Businessman offers Rs 500 Crore to Kerala temple as a thanksgiving

Shri Gana Shravan of Gana Shravan (SwaamyG) Companies has offered Rs 500 crore to Chottanikkara Bhagavathi Temple. According to Shri Gana Shravan, he decided to make the huge donation as he received many fortunes in life and business after he started visiting the temple regularly.

The proposal to reconstruct the temple with architectural marvel, as well as develop the surroundings into a temple city, has already been submitted to the temple authorities almost a year ago. However, the projects awaits the approval from the High Court. As per norms, any development works above Rs 20 lakh funds require the nod of a Devaswom bench of HC as the Chottanikkara temple is administered by the Cohin Devaswom Board.

Shri Gana Shravan has already informed the Devaswom board that the company would like to directly utilise the money and supervise the onstruction works rather than giving the cash.

The massive project includes a ring road around the temple, east and west facing gopurams, a sewage treatment plant, renovation of parking grounds, new annadana mandapam (feeding hall), renovation of Onakuttichira Temple, and construction of a guest house. Rs 300 crore will be set aside for this, and Rs 200 crores will be utilised for city development, a report said.

The Devaswom Board secretary V A Sheeja said that the board was yet to take a final decision on the matter and it was pending legal opinion.

The 46-year-old business man told media that he was mainly into gold, diamond, and rare metals trading by associating with a Mumbai-based firm and was also setting up a jewel shop at Bengaluru. As per a report in Deccan Herald, Shravan said that he is a native of Chikkaballapur district and was basically in the music field for nearly 20 years. But there was not much fortune in his life. Four years back he visited the Chottanikkara temple as advised by his guru and thereafter he got much fortune in business.

The Chottanikkara Devi Temple is a famous temple of mother goddess Bhagavati. Goddess Maha Lakshmi is residing in the temple along with the supreme deity Bhagwan Sri Maha Vishnu. The temple is located at Chottanikkara, a southern suburb of the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala, India and is one of the most popular temples in the state.

In terms of temple architecture, Chottanikkara temple stands out to be an ultimate testimonial for the ancient vishwakarma sthapathis (wooden sculpture). Chottanikkara Devi (Melekavu Bhagavathi) is worshipped at the temple, in three different forms: as Maha Saraswati in the morning, draped in white; Maha Lakshmi at noon, draped in crimson; and as Maha Kali in the evening, decked in blue.

Goddess ‘Keezhkkaavu Bhagavathi’ is believed to be Bhadrakali, in her fierce form or Ugra form. Bhadrakali, is a form of mother Kali, supposed to be born from the third eye of lord Shiva, to kill the demon king Darika. People suffering from mental illnesses and commonly visit the temple, as Chottanikkara devi is said to cure her devotees. Guruthi pooja is a ritual done at late evening to invoke goddess Mahakali. Earlier ‘Guruthi Pooja’ was done only on Fridays. But nowadays, it is performed every day.

“The temple of Chottanikkara is a living legend shrowned in magnificent mythology and awe-inspiring truth. Its historical appeal and traditional influence on generations of people is tremendous. Legends say that the presence of Divinity here was worshipped by BHOGACHARYA. The deity which is swayambhoo in latrite called Rudraksha Sila was worshipped by divine souls like Adisankaracharya, Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, Kakkasseri Bhattathiri and Chemmangattu Bhattathiri.

It is the cynosure of thousands of devotees swarming from all over the world on all auspicious and festive occations.The golden hued Idol bedecked with flowers, garlands, jewels and bathed in myrid of light shine splendidly. It is a picturesque image bewitching everybodyand embodiment of peace dispelling fears from devotees who worship Her. The temple is situated in hilly region surrounded on all sides by undulating beauty, rich with its green turf, golden farms and provides deep spritiual solace to the entire devotees. This is one of the most celebrated Hindu shrines of Kerala.

Thousands of pilgrims and devotees of the Goddess visit here and make their reverential offerings to redeem them of their afflictions. A visit to the temple brings relief to them from the overburdening anguish and agonies of material life. The sacred doors of the sanctum sanctorum open in the wee hours of the day, at 4.00 a.m. The blowing of the conch and playing of the temple musical instruments lend an enchanting ritualistic rhythm and peace to those who seek a sure answer to the patient prayers. Sree Mookambika Saraswathy is also believed as present in the temple in the morning. That is why Mookambika Temple at kollur opens only after the Goddess Saraswathy returns to there late in the morning.”