Facelift for 1,006 temples this year: Minister

CHENNAI: HR and CE Minister MSM Anandan on Wednesday announced that 1,006 temples would be renovated and consecrated during the current fiscal. Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for his department in the Assembly, he said after the AIADMK government assumed office in May 2011, 1,006 temples were consecrated.�� During the current financial year also, 1,006 temples would consecrated.

Stating that during the past 10 months alone, 364 temple tanks had been desilted and the RWH Scheme implemented, the Minister said 493 temples would be brought under the One Time Pooja Scheme.

The Minister said new Annadanam halls would be built in 21 temples� at Srirangam, Rameswaram, (Sri Sankararameswarar temple) Tuticorin, (Sri Chakrapaniswamy temple) Kumbakonam, Tiruvannamalai, (Sri Suyambu Saneeswarar temple) Kuchchanur, (Sri Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple) Sholingur and (Balasubramaniya swamy temple) Siruvapuri.� The halls would be built at a cost of `4.50 crore.

Anandan said 43 ancient temples would be renovated at a cost `22.50 crore.� The temples chosen are:� Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam, Sri Devarajaswamy temple, Kancheepuram, Sri Ekambareswarar temple, Kancheepuram, Sri Bhoovaragaswamy temple, Sri Mushnam, Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple, Madurai, Sri Adi Jagannathaperumal temple, Thirupullani, and Sri Sarangapani temple, Kumbakonam.

To encourage donations to Annadanam Scheme, he announced that Diamond Cards would be provided to those who donate at least `7 lakh.� Similarly, Platinum Cards would be given to those who donate `1 crore and above. These donors along with their family can have darshan on priority basis in all temples in the State except during the festival seasons.� In the first phase, this scheme would be implemented in 15 temples� including those at Srirangam, Tiruchendur, Palani and Tiruttani.

TN: DMK government robbed gods of their gold?

Chennai: Did the previous DMK-run State government rob the gods of their gold? That's what Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa suspects, going by State HR and CE Minister MSM Anandan's allegations in the State Assembly on Wednesday.

Participating in a discussion on the demands for grants for his department, Anandan alleged that the DMK regime had concentrated mostly on work which required the usage of gold owned by various temples in the State.

He said the government had taken about 500 kg of gold from different temples and used it to make gold chariots, gold vimana (the structure that is built over the sanctum sanctorum of the temple) and gold flagstaffs for temples such as the Samayapuram Mariamman temple, Uraiyur Venkkaliyamman, Tirupporur Kandasamy temple and Azhagar Kovil Solaimalai Murugan temple.

Anandan alleged that the fraud of the DMK government would come to light if the actual quantity of gold used for the intended works was calculated, and added that devotees have suspicions whether even a third of the 500 kg of gold were used for the works.

The minister said the CM had ordered an examination of all works undertaken with gold during the previous DMK regime. The government led by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had taken great efforts to protect the assets and customs of the temples in the State, he added.

Kovalam Kailasanathar Temple (Kanchipuram - Tamil Nadu)

Kovalam Kailasanathar Temple (Kanchipuram - Tamil Nadu)

A cue from my mom about a Shiva Temple with a special Avudaiyar, set me off to Kovalam in ECR. Me, my bike and cam and I was off to Kovalam. Tucked up within the little streets of Kovalam, I spotted this temple. 

As usual, it was closed. I enquired a lady doing her household chores nearby, and she directed me to the road opposite to the temple, across the main road, beyond a tank, to a tailors shop, where I can find the priest of the temple. Yes, I found him, in his house, attached to that tailor's shop. A very frail, weak, old man - my first thought was "Oh my God, how is he gonna show me the temple!". I asked him if he could send someone with the keys but he volunteered to come himself, provided I arranged for his transport (Ok, the temple was hardly 250m from his house, but he was way too frail to walk!). I got him an auto and there we were at the temple...

The Lord Shiva here is Kailasanathar. His consort here is Kanakavalli Thayar. So what's the specialty in the Avudaiyar (Avudaiyar is the base of the Shiva Lingam)? It has inscriptions! Perhaps, the only temple with inscriptions on the avudaiyar itself! Its says 'Sri Satheruman Murthiper'. 'Sat' means trade guild and this refers that the place served as a port. According to the ASI (Archeological Survey of India) the script on the inscription is Palaeography Script which again is not very common. The temple & its inscriptions belongs to 13th C AD. 

The base of the maha mandapam has a 3 line inscription throughout. At certain places they have been painted red recently to enable easy reading of the inscriptions. At one spot I could spot the word 'Kovalam'. Its a 13th C inscriptionand this place has been called Kovalam ever since then!

The ardha mandapam has some exquisite bronzes - Shiva Parvathi with Somaskandha with a cute little Nataraja on the arch with a (isn't the priest innovative to do that!), Standing Vinayaka, Ambal etc. The Maha Mandapam has 3 shrines of 3 Vinayakas - Kubera Vinayaka, Vijaya Vinayaka & Siva Sakthi Vinayaka. 

In the external circumambulation passage are Dakshinamurthy, Navagraha, Brahma, Sathya Narayana etc. The mandapam that housed Navagraha was visibly very old and almost dilapidated with roots of creepers all over them. The little shikara and stupi atop the Rishaba Mandapam and the Vimanam were so eroded, thanks to the construction made of lime-sand bricks unlike the sturdy granite, with which the huge temples are usually made of! Remember Mambakkam Muruganatheeswarar Temple? Its construction was also made of this, hence the severe erosion!!! May be those small area kings would have afforded only this or may be these were trials before they built the granite temples!!! The erosion is further enhanced with cracks due to creepers growing on them. 

The temple needs renovation, a big time renovation, with the intervention of archaeologists. Why? The sanctum sanctorum has tile flooring while the vimana is withering! 

From here, my next stop was Siruthavur near Thiruporur in search of some Megalithic Burial Sites. Half an hour drive on the long, absolutely deserted Chengalpet - Tiruporur Road, and reaching Siruthavur did not help to spot a Megalithic Burial Site. Totally disheartened, when I started back I did manage to spot the Blue Board of ASI, somewhere behind some State Govt. Building near a school, near the Thiruporur Junction, yeah a Megalithic Burial Spot!!! Have to go there again, with more details, to spot some more and better sites!!!!! 

TO REACH HERE:

To Kovalam / Covelong in Chennai:

From Tambaram: 30km via Vandalur, Vandalur-Kelambakkam Road, 

From Thiruvanmiyur: 24km in ECR towards Mahabalipuram

From Mahabalipuram: 19km in ECR towards Chennai

From Pondicherry: 125km in ECR towards Chennai

To the temple:

From the Kovalam Junction on ECR, turn right (if you're coming from Chennai in ECR) and go on till you reach the Kovalam Bus Stand. At Kovalam Bus stand turn left and you won't miss the temple, it at your left. The Temple tank is just opposite to the temple. At Kovalam Bus stand turn right and after some 10 buildings, you'll spot a tailor shop to the left. Attached to his shop is the priest's home. 

Google Co-ordinates: http://g.co/maps/yf3va

Source:  http://travel.bhushavali.com/2012/05/kovalam-kailasanathar-temple.html  

More temples to come under free meals scheme

Chennai: Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said it will bring more temples under the "Annadhanam" (free meals) scheme, holding that more than 31,000 persons benefited from the effort touted to be a pet initiative of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 

The scheme was implemented in 360 temples during the 2001-06 AIADMK rule, and extended to "only two temples," in the subsequent DMK regime, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Minister MSM Anandan said.

In his department policy note for the year 2012-13 tabled before the state Assembly, he said that the scheme was extended to 106 temples in 2011-12.

"Everyday 31,575 devotees are benefited and Rs 6.32 lakh is being spent. As ordered by the Chief Minister, this scheme will be extended to 50 more temples during the current financial year considering the inflow of devotees and requirement," he said.

Further, spiritual and moral classes will be conducted on Saturdays in all important temples to make children "imbibe high moral and ethical values," he said.

State restores 468 acres of temple land

The state government has initiated steps to identify and restore temple lands whose pattas were wrongly issued to private individuals and registered in computer chitta.

“The pattas of 468.87 acres of temple lands belonging to 107 temples that were erroneously transferred on to the names of private persons was restored in the names of temples,” says a policy note on the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR & CE) department tabled by its minister M.S.M. Anandan, in the Assembly on Tuesday.

Similarly, the registration of temple lands were changed and entered in the name of private persons in computerised chitta. All these errors came to light while updating temple registry.

During 2011-12, pattas for 167.48 acres of lands belonging to 8 temples were restored. Also, about 119.71 acres of encroached lands have been retrieved.

The noble scheme of providing annadhanam is benefiting over 31,575 devotees and Rs 6.32 lakh is being spent. This scheme was implemented in 360 temples during the 2001-06 AIADMK rule, and extended to 'only two temples' in the subsequent DMK regime.

During 2011-12, this 'laudable scheme' was further extended to 106 temples besides, it was revitalized through some correctional measures to improve the quality of food and service. Presently, the scheme is in force in 468 temples.

“As ordered by the chief minister, this scheme will be extended to 50 more temples during the current financial year,” the policy note added.

Steps would be taken to strengthen the special revenue units and revenue courts with a view to collect the revenue without arrears and settle land disputes.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/state-restores-468-acres-temple-land-776 

Idol theft: HC says police can continue extradition proceeding

Press Trust of India / Chennai May 04, 2012, 21:45 The Madras High Court has set aside a lower court order cancelling a non-bailable warrant issued against a person, currently lodged in a prison in Germany, in connection with the theft of 18 idols from a temple in Ariyalur district in 2008, and said the Tamil Nadu Police could continue extradition proceedings. "It is crystal clear that so long as proceedings initiated under Extradition Act is pending it will not be appropriate for the magistrate to recall NBW," Justice S Nagamuthu held. The court was allowing a plea filed by the 'Idol Theft Wing' of the crime branch-CID, seeking to quash the Jayankondam Judicial Magistrate's April 12 order, recalling the NBW issued against Subash Chandra Kapoor, imprisoned at a jail in Cologne. The judge said "the investigating officer will be at liberty to proceed with extradition proceedings". All proceedings subsequent to recall of the NBW would also stand discharged, the judge said. Nagamuthu said if the respondent (Kapoor) was set free by the German authorities, there was no assurance, he would return to India and appear before the trial court. The judicial magistrate had passed the order in a mechanical fashion and it suffered from infirmities, he said. Noting that the stolen property was 'our national assets', the judge said it was the government's duty to ensure that the idols were secured and restored. According to CB-CID, 18 antique metal idols went missing from Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple in Suthamalli village on April 13, 2008. It came to light that seven persons, including Kapoor were involved in the theft. Meanwhile, the charge sheet was filed and the magistrate took cognisance of it. NBW was issued on November 25 last. Thereafter, a red-corner notice was issued by CB-CID and based on it the German authorities detained Kapoor. After extradition proceedings had commenced, Kapoor had approached the high court for anticipatory bail. It was turned down by the court which gave Kapoor the liberty to approach the magistrate to recall the NWB. Following recall of NBW, CB-CID moved the high court to quash the order. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/idol-theft-hc-says-police-can-continue-extradition-proceeding/4850/

43 temples to be consecrated in state this year

Chennai, May 9 : Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister M S M Anandhan today said 43 temples in the state would be consecrated this year at a total cost of Rs 22.50 crore.

Replying to the demand for grants for his department in the state Assembly, he said the Kumbhabhishekam (consecration of the temple) would be performed in 43 temples, including the famous Madurai Meenakshi Amman, Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple and Kumbakonam Sarangapani temple.

He said new halls would be constructed for 'annadanam' (free meals in temples) scheme in 21 temples at a cost of Rs 4.50 crore in 21 temples. The new halls would be constructed at Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Tuticorin Sankara Rameswarar temple, Rameswaram Sri Ramanathaswamy temple, Siruvapuri Balasubramania swamy temple, Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar temple, Kuchanoor Suyambu Saneeswarar temple, Sholingar Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar temple and at Kumbakonam Chakrapani Swamy temple.

He said renovation works would be taken up in 43 ancient temples, including the Kancheepuram Devarajaswamy temple, Ekambareswarar temple, Srimushnam Bhuvaragaswamy temple, Madurai Meenakshiamman temple and Kumbakonam Sarangapani temple at a cost of Rs 22.50 crore. Mr Anandhan said boarding facilities would be provided at Thirunageswaram Naganathaswamy temple in Kumbakonam, Sri Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram and Lord Narasimhar temple at Namakkal at a cost of Rs three crores.

An Odhuvar Training Institute will come up at Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar and Madurai Meenakshi Amman temples, he said. Announcing that engineers, who supervise renovation works in ancient temples, would henceforth be appointed directly by the HR and CE department, Mr Anandhan said details of all the temple lands in the State would be made available on the internet.

He said those who donate Rs one crore and above to temples would be issued platinum cards which would ensure priority darshan for them and their family members in all the temples across the State, except during festive occasions. The card holders could avail free stay in temple guest houses. In the first phase, the scheme would be implemented in 15 temples including Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam and at three of the six abodes of Lord Muruga at Tiruchendur, Tiruttani and Palani, he said.

Similarly those who donate Rs seven lakh and above for the 'Annadhanam' scheme would be given diamond cards which would ensure priority darshan for them and their family members in all the temples across the State, except during festive occasions.

- Agencies

May 09, 2012

sOURCE. http://news.chennaionline.com/chennai/43-temples-to-be-consecrated-in-state-this-year/e5b85f79-30f2-4f9f-9625-c8d398a5f954.col