Temple Complex Cheddda Nagar,
Chembur, Mumbai - 400071
INDIA.

Tel Nos : 528 0303 / 528 4382                   
E.mail : Subramania Samaj<info@chemburl.com>  

Five decades of Spiritual, Social, Cultural and
Community Welfare

  Sri Subramania Samaj, one of the oldest religious and charitable institutions in
Bombay, entered its Golden Jubilee Year in April 1995.

 The Samaj is purely a service organisation without any profit motive and wholly dedicated for the promotion of Spiritual, Educational, Cultural activities and Community Welfare.

      During the past five decades, the Samaj   has been propagating the cherished ideals    of our ancient heritage in respect of 'Bhakti' and 'Dharma'. The activities are mainly congregational worship and prayers, spiritual discourses on philosophical subjects, cultural activities portraying the noble purposes of human endeavour in order to emphasise the influence of ethical precepts and practices on the orderly conduct of social and community life.

            To fulfill the long-felt need of thousands of devotees, the Samaj has constructed a Temple Complex with a Community Development Centre on a plot of ~ 2300 sq. yards at Chheda Nagar, Chembur, a north-eastern suburb of Mumbai. The multi-purpose temple complex was consecrated in 1980.

            The middle class families of the city contributed the major portion of this Rupees One Crore project. The Samaj also received munificent donations from philanthropic individuals, institutions, corporates, religious and charitable trusts.

            A happy feature of the temple complex is the sacred presence of six deities: Lord Ganesha, Presiding Deity Lord Muruga, Lord Dharma Sastha ( Ayyappa), Lord Guruvayurappan, Lord Anjaneyar and Goddess Durga. An ‘Ashtamangalya Prashna’ (the complex and accurate Puranic astrological reading based on place, time and omens) conducted at the temple site before starting the construction work revealed that this large salt pan was a dense forest centuries ago, where Maharishis worshiped many deities.

            The Maha Kumbhabhishekam for the temple was performed on 24^th January, 1980 in the immediate and benign presence of His Holiness Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, who for the first time visited Mumbai by Pada Yatra for this purpose.

            According to Agama Shastras Ashtabhandana Kumbhabhishekam for all temples is to be performed once in twelve years to preserve the sanctity of the temples. The Jeernordharana Ashtabhandana Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed on 12^th December 1991. On this occasion ‘Swarnabhandanam’ for Lord Muruga and Gold plating of ‘Dwajasthambam’ were done. The Junior Pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamiji visited Mumbai for the first time to participate in the Kumbhabhishekam along with His Holiness Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamiji.

            The building in itself is a mixture of tradition and modern trend - the traditional temples in blue granite stand on a structure made of RCC. Some 800 tonnes of granite specially picked from Pattimalai Kuppam, near Kanchipuram, and carved in Wallajabad and Mahabalipuram, near Chennai, amid rituals of ancient traditions, were brought to Chembur. They were then assembled, block by block , by experts in the temple art to form the intricate structures. The Rajagopuram rising to 26 feet sits on 51-foot-high RCC structure.

            The unique construction not only helps to accommodate community welfare activities but also fulfills the traditional aspect - the temples for the presiding deity, Lord Muruga ( also referred to Lord Subramaniya, Shanmukha, Kartikeya) are at an elevated level or on top of a hillock.. Religious code has prescribed that the sanctum sanctorum should rest on the ground to give bhoosparsham. To fulfil this, all sanctum sanctorums are placed on RCC structures rising from the ground level filled with sand.

             The idols, the carvings and the sculptured gopurams were executed by one of the most outstanding authorities on temple sculpture, Shri Kumaresa Sthapathi, a President’s award winner. His band of dedicated craftsmen are confined to only a few chosen families who follow the `Shastra’ right from the selection of granite to the final touch of the chisel on the carving.

              The activities of the Samaj are overseen by an elected committee of 15 members. Day-to-day working is being looked after by elected office-bearers. (The list of committee members is given separately).

               The Committee has set up several corpus funds in order to conduct the on going activities on a permanent basis. Devotees can take part by contributing to the corpus of Nirantara Puja Fund, Annadhanam Fund, Manav Seva Fund, Brahmotsavam Fund, Festival Fund, Prathishta Day Fund, Sapthaham Fund and Golden Chariot Procession Fund.

Nirantara Puja Fund
A devotee can make a one-time payment of Rs. 10,000/- for conducting whole day pujas for all the six deities for life on any chosen day in a year of his/her choice. Similarly, if a devotee desires to conduct whole day puja for only one deity, he/she can do so by making an one-time payment of Rs. 3,000/-. The devotee can be personally present or can ask for prasadams by post.
Started in the year 1980, the Fund has 242 members now.

Annadhanam Fund
The Samaj provides meals to all devotees visiting the temple on Kanda Shashti Day, Thaipusam Day, Panguni uthiram Day, Vaikasi Visakam and Sastha Pretty (December 25 of every year). To meet this expenditure, a Corpus Fund of Rs. 20 lakhs is required. Contributions towards Annadhanam Fund are solicited.

Golden Chariot Procession Fund
A Golden Chariot costing Rs 75 lakhs has been built from contributions and offerings by devotees. Made of 8.5 Kg of gold, the Chariot can be illuminated by a mobile generator while being taken in procession round the temple. A devotee donating Rs. 25,000 towards this fund can perform Rathotsavam for life on one day of his/her choice in a year. If one desires to perform Rathotsavam on one day, he or she can do so by paying Rs. 2,500/-.

Kalyana Utsavam
This is performed by devotees to bring prosperity and peace of mind. It is also common that many perform this as an offering to the Lord preceding or following a marriage in their family. Some perform this utsavam on their wedding day, birth day or any other auspicious occasion. Generally only one utsavam is performed in a day. This has to be arranged in advance by paying Rs. 2,500/-.