Shrine for world peace

ACCORDING TO Mahatma Gandhi, ``..the position of Ramayana as a book par excellence remains unassailable...it has given peace to millions, has given faith to those who had it not, and even is today serving as a healing balm to thousands who are burnt by the fire of unbelief. Every page of it is overflowing with devotion. It is a veritable mine of spiritual experience.'' (Young India, October 31, 1929).

It is in this context that the installation of the 77 ft-tall idol of Viswaroopa Sundara Varadha Anjaneya at Deivaseyalpuram, about 30 km from the port town of Tuticorin, for World peace, assumes significance.

The idol has three components - a 59-ft. Murti of Anjaneya, a 12- ft. Varga Peetam and 6-ft. Padma Peetam.

Apart from this, a 6-ft-tall idol of Anjaneya has been installed in the sanctum sanctorum with the Vimana built in front of the peetam. Daily abhisheka and aradhana are performed to the idol sculpted by a team led by Muthaiah Stapati.

The Viswaroopa Sundara Varadha Anjaneya idol is located on the south in the premises of the Raja Rajeshwari Saptarishi Arulvakku Dharma Peetam on the Tuticorin-Tirunelveli highway.

It is said that a divine message (from Ambal) that the idol be installed there to save human beings from the intensity of natural calamities and man-made tensions, besides blessing them with peace.

The Rs. 95 lakh-project for the installation of the Anjaneya idol, apart from creating two temples - one for Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana and the other for Swarna Bhairavar, was completed only recently. Technical assistance for the holy task was rendered by SPIC. The idol was installed on February 2.

S. DORAIRAJ

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