Odhuvaar Project
Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati revived the Odhuvar tradition in Tamil Nadu. Odhuvars sing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva during all kala pujas in traditional Shiva temples.
It is a part of various upacharas during pujas in Shiva temples. They were supported by kings earlier with honorariums, which over time stopped. Pujya Swamiji took the initiative in appointing 35 Odhuvars in ancient Shiva temples and brought back the Panniru Thirumurai tradition. These are considered to be ‘Tamil Marai,’ equivalent to the Veda.
Sri Hariharan Odhuvar teaches the Panniru Thirumurai every Sunday to 2,000 students at Nasiyanur near Erode, Tamil Nadu. The Thirumurai Seva Maiyam in New Jersey, USA, is a significant contributor to the Odhuvar project financially. Fundraising for the project is done with local Indian support in New Jersey, and their services were appreciated by Pujya Swamiji.
When Pujya Swamiji learned that there was no Odhuvar at the Thanjavur Big Temple and Tiruvarur Temple, he decided to take up the Odhuvar project. On the wall of the Tarasuram Temple, the names of 108 Odhuvars are written. Pujya Swamiji was happy to note that three of them were from the Kodavasal Temple, which is an adjacent village to Manjakkudi.
Once, Odhuvars visited the Saylorsburg Ashram and rendered traditional Thirumurai before Pujya Swamiji. Pujya Swamiji was ecstatic when he saw that the Indian children were quick to learn it and reproduced it melodiously. Thanks to the vision of Pujya Swamiji, this ancient Odhuvar tradition has been revived.