Thousands of devotees witnessed the ‘mahasamprokshanam’ of Sri Alarmelmanga Sametha Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple of the Sri Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam in Mylapore on Thursday.
The ‘mahasamprokshanam’ of Sri Desikar, Andal, Anjaneyar, and Chakrathazhawar shrines were also conducted. Holy water was poured on the ‘kalasams’ of the temple’s five ‘vimanams’ amidst chanting of mantras.
Azhagiya Singars from the Sri Ahobila Math — Sri Narayana Yatheendra Mahadesikan and Sri Ranganatha Yatheendra Mahadesikan — and Srimath Andavan Swamigal of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam participated.
The Sri Vedantha Desikar Devasthanam has a history of over three centuries.
R. Mugunthan, a trustee of the Srinivasa Perumal temple, said it was renovated at a cost of over Rs. 3.5 crore and a new ‘vasantha mandapam’ with ‘nandavanam’ (garden) and ‘kannadi arai’ (hall of mirrors with eight sides and images of ‘Dasavatharam’ on the top) were constructed. An existing ‘kannadi arai’, ‘madapalli’, ‘goshala’ and ‘vahana mandapam’ were also renovated, he said.
As part of the ‘mahasamprokshanam,’ over 200 scholars chanted vedas and recited ‘Nalayira Divya Prabandham’ for four days.
Trustees D. Sundaravaradan and R. Srinivasan said that earlier ‘mahasamprokshanams’ were held in 1975 and 1995 for the temple that was originally built for Sri Vedantha Desikar. The ‘sannidhis’ of Sri Srinivasa Perumal, Sri Alarmelmanga thayar, Sri Rama, Sri Lakshminarasimhar, Sri Hayagrivar, Sri Sudarsanar, Hanuman, Sri Andal and Sri Ramanujar were later additions. Since Mylapore is the ‘avathara sthalam’ of Peyazhwar, there is a sannidhi for him.
The ‘brahmotsavam’ of Sri Srinivasa Perumal is slated to commence on May 13 and the highlights of the 10-day festival include the ‘garuda seva’, ‘yanai vahanam’ and ‘thiruther’.
