Shevapet Jayarakini Church in Salem

The Salem Historical Society has urged the administration of the Jayarakini Church, Sevvapet in the city, one of the oldest churches in this part of the State, to immediately restore the broken memorial of the missionary and Bishop of Salem, Rev. Dr. Henry A. Prunier (1889-1957), who was laid to rest on its premises.

The Society’s President J. Jayasingh and General Secretary J. Barnabas have expressed anguish over the damage to the tomb stone and memorial tablet of Prunier, who they say have done yeomen service to the people of the Stateand Salem.

They say this could have happened while the church renovation works were underway. The Society has traced them on the premises in three broken pieces. The Society, which has handed over a memorandum to the Bishop Rt. Rev. Singaroyan in this regard, has also pointed out that Salem was a place where missionaries played a vital role in promoting education besides spreading the Gospel since days of the first missionary Rev. Robert De Nobili who visited Salem in 15 {+t} {+h} century followed by French missionary of The Missions Estrangers De Paris, Rev Jean Abbe Dubois during 17 {+t} {+h} century.

With their initiatives, a small room in Chatram here was built for Parish Priests and later a church and bell tower was added in 1860. In 1949, the Bishop resigned due to ill health and was succeeded by Rev. V Selvanather. Bishop Emeritus Prunier died on March 1957 and was buried on the church premises.

A memorial was erected and it has become a place for pilgrimage, which the Society points out, has a cherished history of 388 years.

Source: The Hindu

Two new wooden cars were commissioned at the ancient Sri Thanthondreeshwara Swamy Temple and Sri Ashtabuja Bala Madana Venugopala Swamy Temple at Belur, near here, on Thursday.

The cars in these temples maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department were dismantled over a period of time. After many years, the temples were consecrated with liberal donations from the State and the public. The long pending demand of having wooden chariots for the temples was also considered recently.

The project was taken up at Rs. 45 lakh. Renowned temple artisans were brought to complete the work on these cars.

The cars have intricate wooden carvings depicting many scenes from the epics. They are fitted with steel wheels and axles by the Tiruchi BHEL.

On Thursday, members of the temple renovation committee and the public pulled the cars in the presence of State Congress president K.V.Thankgabalu and HR and CE Commissioner P.R.Sampath.

Villagers from Kurinchi, Puluthikuttai, Arnoothumalai, Kottavadi, Thikkiamapalayam, Vazhapadi, Ayothiapattinam, Kootathupatti, Karunmandurai, Nilmulikuttai and other near-by villages attended the car festival.

Special poojas were performed for the deities before the cars were commissioned. Veerapandi MLA A.Raja and Chairman of Trustee Board K.S. Jayaraman among others made elaborate arrangements for the car festival.

The temple authorities said that their next project would be a golden chariot for which donations from the public welcomed.

Source: THE HINDU

According to member of Church Committee, J. Barnabas, the church, the long-pending demand of the devotees has come up on 5000 square feet of land at Tholasampatti in Taramangalam for which liberal contributions have been made from all.

Source: THE HINDU

The renovation works of the ancient Sri Kothandarama Swamy temple at Ayothiapattinam, near here, were inaugurated on Friday.

The works include the renovation of its five-storeyed main tower, desilting of tank, restoration of temple car and other repair works inside the temple, which is being maintained by HR and CE.

Renovation Committee chairman Selvamaligai S. Manickam, Executive Officer M. Sudha and others took part at the function.

Many from near-by took part in the special poojas that were performed on the occasion.

The HR and CE had sanctioned permission to carry out renovation works for Rs. 18.25 lakhs for which it allotted Rs. 8.25 lakhs.

The rest had to be mobilised from devotees and the general public.

A sum of Rs. 5.47 lakhs would be allotted from HR and CE for restoration of the damaged wooden car as part of the renovation works at the architecturally-rich temple.

The total cost for the car was Rs. 21.90 lakhs.

The temple had not seen renovation for nearly 100 years.

The wooden car had been vandalised by anti socials and ravages of time while the main tower needed a total renovation.

The areas in front of the temple and tank had been encroached upon.

Mr. Manickam said that the committee had opened an account in Indian Bank with account number 887459599 under the heading ‘Tirupani Kuzhu Arulmigu Kothandarama Swamy Temple, Ayothiapattinam, Salem district.’ It had also launched web sites www.arulmigukothandaramaswamytemple.org and www.salemayotiramar.org.

Source: THE HINDU

Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam (second right) distributing bicycle to a temple priest in Salem on Wednesday. —

The State Government has sanctioned Rs. 25,000 each to renovate temples of Adi Dravidars, said Agriculture Minister Veerapandi S. Arumugam.

Distributing 222 free bicycles to archakas and pujaris working in one-time puja temples in Salem district and distributing fund of Rs 25,000 each to 70 Adi Dravidar temples in Salem district on Wednesday, Mr. Arumugam said that under the rule of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi many temples were consecrated. Many important temples also were repaired and renovated.

Every year funds were sanctioned for these temples. He asked the concerned to start the renovation works immediately. Local committees should also chip in with funds to carry out more development works in temples, including their special maintenance.

He said that the objective behind the free cycle distribution was to make archakas and pujaris to attend temple pujas regularly.

The Minister further added that the Chief Minister had introduced many welfare schemes for temple staff and others.

Collector J. Chandrakumar presided over the function in which HR and CE Joint Commissioner P. Raja, Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini and Corporation Commissioner K.S. Palanisamy and others participated.

Source: The Hindu

Tamil Nadu Government has sanctioned an additional sum of Rs. 8.25 lakh for renovation of the main tower and Rs. 5.47 lakh for restoration of the damaged wooden car, as part of the renovation works being carried out in the ancient and architecturally-rich Sri Kothandarama Swamy Temple at Ayothiapattinam, near here.

The HR and CE controlled temple has not seen renovation for nearly 100 years.

The wooden car has been vandalized by anti socials while the main tower needs a total renovation.

Committee

The HR and CE had formed a Renovation Committee with 25 members for which industrialist Selvamaligai S. Manickam is the Chairman and Executive Officer HR and CE M. Sudha is its secretary and treasurer.

The government has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 18.25 lakh for renovation of its five-tier main tower with its contribution of Rs. 8.25 lakh.

The rest of Rs. 10 lakh has to be collected from the public. Similarly the estimate for the wooden car renovation is Rs. 21.90 lakh in which the government has chipped in with a sum of Rs. 5.47 lakh.

According to Mr. Manickam, the Renovation Committee has opened an account in Indian Bank with account number 887459599 under the heading ‘Tirupani Kuzhu Arulmigu Kothandarama Swamy Temple, Ayothiapattinam, Salem district.’

In addition to this, it also has opened web sites www.arulmigukothandaramaswamytemple.org and www.salemayotiramar.org.

As the works would begin soon, those who wish to contribute to the renovation of temple can do so, he said.

Source: THE HINDU

Priest of the temple Mani said the kalasam was intact till Saturday night when he left after conducting rituals associated with the Tamil month of Puratasi. The priest, who came to open the temple on Sunday, found the kalasam missing.

Following information, the Mallur police conducted an investigation. A case has been booked and a search has been launched. No clues have been gathered so far in connection with the theft. According to police, the missing kalasam was worth around `1 lakh.

Source: expressbuzz

“The DMK government in fact will never resort to the acts of hurting any one’s feelings. But the acts of a few of those who claim to be Godmen are doing irreparable damages to their religion and faith,” he said. The Chief Minister had already asked the temple administrations not to favour any individuals when they come to worship since temples were common for all.

He said that the DMK Government had undertaken many welfare and development schemes for temples in Tamil Nadu.

The golden car was made at a cost of Rs.1.90 crore with 15.800 kg of gold. He said that he had discussed the demand for a golden car for Sevvapet Sri Mariamman Temple with HR and CE Minister Periya Karuppan who had agreed to look into it.

Mr. Periya Karuppan said that the Government had completed 20 new golden chariots for temples in four-and- half-years and works were on for additional 15.

Till 2006, a mere 24 temples boasted of golden cars, he said and added that it was a record of sorts for DMK government to add more number of golden chariots.

The government had allotted Rs.420 crore against Rs.147 crore in the previous regime of AIADMK.

HR and CE Commissioner P.R. Sampath presided over the function in which Deputy Speaker V.P. Duraisamy, Salem Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini, District Revenue Officer V. Kalai Arasi, Veerapandi MLA A. Raja and Trust Board Chairman G. Elumalai took part.

Source: THE HINDU