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On a divine mission
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The number of temples for Lord Ayyappan is increasing by the day, thanks to munificent contributions from devotees. A look at some of the temples in the city.
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THE NUMBER of Ayyappan devotees visiting Sabarimala seems to be increasing by the thousands from year to year; but about 30 years ago, only a few hundred devotees would undertake the arduous trek to the shrine, during Makara Sankranti in mid-January. In fact, the shrine was open to pilgrims, only during that time of the year.
Today, the shrine is open every month (for five days), although the Mandalam-Makaravilakku period (November 16 to January 14) remains the most auspicious time to pay a visit. And you see that all through the year Ayyappan devotees are busy preparing for visits to Sabarimala.
Just as the number of devotees visiting Sabarimala is on the rise, the number of Ayyappa temples is also on the rise. Especially in Tamil Nadu. The last three to four decades have seen a phenomenal increase in the number of Ayyappan temples in Chennai.
The Kilpauk temple, situated on the Landon's Road pavement, is perhaps the first Ayyappan temple to have been built in Chennai. The first pooja mahotsavam at the temple was performed in December, 1967, in a small thatched shed. With generous contributions from local residents, the shed made way for a brick-and-mortar structure in 1971. The temple was extended in 1995.
Under the management of a nine-member registered society (Om Sri Maha Dharma Sastha Ayyappa Seva Sangham), poojas have been performed since the early 1970s by brothers K. Venkateswaran and K. Narayanan Kutty, priests from Chandanakkavu, which is near Allepey in Kerala.
"This temple is much more than a roadside shrine. Hundreds of Ayyappa devotees come here for kettunira during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku season," says Kutty.
Trikala pooja takes place here everyday and so does poor-feeding. There are special poojas, deeparadhana and bhajanas during Vishu, Vijayadashami and the Ayyappan season.
During the annual temple festival in December-end, laksharchana, navagraha shanties and alankara pooja are performed. On the last day of the festival, the deity is taken out in a grand procession, followed by maha annadaanam.
"We depend on hundi collections and donations to maintain the temple and conduct its affairs. We would like to have a larger temple in Kilpauk. For that to fructify, we need people's contributions. Most importantly, we need the contribution (from someone) of a small plot of land," says Kutty.
When Ayyappa devotees in Nungambakkam formed the Sree Ayyappa Bhakta Sabha in 1968, the objective was to conduct weekly bhajans and the yearly Ayyappan vilakku celebrations during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku period.
"Although there were a few centres in Aminjikarai, Ice House, Egmore and Nungambakkam that helped Ayyappa devotees visit Sabarimala, it was not an organised set-up. This prompted us to do something," says K.C. Menon, president of the Sabha.
Gradually, with the growth in membership and activities, the Sabha felt the need for independent premises to conduct religious discourses and cultural programmes.
"As a fundraiser, we conducted a ganamela featuring prominent playback singers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was during this function that a lady expressed her willingness to donate land for the construction of an Ayyappan temple in Madhavan Nair Colony," says K. Bhaskaran, joint secretary of the Sabha. This gave birth to Mahalingapuram Ayyappan Temple, the second temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, in the city.
The prathistha and kumbhabhishekam of this sanctum sanctorum was performed in 1974. Simultaneously, the smaller temples to Lord Vigneshwara and Lord Muruga were completed. The sthala pooja was performed in January 1970 by the high priest of the Chottanikkara Temple (near Ernakulam). The following month, Kanipayyoor Sankaran Namboodiripad submitted to the Sabha a detailed plan for the temple.The Ayyappa vigraham in panchaloka was ordered specially from Chengannur. The poojas at the temple are performed by namboodiris strictly according to the Agama Sastra and the advice of the Sabarimala high priest Kantaru Neelakantaru Thanthri. The temple provides devotees kettunira facilities throughout the year.
"On an average, 350 to 400 devotees perform their irumudikettu daily at the temple during the November-January season. Moreover, after the Travancore Devaswom Board was provided space inside the temple for its information centre, the only one of its kind in the State, we have been able to serve devotees better. Last year, we distributed 9,000 neyiabhishekam tickets, covering more than 40,000 pilgrims, and helped some of them get accommodation at the Sannidanam in Sabarimala," says Shashi Kumar, secretary of the Sabha.
Over the years, the temple has won several awards for being the best-maintained one in the city. Its well-stocked library has many Devaswom publications, while its retail outlet sells books, audio cassettes, pictures, photo frames and memorabilia.
Two marriage halls at the premises can accommodate 500 people. There are quarters for the temple staff and a prayer hall as well.
The Sabha runs a medical centre in Pushpa Nagar where 200-250 patients receive free treatment everyday. Mid-day meals for children from four Corporation schools are organised daily. Food packets are also distributed to the poor and needy. Recently, the Sabha has also set up a rural medical centre at Kettur-Venpedu Village, near Chengalpettu.
SASHI NAIR
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