On the road leading from Mannargudi / Muthupettai in Thiruvarur District, is Siddhamalli, where there is a Siva temple dedicated to Sri Kulasekhara Swami with consort Abhirami.   Built by the Cholas, it is in a dilapidated condition, it is said to have been built by Kulasekhara Pandian in the 11th Century[also attributed to RajaRaja III ], one can find Siddhamalli mentioned in the inscription.

 

One will wonder how this village get its name.  It is said that the presence od 'Siddhars', once upon a time, is an explanation.  Another reason relates to the Mahabharata.  During their exile, the Pandavas arrived here dispirited and confused.  Peace and clarity came after worshipping at the Kulasekhara Swamy temple!

 

The temple that once reverberated with the chanting of  Veda mantra and devotees' prayer, is now desolate.  Scriptures speak of a washerman exclusively engaged in laundering  the clothes used to adorn the deities.  Vaikasi Visakham was celebrated with lot of fanfare and exhuberance.  The Dhandayuthapani idol is a beauty.  There are niches for Meenakshi and Sundaraeswarar, Sri Dakshinamurthi, Sri Bhairavar.  But now there is no funds to do daily pujas.  Sorry state of affairs for a village which was once a lnd of "Siddhars" and Vedic Chanting!

 

The Siddhamalli residents have now joined hands to renovate this temple.  It is heartening to say and learn that this renovation work has started last year and is progressing  by none other than the Great-Grand-daughter of Sri Subramania Sastrigal[Yatheendraal].,the Mahaan who lived here, another reason for which this village is famous for. 

 

Talking of Siddhamalli, another reason why this village is famous for is that of the Adhishtanam of Sri Subramania Sastrigal Yatheendraal, a great scholar.  His adhistanam lies adjacent to the temple.  A disciple of Mahamahopadyaya Sri Raju Sastrigal of Mannargudi, Yatheendraal was one of the several pandits  who trained Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal in Vedas, Upanishads and Vyakarnam, when HH took over as the 68th pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.

 

Being an ardent devotee of Paramacharya, Sri Subramania Sastrigal[Yatheendraal] look after the administrative activities /affaris of the Mutt.  He was looked upon as a trusted lieutenant of the Sage, Sri Paramacharya commended Him for His deep knowledge.  HH called him "Eka Sandgrahi" which means [after a single reading/hearing, could recall verbatim the contents] refering to his exceptional memory. 

 

It should be mentioned here that on the request of Sri Yatheendraal, Paramacharya bestowed Him "Abathsanyasam".  On November 9th, 1933, this great Saint and Scholar attained samadhi.  His body was buried on the western  side of Sri Kulasekhara Temple and His Adishtanam becamea place of worship.  Annual Aradhana and prayers are offered every year at His Adishtanam to invoke this great Mahaan's Blessings in Siddhamalli.