Hamilton Balaji Temple opening this week

Venkat Raman

Prayers, music and community spirit would be among the highlights of the opening of a place of Hindu worship in Hamilton this week.

Devotees of Lord Venkateswara, aka Lord Balaji, would have reason to be proud as their ambitious and dream Project becomes a reality with the opening of the Balaji Temple in the third fastest growing city of New Zealand with increasing Indian population.

Located at 2, Kent Street in Frankton, the Temple will bring together Hindus resident throughout the Waikato region and from neighbouring cities including Auckland.

Testing times

The Project, from its early days of conception to design and final stages of completion would have witnessed a series of challenges, not the least of which would be mobilising financial resources and the compliance process, including Resource Consent.

Estimated to cost $450,000, the Temple would require continuous flow of money to meet recurrent costs and other expenses.

The immediate challenge would be to repay the bank loan at the earliest, build adequate reserves and consider further expansion, providing added facilities and services.

The task of the Trustees, volunteers and those involved with the Temple would become more manageable if the community takes ownership and patronises the Project.

Malathi Vasudevan, a Trustee and Treasurer of the Sri Balaji Temple Trust Hamilton said, “Patronage and support of organisations and individuals that we have thus far received with gratitude should continue so that the Temple becomes an ideal destination for community gatherings to pray and celebrate festivals and social occasions.”

Gratifying phase

As mentioned in our February 15, 2015 issue, a series of religious ceremonies will commence on March 3 to commemorate the opening of the Shri Balaji Temple, the most important of which would be ‘Khumbhabhishekam’ and ‘Prana Prathistha,’ signifying the completion of the sanctum sanctorum of the Temple.

Donations can be credited to the Account of the Sri Balaji Temple Trust at any branch of Westpac (Account Number 03-1568-0478167-00), through Internet Banking or other forms of money transfer. Donors may remain anonymous if they so desire. As a registered Charitable Trust, donations are tax deductible.

Five Days for Balaji in Hamilton

Thursday, March 5, 2015: 9 am: Yagasala Pravesham, Vigneswara Pooja, Punyaha Vaachanam, Pancha Gavya Sthapanam, Marjana, Prasanna, Ritwik Varanam, Deeksha Dharanam, Akhanda Sthapanam,  Mantaparadhana, Asthra Raajarchana,  Teertha Prasada Vitharana; 5 pm: Mrutsangrahanam, Ankuraaropanam, Agni Mathana, Agni Pratisthapana, Aavarana  Homam,  Ganapathi Homam, Nava Kalasaarchana, Dhwajarohana, Nityoupasanam, Nitya Bali Haranam, Harathi, Mantra Pushpam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana.

Friday, March 6, 2015: 930 am: Gavyantha Pooja, Maarjana, Nityoupasanam, Nitya Bali Harana, Vaasthu Pooja, Vaasthu Homam, Vaasthu Bali, Paryagnikaranam, Lakshanodhdharanam, Moola Manthra Homam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana; 6 pm: Grama Pradakshina, Grama Bali Harana, Jalaadhivaasam, Jaladhivaasanga Homam, Nityoupasanam, Durgaa Homam Mahalakshmi Samputitha Sree Sooktha Homam, Bali Haranam, Harathi, Mantra Pushpam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana

Saturday, March 7, 2015: 9 am: Gavyantha Pooja, Maarjana, Sudarsana Homam, Narayana Homam, Astaakshari Moola Manthra Homam,   Nityoupasanam, Nitya Bali Harana, Ksheeradhi Vaasam, Bimba Sudhi, Moola Manthra Homam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana; 6 pm: Dhanyaadhi Vaasam, Santhi Kumbha Sthapana, Udakashanthi  Navagraha Homam, Dhanyadhi Vasanga Homam, Nityoupasanam, Bali Haranam, Harathi, Mantra Pushpam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana

Sunday, March 8, 2015: 9 am: Gavyantha Pooja, Maarjana, Mahakalasa Sthaapana, Devata Homam, Rudra Homam, Skanda Shadakshari Homam, Subramaniam Gayatri Homam, Navagraha Homam,  Nityoupasanam, Nitya Bali Haranam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana; 6 pm: Saalaarchana, Pancha Sayyaadhivasam, Pushpaadhivasam, Vastraadhivasam, Moorthi Homam, Shanthi Homam, Disaa Homam, Anga Homam, Pratyanga Homam, Saalanga Devatha Homam, Nityoupasanam, Bali Haranam, Harathi, Mantra Pushpam, Teertha Prasada Vitharana

Monday, March 9, 2015: 6 am: Gavyantha Pooja, Maarjana, Peetha Pooja, Navaratna Nyaasam, Dhatu Nyaasam, Yantra Sthapanam, Sumuhurtham, Vigraha Pratishthaapanalu, Dhwaja Pratishthaa, Astabandhanam, Jeevanyasam, Maha Kumbhabhishekam, Maha Poornahuthi, Avabrudha Snanam, Pratishthanga Shanthi Kalyanam, Panditha Sanmanam, Mahadaaseervachanam, Anna Samaradhanai, Gramotsavam