Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Renovation Work in Progress

With the setting up of Balalayam on 6th December 2019, renovation of the temple has started and has been progressing with full vigour.

Recent photos of the work being carried out can be seen in the link given here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/G9gpcjNGoNss64X19.

God willing everything should go well and in time for the Kumbhabhishekam.

Devotees' continued support towards this is solicited.


Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Balalayam – What is Balaalayam in the Kumbhabhishekam ceremony?

Balayalam is a miniature temporary structure erected during the renovation and Kumbhabhishekam ceremony in a Hindu Temple. The divine presence of the main deity in temple is transferred from the murti worshipped to a Kalasha. This Kalasha is placed atop the Balalayam. ‘Baala’ means mini and ‘Aalaya’ means temple or structure in Sanskrit.

During the Jeernodharana (renovation period) of a temple, the divine presence of the Murtis is transferred to the holy waters contained in the Kalasha (pot). Pooja is done to these Kalashas and Ustava deities (the small murtis of the main murti of the temple that are used during processions).

The Kalashas remain in a miniature structure known as Balalayam. During this time the devotees will not be able to see or do poojas to the moola vigrahas or murtis worshipped in a temple. The scheduled poojas will be done only to Utsava deities.

The divine presence of the temple deity will in the Kalashas atop Balalayam until it is transferred back to the Moola vigrahas or the main murti. Scheduled Poojas to Moola vigrahas will start only on the Kumbhabhishekam day.

The above content is borrowed from https://www.hindu-blog.com/2010/09/balalayam-what-is-balaalayam-in.html by Abhilash Rajendran

Balalayam - 6th Dec 2019

The renovation activities of the Mahasastha temple will commence on Friday, 6th December 2019 @ 7:30 a.m. with the consecration of the Balalayam.  Effective that day, until the Kumbhabhishekam on 5th February 2020, there will not be any abhishekam to the moolavar.  However darshan of the deities will be possible.  Devotees may accordingly factor this in their travel plans.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Appeal to Devotees


ஸ்ரீ சுரைக்காயூர் மஹா சாஸ்தா அய்யனார் துணை
बुधा नाथाय विद्महे  भवपुथराया धीमहि  तन्नो सासथा प्रचोदयात
ஓம் பூத நாதய வித்மஹே  பவபுத்ராயா தீமஹி  தன்னோ சாஸ்தா ப்ரசோதயாத்
Om Boodha Naathaya Vidmahe  Bhavaputhraaya Dheemahi  Tanno Saastha Prachodayaat

October 22, 2019

Dear Maha Sastha devotees,

This mail is in continuation to the earlier emails about the Kumbabhishekam of our ancestral temple at Suraikayur. 

As informed, the Kumbabhishekam will be performed on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.  The preparatory rituals will start two days before on Monday, 3rd February 2020.  The details of the various events will be shared soon.

The purpose of the mail is to renew the appeal for generous donations towards the Kumbhabhisekham and to build a much needed sound corpus for a stable and sustainable future towards upkeep and maintenance of the temple in the years to come.

Since the last Kumbhabhisekham in 2008, the temple has been functioning satisfactorily.  Devotees, who have been visiting the temple over many decades will notice the stark and continuing improvements made.  There has been an all round transformation in terms of protecting the temple precincts from encroachments, adding of a Vinayagar sannadhi, building of rest rooms and toilet facilities, availability of a priest and watchman at all times, and an overall better look, feel and satisfying experience when one goes there for darshan.  This positive feel is rather unanimous.  These would not have been possible but for the devotees’ regular visits to the temple with their near and dear ones, their financial contributions and support to the Committee.

After a detailed inspection, the Committee is of the opinion that the following activities have to be attended to before the ensuing Kumbabhishekam: 
  1. Repairs to the roof of the main temple and ardhamandapam to attend to the water seepage and leaks
  2. Repair to wall cracks in the temple
  3. Painting of the main temple, the vimanam, the ardhamandapam, the Vinayagar sannadi and of all the parivara deities
  4. Electrical rewiring of the temple
  5. Construction of housing quarter for the watchman
  6. All expenses connected with religious activities of the Kumbhabhishekam.

In all, it is estimated that the above will work out to about Rs. 30 lakhs.  This calls for generous contributions by all devotees for this noble cause.  Given that there are only three intervening months, the activities need continuous funding.  May we therefore request everyone to contribute liberally at the earliest so that the jobs can be sustained without a dearth of cash flows.  While some of the devotees prefer to make the contribution on the eve of a function, the need for cash flows is immediate rather than later. 

As usual, contributions can be made to the bank account of Suraikayur Chartiable Trust.  They are eligible for tax benefit under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act as a donation.

A detailed income and expenditure statement will be prepared and circulated post the Kumbhabhishekam.

Thank you,
Trust Committee

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Kumbabhishekam on 5th February 2020

The next Kumbhabhishegam of Suraikayur Mahasastha Ayyanar koil will be performed on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.  

Devotees will recall a blog post in March 2019 when it was stated that the event will be sometime in February 2020.  After consultations with scholars, the date for the event has been finalised.

The functions will commence on Monday, 3rd, continuing to Tuesday, 4th and culminating on Wednesday, 5th February 2020.

This advance intimation is given to enable devotees to make their travel plans well in time to assemble in large numbers.

We are hopeful that the devotees of Mahasastha Ayyanar will contribute their financial might.  While many have committed large sums of money, an event of this scale needs substantial resources.  A Kumbhabhishekam, which happens once in 12 years, is an opportunity to participate financially in the upkeep and maintenance of the temple and to seek the blessings of the Lord.  While no contribution can be considered small, given the costs involved and the limited number of devotees attached to the temple, no contribution can be considered big either.  So let us try to contribute generously, since the next opportunity to play our part will come only in 2032 when we shall be 12 years older!

A formal invitation will be circulated once it is drafted and printed.

Sunday, September 8, 2019

Annual Abhishekam conducted with usual fervour

The Annual Mahabhishekam of  Sri Pushkalamba Sametha Mahasastha Ayyanar and the parivara devathas was conducted on Sunday, 8th Sept 2019, with usual vigour and routine.  The programme commenced at about 8:30 a.m. and ended by about 1:30 p.m.

Thanks to good rains in the upper catchment areas of river Cauvery, the Goddess which makes the entire Thanjavur delta fertile, green and provider of abundance, was in full flow with release of water from Mettur Dam.  Young locals were happily enjoying the flowing Vettar with gay abandon.  Some of the devotees who arrived by train at Papanasam straight went to the river for a refreshing bath, something city dwellers sadly miss, and thereafter went to the temple to join the proceedings.  A great idea indeed worthy of emulation.  Perhaps the next time, I myself will consider doing the same.

For the last few years it is generally observed that the attendance on this annual day has been reducing despite holding it on a Sunday.  Similarly, devotees of younger age group, the baton holders of the future to carry forward the tradition of a Kuladeivam, is also conspicuously absent.  This is something of serious concern for all devotees and their families.  If the chain of continuous succession through generations is lost, in some ways our connect with our forefathers may too.

It is hoped that the Almighty will show the way forward and ensure better wholehearted participation next year and years to come.

The proceedings concluded with deeparadanai and distribution of prasadam.

Photos take on the occasion are given in the link here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pu67ZAwkM5hecN76A

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Annual Mahabhishekam on 8th Sept 2019

Devotees of Sri Mahasastha Ayyanar may please take note that the next Annual Mahabhishegam will be held at Suraikayur on Sunday, 8th September 2019.  As usual, the proceedings are expected to commence around 8 a.m. with sankalpam, followed by homam, abhishegam, alankaram, deeparadhani culminating in prasadam distribution.

Let us assemble in large numbers to receive the blessings of our Kuladeivam.

It goes without saying, devotees' usual support and contributions are most welcome.

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Meeting of Devotees



On the auspicious day of Tamil New Year, a meeting was held today, Sunday, 14th April 2019 @ 4 p.m., at P.S.High School, Ramakrishna Mutt Road, Mylapore, Chennai. 

The agenda of the meeting was to update the financials and temple activities with the devotees, plan for Kumbhabhishekam in 2020, induct volunteers and interact with devotees present.

The accounts upto 31st March 2019 were shared with the devotees present.

During the meeting Mrs and Mr Haritheerthan had arranged cold "Kalathi Rose Milk", a well known shop in Mylapore.

Photos taken on the occasion can be found in this link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/W9vPHLabxJxYfE6h8

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Need Volunteers for Kumbabishekam preparations

The number of families amongst devotees who consider Sri Mahasastha Ayyanar at Suraikayur as their Kula Deivam is a small one. Of these, there are some who are regular in visiting the temple.

The task of conducting the Kumbabishekam is not a small one. While devotees will contribute their might monetarily, there are several activities which are required to be carried out. These include frequent visits to the temple to supervise work, coordination of all kinds, monitoring progress to timelines, any other job, etc.

Devotees, men and women who are willing to slog it out for nothing in return, since these are voluntary tasks, but with guarantee of personal satisfaction that you played a part, may please come forward and give their names.

Kumbabhishekam likely in February 2020

Devotees will recall that the last kumbabishekam of our kuladeivam Sri Mahasastha Ayyanar at Suraikayur was performed on 4th September 2008. As is customary, the next kumbabishekam will fall due after 12 years in 2020. 

It has been advised by the learned that it will be more auspicious to perform the kumbabishekam in Uttarayanam. While the date for the kumbabishekam is yet to be finalised, which will be done in consultation with pundits, it is likely to be sometime in February 2020.

But before that, some civil repair jobs may have to be undertaken to the structure. These include widening of the main entrance to the Sannadhi  for better visibility of Pushkalamba from the hall, repairing of cracks, arresting leaks, scraping and painting, both interior and exterior surface, constructing a tiled roofing outside the temple between the horses for devotees to stand and have darshan under shade. Some repair is also overdue for electrical wiring and fittings. 

These repairs and improvements are expected to take at least about 3 to 4 months. The estimated cost of these is about Rs 8 lakhs. 

The vaideega kariyams, consisting of dakshina for vedic pundits, material required for the rituals, food for them, prasad for devotees, arrangements, etc., are expected to cost about Rs 12 lakhs.

Devotees are requested to contribute their might commensurate with their capacity, to this common cause.

Contributions can be made to the bank account of 'Suraikayur Charitable Trust'. Devotees are aware that contributions to the trust account are eligible for 80G benefit under Income Tax Act.

May Sri Maha Sastha Ayyanar bless you and family always.