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Arulmigu
Meenakshi Sundereswarar Temple is inolved in many valuable
community services like education, Annadhanam
Free marriage scheme:
Free
weddings are performed at this temple for the benefit of
indigent Adi Dravidars, Adivasis and backward classes. Under
this scheme the couple undergoing free weddings are gifted new
clothes, Thirumangalyam and other presentation at a cost of
Rs.3,000. 20 guests are also fed at temple's cost. On
17.2.2002, grand free weddings were coducted for 70 couples. On
that day, the temple also bore the cost of the wedding of 72
couples in Chennai. So far 175 couples have benefitted from this
scheme of free weddings.
Those
availing this benefit should be of marriageable age and
unmarried. Necessary documents should be brought from Village
Administrative Officers and submitted at the office. Application
forms for assistance under this schemeare available at the
office of the temple. Further details could be obtained from the
temple office.
Karunai
illam :
A new building has been built for providing free education
shelter and dress to poor and girl children
Joint
prayers:
To
seek the blessings of the deities for the quick recovery of
patients at the emergency wards of the Government hospital,
Madurai joint prayers are conducted at 5.30 p.m. on every
Fridays. This unique prayers were inaugurated on 8.11.2001 under
the chairmanship of Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable
Endowment, Hon. P.C. Ramasamy in the presence of the HR and CE
Secretary Mr. P.A. Ramiah IAS and other officials.
On
every Friday morning, representatives from the templewould
proceed to the government hospital and get a list of patients
under emergency care, their names, lagna, star and in the
evenings in the presence of City's dignitaries and doctors from
the hospital, stanzas for cure of illnesses by Oduvar moorthies
and then the names of the patients would be read and joint
prayers conducted. After that archanas would be performed in
the name of patients in the sanctums of Goddess Meenakshi and
Lord Sundareswarar. The following morning, priests would proceed
to the hospital and hand over the `prasadam' individually to the
patients and they are consoled.
Moreover,
patients at other hospitals and homes, who send their names,
stars, lagna and addresses are despatched `prasadam' by post
after archanas in their names. This joint prayers system had won
the appreciation of people from all over Tamil Nadu which is
reflected in the numerous letters that the temple authorities
receive daily. Those patients who wish to seek cure through this
joint prayers could send their names and other details to the
temple authorities, their names will be included in the joint
prayers and archanas and the `prasadam' would besent to them.
Spiritual and moral
education classes:
As
announced by the Hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,
spiritual and moral education classes are conducted for children
every Sunday from 4.00 p.m. to 5 p.m. More than 35 children are
benefitting from these classes. These classes were inaugurated
by the Hon. C. Durairaj, Minister for Local Administration on
2.3.3.2002.
This
scheme was also extended to the Arulmighu Mariamman temple at
Teppakulam from 18.8.2002 on the advice of the Hon. Chief
Minister. There are about 35 children attending these classes..
Other
Activities:
In
order to slake the thirst of devotees coming to the temple, water
tanks had been set up at the entrance to each tower at a cost of
Rs.2.50 lakhs with funds from MLA's constituency development and
potable protected water is made available to them.
To
enable pilgrims from outside areas and travellers to stay, two and
three bedded rooms and air conditioned rooms are available at
affordable rates at `Birla Vishram' travellers lodge on behalf of
the temple. This lodge is situated near the entrance to the West
Gopuram.
In
order to disseminate spiritual knowledge to devotees a library with
1750 volumes is functioning in South Aadi street.
On
important days discourses are delievered by spiritual leaders and
college professors in the temple and satellite temples to promote
spiritual thinking among the devotees. Saiva religious training
classes, spiritual seminars, religious reawakening classes are
conducted every year by the Temple.
To
provide an insight into the importance of the temple, to understand
the concept easily, to learn the history of the temple, audio and
video cassettes as well as a tourist map of the temples of Madurai
district, Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Thiruvadhavoor Thalapuranam,
explanation of Hinduism, Meenakshiammai Pillai Thamizh, Angayarkanni
Anupoodhi, The Great Temple of Madurai, Madurai through Ages and
other works and pictures of Swamy and Amman are available at the
temple book stall.
Under
the auspices of the Temple administration, a girls higher secondary
school called Arulmighu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Girls Higher
Secondary School is being run near Teppakulam, Madurai
since
7.6.1963. There are 1,266 students on roll here with a staff of 46,
including the head mistress and other employees.
The
temple is running a mercy home where indigent students are being
provided lodging, food, clothing, text books, notes and other
requirements. At present there are 46 girls in the home.
Free
marriages are performed at a cost of Rs.3,000 for poor couples with
temple funds.
In
order to offer archana in Tamil, books for this purpose obtained
from the office of Madurai Joint Commissioner had been distributed
toall priests in the temple and now archana is being conducted in
Tamil.
There
are 18 guides authorised by the temple administration to guide
devotees from other States and foreign countries.
On
the first day of every Tamil month, special prayers with abhishekarm
are offered at the shrine of Sangam poets on the second corridor of
the Swami Sannidhi. Special prayers are also conducted on the birth
star days of the temple Adiyars and 63 Saints. |