Thavathiru Sundara Swamigal was the second son of Sri Velappa gounder, the younger brother of Kandaswami swamigal. Mrs. Chinnammal, his mother gave him birth on 29.11.29 the Tamil year being Sukla, the month Karthigai and the Star being Visakam, the 14th day of month.

Thavatthiru Sundara swamigal had his early education in a school in Saravanampatti. Thereafter from Kandaswamy swamigal leant Tamil and religious scriptures. He had a deep memory power and also an ability to explain what he had learnt.

Thavatthiru Sundara swamigal got his ‘Pulavar’degree in 1957 from Perur SanthalingaAdigalar college of Tamil. There he worked for sometime as a teacher. When Ramanandar was in his late stage and after his demise, Sundara swamigal administered the activities in the mutt in an able manner.

Sundara swamigal ascended the throne of Kaumara Mutt on 09.02.1964 at Palani. It was a memorable golden day. From there the mutt’s growth in all aspects gained momentum whether it is building a new temple, or reconstructing an old one or printing and publishing old scripts, all the works began to get a new life.

Sundara swamigal was aptly called by the devotees all over Tamilnadu as an Emperor of temple renovation. Not one or two not in one place or two-through out Tamilnadu he travelled, or he was invited to help in the renovation work. Some of his achievements are narrated here to see his greatness and involement.

Once Sundara swamigal visited the villages Piramiyam and Silamba goundervalasu along with Justice R. Sengottuvelan on 06.06.77. There he noticed a siva temple at Silambagounder valasu, demaged and no Prayer was held there. It was a private temple and the owners were unable to maintain it. One Venkatramana gounder built it in 1919. The descendants were not interested in the temple. It was a beautiful temple in stones.

 

Swamigal was very much upset to see one portion of the temple dilapidated and the statue of Karuanambigai in bad Shape.

When Sundara swamigal returned to Coimbatore, he spoke about this to Pulavar Pa.Ve. Nagarajan who expressed the wish that it might be re-located as it was at Kaumara madam. Accordingly they went again to the village on 11.06.77 and decided to have that temple consecrated at matam.

When he expressed his wish to N.S. Ramasamy gounder, the owner and grandson of the founder, he readily agreed. But it was a huge and cumbersome work. Was it possible? Yes it was. The immense task was done.

The lines of the stones were first numbered and the directions were marked and then the upper and lower ones. The stones 7'x11/2'x1' were in dimension. The light piller was 23ft height. In those days of poor

transportation, it was unbelievable to do that But swamigal, who was gentle

to the core but hard like a diamond in action, did it within three months; the temple was re-constructed. On 23.01.1976 the pouring of holy water ceremony was also done. Everybody was in wonder. Except Goddess Karunambigai Statue, which was newly sculptured, every thing was as old as it was. Now the Avinashi Lingeshwarar, along with goddess Karunambika is being worshipped by thousands of people.

Siravai Adheenam has a close relationship with Lord Panduranga, a form of Lord Vishnu. There is a temple for Panduranga in mutt to tell a sad story. As told earlier Bhaktha Manmiyam, a monumental work of Kandaswami swamigal hails Lord Vishnu’s divine power. When this book was presented to the public from 24.05.1928 to 05.06.1928, a metallic sculpture of Venugopalaswamy along with the statues Sathyabama and Rukmani were brought to the mutt from nearly village Vilankurichi by some people and requested swamigal to allow them to keep the statues in the mutt for somedays. It was a providence. Everyone was extiemely happy to see the God himself had arrived for the presentation ceremony.

 

The next day in the chapter of Tukaram it was told that his ancestor got one statue of Panduranga with Ruckmani. All were in ecstasy and those people from Vilankurichi gave the statues to the mutt itself and till this day they are there.

But there is a sad story also with this. Sri K.R. Pandurangam Chettiar, in Coimbatore, was a jewellery merchant and was very rich. He had a daughter by name Udayasundari, whose marriage was arranged by her father. But unfortunately she died before the marriage. Pandurangan chettiar thought of doing an everlasting charity in her name.

On the 10th anniversary of her death, Pandurangan chettiar and his wife requested Sundaraswamigal to construct a temple in marbles for lord Panduranga with Ragumayi. Swamigal agreed and on 07.04.1982 the holy ceremony of pouring water was done. Lord Panduranga is gracing the devotees as he is in Pandaripura. Ragumayi thayar is in a nearby structure. There are the divine structures of sri Garuda and Sri Hanuman. There is also the structure of Udayasundari. One thing to be stressed here: the doors of Panduranga temple are gold plated, on which are carved images of Vaishnavite devotees.

Thiru G.K. Rangaswamy gounder the owner of Bharathi Press and P. Kuppusamy gounder from Ganapathy built a temple for sun God, the deity of Sowra religious sect. Here the sun God is on a chariot drawn by seven horses. On 04.04.1982 the holy water pouring ceremony took place.

The chief temple of the mutt, the Dhandapani temple was built by using bricks, that too in a small way by the first pontiff Ramananda Swamigal. Kandaswamy Swamigal wanted it to be rebuilt with stones.The third pontiff Sundara swamigal materialised the wish. He arranged to bring the required stones from Dharmapuri and Bangalaputhur. It was not an easy work. Three big stones of size 12'x3'x2' 1/2 were laid at base level. 7'x4'x11/2' sized 11 stones were used for walls and entrances. Above these 37 big stones were arranged to finish the structure. Thus all together 51 stones were used to build the temple.

This renovation work was the longest in the history of 100 years mutt. The tower over the sanctorum has the structure of Thanjavur Big

 

temple. There are beautiful sculptures in the fine artistic executions. On 02.09.1985 the ceremony of pouring holy water took place. Now this Dhandapani swamy temple is one of the famous Murugan temples.

Sri Dharmana gounder family from Saravanampatti has built a temple for Saneeswara(Lord saturn), who graces the devotees being seated on a beautiful pedestal. The holywater pouring ceremony took place on 16.09.1989. This is more attractive temple, where devotees pray the saneeswara, every week and on the displacement of the planet saturn. Thousands of people come here to pray and worship.

Sundaraswamigal’s achievemants were many. The most remembered one is his renovation work in Avudaiyar koil, otherwise called as Thirupperunthurai in the sacred book Thiruvacagam. For many many years the temple there was neglected. It belongs to Thiruvavaduthurai aadheenam. Though the pontiff-head-of the mutt tried to renovate it many times, it could not be materialised. Then, by divine will, His holiness asked our Sundara swamigal to undertake the task. Swamigal readily agreed.

More than 50 times he travelled to Avudaiyar koil, a place 400km away from coimbatore : More than 50 times he visited all the villages around Aavudaiyar koil. He explained the importance of the temple to the people, he requested them to take part in renovating their temple and he asked them to donate for the noble cause whatever they could. And thus poured money and materials, tree logs and like items, gold and coins. Apart from these young and old devotees spontaneously came forward to do whatever they could in this service.

Now Aavudaiyar Kovil glitters as a symbol of Sundaraswamigal’s achievment. When its consecration ceremony (Kumbaabishekam) took place, not thousands, but lakhs of people congregated there, from all over Tamilnadu and had the blessings of the Lord at Thiruperunthurai. Still the elders there remember and cherish the services and efforts of Sundara swamigal whenever they see the new temple car.

Another milestone in the history of Kaumara mutt was the ‘Gaja Pooja’, arranged by Sundara swamigal in 1987. It was performed with 108 elephants for the welfare of the people. In 10 acres of mutt land, a

 

great pandal 1620'x68'x16' was erected in the shape of ‘Ohm’. 117 male elephants were brought from various places. 450 sivachariars, 150 asceties 12 Battachariars and 12 Tamil Oduvars) did the chanting. For 3 days, 25,26 and 27th March 1987, there was ectasy and ecstasy alone for more than 20 lakhs of people who witnessed the grand Gaja Puja. Since from that day Sundara swamigal was being called as Gaja Pujai nayakar.

Many festivals go on in matam every day and every month according to the calender. Along with Thavatthiru Santhalinga Ramaswami Swamigal of Perur, Sundara swamigal started a new epoch of conducting all rituals - Whether in temples or houses - in Tamil. So many temples are the evidences of this change. Avinashi, Aavudaiyar Kovil, Venjamakudal, Lotus temple Virginia in United States etc are still the symbols of Sundaraswamigal’s effort.

Sundaraswamigal was a powerful orator, particularly in highlighting the greatness of Periapuranam. He was a poet himself and composed many verses. Due to his restless religious activities, he could not allot time to write more books or to compose great literary forms.

He was fond of pilgrimage. Once in two months, he would go to temples along with 50 or more devotees for five days. He was well - versed with the literature about those places and would explain to those who accompanied him. This was a novel way, through which people in other places came to know more about matam.

Sundaraswamigal was simple, humane and friendly to everybody. A hard - worker as he was, even he did physical work also. He was liked and respected by all people irrespective of religion and caste. He did not hesitate to visit places where the neglected people lived and took fruits and milk when they offered. Such loveful was his soul.

More can be written about Swamigal, This is a brief history and some important personal traits alone are expressed here. Swamigal was healthy, yet had some sugar problem. In 1978 he had a mild attack with chestpain. He was admitted in K G hospital, Doctor’s team headed by Dr. K.G. Bhathavathsalam did their best and swamigal revovered quickly. ‘KG’ family, Annur K. Govindasamy naidu’s family, to be underlined here, is

 

deeply interested in Kaumara madam and its activities. This is not to be forgotten.

24.01.1984 was an anxious day for devotees. Sundaraswamigal was returning from Dharmapuri in a car. He was in backseat. It was mid- night. One car was crossing Perumanallur.Alorry coming from Coimbatore lost its control after its axis broke. It dashed against swami’s car. Swami had an injury and fracture in his right leg. The driver Rajan died on the spot. Even in that midnight there was divine Grace. Local people admitted him for the first aid and shifted him to KG hospital. It was 3.30 A.M. but Dr. K.G. Bhakthavathchalam came immediately and attended the swamigal. Dr. Bhakthavathchalam sought the help of renowned ortho specialits Dr. Mohandas and Dr. Michel Korana from London. Swamigal underwent surgery and by the Grace of Lord Muruga, he recovered. Thousands of devotees across Tamil nadu were relieved of their anxiety when they heard swami’s recovery.

But God’s will was otherwise. Exactly after 10 years after this major accident, Swamigal had an heart attack second time:Amassive one. Doctors could not save him, in spite of their tireless effort. He breathed his last on 14.06.1994. The Kaumara world plunged into darkness: There was gloom everywhere. But Lord Muruga showed a new light for next generation.