[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Guruvayoor Improvement Plan and a request to Sajeev

[Guest guest]

Om Namo Narayanaya,

 

Dear Sajeev,

 

We are indeed very thankful for the efforts you are planning to take

in this regard.

 

In my earlier mail I have suggested the use of the North Nada halls to

be used for maintaining the queue, but did not give much details on

how this could be a workable suggestion. The below gives more details

in this respect. Devasom could give this a try for a day or two to see

if the results are satisfactory since this does not involve any

material change in and around the temple. Currently we have two floors

on the north nada building being used for the Ucha Bashnam (Lunch), of

this Devasom could use one floor for the queue full time and the

second floor could be used for the queue before and after the lunch

hours, may be the ladies queue can be maintained at this level. The

routing modalities are as follows:

 

All Devotees would queue up in the same place where they currently

stand for the Ucha Bashnam and this line would lead them to the main

hall, which as per our earlier plan would have both bench and fans for

convenience.

 

Entry to the main temple:

 

Currently we all know that the door facing the east nada is used to

enter the temple, my request is to leave this door open all the time

and allow devotees to enter the temple through the door on the North

nada (exactly opposite to the halls noted above) which is currently

used as the exit door. This would mean that the North nada door would

be used for both entry and exit. Since the devotees would be queuing

up in the north nada halls, they could be lead to this gate temporarly

in batches, (may be later on using a over bridge for the hall to the

south nada door may be worked out). Separate lines can be maintained

for Ladies and Gents. Once inside the main temple, the devotees would

be guided directly to the Tirupadi. They would go around the temple

and then exit through the same south nada gate.

 

Advantages of this set-up.

 

Since the door to the main temple would not be used for entering, this

would allow undisturbed view of the Lord for devotees standing outside

this door. Even those standing outside the temple on the east nada can

have good darshanam since they would get undisturbed view of the Lord

from outside too. I am sure many devotees in a hurry would prefer to

get darshanam at a distance than stand in the queue to get inside the

main temple. This would be very beneficial for Sabrimala Swami-mar,

since they would like to reach Sabrimala at the earliest and need not

spend long time standing in the queue at Guruvayoor.

 

If this plan is successful, there would be more space available on the

east side of the main temple and probably more people can be

accommodated for the choor-kodukal and such other functions.

 

Better fire exit can be planned for devotees waiting in the queue in

the two halls, Non stop chanting of Om Namo Narayanaya can be aired on

the public address systems. Another option is to route the line to

pass close to the Main Ambala Kulam and request all devotees to wash

their hands and feet before entering the waiting halls. If the ladies

line is discontinued on the east side, we would have more space in and

around the Swami Ayappan temple on the South side. Currently going

around this temple is a bit crammed due to the placing of the steel

divider for the ladies line. Devotees performing Shayanapradakshiam

too would be relived since less devotees would be around, and they

would get immediate darshanam of the Lord as soon as they complete the

pradakshinam.

 

Sajeev please check out if you could give any useful suggestion to

computerize the ticketing counter, use of plastic cards charged for a

particular sum could be used for distribution of the various prasadam

or other services from the temple. This kind of plastic cards are used

in kids fun cities. Please excuse me if I am over loading you. God

Bless you and your family

Om Namo Narayanaya.

Pravin Balan

 

 

guruvayur , " Sajeev Kesavan "

<sajeev.kesavan@l...> wrote:

> Hare Krishna !

>

> Dear Praveen,

>

> Thanks again for the guidelines & suggestions and lets hope we

get this done by

> the grace of Lord Krishna

>

> Its our heariest pleasure again if Lord Krishna gives us an

oppurtunity to serve.

> I will be staying in Guruvayoor for whole two days only for this

purpose.Lord Krishna's

> grace and blessings should give us a way to serve the Lord

better.All your prayers and

> effort is highly appreciable.

>

> Praveen,You are right Guruvayoorappan has helped the people who want

to serve him.With

> all the goodness and prayers of you and all the people we should be

able to embrace the

> world with the activities of the temple. Let this be a combined

effort to maintain the

> auspicious place in the same rhythm of religious values and

adherence to the old customs and

> to maintain the integrity of the temple .

>

> Haribol !

>

> Your humble servant

> Sajeev Kesavan

>

>

>

>

>

> hba9331 [pravin9@e...]

> Saturday, September 18, 2004 10:05 AM

> guruvayur

> [Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Re: Guruvayoor Improvement Plan and

a

> request to Sajeev

>

>

>

> Om Namo Narayanaya,

>

> Sajeev thanks for your initative in taking up the issues discussed

> below with the Devasom authorities, your suggestion to request

Devasom

> to participate in the forum is valid, we need to get the decision

> makers to get involved. Please try to find out how we could

popularise

> this web site in Guruvayoor, may be a visit to the local internet

cafe

> may help in this respect.

>

> I am not sure how time you would spend in Guruvayoor during your

> visit. To take up the issue with Devasom you would need some time

and

> some groud work to be done. Before you meet the Devasom

Administrator,

> it would be better to meet the Melshanti of the temple at his

> residence, his approval is needed in the first place. Please take

down

> all his suggestions and remarks, you should note that any changes at

> the temple is normally taken up in the Deva Prashnam and implemented

> if the results are positive. Any of the Priest would be able to

guide

> you to this person or give you his residence address which should be

> close to the temple.

>

> If the Melshanti likes any of the suggestions, then you can

sincerely

> request him to guide you with the required procudure to be followed

to

> get the same implemented.

>

> I am sure Guruvayoorappan is with us on this and he would guide you

> all the way. The below story may help you. When me and family had

gone

> to Guruvayoor temple for my sons choor kodlal, we were standing in

the

> long queue to get inside the temple in East Nada, the line was

hardly

> moving, when suddenly one person came to us saying ;IF you are

waiting

> for choor Kodukal, you need not wait in this line please enter the

> temple using the door next to the Devi temple. I am sure this is one

> of his ways of helping Devotees. Since you have taken up this pious

> task Guruvayoorappan would always be with you on this.

>

> Om Namo Narayanaya!

>

>

> Pravin Balan

>

>

>

>

> -- In guruvayur , " Sajeev Kesavan "

> <sajeev.kesavan@l...> wrote:

> > Dear Sunil ,

> >

> > Hare Krishna !

> >

> > I guess we could have a link in the guruvayoor official website

> regarding the

> > " World Guruvayoor Devotee Forum " so that other people who visit

> the site would also come to

> > know about the forum.It should help a lot.

> >

> > Your humble servant

> > Sajeev

> >

> >

> >

> > Sunil Menon [bhagawan]

> > Friday, September 17, 2004 11:59 AM

> > guruvayur

> > [Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Re: Guruvayoor Improvement Plan

and

> a

> > request to Sajeev

> >

> >

> > Dear Pravin Balan,

> > Very good suggestions. I am impressed with your practicality and

> > suggestions backed up by ways to implement it. Good.

> >

> > What we lack now is a way to convey our suggestions to the

devaswom

> > and make some arrangements for devaswom to adopt our suggestions.

> >

> > Sanjeeve, You have mentioned that you will be visitng Guruvayoor

> > soon, will you be able to take an appointment with the Devaswom

> > Administrator and temple manager etc ? Convey them about the

Devotee

> > forum from around the world and what we like to do. It is not just

 

> > suggesting a few changes but participating and helping in

whatever

> > way we can to improve Guruvayoor.

> >

> > Many of us can help with our experiences from around the world to

> > improve facilities and functions in guruvayoor, like the way

Pravin

> > has suggested from his experiences.

> >

> > Sanjeeve, Please let me know if you can meet some officials on

> behalf

> > of our 'World Guruvayoor devotees forum'

> >

> > Thanks and God bless you all.

> >

> > Om Namo Narayanaya:

> >

> > Sunil Menon.

> >

> >

> >

> > guruvayur , " hba9331 " <pravin9@e...> wrote:

> > > Om Namo Narayanaya!

> > >

> > > Lord Guruvayoorappans temple in Guruvayur is among the oldest

> > temples

> > > in Kerala. I must thank the Devasom authorities and everybody

> else

> > > for maintaining the sanctity of this temple to the best possible

> > > standards. Some of the points given below are related to the

> > Guruvayur

> > > Improvement plan and which kept coming to my mind again and

again

> > > since Sunil came up with the Improvement Plan.

> > >

> > > 1. Sankalpa : People who have visited Sri Mookambika Devi temple

> in

> > > Kolur (Karnataka) would be familiar with this ritual I would

like

> > > Devasom to start a similar service in Guruvayoor temple, whereby

> > > devotees could perform this Sankalpa near the Sreekovil and get

> > > Darshanam of the lord without having to wait in the queue.

> > >

> > > Benefits

> > > Get Darshanam and blessing of the Lord for the full family

> > > More priests would get employed. (one priest to handle one

family

> > at a

> > > time)

> > > More income for Devasom

> > >

> > > 2 12 Darshanams: It is considered very auspicious if we could

get

> > all

> > > the 12 Darshanams of Lord Guruvayoorappan on a single date.

> > Currently

> > > every devotee would have to queue up 12 or more times to get

this

> > > done, if Guruvayoor Devasom could start a special facility which

> > could

> > > guarantee all 12 darshanams to any willing devotee, this would

be

> > very

> > > helpful, especially during peak rush seasons.

> > >

> > > Benefits

> > > Get Darshanams and blessing of the Lord

> > > Get Prasadams, including special prasadam from the Sree Kovil

> > > Employment for kavalkaran who would be responsible for his team

> > > More income for Devasom

> > >

> > > 3 Long Queue: Lord Guruvayoorappan has his own ways of allowing

> > > devotees to have Darshanam at the temple, sometimes he allows us

> to

> > > get quick darshan and sometimes we have to queue up for long

time.

> > > Currently we find serpentine queue inside the temple, often

> > extending

> > > to outside the temple. It would be very beneficial if Devasom,

> > could

> > > convert the area above the Prasadam Ticket counter area to allow

> > > devotees to queue where benches and fans can be provided, this

> > could

> > > be modeled like the facility at Tirupathi. This would be very

> > helpful

> > > for the aged, children and women. Devasom to work out the

> > modalities

> > > and logistics for this facility.

> > >

> > > Benefits

> > > Less Noise and din inside the temple.

> > > Allow for a calm and tranquil atmosphere in the waiting hall,

> > > Allow devotees to chant 'Om Namo Narayana' till they get Lords

> > > Darshanam.

> > >

> > > 4 Clean-up the Chituvelaku: The chituvelaku is one of the

> > beauty

> > > spot of Guruvayur temple, especially when it is lit up in the

> > night.

> > > It would be very beautiful even during day time if the brass

> > covering

> > > and the area around the same could be cleaned on a regular

basis.

> > One

> > > idea I would like to suggest in this respect is to use pressure

> > water

> > > (kind of one used in Car service station) may be mixed with a

> > chemical

> > > compound (not smelly like WD40) to remove the oil spill and the

> > green

> > > coating on the same with little trouble. The wall behind this

> > > chituvelaku too can be cleaned using the same process allowing

the

> > > beautiful stone work to be revealed. People tend to keep away

from

> > the

> > > foundation wall since there are often oil spills on them and

they

> > try

> > > avoid get those stuck on their dress.

> > >

> > > 5 Kitchen inside the temple: The big kitchen used to prepare

> > > prasadam located to the left of West Nada, should be fully

secured

> > or

> > > shifted to a place outside the temple. The unfortunate inside in

a

> > > Tamil Nada school recently should not be forgotten. In any case

> > > marking of fire exit and Fire Drills are a must for not only

> > Devasom

> > > staff, but also for the staff manning shop and establishments

> > around

> > > the temple. I am sure Devasom must be taking the necessary

> > precautions

> > > in the respect.

> > >

> > > 6 Posters and Music: Devotional music cassettes have become big

> > > business in India and it seems every music company churns out

> > numerous

> > > cassettes in a year to deal with each season. We do not mind

the

> > > business part of this, but playing these cassettes in top volume

> > > around the temples in Kerala has to be stopped. Areas in and

> around

> > > the temples are supposed to be quiet and tranquil and the

blaring

> > of

> > > such music does not help in this respect. I am sure just by

> > reducing

> > > the volume would not affect the business of these vendors.

Another

> > > issue related to this issue is the posters released by the music

> > > companies, these posters contain the picture of various Gods and

> > > Goddesses and they are stuck on every nook and corner, some of

> them

> > > get torn and mutilated after some time. Devasom should take up

> the

> > > matter with the concerned authorities to stop the above two

> > practices.

> > > Educating and requesting the music companies and the vendors

> around

> > > the temple too could give positive results.

> > >

> > >

> > > Please excuse me for any grammatical errors. I look forward to

> your

> > > views and comments on the above points. Thanks

> > >

> > > Om Namo Narayanaya!

> > >

> > >

> > > Pravin Balan

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Om Namo Narayanaya:

> >

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

Praveen / Sunil I just came back from guruvayoor.Had a nice darshan

with all the peacefulness.

I had taken our suggestions to the Officials there.First I met the devaswom

assistant manager of the Temple and discussed with him regarding our group

and the intitiation taken by our group.I also presented him the printed

papers that relate to the discussion that we had to the improvement

of the temple.

 

He appreciated our effective involvement and told that the board shall

be happy to involve themselves in the improvement of the temple from

wherever it may be.The fact is that the Board is responsible not only

for the guruvayoor temple but all the in and around surrounding temples.

I also presented that we can re-organise and redevelop the website

so that people can do offereings and also book any offerings through the

webite.Additionally the groups can also have a link in the website.

From the discussions had,he said that the formal way accepted is that

we need to send a letter regarding our ideas or whatever may be to

the Administrator,Guruvayoor devaswom baord,guruvayoor who inturn allots

a date of appointment for furthur discussions.

 

So the next step would be to write to the Administrator with reference to

the Assistant Manager.Hopefully we should be able to put our efforts into

reality.Sunil,so how should we proceed on this? Can we frame up a letter ?

 

Om Namo Narayananya!

 

Sajeev Kesavan

 

 

 

hba9331 [pravin9]

Saturday, September 18, 2004 10:05 AM

guruvayur

[Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Re: Guruvayoor Improvement Plan and a

request to Sajeev

 

 

 

Om Namo Narayanaya,

 

Sajeev thanks for your initative in taking up the issues discussed

below with the Devasom authorities, your suggestion to request Devasom

to participate in the forum is valid, we need to get the decision

makers to get involved. Please try to find out how we could popularise

this web site in Guruvayoor, may be a visit to the local internet cafe

may help in this respect.

 

I am not sure how time you would spend in Guruvayoor during your

visit. To take up the issue with Devasom you would need some time and

some groud work to be done. Before you meet the Devasom Administrator,

it would be better to meet the Melshanti of the temple at his

residence, his approval is needed in the first place. Please take down

all his suggestions and remarks, you should note that any changes at

the temple is normally taken up in the Deva Prashnam and implemented

if the results are positive. Any of the Priest would be able to guide

you to this person or give you his residence address which should be

close to the temple.

 

If the Melshanti likes any of the suggestions, then you can sincerely

request him to guide you with the required procudure to be followed to

get the same implemented.

 

I am sure Guruvayoorappan is with us on this and he would guide you

all the way. The below story may help you. When me and family had gone

to Guruvayoor temple for my sons choor kodlal, we were standing in the

long queue to get inside the temple in East Nada, the line was hardly

moving, when suddenly one person came to us saying ;IF you are waiting

for choor Kodukal, you need not wait in this line please enter the

temple using the door next to the Devi temple. I am sure this is one

of his ways of helping Devotees. Since you have taken up this pious

task Guruvayoorappan would always be with you on this.

 

Om Namo Narayanaya!

 

 

Pravin Balan

 

 

 

 

-- In guruvayur , " Sajeev Kesavan "

<sajeev.kesavan@l...> wrote:

> Dear Sunil ,

>

> Hare Krishna !

>

> I guess we could have a link in the guruvayoor official website

regarding the

> " World Guruvayoor Devotee Forum " so that other people who visit

the site would also come to

> know about the forum.It should help a lot.

>

> Your humble servant

> Sajeev

>

>

>

> Sunil Menon [bhagawan]

> Friday, September 17, 2004 11:59 AM

> guruvayur

> [Guruvayur/Guruvayoor] Re: Guruvayoor Improvement Plan and

a

> request to Sajeev

>

>

> Dear Pravin Balan,

> Very good suggestions. I am impressed with your practicality and

> suggestions backed up by ways to implement it. Good.

>

> What we lack now is a way to convey our suggestions to the devaswom

> and make some arrangements for devaswom to adopt our suggestions.

>

> Sanjeeve, You have mentioned that you will be visitng Guruvayoor

> soon, will you be able to take an appointment with the Devaswom

> Administrator and temple manager etc ? Convey them about the Devotee

> forum from around the world and what we like to do. It is not just

> suggesting a few changes but participating and helping in whatever

> way we can to improve Guruvayoor.

>

> Many of us can help with our experiences from around the world to

> improve facilities and functions in guruvayoor, like the way Pravin

> has suggested from his experiences.

>

> Sanjeeve, Please let me know if you can meet some officials on

behalf

> of our 'World Guruvayoor devotees forum'

>

> Thanks and God bless you all.

>

> Om Namo Narayanaya:

>

> Sunil Menon.

>

>

>

> guruvayur , " hba9331 " <pravin9@e...> wrote:

> > Om Namo Narayanaya!

> >

> > Lord Guruvayoorappans temple in Guruvayur is among the oldest

> temples

> > in Kerala. I must thank the Devasom authorities and everybody

else

> > for maintaining the sanctity of this temple to the best possible

> > standards. Some of the points given below are related to the

> Guruvayur

> > Improvement plan and which kept coming to my mind again and again

> > since Sunil came up with the Improvement Plan.

> >

> > 1. Sankalpa : People who have visited Sri Mookambika Devi temple

in

> > Kolur (Karnataka) would be familiar with this ritual I would like

> > Devasom to start a similar service in Guruvayoor temple, whereby

> > devotees could perform this Sankalpa near the Sreekovil and get

> > Darshanam of the lord without having to wait in the queue.

> >

> > Benefits

> > Get Darshanam and blessing of the Lord for the full family

> > More priests would get employed. (one priest to handle one family

> at a

> > time)

> > More income for Devasom

> >

> > 2 12 Darshanams: It is considered very auspicious if we could get

> all

> > the 12 Darshanams of Lord Guruvayoorappan on a single date.

> Currently

> > every devotee would have to queue up 12 or more times to get this

> > done, if Guruvayoor Devasom could start a special facility which

> could

> > guarantee all 12 darshanams to any willing devotee, this would be

> very

> > helpful, especially during peak rush seasons.

> >

> > Benefits

> > Get Darshanams and blessing of the Lord

> > Get Prasadams, including special prasadam from the Sree Kovil

> > Employment for kavalkaran who would be responsible for his team

> > More income for Devasom

> >

> > 3 Long Queue: Lord Guruvayoorappan has his own ways of allowing

> > devotees to have Darshanam at the temple, sometimes he allows us

to

> > get quick darshan and sometimes we have to queue up for long time.

> > Currently we find serpentine queue inside the temple, often

> extending

> > to outside the temple. It would be very beneficial if Devasom,

> could

> > convert the area above the Prasadam Ticket counter area to allow

> > devotees to queue where benches and fans can be provided, this

> could

> > be modeled like the facility at Tirupathi. This would be very

> helpful

> > for the aged, children and women. Devasom to work out the

> modalities

> > and logistics for this facility.

> >

> > Benefits

> > Less Noise and din inside the temple.

> > Allow for a calm and tranquil atmosphere in the waiting hall,

> > Allow devotees to chant 'Om Namo Narayana' till they get Lords

> > Darshanam.

> >

> > 4 Clean-up the Chituvelaku: The chituvelaku is one of the

> beauty

> > spot of Guruvayur temple, especially when it is lit up in the

> night.

> > It would be very beautiful even during day time if the brass

> covering

> > and the area around the same could be cleaned on a regular basis.

> One

> > idea I would like to suggest in this respect is to use pressure

> water

> > (kind of one used in Car service station) may be mixed with a

> chemical

> > compound (not smelly like WD40) to remove the oil spill and the

> green

> > coating on the same with little trouble. The wall behind this

> > chituvelaku too can be cleaned using the same process allowing the

> > beautiful stone work to be revealed. People tend to keep away from

> the

> > foundation wall since there are often oil spills on them and they

> try

> > avoid get those stuck on their dress.

> >

> > 5 Kitchen inside the temple: The big kitchen used to prepare

> > prasadam located to the left of West Nada, should be fully secured

> or

> > shifted to a place outside the temple. The unfortunate inside in a

> > Tamil Nada school recently should not be forgotten. In any case

> > marking of fire exit and Fire Drills are a must for not only

> Devasom

> > staff, but also for the staff manning shop and establishments

> around

> > the temple. I am sure Devasom must be taking the necessary

> precautions

> > in the respect.

> >

> > 6 Posters and Music: Devotional music cassettes have become big

> > business in India and it seems every music company churns out

> numerous

> > cassettes in a year to deal with each season. We do not mind the

> > business part of this, but playing these cassettes in top volume

> > around the temples in Kerala has to be stopped. Areas in and

around

> > the temples are supposed to be quiet and tranquil and the blaring

> of

> > such music does not help in this respect. I am sure just by

> reducing

> > the volume would not affect the business of these vendors. Another

> > issue related to this issue is the posters released by the music

> > companies, these posters contain the picture of various Gods and

> > Goddesses and they are stuck on every nook and corner, some of

them

> > get torn and mutilated after some time. Devasom should take up

the

> > matter with the concerned authorities to stop the above two

> practices.

> > Educating and requesting the music companies and the vendors

around

> > the temple too could give positive results.

> >

> >

> > Please excuse me for any grammatical errors. I look forward to

your

> > views and comments on the above points. Thanks

> >

> > Om Namo Narayanaya!

> >

> >

> > Pravin Balan

>

>

>

>

>

> Om Namo Narayanaya:

>