Reforming Periya Kovil Nambi

Swami Rāmānujar continued his stay in Sri Rangam. He continued to attempt to gain access to the Ranganatha Perumāl temple keys to reform the way the temple was being administered. The temple keys were being held by a person named Periya Kōvil Nambi. Periya Kōvil Nambi was a man with a harsh temperament and was very stubborn. However much Swami Rāmānujar tried to get the temple keys, Periya Kōvil Nambi would avoid Swami Rāmānujar. Before Periya Kōvil Nambi became a respected person in charge of temple administration, he was a gambler.

Periya Kōvil Nambi's mother came to Swami Rāmānujar for help to reform her son's behavior. Swami Rāmānujar went to the gambling house to observe Periya Kōvil Nambi. After observing Periya Kōvil Nambi's behavior, Swami Rāmānujar sends Kūrattāzhvān to retrieve Periya Kōvil Nambi from the gambling house to initiate reform.

Kūrattāzhvān taught Periya Kōvil Nambi the shastras and various vyakyanams, transforming the gambler into a respectable man who earned the right to control the temple administration. Over time, Periya Kōvil Nambi began to develop a superiority complex, as he had the sole right to control the temple and oversee its operation. In his opinion, he was above everyone except Ranganatha Perumāl.

Swami Rāmānujar noticed that there were errors in the way he was conducting the temple rituals and hence deemed it necessary to gain access to the temple keys to change the way the temple was being administered.

One day, Periya Kōvil Nambi was conducting a homam for which he required a learned acharya to be present for a position known as Ekaham. At the time, it was customary to visit Swami Rāmānujar to bless such occasions. Thus, Periya Kōvil Nambi came to Swami Rāmānujar to grace the event. Swami Rāmānujar said he would send his guru, Kūrattāzhvān, to grace the occasion. Periya Kōvil Nambi was delighted to hear that his guru would be gracing the event.

After the conduction of the homam, it was customary to give daanam to the person taking the position of Ekaham. The custom of providing daanam was to continue giving until the person receiving the daanam said they were satisfied. Thus, Periya Kōvil Nambi began to offer daanam to his guru, and after the daanam, he would ask if his guru was satisfied. Kūrattāzhvān would reply that he was not happy. Soon, it came to a point where Periya Kōvil Nambi asked his guru what it would take to earn his satisfaction.

When this question was asked, Kūrattāzhvān asked for the keys to the temple. Periya Kōvil Nambi handed over the keys of the temple to Kūrattāzhvān, who, in turn, handed them to Swami Rāmānujar.

Swami Rāmānujar immediately took charge of all the temple activities. He established all the rituals that are practiced at the temple to date. When Periya Kōvil Nambi noticed the changes, he realized that he was at fault. Swami Rāmānujar then handed the keys back to Periya Kōvil Nambi. Periya Kōvil Nambi promises to uphold the traditions established by Swami Rāmānujar.