Tamil Nadu Gets a Golden Temple - Abbaraju Venkata Ramana

[Guest guest]

Tamil Nadu Gets a Golden Temple

Newspost India

Friday, August 24th 2007

 

One of the biggest Hindu shrines in southern India, the Sri Puram

Golden Temple, was consecrated here Friday in the presence of over

30,000 devotees.

 

Being dubbed as [a] 'golden temple', it is located in the backdrop a

small range of hillocks, about 180 km from Chennai. A spiritual

leader who calls himself Narayani Amma has built it at the cost of

Rs.3 million.

 

'The Taj Mahal was built as an expression of love for a single

person but the Sri Puram Golden Temple stands for unconditional love

for the entire humanity,' says Amma, 31, who also goes by the name

of Shakti Siddha.

 

The temple spans 100 acres and has a built-up area of 55,000 sq ft.

The sanctum sanctorum is covered with thin gold plates created out

of 1.5 metric tonnes of pure gold - giving the shrine its name.

 

The temple itself is shaped like a star, reminding many of the

foreign devotees present in sizeable numbers of the Jewish symbol.

 

'We know it is also the sign of the universal goddess - Lakshmi,'

says William, who gives only one name and says he is of Canadian

origin.

 

The steps that lead to the innermost section are laid with polished

black and grey granite from the neighbouring South Arcot and

Dharmapuri districts. A cubic metre of black granite is priced at

$900. So is the grey stone called 'Paradiso' because of its wavy

patterns of violet with the colour of iron. And this too has been

used in large quantities.

 

'If we had built a hospital, factory, educational institution or

a business, it would have ended up serving a small community. But

now, Amma's temple will sow the seeds of goodness in the hearts of

everyone who visits here,' Amma, clad in ochre robes, says in Tamil.

 

'For every mother, nursing a slightly ill child is a challenge

because the medicine is usually bitter and hence needs a sugar

coating. Once the medicine goes in, all is well with the young one

again. Similarly, we have created your golden temple - a

materialistic sign to attract people.'

 

There are more than 300 signboards of simple messages, which are

meant to lead devotees to wisdom. And this wisdom is aimed at

helping each visitor become a better human being.

 

Amma has spent millions on charity - including hospitals

and helping the physically challenged. He also claims to

have renovated over 600 temples in the area at a cost of

Rs.30 million.

 

Explaining the source of his funds, Amma said his

foundation was present in more than six countries.

 

Over 700 policemen were deployed to regulate the flow of

devotees Friday.

 

The temple has been built over the last six years with over

400 masons working on it. Well-known craftsmen Subbiah

Sthapathi of Kanchipuram and Srinivasa Sthapathy were

responsible for the civil works and the ornate gold leaf inlay

works respectively.

 

The established 'Aagama' systems of worship will not be

followed in Sri Puram. 'Sri Vidya' - a rare cult of Shakti

worship - is to be followed here. Its first exponent was Adi

Shankara himself, it is said.