NEW GOLDEN TEMPLE IN TAMIL NADU

One of the biggest Hindu shrines in
southern India, the Sri Puram Golden Temple, was consecrated here Friday in the
presence of over 30,000 devotees.
Being dubbed as 'golden temple', it is located in the backdrop a small range of
hillocks, about 180 km from Chennai. A spiritual leader who calls himself
Narayani Amma has built it at the cost of Rs.3 millionThe Taj Mahal was built as an expression of love for a single person but the
Sri Puram Golden Temple stands for unconditional love for the entire humanity,"
says Amma, 31, who also goes by the name of Shakti Siddha.
The temple spans 100 acres and has a built-up area of 55,000 sq ft. The sanctum
sanctorum is covered with thin gold plates created out of 1.5 metric tonnes of
pure gold - giving the shrine its name.
The temple itself is shaped like a star, reminding many of the foreign devotees
present in sizeable numbers of the Jewish symbolWe know it is also the sign of the universal goddess - Lakshmi," says William,
who gives only one name and says he is of Canadian origin.
The steps that lead to the innermost section are laid with polished black and
grey granite from the neighbouring South Arcot and Dharmapuri districts. A cubic
metre of black granite is priced at 0. So is the grey stone called "Paradiso"
because of its wavy patterns of violet with the colour of iron. And this too has
been used in large quantities.

"If we had built a hospital, factory, educational institution or a business, it
would have ended up serving a small community. But now, Amma's temple will sow
the seeds of goodness in the hearts of everyone who visits here," Amma, clad in
ochre robes, says in Tamil.
"For every mother, nursing a slightly ill child is a challenge because the
medicine is usually bitter and hence needs a sugar coating. Once the medicine
goes in, all is well with the young one again. Similarly, we have created your
golden temple - a materialistic sign to attract people."
There are more than 300 signboards of simple messages, which are meant to lead
devotees to wisdom. And this wisdom is aimed at helping each visitor become a
better human beingAmma has spent millions on charity - including hospitals and helping the
physically challenged. He also claims to have renovated over 600 temples in the
area at a cost of Rs.30 million.

The temple has been built over the last six years with over 400 masons working
on it. Well-known craftsmen Subbiah Sthapathi of Kanchipuram and Srinivasa
Sthapathy were responsible for the civil works and the ornate gold leaf inlay
works respectively.
LET THERE BE DIVINITY
IN EVERY HEART!
THEN IT BECOMES PURE GOLD!!

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