The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Renovated Jain temple reopened

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Monday, Dec 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Renovated Jain temple reopened

N. Rahul

KOLANPAK (Nalgonda Dt.): The 2,500-year-old Jain temple here near Alair which was being renovated for the past two decades was formally opened to public during a day long pooja on Sunday.

Hundreds of devotees from various parts of the country and the United States participated in the ceremonies to mark the occasion.

Home Minister K. Jana Reddy, Nalgonda Zilla Parishad chairman K. Narayan Reddy, Alair MLA K. Nagesh and local mandal parishad chairman Neela Prabhakar Rao were present.

A feature of the prolonged renovation work in the temple has been the construction of a permanent structure to house the ‘chowmukhi’ (four) deities on a four cornered column.

Several priests led by Rajesh Surishvarji conducted the Ashta Shanti Maha Pujan, which is held in Jain temples only on special occasions, to incarnate the four deities – Shantinath Bhagawan, Adinath Bhagawan, Padmaprabhu Bhagawan and Munisuvrat Bhagawan. The offerings to the deities, including fruits, sweets and other pooja material, were spread out on a big platform.

Dhwaja sthamba

A dhwaja sthamba atop the structure attracted devotees in large numbers who reached the spot with great difficulty with the help of a makeshift staircase and a temporary wooden ramp.

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