Even though it is known as a temple town and once was a hub of Carnatic music, many of the temples in Kumbokonam do not have nagaswaram and thavil players in their employ. Even in temples where the instruments are played, the artistes are employed only on consolidated pay.
“In the Kumbeswarar temple, there is a nagaswaram player and he is paid ₹6,000 per month. The artiste in Nageswarankoil gets ₹7,250. The salary is just ₹3,000 for the nagaswaram player in the Sundareswarar temple in Karupur,” said Saravanan, president of the Kumbakonam Isai Vellalar Sangam. He said there was no nagaswaram or thavil player in the famous Sarangapani temple. The Sakkarapani temple has a nagaswaram player who gets ₹7,000 per month.
Mr. Saravanan has prepared a list of 16 temples, and only four of them have nagaswaram and thavil players in their employ. “Other temples have mechanised musical instruments playing when poojas are performed,” he explained.
