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Sri Maha Bhadrakali Temple Project
LATEST NEWS:
INSTALLATION DATE - 9TH March 2012
The plastering work on the Temple has now been finished and the remaining work of painting and making the compound wall will be finished in February. The priests have informed that the date for installing the statue of Maha Bhadrakali will be Friday, 9th March. Full details of the programme will be available in February.
We are happy to inform you of the progress with the Temple Project and would like to thank all who have made contributions over the years for believing in the Temple. Through your good faith the Temple is becoming a reality. After a week of purifying pujas in March 2011, a new location in the ashram was selected for the temple and the first stone laying rituals took place on 20th August 2011. Swami Rajeshwariananda and priest Aji Shanti laid the first stone.
The construction started immediately afterwards under the direction of Vastu architect, Mr. S.R. Thagur.
The main structure and plastering are now complete. The remaining detailed plaster work, granite flooring and fixing of the stone door frame and wooden door will take about a month more. Work is taking place under a coconut thatch roof for protection from sun and rain.
The temple is being constructed following Vastu principles related to relative proportions. Vastu is ancient Indian architectural design. It balances the five elements of nature (earth, water, air, fire, and space), creating an environment conducive to the harmony of body, mind and spirit.
The finished temple will be of a fairly traditional Tamil style with painted sculpted roof depicting various forms of the Devi. (A little bit like this example. The colours represent the 5 elements.)
Inauguration
We hope to have a date soon for the installation of Sri Maha Bhadrakali’s statue and look forward to welcoming all for this special occasion. If you would like to give some support towards the Temple project, contributions will be gratefully received. To complete this stage of the project a perimeter wall for the temple premises is required and also a satsang area in front of the temple. Eventually there may be other small shrines; there is already possibility of a Ganesha shrine being sponsored. A small kitchen and storage area will also be required. Details for bank transfers are given below.
Why Have a Temple in an Ashram?
It is traditional to have a temple (or even a few temples!) within the grounds of an ashram. Swami Sivananda encouraged Synthesis of Yoga including the practice of Bhakti Yoga - for focusing emotional energy and developing the heart. At his ashram at Rishikesh, he constructed a Temple for Lord Vishwanath (Lord Siva). You will find Sri Ganesha, Sri Krishna, Sri Rama and Durga Devi there also. At Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwanthari Ashram, Neyyar Dam, Kerala, the Vaidya (Ayurveda doctor) who founded the ashram, had installed Raja Rajeswari Devi; whilst at Sivananda Kutir, Netala, Uttarkashi, a Siva Lingam is installed At the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Meenakshi Ashram there is a strong Devi (Divine Mother) presence in the fierce form of Kaali. Outside the ashram grounds there is a rough shrine to what is considered a wild and unruly form of Kaali. It has been advised to provide a home to settle this energy in the ashram. A temple provides a focal point for intense devotional practice. It is also a suitable space for the pure tantric practices of yantra, mantra and mudra (geometrical designs, mystical energy in sound vibration and energy sealing hand positions / movements). A trained priest uses these techniques along with a respectful devotional attitude to work with the subtle energies. This creates a strong energy, beneficial for our health, happiness and yogic practices.
The Temple first started in a temporary shed in 2002.
We are very happy and grateful that Sri Maha Bhadrakaali is to have a permanent home very soon.
Donations
| For donations made within India: | |
|---|---|
| Account Name | Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Meenakshi Ashram International Account |
| Account No. | 209001000026003 |
| Account Type | Savings bank account |
| IFS Code | IOBA0002090 |
| Branch | Indian Overseas Bank, Chattirapatti Branch, Madurai Dist, Tamil Nadu India |
For donations made overseas, please contact the ashram at madurai@sivananda.org for details.
Please use the above details for Temple donations only. Unless otherwise informed, all monies received via bank transfer will be considered as donations towards the Temple Project.
With sincere thanks.
Madurai Ashram Director
and all the dedicated staff
