A Divine Virtual Tour of Tirumala Tirupati Temple

A Divine Virtual Tour of Tirumala Tirupati Temple

I would like to express my sincere thanks to V S Rangachar for sharing in the email the virtual tour of Tirumala Tirupathi. For the benefit of other readers, I have
uploaded them to the YouTube and is available in the following URL:

Thirumanjana Vedhigai Kainkaryam at Thiruvallikeni

Thirumanjana Vedhigai Kainkaryam at Thiruvallikeni

It is with great pleasure that I was able to get in touch M.A. Krishnan, Thiruvallikeni that I came to know of the Thirumanjana Vedhigai project. I have compiled a breif amount of information and would like to share it out here so that other devotees can take part in the Kainkaryam.

The various Emperumans in Thiruvallikeni are performed with Thirumanjanam (divine bath) during a lot of occasaions. A few of them are:

1. Pancha Parva
2. Brahmotsavams
3. Alwar Thirunakshitrams
4. Acharya Thirunakshitrams
   
5. ThiruvAdipooram
6. Panguni Uthiram,
7. Vaikunda Ekadasi
   
8. ... and so on and so forth ...

A Gold Plating of the PunyaKoti Vimanam that was carried out in January 2006 by Sri Thennacharya Sri Vaishnava Sri Patham Thangigal Kaingarya Sabha. This organization ataches itself in greater levels of divine service to this temple in its day-to-day activities and annual observations.

Currently, they are undertaking a project to dedicate Gold Thirumanjana Vedhigai with Pathira Vedhigai (Gold Abhisheka Bench with stool) to Lord Parthasarathy Swamy temple to perform Thirumanjanam on those days. The abovesaid Vedhigai would be used for more than 40 to 50 days in a year.

The architectural plan of the Vedhigai stipulates that it is carved out of wood, copper-covered and then gold-plated for resilence of the material through its lifetime. They aer having a project delivery towards this Vaikunta Ekadasi (30th December 2006).

Financial Estimates

1. Wood and wood work with Labour - Rs. 50,000/-
   
2. Copper and copper work with Labour (70 Kgs of Copper) 18 gauge thickness - Rs.1,75,000/-
   
3. Gold and Gold Work with Labour (2 Kgs of 24 ct Gold) - Rs.18,50,000/-
   
4. Silver and Silver work with Labour (8 Kg of Silver) - Rs. 1,80,000/-
5. Works executed by:
   Shri K Balamurugan Sthapathi,
   Aarthi Silpa Kalai Koodam,
   Cuddalore.
   
   (These are the same architects who have made the earlier Gold Plated Punya Koti Vimanam also).

Contact Information

1. Shri V Govindan +919444051317 / +914428441317 [India]
2. Shri R Lakshmi Narasimhan (Praveen) +919383331141 / +914428440306 [India]
3. Shri E Narayanan +914428446414 [India]
4. Shri S Krishnan +919840434900 / +914428443138 [India]
   
5. Shri Varadarajan/ Smt. Sumithra Varadarajan +16024413378 [USA]. You can also reach them at sumivaradan (at) gmail.com

More information on Sri Parthasarathy Temple, please visit the website. A few pictures of the diety, temple along with existing Thirumanjanam snapshots are:

Srimad Azhagiya Singar Satabishekam Celebrations Webcast

Srimad Azhagiya Singar Satabishekam Celebrations Webcast

As we all know that Srimad Azhagiya Singar Satabishekam is being celebrated on November 30. We have discussed this in a previous post over here. ChennaiStream.com is bringing out a complete webcast of the event from Srirangam.

Check out the webcast URLs over here:

1. mms://66.36.252.46/ahobilamutt

Sadabishekam

Thursday, 30th November 2006

Helping out Sri Vaishnava Temples

Helping out Sri Vaishnava Temples

We so many Sri Vaishnava temples around us. Quite a few of them, which have got the privileges of being sung by Azhwars (Mangalasasanams) have been categorized as Sri Vaishnava Divyadesams. The sad state is that due a few of the temples are running under acute financial crisis and lack of renovation.

There are a lot of reasons for apathy towards our cherished temples. A few of them would be:

1. First and foremost would be ignorance on part of the people towards their native place and temples.
2. Localizing their views only to themselves and family and hence moving away from thier temples.
3. A variant of Shameful mimicing modernity.

Fortunately, a group of Orkuteers have formed a community called 'Vadagalai Iyengars', which has initiated a very noble cause of preparing the list of temples that are in need, compiling donations and services from philanthropists worldwide and helping out them. The team already has a like-minded guys working on the project from Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai etc. You can find the original message in the following discussion thread.

I just wanted to share this message to all, so that everybody interested can join hands in the service of the Lord.

Sri Yoga Narasimhar Temple in Velacherry

Sri Yoga Narasimhar Temple in Velacherry

The fast developing Velachery town, which is a satellite town of Chennai metropolitan takes pride in hosting a very privilged and an excellent temple. It is Sri Yoga Narasimha temple right in the heart of Velachery (aka) Vedasreni. The town is also known as Vedanarayanapuram and the name has slowly changed to Velacherry now. The other name is 'Velvicherry', since it was believed that the sages stayed here and did Velvi (Yagnas).

The posture of Sri Yoga Narasimha in this temple is west-facing with four hands and sitting, which is quite rare. The Goddess is Amirthabalavalli (the same name as She is worshipped in Sri Ahobilam). The Utsavar is Bhakthavatsala Perumal, flanked by Sridevi and Bhoodevi on His either sides.

There is another Lord called 'Sri Veda Narayana Perumal' in Manimandapam from where Velacherry derives its another name 'Vedanarayana Puram'. He stands west faced with Prayoga Chakra (the discus missile is in the ready launch state to slay the wicked and protect the righteous).

Other Lords with Prayoga Chakra:

1. Lord Devanatha (near Chettipunyam)
2. Nemili Veetriuntha Ramar
3. Azhagiya Manavala Perumal (Thiruvuraiyur)
   

Vishnu Sahasranama Chanting on 5th November 2006

Vishnu Sahasranama Chanting on 5th November 2006


The Chennai Chapter of the All India Vishnu Sahasranama Cultural Federation is organizing the chanting of the twelve avruthis of Vishnu Sahasranamam this Sunday (5th November 2006). The following are details regarding the function.

Venue: Krishnaswamy Marriage Hall, T. Nagar

Date and Time: 5th November 2006 between 8 AM and 12:30 PM Indian Time

Contact Details or Organizers:

1. Sri Sridhar: +91 93810 16791
   
2. Sri Mukundan: +91 94440 23168

Other Services of the Federation:

1. Annual Akanda Japa Yagna on August 1 and 2 which is attended by devotees all over the world and everyone chant Vishnu Sahasranamam 108 times.