TN temple consecration on Apr 3

Tiruchirapalli, Mar 26 (UNI) The historic ''Sri Subramaniyaswamy Temple' at Kumara Vayalur, near here, has been given a facelift in view of the 'Mahakumbabishekam' (consecration ceremony) to be held on April 3, expected to attract by more than a lakh devotees.

The 900-year-old temple was renovated at a cost of Rs 50 lakh, Kumbabishekam Committee President A Muthukrishnan told UNI here this morning.

The Rajagopuram (temple tower), the sanctum sanctorum of the Presiding Deity Lord Subramanya Swamy and sub-shirnes have been given a facelit and the four mada streets relaid with concrete.

The decades-old 'Sthala Vriksham' (the holy tree) now has a guard and the temple tank has been filled with fresh water.

Quoting historical documents and inscriptions, historian N Rajendran said the temple could date back to earlier than tenth century AD.

He said Chola King Raja Raja I had constructed a 500-pillar 'mandap' for Sundara Thandavamurthy. But the hall could have been destroyed though the granite idol of the deity was intact.

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