|
 Sri
Sundara Vinayagar Temple, New Colony, Chromepet, a suburb of
Chennai, lying west of GST Road, was formed by middle class people
who could not own a house of their own in the sprawling metropolis,
in 1950, due to high cost. The residents felt the need to cater to
their spiritual and cultural needs and also to foster a sense of
togetherness among themselves. Naturally, the answer was and is a
temple and thus the seeds of the temple campus were sown.
In January 1964, Sri Sundara Vinayagar Temple was
consecrated thanks to the efforts of the locals. The other shrines
that were added were Navagraha Sannadhi (1965) Sri Murugan Sannadhi
(1970), Sri Anjaneya Sannadhi (1974), Sivan Sannadhi (1982) Sept. Sri
Ramar and Ayyappan Sannadhi (1986) and Sri Guruvayoorappan Sannadhi
(2001).
 A
rajagopuram was constructed and kumbabhishekam performed in 1989 to
commemorate the silver jubilee year of founding the temple. As
ordained by Agamas, kumbabhishekam has to be performed once in 12
years. The major kumbabhishekam was performed in 1982 when the Sivan
Sannadhi was consecrated. The second kumbabhishekam came in 1995.
Mahaperiyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam visited the
temple in 1965 followed by Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal in 1975,
1983 and 1995. Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal also visited the
temple in 1995.
Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal declared open a
small ‘Pravachana Mandapam’ during his visit in 1983 and it was named
after him. The mandapam was expanded in 1989 to accommodate about 250
people. It is used for delivering discourses and conducting sloka
classes and Veda parayanam. Further, occasionally, it is also given
for simple religious functions such as upanayanam, sashtiyabthapoorthi,
etc.
The last kumbabhishekam was performed in 1995 and
it is proposed to conduct a kumbhabhishekam this year, incidentally,
the silver jubilee year of the first maha kumbabhishekam of 1982.
 Major
civil works have also to be carried out to keep the temple in a good
shape. Due to vast expansion of the area, this being the only
Siva-Vishnu temple , it attracts a large number of devotees on
important days like Pradosham, Ekadasi, Sankatahara Chathurti, etc.,
every month and also during festivals like Vinayaka Chaturthi,
Navarathri, Kanda Sashti, Rama Navami, Hanumath Jayanthi, Ayyappa
mandala pooja and Maha Shivarathri. To enable the devotees have a
comfortable darshan of the deities, it is felt that existing
facilities need to be expanded. Considering all this, it has been
proposed to revamp conduct the kumbabhishekam by October/December
2007.
The approximate estimated expenditures are
detailed here under:
1. The proposed cost of removing the existing roof
and providing a new one and constructing a new hall – Rs 40,00,000
with an area of approximately 7,900 sq ft.
2. Towards constructing new artha mandapam,
garbagraham – Rs 22,00,000 and vimanam (as per the details given
hereunder).
3. Towards kumbabhishekam and other miscellaneous
expenses Rs 8,00,000
Total – Rs 70,00,000
The estimated expenditure sannadhi-wise is as
follows:
|
Sannadhi |
Artha Mandapam |
Garbagriham |
Vimanam |
Total |
| Vinayagar |
60,000 |
85,000 |
1,85,000 |
3,30,000 |
| Sivan and Khosta Devathaigal |
50,000 |
85,000 |
1,10,000 |
2,45,000 |
| Ambal |
50,000 |
85,000 |
1,07,000 |
2,42,000 |
| Murugar |
60,000 |
75,000 |
1,07,000 |
2,42,000 |
| Saraswathi |
Nil |
25,000 |
35,000 |
60,000 |
| Gajalakshmi |
Nil |
25,000 |
40,000 |
65,000 |
| Ramar |
30,000 |
50,000 |
1,00,000 |
1,80,000 |
| Anjaneyar |
Nil |
60,000 |
75,000 |
1,35,000 |
| Guruvayurappan |
Nil |
60,000 |
75,000 |
1,35,000 |
|
Sannadhi |
Artha Mandapam |
Garbagriham |
Vimanam |
Total |
| Ayyappan with Kannimoola Ganapathy
and Karumariamman |
75,000 |
80,000 |
1,10,000 |
2,65,000 |
| Acharyal |
Nil |
25,000 |
50,000 |
75,000 |
| Nalwar |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
50,000 |
| Udayavar |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
50,000 |
| Andal |
Nil |
50,000 |
60,000 |
1,10,000 |
Balalayam was performed on April 5, 2007. The civil
structure has been dismantled and work is in progress.
Since the work involves a lot of money, we appeal
to generous hearts among the devotees to rush in their contributions.
Contributions may be sent in the form of cheque/DD
to be drawn in favour of Sri Sundara Vinayagar Alaya Thirupani/Kumbabhisheka
Committee, and sent to N S Sesha Gurukal, Sundara Apartments, 5th
Main Road, New Colony, Chromepet, Chennai - 600 044.
D Padmanabhan
Secretary,
Kumbabhisheka Committee
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