60-year-old Matunga temple set for a grand Kumbhabhishekam

Devotees of the Sree Ram Mandir (the Kochu Guruvayoor) in Matunga, which is managed by The Asthika Samaj, can look forward to a grand ceremony this Sunday.

To mark the 60-year commemoration of the temple and the renovation of the majestic Rajagopuram (the top of the temple) of the temple complex, a Maha Kumbhabhishekam will be held from 9am on Sunday.

The event is part of a series of ceremonies that began on January 25 and will last till February 2. "The temple has completed 60 years and we are holding a grand ceremony. To conduct the rituals, we have over 100 religious scholars coming in," said K Ramakrishnan, committee member of the temple and convener of the programme.

The Rajagopuram was constructed in 1982 and the first Kumbhabhishekam was performed a year later.

The temple was set up with the portrait of Lord Sree Rama. "After the installation of the idols of Rama, those of Guruvayoorappan, Subramanya, Ayyappa, Anjaneya, Shiva and Navagraha were added. We will be getting scholars to do rituals for each of these lords on different days. There will also be tantric rituals performed," added Ramakrishnan.

The cost of the Maha Kumbhabhishekam, as well as of the other rituals, is being pegged at Rs1.50-1.75 crore.

"The reason is that the five pots at the Rajagopuram, which are considered significant, have a plating of gold. These have been redone. It is said those people who cannot enter the temple due to time constraints or any other reason, but manage to look at the pots are absolved of all their sins," said Ramakrishnan.

Along with other religious events, there will be a Kanakabhishekam of Lord Sree Rama, a Sahasra Kalasabhishekam of Lord Guruvayoorappan and a Dravya Kalasabhishekam of Lord Ayyappa till February 1. Every day, there will also be a prathana homam, a vastu homam, a vasodhara homam and a poornahuthi in the evenings, said Ramakrishnan .

Around 50 artisans well versed in temple architecture from Tamil Nadu had worked for nearly 18 months to complete the gopuram on time.

"After all the rituals are over, we will also take out deities for a short while," added Ramakrishnan.