A SRIRANGAM IN U.S.

[Guest guest]

A SRIRANGAM IN U.S.

I am forwarding a copy of write up on the upcoming Sri Ranganatha Temple

at Pomona, New York, which appeared on page B of the supplement to the

Hindu dated 11th April 1998 for the information of our members.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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A SRIRANGAM IN U.S.

Thanks to the efforts of the Indian settlers abroad, temples of many

deities of the country are coming up in distant lands. A shrine of Lord

Ranganatha Swamy is being built in the US by Sri Ranganatha Seva Samithi

at Pomona near New York. This would almost be a replica of Sri

Ranganathaswamy temple of Srirangam. It is coming up in an area of about

8000 sq.ft. The Bhoomi Pooja was performed recently after obtaining the

approval of the US Government.

 

The project was started with the blessings of Srimad Azhagiya Singar

Jeeyar Swamigal of Sri Ahobila Muth. The temple's Sanctum Sanctorum and

the Vimanas would also be similar to those of the Srirangam shrine. It

will also have a huge Mahamandapam, a prayer hall and other amenities.

The entire plan of the temple was drawn up by Mr. M.S.Sivaprakasam

Sthapathy, who had designed the Rajagopuram of the Srirangam temple, the

tallest in Asia. Mr. Sivaprakasam, who was conferred the title of

Kalaimamani in 1993, has also been entrusted with the work of sculpting

a replica of Lord Ranganatha in the reclining posture as seen at the

Srirangam temple. Along with the moolavar, a set of 13 other deities is

also being readied at an estimated cost of Rs.12 lakhs for the proposed

temple at Pomona.

 

A team of 15 skilled workers, led by Mr. Sivaprakasam, his brother, Mr.

M.S. Sivakadaksham and Mr. P. Palaniswamy, has been involved in carving

the sculptures for the past nine months.

 

Except for the finishing touches, all the idols are almost ready and

will be shipped in special containers to the U.S. by the end of this

month.

 

The idol of Lord Ranganatha, made of black granite acquired specially

from Pannaikaranpatti near Namakkal, weighs about 12 tonnes. It is 9.5

feet long and measures 3.6 feet in breadth and was carved out of a

single stone except for the hood of Adiseshan.

 

The other deities to be shipped to Pomona include Kothandaraman, along

with Sita and Lakshmana, Ranganayaki Thayar, Venugopala, Garuda Azhvar,

Nammazhvar, Anjaneyar, Ramanuja, Lakshmi Narasimhan and Andal.

 

Mr. Sivaprakasam and his team have already shipped a set of Panchaloha

idols of the Utsavars for the temple. Work on the construction of the

temple will commence after the presiding deity is installed.. Mr.

Sivaprakasam will lead a 15 member team to the U.S. shortly to supervise

the construction of the temple, which is expected to be consecrated in

about two years.

 

He says that it is a matter of great pride and personal satisfaction for

him to see the spiritual and cultural traditions of the country being

spread overseas.

 

S.Ganesan

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