Nerul: Amidst the reverberating sounds of the nadaswaram and thavil, along with the melodious Vedic chanting by priests, the third Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the 33-foot-tall Hanuman idol in Nerul was performed today. The ceremony took place at the SIES temple complex in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, under the guidance of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal, who is visiting the city after a gap of 25 years.
Referred to as the “Jeernodhara Ashta Bandhana Maha Kumbhabhishekam”, this Hindu temple ritual is performed once every 12 years according to the Shastras. Its purpose is to remove all that is inauspicious and to increase prosperity and peace in the country. The five-day religious function leading up to the Kumbhabhishekam included various types of pujas and homs. Vedic scholars from all over the country participated in the rituals, as noted by V. Shankar, a temple trustee.
The idol, believed to be the tallest Hanuman idol in the country, was crafted from a single granite stone specially selected from a location near Chennai. It was consecrated by the previous Kanchi Seer, the late Sri Jayendra Saraswati, on February 9, 2000. In addition to the Hanuman idol, the Kumbhabhishekam was also performed for the idols of Sri Rama and his consorts, Ganapathi, and Adi Shankara. This event coincides with the silver jubilee of the temple, according to Shankar.
Additionally, nearly 1,500 students participated in the celebrations by chanting the Hanuman Chalisa in front of the Hanuman idol.
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