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| Annavaram Temple Gali Gopuram |
The famous Sri Satyanarayana Swami temple at Annavaram on Wednesday will be closed for about eight months to facilitate renovation work on 'Galigopuram' and top of the sanctum sanctorum.
This famed temple was built by the Pithapuram king in 1891.
As a result, darshan of the `moola virat’ will be stopped for eight months.
The Endowments Department decided to reconstruct the temple at a cost of Rs 4 crore following a report given by the engineering experts of IIT-Chennai.
With the religious heads insisting that the idols of Lord Satyanarayana, Goddess Anantalakshmi and Lord Eswara cannot be moved from the sanctum sanctorum, the Endowments authorities installed `Utsava Moorthulu' (Idols taken out during religious processions) in another spot for the devotees to have darshan during the period when construction would be taken up.
Till that time, processional deities will be kept in Balalayam in the front portion of temple, which will not be disturbed, Commissioner of Endowments JSV Prasad said.
According to Executive Officer Ramachandra Mohan, the structures would be re-built to make them last for at least 500 years. The main gate to the sanctum sanctorum would be widened to 5.8 feet from the present 2.8 ft so that the devotees can have a clear darshan of the idols, he said.
The EO said during the construction also, pujas for the main idols would be performed as usual by the temple priests. He also said the devotees could perform all pujas like Satyanarayana vrathams, kalyanams and other rituals to the `utsava' idols from Wednesday.
In the 70s, the ‘Galigopuram' developed major cracks after a thunderstorm. Officials conducted repairs in consultation with Agama pandits.
In 1998, reconstruction work was proposed to be taken up but it was not possible due to court cases. Some even approached the Lokayukta upon which Justice Ramanujan, visited the temple and ordered renovation work to be taken up in consultation with peetadipathis and Agama pandits.
In 2000, the temple authorities in consultation with Sringeri Peetadipathi Swami Bharati Teertha again made a proposal to the State government to take up renovation and reconstruction of the temple.
During a recent visit, Archaeology Department officials suggested to the authorities to go for reconstruction of the temple immediately.
This famed temple was built by the Pithapuram king in 1891.
As a result, darshan of the `moola virat’ will be stopped for eight months.
The Endowments Department decided to reconstruct the temple at a cost of Rs 4 crore following a report given by the engineering experts of IIT-Chennai.
With the religious heads insisting that the idols of Lord Satyanarayana, Goddess Anantalakshmi and Lord Eswara cannot be moved from the sanctum sanctorum, the Endowments authorities installed `Utsava Moorthulu' (Idols taken out during religious processions) in another spot for the devotees to have darshan during the period when construction would be taken up.
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| Annavaram Satyanarayana Swami |
According to Executive Officer Ramachandra Mohan, the structures would be re-built to make them last for at least 500 years. The main gate to the sanctum sanctorum would be widened to 5.8 feet from the present 2.8 ft so that the devotees can have a clear darshan of the idols, he said.
The EO said during the construction also, pujas for the main idols would be performed as usual by the temple priests. He also said the devotees could perform all pujas like Satyanarayana vrathams, kalyanams and other rituals to the `utsava' idols from Wednesday.
In the 70s, the ‘Galigopuram' developed major cracks after a thunderstorm. Officials conducted repairs in consultation with Agama pandits.
In 1998, reconstruction work was proposed to be taken up but it was not possible due to court cases. Some even approached the Lokayukta upon which Justice Ramanujan, visited the temple and ordered renovation work to be taken up in consultation with peetadipathis and Agama pandits.
In 2000, the temple authorities in consultation with Sringeri Peetadipathi Swami Bharati Teertha again made a proposal to the State government to take up renovation and reconstruction of the temple.
During a recent visit, Archaeology Department officials suggested to the authorities to go for reconstruction of the temple immediately.
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| View from Annavaram hill |
