Majestic Rs. 2.5 crore Arupadai Veedu Temples in progress

from Elliots Echo (Madras) of 20th February, 2000

"It was in 1985 that our Chairman was guided by his Holiness Kanchi Maha Peryal Śrī Śrī Chandra Sekara Saraswati to build an Arupadai Veedu Temple. And when we were trying to acquire a place in Muttukkadu seashore, the philanthropic gesture of then Honourable Chief Minister Dr. M. G. Ramachandran got us an acre -- 23 grounds absolutely free of cost from the Government for construction of the Temple," reminisced Mrs. Alamelu Arunachalam, Secretary and Treasurer of the Arupadai Veedu Trust, while talking to Elliots Echo.

Informing that the Chairman of the Trust, Dr. Alagappan, has been instrumental in bringing up Hindu Temples of North America -- New York Vinayaka Temple, Pittsburgh Venkateswara Temple, Houston and Los Angeles Temples. She told that they got this golden opportunity to raise a landmark in Besant Nagar, predominantly due to the reason that they belong to the tradition of Dr. Alagappan's great grandfather, who built the Swamimalai Temple", she continued.

The Arupadai Veedu Trust comprises of Dr. Alagappa Alagappan (Chairman), Mrs. Alamelu Arunachalam, Mrs. Parvathi Nachiappan, Mr. Ganapathi Sthapathi and Dr. Venkatachalam. And all the six sanctum sanctora are being built with NRI (Non-Resident Indian) philanthropic funds.

Śrī Śrī Maha Periyaval advised the Chairman to take up the project and guided him well. He has stressed that it is difficult for all devotees to visit all six Padai Veedus when touring Tamil Nadu. He wished it should be in a single seashore site and he was all sure Tamil Nadu would become very very prosperous on account of it. In furtherance to blessings, Śrī Maha Periyaval also graced divine heaven by conducting the ceremony in 1995. Swami Malai praharam and temple was built mainly to fulfill the desire of Maha Periyaval, whose original name was Swaminathan.

In 1996, its Kumbabishekam was done by the graceful presence of His Holiness Śrī Jayendra Saraswati and his Holiness Śrī Vijayedra Saraswati.

In 1998, Palani and Tiruttani Devasthanams were built along with Maha Vallaba Ganapati 24 column mandapam. This particular Ganapati temple was built on similar line to the New York Vinayaka Temple and Sthapati Muthiah Pillai took up the work. The cost was met by NRI's in America as a reciprocation of the great work done by the trustees in building Hindu temples across East and West.

While one trustee Mrs. Parvathi Nachiyappan met the cost of Palani Devastham in Arupadai Veedu, now Mr. Raja Gopal of Saravana Bhavan Hotels is voluntarily meeting the cost of building a Raja Gopuram for the Temple.

The next three Devasthanams of Trichendur, Triparankundram and Pazhamudircholai are rapidly progressing and by 2001, we have scheduled the Kumbabishekam to be performed, continued Mrs. Alamelu Arunachalam.

Except for the donation of the ground by the Government, the total cost of building temple is being met by ardent NRI devotees, said Mrs. Alamelu, who adds that many devotees in Tamil Nadu are offering donations also. She said lumpsum donation of total sum of 10 lakhs to develop a corpus fund for life long procuring of interest, which would meet the temple maintenance cost year after year in perpetuity.

The entire architectural and construction work is being done by Ezhuvangottai Sri. Muthaiah Stapathi and his team of 70 people. She said the unique feature of the construction is the carving of mandapams in Chera, Chola and Pandiya styles.

Thanking Lord Muruga for bestowing this place on the seashore, Smt. Alamelu said that, unlike other places, seashore is ideal for meditation with cool and peaceful atmosphere.

Smt. Alamelu also informed that in addition to the temple construction, the Trust has also taken up the work of building a cancer hospital on Pondicherry seashore with Lord Muruga's velāyudham anchored; the work is in progress, she said.

Let's anticipate the Kumbabhishekam of the temples in 2001 with blessings of the Lord. Donations can be send to:

See also Arupadai Veedu Temple Complex in Madras
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