Kumbabhishekam of Guwahati Purva Tirupati Balaji Mandir

Kumbabhishekam of Guwahati Purva Tirupati Balaji Mandir performed

The Kumbabhishekam of Purva Tirupati Balaji Mandir, Guwahati, Assam took place on 2 May 2010 in the benign presence of His Holiness Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Sankaracharya Swamiji. The Mahakumbabhishekam programme commenced on 28 April 2010 and the Mahakumbabhishekam took place on 2 May 2010 from 9.15 to 9.45 am even as divine blessings was exhibited in the form of rains.

Devotees from far and wide witnessed the unique event of Kumbabhishekam in Assam. Earlier, since 28th April, a large number of Pandits from Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh (including Tirupati) performed various homas and Yagasala Pujas everyday. The daily alankarams performed to the Yagasala Murthis were a treat to watch.

His Holiness Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Sankaracharya Swamiji arrived on the 30th April 2010 and witnessed the Yagasala Homas and Pujas. On the Kumbabhishekam day, immediately after the Kumbhabhishekam, Abhishekam was performed to in the Sannadhis of Sri Mahaganapathy, Sri Venkateswara Swamy, Sri Pamdmavathi Thayar and Sri Durga. His Holiness blessed the devotees. In a separate session in the Auditorium, His Holiness gave blessings and sambhavana to the Pandits who performed the various rituals.

His Holiness stayed till the 6th May 2010 at the Balaji Mandir. During his stay, several devotees from all over the North-East received His Blessings and several programmes were held in the Temple aasthana Mandapam including Kalyanotsavam to Perumal, a meet of Adi Vasis of the region and the Avatara Mahotsava of His Holiness. His Holiness also visited several places in Guwahati including the Shakti Peeth Kamakhya Mandir and offered prayers and erformed the Kumbhabhishekam of the Adi Sankara Shrine inside the temple. Pujyasri Acharya Swamiji also performed the Kumbabhishekam of the Ganesh Mandir in Guwahati, which was consecrated by Him 12 years earlier. He also visited Sri Sankardev Netralaya in Beltola, Guwahati.

About the Temple

Sri Purva Tirupati Balaji Mandir was consecrated in the year 1998 in the immediate presence and with the benign blessings and guidance of Their Holiness Pujyasri Sankarcharya Swamijis of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam to usher in an era of peace and prosperity in North East India. . The Temple is located in Betkuchi, Guwahati. The Complex, located on two acres right on the highway to Shillong, has a clean environment and is a sight to watch with lawns surrounded by blooming coconut trees,ashoka trees, flowers of various hues and colours, plantains & bouganvilleas. Adding to the beauty is the chain of hills all around the temple, reminding one of the Balaji temple at Tirupati.

Subsequent to the consecration of the temple, rapid development has taken place in the area. The Inter State Bus Terminus and the Maniram Devang Convention Centre of the Government of Assam have sprung up on either side of the Temple and there are a host of other private institutions in the area.

A Ganesha Temple is at the entrance. The Temple of Lord Balaji has a Rajagopuram (70 ft. in height), A Maha Mandapam, an Ardha Mandapam, and the Sanctum. Between the main entrance and the Temple is the Dhwajastambham (Flag pole) which is 60 ft. in height and is made of single Sal tree and brass from the exterior.

The main deity is of Lord Balaji . It is carved out of a single stone weighing 4 tonnes and and the features, the smiling face, ornaments carved on the stone with Sankha (conch) Chakra and Four arms (one Abhya Hastam showering blessings, and the other on the hip). The Utsava Murthy comprises of Lord Balaji, his consort, Ubhayee. Nachiars and Chakrathalwar are carved out of metal. As in Tirupati, Goddess Padmavathi (Avatar of Mahalakshmi) blesses from an adjacent temple. On the directive of His Holiness Sri Sankaracharyya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Guwahati being the seat of Goddess Kamakhya, a temple has been built for Goddess Durga. She has 8 arms, bearing the Sankha, Chakra, knives,bows and arrows. The bow is made of stone which, when tapped produces metallic sound. Garuda, the Vahana of Lord Balaji, has a separate temple.

A Yagasala has been built in traditional style to enable devotees to perform Yagnas of their choice. The Gopurams are constructed as per the shilpa shastras and are in the South Indian architectural style. These magnificient Gopurams range from eight feet in the Ganesh Temple to 70 feet in the Rajagopuram. The temple is well illuminated at night.

The recently built Auditorium is another charming attraction with its exquisitely designed statues and well-planned interiors. The view of the auditorium in daylight and with illumination in the night are both splendid.

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