MALAIKODI (TAMIL NADU):Vellore district
"The Taj Mahal was built as an expression of love for a single person, but the Sri Puram Lakshmi Narayani Golden Temple stands for unconditional love for the entire humanity," says the 32-year old holy man who simply refers to himself in the third person feminine gender as "Amma" (mother).
"We 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.
About the temple:
The temple, covering 55,000 sq ft area, has intricate carvings and sculptures in gold. Except the walking path, the entire structure has been made of gold and copper. This would be more grandeur than the GoldenTemplein Amritsar, mutt sources said.
About 400 goldsmiths and coppersmiths, including craftsmen from Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams, have completed the architectural marvel in gold in six years.
More than one and half tone of pure gold was glitter and gleam under the sun, Devotees hail the temple as 'one of the wonders of the world' and say that it is the only temple covered fully with gold.
"When one enters the Sripuram, their focus is just on the magnificent temple. But when they leave, they cannot do so without taking some messages and gaining some wisdom," according to a booklet detailing the 'services' rendered by the Peetam. "In this quagmire of materialism, Sripuram rises as an inspiration to man to find the divinity within him," adds a brochure.
LET THERE BE DIVINITYIN EVERY HEART!
THEN IT BECOMES PURE GOLD!!
THEN IT BECOMES PURE GOLD!!
- Amma
Location:
Mahalakshmi temple, located on a sprawling 100 acres of land at
Sripuram, near Vellore, about 125 km from Chennai,Tamil nadu, India
has been constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peetam, headed by spiritual leader
Sri Sakthi Amma
