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Sri Laklshmi Narayani Temple at Sripuram, near Vellore.
Sripuram Golden Temple:
Here is another Temple built in recent years which took breath out of me when I looked at it.
Our visit to the Lakshmi Narayani Temple also known as Mahalakshmi Temple, at Sripuram, Vellore was a memorable one for me.
When I saw the magnificent Creation of the Golden Temple, the following lines from Chapter 10 of Bhagavat Gita came to my mind.
yad yad vibhutimat sattvam srimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvammama tejo-’msa-sambhavam (BG.Ch.10(41)
"Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor“
Sri Madhwacharya in his commentary to this Sloka says
“In whatever forms the manifestations of majesty, greatness, beauty and power are seen, they should be known as minuscule fractions of Lord Krishna's vibhuti or divine, transcendental opulence“.
Indeed that is what we have at Sripuram Sri Lakshminarayani Golden Temple.
Sri Narayani Peedam is located in Malaikkodi (Tirumalaikkodi)மலைக்கோடி (திருமலைகோடி) a small village just 8 Kms from Vellore. Sri Arul Sakthi Amma.( Lovingly called as Amma). the chief of Sri Narayani Peedam is the motivating power for the entire scheme of activities in the Narayani Peedam. Sri Sakthi Amma is just 34 years old. But the amount of work he has done with in the short span of 16 years after instituting the Narayani Peedam supports the view that Sri Sakthi Amma is a chosan Avatar to perform this great job ordained by the divinity. The Mahalakshmi Golden Temple at Sripuram is an extraordinary work of art. Magnificent in every respect. This wonderful work of art is situated in the midst of 100 acres of lush green landscape. The Temple complex covering 55,000 sq.ft. area is surrounded by six cornered star shaped 3.5 kms of pathway. The first glimpse of this awe inspiring sight of the Golden Temple stops our mind to silence. Soon the query arises “How could this be possible?"It is an architectural marvel, which has consumed 1.5 Tonnes of pure Gold and seven years of intelligent labour by traditional artists. This temple is designed under Agamic rules of Dravidian Temple architecture with an Ardha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Garbagruham. The main Gopuram or Tower is on the Garbagruham. It looks that the roofing on the Ardha mandapam and Maha Mandapam has been done on traditional Chola Architecture. The main Gopuram reminds us that of the Gopuram on the Garbagruham of Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumalai.. The Temple itself has 36 ornately decorated Pillars, all covered with Gold and there are 15 crystal chandeliers hung in the Maha Mandapam. Every part of the Temple is decorated with mythical figurines, flowers and animals. All covered in Gold. These are fantastic work of Art, planned and executed meticulously.
After visiting the magnificent Golden Temple while we were on the way to the old Swayambu Temple, we met the young man whom our host, who took us round the Holy abode of Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple and Narayani Peedam, introduced him as the Chief of the team of 400 specialized Gold and Copper-smiths from TTD who had completed the Golden Temple of Sri Puram, near Vellore. What a surprise! I never thought I would meet the person who had blessings of God to create such a magnificent Structure designed and guided by Sri Arul Sakthi Amma. I am told this young genius takes Satvik food of rice and milk products only.
Sri Narayani Peedam under the guidance of Amma has initiated several charitable projects for the welfare of people in the surrounding villages. That includes Specialty Hospital and health care, educational institutions, Drinking water program, Afforestation scheme , Child care, shelter for destitute etc.
I am not going into the cost of these projects . It is my view that money well spent for the welfare of humanity deserves to be encouraged. The arrangements for the Pilgrims are excellent. The Security is tight and stringent, but very polite. Nowhere we experience any difficulty..Proper guidance, assistance and information available inside the complex. More information on Sripuram is available in the following website:
http://www.sripuram.org/
www.narayanipeedam.org/
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.
Here is another Temple built in recent years which took breath out of me when I looked at it.
Our visit to the Lakshmi Narayani Temple also known as Mahalakshmi Temple, at Sripuram, Vellore was a memorable one for me.
When I saw the magnificent Creation of the Golden Temple, the following lines from Chapter 10 of Bhagavat Gita came to my mind.
yad yad vibhutimat sattvam srimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvammama tejo-’msa-sambhavam (BG.Ch.10(41)
"Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor“
Sri Madhwacharya in his commentary to this Sloka says
“In whatever forms the manifestations of majesty, greatness, beauty and power are seen, they should be known as minuscule fractions of Lord Krishna's vibhuti or divine, transcendental opulence“.
Indeed that is what we have at Sripuram Sri Lakshminarayani Golden Temple.
Sri Narayani Peedam is located in Malaikkodi (Tirumalaikkodi)மலைக்கோடி (திருமலைகோடி) a small village just 8 Kms from Vellore. Sri Arul Sakthi Amma.( Lovingly called as Amma). the chief of Sri Narayani Peedam is the motivating power for the entire scheme of activities in the Narayani Peedam. Sri Sakthi Amma is just 34 years old. But the amount of work he has done with in the short span of 16 years after instituting the Narayani Peedam supports the view that Sri Sakthi Amma is a chosan Avatar to perform this great job ordained by the divinity. The Mahalakshmi Golden Temple at Sripuram is an extraordinary work of art. Magnificent in every respect. This wonderful work of art is situated in the midst of 100 acres of lush green landscape. The Temple complex covering 55,000 sq.ft. area is surrounded by six cornered star shaped 3.5 kms of pathway. The first glimpse of this awe inspiring sight of the Golden Temple stops our mind to silence. Soon the query arises “How could this be possible?"It is an architectural marvel, which has consumed 1.5 Tonnes of pure Gold and seven years of intelligent labour by traditional artists. This temple is designed under Agamic rules of Dravidian Temple architecture with an Ardha Mandapam, Maha Mandapam and Garbagruham. The main Gopuram or Tower is on the Garbagruham. It looks that the roofing on the Ardha mandapam and Maha Mandapam has been done on traditional Chola Architecture. The main Gopuram reminds us that of the Gopuram on the Garbagruham of Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumalai.. The Temple itself has 36 ornately decorated Pillars, all covered with Gold and there are 15 crystal chandeliers hung in the Maha Mandapam. Every part of the Temple is decorated with mythical figurines, flowers and animals. All covered in Gold. These are fantastic work of Art, planned and executed meticulously.
After visiting the magnificent Golden Temple while we were on the way to the old Swayambu Temple, we met the young man whom our host, who took us round the Holy abode of Sri Lakshmi Narayani Temple and Narayani Peedam, introduced him as the Chief of the team of 400 specialized Gold and Copper-smiths from TTD who had completed the Golden Temple of Sri Puram, near Vellore. What a surprise! I never thought I would meet the person who had blessings of God to create such a magnificent Structure designed and guided by Sri Arul Sakthi Amma. I am told this young genius takes Satvik food of rice and milk products only.
Sri Narayani Peedam under the guidance of Amma has initiated several charitable projects for the welfare of people in the surrounding villages. That includes Specialty Hospital and health care, educational institutions, Drinking water program, Afforestation scheme , Child care, shelter for destitute etc.
I am not going into the cost of these projects . It is my view that money well spent for the welfare of humanity deserves to be encouraged. The arrangements for the Pilgrims are excellent. The Security is tight and stringent, but very polite. Nowhere we experience any difficulty..Proper guidance, assistance and information available inside the complex. More information on Sripuram is available in the following website:
http://www.sripuram.org/
www.narayanipeedam.org/
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.