How We Built A Balaji Temple
- In LifeStyle & Sports
- 10:00 AM, Feb 07, 2022
- Wing Cdr C.G. Krishna
In September 1977, I was posted to Air Force Station, Hasimara in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal. It is a small village surrounded by Tea gardens and the river Teesta. Bhutan’s South western town of Phuentsholing is only 16 Kms from it and the northern border of Bangladesh is only 60kms away. Assam State also is 60 kms away. Strategically, this place is located between Bangladesh and Bhutan. Hence, some elements of the Indian Army and an Air Force base are located here.
The National Highway from Siliguri, the second largest city of West Bengal to Guwahati, capital of Assam, passes through this village. This highway and the railways line to Guwahati are the only links between Assam and the six other states of NE with the rest of India.
In 1977, there was no temple in this village though one or two makeshift temples were there in distant tea gardens. For about 10,000 Hindus of the Armed forces and the Hindu population of Tea Gardens, there was a great need for a temple. During the middle of 1978, I along with my dear friend. Sqn. Ldr. V.R.K Ramesh realised the need of a temple on the National Highway, the lifeline of the N.E. Hundreds of trucks pass through daily and the drivers need a place of rest and prayers.
But we were both clueless as to how to go about it. Luckily, Sri Yechury from A.P. was in Phuentsholing as UNDP in charge. The Yechury Couple were religious and pious people. So, Ramesh and I approached Sri Yechury garu and requested him to guide us about starting a temple at Airforce Station Hasimara. He was pleased with this idea, as in Bhutan too there was no Hindu Temple at that time. He proactively helped in introducing us to the then E.O of T.T.D (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam). Tirupati, AP. We decided then and there to construct a Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Hasimara, as we felt that T.T.D. would help us in all aspects from now on.
I made a trip to Tirupati with a letter from Sri Yechury to the E.O, T.T.D. Being a government-controlled institution, lot of logistics, other conditions were put in place for the flow of funds especially since our project was outside of A.P. and plenty of ground work had to be processed; like a detailed project report (DPR) to be approved by an Architect, permission for land and temple construction from local bodies etc. Being in active military service, it was very difficult for us to get leave easily to pursue these initial requirements. It took us a while but with Sri Yechury garu’s help to get all these things ready. For a few permissions we had to go to Calcutta too, the Capital. All this took time and energy, and cost us a lot of money. We had to bear these costs from our personal funds which we did willingly.
An average standard temple with Sanctum Sanctorum, an artha mandapam to accommodate about 30 persons, a gopuram etc., were estimated to cost Rs. 2 lakh Rupees at that time, a large sum! We also felt that at least four rooms with common bathrooms were needed for the truck drivers in their long journey and for them to spend some time here in leisure. We also realised that we would need a priest and decided that he should be from A.P.; someone well versed in the procedures and puja rituals. He should be provided accommodation in the temple area too.
Thus, our budget estimates sealed at Rs. 4 lakh Rupees. It was a huge amount four and half decades ago. We military personnel had no resources to raise such a huge amount. We could contribute a small amount from our salaries monthly, at the most. T.T.D. would not contribute any amount outside A.P as per their regulations. There was no other alternative but to spread our net far and wide for collections, even as far as Calcutta and Bhutan. Many number of trips were made to Phuentsholing for this purpose. Sri Yechury also introduced us to a rich contractor, Sri. K. Subrahmanyam and a Superintendent Engineer Sri Thapa. These three people contributed nearly Rs. 80,000/- among them! Bhutan has a cement factory bordering India. Sri PHY Raju, General Manager there, took Bhutan Government’s permission to contribute two truck loads of cement bags for the temple construction.
Many Army Jawans and Airmen of the Air Force voluntarily came forward to offer manual labour. They proactively dug the complete foundation of the temple. They helped in ferrying mud, bricks etc., and in handing over these materials to the chief mason during the construction. They did all this after office hours. Some even look leave and stayed back to help without going to their hometowns. Their contribution was invaluable.
In the beginning of 1979, Sqn. Ldr. V.R.K. Ramesh got posted out and went to a forward area in the North. It was a setback for all of us as Ramesh was an active member of the Temple committee. But as luck would have it, two months before his transfer, Wing. Cdr. S.U. Nandur, a doctor, was posted to Hasimara Air Force Station. As we were deliberating on who would fill the void created by Ramesh’s transfer, Wing. Cdr. S.U. Nandur volunteered readily to work for the temple. Being a lone doctor in the base, we were sceptical about his time commitment to serve temple needs. But Nandur proved to be a great asset. He took on every responsibility with great devotion and attention.
Around the same time, Sri Yechury too got transferred out to New Delhi. We lost an influential and devoted person after his departure. It was like the head of a family leaving the rest in dismay and helpless state. We resolved to work with more vigour thereafter. Lord Venkateswara’s deeds are unfathomable. We decided to entrust the construction of the temple in His hands.
My trips to the state capital Calcutta were slowly becoming successful. Major portion of credit should go to my co-brother-in-law, late V.S. Natarajan, a resident of Calcutta. So, my boarding, lodging and commuting problems/expenses were taken care of by him. He used to accompany me everywhere for the collection of funds. As he was fluent in Bengali, this helped us a lot. We managed to get the temple society registered. We also obtained IT (Income Tax) exemption for temple donations from the Income Tax department. Due to this, many industrialists and businessmen were liberal in donating large sums towards the temple construction.
Thus, with much help coming from so many quarters, all of us felt that God was taking care of His temple construction Himself and we were only puppets ‘katputlis’ in his hands. The best thing to happen to this project was the posting of Sri P.V.R.K Prasad as the E.O. of T.T.D. I made many trips to Tirupati thereafter to continue our effort to give shape to our temple. Sri Prasad garu was a religious person and devoted to Lord Venkateswara. I explained to him in detail the faith and effort put in by all the armed forces jawans in a sensitive area to build this temple. He was very appreciative of our efforts and was very helpful. He went out of his way to suggest ways and means to get material and things in kind from TTD. Due to his guidance and help, we could get the moortis of Lord Venkateswara, Goddesses Sridevi and Bhudevi and Garudalwar free of cost. Their transportation from Tirupati to Hasimara (2000 Kms) was a costly affair, a Herculean task. Mr. Prasad came to our rescue again by undertaking this via TTD.
The moortis arrived prior to Kumbhabhishekam. As per Shastras, daily puja is supposed to be done until praaNa pratiShTha in the Sanctum Sanctorum. They were offloaded from the truck and kept in our garage in a lying position. We were advised about the various pujas to be done. As the time for Kumbhabhishekam approached Sthapathi Chakradharacharyulu was sent ten days in advance to take care of arrangements for the Kumbhabhishekam. Veda Pandits and Pujaris required for the function were arranged and sent by TTD along with the required materials. The total cost of their travel and material was again borne by TTD. We were grateful to Sri P.V.R.K. Prasad for his kind help at every stage of this massive project. He even selected a pujari for daily puja in the temple after its inauguration and sent him to Hasimara at TTD expense.
The Kumbhabhishekam was performed on the day of temple consecration in October 1980. Mr Yechury and his wife came from Delhi. Mr Subrahmanyam and Mr. Thapa, Mr P.S.H.Y Raju came along with their families from Bhutan. All the Veda Pandits and the Sthapati were awestruck with the following incidents-
- The moortis that were kept in our garage were brought to the Sanctum Sanctorum to be installed. It was surprising that they could not be lifted by a 10 ton crane! Earlier while keeping them in the garage there was no such issue. Suddenly, Sthapathy garu, who was desolate, said “Where is the yantram?” It should be placed in the garbha gRiha before the moortis are installed. We realised that the yantram was in Mr. Thapa’s house as the daily puja of yantram was being performed by him. We rushed to Bhutan and collected the yantram, as Mr. Thapa was down with fever and unwell. After we placed the yantram in its place amidst slokas and mantra recitation, the moortis could be easily lifted by the crane to be placed inside the temple. What a miracle, incredible!!
- As we were taking the moortis from the mandapam into the garbha gRiha a cat from nowhere jumped and crossed their path. This was considered very auspicious as per the pandit there.
- The TTD pujaris also said that an elephant or cow doing pradakshiNa of moortis after installation would be very auspicious. Luckily for us the nearby forest ranger said that there was an elephant calf of three months available if we so wanted. A large mother elephant cannot fit into the small Sanctum Sanctorum and one cannot get a calf without its mother! So, he arranged transportation of both the mother elephant and its calf to the temple! And we got the baby elephant to do the pradakshiNa of the moortis.
- As we were placing poorNa kumbham on the gopuram, it started drizzling suddenly. We were all disappointed at the untimely drizzle. But the pujaris and the Sthapathi told us that it was a very good sign if such a thing happens.
Thus, by Lord Venkateswara’s grace, everything went smoothly with Sri. P.V.R.K. Prasad garu playing a major role in the completion of this project. Today, this temple stands majestically on the Highway and has been catering to the needs of all the Balaji devotees in that area. And I am told the truckers on that route are a very happy lot too!
Image source: You Tube
Comments