri Chandrasekarendra Sarasvati of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti peetam, and Annadhana Sivan who was famous religious personality who conducted Annadhanam in a grand scale for about thousand people in those days! And many pontiffs of Sri Ahobila mutt.

During his last days, his failing health restrained him from much of movement, but even then he did not swerve from Ramayana recitation. He passed away in the night after recitation and discourse of Ramayana, it was a special day! The chapter describing the episode wherein Sri Hanuman finds Sita and hands over the insignia (a jewel) that Sri Rama wanted to be given to Sita to reassure her that she will be rescued vanquishing the asura. As a mark of the occasion boiled lentil seeds had been prepared as offering to the Lord, apart from the usual grated coconut with sugar. Attendance was more than usual; almost the whole village had turned out. A large number of children too had shown up to taste the offerings that were distributed among the devotees. He was in a very happy mood and that day’s discourse went off with much fan fare! But after he retired and around midnight he complained of discomfiture and suddenly passed away, the villagers simply could not reconcile to this fact! And the whole village bid him adieu with tears in their eyes and singing “Ragupathi Raghava Rajaram” till his mortal remains were consigned to flames! And even to this day the people of the village fondly remember him and recall their happy days with him.

A personality who did Tirubuvanam proud!

Uppili Veeraraghavan was the eldest son of Sri Veeraraghava Iyengar and Komalavalli who hailed from Manalur. Veeraraghava Iyengar came and settled along with his brothers Srinivasa raghavan and Ramaswamy, their parents and his two sisters in Tirubuvanam .

Uppili was his eldest son and his two brothers Ranganathan and Narayanan along with his sisters Vijayalakshmi, Bhooma, Jayalakshmi, and Radha were brought up by their parents in Tirubuvanam.  He studied at Tiruvidaimarudur Adheenam High School and later went to Kumbakonam Arts College to pursue his under graduation. He was a student of English Literature and went on to study his Masters in Presidency college Madras. During that period he stayed in Triplicane’s  Sydoji Lane considered to be a paradise for bachelors of that time! As crispy Dosas, and hot south Indian meals were served by the mess run by the famous Sydoji mess! Later years the young Uppili had to shoulder the burden of taking care of his entire family due to the parting of ways of his father with his brothers in his home town and not finding the lady luck smiling on his family business venture. Uppili sought to further his career in the field of education and went to Madurai. He joined Thyagaraja College of Arts and Science as an assistant professor in the Department of English.  His indomitable spirit supported his family and he was instrumental in ensuring provision of educational and life needs of all his brothers and two sisters Jayalakshmi and Radha. He single handedly took care of his family of six in those days and that too with his meager income in a metro!

He found his life partner in Srimathi Singaram daughter of K.T.Varadharaja Iyengar, who was equally large hearted and a pillar of support to him and she was more than a match in respect of her patience and life skills.

His magnanimity often brought about difficult times to his wife. Many of his relatives took shelter under him to educate their wards! He was equally forthcoming to his wife’s family who also found the same kind of care and affection flowing from him. He was a simpleton with a heart to accommodate everyone who looked up to him for help! He would never say no to anyone who sought his help.  In the meanwhile his own family grew in size and he had five sons and a daughter. They too demanded his attention and care. Despite his difficulties he never lamented about the burden of life that was too demanding on him. His innate nature to help people in need often resulted in more relatives staying in his house and pursuing their studies! This could not be even remotely imagined in today’s way of life!

All this never deterred him in his pursuit of Excellence in his chosen field “English Literature”, it was much more than passion for him. He steadily rose to the position of Professor of the Department and later to be its head! His fame spread across the domain of educational institutions and the University of Madurai soon invited him to be on the Academic Council as a member. He mentored many to obtain Doctorate in English Literature. He went on to become a member of Syndicate in the University of Madurai. He left Thyagarajar college and joined Sourashtra College as the founder Principal, and built that institution from the scratch!

He had many publications to his credit. He was an avid reader and a connoisseur of  Carnatic music and also has translated The great Tamil Savant's Tiruvachakam into Tamil!

During his times he saw the emergence of the college in its new campus at Pasumalai and his efforts to turn its campus into a green pasture from a barren land cannot be forgotten by any of the citizens of Madurai!   His career in the field of education in Madurai left an indelible mark of excellence and his humility that touched every individual who came in contact with him. All this he achieved despite his health being a drag on his spirit!  During his strenuous life he not only helped many to further their education, but also saw to it that his own family never lagged  behind, he educated all his children to be Post Graduates, and post doctoral fellow.

Though his ailments abated and life with its cruel hand took him away at a time when he would have loved to see his family doing well in all spheres, his memory lingers in everyone’s heart as an affable and a towering personality.

The Thandalam and Manalur Connection!

Urruppattur Nallan Chakravarthi clan forges the link!

Tradition connecting two different families hailing from different villages steeped in culture.

Manalur and Thandalam came together in a confluence of tradition through a marriage!

Thandalam Adi Kesava Perumal with His consorts!

Manalur Srinivasaraghava Iyengar gets his daughter in marriage to Thandalam Urruppatur Nallan Chakravarti  Narasimhachariyar thereby establishing this unique link between two generations of families of Iyengars living in different places of Tamil Nadu.

 The family linage called Urruppattur Tirumalai Nallan Chakravarthy  seems to be the Nallan Chakravarthy clan that has its origins in Karnataka as well as Tamil Nadu in Kancheepuram,  Tirumalai, that now belongs to Andhrapradesh!

The story goes this way, Urrupattur Achan Pillai (823 – 924) also known as Varadhacharya  was born in Srivatsa gotram,and he was a disciple of Sri Natha Munigal , one day when Achan Pillai went to the river near Kanchi to take bath, he came across a body floating in the river with Vaishnava insignias on it. Achan Pillai observed this and felt that the mortal remains must be  properly consigned to flames and is a must for such a vaishnavite. He immediately retrieved the body and duly consigned it to flames reciting the Veda mantras! Soon the pundits and the religious heads in the town got the message and took exception to this act of Achan Pillai.

During the period he was to perform an annual ceremony for his ancestors and he duly approached the Brahmin priests in the town to come to his house and conduct the same. To his dismay they refused to do it. He was heartbroken and prayed to Sri Ranaganatha, the presiding deity of  Srirangam, Sri Varadaraja the presiding deity of Kancheepuram and Sri Venkatesa the presiding deity of Tiruvenkatam, soon all appeared before him and agreed to conduct the stalled ceremony, accordingly completed the same. He was overwhelmed with devotion and could not even express his gratitude to them formally! The news reached the pundits who were taken aback but refused to budge from their position.  

Suddenly the priests at the Varadaraja temple heard the voice from the sanctum sanctorum which went as follows. “Oorukkellam pollan emakku nallan Achan” meaning that he may be antagonist to the villagers but he is very dear to Me!

Once the King Thondaman who was ruling the region of Tamil Nadu including Tirumala under its jurisdiction was frequently tormented by an Asura called Simhada, the King was annoyed and prayed to the Lord Venkateswara fervently to save the people from the sufferings! The Lord appeared before the King and lent his Sankha and Chakra and ordained the King to vanquish the enemy with them, the King did as he was told and after the victory, He kept the sankha and chakra in his palace and worshipped them as the representation of the Lord on the Hills! During this period the Lord in the temple was without his Sankha and Chakra.  During subsequent generations there were differences of opinion as to the deity  was actually Lord Siva and not Vishnu. It gradually came to the fore and the followers of Lord Siva felt that the temple and deity are actually not Vishnu but of Siva only. During that period Sri Ramanuja who was at Tirumala gave a suggestion that all the insignias of Vishnu the Sankha and Chakra as well as Trishul be kept inside the sanctum and the doors closed at night, and anything that is accepted by the Lord and adorned in the morning by Himself will be the final proof of identity! To this everyone agreed and the procedure was followed with all precautions. Next morning when the doors were opened, every one observed that the deity was adorned with Sankha and Chakra. Though all agreed that the deity to be Vishnu initially, soon there was a dispute once again on the issue.  During this period there was a powerful King a devotee of Lord Siva was ruling the Kalahasti region and King Yadavasa was ruling the Tirumala region. The devotees of Lord Siva approached the King of Kalahasti to come to their rescue and restore the status of Tirumala as a Siva temple. To this the King readily agreed and came with his army to Tirumala and accosted the King Yadavasa, since he was not so powerful as the King of Kalahasti, he pleaded inablility to protect the temple. At that time Sri Varadacharya approached the King of Kalahasti and extensively quoted from scriptures as to the antiquity of Vishnu temple and vouched that the deity is indeed is Lord Vishnu and not Siva. To this the King after deep thinking posed a challenge to all those who support and oppose the views. He ordered a red hot iron horse to be brought and asked each group to assign an able person to mount it and come around the temple! This challenge rattled the Siva devotees and none of them came forward to accept the challenge. But Sri Varadacharya readily accepted the challenge and went to Swami Pushkarini  and took bath and praying to the Lord Vishnu with Vedic hymns! And mounted that horse and started going around as though it was in flush and blood!

All were amazed at this feat  including the King and accepted the verdict that the deity was indeed Vishnu, immediately they heard the voice of the divine through the Archaka that the title“ chakravarty”  is hereby being conferred on Sri Varadacharya! From that day he came to be known as Tirumalai Nallan Chakravarty!

There is also another view that it was not Sri Varadacharya who had earned both these titles but his subsequent descendents as per the chronology of available records. But their names were similar due to the tradition that is being followed in the Brahmin families of descendents.

Thandalam may be one of the villages where the descendents had settled during subsequent period and came to be mentioned along with the name!