Introduction

The Village of Thondavadi is approximately 30 kms from Mysore city in the state of Karnataka, India. As is common with the Indian system, Thondavadi village belongs to the district of Gundlupet part of "Grama Panchayat" (a form of Government) as defined in the Indian constitution. Thondavadi is a small and relatively under developed village with about 50,000 people and is no different from any other villages that make up the bulk of India. It has a rural setting with agriculture as the primary economy with irrigated water for wet crops such as paddy and depending on the vagaries of weather and rain for dry crops such as corn subjecting over 50% of the population below the poverty line. Thondavadi as a village is thus certainly not on the radar of either local or central government.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THONDAVADI
Thondavadi has its own history and traditions. Early civilizations always built communities around a sustainable water source and promoted religions prevailing at that time by building churches, synagogues, mosques or temples. Hinduism was the predominant religion of this tiny village and accordingly, a Hindu temple with a diety of lord Varada Raja (the lord king who grants wishes) was set up by the dynasty of Cholas around the 17th century. It is believed that the Thondavadi temple is an exact replica of world famous "Varadaraja" idol of "Kanchi", Chennai. The Chola dynasty ruled the southern part of India from 1419 to 1600's.
The hallmark of Chola dynasty has been the rich legacy of series of Vaishnav and shiva temples throughout the southern part of India that they built over several centuries. The legend has that one of the kings of this dynasty had a curse on him and he could not eat his food like others. To address this curse, he started building small temples all over the southern part of India. Once the temples were built, he prayed to that god and took the prasadam (offerings) of that temple as his food.

TEMPLE IN THONDAVADI
It is our belief that even this 'Varadaraja Temple'of Thondavadi was built for the same reason. Although, there is no evidence or historical documentation in support of this theory, there is ample evidence to support the Chola origin of the temple. Unlike Hoysalas and Chalukyas, Cholas often adopted very small square buildings (consisting of only 4 simple walls, which are exactly right angles to each other) coverd by a small Gopuram (roof) for their temple architecture. Cholas also built the door of their temples as low as possible forcing those who enter these temples bow their heads as mark of respect to the god. Over the next several decades, the Chola dynasty came to an end. Cholas were followed by many other empires that ruled the southern part of India, but none really cared much to deal with the thousands of small temples that were built in every little village. In early 1900's the Wodeyers, the rulers of Mysore upon the instructions of the British Empire ordered mass renovation of smaller temples. But politics played its part here; the Indian National Congress started opposing the Simon commission which forced the British to withdraw their plan of renovation.

IYENGARS AND THONDAVADI

As per the history books Influx of Iyengars into thondavadi dates back to some where around early 1800's, where a Shree Vaishnava Brahmin residing in the nearest Mysore town got a surpise dream of "VARADARAJA SWAMY TEMPLE". Astounded and cogitating his dream he started in search of this forbidden temple. Happenstance steps in, with the villagers also getting the same dream of a vaishnava brahmin residing in the nearest town of mysore. History books say that both got a dream from the almighty himself asking them to restart the daily rituals as per the SHREE Vaishanva tradition in the temple again. With the downfall of Chola empire along with the onslaught of the British empire in INDIA many of such small temples across south india were almost burried in the hands of local king's sloppiness. Many were destroyed and some were left barren, THONDAVADI's VARADARAJA temple was one among them.
Thus both parties started their journey to staisfy the almight's wish, people here believe that both the SHREE VAISHANAV BRAHMIN and the local people of the village met some where inbetween their journey only to know that both were trying to obey the god's wish. Thus Iyengars made their first entry into the village with the aim of serving "VARADARAJA SWAMY" of thondavadi.