Good communication skills, counselling abilities, knowledge of astronomy and astrology, managing manpower, ensuring security…. Wondering what is all this about?

This is not an advertisement that had appeared in the wanted column of any newspaper. These, according to Subramaniya Gurukkal, are qualities required by a priest who serves the Almighty in a temple.

A third generation priest at the Kottai Sangameswarar temple and the Koniamman temple, Subramaniya Gurukkal gives out every minute detail about the temples dating back to centuries.

“The Sangameswarar temple had to be fully covered with mud during the four Mysore wars (1767-99) . Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan fought the war with the British. The fourth war saw the overthrowing of house of Hyder Ali and Tipu was killed in 1799. The British took charge and Coimbatore came under their control,” he gives the details.

The temple was again opened in the year 1805 by the then collector. “My ancestors who had moved to Kovilpalayam during the war time returned to serve the Lord.”

His grandfather Nalla Subramaniya Gurukkal performed daily rituals till 1895 and passed on the mantle to his son, who served the temple till 1959.

This nonagenarian priest and his younger brother Sundaram, who was with the Koniamman temple, are prominent figures in the locality. His son Sivarajan is a priest in the Sangameswarar temple.

“Those were the golden days. No electricity, no luxury. We would prepare everything for the Lord in the temple kitchen all by ourselves. People’s participation was more and spontaneous. C.R. Sadasiva Mudaliar’s contribution to the temple was amazing. The temple regained its lost glory at the time when he was the managing trustee. People contributed money to make the silver mayilvaganam for the Lord in 1952,” he recalls.

“Donations from the rich was used to serve the temple and to the society. Everybody believed in surrendering to Him. It was a simple and contended life,” the gurukkal adds.