Author K Sai Kumar, a resident of Jai Nagar, Arumbakkam, writes spiritual travel guidebooks about temples across India and donates the proceeds from these books for the upkeep and maintenance of historical temples that lack money for conducting even day-to-day rituals.
News Today has previously published about his yeoman service on multiple occasions. This year, Sai Kumar’s next book – Thiruppangal Tharum Tiruvallur Thalangal will be released 19 March. It is a guide book containing 411 historic Siva and Vishnu temples in Tiruvallur District.
The book will be released by spiritual magazine Pamban Swamigal editor Guhasri V Kalaichelvan and the first copy will be received by Central ASI’s Deputy Superintending Epigraphist, Vanjiyur K Panneerselvam.
The book details a range of temples with unique attributes of their own. Sai Kumar says, “The book covers paadal petra thalangal, untouched Siva lingams (theenda thirumeni), colour changing siva lingas, Thiruppugazh thalangal, divya desams, miracle based deities, pancha aranyas, chennai city navagraha temples, Thiruverkadu ashta linga temples, Pancha Brahma thalangal, vaippu talangal, Murugan hill temples, Thoonganai Mada kovilgal 24 constructed by Kulothunga Cholan, temples in birthplaces of Saivite and Vaishnavite preceptors in Thiruvallur district.”
Sai Kumar says that the highlight of the book will be the 21 temples of Takkolam – a unique place where 7 Sivan, 7 Amman and 7 Vinayagar temples exist are within a short vicinity. “The book will also be helpful to people to plan one-day temple tours to see religious places on the banks of Cooum river, Kosasthalai (Nagari) river and Arani river. This book contains the details of address, route, telephone number, deities’ name, history, rare inscription details, parihara details, elaborate maps and all listed out Talukwise in Tiruvallur District.”
In the last 10 years, Sai Kumar has visited and documented information on nearly 4,000 temples in India and has written 22 guide-books as of date. His book, Padal Petra Thalangal (temples that find a mention in the songs of Nayanmars and Alwars) has sold more than 25,000 copies and it is currently in the 10th edition of its publication.