CHRISTMAS DAY VISITS
(By Subbaram Danda)
On December
25, 2014, the Christmas day, we went to three places of worship off the East
Coast Road (ECR), Chennai – Sri Sri Radha KrishnaTemple (popularly known as the
ISKCON Krishna temple), the Jagannath Shrine and the Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir. An atmosphere of serenity pervaded these
places, even as a steady stream of worshippers visited them.
The ISKCON temple
The
ISKCON temple is a massive, magnificent edifice that shimmers in gleaming
white. Its façade casts a magic spell on
the visitors. Located off ECR at
Akkarai, Sholinganallur, on a 1.5 acre site, it has been built as desired by
Srila Prabhupada, founder-acharya of International Society for Krishna
Consciousness (ISKCON). His wish was to
build a “gorgeous temple” in Chennai and it was fulfilled with its inauguration
in 2012.
The multi-level temple combines traditional principles of temple architecture with modern styles of construction. A broad marble stairway leads to a very spacious hall, which houses three teakwood altars. The central one presents the idols of Krishna with his consort Radha accompanied by their companions Lalitha and Vishaka. In another there are the images of Chaitanya and Nityananda. The third altar has the statues of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra. These icons have been sourced from Rajasthan and Orissa.
Among the facilities in the temple complex are an auditorium for cultural and spiritual programmes, a “prasadam” hall and stalls selling various spiritual books and charts.
The Jagannath shrine
Further
down on the ECR and a couple of side streets almost on the sea shore at
Kanathur Reddy Kuppam lies Dakshinakshetra that houses the primary temple of Jagannath
and some other shrines. As the visitors enter the premises, they are
awe-struck by a soaring granite tower over the main sanctum in the Kalinga
architectural style with a long flight of broad steps leading to it. In the sanctum are the idols of Jagannath,
Baladeva and Subhadra. On the walls and the ceiling there are spiritual paintings. In the
front on the ground stands a lofty Dwajasthambha with sculptures etched on
it. Consecrated in 2001, the temple is
said to be similar to the Puri Jagannath shrine.
The
entire Dakshinakshetra complex is in a beautifully landscaped space amidst emerald
lawns, flower plants and green trees in a quiet environment. It is said that only the flowers grown there
are used for worship. Seen in the
compound are three trees intertwined with each other – neem, banyan and peepal. This “union” of trees is likened to
Kalpataru. There is a colourful Buddha
image installed in the open on the lawn. A variety of sculptures can be found all over the complex. A marble-floored hall is earmarked for meditation.
The Shirdi Sai Baba mandir is situated nearer to the city at Injambakkam off ECR on a
sprawling seven-acre site almost on the sea shore. The main shrine is an elegant hexagonal white
marble structure with a tower above soaring to a height of 100 feet. A radiant image of Baba in his famous graceful
sitting posture in pure white marble is in the centre. Below this level is a meditation hall. At various points in the compound there are
many other shrines for various deities.
Also located is a large assembly hall.
(Photography is not permitted anywhere in the complex.)
Ends
