Special Pooja in aid of Temple this month

Members of the recently formed Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of New Zealand Inc are organising a Special Pooja to pay obeisance to Lord Venkateswara of the Seven Hills later this month.

The event, including Srinivasa Kalyanam (Marriage of Vishnu or Srinivasa) will be held at the Mt Eden War Memorial Hall (487 Dominion Road) in Mt Eden on November 28, 2010.

Organisation President Ravi Chittajallu said Deities for the Pooja are being brought from Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh, known as the ‘Holy Land of the Bridegroom God,’ known as an ‘Opulent Avatar of Lord Vishnu.’

The Temple is the richest in the world with the Main Deity decorated with gold and diamond jewellery on specific hours of the day. With more than 19 million visitors every year, the Temple, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is more popular than the Vatican near Rome.

Mr Chittajallu said Lord Venkateshwara is worshipped as the Kaliyuga Vaikunta (Abode of the Lord Vishnu in Kaliyuga, the last of the four stages of the World).

“The chant of Namo Venkatesa gives courage to face any difficulty or challenge. His Grace fills human beings with eternal joy. An offering to the Lord with sanctity of the mind, body and heart is an offering to Mother Nature,” he said.

The forthcoming event would be similar to the Srinivasa Kalyanam held in Tirupathi every day with the participation of thousands of devotees.

Mr Chittajallu said the daylong event will begin with ‘Suprapatha Seva’ at 830 am, following the Wedding of the Lord. ‘The Sarva Dharshan Seva, open to all, will be held between 2 pm and 5 pm.

“The ‘Dhoop Aarti’ for Baba will be followed with ‘Unjal Seva’ (Swing Ceremony). Among the highlights of the evening would be the ‘Sahasra Deepa Alankaram,’ with 1000 lights illuminating the Lord. The programme will conclude with ‘Ekanta Seva,’ the nightly ritual in Tirupathi. All proceeds will go to the Shirdi Saibaba Temple Fund,” he said.

Srinivasa Kalyanam: The Lord marries Lakshmi and Padmavathi