A magnificent memorial resembling a temple of the north Indian architectural style will soon come up for Bhagavatha Hamsam Malliyoor Sankaran Namboothiri adjacent to the Maha Ganapathy Temple at Malliyoor in Kerala's Kottayam district. Designed as a three-storey structure of 40,000 square feet area, the memorial will highlight the philosophy propounded by Sankaran Namboothiri
The stone-laying ceremony of the memorial, which is named ‘Bhagavatha Hamsa Viharam Smriti Mandapam’, will take place at 8am on August 24. Expert workers will arrive from Gujarat at Malliyoor for building the Mandapam, which has been designed by architect Shobak Thomas.
Among the attractions of the Mandapam is a life-size statue of Sankaran Namboothiri on the top floor, where facilities for meditation will be provided. A statue of Sankaracharya also will be installed at the Mandapam. Meanwhile, at the prayer hall, facilities for conducting studies on the Vedas and Upanishads would be arranged. Bhagavatha Sapthaha Yagnas too will be organised in the hall.
Other highlights of the Mandapam are a library of religious literature and a museum displaying items used by Sankaran Namboothiri, including his books, Vedas, awards won and rare photographs. Several rare religious books also will be stacked at the Mandapam, apart from pictures of leading Bhagavatha Acharyas and their short biographies.
Vinayaka Chathurthi festival
Meanwhile, the flag will be hoisted for this year’s Vinayaka Chathurthi festival at Malliyoor Temple on August 25. Tanthri Manayattillath Aryan Namboothdiri will lead the flag-hoisting ceremony. Vinayaka Chathurthi falls on August 31. From 5.30 am on that day, a ‘Maha Ganapathyhoman’ ritual will be conducted with 10,008 coconuts. Malliyoor Parameswaran Namboothiri will lead this ritual. At 12 noon, ‘Gajapuja’ (prayers to elephants) will take place, followed by ‘anayoottu’ (feeding of elephants). A percussion performance led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and Mattannoor Sankarankutty and a ‘kudamattam’ (exchange of parasols) by Paramekkavu Temple are the other programmes on Vinayaka Chathurthi day.
The festival will conclude with ‘aarattu’ on September 1.
