Mahabhishegam Photos - Sept 4, 2016

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Meeting on 15 August 2016 to discuss Accounts, Corpus and Volunteering

We can achieve freedom from recurring problems if we plan ahead and share the work

A small gathering of about 15 people met in the Vivekananda Hall at the PS Senior Secondary School on RK Mutt Road in Mylapore to the rousing sound of drum beats in the background, as children gathered to raise the flag on the morning of Independence Day. A sumptuous breakfast, neatly served and dispensed, was followed by piping hot filter coffee. It was a chance to meet and greet old acquaintances, and to make new ones, as Mr Venkat said when he commenced the meeting by asking everyone present to introduce themselves and indeed, several memories were jogged and fond family connections established!

The meeting moved on to a lively discussion as the people present shared their devout experiences of visiting their kuladaivam at Suraikayur, before and after the restoration efforts, recounting a range of views, from miraculous blessings attributable to the deity to assorted difficulties in organising visits over the tenures of some of the gurukals who have served the temple. The informal trio of Messrs Venkat, Radhakrishnan and Haritheerthan clarified that there is no official committee charged with overseeing the development and daily maintenance of the temples at Suraikayur, insisting that they could only describe themselves as well-wishers. Indeed, they cannot be praised enough for taking on the task and staying the course despite the overwhelming problems of deploying manpower and materials as outsiders in a remote village with internal conflicts.

The main focus of the day's meeting was to try and augment their consistent efforts with a core team of volunteers who make the commitment to visit Suraikayur at least once a year, so that someone or other is on site at least once a month, or preferably once a fortnight as suggested at the meeting, to inspect and revert on the regular issues related to the nitty-gritty of maintenance, overall cleanliness of the temples and grounds, the guesthouse and toilets, whether the priest is discharging his duties responsibly (for which he is being paid generously), and sporadic maintenance issues that might come up. The organisers welcomed volunteers to travel with them initially (ex-Chennai) on day trips so that they are guided through the maintenance list, such as it is, and a peer review system is established in time.

A WhatsApp group, which will be moderated to ensure it’s not spammed with social greetings and forwards, has been created. Devotees who wish to volunteer can be a part of this group by (sending a SMS request to Sri N. Shriram (98401 00668) or Sri S. Hari Theerthan (98410 42466).
  

Another idea that was mooted is to have someone serve the function of a manager locally, if not living onsite then visiting every day, or perhaps four times a week, from Kumbakonam, to oversee the management of the temple. Should anyone have contacts and resources in Kumbakonam (none are handy at present) to enable such a person to be appointed to the task, they may please come forward to help.

Devotees are also urged to leave not only their name and phone number in the feedback register available at the temple, but also take the trouble to share details of issues they have faced or noticed while there; please be assured that this will not be seen as ‘negative criticism’ but rather, as very useful and constructive feedback for improvement.

Other points that came up over the course of the meeting: the creation of a website that’s easier to search and locate, and to which devotees can directly update their current coordinates; the possibility of having fixed pooja timings for the Ayyanar kovil, an idea that faces some resistance since people travel over great distances by road to get there and thus cannot plan their trip too precisely; the decision to upload costs associated with abhishekam and alankaram for the deity on the blog (and later, the website) so that devotees don’t have to bargain with the gurukal over how much to pay for what; the hope that devotees in Chennai can meet at least once in six months to cement relationships and share thoughts on how to go forward; thinking ahead for the Kumbhabhishekam, which is due in four years from now; and working towards Sec 80-G exemption for contributions to the cause of restoring and maintaining these ancient shrines (devotees may be interested to know that the rare and sacred temple to Shiva as Bhujapateeshwarar in Suraikayur is one of only three such shrines in India where the rays of the Sun fall on the deity at a certain time of the day - so please do make it a point to visit and be blessed here while in Suraikayur). 

Also, please take note that Mrs Radha mami (94980 78245 / 97917 52886) in neighbouring Tirukarukavur  is on hand to provide meals to visiting devotees, who may call ahead to alert her that they are arriving, and no payment need be made to her since she is already compensated for this service by another devotee.     

The other key agenda item, which was discussed after print-outs of tabulated accounts were provided, is to raise a corpus that can enable annual maintenance of the temple as a matter of course. This is a critical issue that requires the community to come forward generously. Hearteningly, a few devotees made their annual contribution known to the gathering today morning itself.

The appeal to raise funds for annual maintenance has been circulated before and we urge you once again to contribute and enable the Suraikayur Mahasastha Temple to function as a clean, well-maintained, tranquil and beautiful place, with all essential facilities to welcome devotees and, most importantly, enable daily worship of our kuladaivam to continue as it should. With the divine blessings of Suraikayur Mahasastha, may we succeed in these humble human endeavours.

Temple's Financials - Proposed Meeting on 15th Aug 2016

Dear Devotees,

This blogpost is to brief all of you with respect to the recent happenings at our FAMILY DEITY Sastha Temple in Suraikayur and to also explain the current financials of the Temple.

Sri Kalyanasundaram, aged about 70 years, who was working as Gurukkal in our Temple, had to be replaced  due to adverse reports from both our devotees and the villagers.

After meeting and interviewing several Gurukals, Sri Hariharan, a priest who was associated with the Ayyappan Temple in Santhome, Chennai, and also recommended by our former Gurukal Sri Balachandran, was found suitable and appointed as the Gurukal from the 13th June 2016 onwards.

With rising costs and our temple being in a remote village, no priest was willing to accept our old terms and conditions and therefore the salaries had to be revised.

We give below the approximate expenditure per MONTH for running the temple:

- Gurukkal                              Rs  20,000/-

- Watchman, Housekeeping          3,500/-

- Cost of rice and other pooja

   Articles for day to day use         3,000/-

- Electricity bill                              2,000/-

- Recurring maintenance               1,500/-

TOTAL PER MONTH                    30,000/-    

Besides the above, we have an annual expenditure of approximately Rs 75,000/- towards bonus to Gurukkal and other staff, and towards the, Maha Abhishekham on 4th September every year that is being regularly held over the last 8 years.

The interest from corpus fund is utilized to meet the monthly temple expenses to a certain extent.

It is also imperative that we have to start mobilizing funds for the future well-being of the Temple and we therefore request you to please contribute towards the same.  One should also not forget the fact that 2020 is not very far away as that is the year the next Kumbabhisekham will have to be performed.

With only the under signed making regular visits and monitoring the activities of the temple, it is high time more volunteers take active part so that others also understand the practical difficulties to maintain and run the temple.  We therefore request a few of you to volunteer.

We are in the process of developing a mobile enabled website for all our devotees for faster and timely communication.  The expenses for the same is being sponsored by a devotee.

To firm up all the above and to have a face-to-face discussion with all, its proposed that we have a breakfast meet on Monday, 15.08.2016 at 8.30 am at VIVEKANANDA HALL, P.S. HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL PREMISES, No.215, Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600004 (opposite to Ramakrishna Mutt).

Given below is the broad agenda for discussions:

1. Income and Expenses relating to previous years

2. Action plan for future funds requirements

3. Volunteers for Temple

4. Setting up a mobile enabled Website

5. Mahabishekam on 4.9.2016

6. Any other subject that may warrant attention

Kindly confirm your attendance to Sri S. Haritheerthan  (M. No. 9841042466).

For those of you who are unable to attend the meeting, may we appeal to you to come forward and contribute monthly / annually to meet out the temple maintenance expenses.

So far, we have somehow managed but unless the corpus is built, it will be extremely difficult to run and maintain the temple in the future.

Contributions may please be sent to:

Name of the Bank  : State Bank of India

Name of the a/c    : Suraikayur Sri Mahasastha Kumbabhishekam Committee

Account No.           : 30331030537

Branch                    : Kilpauk

Looking forward to meeting you on 15.08.2016

With regards
A. Venkat / S. Haritheerthan / K.C. Radhakrishnan

Change in Kurukkal

Devotees are informed that Sri Hariharan has been appointed as the new kurukkal of the Mahasastha Ayyanar Temple effective Monday, 13th June 2016.  He can be contacted on mobile phone numbers 98407 74897 and 74015 42737.

The earlier kurukkal Sri Kalyanasundaram has been relieved.