S M Paramanathan to lead New Executive Committee of Sri Selva Vinayakar Temple,Brisbane as President
TamilBrisbane
Temple,Brisbane as President
http://www.tamilbrisbane.com/content/view/347/1/
At a recently held ( 28th Dec 2006 ) Annual General Meeting, Sri Selva
Vinayakar Temple devotees has
unanimously elected S M Paramanathan as the new President for
2007/2008. S M Paramanathan is a well known
Tamil Social Activist in Brisbane, Australia and associated with the
development of the Temple for decades.
He was instrumental in the purchase of the land for the Temple in 1990.
Extracts from Sri Selva Vinayakar Temple History as follows,
".. The major task for the Management Committees during the period 1987
to 1990 was to raise sufficient funds to purchase a suitable block of
land to build the temple. Finally in 1990, under the leadership of
Mr.S.Paramanathan, the Management Committee succeeded in purchasing 4.5
acres of elevated, virgin bushland at South Maclean, 35 km South of
Brisbane.. Similar to the locations of the Hindu temples in India, this
virgin land in Brisbane is also situated in the midst of areas of
natural scenic beauty, in proximity to the Logan River at South
Maclean. .."
HISTORY of Sri Selva Vinayakar Temple Brisbane
The Census shows that the migration of Tamils to the State of
Queensland started only very recently. Prior to 1985 there were only a
few Tamil families living in the state. Only in 1983 some of the Hindu
families felt the need for community worship so monthly congregational
prayer meetings were conducted first at homes and then at the SWARA
Hall. Since then, regular prayer meetings have been conducted at this
hall at Spring Hill.
>From our survey it is clear that the worship of Vinayakar in Brisbane
was originally started in the form of congregational worship.
As this congregational worship continued to expand, the building of a
traditional Hindu temple in Brisbane became a necessity for obvious
reasons. As a result a Convening Committee was formed on 25 April 1986
and subsequently this committee registered under the name, 'Hindu
Ahlaya Sangam.' The members of the first Management Committee were
unanimously elected on 12 October 1986 and the second in March 1998.
The subsequent Committees continue to be elected yearly.
The major task for the Management Committees during the period 1987 to
1990 was to raise sufficient funds to purchase a suitable block of land
to build the temple. Finally in 1990, under the leadership of
Mr.S.Paramanathan, the Management Committee succeeded in purchasing 4.5
acres of elevated, virgin bushland at South Maclean, 35 km South of
Brisbane.. Similar to the locations of the Hindu temples in India, this
virgin land in Brisbane is also situated in the midst of areas of
natural scenic beauty, in proximity to the Logan River at South
Maclean.
An application seeking special consent to built Selva Vinayakar Temple
was submitted to the Beaudesert Shire Council in July 1991 and
permission was granted through the Planning and Environment Courts,
Brisbane in May 1992. At the initial stage the committee started
building a centre for Selva Vinayakar and additional shrines for Siva,
Vishnu and Navagraha.
The building plans were approved by the council in August 1992 and a
plan for the centre began to unfold with the laying of the foundation
on 10 June 1993. As the first stage the Maha Mandapam (main hall) was
completed and the major shipment of the Deities, shrine doors etc. was
received from South India. At the same time stapathies and the three
sculptors arrived from South India.
The construction of the shrines commenced on 24 June 1994 and after
completion of the Brisbane Selva Vinayakar Kovil the consecration
ceremony was held on 5 February 1995 during this period Mr. S
Paramasivam was representing the Organisation as President. This
traditional Kumbabishekam was witnessed by hundreds of devotees and
well-wishers came from the other States and Territories also.
Similar to the Hindu temples in India, Selva Vinayakar temple is also
situated in the midst of areas of natural scenic beauty, in proximity
to the Logan River at South Maclean an area of prevailing peace and
inspiration to the devotees visiting this temple.
Selva Vinayakar temple is built according to traditional Indian style
in conformity with ancient Sitpa Sastra and Agamas. A beautiful tower
(Gopuram) and ornamental icons were also constructed by temple builders
and sculptors invited from South India.
Most of the important developments have been completed and many more
are in progress.
" Now the structure of the centre needs some elaboration. Lord
Vinayakar is accorded the main place. The vimanam (the structure that
is built over the sanctum sanctorum) of this beautiful Central Shrine
of Vinayakar, with its stupi, stands at a height of about 20 feet above
the ground level. On the right of the Central Shrine Siva takes His
abode and Abirami (Parvathi) is on the left. Maha Vishnu and Lord
Murukan find their appropriate places to the rear of the Central
Shrine.
The shrines of Navagrah and Vairavar are located in their respective
places close to the main entrance. Images are also installed in the
niches of the three walls surrounding the Central Shrine. They face the
'prakara', the path which runs round the shrine. Adjacent to the main
deity, on the left of the shrine, Chandeswarar is assigned his place.
On the right of Lord Siva are Nalvar (Sampanthar, Apper Sundarar and
Manikkavasakar) in panchaloga (five metals) and Sri Ramakrishna in
granite.
This temple also serves as a centre for various cultural and
educational activities. Religious classes are conducted for children;
music and dance programs are conducted and scholars and religious
leaders are invited to address the devotees on special occasions.
Library facilities are provided near the entrance to the hall.
External Link:
Temple Website : http://www.sriselvavinayakar.org/