ST. LOUIS: The Hindu Temple of St. Louis is completing the construction of three new shrines for Sri Ayyappa, Sri Kanyaka Paramesweri and Sri Anjaneya (Hanuman ji). The temple has slated Prana Prathista from June 5-9 and expectations are that few thousand devotees from and around IL and MO would join the celebration.
Sri Ayyappa Maha Sannidhanam is the second of its kind in the U.S., the first being the Sri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland. The Maha Sannidhanam is a masterpiece of spiritual harmony whose architecture resembles that of Sabarimala. The panchaloha vigraha of Sri Ayyappa was sculpted by integrating five metals (copper, bronze, iron, gold and silver) thus symbolizing the cosmic energies of earth, fire, space, water and air.
The Maha Sannidhanam would serve as a spiritual center for exhibiting Ayyappa avatars (forms) from five Ayyappa temples in Kerala, India – Erumeli, Achankovil, Ariyankavu, Kulathupuzhai and Pandalam. It also provides a divine opportunity to Ayyappa swamis in the Midwest to climb the holy 18 steps carrying their Irumudis thus representing the spiritual path to self-realization.
There are shrines for Kannimoola Maha Ganapathy, Nagaraja and Maligapurathu Manjamatha that are similar to Sabarimala.
Lord Ayyappa or Dharma Shastha who represents a combination of spiritual powers symbolized by the forms of Lord Vishnu, the power that maintains the universe and Lord Shiva the power that periodically reabsorbs the manifestations into reality. Ayyappa devotees would engage in vratham during Mandala festival that cleanses physical body and mind which in its turn leads to peace and realization of self.
The Maha Sannidhanam for Sri Kanyaka Parameswari has been built with finest architectural design. A marvelous inside dome forms an elegant feature of this shrine. With a detailed sculptural workmanship, the Maha Sannidhanam for Sri Kanyaka Paramesweri in St. Louis is unique of its kind in the Midwest. The shrine for Sri Kanyaka Paramesweri will be consecrated on June 7 on the South side of the Hindu Temple of St. Louis.
Sri Kanyaka Parameswari was born on Vaisaka Suddha Dasami (Telugu month) at twilight during convergence of Uttara Nakshatra and Kanya (Virgo). Goddess Kanyaka Parameswari, incarnation of Adiparashakthi made Agnipravesham, Sacred Fire, along with the102 Gothraja couples at Penugonda to prevent bloodshed due to war and varna sankarana. Later, Sri Kanyaka Parameswari emerged from the sacred Homa gundam in her Moola swarupam of Adiparashakthi and taught the noble principles of non-violence, universal brotherhood, world peace, love and sacrifice.
Later, the 102 couples who also did Agnipravesham attained salvation (Moksham). Hence the day Magha Suddha Vidhia is celebrated as a big festival throughout India and abroad. Sri Kanyaka Parameswaris message is “Dharmam-Sheelam-Ahimsa.
The shrine for Sri Veera Anjaneya completes all upadevatas for Sri Venkateswara Swamy, the main deity of The Hindu Temple of St. Louis. The Prana Prathista of Sri Veera Anjaneya is planned to be held on Saturday, June 7.
Sri Anjaneya visited Lanka thrice. The first was on a mission searching Mother Sita. He met her in the Ashoka Garden of Ravana in his land, identified himself with the Kanayazhi – the wedding ring she gave to Sri Rama and received her Choodamani to prove to Rama that he had met his consort. In this first visit, he also played the role of a wise diplomat to pursue Ravana to hand her over to Sri Rama with all honor. As the Lanka King was unrelenting, he showed his might by setting ablaze his city.
The second was the march of the army, building of the Sethu bridge and reaching Lanka with the Lord. The third was his departure from Lanka and return with the Sanjeevi Mount through the air route.
Raja Rajasekaran
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