Sripuram Narayani Temple

From Ambur, we reached Sripuram, the now famous Golden Temple of Narayani.

I have never seen a temple which evokes such strong reactions. It is positively opulent. It is ostentatious whereas most temples in India reflect austerity. Glazed granite, golden pillars and the dazzling lights leaves you not speechless but dumbfounded. Other temples make you fall silent.

The circumambulation path, is not square or circular but star shaped.

I was just wondering how anyone who enters this temple with fountains and pleasure evoking contraptions could instil a sense of bhakti and humility. Pictures of the man - however great he may have been in constructing this temple - he is still a man - not to be placed alongside Gods/Godesses.

I was just fuming and then had the darshan from 15 feet away even though we had paid a hefty Rs.100/- as entrance ticket.

Then I saw a villager, who normally gets more awed than us city dwellers, just praying there - no dazzling lights, no opulence and no amount of gold could deter him from praying.

So it is not what outside or in the temple that counts. What counts is what you have in you - that is bhakti.

I came out totally humbled from this extraordinary temple, just as I come out of any temple. Better learned and even more humbled.

I am a more chastisised person now.

Refer Wikipedia for more info on this place.

Just see a pic gleamed off the net.

Peria Anjaneyar Temple, Ambur

Ambur-Sripuram Mar 2008

Today we visited the Peria Anjaneyar Temple in Ambur. I and Sridharan, along with families set out in the afternoon and reached there by evening.

The temple is situated amidst the bustle of a small industrial town. Once you enter the temple you are transported to a different world altogether. Serene, quiet and calm.

This temple was built way back in the 15th century during Krishna Deva Raya's rule.

The sthala puranam (history of the temple) is very interesting.

While fighting the demon Ravana to take back the abducted Sita, Lakshmana, brother of Rama is injured in the battle hurt by a missile from Ravana's son. Jambhavan, the bear Advisor, says that he can be rescued by a herb called Sanjeevani. Hanuman is sent back to India to bring the herb. Hanuman sets out to the Himalayas, finds the hill where the herb grows but cannot recognise it. He uproots the entire mountains and returns. Meanwhile, Sukracharya, Ravana's Guru and the preceptor for all Rakshasas (demons) says that he needs to be stopped from returning. Ravana, sends Saturn one of the nine enslaved planets who form the nine steps to his throne to stop Hanuman. Sani (Saturn) accosts Hanuman. Hanuman asks Sani the reason for stopping him from returning. Sani says that he is now under the rule of Ravana and has come to stop Hanuman from proceeding to Sri Lanka. Hanuman places the entire mountain on Sani who is unabe to bear the weight. Sani surrenders. Hanuman then lifts the mountain and crushes Sani under his foot. Sani requests for forgiveness. Hanuman does so under the conditions that Sani is not to impede anyone's path who chants Rama's name. Hanuman then returns to Sri Lanka with herb and rest of the story is known. The temple idol of Hanuman here is in the posture of crushing Sani Bhagawan under his foot.

Since this is a ugra stance, nearby is another idol of Hanuman so that people can worship Him.

The temple tower contains some extremely beautiful scupltures of the Raya dynasty.

One can light lamps depending on the constellation to obtain peace and prosperity.

We saw the temple cow and calf - they appeared to be more peaceful than most people we see on the streets.

We also saw some students praying for a successful completion of their exams coming up just round the corner.

Have a look at some material on the net here.

The temple has website http://www.periyaanjaneyartemple.org/, but then I was not able to view it today.