Lords Ardain, Acharyas Anugraha and Asthikas Aspirations have culminated in the springing up of a beautiful temple for Lord Venkatachalapathi at �Then Thirumalai�, 30 km from Coimbatore, near Mettupalayam at the foot of Nilgiris, amongst scenic surroundings.

The Consecration (Maha Samprokshanam) of this shrine on a small hillock, modelled in the lines of the Venkatachalapathi Temple in Thirumala (Tirupathi) is scheduled to take place on February 28, 2001. The Five day festival and rituals connected with the Maha Samprokshanam will commence on February 24 in the temple complex. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the performance of the Homam / Japam / Veda Parayanam in which scholars drawn from Tirupathi, Srirangam, Kumbakonam, Kanchipuram, Srivilliputtur, Madurai and other holy centres will be participating. The Maha Samprokshanam will be performed according to Vaikanasa Agama Sastra by a group of learned Scholars headed by the Asthana Vaikanasa Agama Pandit of Tirumalai Tirupathi Devasthanam Madambakkam Sri Srinivasa Bhattachariar.

While in the earlier yugas, to please �Him�, the path prescribed was Tapas, Yagas and Yagnyas, in Kaliyuga, as pointed out by the Alwars and Acharyas, we are lucky to have the simple and easy way of worshiping the Lord Venkatanatha, the �Kaliyuga Varada�, to not only get our wishes fulfilled, but also to secure a place and eternally worship �Him� in his Golden abode, �Sri Vaikunta�. With such a simple �upaya� to become recipients of the eternal bliss, it is no wonder that the numbers who flock to Thirumalai for �His� darshan grown day by day in astronomical proportions.      In such a context the Holy shrine for Lord Venkatesa that is being established in �Then Thirumalai� is bound to satisfy the long felt desire of the devotees of the Lord of seven Hills and become a Holy piligrimage centre.

     It is the late Dharmavira Sri Annur K Govindaswamy Naidu, a philanthropist and Industrialist known for his charitable disposition and religious services, who conceived the idea to put up such a Holy shrine. His illustrious son and a leading personality in Indian Industry, Sri Annur KG Baalakrishnan along with his wife Smt Satyabhama who had made it a point to worship �Him� at �Thirumala� every month decided to fulfil the desire of the father to put up a temple for the Lord of Seven Hills. When Sri GVS Desikan, a leading Textile expert and wellwisher and friend of the KG family, who had decided to engage himself fully in the service of the �Lord�, expressed his life long, but unfulfilled, desire to engage himself in constructing a temple for the �Lord�, Sri KG Baalakrishnan was too happy about the confluence of thoughts and the chain reaction started.

     As a result a public charitable trust by the name �Then Thirumalai Srinivasa Seva Samajam� (With Sri KG Baalakrishnan as chairman and Sri GVS Desikan as Vice Chairman) has been formed to undertake the work of constructing the temple and also engage in service to mankind. Fascinated by the objectives of the Trust Sri KNV Ramani a well known legal expert and Sri MJ Vijayaragavan, a leading chartered Accountant, volunteered��� to�� participate�� in�� these noble� efforts� and� joined the� Trust� as Trustees.
   
      Sri GVS Desikan, who has a craving desire for engaging himself fully in the service of the Lord, took the responsibility for the construction of this beautiful temple and completed the work in record time.

     For the �Lord� who chose �Thirumala� in Thondamandalam and got a temple built in the space provided by Adivaraha Perumal, it is in the fitness of things that �He� condescended to have �His� abode in �Then Thirumalai� which has been sanctified by the foot prints of the great Bagavadothamers and Vaishnava Acharyas Sri Ramanujar and Sri Vedantha Desikan. In the past, on two occasions this same place was chosen for putting up structures for different purposes-once for putting up a water storage tank considering the elevation; at another time for putting up a temple for Ganapathi. On both occasions the efforts were given up at the instance of Asthika Ratna Sri K Govinda Swamy Naidu (the founder of the KG Group). The Lord perhaps used his Baktha, KG Naidu, to prevent the place �He� wanted for �His� stay being put to other uses. Today the small hillock named �Then Thirumala� has a temple built on it for Lord Srinivasa for �His� abode. When God has willed thus, how can it be otherwise.

     The temple on the hillock, located admist syllvian surroundings is a miniature of the temple in Thirumala and is designed and constructed according to agama sastras. The fact that the temple project has the blessings advice of Sri Madambakkam Srinivasa Bhattachariar, Asthana vaikanasa Agama Pandit of Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanam is a matter of great significance and satisfaction. The system of worship will be identical to the one adopted in Tirumalai, the intention being that now Bakthas can worship the Lord of Seven Hills in Then Thirumalai itself.

     A look at the hill temple from the main entrance, about 200 metres away, is a feast to the eye as the greenery surrounding the hillock formation is kept in tact with the mango groves, flower garden, Coconut trees and banana plantation on either side of the main path-way leading to the temple creating a very pleasing / and divine sensation to worshippers as they enter the temple portal. It augers well that the gradient leading to the temple has a natural formation of 12 levels and taking this as the blessing of the twelve great Vaishnavite saints these have been named after the Alwars who have authored the Nalayira Divya Prabandam hailed as the �Tamil Veda� by Sri Vedantha Desikar.

     Then Thirumalai in Jadayampalayam is well connected by road from all directions and is in close proximity to the Temple town Karamadai on the Coimbatore- Mettupalayam road, and Sirumugai, the textile weaving centre on the Avanashi- Annur- Mettupalayam road. It is located in a rural setting surrounded by a cluster of villages inhabited by affluent farmers and industrial workers.

     The noble task undertaken by the Trust will not stop with putting up of the temple, but will be extended to developing and upholding of our cultural values. To start with, the Trust proposes to establish a Veda-Divya prabandam school and a home for the aged in the temple Complex. This will help train religious minded youngsters in the learning of Vedas and Divya Prabandam which will ensure torch bearers of our religious and cultural traditions for generations to come.

     The construction work of the temple is nearing completion. The granite and panchaloka idols of the dieties have been sculptured and made by expert artisans in Tirupathi, Swamymalai, Nachiar Koil and Thirumuruganpoondi. Apart from the main diety Lord Venkatachalapathi, the temple will have sannidhis for Utsavamoorthi Srinivasar, Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, Andal, Navaneetha Krishnan, Vishwaksenar, Garudalwar, Anjaneyar, Chakkarathalwar, Yoganarasimhar, Nammalwar, Thirumangai Alwar, Sri Ramanujar and Sri Vedanta Desikar.

     A Kalyana Mandapam, a Vahana Mandapam, Vedapatasalai, Home for the aged and accommodation for the priests are being provided at the ground level.

     A number of friends, philanthropists and �Lords� devotees have been helping in this holy effort and the trust is thankful to all of them.

     To enable Successful completion of the task and for ensuring regular and uninterrupted pujas and religious rites in the temple and for undertaking other service activities, the trust appeals to philanthropists, Industrialists and Asthikas to contribute liberally to this divine cause and be blessed by the Lord Venkatachalapathi, the �Kaliyuga Prathyaksha varada�.

     �Then Tirumalai Srinivasa Seva Samajam� which is engaged in the service of the Lord� is for regular worship and conducting festivals at the temple.

     Bakthas who want to participate in this holy effort may get in touch with �Mr GVS Desikan, Vice Chairman & Trustee, Then Thirumalai Srinivasa Seva Samajam, �Thiru Arangam� 78, AK Nagar, Coimbatore 641 011
Phone: 0422 433070, Fax: 0422 433232, Email: [email protected]