Golden Temple, Sripuram – The Temple
This
temple covers an area of about 100 acres. The mandapam and the artificial
fountains opposite welcome the devotee. Besides the two pathways to
go in and come out, there are 18 entrances behind the mandapam representing the
18 characters of the human mind. The temple is designed according to Sri
Chakra star lines. The temple is in round shape. It looks as if a Sri
Chakra when viewed from the upper side. Mother Lakshmi Narayani is a
Swayambumurthy.
Due to
security and maintenance concerns, the devotee has to deposit his/her cell
phone, camera and other articles including eatables at the entrance
office. Every corner and part of the temple speaks but beauty and
serenity. Modern lights along with traditional stone lights make even
night a day in the temple. There are more than 3,000 trees around. Devotees
are advised to maintain silence.
The
temple by itself built with gold, even the paintings in other parts as
decorative arches and mandapams are of golden colour making the temple glitter forever. There
is a 27-feet tall, 10 tier traditional lamp opposite to Mother’s shrine made of
Panchaloka, an alloy of five metals. This has space for lighting thousand
lamps. There are statues of Mothers Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi in the
meadows of the temple with artificial hills and falls.
The
Sripuram Lakshmi Narayani temple covering 5000 square feet is full of gold
everywhere, all weighing 1500 kilograms at a cost of Rs. 350 crores. This
Temple is to have the direct aspect of Lord Venkatachalapathy in
Tirupathi. Hence, it was named Tirumalaikodi, in early
days. After the completion of the construction of the temple, the
name of the place is changed as Sri Puram. It would be doubly beneficial
for the devotees to complete their pilgrimage to Tirupathi at Sripuram Sri
Lakshmi Narayani-Mahalakshmi temple.
There is
tank around the temple filled with water for 10 feet width. To reach the main
sanctum sanctorum devotees need to walk through a Star shaped pathway. Earlier
there was an old temple here and behind that this new golden temple is
constructed in the year 2007. Across this temple there is a small self-made
idol of Narayani is there under the hut. This Sannidhi is called as “Narayani
Peedam”. Everyday food is provided for the devotees during lunch and dinner.
Om
Sakthi Narayani Siddhar Peedam Charitable Trust, headed by spiritual
leader Narayani Amma built this Temple. Its construction began in 2000 and was
completed in a short span of 7 years at a cost of Rs.300 crores (Rs.3 billion).
More than 400 gold and coppersmiths from the Tirupathi Thirumala Devastanam are
worked on this temple. Materials such as gold bars were brought through RBI in
a transparent manner. Designed in the shape of sri chakra, it's unique feature is
that the interior and exterior of Vimanam and Ardha Mandapam have been laid
with gold sheets and plates.
Twelve
layers of gold foils have been pasted on copper sheets embossed with the
designs of Gods and fixed on the walls. This has already become highly popular
and too crowded on weekends and will take several hours to complete the
Dharshan during weekends. There is a 200 Rs ticket (apart from free Dharshan)
also, but this too is crowded during weekends. Better visit the temple with
ample time in reserve. There is
plenty of parking space available. Rs. 20/- per vehicle. Inside the temple
premises mobile phones and cameras are strictly prohibited. There are separate
counters are there to deposit your cell phones, cameras as also your foot-wear.
The Sri Narayani Hospital &
Research Centre is a general
hospital located near the Sripuram temple complex and is also run by the 'Sri
Narayani Peedam' Charitable Trust.
