Coimbatore: With the benediction of Ratnagiri Balamuruganadimai Swamigal and Kalavai Sivayogi Satchidananda Swamigal a temple dedicated to Sri Venkatachalapathi has come up on the campus of RVS education institutions at Kannammapalayam panchayat, near Sulur, about 18 km from the Coimbatore Railway Station.
The temple, on Coimbatore-Tiruchi highway, has been constructed in a record time of 120 days. One hundred and twelve sculptors under the guidance and supervision of sculptor R.Selvanathan, a descendant of Kunjaramalla Raja Raja Perunthachchan, who built the Big Temple of Thanjavur, worked to make this a fait accompli.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkatachalapathi flanked on either side by Sreedevi and Bhoodevi. K.V. Kuppusami, the founder of RVS education institutions derives a sense of fulfilment on accomplishing the construction of the shrine.
Kovai Kumaran Kottam, a temple dedicated to Swaminathaswami (Lord Muruga), which was also built by him, was consecrated on September 11, 2002.
The kumbabhishekam of Sulur Thirupathi was performed on September 11 under the presidency of a Bhattacharya of T.T.Devasthanams, Tirupathi, in the presence of Sivacharyas of various mutts in Tamil Nadu. Of the 108 Vaishnava shrines, only three face north – Uraiyur, Ayodhya and Salagram (Nepal). The Sulur Thirupathi temple too faces north.
The three-tier structure of the temple is a specimen of Chola architecture. As the visitor enters the precincts of the temple he faces the magnificent form of Lord Venkateswara flanked by Sreedevi and Bhoodevi.
Facing the main deity is a shrine dedicated to Garuda. Circling round the prakara there is a separate shrine for Hayagriva. The resplendent idol of Gnana Saraswathi with a gnanamudra , an akshamala and a book on hand is to be seen for its workmanship.
In the outer structure, the 10 manifestations of Lord Thirumal have been carved on the wall. Sulur Thirupathi is accessible from all parts of Coimbatore city. |
