Waitangi Day this year will have a special significance for many New Zealanders, with the opening of the $6 million Shirdi Saibaba Temple Complex in Onehunga, Central Auckland.
If superlatives can be drawn for description, the Temple Complex, located at 12-18 Princes Street would be one of the largest, finest, newest, most extensive and most expensive in the world.
Accommodating more than 2000 people if all facilities are filled to capacity at the same time, the Temple Complex is a dream project for the Sansthan members, officials, volunteers and devotees.
The four-day festivities beginning on February 6 would be symbolic of the ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (which means the whole world is a family), bringing together New Zealanders and overseas visitors of varied faiths, including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.
Former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police and ardent Saibaba devotee Dr Dr Chandra Bhanu Satpathy will visit New Zealand at the invitation of the Sansthan and inaugurate the Complex and perform special Poojas.
Navaratna Offering
Sansthan President Bhaskar Reddy Duvvuru said that Saibaba devotees can avail of a unique opportunity of offering ‘Navratnas’ (Nine Gems) to the Main Deity on February 6.
“Devotees can purchase the Navaratna packets (at $151 per packet) that we have brought specially from India and offer to the Main Deity on February 6 before the idol of Baba is ‘purified’ and installed in the Prayer Hall. This is one-time opportunity. The proceeds from these Gems will go towards the repayment of the loan taken for the development, construction and completion of the Complex,” he said.
Schedule of Events
Following is the schedule for the four-day event:
Thursday, February 6 (From 830 am to 8 pm): Ganapathi Pooja, Maha Sankalp, Kalash Stapana, Ganapathi Havan, Yantra Stapana, Navaratna Stapana, Madhyan Aarati, Shobha Yatra from Bharatiya Mandir, Kalash Pooja, Vastu Havan, Shej Aarati and Mahaprasad
Friday, February 7 (From 830 am to 8 pm): Kalash Pooja, Navagraha, Durga and Datta Havan, Poornahuthi, Madhya Aarati and Mahaprasad, Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam Parayan and Shej Aarati and Mahaprasad.
Saturday, February 8 (From 830 am to 830 pm):Kalash Pooja, Sri Rama Taraka, Hanuman, Ayush, Sri Laxmi Venkateshwara, Mrutyunjay, Murugan Havan, Poornahuthi, Madhyan Aarati and Mahaprasad, Kalash Pooja, Vishnusahasranamam Parayan, Release of Souvenir, felicitation of donors by Dr Satpathy, Shej Aarati and Maha Prasad.
Sunday February 9 (From 530 am to 9 pm): Prana Prathishta of other Deities, Kata, Baba Havan, Poornahuthi, Kumbha Abshishekam, Prana Prathishta of Shirdi Saibaba, Madhyan Aarati and Mahaprasad, Bhajans by religious groups, Dhoop Aarati, cultural programme, Discourse by Dr Satpathy, Shej Aarati and Mahaprasad.
Editor’s Note: Indian Newslink has been publishing articles about the Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan since its establishment in 2012. The first article regarding a proposal to construct that appeared in our November 1, 2003 issue. The group picture published here shows some members of the Executive Committee. They are (Back Row, from left) Sainath Nethula, Venkat Kodali, Ravi Vemulapalli, Laxman Sunkari, Rashmi Patel, Ravi Pondicherry; (Seated, from left) Amar Alluri (Secretary), Bhaskar Reddy Duvvuru (President) and Thulasi Krishna.
Other members of the Committee not in the picture are Shivani Arora (Vice-President), Ravi Vaddagiri (Treasurer), Renu Garineni, Ramanathan Murugesu, Madhukanth Jogia, Balachander Shingade, Surendra Narayanappa.
A report on Dr Satpathy appears under Communitylink.
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Shirdi Saibaba Temple Complex Facts Sheet Location: 12-15 Princes Street, Onehunga Total Land Area; 2975 Sq Mts Total Built Area: 3500 Sq Mts (Three levels) Ground Floor: Dining Hall with Commercial Kitchen First Floor: Main Prayer Hall about 845 Sq Mts Sai Centre: Community Hall with stage, sound & lights Second Floor: Accommodation for two priests Total Cost: $6 million |
