namma mejura

Meenakshi Temple, originally uploaded by PrasoonRana.

It’s a great satisfaction that the kumbabhisekam (consecration) of Meenakshi Amman Temple went smoothly. It was a local holiday. Shops on the chitrai streets were asked to close for security reasons. Cool drinks & tea shops were re-opened in after noon to cater to the thirsty crowd.

Voting for the 7 wonders of the world campaign raised the awareness of keeping the temple clean. And the chitrai street is nicely spruced up. This month it is listed in, NDTV’s 7 wonders of India.

Some of the Kumbhabhisekam photos can be viewed here.
http://www.maduraimeenakshi.org/photo_gallery.php and some here http://maduraimeenakshitempleforu.blogspot.com/2009/04/meenakshi-temple-kumbhabhishekam.html

Found a quirky news on MetroPlus section (published only within the city) of The Hindu newspaper (on 2nd April 2009).

A Temple for sale? Unbelievable and blasphemous, you may think. But it is a harsh reality too.

The news at The Hindu.com website

About 60 kms from Madurai, on the Madurai – Tenkasi highway lies a village named M.Subbulapuram. A catchy board points to a side road mentioning ‘Nera Koil’ (Time Temple!). Since the name is unique, it gets the attention, most people travelling on the highway would have noticed it. Heard that it is a new temple which helps in achieving materialistic things.

The news report confirms this…

The temple is not only for those who suffer due to bad times, but also cures health problems such as swelling, headache, back ache, heart problem, knee pain, fits and bone disorder.

The news at The Hindu.com website

The reason for this offer?

…wants to hand down to the responsibility to a devoted and a rich person so that he can repay the loans he has incurred in constructing the temple.

“I am not able to serve like before given my advancing age. I am looking for somebody who can serve the temple and the people. This is my only concern now,” he says.

Hmmmm… what to say. When spiritual becomes business, you can even buy an ongoing venture.