Venkat Raman
Auckland, October 11, 2020
Hundreds join Special Prayer and unique Shangabishekam in South Auckland
Lord Ganesha of Papakura with the Gold Crown on October 10, 2020
The Lord Ganesha Temple in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura made history yesterday (Saturday, October 10, 2020) when a Gold Crown was installed on the Main Deity amidst chanting of slokas and hymns, with solemnity and piety.
More than 400 men, women and children witnessed the four-hour special, which included prayers, Abhishekams and Homam (Havan). The Gold Crown was also exalted with a Pooja, before being taken in a small procession to the Main Idol of Lord Ganesha.
Thousands of devotees of Lord Ganesha who visit the Papakura Temple (located at 4 Dent Place, Red Hill, Papakura) will have at least four or five opportunities in a year to see the Crown.
The Sponsor Couple
Indra and Manasa Sirigiri, who sponsored the Gold Crown made specially in India for the Deity less than two months ago, took the ‘Sangalpam’ (vow or determination) praying for the good health and welfare of all peoples everywhere. This is a unique aspect of such events in Hinduism, where submissions are made to Gods and Goddesses not for personal benefits but for the wellness of all.
Indra and Manasa Sirigiri at the Special Pooja on October 10, 2020
The concept of ‘Vasudhaiva Kuttumbakam,’ or ‘The Whole World is One Family,’ encompassing all its peoples and religious beliefs and non-beliefs into a homogenous unit is sanctified in the Hindu Dharma and practiced for thousands of years.
Chief Priest Parameswaran Chandru excelled in his mastery of slokas as he rendered loud slokas, invoking the Blessings of various Hindu Gods and Goddesses, offering special prayers to ancestors during the Homam.
Homage to ancestors
Homage is ancestors is practiced in all religions, but it is generally believed that Hindus were the pioneers. The Chinese practiced it, so did the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Jews (when they observe ‘Passover’), Muslims on ‘Shab-e-Barat.’
Christians devote the entire month of November to departed souls, while Buddhists and Parsis also have ceremonies to honour their ancestors.
The Programme on October 10
The proceedings at the Papakura Temple included Vigneswara Pooja and 108 Kalasa Abhishekam, Draviya Abhishekam to Lord Ganesha, 108 Kalasa Shangabishekam, Nithya Pooja, special Pooja in front of Lord Venkateswara marking the Fourth Purattasi Sani, Pooja for New Golden Keerida for Lord Ganesha, Keerida Samarpanam and Pushpa Abhishekam.
The highlight of the occasion of the ‘108 Kalasa Shangabishekam,’ an offering of 108 Conch-Shells (Shanka in Sanskrit and Sangu in Tamil), stated to have been performed for the first time in the Southern Hemisphere (needs validation). The Pushpa Abhishekam, with the offering of hundreds of various flowers of various hues was also a unique part of the event.
For the first and the last time in their lives, the devotees present had the honour of touching the Gold Crown, which will adorn the Lord only on select occasions.
Community spirit was in ample evidence at the Keerida Samarpanam Ceremony with Temple Trustee Ram Mohan Danthala, his wife Veena, Ravi Shanker and his wife Bhavani and several volunteers cooked special food at the Temple for all visiting devotees.
Chief Priest Parameswaran Chandru performing the Homam at the ‘Golden Keerida Dharanam’ Religious Ceremony on October 10, 2020
Long-cherished desire
Since the establishment of the Temple in 2002, the desire of Chief Priest Chandru, Trustees, volunteers and devotees has to been to instal a Gold Mukut or Kreetam to Lord Ganesha. It has taken 18 years for that dream to be fulfilled.
It was during a chance conversation with Mr Sirigiri about three months ago that Priest Chandru mentioned about his dream and as it is often said, ‘Man desires and God Ordains.’
[
Special Pooja for the Crown on October 10, 2020
As per available information, this is first Temple in the Southern Hemisphere to feature Lord Ganesha with a Gold Crown. Insured and well secured, the Crown will be brought to the Temple only on ceremonial occasions- a few special days in the year.
About Lord Ganesha Temple
The Lord Ganesh Temple in the South Auckland suburb of Papakura has been growing in popularity over the past few years, attracting thousands of devotees not only from various parts of New Zealand but also from Australia and Fiji. The Temple’s Chief Priest Parameswaran Chandru has been a source of endearment and respect to devotees.
The Temple, which is owned and managed by the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple Trust, has come a long way since then in fostering piety and the spirit of oneness among the members of the Indian community. Marriages, engagements, birthdays, company, product and other launches, social functions and classic music are among the events held at the Temple.
Anyone could donate any amount (make it decent, please), anytime from anywhere in New Zealand directly to the Auckland Sri Ganesh Temple Trust bank account.
The Temple at Pillayarpatti
A number of our readers had asked us to publish again information relating to ‘Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Temple’ in the Tamil Nadu town of Pillayarpatti. In deference to those wishes, we have pleasure in providing the following information.
Rock-cut images
The Karpaga Vinayagar Koil is one of the oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) of Tamilnadu, situated at Pillayarpatti between Pudukkottai and Karaikudi.
Pillayarpatti is situated at a distance of 71 kms from Madurai and 12 kms from Karaikudi on Thirupathoor-Karaikudi state highway. As the temple of Lord Vinayagar is situated in this town, it came to be known as Pillayarpatti. The nearest airport is at Tiruchirappalli, Chennai. Rameswaram Express and Kamban Express travel to these two railheads.
The town of Pillayarpatti is named after ‘Pillayar,’ the Tamil name for Ganesha. This ancient temple houses rock cut images of Shiva, Lingodbhavar as well as several other shrines.
Steeped in the tradition of Agamic texts, the temple bears testimony to the vibrant temple culture of the Tamil people, passed down through centuries.
According to some sources, the Pillayarpatti Temple is at least 2000 years old.
The above article has been sponsored by
