more-in Monday marks the 1000th birth anniversary of Saint Ramanuja, the Acharya who gave the Navagranthas to the world, and Vaishnavite temples all over are celebrating the day in a grand manner. But devotees seem to have donated the most to the Sri Bhashyakar Swamy Temple in Sriperumbudur, the saint’s birth place, where over a lakh devotees are expected to congregate for the grand finale of the ten-day festivities at the temple. For the renovation of the temple they have given ?1.05 crore as donations. A gold Navagrantha garland presented by the Ahobila Mutt Jeeyar weighing 196 grams is the most spoken about among the long list of gifts. Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Commissioner M. Veerashanmuga Moni said that a new gold-plated palanquin, a gold pot weighing 2 kg has been donated by the Maduramangalam Embaar Kainkarya Sabha; a golden haaram (necklace) with inscriptions has been donated by the Ethiraja Nathavalli Thayar Trust, a gold spatikam, a water bowl for worship from the Koil Kandhadhai Mudaliandan Sishyargal and a silver pot were among the things presented. The Sriperumbudur Ashtagothram Thirumalai Nallaan ChakravarthyKarpooram Kainkarya Swamy Thirumaligaiyar, a family that has the hereditary rights to present camphor and sambrani (resin) to Sri Ramanujar has presented a gold Karpoora aarathi thattu (camphor plate) weighing 500 gms, officials said. T.A. Bhakthisaran, a devotee and resident of Sriperumbudur, said along with the temple renovation, both the HR&CE Department and the State government have done tremendous improvements to the town as well. “Roads have been relaid, electricity cables changed to underground, drainage system improved and a water channel has been laid from the local lake to the temple’s well,” he said.

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